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The speech was given on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's , 28 August 1963. A significant anniversary given that Barack Obama made history last night in becoming the first African-American to accept the presidential nomination of a major political party. It is a sign of the candidate's electoral nervousness that he chose not to mention Martin Luther King by name in last night's speech (he referred to him as a 'young preacher from Georgia'). Where King focused on 'dreams', Obama concentrated on 'promises' -- 'the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.' When Barack Obama says 'promise', he means 'hope'.

Yet Senator Obama's presidential rhetoric marked him off as an accomplished preacher too. It's almost as if this speech was a sermon on a Bible text that was not formally read aloud before the sermon. That text is Hebrews 10:23, which reads: 'Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.'

In American presidential rhetoric, this line of Scripture becomes a foundation text for the American dream. Thus, the senator ends his speech: 'Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.'

If Hebrews 10:23 is the unspoken primary reading undergirding this presidential sermon, another unacknowledged text is provided by Colossians 3:2, which reads: 'Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.' The Epistle to the Colossians underwrites one of the most powerful flourishes in the senator's speech:

'This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores. Instead, it is that American spirit - that American promise - that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but [on] what is unseen, that better place around the bend.'

Few British politicians could use Scripture in a speech to that effect (even though the political application of the text is plainly questionable theologically). In fact, few British politicians could presume that their audience would be so aware of the Scripture that they could use the text without citation. The exception is Northern Ireland, where some politicians have engaged in Scripture-laced rhetoric for many years. But even here, the language is changing in the post-Paisley political environment, at least at the highest levels of government.

That's enough political theology for one day. Take a look at Steve Bell in today's Guardian: he's His cartoon yesterday is too. In fact, if you're new to the Bell curve.