biblical interpretation

Scripture shapes culture—but always through what we bring to it.

Willie James Jennings writes about tangible things—bodies, incarceration, healing—with graceful language that’s hard to pin down.

Jesus isn’t pitting himself against poor people. He’s one of them.

From baby in a basket to liberating lawgiver, Moses has been all things to all people.

Matthew L. Skinner recommends the best recently published books in his field.

The lines between sacred history and contemporary life are wonderfully, miraculously blurred.

Katharine Bushnell was a reforming whirlwind who left the mission field to campaign for temperance and against the sex trade.

The history of Palestinian Christian interpretation of the Old Testament reminds us of the nuanced, fragile nature of life in that region.

For the Bible to belong not only to the church or the academy but to the people, a guidebook is needed. Harvey Cox provides one.

Robert Gregg traces five scriptural stories as they were later understood by commentators—Jewish, Christian, and Muslim.

Mark Achtemeier and I once faced off at General Assembly over gay ordination. Sixteen years later, he preached at my ordination.

C. L. Seow explores how the book of Job might have been understood by its original writers and audiences, and how we might look at it now.

Parables aren’t too helpful, are they? Here’s what would be helpful: six steps to better discipleship. Or the three secrets of the kingdom of God, spelled out in an acrostic.

If only Jesus’ teachings were as simplistic as they are often portrayed.

Is John 1 a midrash on the creation story and the song of creative Wisdom? If so, its writer has infused it with profoundest joy.