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 John 3:16–24
    The Old Testament in the New Testament: What God Intends for Creation

    Lectionary Date: April 25, 2021 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year B]

    Rachel wanders into the 3rd Reading (this week's epistle).

    13 min
  • Luke 24:36b–48
    The Old Testament in the New Testament: All the Scriptures

    Lectionary Date: April 18, 2021 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B]

    Tim invites us to eavesdrop on a surreal Bible study group...

    11 min
  • John 20:19–31
    The Old Testament in the New Testament: "Proclaiming" Thomas

    Lectionary Date: April 11, 2021 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B]

    Rachel brings out some OT echoes in this week's Easter text!

    13 min
  • Isaiah 25:6–9, with Joel Kemp
    The Mystery and the Grace of Hope

    Lectionary Date: April 4, 2021 [Resurrection of the Lord, Year B]

    What?! Preach the First Reading on Easter Sunday?! Stay with us here: you'll find that this ancient prophetic word is incredibly relevant to our present moment and to the hopeful message of Easter. Our guest this week is Dr. Joel Kemp, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory’s Candler School of Theology. Dr. Kemp is an expert in the latter prophets. But he also has an incredibly broad range of interests—in part because biblical scholarship is a third career for him. He worked as an attorney and a minister prior to his current work, and carries those interests into his scholarship. His latest book is just out: Ezekiel, Law, and Judahite Identity (Mohr Siebeck, 2020). It investigates how the book of Ezekiel uses legal elements to advocate for the reconfiguration of a Judahite identity under Neo-Babylonian dominance.

    33 min
  • Psalm 31:9–16
    An Emotional Roller Coaster

    Lectionary Date: March 28, 2021 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year B]

    Check the archives for Rachel's take on Isaiah 50. This time around, Tim has some insights on the imagery in Psalm 31.

    18 min
  • Jeremiah 31:31–34
    An Experience of Forgiveness

    Lectionary Date: March 21, 2021 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year B]

    A new covenant for a new experience of God's grace.

    11 min
  • Numbers 21:4–9
    Snakes on a Plain

    Lectionary Date: March 14, 2021 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year B]

    Fiery snake angels sent by God. Yup. This is an odd one.

    15 min
  • Exodus 20:1–17, with Carmen Joy Imes
    Bearing God's Name

    Lectionary Date: March 7, 2021 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B]

    The ten commandments are both very familiar and largely misunderstood in congregations. We hear from an expert on these issues, our guest this week, Dr. Carmen Joy Imes. Carmen is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Her research has opened up the significance of the commandments for biblical scholars and "normal people" alike. All of you should immediately purchase her book, Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters. She has also authored Illustrated Exodus in Hebrew, which was edited by Tim in the GlossaHouse Illustrated Biblical Texts series. You can find Carmen at her blog, https://carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com/, and at her new YouTube vlog.

    44 min
  • Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16
    Who Gets the Last Laugh?

    Lectionary Date: February 28, 2021 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year B]

    Promises, inclusion, laughter. A close look at God's encounter with Abram and Sarai.

    16 min
  • Genesis 9:8–17
    A Pledge of Peace

    Lectionary Date: February 21, 2021 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year B]

    Taking a second look at the rainbow—in historical context!

    13 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…