Tag Archives: Bible

The new St Mary’s MA in Biblical Studies

We are very excited about our new MA in Biblical Studies at St Mary’s University, taught by the team from the Centre for the Social-Scientific Study of the Bible, which will be available from September 2017 (first classes mid-September). We’ve designed the MA around our research interests and expertise, so you’ll be getting us at our best and most enthusiastic! It will ideal preparation for doctoral work in Biblical Studies, or as continuing development for those in Christian ministry as priests, pastors, ministers and the like. Continue reading →

It’s here! A new book on Acts, masculinity and politics

I’m delighted to say that my editor’s copy of this book popped through the door this week. It’s a fascinating collection of essays looking at the Book of Acts through the lenses of masculinity and ancient politics. The papers and responses were presented at meetings of the SBL Book of Acts section in 2014 and 2015, and they are very thoughtful, wide-ranging and stimulating to read. The authors are an international collection of scholars with considerable expertise in both Acts and the major themes of the Continue reading →

I (Still) Believe—a helpful (and very varied) book

No, not this, but a book of that title which appeared in 2015, edited by John Byron and Joel N. Lohr, from Zondervan. In it a bunch of stellar biblical scholars write about how faith and academic biblical studies have gone together for them. The answers are very, very varied, as you might imagine. There’s a common thread for many of the North American contributors (about ⅔ of the authors) of ‘I grew up in fundamentalism, discovered it was more complicated than that, and here’s Continue reading →

Thinking theologically about sport—guest post by Ben McNamara

I’m delighted to present a guest post by my former student Ben McNamara about the recent conference in York on Christianity and sport. Ben is a fine up-and-coming rugby (union) referee, and spoke at the conference from that perspective. Those who know me will know that I’m a (very) retired international volleyball referee and trainer of referees, so I’m delighted to present this thoughtful post. Here’s Ben… I was directed to the Inaugural Global Congress on Sports and Christianity (IGCSC) by a fellow Vineyard churchgoer, Continue reading →