History in the Bible
A guide to the history presented in the Bible, for people of all faiths and backgrounds, presented by an independent podcaster and biblical studies enthusiast. The show explores the religion of ancient Israel, the beginnings of Christianity, and the evolution of the heirs of Abraham up to the year 200. It covers every book in every Bible, noting there are more than one might expect. The tone is light with a dash of humor and skepticism. The main narrative concluded in January 2024, but the host continues to publish Afterlife episodes.
Episodes
Afterlife 22: End of Times 1- Origins
I introduce a new miniseries, about the story of Christian thinking of the end of times. I am joined by my old mate Steve Guerra, of the History of the Papacy podcast. From the time of Jesus, Christianity has looked forward to the end of the world, the end of times, the apocalypse. In this cosmic cataclysm, the sinners will be destroyed, and the righteous will spend eternity living under God's kin
Afterlife 21: Deuteronomy to Revelation
I return with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In this Afterlife episode, we explore the connections between the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation in the New.
Afterlife 20: The Hand of God in Chronicles and Maccabees
Another episode with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In this show, Gil and explore common themes in the books of Chronicles and Maccabees. Chronicles is two books in the Christian tradition, and one in the Jewish. Chronicles must be the least read book in the Bible, save perhaps for Obadiah. At first sight it is a redundant and profoundly unimpressive re-telling of the history al
Afterlife 19: Moses Leads a Putsch
I have a special treat for you, courtesy of the hosts of the Putchcast show. This is a podcast by Oliver Heuthe and James Bennet about riots, rebellions, revolutions, and the intoxication of power. They were kind enough to invite me on to talk about Moses as a revolutionary leader. This episode is the result. Their show is also available from their website, https://putschcast.com/.
Afterlife 18: King David and the Two Traditions
A few episodes ago, I mentioned the two distinct literary traditions behind the OT or Tanakh). Most important is the rabbinic Hebrew language tradition, known as the Masoretic tradition. The other tradition is the Greek language bible, known as the Septuagint. This was translated from some unknown Hebrew original. In many instances, the Septuagint draws upon ancient Hebrew documents that differ f
Afterlife Detour 6: Surviving Vesuvius
I always thought that the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in Roman imperial times not only destroyed the city of Pompeii, but all its inhabitants. Turns out that quite a lot of people escaped. In this detour episode join Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast and I, as we find out who died and who escaped. You can find Bernie's show at https://shows.acast.com/history. And be sure to check out Ber
Afterlife 17: Reprise of We Three Kings Epiphany Special
This is a reprise of my Epiphany 2019 show (2-33), just in time for Epiphany 2026. It relates the story of Christmas as told by the gospel of Matthew. In Matthew, the story is told from Joseph's point of view, not Mary's. Matthew has wise men, the infamous massacre of the innocents, and the flight to Egypt. No angels and no shepherds. He does not mention Mary's relative Elizabeth, and her son Joh
Afterlife 16: Reprise of Hark the Herald! the Christmas 2018 show
This is a reprise of my Christmas 2018 show, just in time for Christmas 2025. It relates the story of Christmas as told by the gospel of Luke. With lots of canticles: the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Nunc Dimmitis. Luke has many unique stories. He concentrates on Jesus' mother Mary and her relative Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel makes two cameo appearances.
Afterlife Detour 5: Chasing Proto-Indo-European
In this detour episode we go way, way back. Six thousand years ago, a language was forming that would spawn dozens of descendants, who came to occupy most of Europe and much of Anatolia, India and Iran. This ancient tongue is Proto-Indo-European. Join Bernie Maoplski of the Fan of History podcast and I, as we chase down the latest theories on the origins of this ancestral language. You can find B
Afterlife Detour 4: Follow-up on Egyptian Hydraulics
A little while back, Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast and I discussed some recent research into the use of hydraulics at the step pyramid of Pharoah Djoser. Well, lordy lordy, we received an email from a hydraulic engineer who said that the original researchers were barking up the wrong tree. Let's see what he had to say. You can find Bernie's show at https://shows.acast.com/histor
Afterlife 15: The Letter of Jeremiah
I'm back with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In its 29th chapter, the book of Jeremiah contains a letter that the prophet wrote to the exiles in Babylonia. There is another letter of Jeremiah to the exiles, a very short work. In the Orthodox tradition, this is a separate book all to itself. In the Catholic canon, it is a chapter in the book of Baruch. Thanks to Martin Luther, the
Afterlife 14: Jeremiah and the Two Traditions
There are two distinct literary traditions behind the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). Most important is the Masoretic Hebrew tradition. The other tradition is the Greek bible, known as the Septuagint. While the two traditions are in broad agreement, sometimes they diverge quite significantly. One of those places is in the book of Jeremiah. In this episode, Gil and I explore these differences.
