The Bible (Unmuted)
Hosted by author and professor Matthew Halsted, this podcast helps listeners understand the Bible in its ancient cultural and literary context. Episodes explore Scripture, theology, interpretation, and religion, aiming to provide both deep insight and practical application from a Christian worldview. The format includes standalone episodes as well as longer series, often featuring guest authors and speakers who offer their expertise on particular topics.
Episodes
#187: Malachi, Part 4
One aim of Malachi's prophecy is to raise awareness about the corruption of the priesthood. This is seen clearly in Mal. 2:1-9. The priestly vocation, as outlined in Deuteronomy 18 and Numbers 3, is to be taken seriously. But the priests of Malachi's era were very negligent. And this specific problem raises other problems for Israel as a covenant community: If Israel herself is to be a pri
#186: The Centurion’s Faith
In this episode, Matt discusses a passage from Matthew 8, where a centurion comes to Jesus and exhibits exemplar faith. What can we learn from the Centurion’s faith? And what can we learn about faith as being more than just a cognitive exercise, but also a humble posture toward God and a bold stance in the world?+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies,
#185: Don't Worry
In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus encourages his followers to pursue first the Kingdom of God and not to worry about temporal things. In doing so, Jesus challenges various assumptions that plague so much of modern culture -- not least, the assumption that ultimate meaning can be found in material possessions. But Jesus pushes back on this, reminding his listeners that people are valuable for who they are,
#184: Malachi, Part 3
This episode takes a deep dive into Mal. 1:6-14, where the priesthood is rebuked for not giving God the honor due his name. On the surface, this passage says alot, especially in terms of individual, practical/devotional application. But Matt takes listeners behind the text, showing how the larger story of Israel, the calling of Abraham in particular, factors into the equation as well. In short, Ma
#183: Malachi, Part 2
In this episode, Matt takes a look at a strange passage: Malachi 1:2-5. It is here where the text says God loves Jacob but hates Esau. Some interpret this as a statement about divine election, that is, about how God pre-assigns eternal life and eternal reprobation to certain individuals. Is this what Malachi is teaching? The answer is clear: No, there's a much better way to interpret this text
#182: Malachi, Part 1
The book of Malachi is part of the so-called "minor prophets" of the Hebrew Bible. And while it's true these books tend to be shorter than other prophetic texts (such as Isaiah), they nonetheless pack a major punch. Malachi is no exception to the rule. In this first installment of an extended series through Malachi, we look at some ways in which the book gives us a glimpse into the b
#181: An Interview with Seth Hart: Evolution, Teleology, & Theology, Part 2
In this two-part series, Matt talks with Seth Hart (PhD, Durham University) about his research on evolution and teleology. This discussion covers a lot of ground, so you’ll want to take notes! With a background in science, biblical studies, and theology, Hart offers a wealth of expertise on this fascinating topic.+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies,
#180: An Interview with Seth Hart: Evolution, Teleology, & Theology, Part 1
In this two-part series, Matt talks with Seth Hart (PhD, Durham University) about his research on evolution and teleology. This discussion covers a lot of ground, so you’ll want to take notes! With a background in science, biblical studies, and theology, Hart offers a wealth of expertise on this fascinating topic.+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies,
#179: An Interview with Ian Paul - Interpreting Revelation, Part 2
In this second installment, Dr. Ian Paul addresses questions about the 144,000, the church and Israel, the socio-political implications of Revelation, and how the church is depicted as the Bride of Christ. Ian's website: https://www.psephizo.comIan's commentary on Revelation: Revelation: An Introduction And Commentary+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness
#178: An Interview with Ian Paul - Interpreting Revelation, Part 1
Dr. Ian Paul joins the podcast in a two-part interview that covers key questions about how to understand the enigmatic book of Revelation. In part 1, Ian discusses how understanding ancient robotics can help modern readers interpret the text of Revelation, why the "strangeness" of this text is an important feature, and what sort of "vision" might have led John of Patmos to reco
#177: God, Creation, and the Wisdom of Solomon 11:21 - 12:1
Matt discusses a passage from the Wisdom of Solomon (an apocryphal/deuterocanonical text) that has some very interesting things to say with respect to: (a) God's power, (b) God's mercy/love, and (c) the way God relates to his creation. In Wisdom 12:1, the text says that God is "in" his creation. How should we understand this? To guide us in our thinking, we take a look at St. Tho
#176: What Kind of Book is the Bible?
