Deep in Scripture Radio

Deep in Scripture Podcast is returning with a new series entitled “Hard Verses”! We believe that to be deep in history and deep in Scripture is to become deep in Christ. This idea is based on the teachings of John Henry Newman and St. Jerome, both committed to Jesus and His Word. In fact St. Jerome once wrote, “To be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.” In this we see all three aspects of this idea, for Jerome was an early Doctor of the Church, who dedicated his life to the study of Scripture and devotion to Christ. Every episode we will explore what it means to be “Deep in Scripture”, interviewing a special guest about a scripture verse that they would have considered “hard” to interpret, apply, or even preach! We’ll see how they came to better understand and interpret the scriptures in a wider context of Christian history and tradition.To kick off this new season of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi is joined by his colleague, Jim Anderson to discuss the idea of "hard verses" and share some of their own.

Deep in Scripture Podcast is returning with a new series entitled “Hard Verses”! We believe that to be deep in history and deep in Scripture is to become deep in Christ. This idea is based on the teachings of John Henry Newman and St. Jerome, both commit...

How does Saint Paul, as apostle and missionary bishop, warn the Christians in Rome (where he has never visited) to only follow teachers who proclaim “the doctrine which you have been taught” and to avoid those “in opposition to” this apostolic tradition? This needs tender care because, though he knows personally faithful leaders in Rome, he has only heard rumors about the bad teachers. To name these people “who create dissensions and difficulties”, he would have to depend upon second-hand rumors. So, as a wise bishop, he first gives a long list of faithful Christian leaders they can trust, then warns them generally to avoid those who teach otherwise. All of this—all of the book of Romans—has been to “bring about the obedience of faith.”

As St Paul closes his letter to the Christians at Rome, he first tells them of his desire to finally come an see them. However, he first has another task: to take the alms collected from several churches to help the struggling Christians in Jerusalem. In this we hear our call own call to comfort and support - our responsibility to - our Christian brothers and sisters to whom we are united in baptism. We also hear St Paul affirm how important it is for us to pray for one another - his ministry and each of ours depends upon our shared prayers for one another. We then hear about all the faithful friends Paul had in Rome, through whom he had become aware of the needs of the Christians in Rome. He talks about multiple churches and even a women whom he called a deaconess. What do these references mean for us today? This is what discussed today on Deep In Scripture.

In this section, St Paul moves on from deeper theological and ethical teachings to discuss why he has written so boldly to the Roman Christians, why he has not visited them, but why now he plans to do so. In these verses, we hear allusions to the power of the mysteries, or the sacraments as they will be called: to the changes that he as a bishop can assume are true in the lives of all baptized Christians; to his responsibilities as an “ordained” missionary bishop; and to the liturgical sacrifices of the Eucharist. Paul confesses that all that he has written them and all that he has accomplished throughout his missionary journeys is not the result of his own efforts, but what Christ has wrought through him. He is merely seeking to be obedient to Christ and his calling, and this will now mean, God willing, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

In this section, St Paul moves on from deeper theological and ethical teachings to discuss why he has written so boldly to the Roman Christians, why he has not visited them, but why now he plans to do so. In these verses, we hear allusions to the power of the mysteries, or the sacraments as they will be called: to the changes that he as a bishop can assume are true in the lives of all baptized Christians; to his responsibilities as an “ordained” missionary bishop; and to the liturgical sacrifices of the Eucharist. Paul confesses that all that he has written them and all that he has accomplished throughout his missionary journeys is not the result of his own efforts, but what Christ has wrought through him. He is merely seeking to be obedient to Christ and his calling, and this will now mean, God willing, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.Email: Dear Marcus and Ken, an Evangelical friend of mine studies his Bible every day, using a chain reference technique. He goes from one verse to the next following references in his chain Bible. Is this a valid trustworthy way of studying God’s Word? Thanks, Sam

In this section, St Paul moves on from deeper theological and ethical teachings to discuss why he has written so boldly to the Roman Christians, why he has not visited them, but why now he plans to do so. In these verses, we hear allusions to the power o...

In this section, St Paul moves on from deeper theological and ethical teachings to discuss why he has written so boldly to the Roman Christians, why he has not visited them, but why now he plans to do so. In these verses, we hear allusions to the power of the mysteries, or the sacraments as they will be called: to the changes that he as a bishop can assume are true in the lives of all baptized Christians; to his responsibilities as an “ordained” missionary bishop; and to the liturgical sacrifices of the Eucharist. Paul confesses that all that he has written them and all that he has accomplished throughout his missionary journeys is not the result of his own efforts, but what Christ has wrought through him. He is merely seeking to be obedient to Christ and his calling, and this will now mean, God willing, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Email: Dear Marcus and Ken, an Evangelical friend of mine studies his Bible every day, using a chain reference technique. He goes from one verse to the next following references in his chain Bible. Is this a valid trustworthy way of studying God’s Word? Thanks, Sam

Given the challenging call of Christ “to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect” and St. Paul’s call for us to not be conformed to the world but to be transformed, there can be a temptation to become self focused on our individual salvation. However, being a faithful follower of Christ has always meant being a faithful member of the Family of God, or as Paul says elsewhere, the Body of Christ, the Church of the Living God. This means we are to be concerned about each other’s growth in Christ. This will involve protecting and keeping the faith we have received and bearing with the failings of weaker brothers; we are to be steadfast in the faith we have received, and the Scriptures have been given as an encouragement; but we are not called to do this on our own, but through the power of God, the source of unity, joy, peace, and hope.

Again, following St Paul's instructions to transform our thinking (Rom 12:1,2), this requires examining our lifestyles down to most simple habits of eating and drinking. The truth is, in many ways our Christian Faith frees us up from the scrupulous and over-zealous legalism of many well-meaning religious people. Many build their faith upon life-constricting regulations that have no basis in Scripture or the teachings of the church. Yet, what is our responsibility before these well-meaning "weaker" brothers and sisters? Should we ignore their scrupulous irises and flaunt our freedoms? What if it is their misinterpretations of our freedoms that holds them back from coming home to the Church? This is what we discuss today on DIS.