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Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Apr 9

The seventh and final installment concerning the authority of scripture offers an extended case study of Genesis 1-2 to demonstrate how biblical interpretation benefits from careful attention to all three of the contexts involved in reading Scripture.

It is now available at markebiddle.com

Mark Biddle

SIGN NOW: Christians stand with Mahmoud Khalil

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Mar 16

SIGN NOW: Mahmoud Khalil is a legal resident currently being held in captivity by the Trump administration for exercising his right to free speech. Christians must stand in solidarity with Khalil before more people are targeted. Tell Democratic leadership: act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/release...

Mahmoud Khalil is a legal resident who is currently being held in captivity by the Trump administration for exercising his right to free speech. Christians must stand in solidarity with Khalil before more people are targeted. Tell Democratic leadership to demand Khalil's release now:

act.faithfulamerica.org

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Mar 16

The sixth installment of my response to a former student deals with the third context in which one must set Scripture in order to hear God’s Word in the words. Besides the cultural context and literary context, one must also attend to the contemporary context of readers.

More at markebiddle.com

Mark Biddle

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Mar 9

The fifth installment in my response to a former student discusses the fact that a given passage of scripture must be understood in terms of is literary context beginning with its immediate surroundings and extending to the entirety of Scripture. Read more at markebiddle.com

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Mar 2

The fourth installment in my response to a former student turns careful attention to one of the three contexts against which any biblical passage should be read: the cultural context it reflects. Scripture is culturally and historically rooted.

Read more at markebiddle.com

Mark Biddle

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Feb 22

The third instalment in my response to a former student turns attention to a few considerations to keep in mind as guardrails against mishandling Scripture by reading into Scripture one’s preferences rather than reading out of Scripture the message it intends to convey.
Read more at markebiddle.com

The Literary Character of the Bible - Mark Biddle

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Feb 15

The second instalment of my response to a former student concerning the authority of scripture deals with reading the Bible in accordance with its inherent character. It is important to listen to the Bible regarding its nature instead of applying a priori definitions. Read further markebiddle.com

The Bible can become God’s word for the reader who engages with it profoundly, for a prolonged period, and with wise hearts, and open ears.

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Feb 7

Over the next several weeks I will publish on my blog a detailed explanation of the principles or axioms that guide me as I read Scripture.

I just posted the first instalment of my response at markebiddle.com

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 31

The Good News in the metaphor of God’s sovereignty is not that God determines every step, every decision, every outcome. The Good News is that God does not abandon God’s original intention. God’s sovereignty is not despotic control or dominating coercion, but love in relationship.

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 24

In his earthly ministry, Jesus commonly issued the call, not to confess belief in him, but to follow him, to go where he went, to do what he did, to learn of him. - MEB

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 19

“Power” is tricky. It can mean “control” or “coercion.” The Gospel of the Crucified, however, knows "power" as the energy and dynamism that effects change through love. Rather than concentrating on wielding coercive power, can we reconnect with the power to change lives, families, and communities?

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 15

Christians face challenges that call for adjustments in their tradition, but not for abandoning it. The responsibility is not to transmit the tradition mechanically. It emphasizes not only truth, but the search for it. It seeks not only to appreciate beauty, but also to create it. It lives.

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 11

This Advent and Christmas season my colleague on the Sophia Theological Seminary faculty, Dr. Melissa A. Jackson, and I reflect on principles that guide and form the Sophia community.
See the last now on my blog here: markebiddle.com

There are many members, yet one body...1 Corinthians 12:20

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 9

The Christian tradition calls upon each generation to embrace its core principles and to give these principles a new voice, a new incarnation appropriate for a new day. Have structures and programs stifled the flame? Can we find the ember in the ash-heap?

Check out markebiddle.com
sophiasem.org

www.markebiddle.com

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Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 5

This Advent and Christmas season my colleague on the Sophia Theological Seminary faculty, Dr. Melissa A. Jackson, and I will offer reflections on principles that guide and form the Sophia community.
See the second now on my blog here: markebiddle.com

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Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 5

@taylaurin.bsky.social

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Jan 1

This New Year will be a time of testing for the church and for individual believers. It will not be a test primarily of our ability to mobilize successfully to influence the political apparatus. It will be a test of whether we identify ourselves first, and if need be only, as disciples of Jesus.

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Dec 28

This Advent and Christmas season my colleague on the Sophia Theological Seminary faculty colleague, Dr. Melissa A. Jackson, and I will offer reflections on principles that guide and form the Sophia community.
The second, "For freedom Christ has set us free," is now on my blog at markebiddle.com

All Means All - Mark Biddle

Mark E. Biddle @markebiddle.bsky.social · Dec 25

This Advent and Christmas season, my colleague on the Sophia Theological Seminary faculty, Dr. Melissa A. Jackson, and I will offer reflections on principles that guide and form the Sophia community. See the first now on my blog at markebiddle.com/2024/12/20/a...

At Sophia, precisely because it takes all of humankind throughout the ages to approach imaging forth the personhood of God, we do not put bounds on inclusion.