The latest Biblical scholar to step into the Dojo is author of "Abraham's Silence" and "A New Heaven and a New Earth", J. Richard Middleton! We were finally able to connect and it was a wonderful discussion! Here are the timestamps for those who want to jump to a specific point...but you really should watch the whole episode! :)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:19 - Our mutual friend Carmen Imes

00:03:17 - A white dude from Jamaica??

00:09:24 - From Kingston to Canada to Upstate New York

00:11:56 - The Old Testament and Philosophy

00:13:47 - Teaching in academia before getting a Ph.D??

00:20:37 - Lament Psalms, Reggae, Bob Marley, and common grace

00:30:44 - Glimpses of God in non-Christian art

00:31:51 - Why churches are terrible at corporate lament in worship!

00:41:02 - Biblical scholarship as spiritual formation

00:43:58 - Grappling with God

00:46:51 - Is the Sinai Covenant unconditional or conditional?

00:55:01 - Does God really "change His mind"??

01:00:47 - Was Job a historical person?

01:05:48 - Jonah, Job, and literary genre

01:09:44 - Elihu, Behemoth, Leviathan, and "the satan"

01:21:58 - Baal or Anath: who killed the Sea Monster in Canaanite mythology?

01:24:34 - Ancient deities, Abraham's silence, and the "testing" by God

01:35:53 - Thoughts on English Bible translations and study Bibles

01:42:21 - Viewer question: What is the "Image of God"?

01:47:05 - Viewer question: Why does eschatology matter? (and bonus Hal Lindsay anecdote!)

01:53:52 - Viewer question: How do you see technology affecting Biblical studies in the future?

02:00:06 - Where to find Richard's work online and contact him

Dr. Middleton's Books and Resources can be found at:

Abraham's Silence - https://tinyurl.com/3x94apv6

A New Heaven and New Earth - https://tinyurl.com/zjn74thh

The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 - https://tinyurl.com/249zfsm6

Articles and blog - https://www.jrichardmiddleton.com

Seminary Now - https://seminarynow.com/

Related Dojo resources:

Superhero Seminary: Daredevil Explains 'Lucifer' - https://youtu.be/NFVtIk9A_kw

JM's Digital Bible Study Hack - https://youtu.be/f1cQ56GqdD8

Bible for the Rest of Us (video course) - https://www.discipledojo.org/bible

Apocalypse Now?? (audio course) - https://soundcloud.com/discipledojo/sets/apocalypse-now

***BONUS*** Richard's Reggae Recommendations!

"Some of my favorite Bob Marley albums are Exodus; Survival; and Confrontation. The Legend album (best of) is a great place to start for those who don't know his music. The song that the alternative to the Gloria Patri comes from is "One Love": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g

I am also partial to the reggae-world music fusion of Third World, possibly the longest still running Jamaican reggae band - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_World_(band) Some of their best songs are "96 Degrees in the Shade"; "Try Jah Love"; "Jah Glory"; "Satta Massagana (Give Thanks)"; "Now That We've Found Love."

I also love the music of Burning Spear (Winston Rodney), although his lyrics tend to be very simple and the rhythm is hypnotic. There is phenomenal concert footage of the Spear performing in Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Ealg2s1jI

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