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Twelve years ago I presented a paper at the international Society of Biblical Literature comparing the symbolism of Luke with that of John. There has been a widespread view that John is a ‘spiritual’ or symbolic gospel, and that is true at one level, though John often includes more historical and eye-witness detail than the … Continue Reading
The discovery by two disciples of the empty tomb, and Mary Magdelene’s encounter with Jesus, in John 20.1–18, is one of the main options for the gospel reading for Easter Sunday in both Year A and Year C (the alternative is Luke 24.1–12; in Year B we have the short ending of Mark 16). And … Continue Reading
This Sunday, the last of the liturgical year, is Christ the king, and comes immediately before Advent. It is a slightly odd festival, since one of the key themes of Advent is not the anticipation of Christmas, but the anticipation of Jesus’ return as king; the Latin adventus is a translation of the Greek parousia … Continue Reading
It is often thought that in John 18 Jesus says ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. But this mistranslation is misleading: his kingdom makes itself felt in this world, but the origin of its power and the nature of its exercise is quite different from ‘worldy’ power. As we celebrate Christ the King on … Continue Reading
The British New Testament Society meets at the end of August every year, and draws around 180 scholars from the UK, from Europe and some even come from the US for the weekend. It comprises three main papers from eminent scholars, a series of specialist groups, looking at sections of the New Testament, which meet … Continue Reading
The lectionary gospel for Trinity 9 in this Year B is John 6.1–21, and it takes us from famine to feast—metaphorically and literally!—as we move from the sparse verses about Jesus’ ministry in Mark 6 to the lavish feast of both the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on the water in John 6. … Continue Reading
The account of the feeding of the 5,000 is often thought to point to subsequent Christian practice of Communion or the Eucharist. In fact, there are several pointers in the account in John 6 which point away from this. Much stronger are links with the Old Testament, particularly Moses leading the people as they are … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary reading for Easter 5 in Year B is Jesus’ teaching that he is the true vine in John 15.1–8. It is a striking and memorable image that has three different elements of context to consider, and it reiterates themes from earlier in the Farewell Discourse as well as picking up ideas that … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary reading for Easter 5 in Year B is Jesus’ teaching that he is the true vine in John 15.1–8. It is a striking and memorable image that has three different elements of context to consider, and it reiterates themes from earlier in the Farewell Discourse as well as picking up ideas that … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary gospel in Year B for Epiphany 3 is John 2.1–11, the ‘sign’ of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. (The ecumenical lectionary has a reading for Mark instead, but in the Church of England version of the lectionary, it is the reading on Epiphany 3 in Year B … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary gospel in Year B for Epiphany 3 is John 2.1–11, the ‘sign’ of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. (The ecumenical version of the lectionary has a reading from Mark; in the Church of England version of the lectionary, it was also the reading on Epiphany 3 in … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod and Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
Andrew Goddard Bible biblical interpretation Biblical literacy biblical theology Christmas Church of England culture discipleship discussion doctrine eschatology evangelism gay General Synod Grove guest Hermeneutics History hope interpretation James Blandford Baker Jesus John's gospel Justin Welby leadership lectionary Luke Luke's gospel Matthew ministry mission New Testament Paul politics power preaching Revelation same sex unions sexuality Teaching theology video Year B Year C
