In this conversation, Jonathan Sedlak discusses his background, his book on the Olivet Discourse, and his interpretation of Matthew's Gospel. He challenges traditional views of the Olivet Discourse, arguing that it pertains to first-century events rather than future eschatological predictions. Sedlak emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and literary context of the text, and he explores the evolution of interpretations throughout Christian history. He also shares insights on community engagement and the significance of local initiatives. Recommendations in this episode include Matthew: Living Everyday an Jesus Taught Us, Chiasmus in the New Testament, Literary Form in the New Testament, Resurrection: The Capstone In the Arch of Christianity, Matthew: Through the Centuries, Discovering Matthew, Matthew: A Commentary, Catena Aurea, Jesus’ Directions for the Future, The Influence of the Gospel of Matthew on Christian Literature Before Saint Irenaeus, New Testament Scholar Jason Staples, Peter Leithart, Tom Holland, and Kinship Community Food Center.

In this conversation, Sara Koenig discusses her book The Ten Commandments Through the Ages, focusing on the concept of reception history, which examines how biblical texts have been interpreted over time. She explores the differences in the presentation of the Ten Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy, the implications of apodictic and casuistic laws, and the relevance of these commandments in contemporary American law. The discussion also touches on cultural reflections of the commandments and their application in modern society, emphasizing the importance of context in biblical interpretation. Recommendations from this episode include:

·         The Beatitudes through the Ages

·         Tyrant Philosophers

·         Luther’s Catechism on the Ten Commandments

·         Broken Tablets: Restoring the Ten Commandments and Ourselves

·         Dekalog

·         Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment

·         Gulliver’s Travels

·         The Broken Earth

·         “A Legendary World-Bilder on Multiverses, Revolution and the ‘Souls’ of Cities”

The Scholomance Series

Authors Marissa Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis discuss their book, The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, exploring the ideologies underlying Christian parenting advice, the impact of cultural narratives, and the importance of empathy and understanding in parenting. They delve into the historical context of parenting books, the role of translation in biblical texts, and the evolving conversation around children's rights and parental control. They emphasize the need for open dialogue and critical examination of parenting resources, aiming to foster healthier family dynamics and relationships. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include author Bruce Waltke, Julie Ingersoll, Ask of Old Paths, Flourishing Homes & Families, The False Promises of Good Christian Parenting, Households of Faith, The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Agatha Christie, The Wheel of Time, Discworld, The Scholomance Series, Spinning Silver, and Framing Paul. Kelsey’s recommendations include Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith and How Music Works.

Eric Harvey discusses his recent work on creation myths, divine service, and the economic implications of ancient religious practices. He explores the differences between Mesopotamian and biblical narratives, particularly in terms of sacrifice and the needs of the divine. The discussion highlights the complexity of ancient texts and the importance of understanding them within their cultural context. Resources included mentioned in this episode include Atrahasis; The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel; God: An Anatomy; scholar Bruce Wells; The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source, from Creation to the Promised Land; Food in Ancient Judah: Domestic Cooking in the Time of the Hebrew Bible; scholar Roland Bohr; The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently; Beautyland: A Novel; A Thursday Murder Club; and Eric’s blog.

Jennie Grillo, an Associate Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, discusses her insights on divine embodiment in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in relation to the work of Benjamin Sommer. The conversation explores the complexities of how God is represented in biblical texts, the significance of embodiment, and the implications of time in understanding these representations. Grillo emphasizes the fluidity of divine embodiment and the distinctions between human and divine experiences of having a body, drawing on examples from the Book of Job and other biblical narratives. Recommendations in this conversation include The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel; historian Caroline Bynum; Mark S Smith; “When Gods Were Men”: The Embodied God in Biblical and Near Eastern Literature; The Prophetic Body: Embodiment and Mediation in Biblical Prophetic Literature; The Betrothed: A Novel; and Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times.