When it comes to interpreting the Bible, it’s important to keep in mind that we all bring prejudgments to the text. Some prejudgments are helpful; others are not. In this episode, Matt offers brief reflections on this and how remembering our interpretive bias can help us exegete the biblical text faithfully and accurately.+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Tes
#175: What about Near-death Experiences (NDEs)? An Interview with Joshua Farris, Part 2
Joshua Farris joins Matt for yet another discussion -- this time about near-death experiences (NDEs). In the previous episode, Farris discussed things having to do with the human soul. In this episode, he brings into that conversation NDEs. Are NDEs evidence that humans are ensouled creatures? What should we think about these unusual experiences that people sometimes report? Dr. Farris is the edit
#174: What is the Soul? An Interview with Joshua Farris, Part 1
What, exactly, is the soul? Is the soul different from the body? Why is having a good answer to these questions important? In this episode, Matt is joined by Dr. Joshua Farris to talk about the human soul, what it is, and why it matters. Dr. Farris is the editor and author of several books, including: The Creation of Self: A Case for the Soul and God, Souls and Consciousness: Deconditioning the Mi
#173: Interview with Joel Muddamalle about The Unseen Battle
Matt chat with Dr. Joel Muddamalle about his latest book, The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers. Their conversation centers around topics such as spiritual warfare, demonization, physical healing, and cessationism. It covers a lot of ground, so buckle up!About Joel: https://www.muddamalle.com/Joel’s book: The Unseen Battle+++Pre-order
#172: An Interview with Louis Markos on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien - Part 2 of 2
Part 2 of 2In this two-part series, Matt talks with Dr. Louis Markos about C. S. Lewis, his conversion to Christianity, and how his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, influenced his decision to become a believer in Christ. By way of conversation with Tolkien, Lewis came to the conclusion that Christianity was myth that was true. This realization helped Lewis not only make sense of the stories of the past (an
#171: An Interview with Louis Markos on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien - Part 1 of 2
Part 1 of 2In this two part series, Matt talks with Dr. Louis Markos about C. S. Lewis, his conversion to Christianity, and how his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, influenced his decision to become a believer in Christ. By way of conversation with Tolkien, Lewis came to the conclusion that Christianity was myth that was true. This realization helped Lewis not only make sense of the stories of the past (an
#170: An Interview with Jack Beck on Biblical Geography
Everybody lives in a place -- in a specific physical, geographical context. And that geography informs and influences the way we live and the way we think. Similarly, the biblical stories are embedded within geographical places that give those stories meaning and significance. In this interview, Jack Beck comes back on the podcast for a second time to talk about his latest book, The Holy Land Work
#169: An Interview with Leslie Baynes — On C. S. Lewis and Scripture
Matthew talks with biblical scholar, Dr. Leslie Baynes—Professor of Religious Studies at Missouri State University—about her new book on C.S. Lewis. In this episode, Dr. Baynes discusses specifically Lewis’ views on Scripture, as well as his use and interpretation of biblical texts in both his fiction and his non-fiction. Dr. Baynes’ website: www.lesliebaynes.comLink to book: Between Interpretatio
#168: What is Pentecost all about?
In Acts 2, we read about Pentecost, which is the event when the Holy Spirit descended upon the church. To understand the full significance of this event, Matt takes listeners back to the creation narratives of Genesis. In doing so, he shows how Pentecost relates to the Bible's teaching on protology and eschatology.+++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies
#167: What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?
In John 15, Jesus tells his disciples to abide in him. But what exactly does Jesus mean by "abide"? And how does he expect his disciples to do that? How does abiding in Christ relate to faith and works? In this episode, Matthew takes listeners through these questions, explaining in practical terms this well known passage. +++Pre-order Matt’s newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyew
#166: Soteriology, Baptism, and the Defeat of the Spiritual Powers
Many Christians think Jesus’ death only brought about the forgiveness of human sins. But Scripture tells us that there’s more to the story. Christ’s death was also the instrument by which the dark, spiritual powers were defeated. And according to the writings of Peter and Paul, our baptism allows us to participate in the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection. In particular, Peter sees a conne
#165: Scripture and Revelation in Dialogue
In Acts 17, Paul argues from the Jewish Scriptures to make the case for his belief that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and be resurrected. What texts might he have used to make his case? And given that Paul himself became a believer in Jesus due to his experience on the Damascus road, what can we say about the way he (and other early Christians) understood the relationship between the Jewish text
#164: Jesus, Ezekiel’s Shepherd, and the Resurrection of Israel
In John’s Gospel, Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd,” thus contrasting himself with the corrupt religious leaders of his day. It may appear to be a simple polemic, but in fact it is that and so much more. By identifying himself as the shepherd, Jesus recalls the prophecies of Ezekiel, which looks forward to the day when Israel’s God will redeem his people and raise up a Shepherd-King from Dav
#163: The Resurrection and Christian Ethics
During Eastertide, Matt takes listeners through a series of reflections on the resurrection of Christ. In this episode, the focus is on 1 Peter 1, specifically vv. 3-25. Here we get a glimpse into how early Christians thought of Jesus’ resurrection, specifically how it relates to the concept of the new birth and ethics. This passage reveals how the resurrection is not just a decisive past event or
#162: The Individual and Communal Aspects of Faith (Pistis)
The concept of "faith" (Greek: pistis) is often understood by Christians as being nothing more than just individual belief -- such as, say, personal belief in God. But "faith" can't be reduced to just the individual aspect. Faith, for instance, is also depicted in the New Testament as a communal reality. But the early Christians weren't doing anything novel. To the cont
#161: Interview with John Goldingay
John Goldingay (PhD, University of Nottingham) joins The Bible (Unmuted) to chat about two important Old Testament prophetic books: Daniel and Ezekiel. Both texts are especially important for students of the New Testament to learn because they provide an immense amount of content that is utilized by the early Christian movement. This episode covers a lot of ground and will leave listeners/viewers
#160: Interview with Ellie Paley - the Book of Job, Part 2
Part 2 of 2Ellie Paley (PhD, Cambridge University) has spent a lot of time in the book of Job -- she even memorized the entire book in Hebrew! In this two-part discussion, Dr. Paley walks listeners carefully through this intriguing Old Testament text, addressing important questions and highlighting key aspects of its fascinating narrative. Visit Dr. Paley's blog: https://elliemarie.substack.c
#159: Interview with Ellie Paley - The Book of Job, Part 1
Part 1 of 2Ellie Paley (PhD, Cambridge University) has spent a lot of time in the book of Job -- she even memorized the entire book in Hebrew! In this two-part discussion, Dr. Paley walks listeners carefully through this intriguing Old Testament text, addressing important questions and highlighting key aspects of its fascinating narrative. Visit Dr. Paley's blog: https://elliemarie.substack.co
#158: Interview with Ingrid Faro: Redeeming Eden, Part 2 of 2
In Part 2 of this discussion, Matt chats with Dr. Ingrid Faro about her book Redeeming Eden. She shares with listeners the ways in which women advance Scripture's narrative by furthering the story of God's plan of redemption. About Dr. Faro: Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Interim President of Northern Seminary and Professor of Old Testament and Coordinator of the MA in Old Testament–Jerusalem
#157: Interview with Ingrid Faro: Redeeming Eden, Part 1 of 2
Matt chats with Dr. Ingrid Faro about the problem of evil and suffering. Ingrid share with readers about not just the nature of evil, but how we can navigate through a world that finds itself caught up in it. Like the prophets, we must responsibly confront the evils of our own day as divine image-bearers. About Dr. Faro: Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Interim President of Northern Seminary and Profess
