iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Was Jesus an Essene? Did he reject the validity of the temple? I tackle those questions in my latest video in which I respond to claims made by another content creator. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATQk...

youtube.com

Was Jesus an Essene?

YouTube video by Michael Patrick Barber

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Happy feast day of the Conversion of St Paul!

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

My friend David Sloan just won the internet today on Facebook.

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Here is a brief video I made on the history of St Nicholas. How was he remembered? Did he really assault Arius? (No!) How did he get associated with gift-giving? And how did he become Santa Claus? For more, see my book, The True Meaning of Christmas. youtu.be/SUUsJpXnvm8?...

youtu.be

St. Nicholas and Santa Claus | Christmas Traditions

YouTube video by Augustine Institute | The Catholic Faith Explained

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

One major SBL highlight this year—watching @jasonstaples.bsky.social introduce @davidaburnett.bsky.social (who gave a great response to a paper) with walk up music: Never Gonna Give You Up. #SBLAAR2024 Apparently, videos don’t work on this site so I’ll just leave this photo of David’s reaction.

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Listening to Sam Johnson, “Assumption of Moses, Assumption of Mary: A Shared Tradition?” #SBLAAR2024

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

At the first Paul within Judaism session. Listening to Paula Fredriksen on 1 Cor 9:19-22. What does it mean to be “under the law”? #SBLAAR24

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Listening to Christopher Stroup, “Questions about Your Own Law” (Acts 18:15): Paul and the Jewishness of Christians in the Acts of the Apostles #SBLAAR2024

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Listening to Judith Gundry: Give No Offense to Jews, Greeks, and God’s Assembly: 1 Cor 8-10 in Paul’s Defense of Monotheism among Pagans and Jews in the Diaspora #SBLAAR2024

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Listening to Stephen Chester, “Paul and the History of Conversion: Trajectories within and Beyond Judaism” #SBLAAR2024

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

At the Enoch Seminar’s event reviewing Paula Fredriksen’s new book, Ancient Christianities. Been looking forward to this. She begins by saying the key ideas for her book are: “monotheism” (problematic for her!) ethnicity, apocalyptic eschatology, and imperial power #SBLAAR2024

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

“Perhaps we finally did away with God indirectly, by exterminating silence.”—Dale C. Allison, Jr., The Luminous Dusk: Finding God in Deep, Still Places (Eerdmans, 2006), 38.

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

How do hashtags work on this site? Same as in the before days or is there some celestial secret wisdom? Someone please let me know. Thanks!

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Today in my Synoptic Gospels and Acts seminar we looked at the stories of Jesus's anointing by a woman. I find this topic endlessly fascinating. These are from my handout:

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

At SBL I get to have meals with some of my favorite scholars, people I have spent endless hours reading and learning from over the years. It is such a joy to talk with them face to face. Looking forward to it!

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

The superscriptions of the psalms are often overlooked. This is a shame—there are some remarkable details there.

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I am especially excited about going to this panel on Paul within Judaism at SBL this year. Any other #SBLAAR24 #SBL recommendations?

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Michael Patrick Barber @michaelpbarber.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

One of my favorites academic conference memes.

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