In this rich and eye-opening episode of Peaceable and Kind, host Derek Vreeland sits down with Marty Solomon—president of Impact Campus Ministries, host of the BEMA Discipleship podcast, and author of Asking Better Questions of the Bible. Together, they explore how reading Scripture through its original Jewish context can transform our understanding of Jesus, justice, and the story of redemption.

Marty shares his own journey—from a fundamentalist evangelical upbringing, through seasons of doubt and “deconstruction,” to a renewed faith rooted in the historical and cultural world of the Bible. You’ll hear why becoming “people of the text” means more than knowing Bible facts—it’s about letting Scripture shape our lives, imaginations, and relationships.

The conversation dives into how the Jewish background of the New Testament illuminates the ministry of Jesus, why historical context must come before theology, and how biblical justice (mishpat) and righteousness (zedekah) work together to restore shalom—wholeness, peace, and flourishing—in a broken world.

Whether you’ve been wrestling with faith, longing for a deeper way to read the Bible, or curious about how Jewish roots change our perspective on the Gospel, this episode offers wisdom, challenge, and hope.

Key Takeaways
✔️ Why historical context changes how we read the Bible
✔️ The difference between Greek and Hebrew ideas of justice
✔️ How righteousness and justice create biblical shalom
✔️ Why curiosity—not certainty—should guide Bible study
✔️ How Jesus’ Jewish world shapes His teaching and ministry

🎧 Listen now and rediscover the Bible as a living, transforming story that points us to Jesus.

Scriptures Mentioned in This Episode:Isaiah 55

Psalm 97

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon

Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad Young 

Listen to Marty's conversation with Lecrae on The Deep End podcast: https://youtu.be/RN4vJFAJeDI?si=pFNamuQFY4LnWFma

Learn more about Marty Solomon at martysolomon.com. 

Preorder Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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