Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary  Rhetorically, John 17 is prayer, overheard. The Son addresses the Father, praying as crisis looms for himself and those who have followed him. We are meant to lean in closely. The prayer’s opening verses comprise today’s reading. Homiletical prudence favors choosing either to focus on the profound…

St John 14:15-2114:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s reading, John 14:15-21, is a continuation of Jesus’ parting words to his followers. Much of its vocabulary echoes  previous verses. Yet, this section presents a significant new element. Jesus discloses a dynamic of multidirectional, mutual love connecting Jesus, the Father, and Jesus’ followers. This love is…

St John 14: 1-14 John 14:1-1414:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 14:2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 14:3 And if I go and…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary John 14 belongs to the collection of sayings of Jesus known as the “Farewell Discourses” (chs 13-17). Today’s text, Jn 14:1-14, needs to be read in its entirely in worship; yet given its vast theological range and sheer density of theological meaning, no preacher should attempt to…

St John 10:1-10 John 10:1-1010:1 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 10:2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s Gospel reading Jesus continues the theme of trustworthy versus untrustworthy spiritual leadership taken up in chapter 9. In chapter 9, a metaphor of “seeing/not seeing” distinguishes those who discern (in Jesus’ healing of a blind man) God’s redemptive activity through Jesus and those who are…

Luke 24:13-3524:13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 24:14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 24:16 but their eyes were…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary NT accounts of encounters with the risen Lord have in common a peculiar feature: in none of them is Jesus readily recognizable. Early Easter morning, Mary assumes she has met up with the gardener until she hears Jesus speak her name (John 20:15).  In John 21, the…