PThU Bible blog
- ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ – and yet the church has a political callingIn these times of activism, campaigning, and elections, some Christians can be heard saying that we ought to focus on other, more spiritual matters. Did not Jesus himself say: ‘My kingdom is not of this world’? Indeed, that is what the Bible says — in John 18:36, to be precise. But what do these words, spoken during Jesus’ trial before the Roman governor Pilate, actually mean? Could it be that Jesus’ kingdom has far more to do with this world, and with politics, than we often assume?
- Faith at the barnyard: the role of stewardship on the farmSoil is a vital part of who we are. But how can one feel truly connected to the soil? Farmers live and work close to it. The way they view the land can teach us something about how we relate to the ground beneath our feet.
- 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.
- Is Biblical Theology inherently anti-Jewish?In his study Why Jews Are Not Interested in Biblical Theology, the Jewish theologian Jon Levenson argues that Jews have no interest in Biblical Theology. In fact, he considers most Christian Biblical Theologies anti-Jewish. What are these claims based on? And are they valid?
