Befriending the Bible Michael Trainor

An introduction to Matthew's Gospel

This series of studies introduces you to Matthew's Gospel, offers a background to the Gospel, the context of the Gospel's audience, the way the evangelist presents Jesus, and then moves through the whole Gospel, chapter-by-chapter.


Each video goes for approximately 30 minutes
The series is intended to support teachers, biblical educators and worship leaders in their appreciation of Matthew's Gospel for the Liturgical Year A in the Common Lectionary.
Ensure you have your copy of the Gospel at hand as we journey through each chapter.

This series of studies introduces you to Matthew's Gospel, offers a background to the Gospel, the context of the Gospel's audience, the way the evangelist presents Jesus, and then moves through the whole Gospel, chapter-by-chapter. 


Each video goes for approximately 30 minutes
The series is intended to support teachers, biblical educators and worship leaders in their appreciation of Matthew's Gospel for the Liturgical Year A in the Common Lectionary.
Ensure you have your copy of the Gospel at hand as we journey through each chapter.

 

This 9 min audio offers the background to the nature of the ancient prayer practice of "Lectio Divina"

This podcast suggests four steps in praying "Lectio Divina"

This brief podcast reflects on the Greco-Roman context for the Jesus Movement and the growth of the Second Testament. Its writings emerge from a Jewish context and move into a non-Jewish Mediterranean world.

Herod's death (4BCE) brings about the division of his kingdom between his three sons: Antipas (responsible for Judah and Samaria), Herod Philip (Galilee, Upper and Lowers), Archelaus Transjordan), 
Rome imposes heavy and intolerable taxation on the Jews.
Revolt occurs and Rome, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE. A major moment that causes Jewish self-reflection on Israel's survival and future.
A second revolt (132 CE) brings Rome's complete occupation of Israel/Palestine until the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Tumult and revolt becomes the context of Jesus' ministry
The Jesus movement moves from a Jewish world, into the non-Jewish world, expanding north, south, east and west. Its expansion engages the culture and politics of the Greco-Roman world governed by imperial politics and theology.