The Bible (Unmuted)

In many ways, the meaning of Romans 6 is straightforward: If you're a Christian, baptized into the Messiah, then don't go back to the old ways of sinful living. Paul is adamant that, for those who have been united to Christ, the sinful lifestyle must be a thing of the past. This much is clear from the text. But is there more going on beneath the text? Arguably, there is. In this episode, Matt shows how Romans 6 harkens back to the Exodus story. By alluding to this important Jewish story, Paul effectively frames Christian baptism as a new Exodus event and the Christian family as a new Exodus people. This, in turn, reveals how Jesus' death and resurrection culminates the story of God's plan to set free those who have been enslaved by sin's dominion and lead them home to the Promised Land. Simply put: Romans 6 is all about leaving Egypt. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In Romans 5, Paul continues his discussion about justification by describing what results in justification, namely, peace with God. Paul continues his exposé by hearkening readers back to Genesis, where Adam sins. Modern readers are left with pressing questions -- not least about how the sin of Adam impacted humanity as a whole. Does this negate individual responsibility? Following other scholars, Matt offers a perspective that keeps a balance between the communal and individual aspects of human sinfulness. Additionally, with respect to hermeneutics, other questions are just as important: Does Paul argue from plight to solution or from solution to plight? What hermeneutical conclusions result from the answer to that question? Listen to find out! + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

What is theology? And what is the relationship between theology and the Bible? In this episode, Matt chats with Andrew Hollingsworth, a well-versed theologian who has a knack for these sorts of questions. Matt and Andrew discuss the role reason and tradition play in interpreting Scripture, as well as the ins and outs of theological method -- dabbling into hermeneutical and philosophical issues along the way. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

Would the discovery of aliens undermine Christianity? In this short episode, I introduce a new article I wrote for Premier Christianity magazine (link below). Premier Christianity article: https://www.premierchristianity.com/features/why-its-time-for-christians-to-take-ufos-seriously/15974.article Interview with Ross Coulthart: https://youtu.be/ZljDzLn1wso + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In this episode, Matt address two listeners questions about eschatology: (1) What does it mean to "watch" and "wait" for Jesus' future return in the current day? And (2) when the Bible says God will save Christians from "wrath," how does this square with the view that says there will be no rapture? Both questions are fantastic, and the various biblical texts explored in this episode make for intriguing conversations and further discussion as we think about eschatology. Submit your questions to: https://matthewhalsted.com/contact/ + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In this episode, Matthew talks about the benefits of taking weekly communion and following the Christian calendar. He reminds us that Christianity is a communal faith -- one that promotes unity with Christ and each other. There are no "lone ranger" Christians, and rugged individualism is not part of our ancient faith. As a church, therefore, we are called to the communion table, and we are summoned to fix our time and attention around the rhythms of the biblical story -- the center of which is Jesus the Messiah. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In this episode, I interview two of my Eternity Bible College colleagues, Ernesto Duke (President) and Joshua Walker (Vice President/Academic Dean). We talk about a range of things: from the rising cost of biblical education to curriculum to the virtues of thinking deeply and critical about our theological assumptions. In this honest and transparent conversation, we talk about the history, heart, and aims of Eternity Bible College. At the heart of our mission is to provide quality education in a way that is accessible (geographically/financially) to students all across the world. To learn more about Eternity, visit www.eternity.edu + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In this episode, Matt offers an interpretive tour through Romans 4. In this chapter, Paul quotes from Psalm 31 (LXX) and key portions of Genesis. One of the interesting questions about these quotations is the way in which Paul employs them as part of his argument that circumcision (works of Torah) are not required for covenant membership. But how would Paul's contemporaries (his non-Christian Jewish interlocutors) have thought about Paul's argument? Would they be persuaded by his interpretations of Genesis and Psalm 31? We answer these questions and more in this episode, addressing the nature of Paul's interpretive posture with respect to these important Old Testament texts. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

This episode serves as a bridge of sorts between Romans 3 and 4. In the last episode, Matt discussed Paul's idea that God's righteousness is revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. This took listeners back to Genesis 11-12, as well to Isaiah's "Servant Songs" and connected those back to Jesus. In this episode, Matt look further into Paul's understanding of Isaiah's servant -- only this time taking a detour through Philippians 2:5-11, the "Christ Hymn." In this passage, Paul quotes from Isaiah, taking a YHWH text and reconfiguring it around Jesus the Messiah -- what one might call a christological interpretation. This is important to observe, not least in light of the next episode on Romans 4, where Paul reads the Abraham story christologically. In this episode (and the next), listeners get a look at the core of Paul's interpretive approach to the Old Testament. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

In this episode, we dive back into Romans -- this time in chapter 3. This is a pivotal chapter in the book itself. From the start, Paul asks a very important question: If Israel has been unfaithful to her God-given vocation to be a light to the nations, then will God be unfaithful too? Will God backtrack on his promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3)? That's the question of Romans 3. For Paul, the answer is simple: God will be faithful to the covenant promises. But how? That's another key question. And the answer is that God's faithfulness is demonstrated through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. As we dive into these questions, we also take a journey through Isaiah and key sections of Matthew's gospel to show how, exactly, Jesus's faithfulness demonstrates the faithfulness of God. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com