THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Levirate Widow
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Levirate Widow
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Levirate Widow (Matthew 22: 23-33) Within Jerusalem, conflicts with Pharisees fade while Sadducees and high priests become the antagonists. Amid such controversies as the concern for paying taxes (22:15–22), the question of the great commandment (22:34–40), and the issue of t…
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 - The Sermon on the Mount
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Sermon on the Mount
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 1- 7: 29) Beatitudes and Antitheses. Matthew’s Gospel offers five teaching discourses: the Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29); missionary instructions (10:1–42); parables concerning the kingdom (Gk. basileia) of heaven (13:1–53); church guidelines …
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 - The True Circumcision
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The True Circumcision
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
“The True Circumcision” (Phil. 3:3) In his passionate plea to watch out for opponents of the gospel (3:2–3), particularly any possible opponents who preach the necessity of circumcision, Paul prepares the Philippians to counter false teaching (literally, “the mutilation,” 3:2) by…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Ten Virgins
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Ten Virgins
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Ten Virgins: (Matthew 25: 1-13) Unique to Matthew, the parable of the Ten “Bridesmaids” (NRSV; literally, “virgins”; Gk. parthenoi) continues the Gospel’s concern for women at the final judgment (cf. 24:19, 41). The women may be wedding guests or, more likely, servants waitin…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Woman Power against the Heroic Oppressor?
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Woman Power against the Heroic Oppressor?
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Woman Power against the Heroic Oppressor? The Story of Deborah, the Judge and Prophet, and Jael, the Wife (Judges 4-5) When feminist scholars began to scrutinize the Bible for prominent women characters, they soon discovered the tale of Deborah in Judges 4–5. She is introduced as…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Woman's Characters in the Book of Job
The Women's Bible Commentary - Woman's Characters in the Book of Job
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Women Characters in the Book of Job Although they have only “bit parts,” Job’s daughters and his wife have long intrigued readers and commentators. Job’s daughters seem to have a status within the family that is more prominent than what is typically assumed about the position of …
The Women's Bible Commentary - Woman Wisdom
The Women's Bible Commentary - Woman Wisdom
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Woman Wisdom The beginning of the second part of the book is signalled by a shift from second-person exhortation in 1:1–6:21 to first-person-singular speech. The speaker identifies himself first as a mortal and then as a king…
Healing - A Liturgy
Healing - A Liturgy
by John Birch
"Father, forgive our unbelief. Forgive us those times when we cry to you for mercy, for healing, for release and yet in our hearts expect so much less. Forgive us those times when we pray for a deluge and expect only drizzle...." A prayerful liturgy based upon a theme of healing …
The Act of Prayer Year B - Proper 22 - Year B