In this letter, the writer invokes themes of light and sight, contrasting light not only with darkness but also with sleep and even with death. In the midst of this exhortation...

This very familiar and beloved psalm is often read in moments that call for comfort—when facing tragedy, illness, or death. A close read reveals that the psalm offers comfort, not because...

Notice the development in Samuel’s capacity for discernment. The first son of Jesse that he sees seems like a perfectly good candidate to be king. But the Lord tells Samuel that...

When we read about the miracles performed by Jesus, and when we pray for miracles, we should take care that we’re not asking for magic. There were plenty of self-proclaimed magicians...

Who sinned? From ancient times to now, illness and disability have often been attributed to sin—usually the sin of an individual. Science and medicine offer alternative explanations, and so does Jesus....

The point of the conversation Jesus has with the woman at the well is never about her having five husbands, yet readers of this text gravitate toward that point. We do...

Hubris is the type of pride that leads to failure. It is a dangerous path. We start to think so much of ourselves that we make mistakes and act immorally, thinking...

With so many atrocities happening in our world right now, praying for peace is not just a perfunctory action anymore. We desperately want peace in our divided, contentious world. Romans 5:1-5...

Psalm 95 says that God loathed the Israelites for forty years. But did God actually do so? I struggle to reconcile the image of God as loving and forbearing with the...

I love reading biblical passages that speak about how God is directly involved in the creation of our beautiful world. Inasmuch as that sounds simplistic, to speak of God’s direct involvement...