In this episode, we discuss the book of Daniel and its influence on later Jewish apocalyptic literature and the New Testament. We highlight particular themes common to the apocalyptic worldview, including the kingdom of God, the son of Man, and the eschatological persecution of the saints. Daniel is best understood and read through the lens of God’s covenantal faithfulness to Israel and its projection forward in an apocalyptic view of history. 

Show notes

• Introduction to Daniel (3:04)
• Why is Daniel in the Ketuvim instead of the Nevi’im? (4:07)
• Dating the book of Daniel - Ezekiel 14:12-14; Ezekiel 14:19-20; Ezekiel 28:1-3 (7:52)
• Daniel as apocalyptic literature (14:47)
• Daniel, the covenant, and the apocalyptic view of history (16:14)
• The aim of history is the apocalyptic kingdom of God - Daniel 9 (17:24)
• Daniel in second temple apocalyptic literature - Syb. Or. 4:49ff; 4 Ezra 12:10-13, 31-34; 1 Enoch 47:1-3; 1 Enoch 46:3-5; 1 Enoch 90:20 (24:54)
• Daniel in the New Testament - Matthew 24:15, 30 (33:25)

In this episode, we discuss the Five Scrolls: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. Though seemingly disparate in content, authorship, chronology, and genre, Jewish tradition groups these five books within the Ketuvim. We discuss some of the reasons why, and how later tradition reads these books messianically and eschatologically. 

Show notes

• The Five Scrolls and the Targums (2:43)
• Song of Solomon - Ezekiel 16:7-8; Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 1-2; Targum Canticles 8:4-8 (12:16)
• Ruth - Targum Ruth 1:1; 2:12; 4:22 (31:22)
• Lamentations - Targum Lamentations 1:1; 2:22; 4:22 (38:18)
• Ecclesiastes - Targum Qohelet 1:2; 12:13-14; 1 Enoch 102:6-103:4 (43:17)
• Esther - Targum Esther 1:1 (50:50)

Resource: Targum and Testament Revisited by Martin McNamara - https://amzn.to/3L6DGB4

In this episode we continue our interview with David Mitchell, Biblical scholar and pastoral musician. We explore some of the eschatological themes found in the Psalms and how these play out in the prophetic literature. We also look at the themes of the Psalms in apocalyptic literature, which give context to the New Testament’s quotations of the Psalms, especially Psalm 110.

Show notes:

• The central eschatological themes found in the Psalter (2:18)
• How do you see the Psalter’s effect on the late prophetic material or on the prophetic material in general? (7:59)
• How do you see these ideas projecting forward into 2nd temple/apocalyptic literature? (12:48)
• How do you see these eschatological ideas of the psalms continued in the New Testament? (19:50)
• Psalm 110, Hebrews 10, and Melchizedek (26:26)
• A discussion on David’s writings (34:52)
• The prophetic nature of the Psalms and the academic motivation to keep them in history (43:22)

In this episode we interview David Mitchell, Biblical scholar and pastoral musician. We explore some of his work on the Psalms from his book The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms. David discusses the primary theme of his book with us – namely, that the Psalms have been organized in a way that is intended to convey an eschatological narrative. David shares some of the other theories behind the organization of the Psalms, and then shares a few examples to help illustrate how both the content and the redaction of the Psalms were intended to heighten eschatological expectation. 

Show notes:

• What prompted David’s interest in the Book of Psalms? (4:22)
• The Psalms were redacted with a particular purpose (16:08)
• The eschatological meta-narrative behind the organization of the Psalter (25:38)
• The Psalms as a multi-author work, compiled to reinforce the hope of Israel (35:35)

In this episode we begin our discussion of the Ketuvim with the Wisdom tradition in the Tanakh. Along with the prophetic tradition, the wisdom tradition played a key role in the development of Jewish apocalypticism. Today we survey the Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, highlighting how they are incorporated into later apocalyptic themes such as the delineation of the righteous and the wicked at the final judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and messianic hope.

Show notes

• What is the Wisdom tradition? (2:52)
• What does Wisdom literature have to do with Jewish apocalyptic? (8:18)
• The Psalms - Psalm 1; 2; 78; Targum Psalms 18:29; 27:13; Wisdom of Solomon 3, 5 (15:31)
• Proverbs - Proverbs 1:20-33; Daniel 1:17; Daniel 2:20-22, 31-45; 4 Ezra 4 (28:11)
• Job - Job 19; Job 42; Job 14:14 (LXX); Job 42:17 (LXX); James 5:11 (42:20)

** We had a little trouble with our recording this week. You may hear some small audio clicks and pops during this episode. Our apologies!

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this eighth Q&A episode. Topics include the relationship of apocalypticism to pacifism and fatalism, Messianic Judaism, and the importance of historical studies. Also, don’t miss our rapid fire round (which, as usual, is not so rapid).

