Lectionary Date: October 5, 2025 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Preaching from Habakkuk this week? Consider these episodes from the First Reading vault:

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Lectionary Date: September 28, 2025 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

It's a party episode: all four of us discuss Amos's scathing critique.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: September 21, 2025 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Paul and Rosy are back for a conversation about economic exploitation—nothing new under the sun!

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: September 14, 2025 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy and Paul discuss the theme of repentance in all of this week's readings.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: September 7, 2025 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Paul puts Moses and Jesus into conversation to discuss what it means to "choose life."

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Lectionary Date: August 31, 2025 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

What do pride and humility actually look like? Rosy sees a theme in this week's lectionary readings!

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Lectionary Date: August 24, 2025 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

We'll be back with new full episodes starting next week! In the meantime, here's an episode on this week's lectionary text from the First Reading vault!

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: August 17, 2025 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Paul explores a painful AND hopeful dialogue between Israel and God, in the vineyard metaphor.

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Lectionary Date: August 10, 2025 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy traces the theme of faith through all of this week's readings.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: August 3, 2025 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Tim's turn to point out a tension between Qohelet's wisdom and Jesus's parable.

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Lectionary Date: July 27, 2025 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel's back with the next (and very different) installment of the Abraham story.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: July 20, 2025 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel's turn for a quick episode, this time on a divine visit to Abraham and Sarah!

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Lectionary Date: July 13, 2025 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Paul again, bringing out the boldness of Amos's message.

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Lectionary Date: July 6, 2025 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Paul is up with a brief reflection on the power dynamics in this week's Old Testament lectionary readings.

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Lectionary Date: June 29, 2025 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy is back again with a few thoughts about "commitment issues" in this week's readings.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: June 22, 2025 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy kicks off our summer series with some thoughts on Isaiah, Luke, and the Psalm.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: June 8, 2025 [Pentecost Sunday, Year C]

For Pentecost, we are back in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, with a look at the Tower of Babel story. But first, Tim makes a few connections to the Pentecost narrative in Acts 2.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: June 1, 2025 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

Rachel concludes our Revelation series with a look at the close of the letter, its context, and its impact for us today!

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: May 25, 2025 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

Tim's turn to say a few words about the new Jerusalem pictured in Revelation... and also a bit about eschatology and teleology for the nerds.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: May 18, 2025 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

Rachel's up to give us some insight into the appearance of a new heavens and new earth at the end of the book. Spoiler alert!

Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Lectionary Date: May 11, 2025 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year C]

All four of us are together to celebrate Easter with a look at the gathered multitudes in Revelation 7. What happens when Hebrew Bible scholars read Revelation???

Lectionary Date: May 4, 2025 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C]

Tim explores the upside down imagery and symbolism of Revelation's slain lamb.

Lectionary Date: April 27, 2025 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year C]

We begin a new Easter series on Revelation (the lectionary omits Old Testament readings during Easter, grrrr). Rachel gives us the scoop on context!

Lectionary Date: April 20, 2025 [Easter Sunday, Year C]

What? Preach from the Old Testament on Easter Sunday?! Tim digs into this prophetic poem all about new creation.

Lectionary Date: April 13, 2025 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C]

Rachel goes directly to the Gospel reading this week (she promises she is still a Hebrew Bible scholar!).

Lectionary Date: April 6, 2025 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year C]

For the 5th Sunday in Lent, we have a party episode to explore God's renewal bursting forth.

Lectionary Date: March 30, 2025 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Paul highlights the communal nature of this scene on the west bank of the Jordan River.

Lectionary Date: March 23, 2025 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Rosy digs into the covenantal flavor of Isaiah's soaring prophetic song.

Lectionary Date: March 16, 2025 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Paul tries to unpack the mysterious vision of God's promise to Abram.

Lectionary Date: March 9, 2025 [First Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Rosy explores the firstfruits liturgy from Deuteronomy—but stick around for her masterful connection to the temptation scene in Luke's Gospel!

Lectionary Date: March 2, 2025 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year C]

Rachel and Tim discuss Moses's shiny (?) face, the apostle Paul's comments about it, and Jesus's Transfiguration. We cover a ton of ground in this episode!

Lectionary Date: February 23, 2025 [7th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Paul is up with some reflections on the climax of the Genesis Joseph novella—both its "Hallmark-ish" quality and its reflection of real-life trauma.

Lectionary Date: February 16, 2025 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Rachel finds an important thread running through all three lectionary texts this week… and "kidneys."

Lectionary Date: February 9, 2025 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Paul explores the prophet Isaiah's iconic call story.

Lectionary Date: February 2, 2025 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Rachel digs into the poetic Hebrew of the Psalm reading for the week!

Lectionary Date: January 26, 2025 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Three of our hosts are together for a party episode about the public proclamation of God's word!

Lectionary Date: January 19, 2025 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Rosy is up, and she explores the "rightness" of this beautiful prophetic text.

Lectionary Date: January 12, 2025 [Baptism of the Lord, Year C]

Tim peeks under the hood of a beautiful poem about God's love.

Lectionary Date: January 5, 2025 [2nd Sunday after Christmas, Year C]

Rosy sets the context for contemplating a new season ... or new year?

Lectionary Date: December 29, 2024 [1st Sunday after Christmas, Year C]

For this Christmas lection, we look at the stories of two boys who grew up in preparation for their special callings.

Lectionary Date: December 22, 2024 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year C]

In our final Advent episode of 2024, Paul and the gang (recording in person at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in San Diego) take a look at the political context and powerful imagery of the reading from Micah.

Lectionary Date: December 15, 2024 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C]

For the 3rd week of Advent, Rachel takes us to the lesser-known prophet Zephaniah, who introduces a new aspect of God's profile.

