In this episode we discuss the rebellion narratives found in early Genesis. In Eden’s garden in Genesis 3, in the consensual marriage of the sons of God and the daughters of men in Genesis 6, and at Babel’s tower in Genesis 11 we see not only a paradigm for the redemptive narrative, but also of the great judgment on the Last Day. We develop the consistent pattern that binds the narratives and the role that they all play in presenting a paradigm for the eschatological redemption.  

Show notes

• Transgression, limitation, and promise in Genesis 3, 6, and 11 (2:53)
• Genesis 3: Eden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the curse - Genesis 3:4-6, 14-19; Life of Adam and Eve 49; Wisdom of Solomon 2:24; Jubilees 4:29-30; 4 Ezra 3:7-11 (3:40)
• Genesis 6: The Nephilim and the Flood - Genesis 4:19; Genesis 6:2; 1 Enoch 15-16; 1 Enoch 65 (20:01)
• Genesis 11: The Tower of Babel - Jubilees 10:21; Wisdom of Solomon 10:5 (33:11)
• The promises - Genesis 3:15; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 12:1-3  (44:41)

Studies in Torah class from our friends in The ARK Network: https://www.thearknetwork.org/studies-in-torah-class/

In this episode we discuss creation as a paradigm for redemption. We looked at Genesis and the creation narrative as the seedbed of eschatological expectation in Jewish tradition. The Tanakh, like the later second temple Jewish literature, sees eschatological hope for everlasting life in context to a new heavens and a new earth. By the time of the New Testament writers, conversations related to eschatology and eternal life were conceptually inseparable from a renewed creation. 

Show notes

• Understanding creation as a paradigm for redemption (2:27)
• Creation and redemption in the Tanakh - Gen. 5; Ps. 90; Targum Ps. 1; Targum Jer. 23 (6:17)
• Creation and redemption in the prophetic material - Isa. 25; Isa. 65; Isa. 11 (16:25)
• Creation and redemption in Second Temple literature - Jubilees 1; 2 Enoch 31, 33, 65  (21:47)
• The New Testament writers presume this same paradigm (28:19)
• Why inaugurationalism falls short as a paradigm for redemption (35:37)

In this episode we begin our discussion on Genesis and the Torah, highlighting some of the primary themes in the creation narrative of Genesis. While often read differently in our modern context than it would have been in the Ancient Near East as well as in second temple Jewish texts, the creation of the heavens and the earth sets the framework for divine sovereignty and for the future expectation of redemption. 

Show notes:

• Genesis 1:1 and a brief history of interpretation: Platonic dualism (6:41)
• Modern ideas: flat earth, old/young earth (8:18)
• How did the Jewish people understand the heavens and the earth? (12:55)
• The “host of the heavens” (21:40)
• The heavens and divine sovereignty (23:30)
• The book of Jubilees and the Divine Council (27:04)
• The structure of the heavens and the earth as described by cosmic travel narratives (41:14)
• How did these things affect how the apostles lived? (46:24)

In this episode, we interview Dr. Matthew Thiessen, associate professor Religious Studies at McMaster University. We discuss the anti-Jewish bias often brought to the scriptures by traditional Christian readings of the Tanakh, and how this bias radically affects our readings of Jesus and Paul. 

Show notes: 

• How Dr. Thiessen got into New Testament studies (4:00)
• How Dr. Thiessen’s work has been aimed at anti-Jewish bias in Christian readings of the New Testament (7:02)
• A quick survey of anti-Jewish theology (10:04)
• Anti-Jewish Christian theology from the Holocaust onward (15:30)
• Anti-Jewish bias and our reading of Jesus (26:16)
• Anti-Jewish bias and our reading of Paul (38:01)

In this episode we look particularly at the issue of supersessionism, the idea that Israel and the Old Testament has been superseded and replaced by Jesus, the Church, and the New Testament. We dive into R. Kendall Soulen’s classic treatment on supersessionism in “The God of Israel and Christian Theology”, examining the various aspects of punitive, economic, and structural supersessionism and their effect on our reading of the Scriptures. 

Show notes:

• Introducing R. Kendall Soulen (5:03)
• The standard canonical narrative (5:45)
• What is supersessionism or “replacement theology”? (13:30)
• Soulen’s “punitive supersessionism” (22:46)
• Soulen’s “economic supersessionism” (26:03)
• Soulen’s “structural supersessionism” (39:17)
• Why is this not a responsible way to read the scriptures? (48:10)
• How do we overcome this standard theological narrative? (53:06)

In this episode we introduce the themes for season 3 of our show. The Tanakh (a Hebrew acronym for the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings) is the foundation for “the Gospel” as Jesus and the apostles understood it. In season 3, our aim is to work through the books and main themes of the Tanakh to give disciples of Jesus confidence that if all you have is the Tanakh and some of the sayings of Jesus, you would in no way be disadvantaged in preaching the Gospel or discipling someone.

Show notes:

• What is the Tanakh and why is it the basis of the expectation and hope of first century Jews? (6:09)
• If all you have is the Tanakh and some of the sayings of Jesus, would you feel disadvantaged in preaching the Gospel or discipling someone? (7:42)
• Jesus interpreted the Tanakh apocalyptically (12:45)
• Some of the larger themes we’ll be looking at this season: creation, covenant, judgment (14:53)
• Creation and Adam in 2nd Temple Literature (15:28)
• God’s covenant faithfulness (19:09)
• Divine sovereignty in relation to creation and covenant (22:24)
• Themes seen in the prophetic literature: Isaiah 40:1-11 (24:22)
• Themes seen in 2nd temple literature: 2 Baruch 23:4-24:1 (34:14)

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this fourth Q&A episode. Topics include Messianic Judaism, the New Jerusalem and the heavenly mountain, inaugurated eschatology, and our usual rapid fire round with questions on the pre-tribulation rapture in John 14, the renewal of our minds, and Jewish prayer books. We also briefly give vision for our show’s next season. Don’t miss it!

In this episode we reflect on some of our favorite points from our last four interviews with Seth Roach and Daniel Jordan, Marc Tuzzolino, Joe and Terrie Wise, and Stephanie Quick and Devon Phillips. We discuss their testimonies and how the Jewish apocalyptic framework for the Gospel has impacted their lives and ministries. We reflected on how each of them imparted incredible wisdom for disciples to stay the course in light of the return of Jesus and the day of judgment.

In this episode we interview Stephanie Quick and Devon Phillips, laborers with Frontier Alliance International based in Northern Israel. Stephanie is a writer and producer and cohosts The Better Beautiful Podcast with Jeff Henderson, and Devon is a writer and contributor to FAI’s publication, THE WIRE. Stephanie and Devon share their experiences as they minister among Muslims and Israelis in the Middle East, and challenge Western believers to embrace the Gospel of the Kingdom wholeheartedly as the Day of the Lord draws near.

In this episode we interview Joe and Terrie Wise, currently serving as pastors in California’s Central Valley. Joe and Terrie share their experiences as church planters, pastors, and mentors over the last 34 years of ministry. Their mission is to encourage wholehearted love and faithfulness to Jesus in light of the age to come. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, they continue to be an example of faithfulness to young disciples as they encourage others to set their hope fully on the return of Jesus.