The Bible For Normal People

It shouldn’t be a surprise to us now that people can read the same text and walk away with vastly different meanings. On this episode of the podcast, we’re talking with Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler who share some reasons why Jews and Christians use and understand the Bible in different ways. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Kugel is back on the podcast sharing about how people during the biblical period understood God and how their views changed overtime. How does their understanding of God influence our understandings today?Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Enns, a Christian theology expert, discusses the uniqueness of Christianity. He explores how early Christians viewed Jesus' crucifixion, the paradox of honor and shame in Christianity, and the distinctive elements that set Christianity apart from other religions.

2020— What a year. We’re wrapping up the year and the fourth season of the podcast with a look back onto what we learned from this season and from the year as a whole.Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Linguist and professor Christopher Rollston delves into the origins of the Hebrew language, discussing ancient inscriptions, biblical manuscripts, and the importance of studying languages for understanding the Bible. They explore the complexities of dating biblical texts, tracing the evolution of Hebrew back to 1200-1100 BCE and comparing linguistic features with other Near Eastern languages.

Dan Koch, a psychology doctoral student, discusses the origins of end times belief in American Christianity, exploring historical figures like John Darby and the impact of apocalyptic thinking on mental health. The podcast delves into dispels filialism, adaptations of ancient texts in modern contexts, the psychological aspect of fear, and the intersection of evangelism, social justice, and apocalypticism.

Theologian Pete Enns discusses the intersection of science and theology, exploring the symbolic nature of Adam, challenges of merging scientific concepts with theological beliefs, and the evolving perspectives on human origins and time relativity. The podcast dives into the impact of scientific challenges on evangelical theology and the need for a flexible theological engagement with the metanarrative of evolution.

Benjamin D. Sommer is back on the podcast telling us all about his work on a biblical understanding of God’s body. He takes us through the history of thought on God’s body, the material God’s body is made out of, what God looks like, and how the Trinity actually has a lot of continuity with texts of the Hebrew Bible. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive into the captivating tale of Jonah, where themes of mercy and repentance reign supreme. Explore Jonah's emotional turmoil over God's compassion for Nineveh, and discover the intricate dialogues between him and the divine. Reflect on the dualities of justice and grace as you unravel the significance of divine encounters. From the profound act of repentance by the Ninevites to the broader implications of inclusivity in God’s love, this narrative challenges perceptions of who deserves mercy.

We invited Emilie Townes on the podcast to talk about womanist ethics but our conversation morphed into so much more. We touched on the role of the Bible in ethics, the relevance of the Bible in our lives today, and why it is important to chose hope. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices