I think that N. T. Wright and Michael Bird may slowly be coming round to seeing things my way, even if they’re not aware of the fact. In the first chapter of their co-authored book, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies, they make a case for understanding the kingdom of God theme in the New Testament as a function of the contest between Christianity and pagan Rome. Let’s begin with a quick summary of their argument about the kingdom of Jesus in the shadow of empire and then consider some of its strengths and weaknesses.
Joel Green’s second post on the kingdom of God begins with an excellent thought attributed to Marianne Meye Thompson: Jesus did not bring the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God brought Jesus. Very good!
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Joel Green is doing a series of posts on the kingdom of God on Substack. He has some good things to say about how narrative works, but his argument about the kingdom of God doesn’t escape the gravitational pull of planet theology. I will summarise his posts and try to show where and why and… ()
In Romans 9:4-5 Paul lists the several prerogatives of his own people, the Jews, the last being that from them is “the messiah according to the flesh.” Then comes this clause: “the one being over all God blessed forever, amen.”Here we have the christological crux.Do we put a period after “according… ( | 2 comments)
The group of people criticised in Romans 1:18-32 is said to have known the truth about God and to have known God but also to have departed from that knowledge by worshipping and serving the creature rather the creator. Jason Staples has argued that this can be said only of Israel, not of the… ()
There is much to like about and much to learn from Jason Staples’ book Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites, but I have serious doubts about the central thesis, which is that Paul’s overarching goal is the regathering and restoration of all Israel… ( | 4 comments)
Immediately after the catastrophe of the war against Rome, Jesus tells his disciples, the Son of Man will be seen coming with the clouds of heaven (Matt. 24:29-30). Certain things will then ensue. The angels will gather those whom he had chosen and sent out to the ends of the earth with the message… ( | 1 comment)
The debate about Christmas and politics goes on. Reflecting on Tommy Robinson’s campaign to “put Christ back into Christmas,” soon-to-be Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, is quoted in an interview. ( | 1 comment)
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