
The Bible in Context
Our goal is to explore the narratives of the Bible in light of their cultural and literary context. As we study the Bible, we want to get inside the mind of the author(s) to understand the intended meaning of scripture and how scripture informs our hope in Jesus.
Latest episodes

Jan 23, 2025 • 16min
Ep 71: Joseph’s Exile and Further Exile Gen 39
in Genesis 37, Joseph rose to power within his family. But then he was stripped of his robes, his robes were used to lie to his father, and he was sent into exile. Joseph will face a test in Genesis 39 before these elements play on repeat. Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Jan 16, 2025 • 22min
Ep 70: The Mixed Multitude, the Exodus, and Israel’s Deliverance with Aaron Sherwood
Aaron Sherwood’s doctoral work traces the pattern of the mixed multitude throughout the Hebrew Bible and Paul’s theology. We discuss the significance of this these and its relationship to the exodus pattern that shapes our final hope in Jesus. Aaron dissertation is published as “Paul and The Restoration of Humanity in Light of Ancient Jewish Traditions”.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Jan 9, 2025 • 42min
Ep 69: Hardening and the Meaning of Romans with Aaron Sherwood Part 2
In this episode, Aaron Sherwood walks us through the main argument of Romans 9 in its historical, literary, and Old Testament context. The perspective he brings gives particularly helpful insight into the topic of hardening. Aaron has written on Paul’s use of the Old Testament in Romans 9 and its implications for its argument (The Word of God Has Not Failed) and a commentary on Romans.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Jan 2, 2025 • 49min
Ep 68: Hardening and the Meaning of Romans with Aaron Sherwood Part 1
In this episode, Aaron Sherwood walks us through the main argument of Romans 9 in its historical, literary, and Old Testament context. The perspective he brings gives particularly helpful insight into the topic of hardening. Aaron has written on Paul’s use of the Old Testament in Romans 9 and its implications for its argument (The Word of God Has Not Failed) and a commentary on Romans.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Dec 26, 2024 • 34min
Ep 67: Refinement and Foreshadowing Gen 38
The story of Judah and Tamar is often thought to be out of place in the middle of the Joseph story. However, this scene of the Genesis narrative sets up the plot for the rest of Joseph’s story while also foreshadowing it through Tamar. Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Dec 19, 2024 • 35min
Ep 66: The Chosen Nuisance Gen 37
Joseph is often portrayed as the innocent victim of his brothers’ plot. While is a victim, the text does not portray him as innocent. Much like his father, he must grow as he is placed in new occurrences of the Exodus motif and the Two-Goats motif.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Dec 12, 2024 • 28min
Ep 65: Esau's Genealogy and Exodus Gen 36
Esau’s genealogy is the longest of the non-elect brothers of Genesis. The author has put subtle literary elements within this genealogy, giving the reader a window into how Yahweh interacts with these non-elect families.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Dec 5, 2024 • 24min
Ep 64: Benjamin's Birth and Rebekah's Death Gen 35:16-29
As Jacob’s story wraps up, there seems to be a rapid succession of random events. But each of these events resolves tensions from earlier in the narrative or prepares the reader for the next story.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Nov 28, 2024 • 24min
Ep 63: Dinah's Exodus and Jacob's Vow Gen 34:1-35:15
Due to Jacob’s neglect of his vow, Dinah needs an exodus similar to those of Sarah and Rebekah, though this exodus is as upside down as the rest of the Jacob story. After this exodus, Jacob will finally be ready to fulfill the vows he made at the beginning of his exile.Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats

Nov 21, 2024 • 21min
Ep 62: Wrestling with Esau, Wrestling with God, Gen 32-33 Part 2
We continue the conversation about Jacob’s dread of Esau and see how Jacob’s wrestling with Yahweh plays into his deliverance. Email us your questions and comments! thebibleincontextpodcast@gmail.comThe Bible in Context Podcast — Mercy Hill Church (mercyhillshep.org)Passages read from the ESV by Crossway 2001Music: Royal by Slenderbeats