“The remarkable realism of the Bible, the voices it captures, the characterization it achieves, are products of an interest in the human that has no parallel in ancient literature.” Marilynne Robinson - America’s greatest living novelist- on Genesis theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…

“In Genesis, each time one son inherits the blessing over another, the chosen son must then undergo a ‘symbolic death.’ By being designated the covenantal heir, ‘The beloved son is marked for both exaltation and for humiliation. In his life the two are seldom far apart’ (Jon

Now here's a lovely little book from Addison Hodges Hart. "There's only one 'mother' and one archetypal 'woman'" in John and early Christianity. The iconography of Mary as both bride and mother is thus "profoundly biblical." More to come on John's nuptial theme shortly...

"Is the woman of Revelation 12 Mary?" Put this way, the question cannot be answered in a straightforward fashion. "Is Mary the woman of Revelation 12?" Yes. (Ask the questions of Christ and Adam to disclose the logic.)

"Better to be wise than tall" Strangely, my daughter was unimpressed with this aphorism which I employed to comfort her after a tough outing against a physically imposing basketball team. #dadjokes

Preparing to teach the Apocalypse/Book of Revelation, so this popped out at me from Narnia (bk 5): “Do not look sad. We shall meet soon again." "Please, Aslan", said Lucy, "what do you call soon?" "I call all times soon" said Aslan; and instantly he was vanished away.”

Careful readers of Scripture committed to its truth as an article of faith often face challenges when its details stand in tension and even contradiction ... --Nathan Mastnjak hubs.la/Q02rtmgj0

let's see what happens when Draymond Green tries to bully Jimmy Butler!

Presumably it is my own surprising lack of humility which feeds my irritation with the ever pervasive genre of scholar as activist, righting the wrongs of the past, standing as bulwark against the errors of the culture, guide to the blind. The heroic scholar!

“When the cross of Jesus Christ becomes a scandal, not because of the way it subverts worldly wisdom, but because it is perceived as a morally dangerous symbol, then theology’s relationship with Scripture has become tenuous indeed.” L.T. Johnson, The Future, 130

Tom Holland explains how the cross, once Rome’s ultimate symbol of shame, became Christianity’s emblem of triumph. Watch the full episode with Tom Holland on YouTube now.

There's something about Mary, and it's not just that she's a model disciple. Even scholars often overlook the theological reflection upon her significance that's already begun in the Gospels. I explain with reference to the Gospel of Luke here: didaskalos.ca/blessed-is-the…

While analysis and discussion of second-order differences is important and fruitful, our understanding of complementarity should be primarily grounded in first-order difference—in our asymmetrical embodiment. --Abigail Favale hubs.la/Q03M-FPk0

Tensions in Scripture can be hugely instructive, particularly in breaking down our false and often ideologically motivated over-simplifications: e.g., Luke 1:16-17 (pro-family!) and Luke 12:49-53 (anti-family!), when read together, enable better readings than those just suggested

AI cheating has gotten so bad that I now feel genuine affection for horrifically bad essays clearly written by the student