Category Archives: Bible

News and information about biblical studies.

The Fourth R

Posted on May 14, 2019 by

For years now educators have reminded us of the need to address the “three R’s”: Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic. At the same time, Religion scholars and especially those of us engaged critical biblical studies have been warning people not to … Continue reading →

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Sarcasm as a ​rhetorical​ tool

Posted on May 7, 2019 by

The axiom, “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence”, is usually attributed to Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright who lived in the second half of the 1800s. That attribution may not be … Continue reading →

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The stories that define us

Posted on February 13, 2018 by

In his daily meditation for this past Sunday, Richard Rohr correctly invites us to embrace the concept of original blessing and eschew meta-narratives of violence, since these are stories that shape us. I have immense respect for Rohr and his … Continue reading →

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The ‘First Peoples’ of Palestine

Posted on March 12, 2017 by

In a recent op ed piece for the Australian Financial Review, Nyunggai Warren Mundine has suggested that the Jewish people are the only surviving descendants of the ‘first peoples’ of Palestine, and as such enjoy an exclusive claim to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Palestine | 9 Comments

A birth certificate for Jesus

Posted on March 26, 2014 by

A Birth Certificate for Jesus This is a pre-publication extract from Gregory C. Jenks,  Jesus Then and Jesus Now: Looking for Jesus, Finding Ourselves. (Melbourne: Mosaic Press, 2014) Pages 118–22. For people researching their family history, the birth certificate of … Continue reading →

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Jewish Biblical Scholarship

Posted on March 2, 2014 by

Contemporary biblical scholarship is mostly non-confessional. In other words, critical scholars are open to insights from all qualified contributors, irrespective of their personal religious affiliation (or lack thereof). The major critical tools will include material written by Anglicans, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, … Continue reading →

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Why bother with the Old Testament

Posted on February 1, 2014 by

A sermon for the ‘Debate the Preacher’ series at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane on Sunday, 2 February 2014. It has fallen to me to begin this new series of ‘Debate the Preacher’ as we explore the significance of the … Continue reading →

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The Occupation of the Bible

Posted on January 11, 2014 by

Wednesday, 20 November, 1100–1230 Text for an introductory presentation to a panel at the Ninth International Sabeel Conference, Jerusalem on Wednesday, 20  November 2013. [video] The conference organisers indicated as follows: What are some of the common ways to misinterpret … Continue reading →

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Why visit Israel and Palestine?

Posted on January 4, 2014 by

Yesterday I was asked by a journalist for a couple of lines about why I visit Israel so often, and what it means to me as a person of faith? For me, the most important thing about taking students to … Continue reading →

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Does the Bible have a future?

Posted on November 21, 2013 by

Thursday, 21 November, 0900–1030 Text for an introductory presentation to a panel at the Ninth International Sabeel Conference, Jerusalem on Thursday,21  November 2013. [video] The conference organisers indicated as follows: This panel discussion arises out of the following critical awareness: … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Sabeel | 2 Comments