The Two Cities

By The Two Cities PodcastSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Arts Books

The Two Cities episodes

January 29, 2025 Episode #262 - John of History, Baptist of Faith with Professor James McGrath
In this episode we’re joined by Professor James McGrath, who is Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, and the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode: John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation we talk about the differences between this book with Christmaker and delve more deeply into various historical matters surrounding John the Baptist, including connections with Qumran, the relationship between baptism and ritual purity, what we can learn about John the Baptist from Mandaean sources, and the portrayal of John the Baptist in film. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Logan Williams.
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58 min
January 22, 2025 Episode #261 - Engaging Jesus with Our Senses with Dr. Jeannine Hanger
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jeannine Hanger, who is Associate Professor of New Testament at BIOLA University and Talbot School of Theology, and she’s the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode, Engaging Jesus with Our Senses: An Embodied Approach to the Gospels (published by Baker). In our conversation we talk about the importance of embodiment, both in terms of our lived realities as followers of Christ and in relation to the way that the Gospels highlight sensory experiences in many different ways. Dr. Hanger draws a connection between the two in her book and shares some of her exegetical insights with us. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, and Dr. Kris Song.
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41 min
January 15, 2025 Episode #260 - One Spirit with Dr. Kris Song
In this episode we’re joined by one of our very own co-hosts here at The Two Cities podcast, Dr. Kris Song, who is an instructor in New Testament at Bethel Seminary and the author of One Spirit: Pneumatology and Unity in the Corinthian Letters (published by Baylor University Press). In our conversation we talk about Paul’s pneumatology in the Corinthian Correspondence, how studies in the concept of “third space” helps to move forward current conversations in Pauline scholarship, such as debates about Paul’s understanding of the pneuma in Paul within Judaism. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Jennifer Guo, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter.
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58 min
January 08, 2025 Episode #259 - Squid Game 2
In this episode we discuss the second season of the hit Netflix show, Squid Game. We chat about what we appreciated most about season 2 relative to season 1, how this season builds upon previous questions that the show raises about capitalism and makes the stakes more jarring as we think about its effects on younger generations and democracy itself, and we also offer up some theories about where the show is headed in the upcoming third season. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Dr. Kris Song, and Dr. Logan Williams.
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1 hr 12 min
January 01, 2025 Episode #258 - Religion for Realists with Professor Sam Perry
In this episode we’re joined by Professor Sam Perry, who is Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma is the Department of Sociology, and the author of several books, including, most recently, Religion for Realists: Why We All Need the Scientific Study of Religion (with Oxford University Press). In our conversation we talk about the importance of the sociological study of religion, especially with respect to the political climate in which we find ourselves around the globe. Some of the key insights that emerge from this are the ways that theological ideas are subsumed to group identity and other social and political dynamics. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert.
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1 hr 1 min
December 25, 2024 Episode #257 - Hope in the Time of Crisis with Professor Norman Wirzba
In this episode we're joined by Professor Norman, who is Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology & Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute of Ethics at Duke University and the author of Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis (published by Yale University Press). In our conversation we talk about how hope is an active embodiment of love, that the loveliness of the world is what inspires hopefulness, how hope should not be confused with optimism, the way that improper conceptions of hope perpetuate bystander syndrome and practical nihilism, and true hope is something that “happens in the dark.” Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Grace Emmett.
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57 min
December 18, 2024 Episode #256 - How to Study the Bible's Use of the Bible with Professor Gary Edward Schnittjer and Dr. Matthew Harmon
In this episode we’re joined by Professor Gary Edward Schnittjer, who is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament in the School of Divinity at Cairn University in Pennsylvania, and Dr. Matthew Harmon, who is Professor of New Testament Studies at Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana. Together they are the authors of How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible: Seven Hermeneutical Choices for the Old and New Testaments (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation we talk about this resource that Prof. Schnittjer and Dr. Harmon have developed to help students and pastors study biblical intertextuality. We have fun discussing the book and getting into the weeds a bit on specific textual issues.

We are also excited to say that we have a book and DVD giveaway that we’re participating in for this book (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310142458/) and lecture materials associated with it (see https://masterlectures.zondervanacademic.com/products/how-to-study-the-bible-s-use-of-the-bible). If you share our episode on social media, and tag us, you could win free copies!

Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Dr. Madison Pierce.
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1 hr 16 min
December 11, 2024 Episode #255 - Recapping SBL & AAR 2024
In this episode we talk about the presentations we gave at the 2024 SBL & AAR conferences in San Diego and reflect on some of our highlights. We also took the mic around the book stalls for short interviews with various people, including: Prof. Steve Walton, Dr. Andy Judd, Dr. Holly Beers, Dr. Joshua Mobley, Dr. Jonathan Lett, Hakeem Bradley, Dr. Melissa Tan, Victoria Nay, Michael Thompson, and Dr. Christoph Heilig. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Madison Pierce, the Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Kris Song.
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58 min
December 04, 2024 Episode #254 - The Genre Studies Gap with Professor Jeannine Brown and Dr. Andy Judd
This episode is a Live recording with audience of a discussion about genre with Professor Jeannine Brown and Dr. Andy Judd. The event was sponsored by Bethel Seminary, Ridley College (Melbourne), and The Two Cities podcast. Following up on our episodes on genre with each of them, we answer audience questions and dig deeper into the topic.

Professor Jeannine Brown is David Price Professor of Biblical Foundations at Bethel Seminary and the author of Embedded Genres in the New Testament: Understanding Their Impact for Interpretation (published by Baker Academic).

Dr. Andrew Judd is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College (Melbourne) and the author of Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies (published by Zondervan).

Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne.
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1 hr 6 min
November 27, 2024 Episode #253 - The Eschatologies of 1–2 Thessalonians with Dr. Sydney Tooth
In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Sydney Tooth, who is Director of Postgraduate Studies & Lecturer in New Testament and Greek at Oak Hill College in the UK, a beloved co-host of this here Two Cities podcast, and the author of the book that we’re excited to discuss in this episode, Suddenness and Signs: The Eschatologies of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (published by Mohr Siebeck). Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Tooth talks with us about whether or not the eschatologies of 1–2 Thessalonians are incompatible with each other, as has often been argued, and how a close reading of both texts supports Pauline authorship for 2 Thessalonians. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, and Dr. Sydney Tooth.
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42 min

About The Two Cities

From the publisher's feed

The Two Cities is a podcast dedicated to Theology, Culture, and Discipleship. Originally beginning as a blog back in 2011 (thetwocities.com), we have extended our eclectic array of theological…