PThU Bible blog
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- A discriminatory Jesus?The Bible is full of stories about clashes between ethnic groups. To us, they sometimes seem unjust or unfair. Can such Bible stories also teach us something about racism and a more just society? In Mark 7:24–30 we find such a story. Jesus rejects a woman because she is not Jewish. Yet readers find inspiration in this Bible passage to combat racism. By racism I mean that, in the Netherlands, white people are considered the norm and therefore have privilege compared to people of colour.
- Did Jesus walk on water?Walking on water is impossible, or so we learn in school. The church isn’t as sure. After all, the New Testament does describe how Jesus walks on the waves. How should we read this story? That question has been debated for centuries. Theology student and pastor Jacob Uilkens had a clear opinion about it more than two hundred years ago.
- Who is my neighbour? The Good Samaritan in a different lightJesus’ parables are among the most beloved Bible stories. They seem simple and are easy to remember. At the same time, the interpretation of most of the parables is extremely controversial. The well-known story of the Good Samaritan is no exception. What are the standard Christian readings of this parable? And are they correct?
- How can we explain the Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit based on Scripture?Many Christians imagine God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and speak of God's Trinity. But that term doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible. How can we explain the Holy Trinity based on Scripture?
- What language did Jesus speak?What language did Jesus speak? Was it Hebrew, the language of the Israelites since ancient times, in which the Tanakh (Christians: the Old Testament) was written? Or was it Greek, the language of the New Testament and the common language of the Greco-Roman world, to which Israel belonged in the time of Jesus? Or was it perhaps Aramaic, the Jewish language spoken in the Galilee, the region of northern Israel where Jesus grew up? Maybe it was even Latin? Opinions differ on the subject.
