The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Gospel of Mark: Mystery, Humor, and the Secret Jesus Kept Aug 19, 2026 28:44 The Gospel of Mark takes center stage in this episode of The Bible in a Year. Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, joins the hosts to unpack why Mark is the shortest and most mysterious gospel. He explains the messianic secret, Mark's surprising humor, and its deep connections to the writings of Paul. Listeners will hear about the Gerasene demoniac,

32. Unpacking the Gospel of Matthew: How is Jesus like Moses? Aug 12, 2026 28:50 In this episode of The Bible in a Year, hosts Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston turn to the Gospel of Matthew. They're joined by Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, who guides listeners through the book's genre, likely authorship, and original audience. The conversation covers Matthew's signature elements: the Sermon on the Mount, t

31. What Does It Really Mean to Be "Restored"? Zechariah and Malachi Close Out the Old Testament Aug 5, 2026 36:09 What does it mean to be restored, according to the Bible? This episode closes out the Old Testament with Zechariah and Malachi, two short books written after the people returned from exile in Babylon. Dr. Cory Driver, Director of Research at the Center for Life at Miami University of Ohio, joins hosts Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman to explore what restoration actually lo

30. The Two Shortest Books You've Probably Never Read (And Why They Matter) Jul 29, 2026 24:13 What does the Day of the Lord mean, and why does it look so different in two short prophetic books? In this episode, hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennie Wojciechowski welcome guest Kristin Wendland, associate professor of religion at Wartburg College, to explore Zephaniah and Haggai. Zephaniah confronts idolatry head-on, warning that the Day of the Lord brings judgment on unfaithfulness. But t

29. Habakkuk - What Do You Praise God For When You've Got Nothing Left? (feat. Rolf Jacobson) Jul 22, 2026 29:01 What is the life of faith good for when there is nothing left to praise God for? In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston welcome Dr. Rolf Jacobson, Dean of the Faculty and Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary, to discuss the book of Habakkuk. This short three-chapter book begins with Habakkuk's lament over injustice in Judah and God's surprising answer. Together t

28. Nahum, Jonah, and the God Who Won't Give Up on Nineveh Jul 15, 2026 23:38 Most people know Jonah as the guy who got swallowed by a whale, but this book of Jonah summary reveals a much stranger and funnier story than that. In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, hosts Katie Langston and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Rolf Jacobson, Dean of the Faculty at Luther Seminary, to explore the books of Jonah and Nahum. Rolf walks through Jonah's reluctant call to p

27. The Book of Micah: Justice, Mercy, and God's Emotions with Dr. Cory Driver Jul 8, 2026 25:09 In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Kristofer Phan Coffman welcome back Old Testament scholar Dr. Cory Driver to dig into the Book of Micah. This short but powerful minor prophet speaks into the eighth century BCE, addressing both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms as Assyria threatens on the horizon. Dr. Driver explains why prophecy isn't primarily abo

26. The Verse on Dr. King's Wall, and the Book Most People Never Read Jul 1, 2026 20:41 In this book of Amos overview, hosts Kristofer Phan Coffman and Jennifer Wojciechowski welcome back Cory Driver, Director of Research at the Center for Life at Miami University and author of God, Gender and Family Trauma, to explore one of the Old Testament's most pointed minor prophets. Cory explains how Amos draws Israel in with a "tour of sinfulness" against their neighbors, building confidence

25. The Day of the Lord: What Joel and Obadiah Teach About Judgment and Hope Jun 24, 2026 31:07 The Day of the Lord connects two of the Bible's shortest and least familiar prophetic books. In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Katie Langston welcome Dr. Tyler Mayfield to explore Joel and Obadiah. Joel reads a catastrophic locust plague as a sign from God, calling the people to lament and repent before delivering a tender promise of restoration and a vision of a far-off day of divin

24. What the Book of Hosea Reveals About the Heart of God Jun 17, 2026 34:37 What is the Book of Hosea really about? In this episode, Old Testament scholar Dr. Brad Kelle joins hosts Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker to get the book of Hosea explained from the ground up. Dr. Kelle walks listeners through the book's three major sections, the famous and often misread story of Hosea and Gomer, and why the rich web of metaphors at the heart of this prophetic book p

23. Monsters, Empires, and Gallows Humor: The Book of Daniel You Never Knew Jun 10, 2026 24:24 The Book of Daniel is one of the strangest, funniest, and most hope-filled books in the Old Testament, and in this episode, Dr. Michael Chan helps us see why. Joining hosts Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Dr. Chan walks us through Daniel's two distinct halves: court tales of Jewish exiles navigating life under foreign kings in Babylon, and apocalyptic visions that pull back the curt

