Tag: irony
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Distance
We had class yesterday morning entirely by zoom, which is possible now that we’ve had a global pandemic and all needed to master this technology for remote conversation. I’m glad for that – for the technology, and for the being able to have class, and that people still want to have class when some of…
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Studying Esther 7 1-10
We are studying Esther 7:1-10 for Sunday, April 19. This is the climactic scene in the story of Esther where Haman is almost literally “hoist with his own petard.” [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We’re in the book of Esther, which is primarily…
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A double message?
How ironic and paradoxical is this instruction: “… you must destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this!” (Deuteronomy 25:19) Ironic because it’s an instruction in a discourse to be preserved continuously for posterity, and paradoxical because how do you erase a memory that you are never to forget? about…
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Violent Demonstrations in the Book of Acts
The book of Acts contains several accounts of violent or near-violent crowd episodes, which begin in response to the disciples’ preaching. Here’s the list (I think): 7:57 ff – Stephen’s preaching incites a mob, which stones him to death 14:8-20 – first, crowds in Lystra want to sacrifice to Paul & Barnabas; later, they stone…
Matters of Interpretation 