Paul Middleton
@profpaulmiddleton.bsky.social
Professor of NT and Early Christianity, University of Chester.
Researcher in violence and martyrdom in the ancient world.
Double Bass player and SNP member.
Researcher in violence and martyrdom in the ancient world.
Double Bass player and SNP member.
#sblaar25 meant getting up at 4.30am, drinking gin on the plane, going to the hotel gym (and messing up my selfie), but at 8.30pm Boston time, I'm seriously flagging!
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 AM
#sblaar25 meant getting up at 4.30am, drinking gin on the plane, going to the hotel gym (and messing up my selfie), but at 8.30pm Boston time, I'm seriously flagging!
There was a lot of intetest in my B&M shopping trolley this afternoon!!
October 25, 2025 at 5:38 PM
There was a lot of intetest in my B&M shopping trolley this afternoon!!
The British New Testament Society conference is taking place in Manchester. Tonight, we have a panel on decolonising New Testament Studies. #bnts25
@bntsoc.bsky.social
@bntsoc.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The British New Testament Society conference is taking place in Manchester. Tonight, we have a panel on decolonising New Testament Studies. #bnts25
@bntsoc.bsky.social
@bntsoc.bsky.social
It's hot here in the South of France, but there are wasps floating in the pool!!
August 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
It's hot here in the South of France, but there are wasps floating in the pool!!
The Rt Rev Rosie Frew becomes Moderator of tge General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the King has affirmed his Coronation Oath to uphold Presbyterian government in Scotland.
#GA2025
#GA2025
May 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
The Rt Rev Rosie Frew becomes Moderator of tge General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the King has affirmed his Coronation Oath to uphold Presbyterian government in Scotland.
#GA2025
#GA2025
Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony.
May 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony.
A surprisingly quick election of the next Pope.
Robert Prevost, the first American to be elected, will be known as Leo XIV.
Robert Prevost, the first American to be elected, will be known as Leo XIV.
May 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A surprisingly quick election of the next Pope.
Robert Prevost, the first American to be elected, will be known as Leo XIV.
Robert Prevost, the first American to be elected, will be known as Leo XIV.
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but risen! (Luke 24.5–6)
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
April 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but risen! (Luke 24.5–6)
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
This lunchtime, I'm speaking in the second of five Chester Cathedral Lent Bible Talks on the Nicene Creed in Biblical Perspective.
Today, we believe in One Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we believe in One Lord Jesus Christ.
March 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This lunchtime, I'm speaking in the second of five Chester Cathedral Lent Bible Talks on the Nicene Creed in Biblical Perspective.
Today, we believe in One Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we believe in One Lord Jesus Christ.
Elaine Graham says Don Cupitt's Sea of Faith project was a serious attempt to marry 'religious seriousness and critical faith.' However, she notes it lacks political engagement at a time the Church of England was politically engaged.
March 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Elaine Graham says Don Cupitt's Sea of Faith project was a serious attempt to marry 'religious seriousness and critical faith.' However, she notes it lacks political engagement at a time the Church of England was politically engaged.
"The only test of faith now is how it works out in life." (Don Cupitt)
Folk in Scotland might recognise the way the Sea of Faith developed in Richard Holloway's thinking, and his question of doctrine: "What's the cash value."
Folk in Scotland might recognise the way the Sea of Faith developed in Richard Holloway's thinking, and his question of doctrine: "What's the cash value."
March 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
"The only test of faith now is how it works out in life." (Don Cupitt)
Folk in Scotland might recognise the way the Sea of Faith developed in Richard Holloway's thinking, and his question of doctrine: "What's the cash value."
Folk in Scotland might recognise the way the Sea of Faith developed in Richard Holloway's thinking, and his question of doctrine: "What's the cash value."
Tonight at the Chester
Theological Society, we're hearing from Professor Elaine Graham reflecting on Don Cupitt: Radical or Reformer?
Theological Society, we're hearing from Professor Elaine Graham reflecting on Don Cupitt: Radical or Reformer?
March 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Tonight at the Chester
Theological Society, we're hearing from Professor Elaine Graham reflecting on Don Cupitt: Radical or Reformer?
Theological Society, we're hearing from Professor Elaine Graham reflecting on Don Cupitt: Radical or Reformer?
The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse is perhaps the most insidious of all!
March 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse is perhaps the most insidious of all!
O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
(Robert Burns, To a Louse)
#BurnsNight2025
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
(Robert Burns, To a Louse)
#BurnsNight2025
January 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
(Robert Burns, To a Louse)
#BurnsNight2025
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
(Robert Burns, To a Louse)
#BurnsNight2025
Former Anglican Priest, Philosopher of Religion, and Broadcaster, Don Cupitt has died, aged 90. Best known for his BBC series, Sea of Faith, he advocated for non-realist Christianity. His dispensing with metaphysical speculation sought to develop Christianity for a secular age.
January 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Former Anglican Priest, Philosopher of Religion, and Broadcaster, Don Cupitt has died, aged 90. Best known for his BBC series, Sea of Faith, he advocated for non-realist Christianity. His dispensing with metaphysical speculation sought to develop Christianity for a secular age.
The Archbishop of York has today paid tribute to Canon Geoffrey Tattersall KC, who died yesterday. A retired judge, Canon Tattersall chaired the Church of England's Living and Love and Faith Synod debates over the last few years with good humour, grace, and appropriate force. He will be missed.
January 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The Archbishop of York has today paid tribute to Canon Geoffrey Tattersall KC, who died yesterday. A retired judge, Canon Tattersall chaired the Church of England's Living and Love and Faith Synod debates over the last few years with good humour, grace, and appropriate force. He will be missed.
Sad to hear Richard Hays, Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Duke, has died, aged 76. A hugely influential scholar, his 'Moral Vision of the New Testament' (1996) remains an important work, as will his last book, 'The Widening of God's Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story' (2024).
January 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Sad to hear Richard Hays, Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Duke, has died, aged 76. A hugely influential scholar, his 'Moral Vision of the New Testament' (1996) remains an important work, as will his last book, 'The Widening of God's Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story' (2024).
I could try to say something profound, but several Noilly Prats in, I think I'll just stick to Happy New Year, and Cheers!
#HappyNewYear
#NewYear2025
#HappyNewYear
#NewYear2025
December 31, 2024 at 8:15 PM
I could try to say something profound, but several Noilly Prats in, I think I'll just stick to Happy New Year, and Cheers!
#HappyNewYear
#NewYear2025
#HappyNewYear
#NewYear2025
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family, so here's a depiction from the crèche series in Sitges this year.
December 29, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family, so here's a depiction from the crèche series in Sitges this year.
I'm in France for Christmas, so obviously I've had fois gras, frogs' legs, and snails!
#ChristmasInFrance 🇫🇷
#ChristmasInFrance 🇫🇷
December 27, 2024 at 4:38 PM
I'm in France for Christmas, so obviously I've had fois gras, frogs' legs, and snails!
#ChristmasInFrance 🇫🇷
#ChristmasInFrance 🇫🇷
But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring; –
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
(Edmund Sears, 1849)
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring; –
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
(Edmund Sears, 1849)
December 24, 2024 at 7:39 PM
But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring; –
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
(Edmund Sears, 1849)
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring; –
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
(Edmund Sears, 1849)
A week in Spain (Madrid, Zaragoza, and Sitges).
22 churches and 14 museums visited.
That's my idea of a holiday!
Now off to France for Christmas!
🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🎄
22 churches and 14 museums visited.
That's my idea of a holiday!
Now off to France for Christmas!
🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🎄
December 23, 2024 at 10:37 AM
A week in Spain (Madrid, Zaragoza, and Sitges).
22 churches and 14 museums visited.
That's my idea of a holiday!
Now off to France for Christmas!
🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🎄
22 churches and 14 museums visited.
That's my idea of a holiday!
Now off to France for Christmas!
🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🎄
A better class of 'steerage' on Spanish trains! 😄
December 21, 2024 at 11:48 AM
A better class of 'steerage' on Spanish trains! 😄