Two friends and I wanted to visit the bazaar in Tehran while we were there. (He is a historian of Islamic philosophy; she was — unfortunately, she died some years ago, far too young — an anthropologist with a focus on the Middle East. At the time, they were on research leave in Pakistan from their American university.) Bazaars — like the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and Khan al-Khalili in Cairo — are culturally fascinating places. But, although... Read more
New Testament Notes 92-93
Matthew 9:1-8 Mark 2:1-12 Luke 5:17-26 Compare John 5:1-9 The logic here is fairly straightforward: Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven him. At this, the “scribes” accuse him of blasphemy for arrogating to himself what they correctly believe to be a uniquely divine prerogative (Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21). Jesus responds by saying “‘Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise, talk up your... Read more