Paul's letters offer a blend of raw emotion and profound theology, revealing a personality that could express both stern rebuke and tender warmth.

In this episode, host Lynn Cohick sits down with Jeaninne Brown, The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations at Bethel Seminary. With over two decades of teaching and scholarship, Brown brings a wealth of insight into Pauline literature.

Together, they dive into the implications of Paul’s teachings in a Greco-Roman setting and unpack the concept of citizenship as portrayed in his letters.

Brown also shares her recent scholarly endeavors, including her forthcoming book Embedded Genres in the New Testament and her deep dive into the Christ poem in Philippians—offering rich theological insights against the backdrop of Roman cultural expectations.

Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on Pauline literature and its relevance today.

This episode highlights the following themes:

The complex interplay between Roman citizenship and the Christian identity in Paul's writings
The role of genre and context in interpreting Paul's letters, particularly the Christ poem in Philippians
Challenges and insights from Brown's career in a male-dominated field

Links from this episode:

Get to know more about Lynn Cohick: https://www.ivpress.com/lynn-h-cohick?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
Get to know more about Jeannine Brown: https://www.ivpress.com/jeannine-k-brown?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
Read The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2nd Edition by Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick and Nijay Gupta: https://www.ivpress.com/dictionary-of-paul-and-his-letters?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
Read Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics by Jeannine Brown: https://amzn.to/4bbt4wS
Read The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2nd Edition by Joel Green, Nicholas Perrin and Jeannine Brown: https://www.ivpress.com/dictionary-of-jesus-and-the-gospels?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
Read Embedded Genres in the New Testament by Jeannine Brown: https://amzn.to/4dAKKUj
Read Philippians: From People to Letter by Peter Oakes: https://amzn.to/4aifFSv

As an Amazon Associate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Alexandra Horn and Travis Albritton

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Production Assistants: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Podcast Art: Brad Joiner

✅ Theme Song: "Trip Don't Fall" by Midnight Daydream

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

March 20, 2025 - David Bateman | Ken Vogel | Alex Isenstadt