Tag Archive for 'gospel'

the Word became flesh

All things came into being through the Word now made flesh

John 1:1-18

This is the Christmas Day gospel reading. The earliest occurrence I can spot is in the Würzburg Evangeliary of the mid-seventh century. Maybe you know an earlier Christmas liturgy mention?

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being
4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”)
16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Ancient Bible text online

From Gospel of Luke

From Gospel of Luke

A year ago I wrote a blog post about the launching of the Codex Sinaiticus website. I am now delighted to be able to announce that, along with the International conference currently being held at the British Library, all the manuscripts we have, held at four different locations, are now available to us online.

This uncial manuscript of the Greek Bible, written between 330-350, is one of the most important books in the world. It includes the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. Its heavily corrected text is of outstanding importance for the history of the Bible and the manuscript – the oldest substantial book to survive Antiquity – is of supreme importance for the history of the book.

694 pages of Codex Sinaiticus are held in the British Museum in London. Eighty-six pages in the University Library in Leipzig, in Germany. Parts of 12 pages are in the National Library of Russia, St. Petersburg. 24 pages and 40 fragments remain in St. Catherine’s Monastery where all these parts were originally held.

Originally, it contained the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) as well as the complete New Testament, and included the Epistle of Barnabas, and portions of The Shepherd of Hermas.

What is a Christian?

Recently a blog post from New Zealand’s Bible Society CEO got me thinking. Rev. Mark Brown says that “research shows a majority of Christians don’t regularly attend church and stated that the usual solution of attempting to make church attractive is only part of the answer.” His sources include the National Church Life Survey and the Gallup Poll. What interests me is what definition of Christian is being used in such research?

Let me say at the outset – clearly one can be a Christian and not attend church. Some are not able to attend.
Let me also say, so there’s no confusion, that it’s clear that, as part of being a Christian, there is a personal response to the good news appropriate to the stage one is in one’s life.
Let’s also be clear that “church” is not primarily the building. “Church” is the Christian community, the body of Christ – the church building is there to stop the church (the Christian community) from getting wet and cold when it gathers :-)

But I wonder if behind the definition being used in this research is a presupposition that one becomes a Christian individually and then “goes to a church” seeking support for the individual’s Christian journey. The Christian community, in this view, is little more than a support group for the individual. The individual may not find a group supportive enough and may find more individual support on TV, the internet, or reading alone,… From this approach one would not be surprised to hear “a majority of Christians don’t regularly attend church.”

There appears to be no challenge to individualism – already so strong in our culture. The three top reasons given in the research appear to bear out my critique. These Christians don’t go to church because

  • it is boring
  • they don’t agree with or don’t like what is being taught
  • they don’t see it as a priority

All three appear to be primarily about “me” and “my needs

The other side of this Christian coin is a view that sees God uniting with God’s creation in the incarnation of Christ, and then drawing us, who have been created by God, into this divine life through being incorporated into Christ through becoming part of Christ, Christ’s body, the church, the Christian community. We become part of Christ through baptism – not through something that we do to ourselves, but through something that God, through the Christian community, does to us.

A helpful image might be that of a team sport, football, cricket,… I am a football player if I am a member of a football team and play football! I am a Christian through being a member of the Christian community and participating in the Christian community. I am a member of the Christian community when gathered – and also, of course, when the Christian community is dispersed. Sometimes I am unable to be present at the Christian community gathered – but the gathering continues – the football game can continue. I continue to be a football player as I will be playing with them again soon.

This communitarian understanding of the gospel critiques individualism, challenges self-centredness.

It is the language we use when we worship, which is normatively in the plural: “United in Christ with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, O God…” In this approach it is not merely my individual prayer, but I pray in Christ’s prayer, the Holy Spirit prays in and through me – through us together. Even when I am praying alone, I do so as a member of the Christian community dispersed, “Our Father…”

Certainly the individual still gets “something out of it” (even though this is not the first focus as the self-centred Christian definition has it). The football player “gets something out of” being a member of the team. One joins the community/group/team/church as an individual and finds the participation in the group’s activity transforming and fulfilling the individual.

This is no excuse for allowing church to be boring or irrelevant.

