Talking Theology

How is John's gospel both accessible and profound? What does it mean to read John's gospel as the culmination of the New Testament testimony to Jesus? How does John's gospel invite us to improvise in response to the love of God? And how does this gospel allow us to read our way into the presence of Jesus?In today's show we will be talking to Professor David Ford. David is Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus at the University of Cambridge. He's also chair of trustees of Lyn's House, Cambridge, a Christian community of friendship between people with and without learning disabilities. He's recently published The Gospel of John:  A Theological Commentary.

What is tragedy and how do we see it not only in the arts but also in the Bible? How does tragedy help us see what it is to live as sinners in a fallen world? What is the difference between optimism and hope? How is a tragic view of life actually part of the Good News?In this episode we are talking to Dr Giles Waller. Giles is a research associate at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme. His forthcoming book is entitled, 'Tragic Theology: Drama, the Cross and the Literary Luther'. 

Where did Pentecostalism start and what can we learn from its history? What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit, personal piety and power and justice? What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the resurrection of Jesus and how does this affect how we see wounds around us today? How can we resist limiting the spheres in which we long to see the Holy Spirit at work?In this episode, we talk to Dr Selina Stone. Selina is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University and her research on Pentecostalism and social justice was entitled "Holy Spirit: Holy Bodies."

What does the ancient book of Philemon have to say to our modern world? What does it mean to pursue our discipleship from a place of discomfort? What are the different, authentic voices that need to be unmuted for us to hear from God? And what is reverse mission, and how is God speaking to the Church from unexpected places?In today’s show we will be talking Revd Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana. Israel is a Baptist minister and  Director of the One People Commission of the Evangelical Alliance. Among his books is the recently published Discipleship, Suffering and Racial Justice: Mission in a Pandemic World.

How is theology changed by people, place and time? How is the Holy Spirit leading the Church in the unfolding truth of Christ? How is it the Spirit's distinctive work to maximise gladness? And how can we be opened up by the past to imagine a new future? In today’s show we will be talking Professor Ben Quash. Ben is Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London. He explores the theological significance of literature, drama, the visual arts and music, and in particular how they might stimulate our engagement with the Bible.

Why has place always mattered and why does it matter today? What's the difference between the parish system and the parish vocation? How are we called to love the different places where we have been placed by God? And why has the debate about the role of the parish become so polarised, and what's a better way forward?In today’s show we will be talking to Revd Dr Will Foulger. Will is the Director of Mission and Evangelism here at Cranmer Hall, and also the Director of the Centre for Church Planting, Theology, and Research. His new book entitled: Present in Every Place? The Church of England and the Parish Vocation will be published in Spring 2023.

How does prayer help us integrate our experiences of God with our efforts to understand God? How can we think and talk about prayer in a way that captures its rich diversity? How does contemplating God help us resist the constrictions the world puts on us? And how can thinking prayer help us bring others before God?In today’s show we will be talking to Professor Andrew Prevot. Andrew is Associate Professor in the Theology Department at Boston College. He has written extensively on the relationship between prayer and theology, and his new book on mysticism and the ordinary life is appearing in Spring 2023.

What did it mean for the Apostle Paul’s existence in Christ to be patterned on the Cross? Why is the Christ-hymn from Philippians 2 Paul’s master story and how does it speak to us, not only as individuals, but to communities of faith? If Good Friday supplies the pattern of Christian lives, how does Easter supply the power? And, what does it mean for the Church to not simply believe the Gospel, but also become the Gospel?  In this episode I am talking to Professor Michael Gorman. Michael is the Raymond E. Brown Professor in Biblical Studies and Theology at St Mary’s University and Seminary, Baltimore. Michael has written extensively on the theology and spirituality of St Paul.

What's the problem with singing joyful songs in the face of suffering? What do the psalms teach us about staying with suffering, rather than moving too quickly to praise? How is the practice of lament witnessed to across the pages of the Bible, right up to the very end? And how is naming the reality of pain and trials actually an expression of hope?In today’s show I will be talking to Rev Dr Federico Villanueva, who is currently a Commissioning Editor for Langham Publishing and Scholar Care Coordinator for Asian Langham Scholars. Federico is an Old Testament scholar, author, minister, preacher and seminary teacher known in particular for his works on the Psalms and Lamentations. 

How can music help us to access theological realities to which words bear witness? How can the patterns of Western music provide us with a disarming but compelling way into the heart of the Gospel? How can the uncontainability of music point us to a transcendent God of love and grace? How can music expand our perceptions of what it is to be human and open up conversations of faith?In today’s show we are talking to Professor Jeremy Begbie. Jeremy is a Professor at Duke Divinity School, as well as being ordained in the Church of England, and a professionally trained musician. He writes extensively on the relationship between theology and the arts, with a particular focus on music.