Word from the Bird

Guest post by Jonathan Pennington taken from his forthcoming book Becoming a Disciple of the King: A Theology of Matthew (Crossway, 2026). “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” is not merely a nostalgic Sunday school sentiment but a profound reality at the basis of the Christian faith. Jesus’s compassionate and active love for all humanity is the impetus for his entering the world, revealing the triune God, and calling people to become his disciples.

Hi everyone, my next book, Imperium: The Fall and Rise of the Roman Empire in the Third Century, is now available for pre-order! Comes out in October 2026. Imperium is a fast-paced and action-packed history of the Roman Empire in the tumultuous third century. Too many readers fixate on the golden age of Rome and its climax under Marcus Aurelius in the second century and then rush to the seismic revolution introduced by Constantine in the fourth century.

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash When I was a new Christian, one text I memorized was Galatians 2:19b-20. Here are two translations of it: NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. NRSVue I have been crucified with Christ,and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.

Photo by Frank Alarcon on Unsplash Hi everyone, I contributed an essay on “Leadership, Teaching, and Women in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus,” in the book God’s Yes to Women: Why the Bible’s Vision of Partnership Is Good News for UsAll edited by Anna Boxwell, Amy J. Erickson, and Laura Rademaker.

Guest Post by Ian Simkins from his forthcoming book Every Table an Altar:Reclaiming Connection in a World of Division, Distraction, and Loneliness (Zondervan, Sept 29). Roughly five hundred years ago, Protestants and Catholics were at each other’s throats. Protestants were trying not to get distracted by fighting among themselves so they’d have more energy to fight against the Catholics.

Craig S. Keener Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2025. Review by Lachlan Vines See his Substack When we consider the “Spirit-filled” life, the first thing we think of probably isn’t “suffering.” In fact, for many, suffering may be the last thing that comes to mind, while its opposites — empowerment, gifting, victory, flourishing — top the list.

It’s a chilly winter in Melbourne, but I hope to warm your email inbox with more hits and hijinks from Word from the Bird. Friends, while you are here, I’m trying to build my YouTube channels. So if you haven’t already subscribed to Early Christian History and AI for Academics, please consider hitting the subscribe button, which helps me promote the contents. Also, don’t forget the Ask N.T. Wright Anything channel too.

▶️ Are Near-Death Experiences Really Glimpses of Heaven? ▶️ Has Jesus Always Been the Son of God? ▶️ Could Satan Have Stopped Jesus from Going to the Cross? Plus, a new bonus episode this week, Tom and I discuss the nature of angels. Tom Wright and Mike Bird explore the strange, powerful and often frightening world of biblical angels. Why do angels so often tell people, “Do not be afraid”? Are guardian angels real? Why does Jesus say the angels of the “little ones” see the face of God?

Sin is a lot like a debt, it can accumulate, build up, and then crush you! In the moral logic of the Torah, the sacrifices offered by less-than-perfect Israelites left an immoral residue on the sanctuary, like grime building up on glass. For the most part, faithful Israelites did their part. They aspired to please God by keeping the commandments and participating in the rhythms of ritual which the Torah prescribed.

By the late second century, an elaborate process had developed leading into baptism, which, according to Timothy George, included the following: Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash 1. Catechesis. This process included an intense period of instruction in the rudiments of the Christian faith, and often included a probation of several years. 2. Fasting and Prayer.