Tag Archives: Song of Songs
Biblical Erotic Poetry
The Holiness of Human Sexuality Biblical Erotic Poetry Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Early Jewish scholars and Christian church fathers each debated whether the Song of Songs should be included in the Scriptures. We can understand why, because by any definition, it’s erotic poetry from beginning to end, while also surely a metaphor for God’s passionate… Continue Reading Biblical Erotic Poetry
The Great Love Song
Mystical Marriage The Great Love Song Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Carl McColman has written many accessible books on spirituality, the mystics, and contemplative prayer. Here he explores a biblical book of “bridal mysticism” and also offers an example of a modern mystic who experienced this kind of union with God. “God is love” (1… Continue Reading The Great Love Song
Wholeness
Gender and Sexuality: Week 1 Wholeness Monday, April 16, 2018 In the Hebrew Scriptures, prior to the influence of the Platonic dualism that deemed body as bad and spirit as good, there is a much more integrated notion of the human being. The biblical writers believed that the divine breath, breathed into Adam and Eve,… Continue Reading Wholeness
Human Development in Scripture
Two Halves of Life: Week 2 Human Development in Scripture Wednesday, June 22, 2016 It is helpful for us to know about the whole arc of life and where it is tending and leading. Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite scripture scholars, brilliantly connected the development of the Hebrew Scriptures with the development of human… Continue Reading Human Development in Scripture
The Invitation of Grace
Bias from the Bottom: Week 1 The Invitation of Grace Monday, March 21, 2016 As I shared earlier this year, the Bible is “a text in travail.” Sometimes the biblical writers catch a glimpse of God’s true character—love, mercy, and justice—and sometimes they lose sight of it. Old Testament scholar and theologian Walter Brueggemann traces… Continue Reading The Invitation of Grace
Love: Week 2 Summary
Love: Week 2 Summary: Sunday, January 3-Friday, January 8, 2016 What you seek is what you are. (Sunday) The inner knowledge of God’s love is itself the Indwelling Presence. (Monday) “Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God . . . for God is love.” —1 John 4:7-8 (Tuesday) Intimacy (mutual vulnerability) is the… Continue Reading Love: Week 2 Summary
Love Is Stronger than Death
Love: Week 2 Love Is Stronger than Death Friday, January 8, 2016 I believe the meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus is summed up in the climactic line from the Song of Songs (8:6) that I translate as “love is stronger than death.” If the blank white banner that the Risen Christ usually holds in… Continue Reading Love Is Stronger than Death