Afterlife Detour 3: Ancient Egyptian Hydraulics
Another detour episode. In this episode, Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast invited me onto his show to discuss new research into the step pyramid of Pharoah Djoser.
Afterlife Detour 2: Conclave
Another detour episode. This time I am with Gregg Gassmann of many podcasts: Popeular History (that's Popular with an "e"), Pontifacts, and Cardinal Numbers. You won't find a bigger Pope aficionado than Gregg. Gregg and I discuss the papal conclave of May 2025. You can find Gregg's podcasts at https://www.popeularhistory.com/ and https://pontifacts.podbean.com/. Yes, we are rather late in getting
Afterlife 13: 50 Years of Biblical Archaeology Review
The year 2025 marks fifty years of publication by Biblical Archaeology Review, often known as BAR. This is halfway between a journal and a magazine, rather like National Geographic. It has worked as a bridge between professional archaeologists and historians, and the general public. In this show I am joined by my old mate Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast. We discuss BAR's history
Afterlife Detour 1: A Roman Mystery
On this first detour show, I am joined by Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast. We investigate the most mysterious objects ever produced in the Roman empire.
Afterlife 12: Shavuot and Pentecost
In the last Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I explored the relationship between the Jewish festival of Passover, and Christian Easter. This time, we explore two more parallels. This time, we explore the Jewish festival of Shavuot or Weeks, and its significance to the Christian celebration of Pentecost.
Afterlife 11: Passover and Easter
In this Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com) explains to me the origins and customs of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Then I explain what Easter is about, and how it is intimately connected to Passover.
Afterlife 10: Rabbis, Arise!
In this Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com), and I try to figure out where the rabbis came from.
Afterlife 9: Miraculous Births
In this Afterlife episode, Bernie Maopolski of Fan of History (https://shows.acast.com/history), Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com), and I discuss some of the miraculous births to be found in the world's religions, including the birth of Jesus by the virgin Mary.
Afterlife 8: The Heirs of Abraham book now published
Announcing the publication of the final volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion series of books. The book contains the entire scripts of the show's third and final season. It follows the history of the two heirs of Abraham, rabbinic Judaism and Christianity, to the year 200. By that year, the rabbis had formed their foundational document, the Mishnah;, and Christianity had created the
Afterlife 7: Our Crazy Theories
In this Afterlife episode, Bernie Maopolski of Fan of History (https://shows.acast.com/history), Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com), and I discuss some of our favourite crazy theories.
Afterlife 6: On History Podcasting, with Steve Guerra
In this Afterlife episode, Steve Guerra of History of the Papacy (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-of-the-papacy-podcast--4899207) and I discuss history podcasting.
Afterlife 5: Making the New Testament
I introduce the New Testament to Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com). Here are the Amazon US links for the books mentioned in this episode: Vol 1 Genesis to Babylon https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645950734 Vol 2 Age of the Second Temple https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645950769 Vol 4 Essential Resources https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645950726
Afterlife 4: The Charms of Ancient History
In this Afterlife episode, Bernie Maopolski of Fan of History (https://shows.acast.com/history), Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com), and I discuss why we love ancient history.
Afterlife 3: Yet Another Book Announcement- Age of the Second Temple
I have published another volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion set of books. It contains the complete scripts of the second season of my podcast. This is the Age of the Second Temple. It covers the books in the Old Testament written after the return from Babylon. The volume explores the history of Judea from Persian to Roman times. It investigates in depth the rich apocalyptic lite
Afterlife 2: New Book Announcement- Genesis to Babylon
Announcing the publication of a new volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion set of books, "Genesis to Babylon". This contains the complete scripts of the first season of the show. You can get it from these Amazon marketplaces: https://www.amazon.com/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 h
Afterlife 1: On History Podcasting, with Bernie Maopolski
In this Afterlife episode, Bernie Maopolski of Fan of History (https://shows.acast.com/history) and I discuss history podcasting.
