Tag: New Testament
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Studying Hebrews 1 1-5
We are studying Hebrews 1:1-5 along with Matthew 1:1-17 for Sunday, December 6. All thoughts are turning to Advent, including these selections for the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching. Our texts present, in effect, two versions of Jesus’s genealogy – both equally genuine, according to catholically orthodox Christian theology, but notoriously difficult to comprehend…
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Reflecting on James 1 19-27
We are studying James 1:19-27 for Sunday, August 9, the second in a series of five lessons on the book of James. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to discuss in class: In v19, the author counsels “be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”…
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Studying James 1 19-27
We are studying James 1:19-27 for Sunday, August 9. This is the second in a series of five lessons on James, the immediate continuation of the text we began last week, and the source of the quotable quote: “be doers of the word and not hearers only.” Here are some notes on the text: BACKGROUND…
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Studying Malachi 2 1-9 & 3 5-6
We are studying Malachi 2:1-9 & 3:5-6 for Sunday, March 29. The focus is on Malachi’s indictment of the priesthood in post-exilic Israel. We’ll have to think about how this does, or doesn’t, pertain to a religious world in which we don’t have a hereditary priestly class that is responsible for administering the system of…
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Study Notes – Luke 1 39-56
We are studying Luke 1:39-56 for Sunday, December 22. This is the episode enshrined in western art and iconography as “the visitation,” when Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and is the occasion for Mary delivering the speech that has come to be known as “the Magnificat.” I am still supposed to be grading,…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – 2 Peter 1 1-15
We are studying 2 Peter 1:1-15 for Sunday, November 24. This is the opening text of a farewell address that encourages its early Christian audience to continue faithfully in sound teaching and practice, secure in the steadfast faith that Jesus Christ and his presence, rather than the world, is the ultimately permanent reality. [Here are…
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Study Notes – 2 Peter 1 1-15
We are studying 2 Peter 1:1-15 for Sunday, November 24: the opening greeting and words from Peter (or, the Author) to the unspecified churches who would have received this “general” letter. [Study questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The book is titled 2 Peter, so…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – 1 Peter 1 13-25
We are studying 1 Peter 1:13-25 for Sunday, November 17. [Here are my notes on this text.] Here are some questions we might want to reflect on, or discuss in class: We think this letter was addressed to Christians who were experiencing some kind of social costs because of their faith and hope in Jesus…
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Study Notes – 1 Peter 1 13-25
We are studying 1 Peter 1:13-25 for Sunday, November 17. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: 1 Peter is one of the “general epistles” (along with James, 2 Peter, 1-2-3 John, and Jude). These are letters written by church leaders addressed, not to specific…
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Study Notes – 1 Thessalonians 1 2-10
We are studying 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 for Sunday, November 10. The text opens Paul’s first letter to the early Christian house-church at Thessaloniki, and focuses on the good example the Thessalonians are giving to their world (and to ours, for that matter). Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Things everyone seems…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 5 13-20
We are studying Matthew 5:13-20 for Sunday, July 7 – a passage that includes Jesus’ familiar sayings about being salt and light, and Jesus’ relationship to “the law and the prophets.” [Study notes on this text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want to reflect on or discuss: What do we normally…
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Study Notes – Colossians 2 1-15
We are studying Colossians 2:1-15 for Sunday, June 23. This is a portion of a letter that draws on an exalted view of Christ’s relationship to creation to encourage its audience to hold firm in the faith. [Discussion questions for the text are here.] Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Colossians…
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Notes – Romans 2 1-12
The Uniform Series text we are studying for Sunday, August 5 is Romans 2:1-12; here are a few notes on the text: FIRST IMPRESSIONS: That we [readers; members of the audience] are doing “the very same things” seems like something most people would dispute. At least initially. Which things? BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: This text is…
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Revelations, on Revelation
Elaine Pagels. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelation. New York: Penguin, 2012. [An installment of the “Read Me” Project] Revelations by Elaine Pagels made its way to the “Read Me” shelf because learning something more about the Bible, church history and early church politics always sounds like a good thing. If…
Matters of Interpretation 