Do Non-Lutherans Pay Attention to LCMS Theology?
…or is it the best kept secret in American Christianity?
…or is it the best kept secret in American Christianity?
By Paul R. Raabe This gospel lesson records part of Jesus’s Galilean ministry, after he went down from Nazareth to Capernaum. Here we see Jesus teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick. It is important when preaching on this text to put it into the right slot or category. Here the malady is not human ..
. . . from the SBL Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (Nov 21-24, 2015)
by Paul R. Raabe During the Easter season the epistle lessons come from 1 John. The epistle lesson appointed for the third Sunday of Easter is 1 John 3:1–7. Here is the helpful translation and lineation given by Bruce Schuchard in his commentary on the Johannine Epistles: See what kind of love the Father has given us, that ..
Paul Raabe continues the discussion of the Old Testament pericopies in Advent Year B
By Paul R. Raabe Acts 1:12–26 narrates what the followers of Jesus did after his ascension. They remained in Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded (Acts 1:4). Luke names the eleven disciples and then summarizes that they were together in unity dedicated to prayer. “All these were continuously devoted (present participle) with one accord to prayer together with women, also ..
In the piety of Lenten self-reflection, the confession of our sin holds a prominent place. Especially for Lutherans who recognize that, as simul iustus et peccator, our confession of sin is comprehensive. The words of Isaiah 64 quickly become our own: “we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like ..
The periodical published by the Institute for Biblical Research, known as “Bulletin for Biblical Research” (23/4, 2013), included a positive review of Reed Lessing’s commentary on Isaiah 40-55. Gary Smith of Bethel Seminary writes: “Overall, this is an outstanding and unique commentary with valuable lexical and syntactic notes to help those who need a little ..
Mark Driscoll thinks Jesus was a cage-fighter. What does this mean?
By Paul R. Raabe The epistle lesson for the Sixth Sunday in Lent/Palm Sunday (series C) is the famous Carmen Christi of Philippians 2:5–11. Because verses 6–11 display poetic hymn-like qualities, Greek editions rightly present them as a poem. It consists of two halves of equal size: verses 6–8 (10 lines—90 syllables) and verses 9–11 ..
The Lord laid on him . .
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Reflecting on Christ’s words along the way to the cross
By Paul R. Raabe Numbers 21:4–9 is the appointed Old Testament lesson for Lent 4 in series B, where it is paired with John 3:14–21 as the Gospel lesson. It is also appointed for Holy Cross Day (Sept. 14) with John 12:20–33 as the Gospel lesson. Both Gospel lessons appropriately correspond with the Numbers 21 ..
By Paul Raabe John 9 is the appointed gospel lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Series A). The appointed Old Testament lesson works well with the gospel lesson, since Isaiah 42:14–21 announces both God’s promise to lead the blind and his rebuke of ancient Israel for its spiritual blindness. Jesus picks up this Isaianic ..
Acts 10:40-41 A Devotion for Easter Season 2010 Paul R. Raabe “This one God raised on the third day and gave him to become manifest, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” Christianity is ..