Jesus
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From Hand Washing to #SyrophoenicianLivesMatter: Mark 7
As human beings we have an annoying trait of complicating what God instructs us to do. This is where Mark 7 begins, but not where it ends. At the start of the chapter it is the Pharisees who are complicating God’s instruction. In fact, Jesus will go on to explain they are doing something even Continue reading
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The Voice of the Good Shepherd is Blowin’ in the Wind
‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too will listen Continue reading
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Life Understood Backwards
Looking Back The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard claimed that “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” The experience of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus was something like this. How could they understand Jesus’ life at its end? Even at the end did it make sense? Cleopas and the Continue reading
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An Enarratio of Psalm 1: Behold the Man
The enarratio (exposition or setting forth) of Psalm 1, below, is not an effort at modern exegesis. It does not progress from distinct and careful assessment of textual, canonical, or theological context and then move on to drawing some spiritual lessons for today. It is of the same ilk as Augustine’s Enarrationes in Psalmos, or Continue reading
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Standing Firm: Philippians 4:1–3
1. Joy How might we ensure we stand firm in our faith? Such a question seems a sensible one when we see some around us drifting away from their faith. There are of course many answers. One way, I suggest lies at the heart of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians and is mentioned in Philippians Continue reading
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Advent 2018: Pointing to the Light
Readings Job 28:1–28; John 1:1–18; Matthew 2:1–2 Introduction At the start of chapter 2 of Matthew’s gospel we find these words: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Continue reading
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Perceiving, Proclaiming and Partaking of the Cross
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and Continue reading
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Jesus is Baptised — Mark 1:1–11
Introduction: Jesus in 4-D On the 28th August 1989 the band Depeche Mode released a song called Personal Jesus. I personally think it’s a great song. If you like 1980s music you might well agree. However, it does not make for good theology. In fact, it inadvertently acts as a critique of other bad theology. Continue reading
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Palm Sunday: selah #2
Psalm 118:20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. (NRSV) This verse referred to the city gate of Jerusalem when this psalm was written and used in festivals. By the time of Jesus such festivals had been taking place for hundreds of years. Jesus was going to Jerusalem Continue reading
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Palm Sunday: selah #1
Psalm 118:5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. (NRSV) The Bible is all about the relationship between God and people. Each one of us has a relationship with the living God—the one referred to as Yah in this particular verse. Continue reading
About Me
This blog’s central aim is to explore all aspects of how the Psalter (the biblical psalms) functions as Scripture today.
To this end it will also include book reviews on the Book of Psalms and related topics.
Some posts will reflect more broadly on biblical interpretation or hermeneutics.
If you like what you see here and want to arrange for me to give a lecture, run a teaching event or a short retreat based around The Psalms then contact me so we can discuss how this might work.
PsalterMark 