The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary
This podcast offers a weekly journey through all 66 books of the Bible, helping listeners explore Scripture and understand its relevance for modern life. Each episode is designed to make the Bible accessible and engaging, with insights from Luther Seminary. It emphasizes how biblical themes shape faith and daily living.
Episodes
The Love Letter Hiding in Your Bible
In this episode of The Bible in a Year, Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson returns to explore the book of Ephesians. She calls it an album of covers of the Apostle Paul’s greatest hits. Sarah takes on the authorship question directly. Who wrote Ephesians, and was it even sent to Ephesus? She explains why ancient writers often wrote in a beloved teacher’s name. Then she gives a quick Ephesians summary
Why Is Paul So Mad in Galatians?
Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson joins Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston to unpack Paul's fiery letter to the Galatians and why so much is at stake.Galatians is not the first smackdown between Judaism and Christianity. It's a detonation of every human effort to get right with God. Sarah walks through the big tensions in Galatians: flesh and spirit, freedom and slavery, faith and wor
2 Corinthians: The Pathos and Consolations of the Messiah
The Book of 2 Corinthians can feel disorganized and emotionally jarring, but Dr. Lois E. Malcolm argues it may be the letter our era needs most. Joining hosts Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman and Dr. Jennie Wojciechowski, Malcolm explores the book's two-part structure: Paul's proclamation of the gospel through his suffering body, and the holiness that gospel creates in our relationships, wealth, and pow
1 Corinthians: What Holds a Divided Church Together?
If you want to see someone else's church coming apart at the seams, read 1 Corinthians. In this episode of The Bible in a Year, Rev. Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore joins Rev. Katie Langston and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker to explore Paul's letter to a small urban congregation in Corinth. The church was likely no bigger than a courtyard gathering. Yet its members were deeply divided by factions, social class
What Romans Says About Being Made Right with God
In this episode of The Bible in a Year, hosts Katie Langston and Kathryn Schifferdecker sit down with Dr. Jenny Pietz, Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, to explore justification by faith in Romans. Dr. Pietz walks through the letter's historical context, its thesis in Romans 1:16-17, and how Paul's core message of the gospel unites Jews and Gentiles as one body in Christ. Th
Conquest or Journey? Rethinking the Book of Acts
This episode offers a Book of Acts summary and overview featuring Dr. F. Scott Spencer, New Testament general editor for the SBL Study Bible. Hosts Jennie Wojciechowski and Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker welcome Dr. Spencer to discuss the structure, genre, and major themes of Acts. He traces the gospel's expansion from Jerusalem to Rome using the geographic outline in Acts 1:8, and describes the book
Why 'Believe' Is a Verb, Not a Noun in the Gospel of John
In this episode, we explore an overview of the Gospel of John with Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis, the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary. She walks us through the book's clear structure, from the prologue in John 1 to the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory. Along the way, she highlights the seven signs, the farewell discourse, and the resurrection appearances. Most impor
Why Does Luke's Gospel Skip 30 Years of Jesus's Life?
This episode offers a Luke Bible overview for anyone wanting a clear introduction to this distinctive Gospel. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Jennie Wojciechowski welcome Dr. Matthew Skinner, New Testament professor at Luther Seminary, to unpack what makes Luke unique among the four Gospels. Dr. Skinner walks through Luke's account of Jesus's birth and ascension, his focus on the poor and marginali
The Gospel of Mark: Mystery, Humor, and the Secret Jesus Kept
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?
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
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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"
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
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
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
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
"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.
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?
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
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?
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
