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Thomas O'Brien

About Thomas O'Brien

Tom O’Brien, a retired corporate lawyer, is a Canon and Examining Chaplain for Holy Scripture in the Diocese of Southeast Florida. He was a Lay Deputy to five General Conventions, a member of the Council of Advice to the President of the House of Deputies, and was a recipient of the House of Deputies Medal for exceptional service to the Episcopal Church. Tom has been teaching courses on the Bible and Theology for the last 22 years in various venues. He holds degrees from Notre Dame (magna cum laude), Yale Law School, and an M.A. in Theology (summa cum laude) from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. He and his wife, Alison, live in Palm Beach Gardens, and summer in Plainville, CT.

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2017, June 18 ~ Genesis 18:1-15, Exodus 19:2-8a & Romans 5:1-8

June 5, 2017 in /by

During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures. Genesis 18:1-15 The word “Genesis” means “origin” and the Book of Genesis starts with Creation and concludes with the death of Joseph (Jacob’s son) in Egypt. The Book […]

2017, June 11 ~ Genesis 1:1-2:3 & 2 Corinthians 13:5-14

May 30, 2017 in /by

Genesis 1:1-2.3 The word “Genesis” means “origin” and the Book of Genesis starts with Creation and concludes with the death of Joseph (Jacob’s son) in Egypt. The Book is an amalgam of religious traditions, some of which are dated to about 950 BCE and some of which were developed as late as 450 BCE. Today’s […]

Acts 2:1-21, 1 Cor. 12:3b-13 & Num. 11:24-30

May 22, 2017 in /by

Acts 2:1-21 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. Today’s reading is an account of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples on Pentecost. (Another account is given in John 20.22 when the resurrected Jesus breathes the […]

2017, May 21 ~ Acts 17:22-31 & 1 Peter 3:13-22

May 10, 2017 in /by

Acts 17:22-31 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. The second half of Acts (Chapters 16 to 28) recounts Paul’s Missionary Journeys. Just before today’s reading, Paul was at a synagogue where he would have focused his conversion efforts […]

2017, May 14 ~ Acts 7:55-60 & 1 Peter 2:2-10

May 3, 2017 in /by

Acts 7:55-60 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. Today’s reading presents the death by stoning of Stephen, the first martyr. Stephen’s story began in Chapter 6 when the apostles appointed Stephen as one of the first seven deacons […]

2017, May 7 ~ Acts 2:42-47 & 1 Peter 2:19-25

April 25, 2017 in /by

Acts 2:42-47 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. Today’s reading is a description of the early Jesus Follower community (they were not called “Christians” until 85 CE or so). It follows the long speech given by Peter after […]

2017, April 30 ~ Acts 2:14a, 36-41 & 1 Peter 1:17-23

April 1, 2017 in /by

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. Today’s reading presents the last part of Peter’s long speech after the Pentecost Event. Rather than offend the ruling Romans by stating that they crucified Jesus (which they did), […]

2017, April 23 ~ Acts 2:14a, 22-32 & 1 Peter 1:3-9

March 29, 2017 in /by

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE. Today’s reading presents the second half of Peter’s long speech after the Pentecost Event, and reflects the theology of the community from which Luke-Acts came. In Luke and Acts, […]