What exactly is the gospel?In this episode of Water Into Wine, I sit down with New Testament scholar Dr. Matthew W. Bates to explore one of the most foundational questions in Christianity.Bates argues that the gospel is bigger than the familiar summary, “Jesus died for your sins.” The cross is essential, but the gospel is the full royal announcement that Jesus is the Christ—the promised King.We discuss Isaiah’s background to the “good news,” whether Jesus and Paul preached the same gospel, the incarnation, atonement, resurrection, enthronement, and why Bates believes pistis includes trust, faithfulness, loyalty, and allegiance to King Jesus.We also explore the Davidic pattern of anointing and enthronement, Josephus and Maccabean examples of royal loyalty, and the practical question: If this is the gospel, how should Christians actually proclaim it?Dr. Matthew W. Bates is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and the author of several books on the gospel, salvation, faith, allegiance, and Christology.ResourcesMatthew Bateshttps://matthewwbates.com/Books by Matthew Bateshttps://matthewwbates.com/books/The Grammar of Messianism — Matthew V. Novensonhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Grammar+of+Messianism+Matthew+NovensonOnScript Podcasthttps://onscript.study/Join the Water Into Wine communityFor more interviews, biblical scholarship, and resources:https://alecdunlop.com/

In this conversation, Caleb Hegg of TorahResource joins me to explore the Abrahamic covenant, the New Covenant, the fullness of the Gentiles, and the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.We discuss Gentile inclusion in God's covenant people, Paul's teaching on circumcision, the four prohibitions of Acts 15, Torah and discipleship, and Caleb's belief that we may be witnessing a “second Reformation.”Join the Water Into Wine community:https://www.alecdunlop.com/Connect with Caleb Hegg:TorahResource: https://torahresource.com/Messiah Matters: https://messiahmatters.com/TIMS — Theological Institute of Messianic Studies: https://www.theological-institute-of-messianic-studies.com/If you enjoy serious conversations about Scripture, its Jewish roots, the Second Temple world, biblical theology, and the historical context of Jesus and the apostles, subscribe to Water Into Wine.

What did the biblical authors believe about the unseen world?In this conversation, Mike Chu joins Water Into Wine to explain the Divine Council worldview and why recovering the biblical writers' worldview changes how we understand Scripture. Rather than importing modern assumptions into the text, we explore the supernatural worldview shared by the authors of the Bible, including Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 82, the "sons of God," the nations, spiritual beings, and how these ideas shape both the Old and New Testaments.Whether you've never heard of the Divine Council or you've read Michael Heiser's work, this discussion provides an accessible introduction grounded in Scripture and the ancient Near Eastern context.Interested in studying Scripture in its original context? Join the Water Into Wine community at https://www.alecdunlop.com/ for interviews, articles, and biblical study resources.Mike Chu's Ministry

https://awkng.com/

https://youtube.com/@chu_on_this?si=s8cMMs5aJQlaK3Q6

Divine Council Worldview Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfjUxja_BKcaWv3hBTWDpo0OpydSLSeqhttps://awkng.com/podcast/

#BibleStudy #DivineCouncil #MichaelHeiser #Deuteronomy32 #Psalm82 #AncientNearEast #BiblicalTheology #SecondTempleJudaism #HebrewBible #WaterIntoWine

How did Jesus fulfill the Law? What did He mean in Matthew 5 when He said He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets?In this conversation, I sit down with author and Bible teacher David Wilber to explore one of the New Testament's most discussed passages—Matthew 5:17–20.We discuss how David understands Jesus' words about fulfilling the Law, the connection between the Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission, the inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts, Paul's teaching on the Spirit and the Law, and how the earliest followers of Jesus understood their faith within first-century Judaism.Whether you agree or disagree with the conclusions presented, this conversation invites viewers to revisit familiar passages and consider them carefully in their biblical and historical context.Connect with David Wilberhttps://davidwilber.com

0:00 Intro1:03 Welcome & Introducing David Wilber2:06 David's Faith Journey5:21 Discovering Messianic Theology8:16 What Is Pronomian Christianity?15:00 How Jesus Fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5)17:50 Matthew 5 & the Great Commission20:17 Gentiles Enter the Covenant (Acts 10 & 15)28:57 Paul, the New Covenant & the Spirit31:35 The Earliest Followers of Jesus34:10 The Parting of the Ways41:56 Recovering the Faith of the First Century44:13 David Wilber's ResourcesJoin the Water Into Wine CommunityConsider joining the Water Into Wine community as we study Scripture in its original historical context. Visit https://alecdunlop.com to sign up, explore episodes, articles, and resources, and connect with fellow students of Scripture.

Genesis 6 is one of the Bible's most mysterious passages. Who were the "sons of God"? Who were the Nephilim? Why does the biblical text assume its readers already understand the story?In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Mark Chavalas—Ancient Near Eastern historian, archaeologist, and co-host of The Buried Bible Podcast to explore the Mesopotamian background that may illuminate Genesis 6. Together we discuss Berossus, the Apkallu (Seven Sages), 1 Enoch, the Watchers, Jude, 2 Peter, and how these ancient traditions may help us better understand one of Scripture's most debated passages.Rather than sensational speculation, this interview examines the historical and literary evidence, showing how the biblical authors communicated within the shared cultural world of the ancient Near East while presenting a distinctly biblical theology.**In this interview, we discuss:**1:06 Introduction1:54 Genesis 6 and the Problem of the Sons of God3:27 Augustine and the Shift Away from the Supernatural View6:02 Berossus and the Babylonian Account of the Pre-Flood Sages9:55 1 Enoch, the Watchers, and the Nephilim Tradition13:08 The Mesopotamian Apkallu Connection15:40 Anne Kilmer's Proposal: Apkallu and Genesis 618:57 Who Were the Apkallu?21:38 The Seven Sages Before and After the Flood24:46 Shared Ancient Context vs. Borrowing Myths27:59 Why "Myth" Doesn't Mean "False"35:04 The Apkallu, the Abyss, and Jude & 2 Peter38:41 Cuneiform, Ancient Languages, and Why the Evidence Matters45:12 Watchers, Daniel, and Ongoing Scholarly Humility47:36 Returning to Genesis 6: The Ancient Supernatural Worldview53:25 Living with Unanswered Questions55:19 Where to Begin Studying Genesis 657:11 The Buried Bible Podcast and Further Resources58:40 Closing Thoughts**Recommended Resources**• Dr. Michael Heiser — *Reversing Hermon* (Dr. Chavalas' recommended starting point)• Dr. Michael Heiser — https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/ • Dr. Mark Chavalas — https://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ **Learn more from Dr. Mark Chavalas**Buried Bible Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ **Water Into Wine**Website:https://alecdunlop.comIf this conversation helped you better understand Scripture in its original historical context, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who enjoys digging deeper into the Bible.#Genesis6 #Nephilim #SonsofGod #Watchers #AncientNearEast #Mesopotamia #BibleStudy #BiblicalStudies #MichaelHeiser #MarkChavalas #Apkallu #Enoch #OldTestament #WaterIntoWine

Dr. John L. Ronning joins Water into Wine for a conversation on the Jewish Targums and their importance for understanding John’s Gospel. We discuss what the Targums are, how they functioned in synagogue life, and why Ronning believes they provide the strongest background for John’s presentation of Jesus as the Logos, the Word. Along the way, we explore Memra, Shekinah, divine descent language, Sinai, covenant, and why John’s Gospel presents Jesus as active before the incarnation and deeply bound up with the identity of the God of Israel.Find Dr. Ronning’s book here:https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Targums-Johns-Logos-Theology/dp/0801047595Find Dr. Ronning’s papers here:https://faiththeological.academia.edu/JohnRonningIf this conversation was helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone interested in John’s Gospel, the Jewish background of the New Testament, and the identity of Jesus.

In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined by Ryan Lambert of Bridge Builders Forum to discuss Paul, Jewish-Christian relations, and the major shifts in Pauline scholarship over the past several decades.We talk about the traditional reading of Paul, the New Perspective on Paul, Paul within Judaism, Paul’s identity as a Pharisee, and why both Jews and Christians have so often misunderstood Paul. Ryan also explains why he believes Paul’s mission was tied to the prophetic hope of the nations turning to worship the God of Israel, and why recovering Paul in his Jewish context can help build a better understanding between Jews and Christians today. LinksBridge Builders Forum: https://www.bridgebuildersforum.comThe Weird Apostle: https://ryanlambertforum.com/books

