Continuing our exploration of Genesis 1-11, this episode picks up right where we left off in Genesis 1:1-2 to explore the "deep" and the "chaos". We discuss the true nature of the waters, unpack what it means that the earth was initially unformed, and trace the ultimate defeat of the cosmic sea monsters.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Chaos and Wasteland: A closer look at the Hebrew phrase tohu vebohu (chaos and waste). We explore how the initial act of creation wasn't a rebellious chaos, but simply an unformed, empty canvas waiting for God to fill it.

• The Deep: What does it mean that darkness was on the surface of the "deep" (tehom)? We look at how Genesis portrays God's absolute control over the waters, contrasting it with ancient myths where the deep was a primordial enemy.

• Overcoming Chaos: The real cosmic conflict begins in Genesis 3 with the Serpent's rebellion. We trace this spiritual battle through the Exodus—where God smashed the monsters' heads in the waters—and up to the victory of the Resurrection.

• No More Sea: Looking forward to Revelation 21, we discuss the ultimate promise that the sea—representing evil, conflict, and rebellious powers—will finally be no more.

Resources and References Mentioned:

• The Art of Narrative Analogy: Identifying and Interpreting Parallel Passages in the Bible by Seth D. Postell
• Enuma Elish - The Babylonian Epic of Creation (Full Text via World History Encyclopedia)

Episode Summary

Welcome back to the HeBelieved podcast with Levi Bailey and Dennis Toll! Today, we're diving into the very beginning of the story by kicking off our exploration of Genesis 1-11, starting with the chaos found in Genesis 1:1-2.

In this episode, we challenge the modern impulse to read Genesis purely through a scientific lens. Instead, we look at it as a profound polemic against Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) creation myths. By stepping into the cosmic, supernatural worldview of the time, the true message of the text shines through: God's absolute mastery over all creation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Problem with a Scientific Lens: Why reading Genesis solely as an apologetic science textbook misses the point and diminishes its powerful message about our relationship with God.

• Chaos and Wasteland: Exploring the Hebrew phrase tohu vebohu and what it really means that the earth was initially unformed and unfilled.

• The Deep and the Sea: Tracing the biblical theme of the "sea" (tehom) from the deep in Genesis, to the defeat of ancient sea monsters (Rahab and Leviathan) at the Exodus, all the way to the promise of "no more sea" in Revelation 21.

• Cosmic Conflict: How Genesis pushes back against ANE myths like the Enuma Elish, proving that our transcendent God didn't have to battle primordial chaos gods to create—He was always in control.

Join us as we explore the supernatural worldview of the Bible and see how God's mastery over chaos sets the stage for His relationship with us! (And if you enjoy the show, don't forget to find us on Substack, like, and subscribe!)

Resources and References Mentioned

• Michael S. Heiser - The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible

• Seth D. Postell - Adam as Israel: Genesis 1-3 as the Introduction to the Torah and Tanakh

• Enuma Elish

• Epic of Atrahasis

In this episode of He Believed, Levi and Dennis sit down with author Kay Bascom to explore the profound questions raised in her book, Oh Jew, Oh Gentile, Why? We dive deep into the historical, theological, and biblical relationship between the modern Gentile church and God’s chosen people, Israel.

How should modern Christians understand their connection to Israel? What are the implications for the church today? Join us as we unpack these complex themes, bridge the gap between Jewish roots and Gentile faith, and discuss the broader theological insights from today's top scholars on the subject.

Resources & Books Mentioned in this Episode:

If you want to dig deeper into the topics we covered today, be sure to check out the books mentioned in the interview:

• Oh Jew, Oh Gentile, Why? by Kay Bascom

• Gerald McDermott

• Jennifer Rosner

• W.J. Ouweneel

Welcome back to the HeBelieved podcast with Levi Bailey and Dennis Toll! Following up on our deep dive into the different book orders of the Hebrew Bible, this episode explores the profound meaning hidden within its macrostructure. By examining the "seams" at the beginning and end of major biblical sections, we uncover a massive, overarching narrative that anchors the entire Story of God: Exile and Return.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Structure of Exile: Drawing on the work of Dr. Hendrik Koorevaar, we look at how the Hebrew canon frames the biblical story, starting with humanity's initial arrival and subsequent exile from the Garden of Eden in Genesis, and ending the historical core with Israel's exile from the Land in 2 Kings.

• Thematic Book Orders: We unpack how the Talmudic ordering of the Prophets and Writings emphasizes this pattern. The Prophets begin with Jeremiah's focus on Babylonian disaster, while the Writings move from Ruth's voluntary exile to the final decree in 2 Chronicles calling God's people to "go up" and return.

• Our Current Exile: We bridge this Hebrew Bible theme to the New Testament, exploring how modern followers of Jesus live in the "already-not-yet" Kingdom. Just as biblical Israel experienced physical exile, believers today navigate a spiritual exile in a world that opposes the Kingdom, waiting for the ultimate "Return"—the fullness of Christ's reign and the restoration of a new Eden.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of the Hebrew Bible's ordering of books. Does the order of the books actually matter? We discuss why we must study the text itself—not just the historical events—to uncover the Bible's deep, interpretive meaning. We compare the familiar English order of the Old Testament with the traditional Hebrew Masoretic and Talmudic orders, showing how the arrangement of these books is a story all on its own. This is part one of a two-part series on how the structure of Scripture highlights grand themes like exile, return, destruction, and consolation.

What We Explore:

• The Text Over the Event: Why reading the specific literary cues of the text is far more important than just knowing the general events.

