Strangely Biblical

We are so far removed from the original command of baptism. What did it mean to the original audience? Where did it begin? How has it traced through Jewish and Christian history? Today Jeff & Shelby peel back those layers to better understand this covenantal act.  

Scripture & References: 

Music in this episode: 

Loving Caliber - The One Who Saved Me - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Rebecca Mordal - Safe Place - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Ludlow - Float (Instrumental Version) - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

baegel - Hazy Memories - Courtesy Of www.epidemicsound.com

Cristoffer Moe Diflevsen - Alluvion - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Sam Will - The Long Ride - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Bomull - Fin - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Duke Herrington - Unbound Spirit - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Mary's Back Lawn - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Gravitation - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Breathe Tree - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Clarence Reed - From the Very Beginning - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Nevin - Summer Came For Us (Instrumental Version) - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Bashan is a region rich in Biblical history, but it is often overlooked. In this episode, Jeff and Shelby take a deep dive into the valley to highlight what scripture teaches us about its influence and presence of demonic activity. When Jesus shows up on the scene, the powers of darkness don't stand a chance. 

References: 

Deuteronomy 3

Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary - Bashan

Lexham Bible Dictionary - Bashan

Numbers 21:33

Deuteronomy 3:5-11

Amos 2

Unseen Realm - Dr. Michael S. Heiser 

"Biblical King Og and the Ugaritic Deity Rapiu" - Matthew McCaffee (Acadamia.edu)

Byblos 13 - translated by Starcky and Rollig

Reversing Hermon - Dr. Michael S. Heiser 

Job 25:5-6

Psalm 88:10

Proverbs 21:6

Isaiah 14:9-15

Judges 18:27-31

1 Kings 12:28-31

Revelation 7

Matthew 3:13

John 10:40

Luke 19:29

Matthew 16:13-20

Strangely Biblical - Episode 5 - The Nephilim, Gilgamesh, and Other Giant Tales

Strangely Biblical - Episode 2 - Reclaiming the Nations 

Music in this episode: 

Hampus Naeselius - Forever - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - The Vice - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Reynard Seidel - We Are Legends - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Francis Wells - Beautiful Mystery - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Miles Arida - If You Dare - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Deep Inside - Painting the Horizon - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Deep Inside - Morning Hue - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

DEX 1200 - Grief and Isolation - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Clarence Reed - Rewind Time - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

DEX 1200 - Disillusioned Path - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Remember What Mama Said - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jakob Ahlbom - Pulsar - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Lost Empire - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

In Genesis 3:15 we see the first declaration of Yahweh's plan for redemption. We learn of two seeds, one of the serpent and the other of the woman. From the woman will come a Redeemer to crush the serpent's head. Only one chapter later, we see the story of the serpent's seed begin to unfold when Cain kills his own brother. Genesis 5 follows two genealogies, one associated with evil while the other will bring about the Promised Seed to crush the serpent's head. 

References: 

Genesis 3:15

The Debate Between Summer & Winter

Genesis 4

Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary

Numbers 24:21

Joshua 15:57

Judges 1:6

Judges 5: 24 

Numbers 13:33 

Dictionary of Deities and Demons - Rabisu 

Faithlife Study Bible

Job 16:18

Numbers 35:33

Deuteronomy 21

Strangely Biblical - Episode 9 - Genesis 2, Eden & Mankind

Genesis 9:6 

Genesis 5

Music in this episode: 

Jo Wandrini - Odyssey of the Lost - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Christoffer Moen Ditlevsen - Abyss  - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Go On, Be Gone  - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Sphinx - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hanna Lindgreen - Sending - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Ruiqi Zhao - The Mysterious Cave - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Gabriel Lewis - Oh the Humanity - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Dream Cave - You Saved Me  - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Bitwraith - My Friend, The Warlock - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Evil is brought to earth. Why was this allowed? Who was the Tempter? Who was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for? What was Yahweh's intentions for mankind? Were they changed or just delayed? All these questions are discussed in this episode as Jeff and Shelby continue the Genesis narrative. 

Music in this episode: 

Jakob Ahlbom - The Gordian Knot - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Trevor Kowalski - Pretty Sacrifice - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

 - Sending - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - In Shadows of the Stars - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - My Greatest Hero - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - The Misty Mountains - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jakob Ahlbom - Birds of Passage - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hanna Lindgren - Sending - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Coco Begins His Journey - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jo Wandrini - Odyssey of the Lost - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jeff got the opportunity to be a guest on The Lion, the Way, and the War podcast with Craig Allison. They discuss faith, biblical narratives, and Mesopotamian literature. 

Tellsonic - A Forest Melody - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Welcome to the garden. Why is Genesis 2 also seemingly a creation account? Were Adam & Eve the first humans on earth? What does it mean that woman was created from man? Let's discuss. 

Music in this episode: 

Jakob Ahlbom - Crossing the Rubican - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jakob Ahlbom - Afternoon Coffee - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Welcome to the beginning. This episode covers a deep dive into Genesis in a way the original audience would understand. It answers the questions of who created the cosmos, why was it called good, and what it means to be made in the image of God. The previous two episodes will get listeners into the ancient near eastern mindset beforehand! 

