Genesis Marks the Spot

Venturing deep into the world of biblical interpretation—exploring the methods that shape how we read Scripture, how we understand righteousness, holiness, and obedience, and why John Walton's work continues to spark both admiration and controversy. We’ll survey key interpretive methodologies: literalist, historical-grammatical, canonical, literary-narrative, historical-critical, and the socio-cultural ancient Near Eastern approach. Then, we dive headfirst into the power of frame semantics—a tool that challenges modern assumptions and re-centers our understanding around ancient biblical worldviews. Topics covered: What’s the difference between exegesis, interpretation, and hermeneutics? Why biblical theology requires a mix of methods How John Walton’s approach reframes key concepts The covenantal, vocational meaning of obedience Holiness as divine presence, not moral perfection Righteousness as relational fidelity, not legal status How salvation is more about divine rescue than a heavenly transaction Mentioned Resources: Frame Semantics Study Guide  Whether you're a seminarian, a Sunday school teacher, or just someone who wants to understand the Bible on its own terms, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Also, join my new Biblical Theology Community!  Find it here: on-this-rock.com “On This Rock” Biblical Theology Community  

This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot centers on an example of biblical theology, reframing how we understand law—not as rigid legislation, but as wisdom anchored in covenant relationship. Drawing from The Lost World of the Torah by John Walton and J. Harvey Walton, Carey challenges modern assumptions about law, obedience, and divine command theory, while weaving in reflections on context, tradition, and the role of interpretation in the church. Why does it matter how we define “law”? What does Torah as wisdom mean for our modern theological frameworks? And how can covenant thinking reshape our understanding of justice, purity, and faithfulness? Carey doesn’t shy away from the complexities—she explores the intersection of Scripture, culture, and context with clarity and conviction. If you’ve ever wrestled with the law/grace debate or wondered how ancient covenants connect with contemporary discipleship, this episode is for you. Plus, Carey shares details about an exciting new community platform for deeper study, discussion, and collaboration in biblical theology. Don’t miss it! Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

This illuminating episode of Genesis Marks the Spot dives deep into the nature of biblical law—just in time for the Fourth of July. What is law, really? Is the Torah a legislative code or a curated teaching tool for ethical formation? Drawing from Michael LeFebvre’s scholarly work Collections, Codes, and Torah, Carey unpacks how law functioned in the ancient world and how it evolved into what many of us assume today. From ancient Near Eastern ox-goring laws to the reforms of Josiah and the philosophical pressures of Hellenistic thought, walk through a legal labyrinth to uncover a surprising alignment between Torah and Jesus’ teachings. Was the Torah meant to be prescriptive legislation—or something more dynamic? This episode sets the stage for an upcoming conversation on J. Harvey Walton’s thesis and what it means to read Genesis 2–3 without modern legal baggage. Spoiler alert: It may change the way you think about sin, covenant, and civilization itself. Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by WintergatanLink to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

Walk through the ancient Near Eastern background of biblical covenants to arrive at the archetypal Sinai covenant.  Picking up where Episode 132 left off, Carey explores the formal elements of Late Bronze Age treaties and how they echo within the biblical text—especially in the Ten Commandments. Through historical, grammatical, and theological analysis, Carey challenges modern assumptions about covenantal law, explores the dynamic interplay between law and grace, and examines how the Sinai covenant shaped Israel's identity.  Are biblical covenants commands, ideals, or something even richer? Also included are reflections on Abraham’s covenant, the significance of covenant ratification, and a glimpse into upcoming discussions on circumcision, purification, and baptism. Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by WintergatanLink to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey takes listeners beyond prooftexts and into the deep structure of biblical meaning by asking: What kind of thing is a covenant? Drawing from ancient Near Eastern treaty forms, the episode explores how covenantal frames shape not only Genesis but also our understanding of baptism, representation, and the sacramental life.    This isn’t a systematics lecture or a typology sweep—it’s a frame-based investigation that pulls together Bronze Age political rituals, Reformed theology, and embodied covenant signs. Along the way, Carey untangles the difference between representation and substitution, explains why oaths are more than legalities, and opens the door to show how Genesis 2 might be less about a covenant of works and more about a narrative trajectory toward covenant presence…though we still have some work to fully flesh that out, so stay tuned!    Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, or a curious reader of Scripture, this episode will help you see “covenant” not as a theological label, but as a deeply embedded pattern of divine-human encounter.    Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by WintergatanLink to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

What connects wine, wrath, baptism, and the flood? This powerful bridge episode toes out into the deep waters of systematic theology that will lead to biblical theology in order to explore how God's covenantal signs—from the cup to the flood—shape a story of transformation.   The conversation sets up how creation, judgment, and restoration are tied together in symbols like water, wine, and blood, but first, a look into how we think about these using a more modern theological lens.  Why and how is the topic of covenant such contested theological ground?  Seeing this will help us step into more daring theology…theology that sees what Scripture sees. Along the way, we’ll look at: How covenant theology differs between dispensationalism and biblical frameworks Why it matters that covenants unfold across genres, authors, and history Whether or not there is a “covenant of works” at the beginning of creation How allegory and typology impact the way we read the beginning of time Whether you’re a longtime student of covenant theology or new to the conversation, this episode invites you to reflect on theology and bridging the gaps it might contain. Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by WintergatanLink to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