Afterlife 0: Announcing The History in the Bible Podcast Companion, volume one
Announcing the publication of the first volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion set of books, "Essential Resources". You can get it from these Amazon marketplaces: https://www.amazon.com/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.ca/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Esse
3.34 Show Finale- Speculations V: 100-700 CE
The last episode in the show. I give a big thank you to all my listeners, and a brief biographical sketch. Then I finish the series with three more speculations. First, what if Marcionism had become the orthodoxy of the imperial church incorporate? Second, could Manichaeism have swallowed up the church? And finally, could the church have survived and prospered had it not become the state religion
3.33 Speculations IV: 100-400 CE
Four more speculations. I argue that an important element of Christianity's success was that it quickly transformed itself into what I call the imperial church incorporate. Would Christianity have succeeded had it not done so? Second, could Mithraism have triumphed over the church? Third, could the Gnostic variants of Christianity come to dominate? Finally, the Jewish arm of the church vanishe
3.32 Speculations III: 35-100 CE
More speculations and alternative histories! Our first diverges from our own timeline in about the year 35. What if Jesus had not been executed by the Romans, but had lived on to see the Great Judean Revolt of 66 CE. What would he have made of it? Second, let's say that Jesus died when did, a generation before the Great Revolt. What might have happened if his chief apostles Peter and Paul had live
3.31 Speculations II: 50-66 CE
This is the second episode in a series of speculations and alternate histories. This time: What if Christian missionaries had never preached to the pagans? Second, what may happened if Christian missionaries had ignored the Roman empire, and proselytised in Parthia, instead? Third, what would have become of Christianity if the Jewish revolts had never occurred, and the Temple stood to the end of
Bonus 58: The Gadarene Swine
In this bonus, I continue my collaboration with Steve Guerra of the "History of the Papacy" show (www.atozhistorypage.com/), and Scott McCandless of the "Retelling the Bible" podcast (retellingthebible.wordpress.com/). In this bonus we revisit Scott's show on the Gadarene swine. I also have a reminder of Gil Kindron's and my course on Isaiah, in January 2024. For more information, go to podcastofb
3.30 Speculations I: 30-65 CE
This is the first episode in a series of speculations and alternate histories. This time: what if John the Baptist was bigger than Jesus? What if Paul had split to form his own independent movement?
Bonus 57: Growing Christianity, with Bernie Maopolski
In this bonus, Bernie Maopolski of Fan of History (https://shows.acast.com/history) invites me onto his "Whats New In History" segment. We discuss my ideas about how Bible scholars have it all wrong about the mathematics of the growth of Christinaity in the Roman Empire, and how I have corrected their errors. I also have some announcements about my final episodes, and about my forthcoming book of
Bonus 56: Abraham's Three Mysterious Visitors
In this bonus, I continue my collaboration with Steve Guerra of the "History of the Papacy" show (https://www.atozhistorypage.com/), and Scott Mcandless of the "Retelling the Bible" podcast (https://retellingthebible.wordpress.com/). In this show we revisit Scott's show on Abraham's three mysterious vistors. I also have an announcement about the final episodes in my main narrative, and a forthcomi
3.29 The Last Heirs of Abraham III: Survivors of the Jungle
The revolt of Bar Kosiva against Rome failed, as had the Great Revolt. The Roman punishment destroyed almost all the many blooms living in the mighty jungle that was Second Temple Judaism. Only two species escaped the immolation: rabbinic Judaism, and Christianity. The imperial punishment also destroyed the Jewish wing of the church incorporate, leaving the franchise to follow its own path. With a
3.28 The Last Heirs of Abraham II: Fall of the Temple
The Temple's destruction also destroyed all the many varieties of Second Temple Judaism, save for the emerging rabbinic movement, and the nascent Christian movement.
Bonus 55: Peter, Paul, and Clement with Popeular History
In this bonus, Gregg Gassman of the Popeular History Podcast (www.popeularhistory.com) and and I discuss Peter, Paul, and Clement. Gregg is a Catholic, and I was brought up in the Anglican tradition. So we have some differences about Peter, as you will soon hear. We also try to work out where Clement fits in the papal succession.
3.27 The Last Heirs of Abraham I: Setting the Stage
Only two of Abraham's heirs survived to the year 200 CE/AD: rabbinic Judaism, and the imperial church incorporate. My final epiodes explore how that happened.
Bonus 54: Manoah, father of Samson
In this collaboration with Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy show (https://www.atozhistorypage.com/), and Scott McAndless of the Retelling the Bible podcast (https://retellingthebible.wordpress.com/2021/09/15/5-19-me-myself-and-manoah/), we discuss Scott's episode "Me, Myself, and Manoah".
