Sunday School; A Pillar Bible Study

Romans Ep. 6: Chapters 12-13 Nov 05, 2023

In Chapter 13, we find what Scott characterizes as one of America’s great “prop Bible verses.” St. Paul talks about respecting authority, and emphasizes that God is in control.

Nostra aetate

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Romans Ep. 5: Chapters 9-11 Oct 29, 2023

St. Paul attempts to define Israel and address the issue of those in the Jewish community who have not accepted the Messiah. Scott warns that these chapters of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans have been at the root of antisemitism.

The Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

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Romans: Send us your questions! Oct 25, 2023

We’re opening the comments for each episode of this season of Sunday School.

Please, share with us any questions you may have about St. Paul and his letter to the Romans. We’ll bring a few of your questions to Scott in the final episode of this season.

If you have a question you would rather not share publicly, please email our producer Kate Olivera at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Romans Bonus: Wrestling with scripture Oct 22, 2023

Scott continues to address JD’s questions about Romans 5:20— and the relationship between law and sin.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Romans Ep. 4: Chapters 4-8 Oct 22, 2023

In these chapters, St. Paul continues to build his argument about God’s faithfulness, using the stories of Abraham and the Exodus. He presents Abraham as a shared father in faith— to both Jewish Christians and the Gentiles. St. Paul also writes that Jesus Christ restores our proper relationship with God, ourselves, our neighbor and creation.

JD wrestles with Romans 5:20, and St. Paul’s reflection on the relationship between law and sin.

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Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Camp Wojtyla

An Environmental Ethic for the End of the World: An Ecological Midrash on Romans 8:19-22

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Romans Ep. 3: Chapters 1-3 Oct 15, 2023

Scott talks with JD and Kate about the first chapters of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, in which Paul writes about the universality of sin and the wrath of God.

- The Apostle Paul, c. 1657 Rembrandt

Righteousness of God = God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises— not only to Abraham, Moses and Israel, but to the whole of creation

Works of the Law (Works) = All the markers that, under the Mosaic covenant, designated membership in God’s covenant family (e.g, circumcision, kosher/dietary laws, Old Testament feasts, Sabbath observances) In short, the book of Deuteronomy.

Faith = baptism

Salvation = being a part of the covenant family

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Romans Ep. 2: Chapters 14-16 Oct 08, 2023

Scott begins this new season about St. Paul’s letter to the Romans at the very end— chapters 14-16. In these “so what?” chapters, St. Paul answers the question at the heart of the letter— can God be trusted?

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Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire by Scott McKnight

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Romans Ep. 1: An introduction Oct 01, 2023

JD Flynn and Scott Powell are back in the classroom— with special guest, Pillar producer Kate Olivera— to talk about the Book of Romans. This week, Scott talks about St. Paul and the nature of letters.

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The lives of the Twelve Caesars by Suetonius

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The Psalms - Book V Jun 17, 2023

In this final episode of our season about the psalms, Scott and JD talk about Book V— the “Now What?” psalms. In Book V, Israel praises God and reflects on the symbols of its identity.

The symbols of Israel include land (Psalms 107-109), the Davidic king (Psalms 108-110, 118 and 138-145), the Torah (119) and the Temple (120-137).

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

The Psalms: Book IV Jun 10, 2023

In Book IV of the Psalms, Israel reflects on the Exodus as they continue to wrestle with the loss of the kingdom and what that loss means for God’s kingship.

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The Psalms: Book III Jun 03, 2023

Scott talks with JD about Book III of the Psalms. In Book III, Israel reckons with the loss of the kingdom.

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Scott suggests the following psalms of lament: 74, 77, 79, 80, 88

Scott references the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2778

Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary by Gordon J. Wenham

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The Psalms: Book II May 20, 2023

Scott talks with JD about the dramatic imagery of the psalms, the relationship between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Israel and how we can approach psalms about vengeance.

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Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis

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The Psalms: Book I May 13, 2023

Scott and JD dive into Book I of the Psalms. Scott explores the themes of lament and praise, faith and hope. He also talks about the terms ‘Torah’ and ‘messiah.’

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The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams

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An introduction to the Psalms May 06, 2023

Join JD Flynn and Scott Powell for this new season of Sunday School, all about the Book of Psalms. In this episode, Scott talks about the function of the psalms— and their place in Scripture.

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Show notes:

Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer by Eugene Peterson

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

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Advent: Simeon and Anna Dec 10, 2022

Scott and JD talk about the Presentation, the Magi and the role of prophets.
The readings for this episode are Luke 2: 22-40.
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Advent: Joseph and Mary Dec 03, 2022

Scott and JD talk about the Visitation, the Annunciation and the circumstances of the birth of Jesus.
The readings for this episode are Luke 1: 26-56 and Luke 2: 1-21.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Advent: Elizabeth and Zechariah Nov 26, 2022

Scott and JD kick off this three-episode Advent miniseries with the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth, from the Gospel of Luke.
The readings for this episode are Luke 1: 5-23, 57-80.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Mark: 14-16 Nov 06, 2022

Scott talks about the woman at Bethany, the Last Supper and one of the lesser known feasts in Judaism in this final episode about the Gospel of Mark.
Join us in learning all about the infancy narratives in Season 2 of Sunday School, releasing this Advent!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Mark 9: 1-13, 11-13 Oct 29, 2022

Scott talks with JD about the Transfiguration, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the eschatological discourse.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Mark 6: 30-56, 7-10 Oct 23, 2022

Scott talks about bread, deafness and blindness, and clean and unclean.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Mark 3-5, 6: 1-30 Oct 16, 2022

Scott takes a deep dive into Mark: 3-5 and 6: 1-30, including the parable of the sower and the seed and a reflection on Mary.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Mark: 1-2 Oct 09, 2022

Scott talks with JD about the first two chapters of the Gospel of Mark, including Jesus’ baptism, the temptation in the wilderness and something called the messianic secret.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

An introduction to the Gospel of Mark Oct 09, 2022

Scott gives an introduction to the Gospel of Mark, which is the focus of the first season of Sunday School.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

Introducing: Sunday School Oct 05, 2022

Sunday School is a new Catholic bible study podcast, presented by The Pillar. Join Pillar Editor-in-Chief JD Flynn as he learns about Scripture with Biblical Scholar Dr. Scott Powell.
Season 1 will focus on The Gospel of Mark.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

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