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★★★★★

4.7

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23 reviews

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First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital University), Rosy Kandathil is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, Dr. Tim McNinch is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary, and Paul Essah is a PhD student in Hebrew Bible at Yale University. In addition to short weekly episodes, they periodically invite a leading Hebrew Bible scholar for a longer conversation about the nitty-gritty of the week's text.

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Check latest episodes from First Reading podcast

Amos 6:1a, 4–7

2025/09/16

Party Episode! Lectionary Date: September 28, 2025 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] It's a party episode: all four of us discuss Amos's scathing critique. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Amos 8:4–7

2025/09/08

God Remembers Lectionary Date: September 21, 2025 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul and Rosy are back for a conversation about economic exploitation—nothing new under the sun! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Exodus 32:7–14

2025/09/01

Repentance Lectionary Date: September 14, 2025 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy and Paul discuss the theme of repentance in all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

2025/08/25

Choosing Life Lectionary Date: September 7, 2025 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul puts Moses and Jesus into conversation to discuss what it means to "choose life." Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Proverbs 25:6–7

2025/08/20

Genuine Humility Lectionary Date: August 31, 2025 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] What do pride and humility actually look like? Rosy sees a theme in this week's lectionary readings! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Isaiah 58:9b–14

2025/08/12

From the Vault: God's Call Lectionary Date: August 24, 2025 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] We'll be back with new full episodes starting next week! In the meantime, here's an episode on this week's lectionary text from the First Reading vault! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Isaiah 5:1–7

2025/08/04

A Painful Conversation Lectionary Date: August 17, 2025 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul explores a painful AND hopeful dialogue between Israel and God, in the vineyard metaphor. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Genesis 15:1–3

2025/07/29

Faith that Does No Harm Lectionary Date: August 10, 2025 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy traces the theme of faith through all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–23

2025/07/21

An Invitation to Discernment of Wisdom Lectionary Date: August 3, 2025 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim's turn to point out a tension between Qohelet's wisdom and Jesus's parable. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Genesis 18:20–32

2025/07/14

Righteousness and Justice Lectionary Date: July 27, 2025 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel's back with the next (and very different) installment of the Abraham story. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Genesis 18:1–10a

2025/07/09

Life Bubbles Up Lectionary Date: July 20, 2025 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel's turn for a quick episode, this time on a divine visit to Abraham and Sarah! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Amos 7:7–17

2025/06/30

Be Bold! Lectionary Date: July 13, 2025 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul again, bringing out the boldness of Amos's message. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: 2 Kings 5:1–14

2025/06/24

A Different Kind of Power Lectionary Date: July 6, 2025 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul is up with a brief reflection on the power dynamics in this week's Old Testament lectionary readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: 1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21

2025/06/16

Commitment Issues Lectionary Date: June 29, 2025 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy is back again with a few thoughts about "commitment issues" in this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Summer Shorts: Isaiah 65:1–9

2025/06/11

Summer Shorts are Back! Lectionary Date: June 22, 2025 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy kicks off our summer series with some thoughts on Isaiah, Luke, and the Psalm. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel, and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much!

Podcast reviews

Read First Reading podcast reviews

4.7 out of 5

23 reviews

★★★★★

Serena from ohio 2022/11/24

Divine Brilliance

Dr. Wrenn and Tim do a fantastic job making difficult biblical texts come to life. Their insights and attention to details often overlooked by the nak...

★★★☆☆

Mr. Estrada 2022/11/04

Some bright spots

For the most part it’s a decent podcast with introductory background of first reading texts. I like the brevity and I give it credit for focusing on f...

★★★★★

atwiton 2019/07/30

Great resource for preaching

I’ve found this podcast very helpful for preaching. My worship committee requested a summer preaching series on the prophets and these episodes have h...

★★★★★

Davey33227 2019/06/26

Wonderful Podcast

This podcast is full of great scholarship and helpful angles with which to approach the text for sermon writing. It had quickly become a go to resourc...

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