Nathan Kitchen
@laychristian.com
Navigating Christianity from laity as an amateur Bible nerd with no relevant qualifications 🇬🇧 Married Dad to 3 ☕️ Drinker of hot beverages 💡https://www.laychristian.com
Pinned
Nathan Kitchen
@laychristian.com
· Nov 19
"Investigate everything you believe: if it is the truth, it cannot be injured thereby; -if error, the sooner it is corrected the better" - J Foreman, 1859.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
Finally getting around to this, just the sort of thing for the beach on a sunny day 🏖️ Reads clear and concise, feels more like a honed explanation than others in the series. May post some quotes later.
June 21, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Finally getting around to this, just the sort of thing for the beach on a sunny day 🏖️ Reads clear and concise, feels more like a honed explanation than others in the series. May post some quotes later.
New Explorations in Genesis 1, by John Walton…
Honestly forgot I’d preordered this, apparently it’s shipping! It was an insta-buy as the latest in the series, so I had no particular expectations. Format appears to be FAQs grouped by topic; you prob have to read the original first : ) #forbiblenerds
Honestly forgot I’d preordered this, apparently it’s shipping! It was an insta-buy as the latest in the series, so I had no particular expectations. Format appears to be FAQs grouped by topic; you prob have to read the original first : ) #forbiblenerds
May 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
New Explorations in Genesis 1, by John Walton…
Honestly forgot I’d preordered this, apparently it’s shipping! It was an insta-buy as the latest in the series, so I had no particular expectations. Format appears to be FAQs grouped by topic; you prob have to read the original first : ) #forbiblenerds
Honestly forgot I’d preordered this, apparently it’s shipping! It was an insta-buy as the latest in the series, so I had no particular expectations. Format appears to be FAQs grouped by topic; you prob have to read the original first : ) #forbiblenerds
Every time I hear about making things great again (this time through tariffs, apparently) I can’t help but think of Ecc 7:10:
“Do not say,’Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
“Do not say,’Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
April 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Every time I hear about making things great again (this time through tariffs, apparently) I can’t help but think of Ecc 7:10:
“Do not say,’Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
“Do not say,’Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
#forbiblenerds - on preorder on Amazon in the UK, release date of the 29th April. Catch the background on the Bible For Normal People podcast, episode 293 with @savannahlocke.bsky.social and @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social. Looking forward to this one.
Happy Release Day! 🎉
Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry by @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social
We are so excited for this book to finally be hitting bookstore shelves! Get your copy here: bakerbookhouse.com/products/598...
Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry by @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social
We are so excited for this book to finally be hitting bookstore shelves! Get your copy here: bakerbookhouse.com/products/598...
March 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
#forbiblenerds - on preorder on Amazon in the UK, release date of the 29th April. Catch the background on the Bible For Normal People podcast, episode 293 with @savannahlocke.bsky.social and @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social. Looking forward to this one.
Reposted by Nathan Kitchen
Reading the prophetic and apocalyptic literature in the Bible as if they predicted “tomorrow’s news today” is a gross failure of genre recognition, which has let to fanciful ideas such as an alliance of English-speaking nations against Russia, an idea looking quite fanciful. /1
February 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Reading the prophetic and apocalyptic literature in the Bible as if they predicted “tomorrow’s news today” is a gross failure of genre recognition, which has let to fanciful ideas such as an alliance of English-speaking nations against Russia, an idea looking quite fanciful. /1
#forbiblenerds, sub to the feed here if you’re interested in Bible adjacent publications with an academic focus.
bsky.app/profile/layc...
bsky.app/profile/layc...
PUBLICATION DAY!
well, sorta. i forgot to post when my JSJ article was published, but it's now available online (open access).
i'm really proud of this one. it's my best attempt to show why εἴδωλον shouldn't be transliterated "idol" but translated "image" in early jewish texts, incl. LXX and NT.
well, sorta. i forgot to post when my JSJ article was published, but it's now available online (open access).
i'm really proud of this one. it's my best attempt to show why εἴδωλον shouldn't be transliterated "idol" but translated "image" in early jewish texts, incl. LXX and NT.
Are Εἴδωλα Idols?