[Update: this post is presenting such useful responses, I have, as promised in a previous update here, produced a follow-up post entitled Choosing a church]

marketing and evangelism – a new model

Marketers and entrepreneurs might help expanding and clarify this post, along with others as these are thoughts in the making…

I am coining the terms “permission evangelism” and “participation evangelism“. So from now on – if you use those terms – please credit me :-)

Old style marketing has been called “interruption marketing” or “interruptive marketing“. This is unsolicited, impersonal,… It is about trying to catch a person’s attention through cold calling, a television advertisement, newspaper ad, a booth at a show,… I understand the term was coined by Seth Godin. Many a graph illustrates the result – many marketers battling to get a potential buyer’s attention, and ultimately numbing the customer who tunes out of all the advertising.

The distinction is somewhat fuzzy, but newer style marketing tends to be “permission marketing” or “participation marketing“. This is much more about hospitality, about the person anticipating the approach which is personal and welcomed. It is much more about a dialogue initiated by the potential buyer (or after a much more discrete “interruption”). It is unlike a television advertisement which interrupts a person’s experience to (regularly) share information in which they have no interest. Interruptive marketing is a modern style of marketing which requires little or no participation with the person being marketed to. Permission marketing is a post-modern style, regularly involving social media and requiring personal participation along with the “product”.

Now translate this into evangelism. Old style marketing parallels evangelism as the street-corner, bible-bashing approach, which interrupts people, hands them a tract, uses a “one size fits all” approach. It first hopes to create the sense of need which can then be fulfilled by the rest of the message. In our post-modern, multi-faith environment, of course, like old style marketing, the potential convert’s attention is ultimately numbed and tunes out.

Contemporary (post-modern) “permission evangelism” or “participation evangelism” is much more about a relationship in which a person’s real need is discovered and the gospel is found to be “Good News” for their real need.

Churches, it seems to me, are so often empty of a whole section of society, or a whole band of age-groups, because no one is actually finding out what their real needs are. They certainly have real values, meaning, spiritual needs. Let’s go out and find out what they actually are – rather than assuming what they are and telling them what they are. Do we not trust that the gospel addresses the needs that they will present us with?

The distinctions of the two types above may be more blurry than here delineated. This may be an oversimplification. The comments box is open for your clarifications.

St Mark – April 25


Richard Bauckham in Jesus and the Eyewitnesses argues strongly for Peter’s perspective behind our gospel “according to Mark”. If you want to get the flavour of this book, a lot of it is online.  Papias, writing in the early second century, states that Mark was the “interpreter” of Peter, and that he wrote down (”but not in order”) the stories that he had heard Peter tell in his preaching about the life and teachings of Jesus. Part of our problem is that scholars have increasingly become more and more specialised so that it is rare for a biblical scholar to be competent in early patristics, and so on. We need scholars who can synthesise as well as critique a variety of disciplines together.

Almighty God, who by the hand of Mark the evangelist have given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Reflect on readings March 15

2nd Sunday in Lent

Text of the readings
All reflections at Category: Lectionary

Exodus 20:1-17

tencommandmentsExodus 34:28 indicates that the terms of the covenant is literally “ten words” (hence, better “decalogue”). We translate this as the “Ten Commandments”, but of course there are four different numbering systems of where the divisions of the commandments in fact occur (more info here). Another version is found in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. And then there is Exodus 34:11-27. Each commandment appears to have undergone its own complex development, with this final text possibly being post-exilic.

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The Mediterranean world was intrigued by paradox and reversal, but also believed, either through logic (Gentiles) or through God’s faithfulness (Israelites) that reality was predictable. Crucifixion runs counter to this world-view. Crucifixion is counter-cultural.

John 2:13-22

Tyre Shekel

Tyre Shekel

“Remembered” (John 2:17 & 22) are used to indicate the process of reflection and interpretation that the story has undergone in the lengthy process towards it being incorporated into this text. All the gospels record the cleansing of the Temple. The synoptic gospels place it close to Holy Week, relating it to being a cause for the growing antipathy against Jesus. John gives the raising of Lazarus this prominence. Roman denarii and Attic drachmas had pLiturgy › Add New Post — WordPressaortraits that would have been uncacceptable for paying Temple tax (cf. Matthew 17:27). Hence, moneychangers converted these into Tyre coinage which was acceptable (image – more here).

It appears Caiaphas may have introduced holding the animals, required for sacrifice, within the Temple complex, rather than outside its precincts.

The Amidah, or Shmona Esre, the eighteen benedictions central to Jewish liturgy, continues to pray at number fourteen Bo’ne Yerushalayim – asking God to rebuild Jerusalem with its temple and re-establish the Kingdom of David. This gospel text has a similar combination of temple and messianic expectation, but surprisingly within its Medditeranaean context connects it all to Jesus’ risen body.

