The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

To Raise the Face Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul explains from Biblical Hebrew the technical link between a full prostration and the immutable requirement that a judge adjudicates a case, not a person. (Episode 254)

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The Age of Wisdom Dec 20, 2022

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This week, Fr. Paul explains that seven is the age of wisdom. (Episode 253)

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No Issues Please Dec 15, 2022

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During the Christmas season, when we use the expression “peace on earth,” we reduce it to a platitude, an absurd, utopian ideal where one day everyone will magically hold hands and get along—and then we congratulate ourselves for endorsing our correct view of how the world should work. We do this all the time with all our pet political issues. In doing so, we find ourselves, not on the side of God, but on the side of the Caesars, standing in the line of an endless procession of philosopher tyrants who imagine all the people a certain way and then march on them to impose their will.

When the angels in Luke shout peace on earth, they have no such issue. They are at peace because they have taken themselves out of the equation, and, as I just said, neither they nor the shepherds have any issues. No ideals. No agendas. Nothing of themselves to impose. Just something of themselves to give to the cause of their’s Master’s command, which puts everything in order, silences every voice, and establishes peace on earth. In the Gospel of Luke, it’s the exact same mechanism of peace as Caesar's, with a much different outcome.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 2:15-20
Episode 460; Luke 2:15-20

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The Lord’s Passover Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

In today’s program, Fr. Paul explains the technical scriptural understanding of the assembly as being something to which the people are called, not a place at which they decide to gather. (Episode 252)

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Mashallah Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

The Arabic expression *mashallah* which means "what God wills" or "what God desires has happened," may be the best chance English speakers have at unlocking the spirit of Luke's use of the Greek term, *eudokia*. The latter also pertains to the completion of God's will, what God desires by fiat, and his good pleasure in the biblical story, in opposition to the will of Caesar.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 2:8-14
Episode 460; Luke 2:8-14

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Signs of the Spoil Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul notes the mistranslation of the term Passover in English, which refers to the feast of salvation from Egypt. (Episode 251)

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The Fallacy of Identity Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

A thousand years before the birth of Greek philosophy, the forbears of the biblical authors inhabited a world in which the families of the earth coexisted in the land with different languages and cultures. In the story of Luke, as with the rest of the Bible, the author’s focus is not on identity, but locality, the place where you are found.

Using the lens of language, food, skin color, beliefs, music, and other passing characteristics, community builders apply identity as a powerful tool for social organization. From the conquering Greeks of history to Caesar Augustus in Luke, to the social engineers of our age, community builders depend on philosophical identity because the nature of their anti-eucharistic project is to overrun and control locality.

Thanks be to God, who sent his son to show us the way back to neighborly fellowship with all creatures that live and dwell in our locality under the heavens, in the watchful care of the biblical shepherds of Israel.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 2:4-7
Episode 459; Luke 2:4-7

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Rise Again by Alexander Nakarada
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4897-rise-again
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/

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The Green Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

What is Fr. Paul’s thing? Sometimes a thing is not a thing, especially when there is no thing in Hebrew, just a green. (Episode 250)

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Dividing the Flock Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

“Each tree,” Luke will soon explain, “is known by its own fruit.” (Luke 6:44) When Gabriel speaks the command of God, a prophet is born of Elizabeth to “turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:16) Likewise, at Gabriel’s command, the Messiah is conceived in Mary’s womb, to “reign over the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:33)

The words of God bear good fruit, ushering in life, hope, liberation from bondage, and the Kingdom of the heavens without end.

And then there’s the decree of Caesar Augustus: as the words of a shepherd gather his sheep, the words of Caesar divide them, sending “each to his own city “to be sorted, counted, and prepped to devour one another for the glory of Romulus.

“For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.” (Luke 6:44)

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 2:3
Episode 458; Luke 2:3

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Emotional Ballad by Alexander Nakarada
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10089-emotional-ballad
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/

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Sleight of Hand Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul notes a clever “sleight of hand” employed by the author in the use of Moses’ staff in Exodus 9:23. (Episode 249)

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