Can a Christian be an environmentalist? Biblical Scholar Sandra Richter joins Nick and Matt to talk about why creation care is an important part of being the image of God. They discuss how divisive politics, the privileges of wealth, and peculiar understandings of the Bible have all contributed to the suspicion many Christians feel toward environmentalism. All this and more as they discuss Sandra Richter’s book, “Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why it Matters."

Resources Referenced: Stewards of Eden, Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter. Appendix to Stewards of Eden

Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more resources and recommendations, check out reparadigmed.com.

How does being made in the image of God affect the way we live? Does it have real implications for the jobs we do, the art we create, and the way we care for creation? Nick and Matt dive into some practical questions around living as the image of God in a fallen world, and how Jesus’ humanity lights the way.

Resources Referenced: Radical Hope by Jonathan Lear, Earthkeeping and Character by Steven Bouma-Prediger, Culture Care by Makoto Fujimora, Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller and Katherine Leary Asdorf, Sermon on the Mount Series by BibleProject

Interlude Music: Everything Comes to an End by Of Water https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xIVZrl3azc/

Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more resources and recommendations, check out reparadigmed.com.

In the ancient world, “god’s image” was a title a king took to show his relationship to a god and demonstrate his authority to rule. Idols are also called images of gods, acting as representative mediators between the gods they represent and the people. Genesis uses this 'image of God' language in a new way to demonstrate something remarkable about God’s relationship with humanity and our purpose in God’s creation.

Resources Referenced: The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser, God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum.

Interlude Music: Glorious by Loving Caliber https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zlcNnFTDsT/

Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more fun, check out reparadigmed.com.

Don't throw in the towel! It's not as difficult as it seems. Matt and Nick discuss several of the questions and concerns we've received from listeners of the How to Read the Bible series. At the end of the day, we hope we can all sing Kumbaya together in a giant circle of affinity, united in our love for the Bible.

Resources Referenced: Reading Genesis: ANE Hermeneutic vs. Plain Meaning by Terry Mortenson. https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/genesis-ane-hermeneutic-vs-plain-meaning/

Interlude Music: I Won't Let Them by North Sphere. https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/5hTmR6eTwF/

Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more fun, check out reparadigmed.com.

Adam and Eve, ancestors of us all? Matt and Nick chat with Dr. Joshua Swamidass, author of “The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry.” In his book, Dr. Swamidass carefully investigates the findings of genetic science, biblical tradition, and some of the key assumptions that have divided Christians in the human origins debate. His thesis presents not only a surprising plot twist but also acts as a watershed moment for theological discourse on the issue.

Resources Referenced: The Genealogical Adam and Eve by Joshua Swamidass, Adam and the Genome by Dennis Venema and Scot McKnight, The Lost World Series by John Walton

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Can Biblical scholarship and the tough questions it forces us to ask actually bring a benefit for pastors and churches?  In this episode, Nick and Matt chat with Raleigh Clay, pastor, Bible enthusiast, and host of the Pistis with Us Podcast about why scholarship matters, how to make it practical, and signing on the dotted line.

Resources Referenced: Pistis with Us Podcast by Raleigh Clay,  Nobody's Mother by Sandra L. Glahn, Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates, Wisdom for Faithful Reading by John Walton.

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Get your Indiana Jones hat on. Matt and Nick chat about recent discoveries that help us better understand the world of the Biblical authors. These discoveries offer both exciting new insight into the meaning of the Biblical texts, and a challenge to some of the long-standing assumptions made by Christians.

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

Interlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

What is Biblical faith? Is it a blind leap, a group of teachings, or an internal conviction? Dr. Teresa Morgan, Biblical scholar and author of Roman Faith and Christian Faith, discusses with Matt and Nick what the word translated "faith" (pistis) meant in Greco-Roman culture, how the Biblical authors used it, and how its use changed over time in Christian vocabulary. She addresses questions about pistis christou, allegiance, grace, and salvation by faith alone. She also gives her opinion on whether Augustine and the Reformers took the “faithfulness” out of “faith.”

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Ugh, history. If our goal is to understand the Biblical authors, how much help is church history? Nick and Matt discuss the ways church history can help us understand the Bible, along with some of the things to be careful of.

Referenced Resources: Caesar and the Lamb by George Kalantzis, Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

Interlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

John Walton, PhD, contends that we must "mercilessly" purge our interpretations of anything that can not be defended as part of the author's intention. Nick and Matt chat with Dr. Walton about his new book, Wisdom for Faithful Reading, and they discuss some of the most important interpretive principles that Bible readers need to employ every time they open the Bible. They discuss issues of authority and tradition, and they get into a discussion on Genesis 1-2 and how the ancient Jewish authors would have been trying to communicate. Nick asks Dr. Walton if it bothers him that many in church history and within Judaism do not share his views. Finally, Dr. Walton gives some practical advice on what to do in group settings when Bible reading is not being done well. 

Resources Referenced: Wisdom for Faithful Reading, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, The Lost World of Adam and Eve, The Lost World of Genesis One, The Lost World of Scripture, The Lost World of  the Israelite Conquest, The Lost World of the Flood, The Lost World of the Torah by John Walton

Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorous

Interlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.

For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com