Scripture References: 

Genesis 1 LEB

2 Peter 3:5 ESV

Jeremiah 4:23

1 Samuel 2:8

Genesis 8:22

Isaiah 66:1

Sources:

Faithlife Study Bible 

The Lost World of Genesis One by John H. Walton

The Creation of Light and Time by Anto Popovic

A Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible by David Brown, Andrew Robert Fausset & Robert Jamieson

The Star of Bethlehem Documentary 

The Exploits of Ninurta

The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser

The Image of God by John Piper (published on Desiring God)

Music in this episode: 

Victor Lundburg - Epic Elevation - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Aerian - Earthshine - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Birds of Eden - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hanna Lindgren - Past Lives - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jakob Ahlbom - Odonata - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

The creation story we read in Genesis 1 was not the first or only written creation narrative of the ancient world. It also was not written to answer our modern questions we bring to the text. Before diving into the creation story of the Bible in the next episode, it is important to have a foundational understanding of what ideas about creation were popular for the ancient near eastern peoples. This will set our minds in the appropriate context for understanding the intent. 

Sources:

The Lost World of Genesis One by John H. Walton

Enuma Elis from the Library of Ashurbanipal

The Ba'al Cycle ancient story. 

Scripture References: 

Psalm 104

Music in this episode: 

August Wilhelmsson - Our Journey - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Magnus Ludvigsson - Melancolique - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Jakob Ahlbom - Crossing the Rubicon - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

John Abbot - A March Across the Ancient Land - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

August Wilhelmsson - Felicia's Secret - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - Adapted by Dark - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - I See You - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - In the Shadow of the Stars - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Shrines - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Sound Effects in this episode: 

SFX Producer - Horse Gallup - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Large Stormy Waves Crashing on a Pebble Beach - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Thunder Rumble - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Forest Rain 1 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Produce Flame - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Mountain Wind Gusts - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

We know a flood happened in the ancient world, but what are the details surrounding the deluge? Ancient civilizations had their own stories for how and why this event occurred. In Genesis 6 we read the account of Yahweh bringing on the flood after the horrors of man's wickedness and the Nephilim crimes against humanity reach the gates of heaven. But this isn't the only flood narrative we have from the ancient world. In this episode, Jeff & Shelby discuss other flood narratives from the ancient Mesopotamian world including the story of Gilgamesh and Atrahasis. 

Sources:

Merriam Webster Dictionary: Polemic

The Lost World of the Flood by Tremper Longman III & John H. Walton

How to Tell a True War Story by Tim O'Brien

FaithLife Study Bible: Exodus & Large Numbers

Mark Ronan Gilgamesh Overview - MarkRonan.com

Grand Valley State University Atrahasis summary. 

Scripture References: 

Deuteronomy 7: 1&7

Genesis 6: 5-22

Genesis 8: 20-22

Genesis 9: 12-17

Genesis 2:10 

Music in this episode: 

David Celeste - Sphinx - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - Shrines - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Gavin Luke - Spirits of Machu Picchu - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - Remembering a Heartbeat - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - I See You - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

John Abbot - A March Across the Ancient Land - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - The Misty Mountains - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

David Celeste - The Seeds We Sow - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Sound Effects in this episode: 

SFX Producer - Boots Walk - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Fight Grunt 1 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Fight Grunt 4 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Fight Grunt 5 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Bull Breaths 9 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Bull Bellows 24 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Horse Gallup - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Large Stormy Waves Crashing on a Pebble Beach - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Thunder Rumble - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Bird Chirp 1 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Bird Raven Caged - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Swimming Pool Dive - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - River Forest - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Restaurant Crowd - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Forest Rain 1 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Hammer Hit Nail 2 - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

SFX Producer - Bedroom Door Slam - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

What we read in scripture about the Nephilim is backed by many ancient texts and legends including 1 Enoch, found among the dead sea scrolls and quoted by biblical authors, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the legends of the giants in Babylonian culture. Jeff & Shel examine these stories against scripture to gain a deeper understanding of what happened in Genesis 6, the conquests of Joshua, the transfiguration event, and more. 

Book References:

Giants, the Sons of the Gods by Doug Van Dorn

Scripture & Extra Biblical References: 

Genesis 6:1-4

1 Enoch 6: 1-8

1 Enoch 7, 8 & 10

Genesis 6: 1-4 & 5

Deuteronomy 3:11

Numbers 13: 21-22

Deuteronomy 2: 10-11, 20-21, & 23

Joshua 11: 21-22

Matthew 16: 13-18

2 Peter 2: 4-5 & 10

Jude 6-7, & 14

1 Enoch 15

Music in this episode: 

Bonnie Grace - Awaken the Immortals - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - Behind the Moon - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Deskant - Black Bullet - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Giants - Trevor Kowalski - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Hampus Naeselius - I See You - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Eden Avery - The Lost City Chooses Who May See - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Dream Cave - Narrow Escape - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

August Wilhelmsson - Felecia's Secret - Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com