In this conversation, Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat (of Russet House Farm) discuss their book Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. In the book they explore the themes of inevitability and possibility through the lens of biblical narratives. They also emphasize the importance of living with hope and the belief that God can make the impossible possible, urging listeners to embrace a future of reconciliation and new beginnings. Recommendations from this conversation can be found in the show notes for this episode at:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-111-with-148004507?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

David Basher discusses his research on the biblical text of 1 Samuel 16, focusing on the concept of ghosts and evil spirits in the ancient Near East. He explains the story of Saul, who is tormented by an evil spirit after being rejected as king, and explores various interpretations of Saul's condition, including psychological and supernatural explanations. The discussion also touches on the role of music in healing, the historical context of biblical narratives, and the lack of medical texts from ancient Israel. Basher emphasizes the importance of understanding ancient beliefs and practices to interpret biblical texts accurately. Resources recommended in this episode include Judahite Burial Practices and Beliefs about the Dead; Death in the Iron Age II and in First Isaiah; Death and Burial in Iron Age Israel, Aram, and Phoenicia; A History of Death in the Hebrew Bible; God’s Monsters; Disembodied Souls: The Nefesh in Israel and Kindred Spirits in the Ancient Near East, with an Appendix on the Katumuwa Inscription; Unfamiliar Selves in the Hebrew Bible: Possession and Other Spirit Phenomena; Recovering the Monstrous in Revelation; Star Wars Legends; and Murder in the Tidwell Building.

Kirk MacGregor discusses his Journal of Biblical Literature article “The Pro-Choice Biblical Ethic of American Evangelical Scholars before the Religious Right.” MacGregor’s article is focused on understanding the historical context of and changes since the 1968 Protestant Symposium on the Control of Human Reproduction. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include MacGregor’s book A Historical and Theological Investigation of John’s Gospel; historian Randall Balmer; Brave New People: Ethical Issues at the Commencement of Life; author Letha Scanzoni; “The ‘Biblical View’ That’s Younger than the Happy Meal”; Thy Kingdom Come: How the religious Right Distorts Faith and Threatens America; Broken Words: The Abuse of Science and Faith in American Politics; Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right; “The Religious Right and the Abortion Myth”; “How Evangelicals Decided that Life Begins at Conception”; and novelist Amy Gentry.

Follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, Boomplay. 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. You can also get updates and promotional clips if you follow us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, Spoutible, Twitter, Threads, Wordpress, and Tumblr.

Alexiana Fry discusses her recent article from The Journal of Biblical Literature, “Don’t Feel It, Don’t Heal It: Ezekiel 24:15-27 and Divine Dissociation.” The discussion explores cultural constructs of grief, the role of authority in mourning, and the implications of dissociation as a coping mechanism. Fry emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief and healing in the context of trauma, while also recommending further reading on these topics. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include the television series Severance; The Empire of Trauma: An Inquiry into the Condition of Victimhood; Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza; Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible; Dr Kenneth J Doka; Dr Carly L Crouch; Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Daily Life; No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model; No Bad Parts!; Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries: Ezekiel; Trauma Theory, Trauma Story: A Narration of Biblical Studies and the World of Trauma; The Southern Reach Series; The Poppy War Trilogy; Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution; and author Naomi Novick.

Things are looking good for the podcast in 2026! I have been fortunate enough to record nine interviews before the year has even started!!! Enjoy these previews from:

1. Jonathan Sedlak: Reading Matthew, Trusting Jesus: Christian Tradition and First-Century Fulfillment within Matthew 24-25

1. Sara Koenig: The Ten Commandments through the Ages

1. Marissa Franks Burt & Kelsey Kramer McGinnis: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families

1. Eric Harvey: Reding Creation Myths Economically in Ancient Mesopotamia and Israel

1. Jennie Grillo: “On Having a Body: Time and Divine Embodiment”

1. Brian Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat: Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire

1. David Basher: “Saul and the Not-So-Holy Ghost: 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and Ghost-Induced Illness”

1. Kirk MacGregor: “The Pro-Choice Biblical Ethics of American Evangelical Scholars before the Religious Right”

1. Alexiana Fry: “Don’t Feel It, Don’t Heal It: Ezekiel 24:15-27 and Divine Dissociation”