Dr Simon Reads...

Titus 1-3 A Christian Bishop Should Be A Humourless Anti-Semite. Apparently. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: Titus 1 “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;” We’ve heard of Titus a few times, where Paul has often sent his regards to Titus in prior letters. I’ve got a feeling sometimes Titus was with Paul as well, but he usually gets spoken well of. Here, Titus would appear to be given the bishopric of Crete for his troubles, being in Paul’s eyes a goodly man, “ the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of ...

2 Timothy 1-4 Mama, My Time Has Come. Plus: Alexander the Coppersmith – no stars, very poor. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: 2 Timothy 1 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” Paul writes to Timothy again, bolstering the younger man’s faith and encouraging him to be a good apostle. Much of the early verses are platitudes concerning being strengthened by faith –“ I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day...

1 Timothy 1-6 Don’t go to Paul for advice on healthy living. Plus: How to mess up future Christianity with some really vague advice. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: 1 Timothy 1 “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do .” Paul writes a letter to Timothy, whom he calls “ my own son in the faith”. Timothy is in Ephesus, making sure the Christians there “ charge some that they teach no other doctrine ”. Paul tells Timothy some of his own history, which he must surely know by now. This reads like the kind of clunky exposition that you tend to get ...

2 Thessalonians 1-3 Where Paul Discovers that Fire and Brimstone Sells. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: 2 Thessalonians 1 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” The first chapter starts with a formula greeting from Paul, Timotheus and Silvanus to the Thessalonians, but quickly descends into a bit of an angry diatribe. The Thessalonians and other “saints” may face troubles in life, but these are simply a test, “ a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God ”. For those who don’t believe, however, punis...

1 Thessalonians 1-5 The Rapture: It’s a lot like having a baby. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: 1 Thessalonians 1 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.” A short opening chapter which is little more than some formula salutations, from Paul, Timotheus and Silvanus to the Thessalonians who have spread the word, inspired as Paul says not just by words but by the “ Holy Ghost ” (for which in this case I guess we can read “religious zeal”) to Macedonia and Achaia, i.e. northern Greece. The ...

Colossians 1-4 Typical Mystery Cult Stuff. Plus, All Tyrants Are God’s Fault. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: Colossians 1 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” Paul, and Timothy, write to the Christians (“saints”) of Collosse, apparently on the recommendation of their local teacher Epaphras (“ Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit .”). This first chapter is mostly greeting and re-iteration of the statement of faith, but given some re-wording here we can get a better idea...

Philippians 1-4 Beware of the Dog, and Don’t Edit Stuff. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: Philippians 1 “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Another epistle, with roughly half of the chapter being formulaic greetings from Paul and Timotheus to the Philippians, quite warm and friendly for Paul’s standards, with no immediate chiding about listening to false teachers or falling into heathen ways. The latter half, Paul delves deeply into some confusing metaphorical use of “Christ” as something akin to the Holy Spirit – “ so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be...

Ephesians 1-6 Women, Children and Servants Must Obey! Plus: After forty nine books, I begin to talk in parables. Welcome to another instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Bible version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the King James Bible, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/2F8f9JT For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: Ephesians 1 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” From what I remember in Acts, Paul was rebuffed at Ephesus but here he’s found a chapter of Christians to write to. Although, like previous epistles, this first chapter is largely composed of formulaic salutations, it does contain a few nuggets of interesting material. Firstly, as suggested by the quoted text and also by the verse “ Blessed be the God and...