22. The Bible Book So Intense, Rabbis Said You Had to Be 40 to Read It Jun 3, 2026 30:31 The Old Testament book, Ezekiel, is one of the strangest, most visionary, and most hope-filled books in all of scripture, and in this episode of Bible in a Year, we get a scholar's guide to its depths. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jenny Wojciechowski are joined by Professor Stephen Cook, the Katherine N. McBurney Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Virginia Theological Seminary

21. The Most Honest Book in the Bible Nobody Talks About May 27, 2026 19:28 The Book of Lamentations is one of the lesser-known books of the Hebrew Bible, but it may be one of the most honest. In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, Dr. Cameron Howard, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, joins hosts Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Kristofer Phan Coffman to explore this Lamentations Bible book — a collection of five lament poems set against the devastatio

Jeremiah: The Prophet Who Accused God and Kept Going May 20, 2026 35:47 What made Jeremiah the most radical prophet in the Hebrew Bible? In this episode of Bible in a Year, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennie Wojciechowski welcome Dr. Marvin A. Sweeney, professor of Hebrew Bible at the Claremont School of Theology, for a Jeremiah Bible commentary that spans the full depth of this extraordinary book. Dr. Sweeney unpacks Jeremiah's identity as a prophet in the traditi

19. Why Some Scholars Call Isaiah the "Fifth Gospel" May 13, 2026 25:43 The Book of Isaiah is one of the most sweeping, complex, and consequential books in the entire Old Testament, and in this episode, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Katie Langston sit down with Old Testament scholar Dr. Michael Chan for a summary of the Book of Isaiah that brings it to life. Dr. Chan explains how Isaiah grew over centuries across three major historical horizons: the Assyrian period,

18. Why the Song of Songs Is the Weirdest Book in the Bible May 6, 2026 29:35 The Song of Songs is one of the strangest and most beautiful books in the Bible, and for centuries readers have struggled to know what to do with it. In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Dr. Elaine James, professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of Landscapes of the Song of Songs, for a rich conve

17: The Book of Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for When Life Feels Pointless Apr 29, 2026 24:14 The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the Bible's most honest and surprisingly modern books, asking the questions many of us quietly wonder: What is the point of all our work? Why do good people suffer? And what does any of it matter in the face of death? In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennifer Wojciechowski welcome Dr. Cameron Howard, Old Testament scholar at Luther Seminary and aut

16: The Book of Proverbs Has a Secret About Jesus That Most Protestants Miss Apr 22, 2026 23:35 The Book of Proverbs is more complex than most people expect. In this episode of Bible in a Year, host Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker welcome Dr. Diane Jacobson, Professor Emerita of Old Testament at Luther Seminary and the first woman to teach Bible in an ELCA seminary, to explore one of Scripture's most underappreciated books. Together they unpack the book's structure, its vision

15: The Book of Psalms: A Timeless Conversation with God Apr 15, 2026 31:14 "Psalms move from lament to praise."Explore the profound significance of the Book of Psalms in faith, worship, and personal prayer, highlighting its themes of lament, praise, creation, and community. Discover how Psalms serve as a timeless tool for honest communication with God and a foundation for worship across centuries.Dive deeper into the Book of Psalms with Enter the BibleEnter the Bible pod

14: The Book of Job Asked This Question 3,000 Years Ago. We're Still Sitting With It. Apr 8, 2026 40:43 The Book of Job is one of the longest, most complex, and most misunderstood books in the entire Bible. In this episode, hosts Rev. Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker sit down with Dr. Diane Jacobson to explore what this ancient book of wisdom actually has to say about suffering, righteousness, and the God who meets us in the whirlwind. From Job's shattering laments to the silence of his

13: Is the Book of Esther the Bible's Best Short Story? Apr 1, 2026 33:46 The Book of Esther is one of the Bible's most entertaining and surprising reads — a short, fast-paced narrative set in the Persian Empire, featuring a foolish king, a villainous schemer, and a Jewish orphan named Esther who becomes queen and saves her people from genocide. In this episode of Bible in a Year, hosts Jenny Wojciechowski and Katie Langston welcome Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Professor

12: Ezra & Nehemiah: Rebuilding After Exile Mar 25, 2026 27:43 What happens when a community returns home to find that home no longer looks the way they remembered? In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, Old Testament scholar Cameron Howard joins hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Kristofer Phan Coffman to explore Ezra & Nehemiah, two books originally written as one, chronicling the return from Babylonian exile and the long, complicated work of reb