Abstract It has long been taken for granted that the use of εἴδωλον in the language of the Septuagint and its reception in early Jewish texts was unique within the history of postclassical Greek, imbu...
doi.org
January 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
#forbiblenerds, sub to the feed here if you’re interested in Bible adjacent publications with an academic focus.
bsky.app/profile/layc...
bsky.app/profile/layc...
A book #forbiblenerds to enjoy.
In case you missed it, Bob Cornwall has written a review of my book John of History, Baptist of Faith, which has now appeared in Word & Way.
Review: John of History, Baptist of Faith - Word&Way
In “John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer,” James F. McGrath sheds new light on the historical John the Baptist and his world.
wordandway.org
January 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A book #forbiblenerds to enjoy.
Interesting comparison of post engagement across social media platforms: tl;dr? X trending down, BlueSky trending up, not *quite* passed each other. Also X is a troll-fest.
These are the key facts everyone needs to know about climate change, according to @yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social.
I shared this post across 7 different social media platforms, including FB, LI, Mastodon, Threads, X and Twitter both pre-and post-Musk.
Here's how their engagement stacked up. 🧵
I shared this post across 7 different social media platforms, including FB, LI, Mastodon, Threads, X and Twitter both pre-and post-Musk.
Here's how their engagement stacked up. 🧵
Climate Change:
It's real.
It's us.
It's serious - and already dangerous.
But there are solutions.
The science is clear: the faster we cut emissions, the less suffering we will cause, and the better off we'll all be.
It's real.
It's us.
It's serious - and already dangerous.
But there are solutions.
The science is clear: the faster we cut emissions, the less suffering we will cause, and the better off we'll all be.
January 7, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Interesting comparison of post engagement across social media platforms: tl;dr? X trending down, BlueSky trending up, not *quite* passed each other. Also X is a troll-fest.
Realised that my literary diet has been formed of quite dry academic papers of late. This book by @johnhendrix.bsky.social has been a poignant read and visual delight over the Christmas break, and encouraged me to suggest better (i.e., more esoteric) names for the niche communities I start/join.
December 27, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Realised that my literary diet has been formed of quite dry academic papers of late. This book by @johnhendrix.bsky.social has been a poignant read and visual delight over the Christmas break, and encouraged me to suggest better (i.e., more esoteric) names for the niche communities I start/join.
Welcome along @biblefeed.bsky.social, good to see you in the sky 😎 I’ve added you to my starter pack (go.bsky.app/T6BCfgN), daresay there will be a few names you recognise in here.
December 18, 2024 at 7:22 PM
Welcome along @biblefeed.bsky.social, good to see you in the sky 😎 I’ve added you to my starter pack (go.bsky.app/T6BCfgN), daresay there will be a few names you recognise in here.
You know the algorithm is working when the memes it shows you are a) funny and b) sum up the headache of Biblical authority and interpretation for Lay Christian communities.
December 12, 2024 at 8:13 AM
You know the algorithm is working when the memes it shows you are a) funny and b) sum up the headache of Biblical authority and interpretation for Lay Christian communities.
Woken up by my wife this Sunday morning to discuss the ethics of cancelling house church because our village has a power cut (it’s a Sunday School prize-giving and we’re hosting) Today’s ecclesiastical quandary was brought to you by Storm Darragh 🥱
December 8, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Woken up by my wife this Sunday morning to discuss the ethics of cancelling house church because our village has a power cut (it’s a Sunday School prize-giving and we’re hosting) Today’s ecclesiastical quandary was brought to you by Storm Darragh 🥱
An unusual topic #forbiblenerds: the contemporary application of apocalypse. Use code 15PRE for a discount on this revised edition.
Another rewrite. Not just an update. It's a completely different book. Tell your friends. www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com/978082650797...
December 5, 2024 at 8:02 PM
An unusual topic #forbiblenerds: the contemporary application of apocalypse. Use code 15PRE for a discount on this revised edition.
December 1, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Nathan Kitchen
So here’s the thing…even IF there wasn’t a parable *explicitly* undermining this narrow idea of neighbor, Jesus also said “love your enemies.” There’s simply no escaping the fact that Jesus calls us to radically expand our concepts of love and hospitality.
