Greg Carey
The essential challenge of anti-Judaism in the Bible
Do antisemitic appeals to the Bible always constitute an abuse of scripture? Would that it were so simple.
Do the best biblical scholars love Jesus?
Some questions—as opposed to a categorical judgment—about Joel Green's post
A Jewish and Christian commentary on Luke’s gospel
Amy-Jill Levine and Ben Witherington’s dialogue is most illuminating when the co-authors disagree.
Biblical hospitality
Joshua Jipp's book does something few biblical scholars attempt: it offers explicit proposals for the church.
The king of the Jews and the kin-dom of God (Matthew 2:1-12)
In Matthew, Jesus’ identity as king is the major source of conflict.
Prophecy grounded in history (Luke 2:22-40)
Anna and Simeon’s hope precedes their encounter with Jesus.
Pope Francis says God doesn’t lead us into temptation. What does the Bible say?
Who tests Abraham, or Jacob, or Jesus—and why?
A Jesus who embodies his own characters
Two refreshing new books place the storyteller within the story he tells.
Everyday theosis
Theosis is mission’s starting point. Believers are called to “become” the gospel through participation in the divine life.
Why theological schools need tenure
Theological schools occupy a unique place within higher education. With relatively small enrollments and modest endowments, seminaries feel the cutting edge of change. Online learning, new degree programs, and nontraditional scheduling proliferate. And rumors abound that one school or another might shut down.
Coming Out Christian in the Roman World, by Douglas Boin
The "Fall of Rome...is not a historical event; it's more akin to a theological idea." So proclaims Douglas Boin, sacking the understanding of early Christian identity that has prevailed since at least the second century.
Why do people cheat?
Several of my friends found inspiration in Katherine Willis Pershey’s recent encomium to fidelity in the Century. But I felt a strong aversion to the article, a reaction that’s led me into a period of self-examination. Upon reflection, I have almost no objection to the actual content of the article. It’s what Pershey doesn’t say—stuff she is not obliged to say—that has my attention.
Jesus against the Scribal Elite, by Chris Keith
Chris Keith sets out to answer two questions. What lay at the heart of the conflict between Jesus and some of the religious authorities of his day? And how, if at all, did Jesus read Israel’s scriptures?
Redeeming Administration, by Ann Garrido
Most spirituality books provide advice for cultivating the familiar set of spiritual disciplines. This book is different.
Bart Ehrman is part of a legitimate, ongoing conversation
It’s almost Easter, which can mean only one thing: it’s time for the blockbuster Bible bestsellers. Last week, Bart Ehrman promoted his new book, How Jesus Became God, on NPR’s Fresh Air. Ehrman advances a common argument: Christian conceptions of Jesus’ identity grew more elaborate with time. His followers first perceived Jesus as a remarkable preacher or prophet, but eventually believers came to regard him as God incarnate.
Although I was aware of Ehrman’s book, I missed the publicity blitz.
Zealot, by Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan’s Zealot arrived with an enormous splash. An engaging and personal interview on NPR’s Fresh Air attracted widespread interest....