It Means What It Means

John Dunne is back to discuss the 1993 film The Judas Project with Jared. Their conversation explores narrative, character motivations, and the cultural and theological implications of its portrayal of Jesus, Peter, and Judas. They analyze the film's unique take on the story of Jesus in a contemporary setting, the motivations behind Judas' betrayal, and the film's overall quality and impact. The discussion also touches on the nostalgia associated with early 90s cinema and the film's earnest yet flawed execution. Recommendations in this episode include Assassin 33AD, The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus, and Jesus and the Forces of Death.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

In this conversation, Susan Hylen discusses book Finding Phoebe: What New Testament Women Were Really Like and her research on the roles and perceptions of women in the time when the New Testament was written. She highlights the historical context of women's property ownership, their social influence through patronage, and the virtues ascribed to them in ancient society. The discussion also delves into the complexities of speech and silence in relation to social hierarchies, emphasizing that women's roles were more nuanced than traditionally understood. Hylen emphasizes the importance of interpreting biblical texts with an awareness of their cultural background, encouraging readers to engage with scripture in a way that recognizes the complexities of women's voices and agency. Recommendations in this episode include, Richard P Saller, Nijay Gupta, Niall Williams, and Rebecca Makkai.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Nadya Williams discusses her book Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity. She emphasizes the importance of unconditional love, the priceless nature of every individual, and the need for community support in times of suffering. The dialogue explores the economic implications of caregiving, the value of the elderly, and how Christianity provides a counter-narrative to modern societal values that often devalue life. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the significance of neighborly love and community in fostering hope and support. Nadya’s recommendations include Wendell Berry, Hannah’s Children, and Muppets in Moscow.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Yii-Jan Lin discusses her article “Our Cloud of Witnesses: A Writing of Hebrews 11:1-12:2 in Memory of the Asian and Asian American Women Killed 16 March 2021.” She reflects on the impact of immigration, the concept of citizenship, and the importance of honoring Asian American activism. Lin challenges dominant interpretations of scripture and emphasizes the need for new methodologies in biblical studies, advocating for a more inclusive and contextual approach to understanding biblical texts. The discussion also touches on the need for community support against misinformation targeting Asian Americans and the broader implications of citizenship in scholarship. Recommendations in this conversation include Stop AAPI Hate, Erika Lee, and Mae Ngai.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Amber Dillon discusses her doctoral dissertation The Archetypal Witness: John the Baptist and Composite Intertextuality in the Fourth Gospel. Dillon explores the significance of John the Baptist in the prologue of the fourth gospel, the evangelist's intentions, and the complex relationship between the Gospel and Jewish identity. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the Gospel of John within its Jewish context and the implications of its anti-Jewish rhetoric. Recommendations in this episode include, The Gospel of John and the Future of Israel, Christmaker, How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible, Invitation to the Septuagint, Introducing the Pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism, The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, Communities in Dispute: Current Scholarship on the Jahannine Epistles.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

In this conversation, Kyle Rouse, a PhD candidate at Baylor University, discusses his article “Conquests Need Monuments and Monuments Need Inscriptions: The Textual Location of the Mount Ebal Altar Episode in Joshua.” He explores the significance of the Masoretic text, authorship debates, and the cultural conventions surrounding military conquests in ancient texts. Rouse emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context and narrative coherence of biblical literature, as well as engaging with scholarly conversations on textual traditions. Kyle’s recommendations include Tracking the Master Scribe, “Monumental Inscription and the Ritual Representation of War,” Assyria: The Imperial Mission, Text and Ritual in the Pentateuch A Systematic and Comparative Approach, Harry Potter, Red Rising, Dune.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Jason Borges discusses his article “Phoebe, a Host of Christian Travelers: The Meaning of Πϱοστάτις in Romans 16:2.” He explores the role of hospitality in the ancient world, particularly how figures like Phoebe served as hosts for Christian travelers. The discussion delves into the concept of patronage, the reciprocal nature of relationships in ancient hospitality, and the institution of Proxenia, which facilitated travel and support among communities. Borges emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics to grasp the social fabric of early Christianity. Jason’s recommentations include Edwin Judge, Proxeny and Polis: Institutional Networks in the Ancient Greek World, and Lionel Casson.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Shalom E. Holtz, Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University, discusses his article “The Problems of Land Possession and the Meaning of Isaiah 60:21.” The discussion explores the legal implications of land possession during the Neo-Babylonian and Persian periods, the role of imperial powers, and the theological perspectives surrounding law and land ownership. He emphasizes the vision of restoration in Isaiah 60 and its relevance to contemporary interpretations, including the utopian ideals present in ancient Israel. Recommendations from this episode include Praying Legally; A Prophet Reads Scripture: Allusion in Isaiah 40-66; and the collected works of Ken Follet and Charles Dickens, respectively.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Matthew Monger; Associate professor of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society; discusses his article “The Book of the Daughters of Adam in the Gelasian Decree.” He explains the decree's role in establishing a canon of scripture and introduces the Book of the Daughters of Adam, a text mentioned in the decree but lacking historical evidence. The discussion delves into the Book of Jubilees, its historical context, and the importance of critical editions in understanding biblical texts. Monger also explores the nature of textual variance in manuscripts and the intentions of scribes in their copying practices, ultimately concluding that many scribes may not have fully understood the texts they were working with. Matt also has a YouTube channel called The Bible was Written Backwards.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Brandon Hurlbert (one of the hosts of The Two Cities podcast) discusses his article “Deconstructing the Downward Spiral: Anthology as Coherence in the Book of Judges,” arguing that it should be viewed as an anthology of narratives rather than a unified story depicting a downward spiral of moral decay. He explores the editorial processes behind ancient texts, the complexity of biblical narratives, and the presence of humor and irony within the stories. Hurlbert also evaluates the common downward spiral thesis through a series of tests, ultimately challenging its validity and emphasizing the interpretive freedom readers have when approaching these texts. Brandon recommends that listeners read Andrew Judd’s Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies.

Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at [email protected]. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.