#156: On Brains, Feelings, & the Christian Faith
What does it mean to seek God, and what does it mean to desire God? What role do our emotions play in seeking and desiring God? Can we still desire God even if we feel nothing? In this episode, Matt addresses these and other questions. In the Western Christian world, there’s a tendency to center one’s relationship with God around emotion and feelings. Some Christians turn Christianity into nothing
#155: An Interview with Thorsten Moritz
Matt welcomes to the show his Doktorvater, Thorsten Moritz, to talk about all things hermeneutics. This million-dollar word “hermeneutics” is often associated with interpreting the Bible, but it can’t be reduced down to just that. Hermeneutics actually has to do with the broader human experience itself. This insight serves as the basis for Matt and Thorsten’s discussion, which delves into a range
#154: Musings on Prayer, Part 3
Matt takes listeners through the text of Jeremiah 20, which records the prophet's prayer of dismay and discouragement. In his turmoil, Jeremiah questions God's character as he comes to term with his calling and his trials. Arguably, this text offers important insights about how prayer can become an avenue for experiencing God in the hard times, especially through seasons of doubt.+++Suppor
#153: Musings on Prayer, Part 2
Why are answers to prayers sometimes delayed? Matt considers several possible reasons. But there's one possibility that, perhaps, many Christians may not have ever considered: What if answers to our prayers are delayed because angels are fighting? Mentioned in this episode: Frank Viola's, Where's God?+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon:
#152: Musings on Prayer, Part 1
In Part 1 of this series on prayer, Matthew addresses an important question: Why does God tell us to pray when he already knows what we need before we pray? +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget
#151: An Interview with Carmen Imes
Matthew chats with Dr. Carmen Imes about her new book, Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters. In this discussion, Carmen shares how the church can embody its mission effectively and faithfully in the world. As an Old Testament scholar, she offers an important perspective on this subject. Drawing from insights taken from the Hebrew Bible, Carmen outlines a vision of the church tha
#150: Jesus, Faith, and the Rejects (Musings on Luke 16-19)
There's something interesting going on in Luke 16-19. It's a large swath off Scripture, full of seemingly distinct and self-contained events and parables. And yet, they are not completely distinct. A careful reading, actually, shows how every segment fits together in a beautiful whole. And within this narrative are important truths about how God treasures the very people who earthly societ
#149: Revelation, Part 43 (Rev. 22:6-21)
On this final episode in the Revelation series, Matt shows listeners how the Apocalypse comes to a close and, at the same time, summon its readers back to its pages. Matt also highlights how John's personal experience with the angel in vv. 8-9 captures the entire message of Revelation as a whole. Other questions are addressed, such as: what is meant by "soon" in the phrase "the
#148: Revelation, Part 42 (Rev. 22:1-5)
The opening verses of Revelation 22 are jam-packed with allusions back to important Old Testament imagery -- from Genesis's garden of Eden to Ezekiel's vision of the temple to Zechariah's vision of the eschaton. There are also important elements embedded within Rev. 22 that describe, in remarkable ways, the restoration of all things and the sovereignty of Jesus the messiah.+++Support The Bible (Un
#147: Revelation, Part 41 (Rev. 21:9-27)
In the last part of chapter 21, John sees a vision of a city -- the New Jerusalem -- coming out of heaven. The city is called the Lamb's wife, and it is presented as a symbolic portrait of the church. The city's architecture is described carefully, the details of which point back to key texts from the Old Testament. How do these scriptural allusions and echoes advance hope for the first-ce
#146 - REPLAY: Interview with Dale C. Allison - Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age
This interview is a replay of EP#2 . To date, it is the most-listened-to episode of the podcast. ___ In an age dominated by secularism and philosophical naturalism, the idea that people have supernatural experiences is often considered to be a relic of a bygone era. And yet, credible people still report such experiences. That's the subject of this episode, which features an interview with Dale C.
