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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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City

The City of Cain

Not long ago, I heard these statistics about New York City: New York City is in $100 billion in debt. 20% of all NYC residents are on food stamps, which cost $250 million a month. 5% of NYC population are on disability, costing $252 million a month. Other assistance costs…

by Richard BledsoeJune 25, 2020
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Empire

Twenty-Five Theses on Empire

1. All political power is ambivalent. Vertical violence of “the state” tends to limit horizontal and contested power between people and between tribes. “The State” brings new oppression, but also a measure of new peace and unity. 2. All political formations are ambiguous like this: a strong family conquers weaker…

by John MilbankJune 23, 2020
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Coronavirus

Virtual Gnosticism and the Church – some disturbing thoughts about Covid19

Gnosticism by any other name would smell the same. But does the church have much of a theological sense of smell, these days, when it comes to the seductions of virtuality in our worshipping communities? Social isolation during a global pandemic makes good public health sense, but whether church should…

by Paul TysonJune 16, 2020
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American Culture

The Priorities of Priests and Protests

It is a remarkable thing, you know, this thing called priority. Just a few weeks ago, religious leaders were boldly asserting in their high-dollar online videos that it was too dangerous to return to worship and that we needed to listen to our political and health leaders. "They are the…

by Uri BritoJune 15, 2020
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James

Anger, Riots, Violence, & Justice: How the Epistle of James Came to be Written

Somewhere in the city of Jerusalem on a rooftop just a few years after the ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. . . ". . . and just when are you guys going to live up to your ‘Sons of Thunder’ reputation? Huh? A lot…

by Jeff MeyersJune 9, 2020
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Proverbs

Lady Wisdom Eve

In my book, Solomon Says: Directives for Young Men ( Amazon , Kindle ) I mention that Solomon portrays wisdom as a woman. But I don’t ask (or answer!) why he did so. Solomon uses the figure of Lady Wisdom without apology or explanation: Wisdom cries aloud in the street,…

by Mark HorneJune 2, 2020

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Theology

Blood

Below is a transcript of a lecture delivered at Disputatio for NSA on Friday, September 17. INTRODUCTION In February of 1666, the English physician Richard Lower performed what he called a ?spectacular experiment?E Using a crude syringe made from a quill and a bladder designed by Christopher Wren, he ?selected…

September 17, 2004

Translation, 1 Kings 7:1-22

Another flawed, wooden, speculative, error-ridden translation from Kings, which may still be helpful to someone. I’ve tried to reflect the difficulties and confusions that arise from the Hebrew text, and believe I had succeeded at least in that. Now his house Shlomoh built thirteen years. And he finished all his…

September 16, 2004
Biblical Studies

Ministerial Conference Lecture

INTRODUCTION When they allude to the typology of the temple, the NT writers seem to be operating with something like the medieval ?quadriga,?Ethe ?fourfold sense of Scripture.?E They know about a literal temple in Jerusalem; they see the temple allegorically foreshadowing Christ and His Church (John 2:13-22; 1 Peter 2:5);…

September 15, 2004

Ministerial Conference Lecture

September 15, 2004

Ministerial Conference Outline #1

Here is an outline of a lecture I will be giving at the Christ Church Ministerial Conference later this month. In addition to some new material, it includes material from various earlier outlines and notes posted on this site. INTRODUCTION Scripture teaches that Jesus?Edeath was a sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews…

September 15, 2004

Sermon Outline, September 19

INTRODUCTION Solomon first devoted his efforts to building a house for Yahweh. When that was complete, he began to build his own house (7:1), which included a number of buildings (7:1-12; cf. 9:10). The design of the Solomon?s own house reinforces his status as the son of Yahweh who lives…

September 15, 2004

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