Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD

First Reading

Religion EN ↓ 344 episodes

First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital University), Rosy Kandathil is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, Dr. Tim McNinch is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary, and Paul Essah is a PhD student in Hebrew Bible at Yale University. In addition to short weekly episodes, they periodically invite a leading Hebrew Bible scholar for a longer conversation about the nitty-gritty of the week's text.

Author

Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD

Episodes

Psalm 23 17.04.2023 12:17

A Shepherd's Perspective on the Shepherd Psalm Lectionary Date: April 30, 2023 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year A] Paul reads the famous psalm through the eyes of his grandmother in Ghana.

Psalm 116: 1–4, 12–19 10.04.2023 9:09

When I was Hanging by a Thread Lectionary Date: April 23, 2023 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A] Tim looks at a prayer of thanksgiving with a theme of new life.

Psalm 16 03.04.2023 12:20

Feel the Love Lectionary Date: April 16, 2023 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A] Paul is up this week for some insights into the psalm of the week!

Jeremiah 31:1–6 27.03.2023 13:31

Easter's Fresh Start Lectionary Date: April 9, 2023 [Easter Sunday, Year A] Tim finds the "Easter-y" resonance in an ancient prophetic text—and we welcome our newest co-host, Paul Essah!

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Isaiah 50:4–9a 20.03.2023 38:04

Palm and Passion Sunday Lectionary Date: April 2, 2023 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year A] It's a party episode, featuring our newest regular cohost: Paul Essah!

Ezekiel 37:1–14 13.03.2023 16:55

I am the Resurrection and the Life Lectionary Date: March 26, 2023 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year A] Rosy puts the first reading and gospel reading into conversation.

1 Samuel 16:1–13 06.03.2023 10:51

God Rejects Us? Lectionary Date: March 19, 2023 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year A] Rachel takes a risky angle with David's origin story.

John 4:5–42 27.02.2023 18:03

A Model Disciple Lectionary Date: March 12, 2023 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A] Rosy listens for Hebrew Bible resonances in a famous Gospel text.

Genesis 12:1–4a 20.02.2023 12:22

The Land I Will Show You Lectionary Date: March 5, 2023 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A] Rachel perceives an interested intertextuality between Gen 12 and John 3.

Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7 13.02.2023 30:34

Party Episode! Lectionary Date: February 26, 2023 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year A] Our three hosts are together to chat about a foundational story.

Exodus 24:12–18 06.02.2023 12:18

Jesus Cosplays Moses Lectionary Date: February 19, 2023 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year A] Tim proposes that this isn't about Jesus' divinity.

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 30.01.2023 12:04

Looking Back at a Fork in the Road Lectionary Date: February 12, 2023 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] Rosy highlights the message of Moses's sermon for future audiences looking back.

Psalm 112:1–9 23.01.2023 14:59

Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum: The Rhythm of Life Lectionary Date: February 5, 2023 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] Rachel dives into the poetry of life in this week's psalm.

Micah 6:1–8 16.01.2023 15:37

What Prophecy Is and Is Not Lectionary Date: January 29, 2023 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] Guest host, Paul Essah (PhD student at Yale), hits the high points of this famous text.

Isaiah 9:1–4 09.01.2023 17:21

Treasures Old and New Lectionary Date: January 22, 2023 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] Rosy explores the interpretive backdrop of the NT reading with a review of Isaiah's 8th-century prophecy.

Isaiah 49:1–7 02.01.2023 10:43

Who is the Light to the Nations? Lectionary Date: January 15, 2023 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] Rachel has a Christological take (surprise!) on Isaiah's servant song.

Isaiah 42:1–9 26.12.2022 15:49

We Are Part of Something Bigger Lectionary Date: January 8, 2023 [Baptism of the Lord, Year A] Rosy explores the multivalence of an ancient prophetic song.

Isaiah 63:7–9 19.12.2022 13:01

Hesed: Abiding Care and Commitment Lectionary Date: January 1, 2023 [1st Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A] Rachel has the perfectly perfect New Year's Day Sermon text.

Luke 2:1–20 12.12.2022 29:40

Episode #200... Time to Party! Lectionary Date: December 25, 2022 [Christmas Day, Year A] All three First Reading cohosts get together for a Christmas Party conversation all about the birth of Christ.

Isaiah 7:10–16 05.12.2022 12:58

Blast From the Past Lectionary Date: December 18, 2022 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year A] An archival episode this week, but don't miss our 200th (party) episode next week!

Psalm 146:5–10 28.11.2022 12:45

A Grammatical Diva Lectionary Date: December 11, 2022 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A] Tim spends some time in the grammar of Hebrew Poetry to make a theological discovery.

Isaiah 11:1–10 22.11.2022 11:35

Back to the Future Lectionary Date: December 4, 2022 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A] Rachel helps us hear the melodies and harmonies of this classic text.

Isaiah 2:1–5, with David Davage 14.11.2022 32:36

Authoring Peace Lectionary Date: November 27, 2022 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year A] It's Advent! To help us unpack the first reading for the first week of Advent, we have invited Dr. David Davage to join us. David is Associate Professor in Old Testament Exegesis at the Academy of Leadership and Theology, Umeå, Sweden. He is interested in the diachronic growth of the Psalms and the question of author...

Psalm 46 07.11.2022 15:08

Cease and Desist! Lectionary Date: November 20, 2022 [Reign of Christ Sunday, Year C] Tim finds the metaphorical thread that holds this famous psalm together—and it's not the image of peace you think it is!

Malachi 4:1–2a 04.11.2022 13:00

Hot, Hot, Hot! Lectionary Date: November 13, 2022 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy finds a wealth of sermon material in a very short text.