In today's podcast episode, we read Genesis 19:29-38 from the Common English Bible.  In this disturbing passage, the two adult daughters of Lot decided to serve their father enough wine to make him drunk, so that they could have sex with him without his knowledge or consent.  Ancient traditions about this passage actually blame Lot for the sexual assault committed against him.  Both rape and victim-blaming are prevalent in too many cultures today.  Only by holding offenders fully responsible for their own actions can we ever hope to truly promote much needed change. 

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 19:14-28 from the Common English Bible.  We distinguish between horribly inaccurate commentary, and what the Bible actually says about Lot's wife.  We then examine Jesus' prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and how he compares these events to the destruction of Sodom.  In both cases, people are urged to immediately flee from evil, and from God's judgment against it.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 19:14-28 from the Common English Bible.  We distinguish between horribly inaccurate commentary, and what the Bible actually says about Lot's wife.  We then examine Jesus' prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and how he compares these events to the destruction of Sodom.  In both cases, people are urged to immediately flee from evil, and from God's judgment against it.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 19:1-5 from the Common English Bible, and Genesis 19:6-13 from the Good New Translation.  Once again, we identify and correct androcentric language found in the English Standard Version (ESV).  In this passage, we see God's response to ongoing sexual violence.  We also learn that trusting in human strength does not lead to a positive outcome.  Speaking to the New Testament church, the apostle Paul warns against depending on human leaders, rather than on Jesus Christ.  Today, the church must turn aside from trusting in "male leadership," and depend instead upon God's Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 19:1-5 from the Common English Bible, and Genesis 19:6-13 from the Good New Translation.  Once again, we identify and correct androcentric language found in the English Standard Version (ESV).  In this passage, we see God's response to ongoing sexual violence.  We also learn that trusting in human strength does not lead to a positive outcome.  Speaking to the New Testament church, the apostle Paul warns against depending on human leaders, rather than on Jesus Christ.  Today, the church must turn aside from trusting in "male leadership," and depend instead upon God's Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 18:16-33 from the Common English Bible.  We identify a problem with some English translations that are based on a scribal notation in the Masoretic Text.  The Masoretes embraced oral traditions that rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and also excluded women from leadership. After correcting the assumptions of the Masoretic scribes, we then focus on the actual meaning of this passage: God balances justice with mercy, as He considers the crimes of Sodom.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 18:16-33 from the Common English Bible.  We identify a problem with some English translations that are based on a scribal notation in the Masoretic Text.  The Masoretes embraced oral traditions that rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and also excluded women from leadership. After correcting the assumptions of the Masoretic scribes, we then focus on the actual meaning of this passage: God balances justice with mercy, as He considers the crimes of Sodom.

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 18:1-15 from the Common English Bible.  We also read Hebrews 11:11 from the International Standard Version.  Both passages describe Sarah's response to God's promised blessing of a miraculous child.  We address patriarchal translation and commentary that attempts to exclude Sarah from a list of positive role models--all of whom accomplished great things through faith.