Reflect on readings March 8

2nd Sunday in Lent

Text of the readings
All reflections at Category: Lectionary

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

This is from the P(riestly) version of the covenant with Abraham. The J version is Genesis Chapter 15 [hence the lack of acknowledgement that the covenant has already been established two chapters earlier]. Today’s reading skips the innovation of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. El Shaddai meant “God, the One of the Mountain” (cf. Judges 5:5). In the Priestly tradition YHWH (LORD) was revealed to Moses (Exodus 6:2-3). Changing name (verse 5) changes one’s destiny. J does not stress Sarah’s part – here, her being ninety on top of lifelong inability to bear children, underscores the supernatural quality.

Roman Catholics use Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Psalm 22:23-31

Romans 4:13-25

Paul wrote this letter either from Corinth or Cenchrae, the port of Corinth in 57 or 58CE. Translations of verse 13 are regularly incorrect σπερματι is seed (singular). The promise is not to Judean Israelites (regularly mistranslated anachronistically as “jews”) but to Abraham and his seed (singular). “Wrath” refers to God defending His honour. No disobedience – no dishonour. Verse 25 does not have “to death” in the original. “Handed over” and “raised” are in the passive.

Roman Catholics use Romans 8:31b-34

Mark 8:31-38

“This adulterous and sinful generation” is a questioning of the parentage of the listeners who are unprepared to join Jesus’ new “kindom”. Peter is rebuked as “Satan” the tester of loyalty. Jesus realises the consequences of rising above the status of his birth.

Mark 9:2-9

See Transfiguration

Please add your insights, reflections, sermon suggestions, hymn suggestions – anything positive and useful (even layout and web organisational ideas) – in the comments box. I will choose to publish from what is sent here. Do not send anonymous comments. You can follow comments (and posts) by the Entries Feed and Comments Feed at the bottom of the page.

Don’t forget: each week I also publish a reflection on the collect/opening prayer.

Reflect on readings March 1

1st Sunday in Lent

Text of the readings
Reflect on readings February 15 or Transfiguration Sunday
All reflections at Category: Lectionary

Genesis 9:8-1

The Hebrew people were terrified of water. The psalms, for example, are full of water as a metaphor for danger. Whilst being a nation on the Mediterranean coast, they only had a navy under King Solomon. The story of the exile, with the destruction of all and the return of a small, faithful remnant to start afresh is well retold using an ancient flood story. God has been shooting the arrows of his flood at his people. Now God hangs up his bow in the clouds.

Psalm 25:1-10

1 Peter 3:18-22

Verses 18 and 22 appear to come from a hymn or creed.

Verses 19-21 requires familiarity with the Book of Enoch. This book is quoted in  Jude 1:14-15 and by many Church Fathers. It is held to be part of the Bible by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Genesis 6:1-2 reads: “When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.” In Enoch’s understanding, the sinning angels had intercourse with humans who gave birth to giants. This sets up the original sin punished by the flood. God eternally imprisons the angels who continue to encourage sin on earth. Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) is taken up into heaven where he tells the angels that they will be imprisoned (1 Enoch 6-21). In today’s text Jesus is another Enoch.

Mark 1:9-15

Jesus has left the safety of his kinship group and will establish another form of kinship group. Joining John the baptiser, Jesus has an experience of altered state of consciousness (cf. Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 42:1). The Mediterranean reader of Mark, the first and here simplest Gospel account of the Temptations, would see the honour ascribed to Jesus at his baptism inevitably lead to that honour being tested. Honour requires acknowledgement by others – as there is no such acknowledgement within the story, the readers of Mark’s text are challenged to grant Jesus this honour.

John is Jesus’ mentor (cf. John 3:22; 4:2). Jesus picks up the leadership of John’s movement and transforms it when John is arrested. Jesus, of course, attracts followers to himself, posing a dilemma for John and John’s disciples (cf. Luke 7:18-23). This longer process is telescoped into todays summary. “Believe” is not to be understood as a merely mental excercise. It is be loyal to, be commited to.

Please add your insights, reflections, sermon suggestions, hymn suggestions – anything positive and useful (even layout and web organisational ideas) – in the comments box. I will choose to publish from what is sent here. Do not send anonymous comments. You can follow comments (and posts) by the Entries Feed and Comments Feed at the bottom of the page.

Don’t forget: each week I also publish a reflection on the collect/opening prayer.

Reflect on Transfiguration Sunday (Sunday before Lent)

Transfiguration Icon

Transfiguration Icon

Whilst February 22 Roman Catholics, New Zealand Anglicans and others will be reading Mark 2:1-12 etc., those following the Revised Common Lectionary will generally be celebrating the Transfiguration with the following readings.

