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The lectionary reading for Trinity 4 in Year B is Mark 4.35–41, (the reading for Trinity 3 in other Years B) the account of Jesus calming the storm. It is a fabulous story both full of little eye-witness details, and yet at the same time impossible to read without feeling its symbolic significance. Unlike Matthew, … Continue Reading
The lectionary reading for Trinity 4 in this Year B is Mark 4.35–41 (the reading for Trinity 3 in other Years B), the account of Jesus calming the storm. It is a fabulous story both full of little eye-witness details, and yet at the same time impossible to read without feeling its symbolic significance. Unlike … Continue Reading
There is no denying that, for any modern reader, the Book of Revelation is a strange text; we will not learn from it by pretending that it does not present challenges. It does reveal things (as the name suggests), but that can simply make life more complicated and confusing. Many of us feel the same … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for the Second Sunday of Trinity in Year B is Mark 3.20–35, which consists of two stories of opposition to Jesus’ ministry, intercalated—that is, one story is split to form the outer frame, with another, related, story at the centre. The frame story is his (biological) family going to ‘seize’ … Continue Reading
The gospel reading for Trinity 2 in Year B is Mark 3.20–35 (the end of the chapter). It is a fascinating episode, since in characteristic style, Mark ‘intercalates’ or sandwiches one story inside another—the opposite from the Jewish authorities sits within the story of his family trying to stop his ministry. We learn about the … Continue Reading
Oh Mark—where have you been, with your dynamic directness, your parataxis and imitation of Old Testament narrative, your puns on ‘straightway’ and your dense biblical allusions? We have missed you! And yet—it is we who left you, whilst you have been waiting patiently all this time. We were seduced by the Beloved Disciple, with his … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary gospel reading for Trinity Sunday in Year B is the same as we had for Lent 2 in Year A—Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus in John 3.1–17—so I am reposting the article from last year for this week. In Year A, this forms part of a four-week departure from reading Matthew’s gospel: Lent … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary gospel reading for Trinity Sunday in this Year B is the same as it was for Lent 2 in Year A: Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus in John 3.1–17. In Year A we were supposed to be reading from Matthew’s gospel, and the RCL used ecumenically has continued to do so, the lectionary … Continue Reading
This Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost, when we remember, celebrate, and re-engage with the first giving of the Spirit at Pentecost as recounted in Acts 2., and the lectionary reading in this Year CX is, as every year, Acts 2.1–21. Although it is a comparatively long reading, in one sense it is not long … Continue Reading
This Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost, when we remember, celebrate, and re-engage with the first giving of the Spirit at Pentecost as recounted in Acts 2, and the lectionary reading in this Year A is, as every year, Acts 2.1–21. Although it is a comparatively long reading, in one sense it is not long … Continue Reading
What would you identify as the climax and completion of Jesus’ life and ministry? Surprisingly, this is not a trivial question. One of the key differences between John and the synoptic gospels is that, where the synoptics portray the crucifixion as a necessary but incomplete act on the way to the resurrection, John portrays it … 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 preaching Revelation same sex marriage same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
