Those of you who have heard me preach know that I am convinced that a broad understanding of the religious, literary, historical, and cultural worlds in which the books of Scripture were produced can be of great value. I would like to test that by offering a somewhat different Bible study course beginning on Wednesday, 31 January. The title is “The Gospel of Saint Mark in the World of Saint Mark.” The goal is to provide a good deal of background material before examining the Gospel itself in both the King James Version and the Oxford Annotated Revised Standard Version (NOT the New Revised Standard Version). I would give at least two and possibly more lectures before addressing the text itself and then offer further context as we proceed through the Gospel. The sessions will each start at 7:30 PM in the undercroft and last no more than ninety minutes in a lecture/question and answer/discussion format. Look forward to seeing you starting this coming Wednesday evening.