John’s Gospel starts unlike the Synoptics. Rather than beginning “zoomed in” on a family or a young, soon-to-be pregnant girl, John starts his narrative at the beginning of time and space. Jonathan and Seth explore why this narrative differs so much from the other gospel openings, what are the implications, and whether these discrepancies should distract us from the stories.

The pair returns to their respective studios this week. With that return comes more consistent audio.

The Christ Hymn, Philippians 2:6-11, often loses its literary and historical context. Theologians latch onto Christ's kenosis, Christ's self-emptying, and spin that word into entire theological systems. Paul, however, places this early Christian hymn in a letter to the Philippians as a model for their behavior. Jonathan and Seth try to read this text in context, struggle with its implications for people with privilege, and see it as the key to unlocking the rest of the letter.

This episode was the last to be recorded in person; next week, we will return to Zoom and its improved audio quality.

Jonathan narrates A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement C. Moore while Seth provides the sound effects for this beloved Christmas classic. After, they read Luke's account of Jesus' birth.

We acknowledge not everyone experiences Christmas merrily, so we hope your holiday is gentle and full of the Christ child's grace.

Mary’s song declares that God has looked with favor on the lowly and will confound the mighty. As the one chosen to carry the Messiah in her womb, Mary experiences this reversal, which convinces her that God will upend social systems too. Jonathan and Seth discuss -in person- the tendency to emphasize either her personal or communal statements. She is viewed either as a mother or a social revolutionary, but rarely both. They seek to hold her whole identity together.

After 84 episodes, Jonathan and Seth record their first episode in person. John the Baptist proclaims a coming Messiah greater than him, but the crowd questions "whether he might be the Messiah” (3:15). Jonathan and Seth discuss how we can tell messengers from the Messiah, who we follow as political messiahs, and how leaders can ensure that people do not mistake them for the One coming after.

Since we recorded this episode in person, the audio quality may be inferior. We hope, however, that our excitement comes through nonetheless.

Malachi addresses people post-exile who remember an extravagant, vibrant Jerusalem. They also anticipate a coming messenger. They live in an interim time. So, following last week's episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the technical terms "anamnesis" (a holy remembering) and "prolepsis" (looking forward). The pair discusses what worship practices help us remember, help us look forward, and how those intertwine in Advent.

This episode relates to last week's, but listening to that episode is not necessary. Each can stand on its own too.

The beginning of the Church year starts with a passage about the end times. Advent is apocalyptic because, while it looks back at the historical birth of Jesus Christ, it also anticipates Jesus' return. Apocalyptic texts present some challenges, however. Most notably, what to do with them? Jonathan and Seth discuss this passage as people living in the interim period, like Luke's audience, who are waiting for Jesus' return and asking questions about what that waiting looks like in the meantime.

They mention a video called Gandhi II, which one can view here.

Humphrey Bogart's final words were, "I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis." In this week's episode, we have David's last words. Like Bogart's, however, the reports may not be accurate; nonetheless, they are true. Memories of last words and memories themselves are tricky; a gap always exists between the memory and the historical event. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of memory-making, why this gap matters, and how it influences our interpretations.

As is often a biblical theme, Hannah is unable to have a child but wants one deeply. In the temple, she prays silently for a son, which makes Eli presume she's drunk. But God has heard her. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of hearing, how it can ease anxieties, and reassure us that we're safe. Each of them shares a story about being heard. Because these stories involve emotional distress, they may be triggering for some. In that case, we hear you; please stay tuned for our next episode, which will air next week! 

The psalmist exclaims, "Don’t trust leaders; / don’t trust any human beings— / there’s no saving help with them!" (v. 3). This past Tuesday, however, was election day across the United States. Can Christians engage with political institutions? If so, how do they do so? What about institutions that are not political but are businesses? Jonathan and Seth take on this broad topic, talk about engaging with institutions faithfully, and why one should never blindly obey any institution.