This week, the Nativity Fast began for Orthodox Christians around the world. This 40-day period, is a time in which we prepare for the Nativity of our Lord according to the flesh. But, as we watch our diets and take
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The Impossible Burger and the Fast
Theophanies (Type-Scene 4)
If I were to ask you what feast Christians celebrate on January 6th, what would you say? It probably depends on which Christian tradition you were brought up in. If you are a western Christian, you’d probably say “Epiphany.” But,
Read moreThe Woman at the Well (Type-Scene 3)
In the Gospel of John, we hear the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well. Most sermons focus on the foreignness of the Samaritan woman: her identity as a “Samaritan” is contrasted with Jesus’s identity as a
Read moreThe Barren Women in Scripture (Type-Scene 2)
One motif that appears over and over again in the Bible is the image of the barren woman. All the matriarchs of Genesis had problems having children: Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel; and the motif appears again in the New Testament:
Read moreThe Cross, Archaeology, and Orthodox Hymns
If you could go back in time and speak with a 1st-century Roman about crucifixion and how the empire used them, what would they say? They might say that “… By [the cross] barbarian nations are subdued, by it the scepters of kings
Read moreThe Annunciation Convention (Type-Scene 1)
One of the first type-scenes, or conventions, in scripture that we’re going to look at is Annunciations. “Annunciation” is a Latin word that essentially means, “announcement.” But, for the original biblical readers, what would they have expected when an announcement
Read moreTranslating the Scene Instead of the Words
We all know that the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and, if we want to understand the Bible, we either need to learn the original languages or find a translation we understand. But, far too often,
Read moreThe Strange Readings for the Dormition
For every feast, the Orthodox Church has special readings. For most feasts, those readings tell the story of the feast. For example, at Christmas, we hear the story of Jesus’s birth; at Pascha, we hear about Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Read moreIt Isn’t Just Bread, Dear Disciples!
When is a story not just a story? When is bread much more than water, yeast, and salt? When is the command to “feed” someone more than a command to give someone actual food? When you’re dealing with the Bible,
Read moreRegulations for the Gentiles?
In today’s podcast, we continue our exploration of the Law and its relationship to Christians. However, this week we get a twist. Though the early Jewish-Christians in the Book of Acts don’t advocate for circumcision, they do apply some legal
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