First Reading

First Reading

By Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhDReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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First Reading episodes

  • 1 Kings 19:1–4, (5–7), 8–15a
    What Got You Here May Not Get You There

    Lectionary Date: June 19, 2022 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    Tim makes connections between Elijah's divine encounter and Moses' experience.

    9 min
  • Proverbs 8:1–4, 22–31
    A Party Episode for Preacher Wisdom

    Lectionary Date: June 12, 2022 [Trinity Sunday, Year C]

    All three co-hosts are together for a deep dive into the poetry about Woman/Preacher Wisdom!

    46 min
  • Acts 2:1–21
    What Pentecost Felt Like

    Lectionary Date: June 5, 2022 [Day of Pentecost, Year C]

    Rachel explores the sensations of Pentecost for the disciples and for God!

    12 min
  • Acts 16:16–34
    Slaves Set Free

    Lectionary Date: May 29, 2022 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    Rosy draws our attention to the enslaved girl who is overlooked in this story.

    15 min
  • Acts 16:9–15
    Paul's Prophetic Travel Guide and Host

    Lectionary Date: May 22, 2022 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    Tim sees a pattern in Paul's travels.

    10 min
  • Acts 11:1–18
    Contagious Holiness

    Lectionary Date: May 15, 2022 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    Rachel reveals the OT backdrop for Peter's rooftop vision.

    11 min
  • Acts 9:36–43
    Life Restored

    Lectionary Date: May 8, 2022 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    Rosy highlights the key elements surrounding the resurrection of a disciple from Joppa.

    16 min
  • Acts 9:1–6 (7–20), with Susan Hylen
    Saul's Non-Conversion

    Lectionary Date: May 1, 2022 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    This week, we’re grateful to welcome Dr. Susan Hylen as our guest on First Reading. Susan is Associate Professor of New Testament at Emory University and the Candler School of Theology. She is a specialist in the history of women in the early church and in New Testament literature. A couple of her recent books you may be interested in are Women in the New Testament World, and A Modest Apostle: Thecla and the History of Women in the Early Church, both published by Oxford. Susan is an award-winning teacher and also serves as the general editor for the Journal of Biblical Literature—the flagship journal in the field of Biblical Studies. She is also an elder in the PC(USA) and has lots of experience on the church side of biblical engagement. It’s a real treat to have her with us to help us with this intriguing text.

    36 min
  • Acts 5:27–32
    An Authenticated Message

    Lectionary Date: April 24, 2022 [Second Sunday of Easter, Year C]

    Tim highlights a couple Old Testament resonances in the apostles' jailbreak scene.

    13 min
  • Isaiah 65:17–25
    Exasperated Hope

    Lectionary Date: April 17, 2022 [Easter Sunday, Year C]

    Rachel puts the First Reading in conversation with the Easter Gospel reading.

    12 min

About First Reading

From the publisher's feed

First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital…