Talking About Jesus Through Muslim Eyes with Richard Schumack

Last updated on: October 5, 2020 at 1:03 am By Michael F. Bird

Here’s a conversation I had with Richard Schumack about his book Jesus Through Muslim Eyes. The discussion landscape between Christians and Muslims is constantly changing and developing. Increasingly subtle and sophisticated Muslim positions on Jesus emerge regularly. The latest Muslim thinker to rise to prominence in the wider public arena is Mustafa Akyol. His ideas about Jesus, while largely derivative, are crafted into novel and appealing arguments. To date, there has been no satisfactory Christian engagement with his ideas. Written by... Read more

Mike Bird’s Next Book – 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible

Last updated on: January 9, 2021 at 6:08 am By Michael F. Bird

My new book, 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible, drops on 7 June 2021. Hopefully gives you something to look forward to this year. Here’s the blurb: Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible is a short and readable introduction to the Bible–its origins, interpretation, truthfulness, and authority. Bible scholar and Anglican priest Michael Bird helps Christians understand seven important “things” about this unique book: How the Bible was put together; What “inspiration” means; How the Bible is... Read more

Introduction to Israel’s Wisdom Traditions

Last updated on: October 4, 2020 at 6:05 pm By Michael F. Bird

John L. McLaughlin An Introduction to Israel’s Wisdom Traditions Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2018. Available at Eerdmans. Review by Jill Firth Dr. John L. McLaughlin is a professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at the Faculty of Theology, University of St Michael’s College, Toronto. He is a past President of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, and currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures and as an Associate Editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly. He is the... Read more

Mike Bird’s Lecture on Jesus among the gods

Last updated on: January 6, 2021 at 5:04 am By Michael F. Bird

I had the pleasure of delivering Ridley College’s 2020 Leon Morris Lecture on the topic of Jesus among the gods: Early Christology and the Ancient Theologies of Divinity. The early church was unanimous that Jesus was “divine.” The question was and remains, in what sense? Many scholars argue that Jesus was considered divine in the sense envisaged by ancient ruler cults, Greek mythology, angelic beings, or something similar. In contrast, this lecture proposes that the ancient world had various categories... Read more

Justin Martyr on the Logos

Last updated on: September 23, 2020 at 6:58 am By Michael F. Bird

There is an intensification of Logos christology among the early apologists especially with Justin Martyr. Justin makes no explicit mention of the Fourth Gospel, but it is far more likely than not that he knows of it and alludes to it,[1] and his Logos theology is best understood in light of its Johannine heritage.[2] Justin’s Logos is God’s instrument of revelation to humans (Dial. 128.2). The whole world come into being by a “Word of God” (Dial. 84.2; 1 Apol.... Read more

Gupta and Bird Chatting on the Gospel of John

Last updated on: September 21, 2020 at 8:50 pm By Michael F. Bird

To kick off the new year, in this video, Nijay Gupta (Northern Seminary) and me discuss several things in the Gospel of John: Narrative criticism and irony Prologue Historical questions Meaning of “Faith? How to Teach John’s Gospel Favourite secondary literature. Read more

Christmas Video from Ridley College

Last updated on: December 23, 2020 at 7:01 pm By Michael F. Bird

Here is Ridley College Christmas Video where I give my 45 second devotional of John 1:1-18. Shortest Xmas sermon ever! Advent greetings and new year’s blessings to you all! Read more

Planet Theology Podcast Back from Hiatus

Last updated on: December 23, 2020 at 6:51 pm By Michael F. Bird

The podcast Planet Theology is back from hiatus due to COVID stuff. In this episode, we get together Michael Bird (Ridley College), Scott Harrower (Ridley College), Chris Porter (Trinity College) and special guest Rev. Elizabeth Webster (St. Silas’s) to discuss Augustine, purity culture, and social identity theory. Hopefully a few more of these in the new year. Subscribe, like, rate, and leave a comment. Read more

My Top 5 Books for 2020

Last updated on: December 23, 2020 at 7:02 pm By Michael F. Bird

Here are my top books for 2020 5. The Book of Revelation: A Biography by Timothy Beale This is a terrific read about the influence and reception of Revelation in church history and American culture. Full of insights! 4. Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley A wonderful book by Esau, recently won a CT award. An amazing insight into what it’s like to read the Bible through the eyes of others, esp. those... Read more

Some Recent Podcast Interviews with Michael Bird

Last updated on: December 16, 2020 at 6:12 pm By Michael F. Bird

I’ve done a stack of podcast interviews in recent months, here’s the latest ones: The Layman’s Lounge – Talking about the second edition of Evangelical Theology with emphasis on the link between gospel, theology, practice, and mission. The Francis Project – Talking about Anglicanism and the Reformation. Read more