It Means What It Means

This conversation explores the concept of manumission in ancient Mediterranean societies, particularly during the New Testament era. Chance Bonar (a contributor to the book Ancient Slavery and its New Testament Contexts) discusses the various types of manumission, the complex relationship between freedom and manumission, and the challenges faced by enslaved individuals seeking to purchase their freedom. The dialogue also delves into biblical perspectives on slavery and the implications of these historical practices for modern understandings of freedom and anti-slavery movements. This conversation explores the complexities of slavery in antiquity, particularly focusing on the legal framework of manumission during the Roman Empire and its implications. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, Slaver in Early Christianity, Green Grass, Running Water, and the work of Kevin Bales. Chance Bonar ended his chapter with the following suggested reading:

Bonar, Chance E. God, Slavery, and Early Christianity: Divine Possession and Ethics in the Shepherd of Hermas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming.

Harrill, J. Albert. The Manumission of Slaves in Early Christianity. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1995.

Mouritsen, Henrik. The Freedmen in the Roman World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Nasrallah, Laura S. “‘You Were Bought with a Price’: Freedpersons and Things in 1 Corinthians.” Pages 54-73 in Corinth in Contrast: Studies in Inequality. Edited by Steven J. Friesen, Sarah A. James, and Daniel N. Schowalter. Leiden: Brill, 2014.

Petersen, Lauren Hackworth. The Freedmen in Roman Art and Art History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Zelnick-Abramovitz, Rachel. Not Wholly Free: The Concept of Manumission and the Status of Manumitted Slaves in the Ancient Greek World. Leiden: Brill, 2005.

Timothy A Lee discusses his article from the Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, “Jude’s Use of A Kaige Edition of Enochic Scripture.” He talks about his academic journey from mathematics to biblical studies, ultimately focusing his research on the proposed Kaige revision of Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. Other resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include, works by Jean-Dominique Barthélemy, The Online Critical Pseudepigrapha, Textual Evolution and Growth of the Enochic Theophany in the Book of the Watchers 1:1-9, Richard Bauckham’s Commentary on Jude, Septuagint, Scrolls and Cognate Writings: Papers Presented to the International Symposium on the Septuagint and Its Relations to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Writings, The SBL Study Bible, Invitation to the Septuagint, An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research, The Septuagint in Context, The New English Translation, the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, the works of Charles Dickens, the works of Jane Austen, Prisoner of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World, The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World, and podcasts produced by the BBC.

Scholars Katherine Shaner and Christy Cobb discuss their collaboration as editors for the book Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts and their respective contributions. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include, Corinthian Democracy: Democratic Discourse in 1 Corinthians, The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, Slavery in Early Christianity, Criminalization in Acts of the Apostles: Race, Rhetoric, and the Prosecution of an Early Christian Movement, Mitzi J Smith, Angela N Parker, Kristin Hannah, A Mercy, and James. 

Matthew Boedy discusses the Seven Mountains Mandate, a concept within certain evangelical circles that seeks to reclaim seven areas of cultural influence in America: government, religion, education, family, media, entertainment, and business. He explores the historical context of this movement, its key figures, and the implications for democracy and national identity. The discussion also delves into how biblical texts are interpreted to support this mandate and the coalitional politics that have emerged around it, particularly in relation to authoritarianism and Christian nationalism. Make sure to check out Matthew’s book The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy. Other resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include, The Enigma of Clarence Thomas, How to End Christian Nationalism, Bad Faith (documentary), Paradise (television series), and Abbot Elementary.

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.

In this conversation, Sam Blankenship discusses her research on Persian-style historiography in the context of Ezra-Nehemiah. She explores the contributions of Arnaldo Momigliano to historiography, the definition of history, and the role of charts in historical documentation. The discussion delves into how Persian administration influenced Jewish historiography and the dual nature of historical narratives in Ezra-Nehemiah, highlighting the complexities of audience and purpose in historical writing. Resources mentioned or recommended in this conversation include, Arnaldo Momigliano, Persian Fire, Bruce Lincoln, Aspects of History and Epic in Ancient Iran, From Cyrus to Alexander, The Persian Empire: A Corpus of Sources from the Achaemenid Period, An Empire Far and Wide, Archival Historiography in Jewish Antiquity, War and Peace, and Martyr.

