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Nazareth Then and Now
Ancient Nazareth lacked the critical advantages for its development as a significant settlement: abundant water supply, an elevated site for defensive purposes, and strategic location adjacent to a major highway. The most comprehensive recent study of the archeology of ancient Nazareth and its local region was completed by Ken Dark over several seasons between 2004…
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The oldest hatred
Presentation to a panel discussion sponsored by the Jewish Council of Australia at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane on Monday, 29 September 2025. The topic of the event was: Should anti-Semitism be exceptionalised or should we combat all forms of racism together? Co-hosts for the event included: Doykeit (a local Jewish group in Brisbane), St John’s…
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Easter 4C (21 April 2013)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 Introduction: The Good Shepherd 3 Hebrew Scriptures 3.1 Genesis 3.2 Numbers 3.3 2 Samuel 3.4 1 Kings 3.5 Isaiah 3.6 Jeremiah 3.7 Ezekiel 3.8 Micah 3.9 Nahum 3.10 Zechariah 3.11 Psalms 3.12 Ecclesiastes 4 Deuterocanonical Writings 4.1 Judith 4.2 Sirach 4.3 2 Esdras 5 New Testament Texts 5.1 Matthew 5.2 Mark…
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Study Leave—Week Six
The past week has been a delightful mix of experiences. The week began and ended with new chapters being completed. This means that half of the new book now exists in draft form, and I have some growing sets of notes for several of the other chapters. I seem to be on track to have…
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Easter 3C (14 April 2013)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 Acts 9: Paul’s encounter with the Risen Lord 3 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 4 Lakeside in Galilee 4.1 John P. Meier 4.2 John Shelby Spong 4.3 Bethsaida: A fishing village by the Sea of Galilee 5 Jesus Database 6 Liturgies and Prayers 6.1 Music Suggestions Lectionary Acts 9:1-6,…
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Study Leave—Week Five
This has been a quieter week in some ways, but quite a productive one as well. The weekend part of the week saw an overlap between the Western Easter and the final days of the Pesach holidays. The country seemed to be on holiday mode pretty well much of the time, although I was challenged…
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The myth of final security
Jesus may have seemed not much more than an irritation to the Roman rulers. How wrong they were. Just yesterday I was walking through the impressive ruins of a 13C fortress high on a mountain near the Israel/Lebanon border. More pictures at my Flickr album. At the time the people who invested energy and funds…
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Easter 2C (7 April 2013)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 Introduction 3 First Reading: Obedience to God comes first 4 Second Reading: The coming One 5 Beyond Locked Doors 6 Jesus Database 7 Liturgies and Prayers 7.1 Music suggestions Lectionary Acts 5:27-32 & Psalm 118:14-29 (or Psalm 150) Rev 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 Introduction During the great Fifty Days of Easter, the…