#145: Interview with Dru Johnson -- Understanding Biblical Law
Matthew welcomes Dru Johnson on the show to talk about his newest book, Understanding Biblical Law: Skills for Thinking With and Through Torah (link below). If you've ever felt lost as you've read through the first five books of the Old Testament -- especially Leviticus! -- then you'll enjoy this conversation. Dru offers listeners helpful guidelines for how to think through (and deligh
#144: Revelation, Part 40 (Rev. 21:1-8)
In Revelation 21, John sees the new heaven and earth, a glimpse of that future era when everything will one day be renewed. He also sees the holy city -- the New Jerusalem -- descending from heaven as an adorned bride coming to her bridegroom. Why is the marriage metaphor employed as part of the larger eschatological vision? How does this relate to the preceding narrative about Roman domination? A
#143: Revelation, Part 39 (Rev. 20:7-15)
In Revelation 20:7-10, Satan is released from his prison and goes out to deceive the nations to rally them for war against the people of God. This is similar to other passages in Revelation, and so the question becomes: What's the relationship? Is this an instance of recapitulation, or does Revelation present yet another scene that speaks of different events? The text also speaks of "Gog
#142: Revelation, Part 38 (Rev. 20:4-6)
Revelation 20:4-6 is the subject of much debate and poses several interpretive challenges -- from translation questions to theological issues, it's all here. Who, for example, does John see on the thrones? What is meant by "the first resurrection"? How many resurrections are associated with the millennial reign of Christ? +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon:
#141: Revelation, Part 37 (Rev. 20:1-3)
There is no consensus on how to interpret Revelation 20, specifically the verses that speak about the binding of Satan and the 1,000-year reign of Christ. In this episode, Matthew introduces listeners to the ins and outs of that debate, outlining along the way the interpretive questions readers ought to be asking. To shed light on Revelation 20, Matthew takes listeners to the Gospels, as well as t
#140: Revelation, Part 36 (Rev. 19:17-21)
This episode examines the last part of Revelation 19. Here the beast gathers the nations for battle against the Rider on the white horse (i.e., Jesus) and his army. What can we learn about the way in which Jesus conquers the beast? And how are we to understand this passage with respect to the so-called "end times"? Does Revelation teach that the beast (i.e., Rome) will be around when Jes
#139: Revelation, Part 35 (Rev. 19:11-16)
Matt walks listeners through Revelation 19:11-16, which describes a Rider on a White Horse -- Jesus, the Messiah. A lot of questions are raised (and answered) along the way, such as: How does this passage help us understand the way Jesus conquers evil? How does it relate to other texts in Revelation? And how does this passage help us understand the structure of the book as a whole? And what can we
#138: Revelation, Part 34 (Rev. 19:1-10)
Revelation 19 begins with a hymn to God for his commitment to justice and his bringing an end to the destructive power of Babylon (i.e., Rome) who has "corrupted the earth." But why does the text describe ancient Rome as an agent of corruption--specifically of the earth? Listen to find out!+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon:
#137: An Interview with Craig and Médine Keener
Matt and Tosha chat with Craig and Médine Keener about their book Impossible Love: The True Story of an African Civil War, Miracles and Hope against All Odds (link below). This book tells this story of how they met, the trials and difficulties they faced, as well as the miracles they encountered along the way. In the course of the episode, important questions about spiritual gifts are discussed. I
#136: An Interview with Fr. Gerald McDermott, Part 2
Part 2 of 2In part 2 of this extended conversation with Fr. Gerald McDermott, the discussion centers around the sacraments, purgatory, the intermediate state, and prayers for the dead. Why are the sacraments important? Is the Eucharist just a time of remembrance -- a memorial and nothing else? Is there biblical evidence for purgatory? What about prayers for the dead? At the end of the conversation
#135: An Interview with Fr. Gerald McDermott, Part 1
Part 1 of 2Fr. Gerald McDermott's new book, Deep Anglicanism: A Brief Guide, offers readers an insightful introduction to the Anglican tradition. In part 1 of this extended conversation, Fr. Gerald introduces listeners to Anglican belief and practice, addressing topics such as Sola Scriptura, tradition, hermeneutics, apostolic succession, the priesthood, and the Jewish roots of ordination. Get a c
#134: An Interview with Matthew Bates - Part 2
Part 2In this 2-part series, Joshua Sherman and Matthew Halsted chat with Matthew Bates about his new book, Beyond the Salvation Wars: Why Both Protestants and Catholics Must Reimagine How We Are Saved. The book has garnered a lot of attention since it was published earlier this year (2025). In this extended conversation, Bates fields questions from Sherman and Halsted, continuing the dialogue abo
