Luther Seminary's Bible Q & A

Matt Skinner, associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, discusses Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate in Luke 23. Watch this brief video to learn about the text's ambiguity over who bears responsibility for Jesus' death.

Article by Dr. Alphonetta Wines, Ph.D.

The Bible is and has been revered for centuries by many around the world. Though seldom recognized, it is fascinating to consider the diversity of the biblical text, whether one thinks in terms of geography, culture, characters, authors, editors, or theology.

In February, African-American History Month, it's a good time to recall both the diversity of the biblical text as well as African contributions to it and to the Christian faith.

Geographical and Cultural …

Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and David Lose.
Article written by David Lose.

What does the Bible say about the cross? Quite a bit, actually.

But it doesn’t all agree. And while that may trouble those looking for absolute consistency among the four gospels, it also sheds light on the richness and variety of the ways the earliest Christians understood God’s work in and through the cross.

Imagine, for a moment, four artists who decide to paint a city. Because each …

Craig Koester provides an entry point into the letter to the Hebrews. Watch this brief video to find out about the nature of faith and the promise provided to people who face life's challenges.

This list of lesser-known stewardship Bible verses was shared by participants at Mary Sue Dreier's session at the 2010 Rethinking Stewardship conference at Luther Seminary. Grace Duddy compiled the list and offers brief commentary.

#10. 1 Timothy 6:12-19
"The life that really is life"

Stewardship emerges out of a heart of faith that confesses Christ. In this letter, Paul urges Timothy to teach the rich to put their trust in God, not their possessions. For it is only through God that they …

Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, Chick Lane and Grace Duddy. Article written by Chick Lane and Grace Duddy.

What does the Bible say about money and possessions? Obviously, a lot. Someone has observed that other than the Kingdom itself, Jesus talks about money more than any other topic. The Old Testament has plenty to say about God’s generosity, our abundance, and both the responsibilities and the dangers of having material possessions.

At the heart of what the Bible says …

Watch this brief video to find out what Scripture says about Mary, mother of Jesus, at different points in her life.

Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Craig Koester.  Article written by Craig Koester.

What is my favorite part of the Christmas story?

When I think of the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, according to Luke 2, I am struck by its subversive quality. Luke tells the story in a manner that is challenging to both ancient and modern sensitivities. If we begin with the ancient context, the opening lines of the story take up familiar themes in the Roman world. The central …

Matt Skinner, New Testament professor at Luther Seminary, talks about Jesus and banquets. Meals, in the Gospel of Luke, are occasions for transformation, confrontation, and Jesus' pronouncements about individuals and ministry.

"There is a ton of food in this gospel -- no wonder [his enemies] called Jesus a glutton and a drunkard. ... Meals become theological settings by which talk about God is real, is cemented into the lives of human beings and societies that they live in."

Meals are places …

Podcast discussion with Eric Barreto, Cameron Howard, and Rolf Jacobson. Article written by Rolf A. Jacobson.

Ask a Stupid Question...
Would Jesus shop on Black Friday? First of all, nobody knows. But -- in case you are the one person in North America who doesn’t know what Black Friday is -- Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Which makes it the first day of the Christmas shopping season.

The day when there are crazy, door-busting, jaw-dropping, loss-leader sale prices on …