• The Power of Repetition: How repeated words—like the shared deception of "feeling" in the stories of Jacob and Rachel, or the contrast of "good and evil" from Genesis to Joseph—reveal deeper truths in the bigger story.

• The English vs. Hebrew Canon: Contrasting our standard Western Old Testament layout (which ends with Malachi's heavy warning) with the three-part Hebrew Bible structure (Law, Prophets, Writings) that Jesus referenced.

• From Abel to Zechariah: How Jesus's own words in Luke 11 point to Chronicles being the intended final book of the Hebrew Bible.

• Thematic Brilliance: A look at the Talmudic order (Baba Batra 14b), which organizes books for profound thematic reasons rather than strict chronology, intentionally placing books by themes at the seams.

Resources Mentioned:

Hebrew Bible Canonical Books Chart

In this episode, we challenge the standard narrative arc often used in Christian theology: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation (CFRC). While popular, this framework assumes creation was entirely complete in Genesis 1 and often skips over the essential role of the Hebrew Bible and Israel.

Instead, we propose an alternative model that reframes the overarching story of Scripture. What if the ultimate goal of creation isn't just redemption, but communion and relationship?

BEEEPR Model:

• The Beginning: Why creation was "very good" but meant to be cultivated and grown, not viewed as a static, lost perfection.

• The Three E’s: How "The Fall" is better understood through the entrance of Evil, Enmity, and Exile—which act as direct threats to our relationship with God .

• The Promise: How the seed of Abraham and God's covenants serve as the means to restore fellowship.

• The Biblical MacGuffin: Borrowing a concept from Alfred Hitchcock, we reveal the true driving force behind the entire biblical plot: the relationship between God and humanity.

Resources and References Mentioned:

• Collin Cornell: God Draws Near: Rethinking the Biblical Theology of Mission (2025)

• R. Kendall Soulen: The God of Israel and Christian Theology

• Michael Heiser: The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible

• Willis J. Beecher: The Prophets and the Promise (c. 1908)

Overview

In this episode, Dennis and Levi provide a quick, engaging introduction to the core genre of Scripture: biblical narrative. If you've ever wondered how the Bible tells stories or what you should be looking for as you read, this episode serves as a tease for what is to come. Our ultimate goal is to explore the story of Scripture, piece these narratives together into one grand meta-narrative, and make Jesus known.

What We Explore:

• The Grand Story: The majority of the Bible is narrative, and even other genres (like poetry and prophecy) advance the meta narrative, or overarching story.

• Literary Tools: We discuss essential elements to look for, such as plot, characters, the narrator's voice, and intentional repetition.

• Brilliant Editing: We examine how seemingly out-of-place stories, like Tamar in Genesis 38, are actually masterful connections to the larger narrative and the lineage of David.

• Experiencing Stories: The wooing of Rebekah in Genesis 24 perfectly illustrates a beautifully crafted story with a happy ending.

• Narrative Analogies: We look at parallel storylines—like God calming the storm in Jonah 1 and Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4—that highlight exactly what the text intends to teach us.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Poetics of Biblical Narrative by Meir Sternberg
• The Art of Narrative Analogy: Identifying and Interpreting Parallel Passages in the Bible by Seth Postell

HeBelieved Episode 2: The Power of Story

In this episode, we explore why we are "all about the story." While modern Christianity is often defined by Systematic Theology (ST), we look at why the narrative of Scripture is the primary way we are meant to encounter God and shape our worldview.

Key Discussion Points

• Systematic Theology vs. Narrative: ST is a human response to Scripture—a helpful tool for defining orthodoxy, but a human construct nonetheless. We discuss the risks of elevating "systems" to the level of the text itself.
• The Modernist Trap: How the Enlightenment shifted our focus toward scientific dissection of God rather than experiencing the story He told.
• Worldview and the Heart: A worldview isn't just an intellectual exercise; it is a "heart commitment" that connects our limited, physical experience to the transcendent Creator.
• The Goal of the Narrative: Scripture explains how we came to be, why we are here, and where we are going. It isn’t a textbook; it’s a story that shapes our reality.

Resources Mentioned

• The Literature of the Bible by Leland Ryken
• The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter
• Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative by Adele Berlin

Summary

Scripture is story, and story is powerful. While Systematic Theology is a helpful tool for defining orthodox limits, we must be careful not to let it replace the narrative as the Bible presents itself. Ultimately, the story of Scripture is intended to shape our own stories and our relationship with the Creator.

In this opening episode of He Believed, Dennis and Levi introduce the heart behind the podcast: trusting the LORD as Abraham did and exploring the grand story of Scripture together. Dennis shares his passion for understanding and teaching the biblical narrative, while Levi joins the conversation with growing curiosity and a willingness to handle the technical side of things.

This podcast exists to help listeners grow in knowing Jesus, primarily by learning to read the Bible with greater clarity and awareness of its overarching story. Rather than beginning with theological systems or denominational grids, we aim to start where Scripture presents itself—as a narrative centered on God’s covenant with Abraham, the history of Israel, and the fulfillment of that promise in the Jewish Messiah.

As Gentiles grafted into Israel’s olive tree (Romans 11), we believe the story cannot be understood apart from its Jewish foundation. Drawing from Genesis 15:6 and Luke 24, we reflect on the central theme of belief—trusting what the LORD has spoken—as the key to entering and understanding the story.

This episode lays the groundwork for where we’re headed and why the narrative of Scripture matters for all who believe.