Lectionary Date: December 8, 2024 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C]

For the 2nd Sunday in Advent, Rosy highlights the tension in the coming of God's "messenger." We're coming to you from our conference in San Diego!

Lectionary Date: December 1, 2024 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year C]

Advent is here! And First Reading has you covered, with episodes recorded in person at our professional convention in San Diego. For Advent 1, Tim looks at the prophet Jeremiah's claim that God will hold unfaithful leaders to account.

Lectionary Date: November 24, 2024 [Reign of Christ Sunday, Year B]

It's a special party episode of First Reading, as we celebrate our 300th episode! All four hosts take a few minutes to share what has been meaningful to them about this podcasting journey. Then, we dive into some analysis and preaching tips for the first reading: 2 Samuel 23, David's "last words."

Lectionary Date: November 17, 2024 [26th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rosy opens up the story of Hannah in conversation with Jesus's "little apocalypse" in Mark.

Lectionary Date: November 10, 2024 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Paul explores the theological impact of Ruth's vulnerability and its redemptive power.

Lectionary Date: November 3, 2024 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rosy encourages us to preach the story of a migrant family facing discrimination, as these themes also swirl in our own political moment.

Lectionary Date: October 27, 2024 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Paul and Rosy pick up our ongoing conversation in the book of Job this lectionary season. This week, Paul highlights Job's shift in tone after an overwhelming barrage of divine questions.

Lectionary Date: October 20, 2024 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

In this party episode, all four First Reading hosts wrestle with God's enigmatic response to Job out of the whirlwind.

Lectionary Date: October 13, 2024 [21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel ventures cautiously into the book of Job. It's a tricky book, but Rachel discovers a model for being honest to God. We recorded this before Hurricane Helene—our prayers are with all who are suffering in the aftermath of the storm. Hopefully, this episode gives an opening for a kind of honest prayer in a context of disaster.

Lectionary Date: October 6, 2024 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This week, Tim explores the context, language, and imagery of a classic psalm!

Lectionary Date: September 29, 2024 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel hosted a great little episode on "Eldad and Medad" not too long ago (Pentecost 2023). They are back in the lectionary cycle again, so we're replaying that episode. We'll be back with a new episode next week!

Lectionary Date: September 22, 2024 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

We're back with a brand new episode! This week, Rachel walks us through "one of her favorite psalms"—for real this time... This psalm has accompanied her through some challenging times.

Lectionary Date: September 15, 2024 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

We'll be back with new material next week! In the meantime, Tim sets his face like flint to offer a nonviolent interpretation of this famous text!

Lectionary Date: September 8, 2024 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Your beloved hosts are all busy starting up the fall semester, so here's a recycled episode from this week's lectionary selections! In this episode, Rachel gives an overview of wisdom literature, and tackles the prosperity gospel—all at the same time! We'll have new material for you soon!

Lectionary Date: August 25, 2024 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

All four hosts are back from Summer Break for a Party Episode looking at Solomon's temple dedication scene (as well as Psalm 84, a temple psalm).

Lectionary Date: August 18, 2024 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

We're getting ready for a "Party Episode" next week, so this time around we're recycling a fascinating post from the FR vault: Tim's reflection on King Solomon's request for "wisdom"... or "a listening heart," from the last time this text came up in the lectionary (2021).

Lectionary Date: August 11, 2024 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Rosy reflects on the sad story of the collapse of David's family and his failures as a parent.

Lectionary Date: August 4, 2024 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Paul considers how David's abuse of power has parallels in today's world.

Lectionary Date: July 28, 2024 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Rachel takes a careful listen to Bathsheba's voice.

Lectionary Date: July 21, 2024 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Tim explores the kind of "place" that King David's leadership makes.

Lectionary Date: July 14, 2024 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Rosy considers how we might embody a bit more joy in our worship this summer.

Lectionary Date: July 7, 2024 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. But this week, Paul connects "praise" and "memory" in the lectionary psalm.

Lectionary Date: June 30, 2024 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Rachel takes us to the depths to find some hope for our "nefesh" in the Psalm. (Did you know that we have "nefesh" t-shirts???) Check out the video below (and subscribe on our YouTube channel)!

Lectionary Date: June 23, 2024 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

This summer, we're trying something new: a series of video shorts with one key takeaway from the semi-continuous first reading in the RCL. This week, Tim opens up the relatively unknown editorial history of one of the most famous stories in the Bible. Check out the video below (and subscribe on our YouTube channel)!

Lectionary Date: June 16, 2024 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel soaks in the poetry of praise in the lectionary psalm for the week.

If you are ELCA affiliated, and interested in touring "The Best of Egypt" with Rachel Wrenn, take a look at the trip details here: https://www.eliastours.com/tours/best-of-egypt-tour-with-elias-nawawieh-for-clergy.

You might also enjoy the podcast series produced by Tim's students at Christian Theological Seminary! In solidarity with his students, Tim produced one of the episodes for the series (titled "Dining in the Dark").

Lectionary Date: June 9, 2024 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim McNinch leads our reflection on the classic Genesis story, highlighting its expansiveness and modern resonance.

Please check out the podcast series produced by Tim's students at Christian Theological Seminary! Today's episode (titled "Comfort Food") is produced by Francine Dash, who discusses Psalm 130 with our very own Rachel Wrenn!

If you are ELCA affiliated, and interested in touring "The Best of Egypt" with Rachel Wrenn, take a look at the trip details here: https://www.eliastours.com/tours/best-of-egypt-tour-with-elias-nawawieh-for-clergy.

