Join the ICS: The Institute of Classical Studies is now recruiting for an open-ended lectureship in Classical Studies in support of its national mission. Full details here: www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai... Deadline 15 January

UPDATE: Another Chicago-area church has put up an immigration-themed Nativity scene. A church member at Urban Village Church sent this one along, where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are gone and replaced with a sign that reads: “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”

Tell it like it is Tom Wright! Brave man. He's hitting the nail on the head. Also a challenge to academics who assume he's going to sing from a particular songsheet.

Christmas listening! Was great talking to Shirley. earlychristiantexts.com/jesus-childh...

One year position in Oxford! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPT068/d...

Lecturer in Classical Studies (Research, Training and Partnerships) at University of London www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPT082/l...

Here's my article about Bethlehem being not such a little village in Jesus' day. An important aqueduct went through it.

Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent climate action and says God’s creation is 'crying out' apnews.com/article/pope...

I’ve been asking this question since the attack. The silence as one of our major national institutions was crippled has been extremely frustrating and shortsighted.

So pleased. Thank you @arturoviaggia.bsky.social !

An academic job in Exegesis of Biblical and Extra-Biblical Texts at University of Louvain

We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Shohet Scholars Grant for research on the Ancient Mediterranean! Awards range from $2,000-$30,000. Deadline is Feburary 1, 2026. More information: www.catacombsociety.org/shohet-schol...

On Sunday, I debated with Bart Ehrman, "Did John Know the Other Gospels?" It ended up being a bit more spicy than the "fireside chat" we had anticipated. The first half of the debate is now on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXn...

My book Boy Jesus is now out in Italy, so do tell your Italian friends! Published by Sonda. Gesu Bambino. sonda.it/prodotto/la-...

Announcing the launch of the open-access Journal of Christian Apocryphal Literature (JCAL). Sign up if you are interested in being a contributor or reviewer! journals.aperio.press/jcal/submiss...

Very important article by @mmonier.bsky.social on Codex Alexandrinus, with mention too of scribe Thecla.

A nice review. www.americamagazine.org/books/2025/0...

What a great idea for a book. Wow.

No it really wasn't a tomb for a Herodian princess. Evidence? None. What a lot of twaddle for the sake of the Israel tourism industry.

Very good to talk with the great team at The Two Cities podcast about Boy Jesus. Btw he wasn't born into an easy time. Demonstrations, massive clampdowns, imperialism and violence ... threats to his own family. www.thetwocities.com

So glad this is happening for the immensely talented @mmonier.bsky.social

Very interesting new study dating the Dead Sea Scrolls. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Talking here with Megan Lewis about Boy Jesus on the Bart Ehrman podcast. youtu.be/XUskxQZZyZI?...

Enjoyed chatting about Boy Jesus with Jessica Jenkins for her We who thirst podcast. www.buzzsprout.com/2384822/epis...

A Joan and Helen double act again, this time reflecting on #JohntheBaptist

Boy Jesus features in the New York Post. nypost.com/2025/04/19/l...

Ever wonder why we dye eggs red for Pascha? The red symbolizes Christ’s blood shed for us. There are a few traditions about the pascha eggs involving Mary Magdalene. The one I grew up with was that Mary Magdalene put a basket of eggs at the foot of the cross and Christ’s blood flowed onto the eggs.

Love this curious painting. Great commentary too.

Thank you so much 🙏 @emilbrunner1.bsky.social

Hooray! You can read my new Journal of Early Christian Studies article arguing that we might have a new possible fragment of the Gospel of Mary ;) muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

➡️ Available now: 'Reimaging the Magdalene' by @siobhanjolley.bsky.social This book offers a new, intersectional feminist approach to utilising and interpreting the visual reception of Mary Magdalene. Find out more ➡️ www.bloomsbury.com/9780567714268

A reminder to all academics researching John the Baptist that there is now a Society of Biblical Literature program unit focused on him. Please submit your paper proposals!

This is a nice reflection. churchsource.com/blogs/minist...

Thanks Matt! Yes folks the book is out in the US now.

Some reflections from me on Jesus as a refugee and displaced person. www.seenandunseen.com/i-wrote-jesu...

Lecturer in Hebrew Bible job opening at King's College London

I hope he reads it.

Reflections on academic work life (im)balance in THES. And yes I'm feeling much better now. You need to register (free) to read. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/it-too...

I am loving working on this project for @joantaylor.bsky.social and @zondervanacademic.bsky.social YALL. This book is special.

Thanks Katie :)

Great to talk with Dave and Helen in the Biblical Time Machine podcast about my new book BOY JESUS. More info soon. www.biblicaltimemachine.com/listen-to-ep...

SBL Women Authors! It's that time of year again when we get to celebrate your books that have been published since last November! Drop the title/author of new books in bib studies and adjacent fields from female-IDing authors below 👇

Some great stuff happening today in the UNC and King's mini conference on Ancient Religion and Modern Debates. Here's Naiara Leao talking about Borderlands theory and the Apocryphal Acts.

It's intriguing how archaeological discoveries are presented in IAA announcements & media. Actual reading on this seal is unclear, & to me it shows 2 men, 1 holding a knife, raising up a small altar. Looks more like Molech worship than proper cult First Temple! www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/clay...

Full Professor for Religious Studies at the University of Vienna - what more could you wish for? Please forward! personalwesen.univie.ac.at/en/jobs-recr...

It's Fair Use Week! Fair use is an important right that provides balance to the copyright system and supports the constitutional purpose of copyright to "promote the Progress of Science and the useful Arts." Dive into fair use & music in this post by Kenneth Crews: sites.harvard.edu/fair-use-wee...

if you can get to nyc before March 3 and haven't yet seen the Africa & Byzantium show, you should go. here are details of a famous 13th c mosaic icon I'll never see again bc it's usually in the monastery of St Catherine in Sinai--completely made of little tesserae except where it's been restored.

"I first met Morton Smith in 1994, three years after he died." with some essays, the first line comes to you even before pen hits paper my review of the G. Smith & Landau's SECRET GOSPEL OF MARK up now at @ancientjewreview.bsky.social www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2023/12...

@mtgallagher.bsky.social might this be something to lure you out to the West End? Robbie has cowritten and directed this fab fun thing at the Soho Theatre. sohotheatre.com/events/panse...