The Naked Bible Podcast

The final chapter of the book of Hebrews combines pastoral encouragement for believers under stress and reminders about the superiority of Jesus against what their persecutors were offering.  This episode wraps up our book study by highlighting how the writer blends his final appeal for faithfulness with encouragement for both the laity and the leadership in troublesome times.

Hebrews 12 follows on the heels of the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11. That’s important because heeding that context (and that of the rest of the book of Hebrews) will prevent us from taking certain things in Hebrews 12 out of context. The writer doesn’t follow the “hall of faith” with a treatise on how moral imperfection (sin) will result in keeping someone out of the kingdom of God. And yet many readers lapse into that thinking in this chapter. In this episode we read Hebrews 12 in light of Hebrews 11—and other preceding passages in the book—to reaffirm that salvation is about something done for us, not something we do, and about the obedience of Jesus, not our own obedience.

Many Christians refer to Hebrews 11 as the “hall of faith.” The label is appropriate, but the chapter raises questions. Why did the Old Testament individuals listed in Hebrews 11 “make the cut”? Was there something extraordinary about them? This episode explores the relationship of this famous passage to its far less famous context: Heb 10:35-39. Those in the “hall of faith” are not there because they were shining examples of moral purity, or because they never had doubts about what God was doing, or because they weren’t tested. Rather, they are there because they all held fast to faith—they did not “shrink back” from their believing loyalty in what God had promised. Hebrews 11 illustrates that we must have faith in what God has done for us, not our performance.

The discussion kicks off with light-hearted tales of fantasy football and friendly holiday wishes. As they dive into Hebrews 10, the contrast between the limitations of Old Testament sacrifices and Christ's ultimate sacrifice takes center stage. They explore clever wordplay in the text, revealing deeper meanings. The dangers of a works-based faith versus the grace of the gospel are emphasized, along with God’s unwavering love for believers. The hosts invite listeners to reflect on their faith journeys and the community's role in supporting one another.

There is much discussion online at this time of year as to the presumed pagan origins of Christmas. December 25, we are told, was a date stolen from pagan worship, specifically from the festival of the “Birth of the Unconquered Sun” (Sol Invictus)? Should Christians have Christmas trees? Aren’t trees pagan objects of worship? How should Christians think about, and respond to, such questions? Do these questions have any relationship to the content of Scripture? Listen to find out. Links and sources: William Tighe, “Calculating Christmas: The Story Behind Dec 25” Touchstone Magazine (December, 2003) Thomas J. Talley, The Origins of the Liturgical Year (The Liturgical Press, 1991) Aaron Gleason, “How Christmas Baptizes Norse Mythology into Powerful Christian Archetypes,” The Federalist (December 15, 2017) Origin of the names of the Days Jewish month names from Babylon

The discussion highlights Christ's superiority over the Levitical sacrifices, focusing on his eternal atonement. Insights into the complex Masoretic text and its connection to the mercy seat reveal its significance during the Day of Atonement. The tabernacle's furnishings and their roles in worship are explored, along with the historical influence of the Samaritan Pentateuch on Hebrews. The assurance of salvation for believers is emphasized, culminating in a tantalizing preview of controversies surrounding Christmas.

The discussion highlights how Jesus's priesthood surpasses that of the old covenant, emphasizing His eternal sacrifice. Insights into the New Covenant reveal its transformative power through the Holy Spirit. The hosts tackle the challenges of applying Torah practices today while warning against prioritizing strict adherence over the core gospel message. They also explore the dualism between material and ideal forms in Hebrews' context. Engaging insights and audience feedback enrich this theological journey.

Our final set of interviews at SBL includes discussions with Tim Mackie from The Bible Project, and we learn about opportunities for biblical studies education in the UK from Dr. Matthew Lynch, a scholar in the UK familiar with the podcast and Mike’s work.

In our second set of interviews from SBL in Boston, we talk with Ben Giffone about how to earn an advanced degree without going into debt, teaching overseas, and his own interest in Unseen Realm content and Israelite religion. We also chat with John Schwandt, director of Mobile Education for Logos Bible Software (Faithlife). John and Mike talk about the unique benefits of Mobile Ed courses and how they are a great tool for anyone interested in learning Scripture and theology from some of the country’s best professors — all without uprooting your life and incurring debt.

Mike and Trey once again traveled to Boston for the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). In this first set of conference interviews include getting caught up with David Burnett, now in his first semester of doctoral work at Marquette University. We also chat with Marina Westerdahl, a former student of Mike’s at Knox Seminary about to begin doctoral work in Old Testament. Marina’s research interests involve the divine council. Lastly, we visit with Sam Lamerson, professor of New Testament at Knox Seminary and fellow traveler with Mike in helping Christians think well about the paranormal.