Please submit your abstracts to International SBL in beautiful Adelaide.

David Evans & I will be co-chairing a unit at the International SBL conf. in Adelaide, 5-9 July 26: "Early Christians in the Greco-Roman World". We encourage scholars of the NT, Early Christianity, & the Ancient World to propose a paper. CfP until 15Jan26: tinyurl.com/earlychristi...

In the #AARSBL2025 book hall, "The New Testament around the World." Baker Academic are working hard to promote this book with a chapter on Pastoral Epistles by Lyn M. Kidson in collaboration with Aboringal leader Brooke Prentis.☺️

Getting ready to wing off to Boston for IBR and SBLAAR2025. I'll be presenting in the Pastoral Epistles research group on Friday afternoon (21st Nov). It's a round table and we're discussing the art of commentary writing on the Pastoral Epistles. www.ibr-bbr.org/annual-meeti...

He Will Come in Glory—The Nicene Creed for Noncreedal Christians, Post #13 api.follow.it/track-rss-st...

My author’s copy has arrived from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social . Very nice to see in person. I wrote an entry with Laura Quick on developments in women’s ritual bathing in ancient Judaism.

Wonderful to see.

Thousands of Sydneysiders marched in the rain to make a call to the federal government to act on behalf of people in Gaza. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception." www.mellon.org/voices/human...

Society for the Study of Early Christianity, August meeting with Mark Matic, Tues 5th 7:00 PM (AEST) via zoom: “Insights from the Periphery: Exploring Hellenistic Language and Identity in Biblical Translations, Ptolemaic Contracts and Dalmatian Inscriptions“ Email for the link: [email protected]

@hodidaskalos.bsky.social what is a missional-organic church advocate?

It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now! www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

You can still PRE-ORDER You Have a Calling between now and Aug. 4 and gain immediate electronic access to the book through NetGalley! open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

Book release: You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful. karenswallowprior.substack.com/p/countdown-...

The pope on the destruction of the only Catholic church in Gaza www.nbcnews.com/world/middle...

Winter sunset with ducks gliding across a gold, pink and purple Lake Albert, Wagga Wagga, Australia.

Congratulations to Mark Short on becoming the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. Former rector of South Wagga Anglican church and currently Bishop of the Canberra -Goulburn Diocese.

Depictions of female anatomical cuirasses are relatively rare in the ancient world, even on mythical female warriors. But this Amazon terracotta from Canosa shows that "boob armor" pairs quite well with a Montefortino helmet. Note the drill holes on top for plumes!

In view of John MacArthur's passing, my article from 2019 on his unpleasant quip about Beth Moore, bit.ly/4eN5uZU

My parish church when I was growing up.

From the Orthodox Barbie archives: [On Titus 2:5]: “In this era, households are economically productive. To instruct a woman to “work at home” was to instruct her to be economically productive. Like Neo’s wife she may even do his work while he busies himself with civic duties.” - Lyn M. Kidson /1

"Young women are 'quiet quitting' the church. It's not a loud rebellion, but a gradual disengagement from formal involvement, even if they still hold Christian belief." #WomenInChurch #FaithTrends thewadrproject.com/2025/06/23/t...

Honestly I still can’t stop laughing 😂😅🤣

Dr Ali Robinson, "High-Standing Women in the Book of Acts and Their Influence among the Synagogues of the Greek East." SSEC, 24th June 7pm AEST mq-ssec.org/quarterly-me...

Excellent coverage of Macquarie Uni’s proposed restructure: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Last night I was at the launch of Karen Pack 'Queer Omissions', a book about Australian Christian women, who contributed significantly to Australian society & church life but are largely forgotten. Buy at @gleebooks.bsky.social or @routledgehistory.bsky.social

Interview with Dr. Clint Arnold on his WBC Colossians Commentary nijaykgupta.substack.com/p/interview-...

Your key takeaway from the brilliant Ukraine attack with small drones into Russia shouldn’t be “wow, small drones make it so easy to score huge hits,” it should be “wow, Ukrainians are insanely good at covertly planning and executing extraordinarily difficult missions of which drones are one part”.

A great vibe today at the SSEC Orality and Memory in the New Testament conference, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2025. Chris Forbes, Don Barker, & Con Campbell featured

In our series 'Meet the Fellows', we get to know our Fellowship. This edition sees Elizabeth Gilkey chat with Senior Lecturer at @ics.bsky.social, @emlynkd.bsky.social. www.sal.org.uk/2025/05/meet...

My article on the 2025 Australian election and what it means for evangelicals/Christians in Australia is now up on the WADR website. I spend some time thinking about what the reaction of female voters to the Liberal Party means for churches today. bit.ly/44Auz7o

A good one from the WUNT series on @mohrsiebeck.bsky.social!

The NSW-ACT Baptist association is going thru a difficult time over SSM. The unintended consequence of removing Hamilton Baptist is that it draws attention to the beauty and goodness of their community. Hear Ps Andrew Dodd & Scott Higgins talk about their church. www.buzzsprout.com/1925719/epis...

“Now we have a new pope, Leo XIV, the first American pope, a member of the Augustinian order, who has worked for a substantial part of his ministry in Peru and has dual American and Peruvian citizenship. What can we expect?" thewadrproject.com/2025/05/09/p...

Making lists of disabled people like the bunch of hateful eugenicists that they are, what next? Family trees to identify the ‘fit’ and ‘unfit’ members? Fitter families contests? Bonuses for more ‘fit’ babies?

What the Australian election result means, " the most important takeaway. Last Saturday, Australians rejected Trumpism at the ballot box, just as Canada did in their recent election." thewadrproject.com/2025/05/07/w...

The New Testament Around the World was on the doorstep tonight when I took the rubbish out. Excited to see my character on Titus in print.

From the Orthodox Barbie archives: [On John Macarthur’s infamous “go home” statement]: “When Beth Moore is in church; that is, meeting with other believers, she is at home. Her home is the royal household of God. When she is in her private house she is still in the royal household of God. /1

Canberra Baptist Church expelled from association over same-sex marriage support. Somewhat over simplification bc 1/3 of the delegates voted against expelling them. It's not just an argument about SSM.

Macquarie University ancient languages school has just posted their winter program. It's always a great opportunity to pick up a new language or hone your skills in the one you're learning. Kione Greek (NT) Accessible online, especially if you're in Asia. mals.org.au/current-progra…

Article by Brent Nongbri on the newly discovered mikveh, "[the lead archaeologist], added, 'We found an additional two lamps, one very similar to the artifact from the bottom of the mikveh with the depiction of a menorah, the other one engraved with a Christogram..." brentnongbri.com/2025/04/24/m...

The SSEC conference will be here soon! In person or stream-registrations open. Orality and Memory in the New Testament: what role did eyewitnesses, orality and memory play in the formation of the New Testament? 15 May, 7pm (+UTC 11) & 17 May, 8.30am (+UTC11) mq-ssec.org/2025-annual-...

Congratulations to JDP faculty Dr. Christy Cobb's for her newest book! 📖🎉 You can find more info and buy it here: www.eerdmans.com/978080288413...

I just had an article published in Source: Notes in the History of Art titled "(I’ve Got the) Magic Stick: The Virgus and Vitis in Roman Imperial and Early Christian Art." Always pleased to slip in a reference to Lil' Kim in a piece on imperial iconography: www.journals.uchicago.edu/eprint/6TCKK...

Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq