Scot McKnight

Libertyville

Writer at christianitytoday.org

Professor for more than four decades.

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Articles

Thinking Theopolitically

1 week ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

Chp 5 of Revelation for the Rest of Us, written with Cody Matchett. What the church needs is the courage to think theo-politically, to think about politics in theological rather than in power, partisan, or economic terms. Here are seven characteristics of Babylon found mostly in Revelation 17-18. Read the texts and add up the prophet’s understanding of political toxicity and corruption. Then think of our country. It’s not hard.
We (Protestants) Need More Peter

1 week ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

We do need more Peter. At times we Protestants, and especially we when glued to “evangelicals,” get so much Paul his voice stifles other voices, including Jesus and Peter and John and James and the author of Hebrews. Peter is special. I am profoundly grateful to Norm Ericson, a professor of mine in my seminary days, for walking us word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph through 1 Peter in an exegesis class. Then I was privileged for a dozen years to teach 1 Peter at TEDS.
The Freedom of Not Needing Anything

2 weeks ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

By Mike GlennNot long ago, I was at the birthday party of a friend of mine. My friend is one of the most successful business leaders in Nashville. Everyone in town knows who he is. The guests at the party were all very successful business leaders…and me. Yes, I stood out like a sore thumb. When a few other friends wanted to know why I was there, I joked that I was there to say the blessing before dinner.
How would you like your fish?

2 weeks ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

John 21:1-19Photo by Alexey Fedenkov on UnsplashJesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Four Books

3 weeks ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

Four books have recently landed in my mailbox or, due to the size, on the front porch. I don’t have plans to work through them on this Substack, but I do want you to be aware of them. First, Michael Gorman has a splendid new commentary on 1 Corinthians: 1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral, and Missional Commentary.
The Quest for Character

3 weeks ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

A Review by Cody Matchett of The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us About Our Search for Good Leaders, Massimo PigliucciLiterature on human character is often complex and dense. It can be daunting to dip your toes into ancient and modern conversations on the subject. As someone who spends considerable time examining ancient texts on human character for my dissertation, I always look for accessible entry points to the conversation (both for myself and others).
ChatGPT Confessing its Sins?

1 month ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

I found this thread over the weekend and it stunned me. Has anyone ever had such an experience with ChatGPT? Does ChatGPT confess its sins? It’s lack of honesty? And then go transparent on its process?
The Second Testament: A New Translation

1 month ago | audiobooks.com | Scot McKnight

Experience the New Testament afresh in Scot McKnight's bold translation. Typical translations of the New Testament make the biblical text as accessible as possible by using the language of our own day. At times this masks the distance between the New Testament text and modern audiences. Scripture continues to speak to us but it speaks as an ancient text to the modern world. New Testament scholar Scot McKnight offers a translation of the New Testament with a daring approach to the ancient text.
Meanderings, 12 April 2025

1 month ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

This has been a sad week for those of us who graduated from or taught at TEDS in Deerfield IL. I attended from 1976-1980, graduating with an MA in Biblical Studies (New Testament). I first taught as a graduate assistant in the fall and winter of 1980-1981, and then returned as a fill-in for two years before being offered a contract that eventually led to a more than a decade of teaching New Testament at TEDS. Some of my best students, friendships, and academic life were at TEDS.
Still The Greatest Story Ever Told

1 month ago | scotmcknight.substack.com | Scot McKnight

By Mike GlennI can remember the moment it happened. Even to this day, it’s one of the most holy and life-seizing moments I have ever experienced. Every year, sometime during the Easter season, the memory will come back. When it does, I will be right back in the moment that it happened, trying to breathe deeply and slowly to get my breath back, blinking my eyes quickly so I wouldn’t be seen crying in front of this masterpiece. I was fifteen years old, and my family was touring a museum in Spain.