What does it mean that Jesus drank the cup—and said he would not drink again until the kingdom came? What is that mysterious cup that Jesus didn't want to drink? In this final episode on alcohol in Scripture and with the help of Mark Scarlata's book, Wine, Soil, and Salvation, Carey draws together themes of covenant, celebration, and sacrifice as she explores the messianic banquet and the wisdom of wine.    From the wedding at Cana to the crucifixion, wine serves as a sign of joy, a symbol of suffering, and a seal of the kingdom to come. Carey reflects on the contrast between Jesus and John the Baptist, the priestly significance of wine, and the long-awaited marriage supper of the Lamb.    Along the way, you'll discover:   How the Second Temple leads up to the New Testament   Why Jesus' first miracle wasn't random   How wine becomes covenantal communication   What the difference between John and Jesus reveals about divine calling   Why the cup Jesus took matters for every believer   And what the final feast will taste like   This is the final vintage in a full-bodied biblical theology series on alcohol.  Come thirsty.   Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey uncorks the surprising biblical connection between wine and wisdom. What begins as a reflection on the interconnection of John Walton’s New Explorations and a survey of wisdom literature in Mark Scarlata's Wine, Soil, and Salvation blooms into a deeply interwoven meditation on creation order, covenant, and the spiritual maturity that wine represents in Scripture.   You'll hear how Lady Wisdom's banquet in Proverbs aligns with Walton’s evolving theology of creation-as-order, and how biblical wisdom challenges both moralistic and hedonistic extremes in our view of alcohol.  We also tease next week’s exploration into the New Testament, including the contrasting ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist, and what they reveal about God's relational intent.   If you’ve ever wondered what wisdom really looks like with a glass of wine in hand—or why kings shouldn’t drink while the poor might—this is your episode.    Topics Covered:   Covenant as the telos of creation   Wisdom as ordered living in God's world   Wine as blessing, danger, and discernment   Lady Wisdom’s mixed wine in Proverbs 9   Ecclesiastes, Noah, and the post-flood vineyard   A teaser: Why Jesus drank wine but John didn’t   Resources Referenced:   Wine, Soil, and Salvation by Mark Scarlata   The Walton family's work on Genesis and covenant theology   Book of Sirach and Second Temple imagery of feasting   Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and more   Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Reviewing John Walton’s newest entry in the Lost World series: New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis. With clarity and candor, Carey explores Walton’s theological evolution—particularly the move from “functional” to “ordered” creation—and discusses the role of biblical theology in understanding Genesis 1–3.   Carey also responds to popular-level criticisms of Walton’s work, emphasizing the need for good-faith engagement and theological humility. Along the way, she previews ideas from J. Harvey Walton’s dissertation and highlights the foundational theme of covenant, presence, and participation with God—over and above the traditional sin-salvation narrative.   What you'll hear in this episode:   Why biblical theology matters and how it differs from systematic theology   Walton’s shift from “functional” to “ordered” creation   A defense against bizarre and shallow critiques   The Eden debate: temple or divine space?   Adam as priest—or not?   A call for thoughtful, communal theological conversation   This episode is for anyone curious about origins, Genesis 1–3, and how to responsibly engage Scripture in its ancient context.    Blog post on biblical theology mentioned: What Is Biblical Theology?     Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

What does it mean when the Bible speaks of gods being judged? Is wrath just God's angry impulse, or is it the just consequence of misplaced allegiance?   In this episode, Carey dives deep into Deuteronomy 32, reading it not just as a poetic song, but as a cosmic indictment—against Israel, against the nations, and against their gods. Drawing from biblical imagery, ancient Near Eastern thought, and cosmic geography, this episode unpacks why wrath in the biblical story often comes not through lightning bolts, but through the unraveling of covenantal faithfulness.   You'll explore:   Why the mirroring of heaven and earth is key to understanding judgment   How military destruction, pestilence, and exile are linked to divine powers   Whether the Bible is de-mythologizing or re-mythologizing its spiritual worldview   Why God’s wrath is giving people over to what they desire—and how that's an act of divine faithfulness   Connections between Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 91, Habakkuk 3, and 1 Enoch   With respectful engagement of Dr. Michael Heiser’s work and thoughtful interaction with ancient context, this episode opens the gates to a deeper biblical theology of wrath, judgment, and restoration.    A blog post of interest:  Gods, Idols, and the Battle for Worship: A Review of Thomas A. Judge’s Other Gods and Idols   Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan