
The Ten Minute Bible Hour Podcast PLMN010 - SPECIAL MEGA EPISODE About How the Bible Came to Be and Where the Stuff Between the Old and New Testament Fits Into All That
Oct 31, 2025
Dive into the intriguing journey of how the Bible was assembled! Explore the complexities of the Septuagint and the different manuscript traditions behind the Old and New Testaments. Uncover the fascinating historical context of 1 and 2 Maccabees. Learn why ancient Jews distinguished between canonical and extra writings, and how Christian traditions approach the Apocrypha differently. Plus, gain insights into how intertestamental literature fits into the biblical narrative. It's a captivating exploration of scripture and its origins!
46:09
New Testament's Extraordinary Textual Reliability
- The New Testament is exceptionally well-documented with ~30,000 manuscript fragments and near-total agreement among them.
- Matt Whitman argues this makes the New Testament the most reliable ancient text we possess.
Don't Be Intimidated By Scholarly Detail
- Don't be discouraged if the background details feel complex; Matt Whitman encourages listeners to keep engaging.
- He assures beginners they can read and understand the Bible without knowing every academic detail.
Host's Sleep-Triggered Clarification
- Matt Whitman recounts lying in bed thinking about the previous episode's Septuagint confusion.
- That sparked this extended episode to clarify how these intertestamental books fit historically.
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Intro
00:00 • 34sec
Why I Need to Explain the Septuagint Now
00:34 • 4min
How the New Testament Was Written and Preserved
05:03 • 6min
Why the Old Testament’s Provenance Is Trickier
10:56 • 1min
Where 1 and 2 Maccabees Fit Historically
12:24 • 4min
Why the Hebrew Scriptures Were Translated into Greek
16:37 • 2min
What the 'Septuagint' Originally Referred To
18:41 • 1min
There Is No Single Definitive Septuagint
20:10 • 1min
How Greek Scriptures Were Stored and Understood
21:32 • 2min
Why Jews Wrote New Greek 'Bonus' Material
23:32 • 3min
Jewish Communities Knew the Difference Between Canon and Extra Writings
26:04 • 48sec
Why Different Christian Traditions Include Different Apocrypha
26:52 • 38sec
My Personal Canon Approach for This Podcast
27:30 • 1min
How 1 and 2 Maccabees Tell the Same Story Differently
28:36 • 3min
Why Printed 'Septuagint' Editions Differ Today
31:11 • 2min
Major Ancient Codices That Shape the Septuagint Collection
33:11 • 1min
How Modern Bibles Present Intertestamental Writings
34:34 • 1min
Did Jesus and the Apostles Use the Septuagint?
36:01 • 1min
Analogy: Multiple Translations in Use Simultaneously
37:11 • 4min
Why Most Protestant Old Testament Translations Use the Masoretic Text
41:12 • 2min
How Intertestamental Writings Differ from Canonical Scripture
43:12 • 18sec
Why Read 1 Maccabees Before Philemon
43:30 • 52sec
Outro
44:22 • 1min

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AI is seen as a force that can address enormous crises such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and income inequality, while also posing significant challenges to human judgment, divine relationships, and potentially spurring a new phase in human evolution.
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null

Isaiah
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Key themes include God's judgment on Israel's sins, the promise of a future messiah, and the restoration of God's people.
Isaiah's powerful imagery and evocative language have had a profound impact on religious thought and literature for centuries.

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null

Jesus Ben Sirach
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The book emphasizes the importance of wisdom, virtue, and righteous living.
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Gene A. Getz
The Book of Nehemiah continues the story of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, focusing on the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
Nehemiah's leadership and determination in the face of opposition highlight the importance of perseverance and faith.
The book emphasizes the significance of community and the restoration of God's people.
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Ezra (the Scribe)
The Book of Ezra is a historical text in the Old Testament that documents the return of two groups of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, focusing on the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of religious and social life.
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1 Maccabees


John R. Bartlett
This book provides an in-depth analysis of 1 Maccabees, a key text in the Apocrypha.
John R. Bartlett examines the historical and cultural background of the Maccabean period, the political and religious developments, and the literary structure of the text.
The guide is designed for scholars and students interested in understanding the significance of 1 Maccabees within the broader context of Jewish history and biblical studies.

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Henry Adams
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Deuteronomy
introduction and commentary.


Hubert Cunliffe-Jones
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Moses
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Timothy


Apostle Paul
The Book of Philemon is one of the shortest letters written by Paul and is part of the New Testament.
It was written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment, around AD 60-62.
The letter addresses Philemon, a wealthy Christian in Colossae, regarding his runaway slave, Onesimus.
Onesimus had fled to Rome, where he encountered Paul and became a Christian.
Paul writes to Philemon to appeal for Onesimus's return, asking him to treat Onesimus not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
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Acts
None


Peter
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The book highlights the power of the Holy Spirit, the persecution faced by early Christians, and the importance of faith and perseverance.
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1 Maccabees


John R. Bartlett
This book provides an in-depth analysis of 1 Maccabees, a key text in the Apocrypha.
John R. Bartlett examines the historical and cultural background of the Maccabean period, the political and religious developments, and the literary structure of the text.
The guide is designed for scholars and students interested in understanding the significance of 1 Maccabees within the broader context of Jewish history and biblical studies.
Philemon Introduction
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You're the reason we can all do this together!
Music by Jeff Foote