Mark 9:2-9

This describes an altered state of consciousness understood and experienced in 90% of cultures studied by anthropologists, but blocked in the contemporary, secular, materialististic Western culture, where we deny and fear that which we cannot control. Some scholars see this as a resurrection story projected back into Jesus’ life, others describe it as “eschatological” – a “preview of coming attractions”. Jesus is there with the great lawgiver and the great prophet. Mountan, witnesses, signs, and shared experience are common to similar biblical theophanies (Exodus 19-20; 34; 1 Kings 19:4-18). Jesus’ sonship, declared in Mark 1:1, and 1:11 is re-arffirmed here at the centre of the gospel – this will lead to its declaration at the end by the centurion. This underscores the nature of Jesus’ group (kin-like), his mission, and the challenge to be loyal to him.

Please add your insights, reflections, sermon suggestions, hymn suggestions – anything positive and useful (even layout and web organisational ideas) – in the comments box. I will choose to publish from what is sent here. Do not send anonymous comments. You can follow comments (and posts) by the Entries Feed and Comments Feed at the bottom of the page.

Don’t forget: each week I also publish a reflection on the collect/opening prayer.

Reflect on readings February 22

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 7th Sunday after Epiphany – 1st Sunday before Lent

Text of the readings
Reflect on Transfiguration readings

Reflect on readings February 15
All reflections at Category: Lectionary

I am aware that on this Sunday, many following the Revised Common Lectionary will be celebrating the Transfiguration with different readings. Please go to that linked post to add your reflections there. Roman Catholics and others will be using the following readings. New Zealand Anglicans had the option in their lectionary to celebrate the Transfiguration on this day, but that was stopped, without any explanation I can find, after 2005. Anyone who knows why that option was removed for the last four years, please add that in the comments also.

Isaiah 43:18-25

The context of this Second Isaiah section, addressing the Israelite audience living in Babylon towards the end of the exile (597-539BCE) is the previous verses (11-17):

11 I, I am the LORD (YHWH), and besides me there is no savior…
13 I am God, and also henceforth I am He; …
14 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: …
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; … (of whom Moses is an image)

Psalm 41

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Many scholars consider 2 Corinthians to be a collection of fragments of possibly five letters to the Corinthians around a dispute. 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:13; 7:5-16 is possibly written after the dispute about what Paul terms “super apostles” (2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14).

Paul had broken his promise to visit Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:5). Middle Eastern culture of shame and honour requires one to answer a question, saying what I think you will want to hear. If I have no answer, I would be shamed. Hence I will give you one anyway. Your task is to work out if my answer is reliable.  Paul’s broken promise, within this context, leads to doubting both the trustworthiness of Paul, and of his message. 1 Corinthians 1:23-22 is Paul’s attempt to justify  not making his third, promised visit.

Mark 2:1-12

This is the fourth Sunday healing gospel in a row – each with a different emphasis:
Mark 1:21-28 An Unclean Spirit
Mark 1:29-39 A Fever
Mark 1:40-45 Leprosy
Mark 2:1-12 Paralysis

The Mediterannean gossip network is functioning effectively. Jesus “at home” is more “Jesus is now where everyone knows him” than a geographical statement. Mark’s “mat” (Gk krabattos) indicates the poor social status of the man (and probably of his community). He is upgraded in Matthew and Luke to having a “bed” (kline) – this may indicate a different social status of Matthew and Luke’s communities. The commitment of the community to its weak, poor members is highlighted.

“Do you believe in Jesus?” in my ministry context is regularly confused with “Do you accept that Jesus was actually a historical person?” Faith in the New Testament would be better translated as “commitment” or “loyalty”. It is the faith and loyalty of the group of friends rather than that of the sick man that leads to Jesus’ action.

A house in RafidThey “dig through the roof” is an historically more accurate description of the design of the houses.

Rafid, located on the Golan Heights about 30 kilometers East of the Sea of Galilee, was destroyed in the Yom Kippur War and the subsequent military activities between Israel and Syria. It had numerous ancient buildings including examples of building styles typical during the Roman period. These were standing from foundation to rafters and had been thoroughly surveyed after the Six Day War by Dan Urman, Shmuel Bar-Lev, and Moshe Hartal. “Because of the scarcity of timber, the houses in Rafid were completely built of basalt, including the ceiling. Corbel stones projected from the walls and long basalt beams were laid across them with the resulting space covered by cross slabs. This was then covered with plaster to make it waterproof.” (see image; source).

“Which is easier, to say?”
1) actually it is just as easy to say one as the other
2) it appears easier to forgive sins – as that is an “invisible reality”
3) it is actually easier to have the man stand up, take up his mat and walk – as forgiveness is a much deeper reality.

Leviticus 21:16-24, Deuteronomy 23:1-2 highlights that in their context a lame person is excluded from God’s holy community. Disease focuses on the medical issues. Illness focuses on the social issues. We cure a disease. We heal an illness. Jesus first heals the paralytic. He addresses him as “son”. He is made a member of Jesus’ kinship group – the kindom of heaven (sic.) Upon the grumbling of the scribes Jesus cures the man as well. “Go home” – Jesus restores him to his own community.

Please add your insights, reflections, sermon suggestions, hymn suggestions – anything positive and useful (even layout and web organisational ideas) – in the comments box. I will choose to publish from what is sent here. Do not send anonymous comments. You can follow comments (and posts) by the Entries Feed and Comments Feed at the bottom of the page.

Don’t forget: each week I also publish a reflection on the collect/opening prayer.

Reflect with me on the readings for February 8

Previously I have provided a brief introduction to the Sunday readings, with context and background (example). I am experimentally trying something new here: You can add your insights, reflections, sermon suggestions, hymn suggestions – anything positive and useful (even layout and web organisational ideas) – in the comments box. I will choose to publish from what is sent here. Do not send anonymous comments. This is in the nature of community lectio divina. If you know anywhere else on the internet where the Sunday readings are being discussed, please send that URL as a resource. I think we will look about two weeks ahead. Hence we begin with

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 5th Sunday after Epiphany – 3rd Sunday before Lent

Text of the readings

Isaiah 40:21-31

“Second Isaiah” Chapters 40-55 addresses those living in exile in Babylon towards the end of the Babylonian exile (597-539 BCE). “Deutero-Isaiah” builds on the eighth century prophet Isaiah’s message of holiness, with words of consolation. Whilst some Judean exiles would have thought their God had been defeated by Babylonia’s gods, the argument from 40:12 highlights the LORD is the only true God, leading to the conclusion in today’s text.
(Roman Catholics use Job 7:1-4, 6-7)

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

The Macedonians were in fact supporting Paul as he wrote this (2 Corinthians 11:7-9), so his claim that the gospel is free is primarily to make a point. In this early Mediterranean world people understood there to be a limited total amount of goods. So if I give you something – then I have less. Furthermore, my giving to you would demand that you give something to me. This text cuts across this cultural expectation.

Mark 1:29-39

Simon’s mother-in-law would be expected to be with her husband, or if she is a widow, with her sons. This story is suggesting that within her culture she is suffering far more than a physical illness. Jesus, as so often in his healing stories, is not merely healing her physically, the story indicates he restores her to her meaningful place within the community.

St Peter's HouseThe floor-plan of the first century house of St Peter in Capernaum (illustrated from The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)

“The city’s basalt houses are grouped around two large courtyards, one to the north and the other to the south. One large room in particular, near the east side and joining both courtyards, was especially large (sides about 7.5 meters long) and roughly square. An open space on the eastern side contained a brick oven. A threshold which allowed crossing between the two courtyards remains well-preserved to this day.” Wikipedia (link off this site) In such a complex lived Jonah, his sons Andrew and Simon (Peter), Simon’s wife, possible children, and today’s mother-inlaw. The patrilocal practice of marriage meant that the bride moved in to the home prepared by the groom in or adjacent to that of his father.

Reconstruction and excavation

The image (left) shows a reconstruction of this house as it may have appeared in Jesus’ day, and the excavations. This is drawn from this Bible Encyclopaedia.

Richard Bauckham Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony argues (following Cuthbert Turner’s 1925 suggestion) that the plural-to-singular narrative device seen here (”they…they…they…he…) characteristic in Mark (and turned to singulars in Matthew and Luke’s parallels!) indicate Peter’s telling of this story behind Mark’s account. The awkward Markan phrasing could be a reworking of “We left the synagogue and came into our house with our fellow-disciples James and John. My mother-in-law was in bed with fever, and he is told about her” (page 159 – quoting Turner).

Don’t forget: each week I also publish a reflection on the collect/opening prayer.

With whom would you not share God’s love?

Do you really believe something if you don’t share it?
Can you be the sort of person others can respectfully disagree with?
Can we learn to live together on this planet – with different beliefs?