scholarship. serving. ministry.
In the gospel reading for Trinity 12 in Year C, Luke 14.25–33, we complete our navigation through this section of Jesus’ intermingled teaching and action until we hit the landfall of the ‘parables of the lost’ next week in Luke 15. The double focus on the crowds and discipleship, the drawing together of teaching found … Continue Reading
The epistle for Trinity 12 in Year C is Paul’s letter to Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus. Why is this letter so interesting? What is the significance of it being a public rather than private letter? What rhetorical strategy does Paul use to make his point? And how do the ideas of reconciliation and … Continue Reading
(If you enjoy this article, why not buy me a coffee?) The Sunday lectionary reading (Trinity 9, Year C) continues on its journey through Luke’s ‘special section’ of Jesus’ ministry and teaching on road to Jerusalem from Luke 9.51 to Luke 18.14. In this short (and again, inexplicably truncated by the lectionary) reading from Luke … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 9 in this Year C is Luke 12.49–56, continuing in a substantial section of teaching of Jesus gathered together by Luke. In this part of the gospel, we find some of Jesus’ toughest teaching about the reality of judgement and the cost of following him. (The lectionary oddly cuts … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary gospel for Trinity 8 in Year C is from Luke 12.32–40, and offers a slightly odd selection of verses, in that it includes the end of one section of Jesus’ teaching—on trusting God for provision, and so being generous with our possessions—and the beginning of another, on readiness for the return of … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 8 in this Year C is Luke 12.32-40. It brings together two teachings of Jesus, which appear to be paradoxical, or at least in some tension. On the one hand, we are to be at peace, and enjoy the freedom that comes from knowing the Father’s love. Because of … Continue Reading
The lectionary reading for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity in Year C is the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12.13–21. It is one of several parables that is unique to Luke, and includes features that connect it with other Lukan parables. The video discussion of this passage can be found here (and is … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity in Year C continue through Luke’s gospel, and we now reach Luke 11.1–13 and Jesus’ teaching on prayer. (The epistle is Col 2.6–15, and you can find the video discussion of it here, and linked at the end of this piece, along with the video … Continue Reading
Our reading for Trinity 5 in Year C continues our mini-series in Colossian, following on from last week’s passage with Col 1.15–28. (Once more the lectionary does odd things, giving us a long, dense reading and then, inexplicably, cutting off the last verse of the chapter.) There is much scholarly debate on this passage—was Paul … Continue Reading
The Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 4 in Year C is Luke 10.25-37, most commonly known as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I suspect many people preaching on this will be looking to wring some new truth from this, but might well lapse back into the ‘Jesus wants us to do good to … Continue Reading
The lectionary reading for Trinity 4 in Year C is Colossians 1.1–14, the opening greetings and prayer of Paul for the followers of Jesus he has not met in an ekklesia which he did not plant. Paul adapts the standard letter greetings in a striking way, and his two part prayer/introduction (there is a break … 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
This blog is reader supported, not funded in any other way. Why not make a one-off or regular donation. You do that directly through PayPal
or through Ko-fi.
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
