Peter Leithart, Jeff Meyers, James Bejon, and Alastair Roberts kick off a new series on the book of Malachi, beginning with a wide-angle look at the restoration era in which Malachi prophesied. Rather than treating this period as a mere gap between covenants - a so-called "intertestamental" silence - the team argues it represents a distinct and dynamic phase of covenant history, with its own new arrangements for the priesthood, the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and Israel's relationship to the Gentile nations. The conversation ranges from Ezra and Nehemiah's narrative logic to the dating of Malachi, the myth of 400 years of divine silence, and the ways Malachi's concerns anticipate the New Testament world Jesus enters.

Timestamps (Aproximate)

0:00 — Welcome and introduction; transitioning from Hebrews to a new series on Malachi

1:00 — Overview of the restoration era; why "intertestamental" is a misleading term

3:00 — Jim Jordan's "Through New Eyes" and the idea that Israel never goes backward in covenant history

4:30 — "Latter days" / "last days" language; the 70 Weeks of Daniel as a framework for this period

5:30 — New features of the restoration era: the elevated role of the high priest

6:30 — A new temple, new geopolitical arrangements, and Israel's changed relationship with Gentile powers

8:30 — The holiness of Jerusalem extended to the city walls; Ezekiel's vision of the sacred territory

10:30 — Continuity with the law of Moses through Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi

12:00 — Ezra's role as teacher of the law; rebuilding the people alongside the house

13:00 — Malachi's focus on hypocrisy and priestly failure rather than open idolatry; anticipating New Testament concerns

15:00 — The sequence in Deuteronomy 30, Jeremiah 31, and Ezekiel 36 — scattering, regathering, new covenant, outpouring of the Spirit

17:00 — A partial outpouring of the Spirit in the restoration era; Zechariah's lampstand vision

18:30 — The spread of Judaism through the diaspora as a stage in Israel's mission to the Gentiles

19:30 — Why did the exiles not bring back idolatry from Babylon and Persia?

21:30 — Exile as the moment the law became an existential lifeline for Jewish identity

23:30 — The legacy of Daniel, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as a unifying memory

25:00 — The restoration era as both the birth of the new covenant and the "thinning out" of the old

27:30 — Malachi's final word — cherem (curse of utter destruction) — and the doom hanging over the old covenant order

29:00 — The three phases of Ezra-Nehemiah — temple, people, city — as one unified project; the role of Haggai and Zechariah

37:00 — Dating Malachi: most likely during or after Nehemiah's absence from Jerusalem

40:30 — Malachi 3:1 ("I send my messenger") as potentially having a near fulfillment in Nehemiah's return

41:30 — The significance of Malachi's name meaning "my messenger"

42:30 — The chronology of Ezra-Nehemiah and the 70 Weeks; arguing for a compressed (~50-year) timeframe

45:30 — Debunking the "400 years of silence" myth — gaps in the canon are not gaps in God's speech

47:00 — 99% of God's people never witnessed a theophany; scrolls were always the ordinary means

48:30 — Daniel's visions as a prophetic bridge connecting the restoration era to the New Testament

49:30 — The rise of the synagogue and lay scriptural literacy in the diaspora; parallels to the Reformation

50:30 — Malachi 2 and the priests' neglected teaching vocation

James Jordan continues his walk through the Book of Revelation.

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In this final episode of our Hebrews series, Peter Leithart, Alastair Roberts, and James Bejon conclude their journey through the epistle by working through the closing exhortations and benediction of Hebrews 13. They explore the Church’s sacrificial life in the new covenant - marked by praise, hospitality, generosity, endurance, and faithful life together under Christ. Along the way, they reflect on the meaning of “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” and the call to go to Jesus “outside the camp.” The conversation also highlights the Eucharistic and liturgical patterns woven through the chapter. The episode concludes with reflections on Hebrews as a whole, including its use of the Psalms, its vision of perseverance in a time of upheaval, and its presentation of Christ as priest, sacrifice, shepherd, and king.

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James Jordan continues his walk through the Book of Revelation.

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Peter Leithart, James Bejon and Alastair Roberts discuss Hebrews 13:1-7.

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Peter Leithart and James Bejon discuss James' PHD work and scholarship in the realm of biblical names and the biblical text.

James Bejon Theopolis Essays

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James Bejon's Substack

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James Jordan continues his walk through the Book of Revelation with a look Revelation 10:1-4.

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Peter Leithart, James Bejon, Jeff Meyers and Alastair Roberts discuss Hebrews 12:22-29.

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James Jordan continues his walk through the Book of Revelation with a look at Ezekiel as it relates to Revelation 10-11.

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James Jordan continues his walk through the Book of Revelation with a look at Revelation 10-11.

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