Lectionary Date: June 2, 2024 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel Wrenn is up with a reflection on the young Samuel's call narrative.

If you are interested in touring "The Best of Egypt" with Rachel Wrenn, take a look at the trip details here: https://www.eliastours.com/tours/best-of-egypt-tour-with-elias-nawawieh-for-clergy.

Lectionary Date: May 26, 2024 [Trinity Sunday, Year B]

Rosy and Tim are back with an all-new episode on Isaiah's dramatic vision of God's holiness!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Easter season “Best of" First Reading series. We’re rounding it out this week with one of our favorite conversations, this time with Dr. Ethan Schwartz, who teaches Hebrew Bible at Villanova University. Rachel and Tim enjoyed their deep dive with Dr. Schwartz so much that they invited him back for another episode—to date he is our only repeat guest! So here is a reprise of that first conversation, a discussion about the "Akedah," the "Binding of Isaac," in Genesis 22. We’ll be back next week with a new episode on the Old Testament Lectionary reading.

To chat about one of the most famous stories in all three of the Abrahamic faiths (the binding of Isaac), Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Ethan Schwartz. Ethan earned his PhD at Harvard University, where he studied how the Bible presents and formulates prophetic speech. He also studies how the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) came together and how the Hebrew Bible was interpreted in the first century, especially in early Christian communities and sectarian Jewish communities. Ethan is committed to bringing biblical studies into productive conversation with contemporary religious life—a great fit with our goals here at "First Reading"! To that end, he has shared his academic work in a number of synagogues, institutes, and churches. If you’re interested in more of his work, check out these great essays at theTorah.com: "Torah: Deuteronomy's Version of Wisdom for Israel" and "The Red Heifer in Synagogue: Purifying Israel from Sin," or his essay at MyJewishLearning.com: "Eshet Manoah: Mother of the Mighty Samson."

If you’ve been following First Reading during Easter season this year, then you know that we are using this time when the Lectionary draws from the Book of Acts as the first reading, to replay some of our favorite First Reading conversations with leading biblical scholars. This week, we want to share another personal favorite episode of ours, with one of our favorite people, the one and only Dr. Carol Newsom. Rachel, Rosy, and I all had the privilege of learning from Carol just before her retirement from teaching at Emory University. Poor Paul Essah missed that opportunity by choosing to do his doctoral degree at Yale—and we’ll never let him live it down! One of the giants of modern biblical scholarship, Carol recently retired from her post as the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Old Testament at Candler and a senior fellow at Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion. Carol came to Candler in 1980, only the second woman to hold a tenure-track position. In 2005, she became a C.H. Candler Professor, a university-based endowed chair. Her research focuses on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Wisdom tradition, the book of Daniel, and apocalyptic literature. She has written and edited 13 books and scores of articles, book chapters, translations, encyclopedia articles and reviews. She co-edited the acclaimed Women’s Bible Commentary, which explores the implications of and challenges long-held assumptions about the Bible’s portrayal of women and other marginalized groups. We also recommend her superb commentary on the book of Job, in the New Interpreter's Bible.

While the RCL hangs out in the Book of Acts, we at the Old Testament Lectionary Podcast are replaying some of our favorite interview episodes. This week, we are bringing out Rachel's and Tim's 2019 conversation with Rev. Dr. Johanna van Wijk-Bos. Dr. Bos taught for four decades as Professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in KY. She continues to serve the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) as an ordained pastor. In addition to her teaching, speaking, and preaching, she is a prolific author and an engaged activist, especially around issues of equity in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Among her many great books, we recommend for our audience, Making Wise the Simple: The Torah in Christian Faith and Practice. Her latest project—Now Available!—is a spectacular multi-volume commentary on Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings titled, A People and A Land (Eerdmans).

We reach deep into vault once again this week, to pull out the treasure of our 2019 conversation with Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler, one of the leading scholars in the field of Hebrew Bible. He is Bernice and Morton Lerner Distinguished Professor in Judaic Studies at Duke University; and Professor Emeritus and former chair of the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University. He has also taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Yale University, Brown University, Wellesley College, and Middlebury College. He is actively involved in many aspects of Jewish communal life, and has served on the board of Boston’s Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center and Gann Academy—the New Jewish High School. Dr. Brettler is known for helping to build meaningful bridges between Jewish religious life and modern critical scholarship of the Hebrew Bible. He is co-editor of the Jewish Study Bible, which won a National Jewish Book Award. We think this volume should be on every pastor’s bookshelf, and consulted often, along with another of Dr. Brettler’s editorial projects, the Jewish Annotated New Testament. For Christian leaders interested in the shared Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity, these books are must haves. Dr. Brettler has published a slew of other books, both academic and popular. He is a clear and accessible communicator, as you will experience in this week’s First Reading episode. Finally, be sure to visit theTorah.com, which Dr. Brettler helped establish, a great online repository for biblical scholarship from a Jewish perspective.

During Easter season this year, when the lectionary pulls from Acts as the “first reading,” we are re-releasing some of our favorite interviews with biblical scholars from the First Reading podcast vault. This week, we’re sharing another of our very early episodes, a conversation with the inimitable Stephen Breck Reid.

Dr. Stephen Breck Reid joins Rachel and Tim for a long-form episode, focusing on Psalm 30. Steve is Professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University (and Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Belonging at Baylor University). He earned his PhD at Emory University and has held a number of academic positions during his career. Dr. Reid is ordained in the Church of the Brethren, and you can find his preaching tips and exegetical work on WorkingPreacher.org. His areas of expertise include the Psalms, apocalyptic literature (especially Daniel), and black biblical hermeneutics. If you’d like to know more about his work, check out his book, Listening In: A Multicultural Reading of the Psalms.

This summer, while the Lectionary uses the Book of Acts as the first reading, we are re-releasing some of our best episodes from the First Reading Podcast vault. This week, we’re going way back to one of our first episodes (#007 actually, for James Bond fans out there), back to 2019 when Rachel and Tim interviewed the amazing, delightful, Rev. Dr. Vanessa Lovelace. Dr. Lovelace has moved institutions since our interview and is now Associate Dean at Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she is also a faculty member in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Dr. Lovelace has a brand new book about to drop with Fortress Academic Press: A Womanist Reading of Hebrew Bible Narratives as the Politics of Belonging from an Outsider Within. The book comes out in June, but you can pre-order it today!

Easter is a strange season in the Lectionary for us here at the "Old Testament Lectionary Podcast," because during Easter the first reading is drawn from the New Testament book of Acts. So, this year, we’ve decided to use this season to re-release some of our favorite episodes from the vault, conversations with leading scholars in the field. This week, since we just passed the Jewish holiday of Purim, we are featuring our 2021 interview with Rosy Kandathil, who (not long after this interview) became one of our regular hosts! Our conversation is centered around the book of Esther, which is the topic of Rosy’s PhD dissertation—which, by the way, she is defending this week! Go Rosy! So enjoy this “best of” FR episode!

Esther is a rich and complex biblical story—which is why it's unfortunate that it only appears once in the 3-year lectionary cycle. But to help us make the most of this occasion, we invited Rosy Kandathil to join us for a deep dive into Esther. Rosy is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, where she is writing a dissertation on the collision of humor and violence in the book of Esther. Rosy's insights help us get to the core relevant issues of the book: how it navigates multiple identities at once, deals with the challenges of thriving in diaspora, and hosts some of our own deep questions about violence and vengeance. Buckle up for a great episode!

Lectionary Date: March 31, 2024 [Easter Sunday, Year B]

Rachel, Paul, and Tim discuss the first reading for Easter in this party episode (also celebrating Rachel's birthday!). We also made a video version of this episode, which you can see on YouTube:

Lectionary Date: March 24, 2024 [Palm Sunday, Year B]

Tim wrestles with the tension between humility and privilege.

Lectionary Date: March 17, 2024 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year B]

Paul explores what's new about Jeremiah's "new covenant."

Lectionary Date: March 10, 2024 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year B]

Rosy explores the New Testament symbolism of an Old Testament image.

Lectionary Date: March 3, 2024 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B]

Tim plays with the cosmic imagery of this classic psalm.

Lectionary Date: February 25, 2024 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year B]

Rachel finds so much more in this psalm than a simple script for Jesus on the cross.

Lectionary Date: February 18, 2024 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year B]

Rachel takes us to the conclusion of the Genesis flood story and helps us see it through the lens of "covenant."

Lectionary Date: February 11, 2024 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year B]

Tim has some Hebrew help for this transfiguring story.

Lectionary Date: February 4, 2024 [5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B]

We’re together again for a spitball session on a beautiful prophetic poem, all about hope.

Lectionary Date: January 28, 2024 [4th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B]

Rosy thinks through the role of prophets and the role of the people to hold them accountable.

Lectionary Date: January 21, 2024 [3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year B]

Paul invites us to consider following the Ninevites' model of repentance in the new year.

Lectionary Date: January 14, 2024 [2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Year B]

Rosy calls our attention to God’s voice, speaking to a young person.

Lectionary Date: January 7, 2024 [2nd Sunday after Christmas, Year B]

Paul explores some of the nuance of the first creation story in the Bible.

Lectionary Date: December 31, 2023 [1st Sunday after Christmas, Year B]

Welcome to the First Reading Christmas Party! All four hosts are together for a jam-packed conversation around this week's first reading.

Lectionary Date: December 24, 2023 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 4, Tim expands the scope of the New Testament reading by exploring its inspiration in the divine promise to David.

Lectionary Date: December 17, 2023 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 3, Paul looks at the Messianic hope of Isaiah's prophecy for those living in traumatic times.

Lectionary Date: December 10, 2023 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 2, Rosy explores the music of Isaiah 40.

Lectionary Date: December 3, 2023 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 1, Rachel takes up the psalm (surprise, surprise) to talk about the "Shepherd" of God's people.

Lectionary Date: November 26, 2023 [26th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

In this episode, Paul and Rachel dive into Ezekiel 34, discussing the peculiar character of Ezekiel, the metaphor of shepherds representing kings, and the consequences of bad leadership that led to Israel’s exile. The passage emphasizes God’s promise to become Israel’s true shepherd.

Join Paul and Rachel in this insightful discussion that goes beyond the historical context of the passage, touching on themes of justice, God as a homemaker, and the potential connection to Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

Lectionary Date: November 19, 2023 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel challenges the brevity of the RCL and the bias of our English translations.

Lectionary Date: November 12, 2023 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

This week, First Reading welcomes Rev. Dr. Paul R. Hinlicky, as our guest. Dr. Hinlicky is a Lutheran theologian and author, a Lutheran pastor, and a “regenerative agriculture” farmer on his Virginia property, St. Gall Farm. He is Professor Emeritus of Lutheran theology at Roanoke College and the Distinguished Fellow and Research Professor of the Institute of Lutheran Theology. Dr. Hinlicky's most recent major project was a theological commentary on the book of Joshua with Brazos Theological Commentary Series (Baker Publishing Group). Together with his daughter the Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky-Wilson, Paul co-hosts the podcast Queen of the Sciences: Conversations between a Theologian and Her Dad, where they address issues of theology, ministry, and the Bible together. We are grateful to Sarah and Paul for proposing this episode for both of our podcast feeds. Enjoy!

