The Woman Who Was Not Collateral Damage
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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Jesus and the woman taken in adultery
12 min read
This is the scholarly name for the exact passage being analyzed (John 7:53-8:11). The Wikipedia article covers the fascinating textual history - how this story doesn't appear in the earliest manuscripts and was likely added later, its disputed authenticity, and theories about its origins. This provides essential context for understanding the passage's place in biblical scholarship.
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Stoning
19 min read
The article centers on Jesus preventing a stoning. The Wikipedia article covers the history of stoning as capital punishment in ancient Jewish law, Roman law's restrictions on Jewish execution rights (relevant to the 'trap' mentioned), and the specific Mosaic laws about adultery punishment. This illuminates the legal and cultural stakes of the encounter.
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Horace Pippin
15 min read
The article includes Pippin's painting 'The Woman Taken in Adultery.' Pippin was a self-taught African American artist who painted biblical scenes with profound spiritual depth despite having a partially paralyzed arm from WWI. His approach to religious art and his remarkable life story would enrich the reader's appreciation of the featured artwork.
Hi friends,
We took a little detour but this week, we’re wrapping up the final part of our Unexpected Jesus series by spending time with Jesus and his encounter with a woman set-up for entrapment.1 Next week, I’ll write/record a brand new prayer inspired by this story as usual so keep an eye out for that benediction. We may reopen this series again in the future but for now, this will be the final story we’re exploring together in this round.
If you are new to Field Notes or haven’t had a chance to read all of the previous entires in this series, I did put it all into one handy-dandy spot:
Today we’re spending some time with the surprises hiding in the old story we think we know, often referred to as “the woman caught in adultery.” This is actually a beautiful and dignifying story of liberation, not shame and sin management. There are more than a few surprises hiding in the story that we think we know about the woman who was saved from stoning.
Let’s start with the story itself, shall we?
Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11 (MSG)
Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”
“No one, Master.”
“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”
The “Unexpecteds” of the Story
This week, we’re going
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