From the Lectern Kingdom Diversity

Bailey exposes the rich depths within Jesus’ parables positing Jesus as the metaphorical theologian whose parables must be considered within a Middle Eastern context. We examine the parable of the Good Samaritan and the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus for insights that would have stood out to Jesus’ Middle Eastern audience and apply them to our contemporary context.

In our continuing discussion of Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, the KD Team examines Bailey's work on Jesus' ministry with and to women. Western readers gain much from Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well from John 4:1-42 and the woman caught in adultery from John 7:53-8:11.

Kenneth E. Bailey offers an in-depth exegetical, cultural, and social examination of Jesus’ inaugural sermon in Luke 4:16-31. In posing the question, “how would they have heard it?” Bailey illuminates how transcendent Jesus’ sermon was to the Jewish crowd laden with nationalistic ideas of salvation.

Kenneth E. Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes considers how the Lord’s Prayer would have dramatically opened the minds and hearts for Jesus’ Middle Eastern listeners. The KD team discusses key points from Part 3 of this insightful book.

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey seeks to illuminate parts of Jesus’ life and ministry that often get overlooked by Western readers. The KD team begins to unpack this extraordinary text by considering points of emphasis in the Western telling of the Christmas narrative.

Lisa Spencer joins the KD Team to discuss her contribution to the Southeastern Theological Review.