Lectionary Date: November 5, 2023 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Paul takes us into the Promised Land.

Lectionary Date: October 29, 2023 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel explores the often-overlooked "world forming" of Leviticus.

Lectionary Date: October 22, 2023 [21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Tim looks at Moses' bold intercession, and finds a leader who needs reassurance.

Lectionary Date: October 15, 2023 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel soaks in the reorienting language of praise in (you guessed it) the Psalms.

Lectionary Date: October 8, 2023 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Tim highlights where the "10 commandments" come in the big story.

Lectionary Date: October 1, 2023 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel promises you 1,000 skittles if you listen to this podcast episode.

Lectionary Date: September 24, 2023 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

All four hosts join forces for a fascinating exploration of this week's lectionary readings.

Lectionary Date: September 17, 2023 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Tim says this one is very preachable!

Lectionary Date: September 10, 2023 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rosy helps us slow down to appreciate the gravitas of the Passover remembrance in Exodus.

Lectionary Date: September 3, 2023 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Tim has an angle (or is it an "angel"?) on this pivotal Exodus scene.

Lectionary Date: August 27, 2023 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

We're back! And Rosy is up with a feminist-postcolonial perspective on the midwives of Exodus.

Lectionary Date: August 20, 2023 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

An encore presentation of our episode from 2020.

Lectionary Date: August 13, 2023 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

An encore presentation of our episode from 2020.

Lectionary Date: August 6, 2023 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

An encore presentation of our episode from 2020.

Lectionary Date: July 30, 2023 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

This week we revisit our fascinating conversation with Dr. Cameron Howard, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She is a graduate of Emory University, and has contributed to several commentaries and journals, including the Women’s Bible Commentary, WorkingPreacher.org, and the BibleOdyssey.org. The book she was working on in 2020 is now available! The Old Testament for a Complex World needs to be on your shelf yesterday!

Lectionary Date: July 23, 2023 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

An encore presentation of our episode from 2020.

Lectionary Date: July 16, 2023 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

An encore presentation of our episode from 2020.

Lectionary Date: July 9, 2023 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Paul jumps into a famous love story and finds a biblical travelogue.

Lectionary Date: July 2, 2023 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rosy goes for the jugular in this challenging biblical text.

Lectionary Date: June 25, 2023 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Paul wades into a challenging text to offer insight, context, and even some resistance.

Lectionary Date: June 18, 2023 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rosy has some great insights into a mysterious birth announcement.

Lectionary Date: June 11, 2023 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel, Rosy, and Tim talk about Abram's call and Hosea's sin-sickness.

Lectionary Date: June 4, 2023 [Trinity Sunday, Year A]

Rachel offers some mystical reflections on a familiar text.

Lectionary Date: May 28, 2023 [Day of Pentecost, Year A]

It's an OT outpouring of the Holy Spirit for this Pentecost text!

Lectionary Date: May 21, 2023 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year A]

It's Ascension Week! Tim tries to show that Jesus' ascension was NOT an anticlimax to the Gospel.

Lectionary Date: May 14, 2023 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year A]

This week, we dip into the First Reading archive for a second listen to our episode on this Easter psalm.

Lectionary Date: May 7, 2023 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year A]

Rosy and Paul are joined this week by special guest, Bill Brown. Bill is Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, and an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is also the author of several books, including Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor (2002), God and the Imagination: A Primer to Reading the Psalms in an Age of Pluralism (2001), and Deep Calls to Deep: The Psalms in Dialogue amid Disruption (2021). Those are just some his titles directly on the Psalms, friends! Some of you may remember using his Handbook to Old Testament Exegesis (2017) which has become an OT seminary classroom staple for many of us as students and teachers.

Lectionary Date: April 30, 2023 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year A]

Paul reads the famous psalm through the eyes of his grandmother in Ghana.

Lectionary Date: April 23, 2023 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A]

Tim looks at a prayer of thanksgiving with a theme of new life.

Lectionary Date: April 16, 2023 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A]

Paul is up this week for some insights into the psalm of the week!

Lectionary Date: April 9, 2023 [Easter Sunday, Year A]

Tim finds the "Easter-y" resonance in an ancient prophetic text—and we welcome our newest co-host, Paul Essah!

Lectionary Date: April 2, 2023 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year A]

It's a party episode, featuring our newest regular cohost: Paul Essah!

Lectionary Date: March 26, 2023 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year A]

Rosy puts the first reading and gospel reading into conversation.

Lectionary Date: March 19, 2023 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year A]

Rachel takes a risky angle with David's origin story.

Lectionary Date: March 12, 2023 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A]

Rosy listens for Hebrew Bible resonances in a famous Gospel text.

Lectionary Date: March 5, 2023 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A]

Rachel perceives an interested intertextuality between Gen 12 and John 3.

Lectionary Date: February 26, 2023 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year A]

Our three hosts are together to chat about a foundational story.

Lectionary Date: February 19, 2023 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year A]

Tim proposes that this isn't about Jesus' divinity.

Lectionary Date: February 12, 2023 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

Rosy highlights the message of Moses's sermon for future audiences looking back.

Lectionary Date: February 5, 2023 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

Rachel dives into the poetry of life in this week's psalm.

Lectionary Date: January 29, 2023 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

Guest host, Paul Essah (PhD student at Yale), hits the high points of this famous text.

Lectionary Date: January 22, 2023 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

Rosy explores the interpretive backdrop of the NT reading with a review of Isaiah's 8th-century prophecy.

Lectionary Date: January 15, 2023 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

Rachel has a Christological take (surprise!) on Isaiah's servant song.

