Befriending the Bible

Befriending the Bible

By Michael TrainorReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Befriending the Bible episodes

  • Bible Basics 5: The Bible's Geo-political Context
    The authors of the books and writings of the First and Second Testament lived in world that was geo-political. This podcast introduces the six primary powers that influenced the cultural and social context of the Bible's authors: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.
    1 Egypt: Controlled Canaaan before Israel's settlement. Zenith under the Ramessids then steadily declined. Alexander's descendants (Ptolemies) ruled till 63 BCE. Dominated Palestine from 320-198 BCE).
    2. Assyria: Expanded during 9th Century BCE. Captured Samaria in 721 BCE. Defeated by Egypt in 660 BCE. finally routed by Babylonians in 612 with the fall of Nineveh.
    3. Babylon: Supreme in 18th Century BCE under Hummurabi. Defeated by Assyria but later retained power after 625 BCE, capturing Jerusalem (597 BCE) and destroying its temple (587 BCE). Persians destroy Babylon in 538 BCE.
    4. Persia: Powerful under Cyrus' rule (550-529 BCE). Conquered by Alexandria in 330 BCE.
    5. Greece: Alexander of Macedonia supreme in 330s. Conquered Palestine in 333. After his death generals took over.
    6. Rome: Pompey triumphs over the Greek Seleucids in 62 BCE. Palestine under Roman rule and Titus conquers and destroys Jerusalem in 70 CE.
    6 min
  • Bible Basics 4: A brief history behind the books of the Bible
    We briefly look at an overview of the historical sweep behind the Bible. A more focused presentation of the historical periods behind both Testaments comes in a later podcast.
    The Bible contains different forms of writing, by different authors over 2000 years.
    There is a discussion of the division of time into "BCE" and "CE".
    Gen 1-11: Predates Abraham, stories of Creation and other stories part of a mythological collection , written during the Exile in the 7-6th Century.
    Second Testament ("new") occurs in the late first century CE. Paul is the first writer in the 50s; Gospels written 70-late first century CE. Other writings (of the apostles and Book of Apocalypse) date to the second half of the first century CE.
    5 min
  • Bible Basics 3: The Bible's Division and their Books
    This podcasts offers an overview of the division of the Bible into the First ("Old") Testament and Second ("New") Testament and their various writings.
    "O Biblos" (Greek) + "Book" = Collection of 73 writings
    46 Books of the First Testament written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek
    27 writings of the Second Testament in Greek
    Description of First Testament and the Second Testament.
    5 min
  • Bible Basics 2 What is the Bible?
    This podcast offers a very brief reflection on the nature of the Bible.
    In summary, the Bible is the gathering of stories, songs, cries and laments…
    • of the human experience of faithful people
    • who believe in the presence and action of a God …
    • who cares about them.
    • acts in history
    • in the people of Israel (“Old Testament”)
    • in Jesus and his disciples (“New Testament”)
    3 min
  • Bible Basics 1: A brief introduction
    This brief introduction offers a summary of what the podcast "Bible Basics" is about: Designed with those wanting to study the Bible with little or no background. This is a very basic introduction which presumes no knowledge of the Bible. It is intended for those who would like to grow in their biblical appreciation.
    2 min
  • Mark's Gospel--10: Overview of the Gospel's Final Chapters: Mk 14-16

    This podcast offers an overview of the key literary and theological points that the evangelist points the listener towards in the Gospel's final chapters, Mk 14-16.

    It establishes the order of the remaining presentations on the Gospel, each of them representing an "Act" in Mark's drama of Jesus' Passion, Death and Resurrection. 

    • Podcast/Presentation 11: Act 1-Mk 13.32-14.52;
    • Podcast/Presentation 12: Act 2-Mk 14.53-15.20;
    • Podcast/Presentation 13: Act 3-Mk 15.21-47;
    • Podcast/Presentation 14: Act 4-Mk 16;
    • Podcast/Presentation 15: A concluding presentation looks back over these chapters and offers the central insights that Mark teaches through the Passion Narrative.

      • Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South   Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.


      15 min
    • Mark's Gospel--16: Looking back over Mark's Gospel

      This final podcast on Mark's Gospel looks back over the Gospel, picks up the evangelist's literary outline with its thematic emphases, its portrayal of Jesus and the disciples and reflects on the implications for Mark's Roman urban household of Jesus disciples in the 70s.

      Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

      21 min
    • Mark's Gospel-5: Looking back over Mk 1-3

      This presentation looks back over Mk 1-3, summarising the key insights from Mark's Gospel. We focus particularly on understanding the spirit world of Mark's audience and their understanding of healings and miracles, while offering some contemporary reflections for the ongoing relevance of Mark's healing stories.

      Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

      28 min
    • Mark's Gospel--14: Act 4 of Mark's Passion Narrative, Mk 16.1-8

      The story of Jesus' resurrection is rich in theological symbolism. The focus on the young man's statement that affirms Jesus resurrection ('He has been raised' - 16.6) is linked to the place of absence and loneliness. For Mark's audience their experience of divine absence opens them to the possibility of God's resurrected act in them. The original final verse of the Gospel (16.8) is not a statement of failure but an invitation to openness on the part of the listener who is invited to go back over Mark's Gospel to understand why this ending is so appropriate. This requires conversion of heart ('metanoia'), alertness and the ability to see deeply--qualities associated with discipleship affirmed earlier in the Gospel.


      Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

      13 min

    About Befriending the Bible

    From the publisher's feed

    A podcast that offers you an opportunity to deepen your appreciation of the different writings that make up our Bible. The focus of this first set of podcasts is the Acts of the Apostles. Our second…