It Means What It Means

Jared interviews Elesha Coffman, a professor of history at Baylor University, about her book Turning Points in American Church History. They discussed the genesis of the book, the importance of understanding contingency in history, and the idiosyncratic approach Coffman takes in her analysis of pivotal events. The conversation also delves into the complexities of American Protestantism, the political realignments throughout history, and the nature of hierarchies in American society. Elesha and Jared mentioned or recommended the following Rebel on Main, Nice Try, and the writings of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie.

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Alicia Batten, a professor of New Testament early Christianity, discusses her article “Courtroom Theatrics in the Letter of James.” She explores how the text critiques wealth and partiality, drawing parallels to ancient courtroom settings and the importance of community mediation in legal disputes. Batten also delves into the significance of various aspects of ancient cultures, particularly focusing on seating arrangements in synagogues, the significance of clothing in courtroom settings, and the social dynamics present in the biblical text of James. Alicia’s recommendations for resources include the works of Leanne Bablitz, Kelly Olson, David Gowler, Avi Shlaim, Alistair MacLeod, Mary Oliver, WH Auden, John C Wright, John Keats, Jalal al-Din Rumi, David Adams Richard, Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, WO Mitchell, Farley Mowat, Michael Ondaatje, The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World, Dale Allison’s Commentary on James, Bible Odyssey, and History Valley Podcast.

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.

Bruce Gordon discusses his book The Bible: A Global History. He emphasizes the Bible's evolution, the significance of its materiality, and the ongoing discussions surrounding the canon, particularly in relation to the Council of Nicaea. This conversation explores the complexities of biblical texts, their translations, and interpretations across different cultures and historical contexts. Books mentioned and recommended in this episode include those by Lamin Sanneh, Philip Jenkins, Leo Tolstoy, and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

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.

Catalin-Stefan Popa, a research professor at the Romanian Academy, discusses his article “An Early Ḥarklean Version in a Syriac Gospel Fragmentary Manuscript (MS Or. 403)” and about his research on Syriac manuscripts. They also discuss the significance of Syriac as a language, the historical context of the manuscripts, the role of marginalia, and the importance of manuscript preservation and digitization. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include Urho, The Way; The Digital Orientalist; Middle Eastern Manuscript Traditions; The Syriac Annals of the Romanian Academy; The Making of Syriac Jerusalem: Representations of the Holy City in Syriac Literature of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages; and Soul and Boy Diseases: Remedies and Healing in Middle Eastern Religious Cultures and Traditions.

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.

Jared and Barbara Thiede discusses her book Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible: Malignant Fraternities, exploring the concept of homosociality in biblical narratives, particularly among male characters. She reflects on the implications of these relationships in the context of contemporary issues surrounding toxic masculinity and gender dynamics. Thiede also examines the relationships of key biblical figures such as Judah, Hira, and David, and how these narratives can inform our understanding of masculinity today. Websites, books, and authors mentioned or recommended in this episode include The Shiloh Project, Ursula Vernon, Alix Harrow, Chronicles of Amber, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Ursula K Le Guin.

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.

Jared and Barbara Thiede discusses her book Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible: Malignant Fraternities, exploring the concept of homosociality in biblical narratives, particularly among male characters. She reflects on the implications of these relationships in the context of contemporary issues surrounding toxic masculinity and gender dynamics. Thiede also examines the relationships of key biblical figures such as Judah, Hira, and David, and how these narratives can inform our understanding of masculinity today. Websites, books, and authors mentioned or recommended in this episode include The Shiloh Project, Ursula Vernon, Alix Harrow, Chronicles of Amber, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Ursula K Le Guin.

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, Jared and Tom de Bruin discuss Tom’s book Fan Fiction and Early Christian Writings: Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and Canon. They consider the intersections of fan fiction and biblical texts, exploring how fan fiction can provide insights into the understanding of religious narratives. Tom delves into the concept of canon, the historical context of early Christian writings, and the complexities of textual ownership. Through contemporary examples, such as Anne Rice's Christ the Lord Series, de Bruin illustrates the ongoing dialogue between fiction and faith, emphasizing the fluidity of canonical texts and the emotional connections that drive fan engagement. Other works mentioned or recommended in this episode include Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts, The Grace of Kings, Unwind, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, and The Tyrant Philosophers.

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.

Anthony Pinn discusses his book What Is African American Religion?, emphasizing that religion is fundamentally about the quest for meaning and complex subjectivity rather than adherence to specific doctrines or institutions. He argues that this quest is a shared human impulse that transcends racial and cultural boundaries, shaped by social contexts and experiences. The discussion also touches on the rise of individuals identifying as “nones” and how community engagement is evolving in the 21st century, highlighting the importance of understanding religion as a broader human experience. Recommendations in this episode include Terror and Triumph; The Interplay of Things; Slave Road; and Moses, Man of the Mountain.

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.

Don’t panic! It’s Jared’s forty-second birthday and he invited his friend Chris Tilling back to discuss Tilling’s book Paul's Divine Christology, the nature of unconditional love in Paul's writings, and the complexities of intertextual continuity and discontinuity in Paul's theology. They also examine the importance of understanding the “weirdness” of Paul and the need to approach his writings with a fresh perspective, resisting the temptation to domesticate his message. Recommendations in this episode include Larry Hurtado, Matthew Novenson, Ruben Bühner, William Horbury, Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Jared Neusch, John Goldingay, Walter Brueggemann, Beyond Justification, Apocalypse Here, “Paul the Trinitarian,” Chris’ blog Chrisendom, and his chess podcast Chess Nut Bookcase.

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.

Constantine Campbell discusses his book, Jesus v. Evangelicals: A Bilical Critique of a Wayward Movement with Jared. They delve into the quadrilateral of evangelicalism, focusing on the significance of activism, the role of institutions, and the challenges posed by celebrity culture within the church. Campbell critiques the political expression of activism and emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of the gospel that includes the resurrection and social action. Recommendations in this episode include Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure.

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.