The Carson Center Podcast

Matt Harmon and Ben Gladd talk with Mary Hannah about Old Testament theology, biblical theology in the local church, Christ-centered interpretation, moral application, and how ordinary Christians can grow in seeing the beauty of Christ across Scripture.

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Matt Harmon and Ben Gladd examine Mark 4:35–41 and show how the stilling of the storm reveals Jesus as the faithful prophet, the greater David, the true Joshua, and Yahweh in the flesh. Through Old Testament allusions and biblical-theological connections, they explain why this familiar story is central to understanding Jesus’s identity and the arrival of God’s kingdom.

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Tom Schreiner joins Matt Harmon and Ben Gladd to discuss why biblical theology matters, how to read the whole Bible as one story, and how typology, covenant, and careful attention to the text help Christians interpret Scripture faithfully. They also reflect on the future of biblical theology, the value of humility in difficult passages, and the rich Old Testament background behind Mary’s song in Luke 1.

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Jen Wilkin joins Matt Harmon and Ben Gladd to explain why Christians should read Revelation as a symbolic, Old-Testament-saturated book that trains believers for endurance—not escapism—and why repeated, whole-book reading is essential for understanding it.

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Matt Harmon and Ben Gladd explain why Luke highlights Jesus’ Christ-centered reading of the Old Testament and argue Christians should learn to read Scripture the way Jesus taught his disciples—responsibly, contextually, and with the Spirit’s help.

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Welcome to the inaugural episode of Biblical Theology Briefing, a podcast from The Gospel Coalition, hosted by Ben Gladd and Matt Harmon. Biblical theology is not a verse-by-verse commentary or a devotional. Instead, it focuses on tracing the connections, themes, and patterns across Scripture, helping us see how the Bible tells one unified and coherent story.

Resources Mentioned

• From Adam and Israel to the Church by Ben Gladd
• From the Manger to the Throne by Ben Gladd
• Rebels and Exiles by Matt Harmon

Reference Works & Series 

• The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People by Matt Harmon
• Reference Works & Series New Dictionary of Biblical Theology by Alexander, Rosner, Carson, Goldsworthy
• New Studies in Biblical Theology (NSBT) by Don Carson & Ben Gladd
• Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT) by Ben Gladd

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In this lecture, Don Carson examines Revelation 5 to underscore Christ's unparalleled worthiness to open the scroll, symbolizing God's sovereign plan for redemption and judgment. Carson emphasizes that only the Lamb—Jesus Christ—can enact God's purposes, highlighting His central role in the cosmic narrative. Carson calls believers to respond with worship and adoration, recognizing Christ's supremacy and victory over evil.

He teaches the following:

• Why Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll, signifying His unique authority
• Christ’s worthiness to open the scroll signifies His final triumph over sin, evil, and death
• How the scroll represents God's sovereign purposes for judgment and redemption
• How the Lamb symbolizes complete power and knowledge
• Jesus has established universal dominion, making believers a kingdom and priests to serve God
• Christ's redemption is not limited to one group, but extends to all peoples, nations, and tongues
• The significance of angelic praise of the Lamb, acknowledging His eternal worth
• How Christ bridges the gap between God and humanity, fulfilling God's redemptive purposes

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In this lecture, Don Carson delves into Revelation 4, presenting a vivid portrayal of God's throne room. Carson emphasizes the holiness and sovereignty of God, highlighting the worship of celestial beings. Carson underscores the significance of this vision for believers, offering encouragement to remain steadfast and hopeful amidst trials, as it reaffirms God's ultimate authority and divine purpose.

He teaches the following:

• How God's throne in Heaven symbolizes His supreme authority
• How a rainbow encircling the throne symbolizes God's covenant and mercy
• The twenty-four elders surrounding the throne represent the redeemed people of God
• All things were created by God's will and exist for His pleasure
• The repeated proclamation of "Holy, holy, holy" underscores God's absolute purity and separateness
• Revelation 4 emphasizes that God reigns over all creation, despite the world’s perspective
• How Revelation 4 reminds believers to remain faithful amidst trials
• Vivid descriptions in Revelation highlight the transcendence and mystery of God's nature

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In this lecture, Don Carson explores the distinctive role of apocalyptic literature in biblical theology. Carson highlights how its vivid imagery and symbolism convey transcendent truths about God, moral absolutes, and the ultimate fulfillment of biblical themes. Carson underscores the genre's effectiveness in evangelism, teaching believers to anticipate Christ's return, and revealing the cosmic dimensions of spiritual conflict.

He teaches the following:

• How apocalyptic literature employs vivid imagery to convey transcendent truths
• How Revelation draws upon earlier scriptures, weaving them into a comprehensive vision of God's ultimate purposes
• Why the phrase "I will be their God, and they will be my people" reaches its fulfillment in Revelation
• Apocalyptic literature provides a cosmic perspective on spiritual conflict
• How this genre highlights the sovereignty of God over all events
• How the symbolic language of apocalyptic literature invites deeper reflection
• Why preaching apocalyptic texts requires careful exegesis
• Apocalyptic texts remind the church of its eschatological hope and the promise of Christ's return

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In this lecture, Don Carson teaches that Jesus Christ must remain the central focus in interpretations of the Book of Revelation. Carson critiques various scholarly approaches that often marginalize Christ, urging that all aspects of Revelation are inseparable from His death and resurrection. Carson underscores that Revelation presents a grand vision of Christ's mediatorial kingship and priesthood, culminating in the New Heaven and New Earth.

He teaches the following:

• Why Revelation should be read with Jesus at its center, as both the agent and substance of God's revelation
• How Revelation highlights Jesus's fulfillment of Old Testament themes
• How Revelation 1:12–16 draws from Daniel's vision of the "Ancient of Days”
• Descriptions of Jesus's authority in Revelation are rooted in the initial vision of His glory
• Jesus's death and resurrection empower Him to open the seals, unfolding God's purposes
• Jesus’s authority brings both judgment and salvation–signified by trumpet judgments and the final judgment
• In the new creation, God will have eternal presence with His people

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