Lectionary Date: January 8, 2023 [Baptism of the Lord, Year A]

Rosy explores the multivalence of an ancient prophetic song.

Lectionary Date: January 1, 2023 [1st Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A]

Rachel has the perfectly perfect New Year's Day Sermon text.

Lectionary Date: December 25, 2022 [Christmas Day, Year A]

All three First Reading cohosts get together for a Christmas Party conversation all about the birth of Christ.

Lectionary Date: December 18, 2022 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year A]

An archival episode this week, but don't miss our 200th (party) episode next week!

Lectionary Date: December 11, 2022 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A]

Tim spends some time in the grammar of Hebrew Poetry to make a theological discovery.

Lectionary Date: December 4, 2022 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A]

Rachel helps us hear the melodies and harmonies of this classic text.

Lectionary Date: November 27, 2022 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year A]

It's Advent! To help us unpack the first reading for the first week of Advent, we have invited Dr. David Davage to join us. David is Associate Professor in Old Testament Exegesis at the Academy of Leadership and Theology, Umeå, Sweden. He is interested in the diachronic growth of the Psalms and the question of authorship in the ancient Near East. He is a prolific author, researcher, and a sought-after speaker. If you’re interested in more of his work, we recommend his newest book, How Isaiah Became an Author: Prophecy, Authority and Attribution. 

Lectionary Date: November 20, 2022 [Reign of Christ Sunday, Year C]

Tim finds the metaphorical thread that holds this famous psalm together—and it's not the image of peace you think it is!

Lectionary Date: November 13, 2022 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy finds a wealth of sermon material in a very short text.

Lectionary Date: November 6, 2022 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Tim tries to pull the lectionary reading back into its context.

Lectionary Date: November 1, 2022 [All Saints Day, Year C]

Rosy explores the strange imagery of Daniel's vision.

Lectionary Date: October 23, 2022 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Locusts? Armies? Shame, vindication, and salvation? Peter's speech at Pentecost? There is a ton going on in this short reading. This week, Rosy and Tim are joined by Dr. Mari Joerstad, Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible at Vancouver School of Theology. Dr. Joerstad’s work focuses on issues of environment, land, migration, and belonging in the Hebrew Bible. A native of Norway, she did her doctoral work at Duke University in North Carolina, where she studied with one of our favorites, Professor Ellen Davis. Today’s passage from Joel is full of images of the land and ecology, so we’re especially grateful to have Mari’s expertise and insight for this conversation. She is the author of The Hebrew Bible and Environmental Ethics: Humans, Non-Humans, and the Living Landscape, published by Cambridge in 2020. You can also find her published work in a number of academic journals, including The Journal of Biblical Literature, Horizons in Biblical Theology, and The Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture.

Lectionary Date: October 16, 2022 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy takes us deep into a story of messy encounter with God.

Lectionary Date: October 9, 2022 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel calls our attention to the true (unsung) hero of this story.

Lectionary Date: October 2, 2022 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy connects Habakkuk's battery of questions to a traumatic historical context.

Lectionary Date: September 25, 2022 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Hoi! Rachel reads the prophet Amos giving an invitation to a different perspective on "comfort."

Lectionary Date: September 18, 2022 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy challenges our spending habits (and their human cost) as she channels the prophet Amos.

Lectionary Date: September 11, 2022 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Tim explores some curious biblical "intertextuality" in this week's lection.

Lectionary Date: September 4, 2022 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Steed Vernyl Davidson. Dr. Davidson is the Dean of the Faculty, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a Professor of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He is also an ordained elder within the United Methodist Church. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Davidson he earned his PhD in Hebrew Bible from Union Theological Seminary in New York. He is an expert on postcolonial dynamics in the content and reception of the Hebrew Bible, and has written and edited several volumes on that topic. He is also a frequent contributor to WorkingPreacher.com.

Lectionary Date: August 28, 2022 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy percolates in a deceptively simple proverb.

Lectionary Date: August 21, 2022 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel connects the language of Isaiah to our own experiences of divine calling.

Lectionary Date: August 14, 2022 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Tim dips into the First Reading vault to pull out a classic episode.

Lectionary Date: August 7, 2022 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel traces the surprising development of a hopeful psalm.

Lectionary Date: July 31, 2022 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel dives into Qohelet to mess with a sometimes problematic platitude.

Lectionary Date: July 24, 2022 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

This week, First Reading is thrilled to have Dr. Gale Yee as our guest scholar to help us with a dense, troubling, and rich text. Dr. Yee is the Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies, emerita, at Episcopal Divinity School. She served as the President of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2019. Her contributions to feminist biblical interpretation have influenced the entire field of Biblical Studies, one of the reasons we are so excited to talk with her today! If you are interested in more of her work, check out Towards an Asian American Biblical Hermeneutics: An Intersectional Anthology (Cascade, 2021) or The Hebrew Bible: Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives (Fortress, 2018).

Lectionary Date: July 17, 2022 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy puts Abraham and Sarah's pop-up dinner party in conversation with Martha's ministry.

Lectionary Date: July 10, 2022 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

This week, we'd love to promote an episode by friend-of-the-podcast, Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent is a past guest on First Reading, and has a great episode all about Psalm 82 on his podcast, "In Parallel." Here's a link to the episode. Enjoy!

Lectionary Date: July 3, 2022 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rachel explores a passage with fascinatingly embodied imagery.

Lectionary Date: June 26, 2022 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

Rosy explores Elisha's transition when he decided to follow a new divine call.