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.

Andrew Rillera discusses his book Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death, exploring the multifaceted nature of sacrifice in Christianity, particularly focusing on Jesus' death and its significance. He emphasizes the importance of understanding sacrifice beyond traditional interpretations, advocating for a framework of solidarity and participation. The discussion delves into the role of Levitical sacrifices, the significance of Passover, and the implications of Jesus' ascension in relation to purification and atonement. Other resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include, The works of David Moffitt, Christian Eberhardt, Joel Baden, Jacob Milgrom, Liane Feldman, Simon Gathercole, and Brandon Sanderson; as well as Jesus and Jewish Law Podcast, Jesus and the Forces of Death, Jesus and the Law of Moses.

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.

Elizabeth Arnold shares her journey from a New Testament scholar to a minister within the Baptist tradition (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship). She discusses her experiences at Candler School of Theology, her views on the radical roots of Baptists, and the importance of individualism in American faith. Elizabeth emphasizes the need for democratizing theological education and making biblical languages accessible to all. The conversation also delves into the significance of Bible translations and the role of marginal notes in understanding scripture. Other resources mentioned or recommended in this conversation include The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity; Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays of Tradition and the Baptist Vision; Ecumenism Means You Too: Ordinary Christians and the Quest for Christian Unity; Aaron Weaver; Sources of Light: Resources for Baptist Churches Practicing Theology; Arturo Pérez-Reverte; Cal Newport; and Rick Riordan. Next week, Andrew Rillera discusses his book Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death.

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.

Reed Carlson discusses his Journal of Biblical Literature article “Spirit Possession and Intimate Partner Violence in the Law of Jealousy.” He delves into the social dynamics of jealousy and how they relate to intimate partner violence (IPV). The discussion highlights the importance of understanding these themes within the broader framework of community and relationships in the Hebrew Bible. Carlson also emphasizes the need for local action against IPV. Other resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include classicist (and friend of the show) Anthony Ellis, Jealousy in Context, Ingrid Lily, Annette Yoshiko Reed, The Idea of Possession, Unfamiliar Selves:Possession and Other Spirit Phenomena, Demonic Bodies and the Dark Ecologies of Early Christian Culture, The SBL Study Bible, The Jewish Study Bible, The Jewish Annotated New Testament, The Jewish Annotate Apocrypha.

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.

Tzvi Novick, Abrams Professor of Jewish Though and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, discusses his book Judaism: A Guide for Christians. He explores the complexities of Jewish identity, the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, and the significance of rabbinic literature. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding Judaism not just as a religion but as a cultural and ethnic identity, delves into the role of Torah in Jewish life, explores the concept of the afterlife, and discusses the community aspect of Jewish observance. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include 18Forty, Judaism Unbound, Rabbi Shai Held, television shows Srugim and Shtisel, and poet Wallace Stevens.

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.

Amy Peeler discusses her book Women and the Gender of God, exploring the complexities of gender in theology, the nature of God, and the role of women in the church. She emphasizes the importance of understanding gender as it relates to divine revelation and the implications of language used to describe God. The discussion also delves into ancient perspectives on conception, the political and ontological aspects of the title “Son of God,” and the significance of fatherhood in understanding divine relationships. Authors and resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include Michael Peppard, Lynn Marie Tonstad, Jürgen Moltmann, Andrew Lincoln, Oliver D Crisp, Madison Pierce, Elisabeth Behr-Sigel, Sarah Coakley, Ben Witherington, Lynn H Cohick, Amy Brown Hughes, Susan Hylen, Two Cities Podcast, and Sparrow.

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.