Category Archives: Historical Reflections

Perspectives from the Past-Reflections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Writings in 1932-33

Posted on May 10, 2019 by

One of the gifts of reading more deeply into the lives and experiences of people in the past is the perspectives they can give us into our own time. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor during the critical time leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Brief Introduction to Herod the Great

Posted on April 23, 2019 by

The World Around Judea in the Time Before Herod After the Maccabean Revolt in 167-160 BCE the Judean people had a time of independence and were ruled by Hasmonean kings who were descendants of the Maccabees who are credited with, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Reflections, Gospel of Matthew, Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Anfechtung

Posted on August 15, 2018 by

Roland H. Bainton’s classic, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, is one of several Luther biographies I have on my shelf and it is a classic work, even if it is a little dry to read. I want … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Historical Reflections, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Ongoing Reference to Luther’s Works

Posted on July 15, 2016 by

I am a Lutheran pastor but not a Lutheran scholar and the breadth of Luther’s works makes them a staggering task to approach. As a part of my study of various books of the scriptures I have also made it … Continue reading →

Posted in Deuteronomy, Ecclesiastes, Gospel of Matthew, Historical Reflections, Psalms, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two Excerpts for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

Fifty years ago today Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote and incredible open letter in response to eight white clergymen in Alabama who had written “A Call for Unity”. The letter still rings true even fifty years later when we read … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections, Theology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Place of Authority 3-2:Byzantium, Triangles and the Quest for Stasis

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

One of the things I’ve been doing as I took an extended break from my more historical work on the place of authority within society and religion was to do some broader thinking about where this all might be heading … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Place of Authority Part 3-1: The Fall of the Western Empire and the Rise of the Bishop of Rome

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

Meeting Between Leo the Great and Attila the Hun, Raphael (1514), Public Domain Artwork The reason that the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed are legion (pardon the pun). Although the eastern half of the empire and the Eastern … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Place of Authority 2-6: The Constantinian Revolution Part 2-Councils, Canons and Creeds

Posted on July 5, 2012 by

Icon of the Council of Nicea I mentioned in an early post (see the Place of Authority 2-3) that Christianity came into contact with the Greek culture and even though Christianity attempted to remain true to its Jewish roots, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Place of Authority 2-5: The Constantinian Revolution Part 1-The Rise of Power and the Crisis of Authenticity

Posted on July 4, 2012 by

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Place of Authority 2-4: The Practices of the Early Church

Posted on July 2, 2012 by

Baptism Fresco on the Catacombs of St. Marcellinus and Peter, Via Labicana, Rome, Italy There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment