And more on the likely origins of the Johannine Comma from an appendix in Raymond Brown's Anchor Bible commentary on "The Epistles of John":
The Origins of the Comma
Granted that the Comma was not written by the author of I John, when, where, and how did it originate? The first clear appearance of the Comma is in the Liber apologeticus 1.4 (CSEL 18, 6) of Priscillian who died in 385.
Jan 16, 2024 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
This year Epiphany is short, which means it's almost time for the 'Gesimas. These three Sundays prepare you for Lent, and have been observed since the time of Gregory the Great. Wonder what the 'Gesimas are? Here are two paragraphs from How to Use the Book of Common Prayer:
Just as the Nativity Cycle began with a season of preparation (Advent), the Easter Cycle begins with a season of preparation, the forty days of Lent. But first there is preparation for the preparation!
Jan 1, 2024 • 21 tweets • 3 min read
The old Book of Common Prayer lectionaries are incredibly rich, and by comparison the late-modern ones sometimes seem thinned out. The readings for today, the Circumcision of Christ, offer an illustration. A thread:
There are six proper readings for this day, two from the Old Testament and four from the New. These readings have many themes, all related to the sign of the covenant in the Old Testament.
Jun 5, 2023 • 25 tweets • 4 min read
What do Christians read on Trinity Sunday? The answers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer are strikingly different than what you may be used to--they may surprise you.
There are six proper readings for Trinity Sunday in the classic Book of Common Prayer. The Old Testament lessons are Genesis 1 and 18, the New Testament lessons are Matthew 3 and 1 John 5, the epistle is Revelation 4, and the gospel is John 3:1-15.
Feb 7, 2023 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
This coming Sunday is Sexagesima. Here's a thread on the logic of the propers in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:
Just as with the preceding Sunday, the epistle and gospel are not about the same theme, but they are a well-chosen pair of lessons about how to think about Lent.
The epistle asks what you glory in. In other words, what do you boast about? Is it your accomplishments? No, St. Paul says, but glory in your weakness.
Jan 24, 2023 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
This Sunday will be the last one after the Epiphany. But what comes after that in the Book of Common Prayer? Do you know that it's the 'Gesimas? (You pronounce it with a soft g, "Jehz-ih-muhs.") Here's a liturgical look ahead--
The church year began with the Nativity cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany). The second cycle is Gesimatide-Lent-Easter-Ascension-Whitsunday. As Robert Crouse put it, “the first cycle is about God’s coming among us in Jesus Christ, the second is about his work for our salvation.”
Jan 23, 2023 • 28 tweets • 4 min read
Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, the final Sunday before Gesimatide. Here's a thread on the readings for this Sunday in the 1662 lectionary:
The epistle is the final reading in the Romans 12 and 13 sequence that started with Epiphany 1. It is a central text about the Christian’s relationship to civil authorities. At first glance that might seem oddly chosen for Epiphany.
Jan 22, 2023 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Tomorrow is the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. The Sunday first lessons in the 1662 lectionary are Isaiah 55 and 56. Isaiah 55 illustrates the response of faith, just like the gospel reading.
Isaiah 55 also continues the theme from the gospel that the blessings of salvation are extended to the Gentiles: “Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God,
Dec 27, 2022 • 21 tweets • 3 min read
New Year's Day is coming. How is January 1 marked in terms of prayer and Bible reading? The classic Book of Common Prayer has an answer, but it may surprise you: the circumcision of Christ.
The feast day for the Circumcision of Christ is on January 1. But in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the prayer and readings for this day (technically, the collect, epistle, and gospel) are used through January 5.
Dec 16, 2022 • 21 tweets • 4 min read
One of the puzzles of Advent and Christmas is why the festive joy of Christmas Day is immediately followed by St. Stephen's Day (Dec. 26), St. John the Evangelist's Day (Dec. 27), and the Innocents' Day (Dec. 28). What is the Prayer Book thinking?
On that question, here's an excerpt from a book by Bray and Keane, forthcoming from @ivpress in 2023:
If you look after St. Thomas for the next red-letter day, you may be surprised, because the next collect is for the Conversion of Saint Paul (p. 208).
Dec 9, 2022 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
If you're used to a late-modern lectionary, you may think of Advent 3 as focusing on joy (accompanied by a rose-colored candle in the Advent wreath). Yet the traditional Western eucharistic lectionary--used for more than 1000 years--takes a different approach. Wonder why?
The traditional Western eucharistic lectionary does have the Philippians reading that begins “Rejoice”--but not yet. That is coming in the epistle for Advent 4. That progression makes sense. The traditional Western eucharistic lectionary doesn’t rush things.
Oct 24, 2022 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
1/ In the 1662 BCP (and other traditional BCPs), the general confession in Morning and Evening Prayer has us describe ourselves as "miserable offenders." Why? Here is C. S. Lewis's answer:
"I think the Prayer Book is very seldom talking primarily about our feelings;
2/ that is (I think) the first mistake we're apt to make about these words 'we are miserable offenders.' I do not think whether we are feeling miserable or not matters. I think it is using the word miserable in the old sense -- meaning an object of pity.
Oct 19, 2022 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
The Psalms are the beating heart of Christian devotion. For two millennia they've been central to the prayers and songs of the church.
When church fathers like St. Ambrose or St. Athanasius wax eloquent about the Psalms, they often emphasize their variety and breadth. There is something for everyone, every need, ever trial, every state of mind.
Jul 7, 2022 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
There is a new additional resource for the 1662 International Edition--"Family Prayer," both morning and evening. These are abbreviated versions of the 1662 daily offices. They're an on-ramp, especially for families with small kids.
Here is Family Prayer (Morning): ivpress.com/Media/Default/…
Jun 24, 2022 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
1/ Today's collect for Saint John the Baptist's Day, aka The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, is amazing. It starts with an appeal to divine providence as the cause of the birth of John, and of his sending to prepare the way for Jesus "by preaching of repentance."
2/ John is described as "wonderfully born," and that adverb picks up "wonderfully" in Psalm 139:13 (Coverdale).
Apr 26, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Last Sunday was the First Sunday in Easter, which meant the epistle was 1 John 5:4-12. That includes the Johannine Comma, the verse that explicitly teaches the Trinity but which can't be found in any Greek manuscript before the time of Erasmus.
The editors of the 1662 IE followed the practice of traditional BCPs from the early twentieth century in omitting that verse. These include the American BCP 1928 and the Scottish BCP 1929. (Irish 1926 avoided it by changing the epistle entirely!)
Apr 18, 2022 • 14 tweets • 2 min read
Next up are the Monday and Tuesday in Easter Week, and these are important days in the 1662 lectionary, and each one has proper lessons, an epistle, and a gospel.
Monday in Easter Week:
Mattins: Exod 16, Matt 28
For the epistle: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Evensong: Exod 17, Acts 3
Tuesday in Easter Week:
Mattins: Exod 20, Luke 24:1-12
For the epistle: Acts 13:26-41
Gospel: Luke 24:36-48
Evensong: Exod 32, 1 Cor 15
Apr 11, 2022 • 25 tweets • 5 min read
1/ If you've never followed holy week in the 1662 BCP, you are in for an incredible experience--so many different angles from which to see our Savior's death for us. The rhythms are different than in Liturgical Renewal Movement texts, so you're in for some surprises.
2/ The historic gospel for the Sunday next before Easter (today) was Matthew 26 & 27. That's why Bach's St. Matthew Passion for this day is both chapters. The 1662 preserved that today with Matthew 26 as the second lesson at Mattins, and Matthew 27:1-54 as the gospel.
Mar 22, 2022 • 26 tweets • 4 min read
1/ Later this week, on March 25, is the Annunciation. In the 1662 International Edition, you can find the collect, epistle, and gospel on page 215. The proper lessons are on pages xxxi and xxxii.
2/ The Annunciation is the red-letter day that most commonly falls during Lent. Its collect is also one of the great treasures of the BCP, and it shows the subtlety and beauty of the BCP 1662.
Jan 25, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
1/ January 30th is coming, and it will be the first January 30th since the 1662 International Edition was published. Some users will turn to their calendar and be appalled that it does not list Charles, King & Martyr. (Others may be pleased!) What's going on?
2/ When it was published, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer included state services, as well as the commemoration of King Charles I. In the 19th century, the English state services were removed, as was the commemoration of King Charles.
