Questioning God

by Timothy Radcliffe, Lukasz Popko

Overview

The interpretation of certain key texts in the Bible by two Dominican Friars: the celebrated author Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Biblical scholar Lukasz Popko.

Many today may see the relationship between God and humanity as one of passive submission and thus unquestioning. Two outstanding Dominicans, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Lukasz Popko suggest otherwise.

Questioning God explores Biblical conversations with God and there is no genuine conversation without true questions. Our God question us, from the first conversation of God and humanity in the Bible, where God asks Adam, 'Where are you?', to the Risen Lord's questioning Peter on the beach: 'Do you love me more than these others?' But humanity questions God too, as in the audacious questioning of Jesus by the Samaritan woman at the well. In this process of mutual questioning, humanity is drawn ever deeper into the life of God, the eternal conversation of the Trinity. Insights into these transformative conversations are helpful as the Church questions how to be faithful to God in this uncertain time.

Fr Popko offers a fresh translation and insights of Biblical scholarship, and Cardinal Radcliffe extends his rich experience as a preacher, theologian, and an inspiring commentator.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399409254
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe has been long been one of the most popular preachers across the globe, speaking in retreats which he gives in English or in his equally fluent French.

He has spent most of his life as a Dominican based at the order's Blackfriars base in Oxford, apart from his nine years as master of the order in Rome, but has always travelled widely, being in huge demand as a speaker. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Francis in December 2024.

His books have been bestsellers, particularly I Call You Friends, Seven Last Words and What Is the Point of Being a Christian?, which won the 2007 Michael Ramsey Prize for theological writing.

His appeal is ecumenical too, and he has lectured in Westminster Abbey, while his book Why Go to Church? included a foreword by Rowan Williams, who was then Archbishop of Canterbury.

Lukasz Popko is a Biblical scholar. Polish by birth, a Dominican preacher, lives in Jerusalem where he teaches the Old Testament and ancient history at the French Biblical and Archaeological School (Ecole Biblique). He is also the editorial director of The Bible in Its Traditions project. His present and main research project is the critical edition of the Book of Kings of the Hebrew Bible.

Table of Contents

Prologue: 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening' (1 Sam. 3.9)

1 'Where are you?' (Gen. 3.8–20)

2 'Where is Abel, your brother?' (Gen. 4.1–16)

3 'Where is Sarah, your wife?' Welcoming the strangers (Gen. 18.1–16)

Three absences

4 'What is your name?' (Gen. 32.23–33)

5 'And if they ask “What is His name?”, what shall I say?' (Exod. 3.1–14)

What name?

6 'What is it for you here, Elijah?' (1 Kgs 19.8–18)

7 'I am young. I do not know how to speak' (Jer. 1.4–10)

8 'Is it good for you to be angry?' (Jon. 4.1–13)

Four Prophets

9 'Have you not seen him whom my heart loves?' (Song 1.12–2.7)

We see his face

10 'How will this happen?' (Lk. 1.26–38)

11 'Child, why have you treated us like this?' (Lk. 2.41–52)

12 'How can you, being a Jew, ask from me “to drink”, while I am a Samaritan woman?' (Jn. 4.4–42)

13 'Who do you say that I am?' (Mt. 16.13–28)

Who is he? Who am I?

14 'Whose wife will she be?' (Mk. 12.18–28)

15 'What is truth?' (Jn. 18.28–19.16)

Questioning Him

16 'What are these words that you are hurling at each other while walking?' (Lk. 24.13–35)

17 'Do you love me more than these?' (Jn. 21.1–22)

18 'I opposed him to his face' (Gal. 2.1–14)

Epilogue: 'For our conversation is in heaven' (Phil. 3.20)

Acknowledgements

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Notes