Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, Jacqueline Lapsley
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jonah's Second Call
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jonah's Second Call
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Jonah’s Second Call (Jonah 3:1-10) Jonah 3:1 echoes 1:1: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah.” As in the first scene, the Deity commands Jonah to “arise,” “go,” and “call out” (3:2, my trans.). This time, however, Jonah does not flee but immediately obeys. It seems that Jonah get…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Sexual Immorality and Lawsuits
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Sexual Immorality and Lawsuits
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Sexual Immorality and Lawsuits (1 Corinthians 5-6) Paul closes the preceding section by offering the Corinthians a choice: “What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (4:21). Underscoring that choice, the next section opens w…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status, Power, and Children: The Story of Hannah
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status, Power, and Children: The Story of Hannah
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Status, Power, and Children: The Story of Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2) The books of Samuel begin with the story of the birth of a son to a woman previously childless. According to the narrative, Hannah, the favored wife of Elkanah, has no children, because YHWH has “closed her womb.” Ha…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creating and Ordering the World
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creating and Ordering the World
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Creating and Ordering the World (Genesis 1-11) Creation is not merely the initial coming into being of the universe and its life forms; it includes also the ordering and continuous unfolding of the world. All of Genesis 1–11 is about the creation of the cosmos, including the more…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Infancy Narrative
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Infancy Narrative
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book II (Psalms 42-72) Book II of the Psalter, like Book I, contains many lament psalms. But unlike Book I, not all of the psalms are attributed to David. The Korahites, who were, according to the book of Chronicles, temple singers during the reigns of David and Solomon, mix thei…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book II
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book II
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book II (Psalms 42-72) Book II of the Psalter, like Book I, contains many lament psalms. But unlike Book I, not all of the psalms are attributed to David. The Korahites, who were, according to the book of Chronicles, temple singers during the reigns of David and Solomon, mix thei…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Return
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Return
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Return THE WOMEN’S BIBLE COMMENTARY (Jeremiah 31: 7-14) The new beginning is both certain and imminent. To welcome it, another poem begins with a command to “sing aloud with gladness” (31:7–14). For the first time in the book, north no longer refers to the direction from whic…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God as "Father"
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God as "Father"
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
God as “Father” (Galatians 4: 4-7) In addition to bringing about people’s transformation from the status of minor children under guardianship of the law to that of mature heirs able to enjoy their inheritance (see above on 3:23–26), the coming of Christ has other consequences as …
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Social Meaning of Sonship
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Social Meaning of Sonship
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Social Meaning of Sonship (Galatians 3: 23-26; 4: 4-7) In chapter 3, Paul has ingeniously used examples from Scripture and from life to illustrate his argument that observance of the law of Moses is no longer necessary for Gentile converts to Jesus. He maintains that his argu…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Partners in a Heavenly Calling
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Partners in a Heavenly Calling
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Partners in a Heavenly Calling (Hebrews 1: 1- 4: 16) The first part, 1:1–4:16, focused on Jesus as Son of God and apostle, speaker from God to human beings, uses Scripture to compare “the son” to both the angels (1:1–2:4) and Moses (3:1–6)…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Personified Daughter Zion
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Personified Daughter Zion
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Personified Daughter Zion (Isaiah 47: 1-15; 49: 14 – 50: 3; 51: 17 – 52: 12; 54: 1-17) Babylon’s fall is imagined throughout Isaiah 41–48, climaxing in chapter 47, where Daughter Babylon herself is taunted. Once tender and delicate, she will now sit throneless in the dust. She wi…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Incarnation
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Incarnation
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Incarnation (John 1) The classic statement of 1:14 (my trans.), “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,” establishes the incarnation theme. It is further amplified by 1:1…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1) Against this background of the role of women in Luke, one can examine in more detail passages unique to Luke that focus on women. Three women appear in this section (Elizabeth, Mary of Nazareth, and Anna) in roles far more powerfu…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God's Realm Breaking In
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God's Realm Breaking In
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
God’s Realm Breaking In (Mark1-3) Jesus and the Realm of God (Mark 1:1–45) Although “According to Mark” was added later, Mark’s Gospel does have a functioning title in 1:1: “The beginning of the good news [gospel] of Jesus Christ, Son of God.” Each term is important. While “Jesus…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth (2 Peter 3: 1-13) In order to counter the arguments of the “scoffers” who deny the promise of the Lord’s coming, the author of 2 Peter asserts that “the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire” (3:7), and “the ele…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Passion of the Community
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Passion of the Community
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Passion of the Community (Mark 13) Chapter 13, a speech in the middle of the Gospel’s second half, parallels chapter 4, a speech in the middle of its first half. The parables of the first speech suggest how the realm of God begins to take hold on the earth in the present age.…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status and Authority in God's Realm