November 30, 2024 at 4:36 PM
So here’s the thing…even IF there wasn’t a parable *explicitly* undermining this narrow idea of neighbor, Jesus also said “love your enemies.” There’s simply no escaping the fact that Jesus calls us to radically expand our concepts of love and hospitality.
Picked up a few good follows from this list.
I guess it’s time for a starter pack.
November 29, 2024 at 8:59 PM
Picked up a few good follows from this list.
The Late Great Planet Earth was a hugely influential work, and not one I’m a fan of. While I was deconstructing from a similar eschatological perspective I wrote a little on what I’d learned about the nature of the prophetic voice:
livingfaith.blog/2017/10/11/p...
livingfaith.blog/2017/10/11/p...
Prophet Model: A War of Words
Building a foundation for understanding the message of the prophets
livingfaith.blog
November 28, 2024 at 12:52 PM
The Late Great Planet Earth was a hugely influential work, and not one I’m a fan of. While I was deconstructing from a similar eschatological perspective I wrote a little on what I’d learned about the nature of the prophetic voice:
livingfaith.blog/2017/10/11/p...
livingfaith.blog/2017/10/11/p...
Adding to the #forbiblenerds feed.
Candida Moss asks “What did [enslaved people] contribute to the formation and delivery of the Bible, more specifically the New Testament?”
Review follows.
Review follows.
Book review: God’s Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the making of the Bible by Candida Moss
Henry Wansbrough looks at an act of reparation
www.churchtimes.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 1:29 PM
Adding to the #forbiblenerds feed.
Sharing on the #forbiblenerds feed.
There are only a couple copies left, so if you’re interested and missed it at #sblaar, you can purchase at the link below. Use the code 17FALL24 to save 20% and get free shipping.
The Prophet's Anthem - Baylor University Press
Within the chaotic world narrated in the book of Judges, the prophet Deborah spoke under the authority of Israel’s God, interpreting an important battle an...
www.baylorpress.com
November 24, 2024 at 4:46 PM
Sharing on the #forbiblenerds feed.
Some time ago I moved from a fundamentalist “global flood” understanding of Noah’s Ark to one which appreciates it as ancient literature with a historical core. This article from @ncse.bsky.social was formative for my understanding of problems taking the narrative literally: ncse.ngo/impossible-v...
The Impossible Voyage of Noah's Ark | National Center for Science Education
Building the Ark Accommodating All Those Animals Leaving Some Things Behind Sizing Up the Load
ncse.ngo
November 23, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Some time ago I moved from a fundamentalist “global flood” understanding of Noah’s Ark to one which appreciates it as ancient literature with a historical core. This article from @ncse.bsky.social was formative for my understanding of problems taking the narrative literally: ncse.ngo/impossible-v...
"Investigate everything you believe: if it is the truth, it cannot be injured thereby; -if error, the sooner it is corrected the better" - J Foreman, 1859.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
November 19, 2024 at 9:01 PM
"Investigate everything you believe: if it is the truth, it cannot be injured thereby; -if error, the sooner it is corrected the better" - J Foreman, 1859.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
Words I fell in love with some years ago, which carried me through a long deconstruction and reconstruction loop, and are still my North Star.
@joelduff.bsky.social I’ve added you to my Lay Christianity Starter Pack here: go.bsky.app/T6BCfgN
h/t: @kengilmore.bsky.social for the recommend.
h/t: @kengilmore.bsky.social for the recommend.
November 18, 2024 at 9:39 PM
@joelduff.bsky.social I’ve added you to my Lay Christianity Starter Pack here: go.bsky.app/T6BCfgN
h/t: @kengilmore.bsky.social for the recommend.
h/t: @kengilmore.bsky.social for the recommend.
Reposted by Nathan Kitchen
What was John’s apocalyptic literature calling the people of God to in their recognition of the pattern of the anti-Christ?
open.substack.com/pub/waitingf...
open.substack.com/pub/waitingf...
On Trump as Anti-Christ
The Biblical Pattern of Oppressive Nations and their Leaders.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2024 at 10:46 PM
What was John’s apocalyptic literature calling the people of God to in their recognition of the pattern of the anti-Christ?
open.substack.com/pub/waitingf...
open.substack.com/pub/waitingf...