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THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD - 30 The Story of Israel
THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD - 30 The Story of Israel
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Story of Israel, 587 bc–ad 70 The story of second-temple Judaism is one of tension and tragedy. The Babylonians had destroyed the first Temple in 587 bc. Ever since then, those who looked to Jerusalem, and its Temple, as the centre of their homeland, and as their very raison-…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Demonstration in the Temple
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Demonstration in the Temple
by BRF - Dick France
A DEMONSTRATION in the TEMPLE Mark has carefully interwoven two themes here, as the scene shifts repeatedly between the temple and a fig tree on the Bethany road, thus: Verse 11, temple; verses 12–14, fig tree; verses 15–19, temple; verses 20–25, fig tree; verse 27, temple (which…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status Negotiations
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status Negotiations
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Status Negotiations (2 Corinthian 1-7) These chapters are exceedingly difficult, with abrupt changes in tone and interrupted trains of thought. Even in sections where the subject matter remains fairly constant, sentences are repetitive, convoluted, at times almost incoherent. Whe…
How God Became King - 4b Prequel and Sequel
How God Became King - 4b Prequel and Sequel
by SPCK - N T Wright
Prequel and Sequel Getting to the Heart of the Gospels In the year 1900, a book was published that changed the imagination of America. Its creator, L.Frank Baum, had stumbled into writing fantasy fiction some years before, mostly to while away time spent on the road as a travelli…
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 23 Year B
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 23 Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Proper 23 Job 23.1-9, 16-17 Hebrews 4.12-16 Mark 10.17-31 Two moments jump out at us from this intense little drama. Jesus looks at the man and loves him; not, perhaps, our natural reaction to someone claiming to keep six out of ten commandments perfectly. (A pity Job 23.11–12 is…
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - A Mere Breath
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - A Mere Breath
by SPCK - John Goldingay
A Mere Breath Psalm 144 Some years ago I did a little bit of research into tracing my ancestors. These were pre-Internet days, and the research involved poring over ancient volumes in the repository of such records in London. Sometimes I would discover another “John Goldingay” fr…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - God Calls a Remnant
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - God Calls a Remnant
by SPCK - N T Wright
God Calls a Remnant ROMANS 9.25-29 The Beatles once recorded a song called ‘Nowhere Man’. It grew out of a casual, dismissive remark one of them had made about somebody they’d just met: ‘He’s a real “nowhere man”.’ It was meant as a scornful put-down, and if the person they were …
Gazing on the Gospels Year C - Proper 5 Year C
Gazing on the Gospels Year C - Proper 5 Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Proper 5 Luke 7: 11-17 Gaze on a funeral scene in Britain – everyone is in their best clothes, dark, sombre and formal. People make an effort to contain their emotions and no one wants to ‘break down’ in public. We put on a brave face and give thanks for the life lost. If it is a…
New Testament Wisdom for Everyone - Building A Christian Character
New Testament Wisdom for Everyone - Building A Christian Character
by SPCK - N T Wright
2 THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SELF BUILDING A CHRISTIAN CHARACTER 2 Peter 1: 1-11 My grandson, aged one and a half, was taken the other day into a big toyshop. It was a riot of exciting things, all in bright colours. From floor to ceiling, from one end of the shop to the other, and…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Mountains For some strange reason, human beings connect mountains with God. In many ancient religions, worship took place on the ‘high places’. Even today, we talk of ‘mountain-top experiences’, despite having left behind the notion that mountains are closer to God’s supposed dwe…
How God Became King - 5b The Biblical Story of God
How God Became King - 5b The Biblical Story of God
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Biblical Story of God The story the Bible tells about Israel’s God is quite different from the stories many, including many Christians, have told. In the biblical story, the creator God calls Abraham, who lived in present-day Iraq, and bids him go wandering off as a nomad in …
The Women's Bible Commentary - Construction of the Sanctuary and Priesthood
The Women's Bible Commentary - Construction of the Sanctuary and Priesthood
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Construction of the Sanctuary and Priesthood After the golden calf incident, the Israelites begin construction of the tabernacle as God has instructed. Women have multiple roles in these final chapters…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Second Isaiah
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Second Isaiah
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) The sixteen chapters that begin with “Comfort, comfort my people” comprise a complex but thematically continuous piece focusing on Jerusalem’s restoration as the Babylonian era ended. The prophet is self-effacing and barely visible, but certain aspect…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - Setting the Scene