Bonus 53: Joshua and the Day the Sun Stood Still
In this bonus, I launch a new mini-series. My co-hosts are Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy show (https://www.atozhistorypage.com/), and Scott Mcandless of the Retelling the Bible podcast (https://retellingthebible.wordpress.com/). In these bonus episodes, we will discuss one of Scott's re-tellings. In this show we revisit Scott's show on Joshua and the day the sun stood still.
Bonus 52: Behind the Scenes with John Brooks of Pod Only knows
In this bonus, John Brooks of the "Pod Only Knows" podcast interviews me about the genesis and making of my show. I think it turned out pretty well. This episode formed the last show of John's former podcast, "Hard to Believe". It is published here with his kind permission. With his new podcast, "Pod Only Knows", John is off to fresh ventures, along with Dr. Kelly J. Baker. They are both from the
3.26 Christianity in the Year 200
Irenaeus died around the year 200. In his final decades, pagan intellectuals first turned their sights on the Christians. The first was Celsus. Christians counter-attacked with more apologies. They also produced homilies, such as the 2nd letter of Clement. Fans also produced some fanciful acts and gospels of the various disciples, and two biographies of the young Jesus: the Paidika, and the Prote
Bonus 51: Maccabees, Sadducees, and Pharisees With Gil Kidron
Gil Kidron and I discuss how a small rural priest called Mattathias started an insurgency against Judea's overlords, the mighty Seleucid kingdom, heir to the empire of Alexander the Great. His descendants became rulers of the tiny region. They are known to history as the Maccabeans. In this period, we see the emergence of two political or social groups. First, the Sadducees, or Tsadokites. Second,
3.25 Remaking Paul II: Luther and Beyond
After Irenaeus rescued Paul from the Marcionites and Gnostics, Paul's letters were honoured and uncontroversial documents, testaments to a great missionary and theologian. Martin Luther weaponised them to attack the established church, and so birthed the Protestant movement. In the 1970s, the New Perspective on Paul movement tried to rescue Paul from Luther. I also finish up my discussion of the A
Bonus 50: With the Conspirinormal Podcast
The Conspirinormal podcast people kindly invited me onto their show. The hosts Adam Sayne and Serfiel Stevenson have generously allowed me to publish our conversation here.
Bonus 49: Top Moments in the Old Testament/Tanakh II
In this bonus episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I continue our look at some of our favourite moments in the Old Testament or Tanakh. First, Steve investigates the unfortunate incident of Dinah and the Hebites. Then Garry shows a little-known side to Joseph's rule in Egypt.
3.24 Remaking Paul I: Irenaeus
During the middle of the 2nd century, Paul was rescued from the Marcionites and Gnostics. He was elevated from honoured missionary to master theologian. I also discuss the Acts of Paul and his acolyte Thecla.
3.23 The Imperial Church Incorporate III: The Heresy Hunter
The imperial church of the late 2nd century was bedevilled by external competitors -- Gnostics, Marcionites, Montanists – and vexed by internal division over the nature of Christ. Was he man, god, or both? The church brought forth fighters to defend its corporate markets. These were the heresy hunters. Justin Martyr and Hegesippus the Holy were early soldiers. Bishop Irenaeus of Lyon was the grea
Bonus 48: Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ
Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I turn a quizzical eye on Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ.
Bonus 47 The Twelve Minor Prophets IX: Real Finale
Steve Guerra from the History in the Papacy podcast and I concluded our series on the Twelve minor prophets of the OT some time ago. That was a fake-out. We managed to rope in a real expert to conclude our mini-series. Let me introduce Prof Kip Swinney.
3.22 The Imperial Church Incorporate II: The Martyr
Justin Martyr is the second of the great Christian figures of the second century. He is one of the earliest for whom we have a substantial biography from the man himself. He wrote at length and often, creating the largest body of Christian literature to his time. Later Christians quoted from him endlessly, and lauded him as a writer, apologist, philosopher, and intellectual. But he introduced a pr
3.21 The Imperial Church Incorporate I: The Heretic
The rest of the show covers the second half of the second century. In this period, the little Jesus clubs evolved into the imperial church incorporate. This and the next few episodes cover the three dominant personalities of that period. In this episode I investigate the 'heretic' Marcion of Sinope. Marcion shook the church to its foundations when he moved to Rome. He rejected the idea that Christ
Bonus 46: The Twelve Minor Prophets VIII: Finale
Steve Guerra from the History in the Papacy podcast and I conclude our mini-series on the Twelve minor prophets of the OT. In this episode we have a bit of fun and rank the Twelve using our own entirely ridiculous criteria.
