Jo Bailey Wells

Jo Bailey Wells teaches Old Testament and is director of Anglican Studies at Duke Divinity School.

Articles by Jo Bailey Wells

Blogging Toward Sunday

Squandering and scattering

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

Sep 17, 2007 by Jo Bailey Wells

Every time I come to the parable of the dishonest manager, I’m baffled. Superficially it just doesn’t add up. Does Jesus really commend as our role model “a manager of unrighteousness”? So this narrative makes us listen extra carefully and read extra slowly, as we figure out in what way this parable depicts the kingdom of heaven.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Lost things and lions

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

Sep 11, 2007 by Jo Bailey Wells

All of the lectionary texts for this week address lost things. In Jeremiah, a people and a city; in 1 Timothy, a blasphemer and a Roman citizen; in Luke, a sheep and a coin.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Blogging toward Sunday

Jeremiah 18:1-11; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33

Sep 04, 2007 by Jo Bailey Wells

The church’s hymnody too readily assumes that the potter-clay imagery in scripture is only about God exerting unilateral power and God’s people being passive. Consider “Have Thine Own Way Lord” (p.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Blogging toward Sunday

Jeremiah 2:4-13; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14

Aug 27, 2007 by Jo Bailey Wells

Along my office hallway a sign has been mysteriously posted: HOSPITALITY NOT HOSTILITY. Apart from the fact that I find capital letters extremely inhospitable, the sentiment seems apt, and leads me into thinking about Hebrews 13.

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