tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post800737985454243497..comments2024-03-28T02:24:59.003-07:00Comments on Left Behind and Loving It: Five and a Half ParablesD. Mark Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-54823253854683600072023-07-30T04:47:04.645-07:002023-07-30T04:47:04.645-07:00Translation is tricky business. I now speak of the...Translation is tricky business. I now speak of the way of the universe rather than reign of the heavens rather than kingdom of heaven. In many of these parables, normal human activity is disrupted by the emergence of that which is more organic and natural. They portray the dislodging of the artifice of religion. They evidence recovery or reorientation. We have to lose our judgments to find joy in unexpected places. Like ourselves.Rev Dr Russell Meyerhttps://FloridaChurches.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-30225639690397506012023-07-25T17:39:46.634-07:002023-07-25T17:39:46.634-07:00Thanks, Mark. Your work is always so helpful. I’m...Thanks, Mark. Your work is always so helpful. I’m intrigued by the parable about the pearl merchant. I wanted to run some thoughts by you along the lines provoked by AJ Levine’s close reading and attention to the central role of the merchant. My interest is how the kingdom or reign is like the merchant, and it would seem akin to the mustard seed spreading, the kingdom is like a merchant searching and searching — desiring more pearls. This much makes sense to me, but then what is the pearl (if not the kingdom) but the object of the kingdom? The kingdom is social, while the pearl is singular. Perhaps though the pearl is the singular, standing for the goal of the kingdom in which all are one. Dave Truenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-83088067935485999542021-11-04T09:14:21.571-07:002021-11-04T09:14:21.571-07:00When we look at the parables (and Bible as a whole...When we look at the parables (and Bible as a whole) I've found it helpful to ask first what it tells us about God (theology), then move to what it might tell us about us (a spiritual anthropology if you will). <br /> <br />In that spirit (small s), one of the best proclamations of this text I ever heard resisted, or delayed, the tendancy to tell listeners the Kingdom of God is worth giving up everything in order to have it. Rather the preacher told us that we are the pearl of great price, and that God (in Jesus Christ) gave up everything [Phil.2], in order to purchase us and to have us. We are worth that much to God. <br /> <br />Seldom have I left worship thinking and feeling how wonderful God's love is and how valuable I am in God's eyes (and everyone else too)!! Pr. Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955493852786948696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-25943683296428705202020-07-27T08:53:39.227-07:002020-07-27T08:53:39.227-07:00Thanks, Natalie. Blessings. MDThanks, Natalie. Blessings. MDD. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-48906158070906642782020-07-25T14:57:27.371-07:002020-07-25T14:57:27.371-07:00Thanks so much for your details digging into this ...Thanks so much for your details digging into this scripture. So much more than meets the eye.natalie marionneauxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-27302157020479345212017-07-25T09:59:06.687-07:002017-07-25T09:59:06.687-07:00As someone who "has no Greek" (or Hebrew...As someone who "has no Greek" (or Hebrew) I very much appreciate the insight I receive from your work!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00105697931802822803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-78762612178012986012014-07-23T21:02:01.002-07:002014-07-23T21:02:01.002-07:00You may have to wait a while, Priscilla. I'm n...You may have to wait a while, Priscilla. I'm not sure that I understand either one of them yet. D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-45313381449961138422014-07-22T13:06:05.625-07:002014-07-22T13:06:05.625-07:00I want to hear your AAR/SBL presentation on Matthe...I want to hear your AAR/SBL presentation on Matthew as Derrida. :)Priscilla Eppingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-22569825309474895822014-07-22T06:57:39.662-07:002014-07-22T06:57:39.662-07:00It occurs to me that Matthew may be the Jacques De...It occurs to me that Matthew may be the Jacques Derrida of the 1st century. Perhaps a Ph.D. in NT studies with a dissertation is in order: "Parables as Deconstructive Speech: The Inscription of Encryption." D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.com