Bonus 45: Biblical Chronology with Gil Kidron II
In this bonus episode, Gil Kidron of a Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I finish our discussion of biblical chronology.
3.20 Gnowing Me, Gnowing You II: The Crusade of Valentinus
Unlike the Sethian Gnostics, the Valentinian Gnostics are clearly rooted in Christianity. They were founded by Valentinus, an Egyptian who may have stood for the bishopric of Rome. Valentinus founded a popular crusade that borrowed from the Sethians and the apostle Paul. The movement produced a copious literature: the apocalypse of Paul, the apocalypse of Peter, the apocalypse of Adam, the gospel
3.19 Gnowing Me, Gnowing You I: The Children of Seth
Until the late 19th century, the Gnostic works were known only from their opponents, who regarded them as aberrant and vile Christians. Discoveries since then have uncovered a wealth of Gnostic literature. The Gnostics are now usually divided into two groups: Sethians and Valentinians. The Sethians are the older. Many scholars hold that their roots are in Second Temple Judaism, not Christianity.
Bonus 44: Biblical Chronology with Gil Kidron I
In this bonus episode, Gil Kidron of a Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I wade into biblical chronology.
3.18 Christians Under the Roman Gaze
In the second century, there were three groups of Jewish-leaning Jesus clubs: the Johhanines, the Nazoreans, and the Ebionities. These had either vanished or been absorbed into gentile Christanity by the year 200. While that was happening, the Christian movement came to the attention of the imperial authorities. Writing in 110, governor Pliny only knew they seemed to be vaguely seditious, and had
Bonus 43: Top Moments in the Old Testament/Tanakh I
In this bonus episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I take a look at some of our favourite moments in the Old Testament or Tanakh. First, Steve wonders what the deal is with Melchizedek. Then Garry shows how a single verse about the patriarch Enoch spawned a whole literature. Back to Steve, who finds some surprising verses in Psalm 137. We conclude with the old she's not m
Bonus 42: The Twelve Minor Prophets VII: Malachi and Joel
Malachi writes in Persian times. The rebuilt Temple has not ushered in an ideal age, the governors of Yehuda are not Davidic, and the priests and people have lost their watchfulness about God's coming. Malachi attacks this malaise. The priests are corrupt. The people are unfaithful. All must repent. Joel writes of locusts and famine. An ecological catastrophe is divine retribution for apostasy. He
3.17 Quest for the Rabbis II: The Mishnah
The Mishnah is the first great product of the rabbis. Traditionally it was codified around 200 CE by Rabbi Yehuda haNasi. It appears from nowhere. The Mishnah bears no resemblance to anything in the Tanakh/Old Testament, nor in the vast Jewish apocalyptic literature of preceding centuries.
3.16 Quest for the Rabbis I: Origins
The origins of the rabbis, dated to the second century CE, are shrouded in fog, for reasons we do not understand. Why did the Jews cease writing histories after the year 100? Why do we have no histories from the Babylonian Jews. Where did the Mishnah, the foundational document of Rabbinic thought, dome from? I also discuss the evidence that historians of antiquity use, and how they assess that evi
Bonus 41: Baruch and Jeremiah, with Gil Kidron
In this bonus episode, Gil Kidron and I discuss Gil's theory that the scribe Baruch was instrumental in writing (or editing or redacting) the book of Genesis, using the life of his master the prophet Jermiah as a model.
3.15 Tumultus Iudaeorum
On the death of Herod the Great in 4 BCE, the Judean state was a prosperous, self-governed, and stable kingdom. It was Rome's best buddy in the Levant, with territories extending beyond the Jordan and into Syria. Thriving Jewish communities could be found from Spain to Egypt. Over a span 70 years, the Judeans launched three insurrections against the Romans. The consequences were catastrophic. 140
3.14 After the Apostles II: Holy Books and Blessed Bishops
My second ep about the apostolic fathers, those who followed the disciples. Here I discuss the anonymous authors of the epistle of Barnabas, the gospel of Peter, and the Shepherd of Hermas. All of them were candidates for inclusion in the New Testament. We should be grateful that the virulent anti-Jewishness of the epistle of Barnabas never made it. The gospel of Peter was a best-seller, more popu
3.13 After the Apostles I: Out of the Mist
By the year 70, all of the disciples save perhaps John, were dead. Their inheritors are traditionally known as the Apostolic fathers, although many scholars would object to that appellation. I explore the fathers in this and the next episode. In this show I present the very earliest: Bishop Clement of Rome, and the anonymous author of the Didache, a fascinating look into earliest Christian practic
Bonus 40 Noah: The Movie, with Pod Academy
In this bonus episode, Gil Kidron and Rutger Vos graciously invite me on to their long-running show Pod Academy. This show is dedicated to applying a critical intellect to popular media, especially movies or TV series. In this bonus we discuss the 2014 movie Noah, staring Russell Crowe, Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly, and Emma Watson. With a special appearance by Ray Winstone, doing what Ray W
Bonus 39 The Twelve Minor Prophets VI: Haggai and Zechariah
Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi are the three post-exilic prophets. In Jewish tradition, they are the last of the prophets. After them, prophecy ceased. Haggai is a pragmatic man relaying God's words to the Jewish leadership. Although contemporary with Haggai, Zechariah is his polar opposite. Zechariah is off his nut, with the trippiest imagery outside of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation.