#133: An Interview with Matthew Bates - Part 1
In this 2-part series, Joshua Sherman and Matthew Halsted chat with Matthew Bates about his new book, Beyond the Salvation Wars: Why Both Protestants and Catholics Must Reimagine How We Are Saved. The book has garnered a lot of attention since it was published earlier this year (2025). In this extended conversation, Bates fields questions from Sherman and Halsted, continuing the dialogue about all
#132: Revelation, Part 33 (Rev. 18:14-24)
In the first half of the episode, Matt takes listeners through Revelation 18:14-24, which is embedded with multiple allusions to the Old Testament. The OT imagery of divine judgment that John employs is especially striking here. In the second half, Matt interacts with Jason Staples' recent article (link below), which argues that "Babylon the Great" is not a reference to Rome but, rat
#131: Revelation, Part 32 (Rev. 18:1-13)
In this episode, Matt explores the various Old Testament texts embedded within Revelation 18:1-3. Why would John allude to them, and what do these allusions teach us about how he interprets the OT? +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's blog:
#130: Scripture, Story, and... the Shire
Matt and Tosha take a listener's question about Jesus and the story of Israel -- at which point they also discuss the importance of Hobbits.+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com
#129: How Does God Act in the World? An Interview with David Wilkinson
Matt chats with Prof. David Wilkinson about his new book How Does God Act in the World? Science, Miracle, and Mission. This episode centers around a discussion regarding the various models of the universe, such as: Newtonian physics, quantum theory, etc. But how does science -- specifically, physics -- relate to biblical hermeneutics and theology? That's a good questions, and the answer is: More t
#128: Faith, Doubt, and Prayer: Musings on Jeremiah 20
Jeremiah 20 is one of the most interesting passages in Scripture. It records a prayer from the prophet Jeremiah who, having been physically beaten by the priest Pashur and jailed, subsequently utters a very honest prayer to God that is full of doubt and faith. It's a fascinating text worthy of reflection because it nudges us to rethink some of our own misconceptions about prayer, as well as the re
#127: Resurrection, Joy, and Language: An Interview with Daniel Mikkelsen, Part 2
Part 2 of 2Matt chats with Daniel Mikkelsen (PhD cand., University of Edinburgh) about his research on Christ's resurrection. They focus specifically on 1 Corinthians 15. Daniel also shares about overcoming challenges with dyslexia as a Bible scholar, which requires a lot of reading and writing. Matt and Daniel also discuss the benefits of learning Greek and demonstrate with a few examples of
#126: Resurrection, Joy, and Language: An Interview with Daniel Mikkelsen, Part 1
Part 1 of 2Matt chats with Daniel Mikkelsen (PhD cand., University of Edinburgh) about his research on Christ's resurrection. They focus specifically on 1 Corinthians 15. Daniel also shares about overcoming challenges with dyslexia as a Bible scholar, which requires a lot of reading and writing. Matt and Daniel also discuss the benefits of learning Greek and demonstrate with a few examples of how
#125: A Conference on 1 Enoch: A Discussion with Mike Chu
Matt chats with Mike Chu, the academic director of Awakening School of Theology, about an upcoming conference they are hosting on 1 Enoch. Website: https://awkng.com+++Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's blog: matthewhals
#124: The Disciple Dojo: An Interview with JM Smith, Part 2
Part 2 of 2James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless, reformed movement" to dispensationalism to mideas
#123: The Disciple Dojo: An Interview with JM Smith, Part 1
Part 1 of 2James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless, reformed movement" to dispensationalism to mideas
#122: Hermeneutics and Geography: An Interview with Dr. John Beck
In this episode, Matt chats with Dr. John ("Jack") Beck. Jack has spent much of his career helping people to see the importance of biblical geography and how becoming familiar with it can help readers better understand the depths of meaning of the biblical text. What is significant, for example, about the physical location of Jesus' baptism at the Jordan River? Where did Jesus give his famous "Ser
#121: Revelation, Part 31 (Rev. 17:9-18)
In this section, Revelation offers an interpretation of the beast's 7 heads and 10 horns. These symbols prove to be highly important and easily discernible -- but they are only discernible when modern readers interpret them in light of an important text in Daniel and when it is remembered how apocalyptic imagery works in the first place (such as in the case of the number "7"). Modern readers even
#120: It's all about the ending
