Historical Setting Thessalonica was a large and important port city. In Acts 16 Paul gets thrown out of Philippi for preaching and from there he goes to Thessalonica. In Acts 17 Paul preaches at the synagogue there. Some Jews responded; other Jews rejected Paul. There was an uproar and the Christians in the city had READ MORE
Author:
Maccabees
Author and Dating The priest Mattathias began the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid dynasty in 167BC. Judas Maccabeus was his third son. Judas had a place of leadership and honor among the people (see 1 Macc 2:66 and 1 Macc 5:63-64). Early Jewish literature referred to the family as the Hasmoneans. The actual author of READ MORE
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Overview and Connections The lectionary pairs a story of ancient hospitality with the very familiar story of Martha and Mary. In so doing, it seems to put the emphasis on the importance of hospitality. And yet, Jesus seems to suggest that there READ MORE
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Overview and Connections Today’s readings issue a call to wholehearted commitment, but they also remind us that such a call comes with a price. And yet, the call is given to each and every one of us. Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Background of the READ MORE
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Overview and Connections Today’s readings issue a call to wholehearted commitment, but they also remind us that such a call comes with a price. And yet, the call is given to each and every one of us. Isaiah 66:10-14 Background of the READ MORE
Habakkuk
Genre The book is classified among the prophetic literature, and is included among the twelve minor prophets Date In 1:6 the Chaldeans are mentioned. In the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, the Chaldeans conquered the Assyrians and were the primary force in the Near East world. The book is generally dated somewhere between READ MORE
13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Overview and Connections Today’s readings issue a call to wholehearted commitment, but they also remind us that such a call comes with a price. And yet, the call is given to each and every one of us. 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Background READ MORE
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
Both letters to Timothy, along with the letter to Titus, are known as the “pastoral epistles.” All were written by an anonymous author (or authors) in the Pauline tradition, and they were accepted by the church as such. Most scholars date them very late, around 100 AD. The purpose of all the pastoral epistles was READ MORE
Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Feasts Click here for more information. Important background on this feast Genesis 14:18-20 Background of the book The beginning of this chapter sets the stage with four kings from the East and five rebel kings from the West. The rebels have joined forces near the Dead Sea (v3). They READ MORE
Philemon
Date There is no doubt this was a prison letter, but which imprisonment is impossible to say. It could be Paul’s Roman imprisonment around 61-63AD. Or an earlier one in Ephesus around 56-57AD. The letter was likely written the same time as Colossians. Colossians 4:9 mentions that Onesimus will be traveling with the person delivering READ MORE