First Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

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The Temptation of Jesus Lectionary:  22 Reading 1 -  Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Reading 2 -  Romans 5:12-19 Verse - Matthew 4:4b Gospel -  Matthew 4:1-11 One does not live on bread alone. Every year, we begin our Lenten journey in the same place: the desert.   The Gospel for this Sunday places Jesus in the wilderness, fasting and praying, confronted by temptation. In that stark setting we find the pattern of our own Lenten journey: a movement away from distraction toward the heart of God, a testing that reveals what truly sustains us, and a call to conversion that reshapes our lives.  Throughout our lives, we are frequently confronted with tests … and these tests generally reveal something about ourselves: In school, we demonstrate that we have mastered an academic subject with a test  in sports, we demonstrate our level of a particular skill with a contest  In life, we demonstrate the integri...
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Review: Isaiah

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Isaiah Isaiah by J Gordon McConville

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part of the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament (BCOT), this book presents a commentary on the book of Isaiah as found in the Christian Old Testament (OT) that targets students of the Bible for the purposes of teaching or preaching. In other words, there is an obvious christological lens by which the author conducts his exegesis. The Introduction provides the original context of the text, including scope, related history, general structure, authorship, language & translation challenges, and related theology. Within each part are chapters that almost correspond 1 to 1 with chapters in Isaiah. Each chapter (64+) has an Overview before a discussion about translation and interpretation that walks through each pericope before it finishes with a theological reflection. 

In total you get nearly 800 pages of insight into one of the most influential books of the Old Testament with regards to Christianity. It is also detailed and large enough to make it difficult to read straight through; however, you still get a lot if you just read the overviews and reflections before coming back to the translation and interpretations sections for a deeper understanding. However, this is Not an academic book focused on engaging scholars and theologians; so you will find the analysis written in language more accessible to students providing just enough depth to support the viewpoint presented (so there really isn’t much exploration of contemporary debate or controversy). Over all, this is a great book to have to unlock a better understanding of the Christian New Testament.

Introduction
Part One: Yahweh’s Vision for a Renewed Jerusalem (1:1 - 12:6)
Part Two: Oracles about the Nations (13:1 - 27:13)
Part Three: True and False Trust (28:1 - 35:10)
Part Four: A Miraculous Deliverance of Jerusalem (36:1 - 39:8)
Part Five: Cyrus, the Servant, and the Redemption of Zion/Jerusalem (40:1 - 55:13)
Part Six: The True Character of Glorified Zion/Jerusalem (56:1 - 66:24)

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#Isaiah #NetGalley

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