Show notes:

• Can you comment on what “salt and light” and “city on a hill” meant for a first-century Jew? (2:10)
• How do historical studies fit into the larger trajectory of theological development? (9:12)
• Why do some scholars believe there were different versions of “Christian Judaism” in the first century? (18:06)
• Is there time in the age to come? (26:21)
• To what extent do the grafted-in Gentiles inherit the promises to the Jewish people? (29:32)
• On the killing of the Caananites: Didn’t God use His covenant people to bring retribution on a non-covenant people that continued in rebellion? (31:47)
• Should messianic Jews should maintain Torah observance? (34:37)
• Are there any books, websites or articles that talk about what John said about the Greek, Roman and Jewish narratives of the gospel? (39:15)
• Is Matthew 24 about 70AD, the end of the age, or something else? (41:25)
• Can you explain the relationship of apocalypticism to pacifism and fatalism? (44:30)

In this episode we finish our discussion of the Minor Prophets with Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. We discuss the various themes found in each book and the role that these post-exilic prophets play in the development of apocalyptic thought. Generally written around the building of the second temple, the authors consistently use apocalyptic scenarios to motivate Israel’s covenant faithfulness in the stewardship of their election.

Show notes

• The return from exile played no small role in the “apocalypticization” of exile/repentance/return themes (2:02)
• Haggai: Neglecting the temple, the covenantal blessings and curses, and Zerubbabel - Haggai 1:10-11; Deuteronomy 28:22-40; Haggai 2:1-9; Deuteronomy 30; Haggai 2:6-9; Hebrews 12:28-29 (5:55)
• Zechariah: Covenant maintenance “apocalpyticized” through visions and oracles - Zechariah 1:1-6; 4:8; 6:11-13; 7:8-14; 8:2-3; 9:10; 12-14 (17:27)
• Zechariah quoted in the New Testament - Zechariah 9:9; Revelation (29:24)
• Malachi: the fame of the Lord among the nations, disillusionment, and the coming judgment - Malachi 1:11; 2:17; 4:1; 1 Corinthians 3; Matthew 3 (37:22)

In this episode we discuss the minor prophetic books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. As we’ve seen already in the other prophetic books from Isaiah to Amos, the themes of covenant discipline in light of eschatological hope are highlighted repeatedly throughout. Each book has its own particular emphasis and angle, but the covenantal cycle from Deuteronomy 28-30 is always presumed, and this cycle is pushed to its ultimate end by later apocalyptic writers and the authors of the New Testament.

Show notes

• Obadiah - Obadiah 15-18; Zechariah 12-14 (3:57)
• Jonah - Jonah 4:1-3; Matthew 12:38-41; Acts 10 (12:08)
• Micah - Micah 3:5-8; Micah 6:1-2; Micah 4:1-5; Micah 5:2-4; Micah 7:18-20 (24:58)
• Nahum - Nahum 1:7-8, 15; Nahum 3:19; Tobit 14:3-4 (34:29)
• Habakkuk - Habakkuk 2:2-4; Hebrews 8; Habakkuk 3:11-13 (41:12)
• Zephaniah - Isaiah 13; 2 Maccabees 6:13-16; Zephaniah 3:19-20 (52:10)

In this episode we begin our discussion of the Minor Prophets with the books of Hosea, Joel, and Amos. As with the other written prophets, “the Book of the Twelve” highlights the themes of covenantal maintenance, eschatological distress, and ultimate restoration for Israel. Hosea’s marriage imagery, Joel’s emphasis on the day of the Lord, and Amos’ concern for injustices are all framed within the common covenantal narrative.

Show notes

• Intro to the Minor Prophets and Israel’s covenant dynamic - Amos 4; Deuteronomy 28; 1 Enoch 89:51-53; 2 Baruch 62 (2:35)
• Hosea: idolatry and the marriage metaphor - Hosea 3; Ezekiel 20; Jeremiah 30-32; 4Q434; Hosea 6:4-11 (11:21)
• Joel: the covenantal dynamic in an apocalyptic context - Joel 2:30-3:2 (23:24)
• Amos: idolatry, hypocrisy, and injustice - Amos 7:10-17; Amos 5:18-20; Amos 9:8-11 (37:37)

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this seventh Q&A episode.  Topics include Gentiles and the Torah, scholars like Albert Schweitzer and C.H. Dodd, John 3 and Ezekiel 36, and God’s promises. We also give some practical advice about how to relate to others who see the Gospel differently. 

Show notes:

• What is the purpose of the Law for ancient Jews and according to the New Testament? (2:24)
• What are your thoughts on Albert Schweitzer? (14:04)
• Can you discuss more of the connection between John 3 and Ezekiel 36 more? (21:14)
• How does the Jewish apocalyptic framework for the Gospel frame the cross? (22:50)
• Do you have any advice on being members of a church where the doctrine is so different than what we believe? (26:09)
• What are “the promises” in the New Testament? Do they refer back to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob? (34:02)