Dr. Matthew Lynch, author of "Flood and Fury," joins Ryan and Mike to discuss one of the most contested topics in scripture--the flood and war texts in the Old Testament.

Lynch explains how violent biblical narratives—from the flood to Joshua's conquest of Jericho—are often stripped of their fuller context.

The discussion delves into how both conservative and critical readers tend to oversimplify these texts. 

Through careful literary and historical analysis, Lynch demonstrates how the Old Testament reveals God's mercy while acknowledging persistent mysteries we must sit with rather than resolve neatly.

Tune in for this honest conversation about reconciling biblical violence with faith.

Learn more about Dr. Matthew Lynch here: https://www.regent-college.edu/faculty/lynch-matthew/

CHAPTERS: 

00:00:00 - Cold Open: Understanding Violence in Biblical Stories

00:04:32 - Coffee Talk and Canadian Gas Prices

00:06:55 - Coffee Chat and Faith Journey Begins

00:09:03 - Faith, Bible, and Critical Questions

00:13:05 - From Academic Study to Lay Audience

00:15:36 - Understanding Violence and Complexity in Biblical Texts

00:20:11 - Understanding Biblical Context Through Hebrew Worldview

00:22:12 - Chronological Snobbery and Biblical Violence

00:26:34 - The Hidden Costs of Solving Problems

00:30:40 - Wrestling with Violence in Biblical Texts

00:33:30 - Understanding God's Justice and Mercy in Scripture

00:38:09 - God's Mercy Outweighs His Justice

00:41:41 - Judicial Equivalence and Proportional Justice

00:43:14 - Teaching Faith Through Unresolved Questions

00:46:22 - Understanding Old Testament Violence Through Historical Context

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