🎙️ 26. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw (Bible Scholar) – Wrestling with Scripture Beyond Literalism

When “Bible-believing” meant literalism and inerrancy, many of us thought that was the only Christian option. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw—New Testament scholar, professor, and church practitioner—opens the door to a bigger, older, more beautiful Christian story. We unpack why inerrancy & literalism are relatively recent (1800s) theologies, how the Bible’s genres invite deeper reading, what Revelation is actually doing, and how multiple atonement models live inside the tradition.

What we cover

• Inerrancy & literalism as modern control theologies
 • Reading the Bible as literature: genres + context
 • Atonement models 101: moral exemplar, Christus Victor, satisfaction → penal substitution
 • Revelation as apocalyptic resistance literature (and why the rapture isn’t in Revelation)
 • Practical tips for finding Jesus-centered churches today
 • Learning to think in stories not isolated verses
• Jennifer’s forthcoming Serving Up Scripture (with @abhigashi)

💡 Key takeaways

• Wrestling with Scripture is ancient & holy work
 • The rapture is a 19th-century doctrinal system, not a Revelation doctrine
 • Center Jesus when doctrines conflict
 • You’re not alone — many scholars make Scripture accessible without dumbing it down

⛪ About our guest

Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw (@jgbashaw) is a New Testament scholar & professor who also serves in congregational ministry — bridging academy + church with clarity, courage, and compassion.

📚 Resources mentioned

@thebiblefornormalpeople (Bible Scholar Pete Enns @peteenns + former pastor Jared Byas @jaredbyas)
 Homebrewed Christianity @theologynerd (host @trippfuller)
 @maklelan – Bible Scholar and podcast host, Data Over Dogma
 @abhigashi – co-author and Bible Scholar
 @crosspointecary – church where Jennifer preaches
 @derekwebb – songwriter mentioned

🔎 Episode highlights

“Nowhere does the Bible say you must read this literally or that every word is inerrant.”
 “Genres matter. Reading apocalyptic like a newspaper guarantees you’ll miss the point.”
 “If a church talks more about the inerrancy of the Bible than the way of Jesus, pause.”
 “Think in stories, not isolated proof-texts.”

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