Theology Unpacked: Raw Edition

We explore the way the judgment theme is worked out in a very different form in John’s Gospel – with end time judgment being aligned with belief in the Son of Man, and with the disputes about judgment acquiring a distinctive contemporary relevance for John’s readers. 

This episode looks at the different ways the synoptic writers narrate Jesus’ prophetic judgment speech over the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, and the subtly different perspectives on the end time in each author 

We move to Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem through the eyes of the synoptic Gospel writers, Mark, Matthew and Luke, reflecting on the individual authors editorial choices and narrative emphases.  The focus is on the series of disputes with the religious leaders in the Temple. 

Here we focus in on ideas of sin and atonement in the Jewish tradition that lie at the back of much Christian language and its relation to other contemporary ancient traditions, in particular the mystery cult of Isis.  We branch into reflections on the first Christian ascetics, the desert fathers, and the way the Christian Lent fits into the theme of atonement and the ascetics choice of the desert...

This episode reflects on the big existential themes of cosmic justice, reward and punishment in cultures before the time of Christianity.  This helps give context to how the big themes of Christian salvation were framed and received.  In particular, the narrative of vindicating the just man (or woman). 

Exploring a challenging theme for those brought up with a modern ‘scientific worldview’. How to think about miracles in general and in the Gospels in particular as meaning-events, communicative signs of God’s relationship with God’s people. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading material...

A reprise of themes from branch two rooted in the Gospel narratives and the letters of Paul. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join online or in-person courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  at the London Jesuit Centre If you f...

The lived experience of God present in one’s life, and how that seems to be articulated in the world of the New Testament. The centrality of the Spirit and of the person, Jesus. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠J...

Exploring the different layers of text articulating expectations for those who commit to a Christian way of life, and the different models present in early Christianity itself, the importance of character, intention and grace. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Contrasting sets of dialogues leading to a choice for or against Jesus: the crowds after the feeding of the five thousand; the Judaeans and Pharisees in chapters 8 and 10; the last supper discourses to the disciples. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in th...

Dialogues of encounter which lead the central figure and the reader to a deeper insight into who Jesus is: Nathaniel, witnesses in Jerusalem, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join...

The shape of the Gospel narrative in John: festivals, signs, places, dialogues and meditations; revealing Jesus as Son of God. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join online or in-person courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  at...

Exploring some significant differences between John and the other Gospels in structure and layers of composition. Traditional identifications for the author of the Gospel. Developed theology of Jesus as the Word and Wisdom of God. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Exploring the sensitive issue of Gospel explanations for the destruction of Jerusalem as divine judgment: contrasting approaches of Matthew and Luke. The reset of Christian-Jewish relations in the declarations of Vatican II. The importance of careful and contextual reading of ancient text. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Another key Lucan theme: the outsider. Samaritans and the restoration of Israel. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join online or in-person courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  at the London Jesuit Centre If you find our podc...

Exploring the theme of mercy and forgiveness highlighted by Luke – the disastrous dinner parties. Mercy and the cross.

Looking at the structure and style of Luke’s Gospel, similarities and contrasts with Matthew and Mark. More developed narrative arcs. More subtle treatment of the Pharisees. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join...

A different approach to embedding prophetic references in the narrative text. Continuity of salvation history between the Tanach writings and the Christian era. The importance of the ‘people’; the end time and justice for the oppressed. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠...

The sermon on the mount and other teaching as the foundation for a new, authentic way of living the message of the Tanach and the life of the covenant. The Pharisees in Matthew and confrontations with the emerging Jewish authorities after the destruction of the Temple. Jesus, judge at the end time and the call to service of the poor. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ,...

A possible hint of Matthew’s self-understanding, relating to Jesus through Torah as Wisdom and Teacher. The great collections of Jesus’ teaching material. Distinctive features of Matthew’s narrative style, making Tanach connections clear and unambiguous. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of re...

Exploring Matthew’s possible sources and key concerns; the relations between Jewish Christians and non-Christian Jews. Indicators in the infancy stories. The importance of Torah and the ambiguity of Matthew’s message. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in t...

Exploring the relationship between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Different theories of Gospel origins.  ‘Q’ a hidden source.  Differences of emphasis in the different writers – presentation of the disciples. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in t...

Readers and Phases of the Gospel:  the first phase, revelation of the Messiah; the second phase, from Galilee to Jerusalem – the Messiah who must suffer and die.  Phase three, the Passover week. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in the Heythrop Library 🤓 ...

One possible account of how Mark structures his Gospel and of what he might be trying to do through this structure: a gradual revelation to the reader that Jesus, the crucified one, is the Messiah, the Son of God. A relation to the readers experience. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of re...

A best guess story for the transmission of the story fragments that find their way into the four official Gospels. The significance of the destruction of the Temple after the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 70 CE. 📧  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for regular updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , including follow-up study days! 📚 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore the wide range of reading materials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  in t...