Bonus 38 The Twelve Minor Prophets V: Zephaniah and Habakkuk
I'm joined by Steve Guerra as we continue our series on the twelve minor Old Testament prophets. Here we tackle Zephaniah and Habakkuk. Both are short. Zephaniah ranted during the last decades of the kingdom of Judea. Zephaniah is doom, doom, doom. Habakkuk tackles with a fundamental problem about God's goodness: why is God about to let the wicked Babylonians overcome Judah?
3.12 Earliest Christians IV: Conflicts in John's Community
I finish my discussion of Revelation, cheekily asking if the book implies that only gays will go to heaven. The Greek East only grudgingly accepted the book. The book sulked in the shadows of Christianity until the 19th century, incomprehensible and unwanted. British Protestants re-interpreted the book as the veriest key to the whole Bible. That obsession took root in North America. I also peruse
3.11 Earliest Christians III: John's Community and Revelation
Alongside the Jerusalem Jesus clubs, the clubs founded by Paul and others, and the Thomasines, scholars believe there was a fourth primitive Christian community: the Johannines. This community produced the gospel of John, the letters attributed to John, and Revelation. They traced their foundation to John the Belove Disciple. I investigate this community, and introduce the fantastical book of Reve
3.10 Earliest Christians II: Paul Against Peter Against Thomas
We believe there were four distinct early Christian communities: the gentile clubs of Paul, the Jewish clubs of Peter and James, the clubs who followed the writings of Thomas, and clubs attached to the disciple John. In this episode I tackle the first three. The letter to the Hebrews is the most vigorous exposition of Paul's views and denigration of his own people, the Jews. But the letter never c
3.9 Earliest Christians I: Deciphering Jesus
The earliest Christians had three theological problems to tackle. First, what exactly happened at the resurrection of Jesus? Was his physical body brought back to life? Or was he transformed into an immortal spiritual body? Perhaps he never had a mortal body in the first place. Second, how was Jesus related to God? Perhaps he was a good man adopted by God. Eventually Christians came to believe he
3.8 After the Temple II: The Christians
Keynote ep: I look at the two earliest Christian communities we know about: the Judean clubs run from Jerusalem by James and Peter, and the pagan clubs founded by Paul and others. I also have excursions into why women lost their positions of authority in Paul's clubs, the gospel according to the Hebrews, and how Paul transformed the message of Jesus, into a message about Jesus. Theme music "Inspir
Bonus 37 The Patriarchs with A Podcast of Biblical Proportions
In this bonus episode I am joined by Omri and Gil of the rambunctious podcast "A Podcast of Biblical Proportions" for a discussion about the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and a little bit about Joseph. Theme music "Inspiring Teaser" by Rafael Krux, https://filmmusic.io/song/5672-inspiring-teaser, license https://filmmusic.io/standard-license.
3.7 After the Temple I: The Judeans
Keynote ep: The rabbis now make their appearance: the heroes ben Zakkai and more Gamaliels than you can shake a stick at. Scholars grudgingly hold they are rebranded Pharisees, but they are willing to change their minds. The Romans diverted the old Temple tithe paid by the diaspora into a new tax, the fiscus Judaicus. As the Romans tried to work who was a Jew, and hence liable for the tax, they ac
Bonus 36 The Twelve Minor Prophets IV: Micah and Nahum
I'm joined by Steve Guerra as we continue our series on the twelve minor Old Testament prophets. Here we tackle Micah and Nahum. Micah is the chirpiest of the prophets, a favorite amongst both Christians and Jews. No one loves the frothing ravings of Nahum.
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