Here's a question we need to ask: How do the endings (plural!) of the Old Testament direct and guide our reading of the New Testament, specifically the Gospels? Listen to find out...+++Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's blog: matthewh
#119: Revelation, Part 30 (Rev. 17:1-8)
Who is the great prostitute in Revelation 17? And why does she have the name "Babylon" written across her forehead? And, moreover, what is the significance of John seeing her in the "wilderness"? A variety of Old Testament passages and stories -- and even non-canonical texts such as the Sibylline Oracles -- can help modern readers understand the important symbolism of this pass
#118: Revelation, Part 29 (Rev. 16:8-21)
Matt continues his discussion through Revelation 16 -- the seven bowls of judgment. This passage continues to allude to key sections of the Exodus narrative, specifically the plagues. Matt also draws attention to the way the bowls relate to the seals and trumpets, noting especially the way Revelation depicts a cosmos that is deteriorating. He also chats about various views regarding the "Arma
#117: Revelation, Part 28 (Rev. 16:1-7)
In Revelation 16, readers encounter a third cycle of seven judgments -- the "seven bowls." In this episode, Matt looks at the first three bowls and observes similarities with the previous cycle of judgments (the seven trumpets). He also points out the ways in which the bowls are conceptually linked back to the the Egyptian plagues of Exodus and why its important to make this connection for underst
#116: Did God forsake Jesus on the cross?
When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Does this mean that God actually forsook Jesus? Many people think so. But in this episode, Matt offers some reasons why that's not the case at all. +++Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted
#115: Revelation, Part 27 - Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles?
Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles -- e.g., seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls? How might the Old Testament help us to understand the logic of Revelation's structure in this regard? And what other biblical prophet depicted divine judgment along the lines of a sevenfold schema?+++Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's
#114: Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: An Interview with Andrew Perrin
Matt chats with Andrew Perrin (PhD, McMaster University) about all things Dead Sea Scrolls. Andrew has written a new book on the subject called Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls. On this episode, Andrew talks about what the Scrolls are, what they contain, and why they are important. If you are serious student of the Bible, then you will find this conversation rele
#113: Q&A - The Dead Sea Scrolls, Studying the Bible in Light of Non-canonical Texts, and More...
Matt takes listener questions, which opens up quite a bit of discussion on some fun (and important) topics: Should the church utilize non-canonical texts (such as the Dead Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, etc) for teaching the Bible? How can the Dead Sea Scrolls be useful for understanding the New Testament? Is the academic study of the Bible threatening to faith and personal devotion? How do the Seals, T
#112: Saving Face: An Interview with Aimee Byrd
Aimee Byrd joins us once again to chat about her latest book, Saving Face: Finding My Self, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church. She offers careful reflections on navigating disillusionment and pain that, sadly, sometimes comes through the church. Aimee's relentless commitment to pursuing the saving face of Jesus Christ is absolutely contagious, and she offers a lot of food for thought f
#111: Women in Academia & John the Baptist: An Interview with Amber Dillon, Part 2
Part 2 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In the previous episode (part 1/Ep #110), we kicked things off by discussing what goes into writing a dissertat
#110: Women in Academia & John the Baptist: An Interview with Amber Dillon, Part 1
Part 1 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In this episode (part 1), we kick things off by discussing what goes into writing a dissertation and the necess
#109: Q&A - Is it ever okay to lie?
Is it ever okay to lie? That's the question Matt takes up on the show today. Interestingly, this question is not merely an ethical one but also has bearing upon larger issues related to theology, anthropology, and hermeneutics. Resources mentioned on the show: (1) David Bentley Hart,You Are Gods: On Nature and Supernature // see chapter 4: Pia Fraus: Our Words and God's Truth(2) Craig G. B
#108: Revelation, Part 26 (Rev 15)
Revelation 15 is a remarkable passage, for it offers a vision of a christologized exodus. This is a powerful illustration of the ways in which the New Testament employs Old Testament material and bridges the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the story of Israel -- especially the Exodus story. There are a number of insights this conceptual bridging affords -- not least in how it illuminates the way the
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