Two Texts
John Andrews and David Harvey
A Podcast about the Bible Every two weeks, from two different countries, the two hosts of the Two Texts podcast pick two biblical texts to talk about. Each episode we pick one text to talk about, which invariably leads to us talking about two texts and often many more.Dr John Andrews and Dr David Harvey share a mutual fascination with the Bible. Simple yet complex; ancient yet relevant; challenging yet comforting. But one thing that fascinates them consistently is that, like a kaleidoscope, no matter how many times they look at it there is something new, fresh and exciting to talk about.This podcast is designed for you regardless of how much or how little you've read the Bible. Grab a hot beverage, a notepad (or app), and a Bible, sit back, listen, enjoy, and learn to also become fascinated (or grow your fascination) with this exciting, compelling and mysterious book. John and David are two friends who love teaching the Bible and have both been privileged enough to be able to spend their careers doing this - in colleges, universities, churches, homes and coffee shops. The two of them have spent extended periods of time as teaching staff and leadership in seminary and church contexts. John has regularly taught at David's church, and there was even a point where John was David's boss! Nowadays David is a Priest and Pastor in Calgary, Canada, and John teaches and consults for churches in the UK and around the world. They're both married with children (John 3, David 1) and in John's case even grandchildren. In their down time you'll find them cooking, reading, running or watching football (but the one thing they don't agree on is which team to support). If you want to get in touch with either of them about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 11, 2025 • 34min
The Spirit Makes The Sermon | Jonah Beyond the Whale 21
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David reflect some more on Jonah’s bewildering sermon, its response, and the mysterious work of the Spirit in both preaching and hearing. We explore humility in proclamation, the difference between talking and true preaching, sackcloth and repentance, memory as yearning, and why Nineveh’s response reveals far more about God than about Jonah.Episode 225 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 21If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Dec 9, 2025 • 36min
Frogs, Towers, and a Grumpy Prophet | Jonah Beyond the Whale 20
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore the startling response to Jonah’s five-word sermon and consider how belief arises in surprising places. We ponder the mystery at the heart of Jonah 3, the unseen work of God, Tolkien’s tower, frogs in biology class, and why faith often exceeds the logic of its parts.Episode 224 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 20If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Nov 28, 2025 • 37min
Jonah’s Unclear Sermon | Jonah Beyond the Whale 19
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore Jonah’s five-word sermon, noticing how its brevity holds layers of meaning and ambiguity. We reflect on the tension between judgment and invitation, the dual possibilities within the word “overturned,” and the surprising breadth of compassion revealed in God’s dealings with Nineveh. We trace how the sermon’s grammar, its echoes across scripture, and Jonah’s own desires shape the message, and how Nineveh’s response becomes a lesson in hearing God rightly. Together we consider the complexity of prophecy, the nature of repentance, and the character of a God who overturns in order to restore.Episode 223 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 19If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Nov 25, 2025 • 40min
A Sermon of Five Words | Jonah Beyond the Whale 18
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David reflect on Jonah’s five-word sermon, the prophet’s half-hearted obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. We explore how the narrative exposes Israel’s own reluctance to hear God, and how—even through flawed preaching—God’s word still brings life. Along the way we draw Bonhoeffer into the conversation on faithful proclamation.Episode 222 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 18If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Nov 13, 2025 • 31min
Nineveh and the God Who Comes Near | Jonah Beyond the Whale 17
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David trace the divine symmetry between the great fish and the great city of Nineveh. Together they uncover how Jonah’s story reveals a God both cosmic and near — one who commands creation yet longs for relationship. They reflect on the city “great to God,” the paradox of divine judgement and mercy, and how the incarnation embodies the mystery of a Creator who chooses to become a guest at our table.Episode 220 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 17If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Nov 11, 2025 • 32min
A Story Truer than it Seems | Jonah Beyond the Whale 16
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore Jonah’s second calling and the grace woven into the story’s repetition. They reflect on Buechner’s and Tolkien’s ideas of myth, Hebrew wordplay that shifts God’s tone from 'against' to 'toward', and the layered symbolism of Nineveh’s name—revealing a God who commands even the 'gods' of the world.Episode 219 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 16If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
Oct 31, 2025 • 35min
Prayer from the Depths | Jonah Beyond the Whale 15
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore Jonah’s cry from the “belly of Sheol” and ask whether the prophet’s prayer describes death, near-death, or resurrection itself. We trace echoes of Psalms 16 and 139, connect Jonah’s deliverance to Jesus’ “sign of Jonah,” and marvel at the irony that salvation—still—belongs to the Lord.Episode 218 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 15If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show
9 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 39min
Not Faithless, Just Forgetful | Jonah Beyond the Whale 14
Dive into Jonah's heartfelt prayer from the fish’s belly as it resonates with the Psalms. The hosts explore the intensity of his emotions and how crises shape our prayers. They discuss the concept of returning to faith amidst darkness and the significance of calling on God. Discover parallels between Jonah’s plea and Psalmic language, revealing a God who invites us home. The conversation also highlights themes of hope, salvation, and the cyclical nature of exile and return in Scripture.
6 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 41min
A Psalm from the Belly | Jonah Beyond the Whale 13
Join the fascinating exploration of Jonah’s prayer from the belly of a great fish. Delve into its psalm-like poetry and the layered motifs of creation, flood, and exodus. Discover the nuances of Jonah's reflection versus reaction and re-evaluate childhood perceptions of his story. The contrast between Jonah's inconsistency and God's steadfastness raises impactful questions about true repentance. Dive into rich theological discussions and uncover the surprising irony of Jonah's salvation compared to Nineveh's heartfelt change.
Oct 14, 2025 • 43min
Jonah’s Descent and God’s Design | Jonah Beyond the Whale 12
Join an intriguing discussion about Jonah's journey into the depths and God's orchestrated rescue through a great fish. Explore the rich Hebrew term 'manah' that highlights divine order rising from chaos. Delve into ancient echoes from Genesis, three-day motifs, and thematic imagery of rebirth that connect creation and redemption. The narrative unfolds with a look at Jonah's vulnerability and the symbolism of transformation, revealing how obedience in nature contrasts with his disobedience, all while emphasizing the power of God's divine ordination.
