In the year 44 BC, Cicero was in his sixties — an old man by Roman standards — living on his farm outside of Rome removed from political power by the dictatorship of Julius Caesar. He turned to writing to ease the pain of exile and the recent loss of his beloved daughter. Among these works was a short essay on friendship dedicated to Atticus. … More Cicero on How To Be A Friend
The church needs to embrace the pastoral gift/role of “spiritual writing” as enthusiastically it celebrates the gift of public speaking. … More Pastoral Letters in a Digital Age – Part 2
Instead of flinging a relatively impersonal sermon out over a nameless crowd each Sunday, a personal letter to the right person at the right time can fling a shepherd’s arms around wounded or wandering sheep, refreshing their soul. … More Pastoral Letters in a Digital Age – Part 1
Yesterday I began my next doctoral essay. Here’s a sneak peek at the introduction -JB. “If you had sent a letter…there would have been nothing to prevent my seeming to be actually in your company, and enjoying it as though we had been together… But why do you not write?” –St. Basil to Leontis, 364 AD Pastors know … More The Unbearable Silence of Monday
“I rest only so long as I am writing to you or reading your letters.” —Cicero, To Atticus 9.4.1 “That which is sweetest when we meet face to face is afforded by the impress of a friend’s hand upon his letter – recognition.” —Seneca, Moral Letters 40.1 I am drawn by some invisible force to “look for … More Ancient Letters Speak Today
I often talk about church as a car repair shop rather than a Sunday trip through a car wash. While the latter may feel nice and give your exterior a little extra shine for a few days, it does not address the ‘engine’ inside that makes us go. At MainStreet we desire to open the … More Epictetus: Soul-Wrenching Work
This is an excerpt from a much longer essay I wrote called “Royal Scribes in the King’s Court: Ancient Education & Christian Discipleship” published in a little book of essays called “Life in King Jesus’ Colony” from my doctoral studies. I hail from good Lutheran stock from the Midwest (Minnesota) where we shared … More Political Discipleship in the Christian Colony
Here’s a portion of my latest doctoral essay exploring the power of “Embodied Wisdom.” This section looks at the role of emotional vulnerability in a pastor’s leadership and example. A popular phrase I’m hearing these days is “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” I’m a guy who … More The Emotionally Real Pastor
How did the first Christians gather and worship? We don’t need to guess, or piece a picture together from the sparse comments in the New Testament. We have descriptions from historical sources outside the Bible such as Pliny the Younger, Justin Martyr, Tacitus and Seutonius. Before we read their firsthand accounts, John Gooch gives some … More Early Christian Worship & Persecution
My current doctoral research has me exploring the relational dynamics between ancient Greco-Roman moral philosophers and their students. I’m hoping the historical context will shine fresh light on the Apostle Paul’s interactions with those under his care and teaching. I’ve been digging into the likes of Plutarch, Seneca, Epictetus, Cicero, Lucian, Quintilian, Dio Chrysostom as … More Teachers & Role Models in Ancient Times
These two quotes aptly describe the nature and goal of my doctoral studies in New Testament Context. “The ideal interpreter would be one who has entered into that strange first-century world, has felt its whole strangeness, has sojourned in it until he has lived himself into it, thinking and feeling as one of those to … More Historical Context Matters
This short essay seeks to answer the question: “Did Jesus act more like a scribe or a prophet (or both)? Martin Hengel concludes his careful exploration of Jesus’ identity stating “Neither the misleading term “rabbi” nor the designation “eschatological prophet,” which is likewise open to misunderstanding, can adequately characterize his activity. Jesus’ “charisma” breaks through the … More ESSAY: Jesus: Scribe, Prophet or Both?
If you’re one of the 2 people out there curious about the kinds of things I’m exploring in my doctoral program, here’s an essay from my last seminar on scribes and literacy in the ancient world. This essay addresses the question: “To what extent did literacy play a role in the spiritual development of Paul’s converts?” Enjoy … More Learning & Literacy in Paul’s Churches
Here’s a snapshot of my current research project I’m finishing up this week. I’m exploring ancient pedagogy and fresh angles on the task of discipleship in the church today. POTLUCKS & POLITICS I hail from good Lutheran stock from the Midwest (Minnesota) where we shared potlucks (with an endless variety of “hot dishes”) in the … More Disciples as Scribes in the Royal Court
This is a classic piece by N.T. Wright re-examining the meaning of some biblical texts in their Jewish context that have been hijacked by other interpretive schemes over the years. From Bible Review, August 2001, reprinted at NTWrightPage. Little did Paul know how his colorful metaphors for Jesus’ second coming would be misunderstood two millennia later. … More Farewell to the Rapture (N.T. Wright)
I saw the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” this past weekend, and I was very moved by its portrayal of the early Christian community living in the “reign of terror” of Emperor Nero in around 67CE. I encourage everyone to go see it. Three main things stood out to me. First, you cannot watch … More ‘Remarkable & Admittedly Unusual’
If Jesus is the perfect embodiment of Torah, what happens if we insert “Jesus” or “Jesus’ Way” every place we find “Torah” in the Mishnah’s ‘Sayings of the Sages’? I think you’ll find it quite fascinating. … More Jesus Crashes the Mishnah
Isn’t it interesting the early church never developed into anything resembling the rabbinic model of education and organization? Paul was a Pharisee who studied under the great Rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and yet the style of his teaching and apostolic ministry never resulted in training up Christian rabbis to pass on Jesus’ interpretation of Torah to eager students. Just read Acts and the Epistles and you find nothing rabbinic in shape about early Christian education. … More Jesus, Sages & the Mishnah
I’m digging into the writings of the early church fathers, and was reading Athanasius last night. I came across a little gem in my “digging” that perfectly aligns with one of my favorite writing projects. In The Father’s Song, I try to tell the Big Story of the Bible using the metaphor of a divine melody … More Making Music with Athanasius
Once every few years, I’ll wander back to the upstairs of the Bethel University library and retrace my steps back to that holy ground where the light of historical curiosity once split the sky and blinded my time-bound vision long enough to glimpse Eternity through ancient eyes. … More Longings, Libraries & Ancient Portals
Most colleges and university programs have favorite professors who sometimes have long waiting lists to get into their most popular classes. When I was an undergrad at Bethel University (1998-2002), one such class was “The Life & Teachings of Paul” taught by Dr. Michael Holmes. (The only class in the Bible & Theology department that … More Sages Then & Now: Philo
I’m in Chicago all week in a classroom full of doctoral students with noses in ancient texts, studying the role of teachers and students, prophets and scribes, literacy and illiteracy in the ancient world. Our course has the somewhat laudatory title: Becoming Doctors of the Church. I’m sharing some thoughts and insights from my studies for … More Sages Then & Now: Ben Sira
I’m in Chicago all week for a doctoral course called “Becoming Doctors of the Church.” That’s a pretty high-sounding title, wouldn’t you say? It might even sound a bit elitist. In the ancient world it was only the educated elite who could read and write and had access to texts and sacred writings. I’m mindful … More Sages Then & Now: Scribal Experts
I feel extremely blessed to be doing further studies at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. For friends, family and members of my church, I’m excited to share some glimpses along the way into what I’m learning. I’m part of a new, one-of-a-kind Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program with a historical focus on the Jewish … More Becoming Doctors of the Church
This is the concluding section of a research paper on “Rabbi Jesus & the Embodiment of Torah” exploring the Rabbi-Pupil relationships and dynamics in the ancient world — especially the role of charisma and personality in church teaching. At First Church, Pastor Stern had the difficult task of succeeding the long-tenured and beloved Pastor Slick who … More Jesus, Rabbinic Judaism & Personality-Driven Ministry Today
Jeremy L. Berg 