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Preaching Paths 20 October 2024 Proper 24B
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary A first step toward reliable interpretation of today’s gospel text, Mark 10:35-45, will be to expand the limits of the lection to include vv 32-34. Doing so makes clear that we have before us the third instance of a threefold literary structure in Mark: 1) Jesus predicts…
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Preaching Paths 13 October 2024 Proper 23
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s Gospel reading, Mark 10:17-31, Jesus is met on his way to Jerusalem by a man eager to “inherit eternal life.” Addressing Jesus as “good Teacher,” he respectfully asks for instruction. Jesus replies, first, with a question: “Why do you call me ‘good?’ God alone is…
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Proper 22 (27), 6th October 2024
Mark 10:2-16 Teaching on marriage 10:2Some testing him, asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 10:3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 10:4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 10:5But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he…
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Preaching Paths 6 October 2024 Proper 22
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 10:2-16), some Pharisees ask Jesus to vote up or down the lawfulness of divorcing one’s wife. Their motive may be less than innocent; they may hope he will answer in a way that draws the attention and ire of Herodias, who married…
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Preaching Paths 29 September2024
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mark scholars agree: today’s gospel lection, Mark 9:38-50, presents interpretive challenges.* John’s question about an “unauthorized” exorcist, as well as Jesus’ reply, seem at first glance far removed from our experience; yet they prompt us to think more deeply about the freedom of God’s liberating power to…
Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax 