Status Updates From The Written Gospel

"At the heart of the gospel is an intolerable paradox. Christians offer worship, assign divine honours, to a human being — and not merely a human being, but one who suffered the ultimate degradation of a criminal's death." (Loveday Alexander)

"The teaching of Jesus (and John the Baptist) imply at least that Israel in large part had misunderstood the significance of election, which indeed led to nationalism and disdain for outsiders." Election was not to be assumed as privilege; rather, it brings responsibility and requires conformity to God's will." (Klyne Snodgrass, 39)