John Nelson
New Testament scholar who earned a PhD in New Testament and Christian Origins and writes the Substack 'Behind the Gospels'; author of an academic book on Jesus's physical appearance and a frequent commentator on biblical studies.
Best podcasts with John Nelson
Ranked by the Snipd community
164 snips
Dec 20, 2025 • 1h 19min
#135 Christmas Isn't What You Think - John Nelson
John Nelson, a New Testament scholar and author of 'Behind the Gospels', dives into the history and misconceptions surrounding the Christmas story. He challenges the idea that Jesus was born on December 25 and explores the historical accuracy of the birth narratives. Nelson discusses the virgin birth and why it mattered in ancient times, alongside intriguing theories about the Magi and the infamous star of Bethlehem. He even tackles the roots of Christmas trees and their ties to pagan traditions, making biblical scholarship accessible and engaging.
Jun 16, 2024 • 1h 5min
#72 John Nelson - What Did Jesus Really Look Like?
John Nelson, a PhD holder in Biblical Studies, discusses the lack of detailed physical descriptions of Jesus in the Gospels. The podcast explores the intentional absence of Jesus' physical description to emphasize his character and promote imitation. It also delves into diverse artistic renditions of Jesus and Mary and the symbolism of Jesus' clothing in the Gospels.