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

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

Tim sees a pattern in Paul's travels.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Lectionary Date: April 10, 2022 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C]

Rosy has the scoop on the influence of Isaiah on Christian tellings of Jesus's suffering

Lectionary Date: April 3, 2022 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Tim preaches from the poetic grammar of Psalm 126

Lectionary Date: March 27, 2022 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Rachel suggests that we should pause here and appreciate the in-between space.

Lectionary Date: March 20, 2022 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C]

This week, we’re grateful to welcome Dr. Roger Nam as our guest on First Reading. Dr. Nam is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Director of the Graduate Department of Religion at Emory University. (That’s homebase and training ground for Rachel, Tim, and Rosy!) A former economic analyst, pastor, and a second-generation Korean American who has lived and worked abroad in Korea, Roger’s recent research focuses on the social structures and economics behind wealth and poverty in the biblical world. Today’s passage from Isaiah is full of economic imagery so we’re especially glad to have Roger’s expertise and insight for this conversation. He’s the author of Portrayals of Exchange in the Book of Kings (Brill, 2012), and he’s got a number of book projects in the pipeline including commentaries (multiple!) on Ezra-Nehemiah and editing the Oxford Handbook for Wealth and Poverty. Besides his own busy research, teaching and administrative tasks, Roger is also passionate about his role as a teacher and mentor to students and learners of all kinds. He’s a contributor to Working Preacher (we love them!) and a frequent collaborator with the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning.

Lectionary Date: March 13, 2022 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Rosy explores meaningful themes embedded in an ancient covenant ritual.

Lectionary Date: March 6, 2022 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year C]

Tim avoids a platitudinous reading of the Psalm.

Lectionary Date: February 27, 2022 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year C]

Rachel offers some creative approaches to using the Hebrew Bible text on Transfiguration Sunday.

Lectionary Date: February 20, 2022 [7th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Rosy points us toward a more complex reading of the Joseph story.

Lectionary Date: February 13, 2022 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Tim finds some hope hidden in Jeremiah's doom-n-gloom.

Lectionary Date: February 6, 2022 [5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year C]

This week, we’re grateful to have Dr. Ethan Schwartz with us to look at Isaiah's prophetic call. Dr. Schwartz is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Villanova University. His research focuses on the prophetic literature of the Hebrew Bible, so today’s passage is right in his wheelhouse. Ethan loves to bring biblical studies into productive conversation with contemporary religious life, in synagogues, institutes, and churches. If you’re interested in more of his work, find him on the "Politics of Scripture" blog at politicaltheology.com. Ethan’s career has reached a new high today in being the first guest scholar to appear twice on First Reading!

Lectionary Date: January 30, 2022 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Rachel drops the first reading to pick up OT references in the Gospel reading this week.

Lectionary Date: January 23, 2022 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Ezra models the six-hour sermon?!

Lectionary Date: January 16, 2022 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Sometimes we just need to hear that God sees us and loves us.

Lectionary Date: January 9, 2022 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C]

Why go to the Old Testament for "Baptism of our Lord" Sunday?

Lectionary Date: January 2, 2022 [2nd Sunday after Christmas Day, Year C]

A dip into Hebrew poetry for this first Sunday of 2022.

Lectionary Date: December 26, 2021 [1st Sunday after Christmas Day, Year C]

It's a party episode! --> All 3 First Reading co-hosts together to chat about Hannah's song!

Lectionary Date: December 19, 2021 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year C]

Rachel rounds out Advent this year with a reflection on the problem of consent in Mary's story.

Lectionary Date: December 12, 2021 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C]

Rachel starts in the Gospel and works back to the Good News in the Old Testament.

Lectionary Date: December 5, 2021 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C]

Rachel highlights the power of the covenant this Advent.

Lectionary Date: November 28, 2021 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year C]

Rachel introduces Advent with an extended reflection on (surprise, surprise) the "nefesh."

Lectionary Date: November 21, 2021 [Reign of Christ Sunday, Year B]

On "Christ the King" Sunday, how about a sermon from the Hebrew Bible on what makes for Godly leadership?

Lectionary Date: November 14, 2021 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Hannah, the woman from the margins, shows up at the center of Israelite society with a request for God.

Lectionary Date: November 7, 2021 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

It's a big week for First Reading! As we dive into the resolution to the Book of Ruth, we have invited a guest to help us unpack the context of this story—special for its unusual focus on female protagonists.

Ashley M. Wilcox is a Quaker minister and the author of The Women’s Lectionary: Preaching the Women of the Bible throughout the Year, a handbook for feminist preachers. You (yes, you!) can hire Ashley as a preaching coach through her online resource, Preaching with Confidence. Ashley has been traveling around the country to speak, preach, and lead workshops on women and spirituality for more than a decade. For the past four years, she has been teaching preaching to students at the Candler School of Theology. You can connect with Ashley and learn more about her work at her website.

This week also marks the debut of our newest cohost, Rosy Kandathil! Rosy is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, and a former guest expert on First Reading. As she joins our team, we suppose that makes her an "expert in residence" with us. From here forward, each week the podcast will feature two of our hosts in various combinations, and we'll all three get together now and then for a "party episode." We'll also continue our pattern of bringing in a guest colleague for a deeper dive every month or so. Welcome, Rosy!

Lectionary Date: October 31, 2021 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

And when better to preach from Ruth, the story of two saints perched on the precipice of death?!

Lectionary Date: October 24, 2021 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Job is a long book that only gets a small showing in the Revised Common Lectionary. So we invited a scholar to help us unpack this week's conclusion to the book in the context of the themes raised by the whole. Dr. Will Kynes is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Samford University. His research focuses on wisdom and suffering in the Hebrew Bible viewed from the varied perspectives of various biblical texts and their readers across history. Dr. Kynes is currently working on a book on how different cultures have found hope in the biblical tradition of wrestling with God. He is also the cohost (with Rony Kozman) of a great new podcast, "The Two Testaments," which you can find over at www.thetwotestaments.com. So (after you listen to First Reading), head over there and give them the First Reading bump!

Lectionary Date: October 17, 2021 [21th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim opts for the Second Reading (Third Reading?) since it has lots of OT in it.

Lectionary Date: October 10, 2021 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel hears the voice of a concerned friend in this challenging text.

Lectionary Date: October 3, 2021 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim revisits the garden to rethink the creation of gendered humans.

Lectionary Date: September 26, 2021 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Esther is a rich and complex biblical story—which is why it's unfortunate that it only appears once in the 3-year lectionary cycle. But to help us make the most of this occasion, we invited Rosy Kandathil to join us for a deep dive into Esther. Rosy is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, where she is writing a dissertation on the collision of humor and violence in the book of Esther. Rosy's insights help us get to the core relevant issues of the book: how it navigates multiple identities at once, deals with the challenges of thriving in diaspora, and hosts some of our own deep questions about violence and vengeance. Buckle up for a great episode!

Lectionary Date: September 19, 2021 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel explores the expansive meaning of an often-pigeonholed text.

Lectionary Date: September 12, 2021 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim sets his face like flint to offer a nonviolent interpretation of this famous text!

Lectionary Date: September 5, 2021 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel gives an overview of wisdom literature, and tackles the prosperity gospel—all in one episode!

Lectionary Date: August 29, 2021 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim explores the gift (and threat?) of God's instruction.

Lectionary Date: August 22, 2021 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel does her best to turn this monologue of a prayer into a dialogue with God.

Lectionary Date: August 15, 2021 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim traces the two perspectives on Solomon and finds a key leadership skill.

Lectionary Date: August 8, 2021 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel cautions against an overly psychological interpretation of Elijah's depressed state.

Lectionary Date: August 1, 2021 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

The David and Bathsheba story is complex. And it's challenging to know what to make of the way the story plays out when David is confronted with his sin. Fortunately, we have a leading Samuel scholar to help walk through the text with us! Dr. Sara Kipfer teaches Old Testament at Heidelberg University, Germany. She has written extensively on emotions in the ancient near east, in the Bible, and in the artistic reception of the Bible. She has also engaged deeply with the book of Samuel in her book, David Under Threat (German), which is extremely relevant to our discussion here (you can find an English summary here).

Lectionary Date: July 25, 2021 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim has some thoughts about the miraculous feeding of the... one-hundred?

Lectionary Date: July 18, 2021 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel reflects on the way leaders are meant to care for the most vulnerable.

Lectionary Date: July 11, 2021 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim highlights the way that Uzzah changes everything in this passage.

Lectionary Date: July 4, 2021 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel takes a critical look at the origins of Judahite Jerusalem.

Lectionary Date: June 27, 2021 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

The lectionary cherry picks the one quasi-hopeful moment from the book of Lamentations as the first reading this week. But when we read it in the context of the sadness and trauma of the book as a whole, it reveals an even more powerful and relevant meaning. Our guest this week is Dr. Kathleen O’Connor. Kathleen is the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emerita of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. She is widely known for her work studying trauma and disaster in the Bible, as well as present-day intercultural and ecumenical issues for biblical studies. We highly recommend her Lamentations and Jeremiah commentaries, which have become go-to resources for many, many scholars and pastors.

Lectionary Date: June 20, 2021 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim has a new historical take on a classic text.

Lectionary Date: June 13, 2021 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Rachel works with a prophetic image... metaphor... allegory... thing.

Lectionary Date: June 6, 2021 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]

Tim investigates two sides of the monarchic coin at this turning point in Israel's remembered history.

Lectionary Date: May 30, 2021 [Trinity Sunday, Year B]

Rachel makes a case for reading this famous call story in its historical context.

Lectionary Date: May 23, 2021 [Pentecost Sunday, Year B]

Paul "pushes" the metaphor of childbirth in this discussion of our present labors.

Lectionary Date: May 16, 2021 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year B]

Tim thinks Jesus' "high priestly prayer" has more of a Moses flavor to it.

Lectionary Date: May 9, 2021 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year B]

Rachel hears more Mo' in Jesus' Farewell Discourse.

Lectionary Date: May 2, 2021 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year B]

Tim brings out how Jesus is channeling Moses in his farewell discourse.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Lectionary Date: February 14, 2021 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year B]

A different sort of episode this week! First, if you want to think through some of the Hebrew tidbits and cultural context of 2 Kings 2, listen to this past episode of First Reading. In addition, I'm giving a sample of a COVID-era, online sermon on the lectionary psalm from last week, Psalm 111, to help spark your creative homiletical strategies (see below). If you'd like to view the whole service attached to this little sermon (about 30 min total), you can find that service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reAf5hU0YKo.

Lectionary Date: February 7, 2021 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]

Rachel shares a deep insight from one of her students.

Lectionary Date: January 31, 2021 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]

How do we hear what God wants to say to us?

Lectionary Date: January 24, 2021 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]

It's our 100th podcast episode! We give some interpretive tips for Jonah 3, and then look back at some of the highlights of our first 100 episodes of First Reading! Also: take two minutes to check out our 100th celebration video here: https://youtu.be/m34A459ENYY

Lectionary Date: January 17, 2021 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]

The calling of Samuel is a nice story, but don't forget the message itself!

Lectionary Date: January 10, 2021 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]

Fun with Hebrew, and a look at the connections between Genesis and the Baptism of Jesus in Mark's Gospel.