How does the Bible interpret itself?In this episode of Water into Wine, I sit down with Dr. Matthew Halsted to explore how Scripture is read within its original context—looking at how the New Testament uses the Old Testament, and how Second Temple literature like the Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Enoch help us better understand that world.We discuss:What hermeneutics really is (and why you can’t avoid it)How Scripture interprets Scripture (OT → OT, NT → OT)The difference between quotations, allusions, and echoesHow groups like the Dead Sea Scrolls community read the BibleHow Paul and Second Temple Jews interpret the same passages differentlyWhat 1 Enoch reveals about ancient biblical interpretationThis conversation is all about returning to the original context of Scripture—so we can understand it more clearly today.Guest: Dr. Matthew HalstedWebsite: https://matthewhalsted.com/Dr. Matthew Halsted is a biblical scholar, professor, and Anglican priest who teaches at Eternity Bible College. He holds a PhD in philosophical hermeneutics and biblical studies and specializes in how the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.Books:Paul and the Meaning of ScriptureThe End of the World as You Know It0:09 Welcome to Water into Wine (Intro)2:30 What is Hermeneutics? (How to Interpret the Bible)10:16 Why We All Interpret the Bible Differently12:20 Two Keys to Interpreting Scripture Correctly20:13 Is Reading the Bible Alone Enough?23:30 Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Jeremiah 25 & Daniel 9)30:16 Quotations, Allusions & Echoes (NT Use of OT)35:30 How Second Temple Jews Interpreted the Bible37:30 Dead Sea Scrolls Explained (Pesharim & Interpretation)41:00 Dead Sea Scrolls & John the Baptist Parallels45:00 What is the Apocrypha? Why It Matters47:30 What is 1 Enoch? (Second Temple Context)50:46 Why Does Jude Quote 1 Enoch?57:00 New Testament Use of Enoch & Jewish Tradition59:10 The Shema Explained (To Hear is to Obey)1:02:00 Final Thoughts on Interpreting Scripture

In this episode of Water Into Wine, Alec Dunlop sits down with Bible teacher Rico Cortes to explore the meaning and purpose of the sacrificial system in the book of Leviticus.Many believers struggle when they reach Leviticus while reading the Bible. Why were sacrifices required? What were the offerings meant to accomplish? And how did the temple service function within the life of ancient Israel?In this conversation, we explore:The meaning of korban (offering)The difference between sin, iniquity, and rebellionWhy did some transgressions have no sacrificial remedyThe role of repentance in Psalm 51The logic of the burnt offering and grain offeringThe connection between daily offerings and the hours of prayerRico brings decades of study in the temple service, Second Temple Judaism, and the ancient Near Eastern context of Scripture to help illuminate one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible.If Leviticus has ever felt confusing or difficult, this discussion will help provide a framework for understanding how the sacrificial system functioned within Israel’s worship and covenant life.

Rico CortesWisdom in Torah Ministrieshttps://wisdomintorah.comYouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@UCJwtL3cb95bZK96oB6eXP2Q

Did Genesis copy the Epic of Gilgamesh?In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined again by Dr. Mark Chavalas, scholar of Mesopotamian history and ancient Near Eastern literature, to explore the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Atrahasis flood tradition, and how these Mesopotamian accounts compare with the biblical flood narrative in Genesis.We discuss:• What the Epic of Gilgamesh actually is• When the flood tablets were discovered• The Atrahasis epic and the fuller Mesopotamian flood story• Similarities and differences between the Mesopotamian flood and Genesis• Whether Genesis “borrowed” from Babylon• How ancient Near Eastern context helps us read Scripture more clearly• Why Genesis–Kings may reflect an exile lensRather than being intimidated by parallels between ancient texts, we explore how understanding Mesopotamian literature can sharpen our reading of Scripture and deepen our appreciation for the theological message of Genesis.Books Mentioned• Nathan Wasserman — The Flood: The Akkadian Sources• W. G. Lambert & A. R. Millard — Atra-Ḫasīs: The Babylonian Story of the Flood• Stephanie Dalley — Myths from Mesopotamia• Adam Miglio — The Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis 1–11: Peering into the Deep• Andrew George — The Epic of Gilgamesh• Benjamin Foster — The Epic of GilgameshFollow Dr. Mark ChavalasPodcast: The Buried Biblehttps://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ About Water into WineWater into Wine studies Scripture in its original context through conversations with scholars, authors, and Bible teachers, with the hope of edifying the whole body of Messiah.If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and follow for future interviews and discussions.#Genesis #EpicOfGilgamesh #BibleAndAncientNearEast #Mesopotamia #Atrahasis #BiblicalStudies #AncientNearEast #ChristianApologetics #waterintowine