born and raised twice in the bay, I preach Jesus and him crucified
This photograph shows the ruins of the Roman theater at Sebaste, rebuilt by Herod the Great on the site of ancient Samaria in the late first century BCE and renamed for Augustus. Archaeological evidence suggests it dates to the early Roman Imperial period and hosted dramatic performances, civic gatherings, and public ceremonies. These theaters shaped... Continue Reading →
Papyrus 87 (𝔓87), Philemon 13–15. P. Col. theol. 12, Köln, Institut für Altertumskunde. CSNTM. Paul writes from prison with an impossible request. He is sending back a runaway slave named Onesimus to his master Philemon, asking him to receive Onesimus not as property but as a brother. Under Roman law, Philemon had absolute authority over... Continue Reading →
Lunch in Samaria, 2022 @Phillip W. Martin As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been thinking some about two moments from my early years. In 1994 I lived in Palestine, Texas, and received an invitation from Mom Brown. She was the mother of my mom’s high school friend, but after her daughter passed she became a bonus... Continue Reading →
(@Phillip Martin) Caesarea Philippi. In the shadow of carved shrines, Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ. From here Jesus turned toward Jerusalem. The Gospels give us a vivid witness to the divine nature of Jesus. They speak through story rather than formal argument, yet the argument rises from the story itself. Jesus forgives sins, commands... Continue Reading →
There are days when you walk into a room carrying more than the food in your hands. I felt that as I tried to slip into Friendsgiving a little later than planned, with three turkeys and a knot of frustration in my chest. I dislike arriving late. I dislike feeling out of step. Yet the... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 