11: Why Does 1 & 2 Chronicles Retell the Bible? Mar 18, 2026 27:07 1 & 2 Chronicles may not top anyone's list of favorite Bible books, but scholar Dr. Cameron Howard makes the case that these overlooked texts have a lot to teach us. In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, Dr. Howard, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary and author of The Old Testament for a Complex World, joins hosts Jennie Wajahowski and Kathryn Schifferdecker to e

10: 1 & 2 Kings: What Happens to God's Promises When Everything Falls Apart? Mar 11, 2026 28:02 From Solomon's wisdom to the fall of Jerusalem, 1 and 2 Kings chronicles hundreds of years of Israel's monarchy—and wrestles with one of the Bible's most haunting theological questions: what happens to God's promises when everything falls apart? Cameron Howard, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, joins hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennifer Wojciechowski to unpack the sweep

09: The Surprising Heart of 1 & 2 Samuel: Power, Pride, and the People We Overlook Mar 4, 2026 20:37 In this episode of the Bible in a Year podcast, Jennifer Wojciechowski and Kristofer Phan Coffman welcome theologian, ELCA pastor, and author Cory Driver to unpack the rich and often surprising world of 1 and 2 Samuel. Cory opens up these two books through the lens of the women who drive the narrative — from Hannah, who invents silent prayer at the very opening of the text, to Michal, Tamar, Baths

08: The Book of Ruth: From Famine to Fullness Feb 25, 2026 28:53 The Book of Ruth is a short but extraordinary gem tucked between the chaos of Judges and the rise of King David — and in this episode, we dive deep into why it matters. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston welcome Diane Jacobson, Professor Emerita of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, for a conversation that brings the Book of Ruth to life. Together they explore the book's rich litera

07: Why Does the Book of Judges Get Progressively Worse? Feb 18, 2026 36:19 Explore the Book of Judges with Dr. Dennis Olson, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of the Judges entry in the New Interpreter's Bible Commentary. This episode examines how Judges reveals God's faithfulness through Israel's repeating cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and decline. From powerful leaders like Deborah and Gideon to morally a

06: Wrestling with Violence and Mercy in the Book of Joshua Feb 11, 2026 34:55 The Book of Joshua is one of the most controversial and theologically complex texts in the Bible. In this episode, hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennie Wojciechowski speak with Professor Monica Melanchthon from Pilgrim Theological College in Melbourne, Australia, about this challenging conquest narrative. Professor Melanchthon provides an overview of the Book of Joshua, explaining how it chroni

05: Deuteronomy: Why Moses Said This Story Is Yours Feb 4, 2026 30:09 Join us for an enlightening exploration of Deuteronomy with Dr. Cory Driver, Director of Research at the Center for Life at Miami University. In this episode, we discover how Deuteronomy serves as Moses' final sermon series delivered on the edge of the Promised Land to a new generation who didn't experience the Exodus or stand at Mount Sinai. Dr. Driver reveals the book's powerful message of gener

04: In the Wilderness, Leadership Matters: Why Numbers Is More Than Just a Census Jan 28, 2026 34:38 Discover the Book of Numbers with Dr. Cory Driver as he reveals why this fourth book of the Pentateuch is better understood by its Hebrew title "In the Wilderness." Learn how Numbers tells the story of God and the Israelites learning to live together in the in-between places—after the exodus from Egypt but before entering the promised land. This book of numbers bible study explores the profound me

03: Leviticus: The Most Neglected Book in the Bible—And Why It Matters Jan 21, 2026 36:38 Leviticus is often called the most neglected book in the Bible, and for good reason—its detailed laws about sacrifices, skin diseases, and clean and unclean animals can feel tedious and irrelevant to modern readers. But in this episode of The Bible in a Year podcast, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, reveals the profound message at the heart of Leviticus: "

02: Exodus Jan 14, 2026 29:36 Discover the Book of Exodus with Dr. Cameron Howard, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. In this episode of The Bible in a Year, we explore one of the most foundational stories in Scripture—from slavery in Egypt to liberation at the Red Sea, and from the giving of the Ten Commandments to the building of the Tabernacle. Cameron guides us through this epic narrative, revealing w

01: Genesis Jan 7, 2026 41:34 Join us for an in-depth exploration into the Book of Genesis with guest, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary, as we explore the first book of the Bible. This comprehensive Genesis Bible study covers everything from the creation story and primeval history (chapters 1-11) to the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (chapters 12-50).You'll discover the major

00: Preview - The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary Dec 17, 2025 18:45 “The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary” walks through all 66 books of the Bible in the new year. This new podcast from Enter the Bible will provide insights on how Scripture can shape your life today.Each episode of Bible in a Year will focus on one or two books of the Bible in fun, engaging, and authentic conversations between Luther Seminary faculty and guest Bible scholars who are experts on

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