The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

The Lost Sheep Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

When we hear the teaching of Matthew, “judge not that you may not be judged,” it’s easy to overlook the obvious: when you teach the words of Elohim, you personally are not the judge, but you personally, definitely function as divine judge. In Matthew, Jesus judges no one before the time but teaches everyone the words of God’s judgment—and now the world judges him.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:27-31.

Episode 413 Matthew 27:27-31; Music:

Lost Time by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4005-lost-time
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You’re Making Up Your Own Story Dec 28, 2021

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 28. (Episode 202)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Rejection of Yahweh Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

“A mob,” James Baldwin wrote, “is not autonomous: it executes the real will of the people who rule the state. The slaughter in Birmingham, Alabama, for example, was not merely the action of a mob.” (Baldwin, Dark Days)

The crowds in Matthew choose their champion because Pilate demands victory. Pilate, in turn, wants what the people want because, like his wife, he grasps desperately for what Caesar has to offer. In the end, everyone wants what Caesar wants: the Lord’s execution. So Baldwin was right: the mob carries out the will of the state. In Matthew, the will of the state is expressed in the person of Pilate, who executes the Lord to secure Caesar’s place on the seat of Elohim. Dumb move, Caesar. Really dumb.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:19-23.

Episode 412 Matthew 27:19-23; Music:

Crowd Hammer by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4983-crowd-hammer

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Anti-Civilization Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 28, drawing attention to our commonly held anti-scriptural premise that perceives civilization and anything “civilized” as something positive. (Episode 201)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Which Son, Pilate? Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

The rise of Scripture against the classical and Hellenistic world pit the voice of the Shepherd—spoken in his idiosyncratic language—against the language of human institution: be dominated by civilization, its gods, its rulers, and their institutions, or follow me and obey my voice in the wilderness. Obey the staff of the Lord, your Elohim, and live, or suffer the bondage of a temple and palace made of stone.

Having destroyed Jerusalem in our mind’s eye and shamed her rulers and teachers, Matthew now turns his wrath toward Rome. Which son of the Father, Pilate? What is your judgment? How do you judge? Dare you speak? It would be better for you to close your lips, study Hebrew, forsake Rome, flee the palace and seek out the God of Abraham to hear his distinctive voice in the Syrian Wilderness.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:15-18.

Episode 411 Matthew 27:15-18; Music:

Tempting Secrets by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5005-tempting-secrets

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Children of Abraham Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

In today’s program, Fr. Paul explains that it is God who makes his own house and his own children, noting the absurdity of religious debates about legitimacy and pedigree. (Episode 200)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Announcing "Tell Me the Story" Dec 12, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our podcast, Tell me the Story, where we take a deep dive into the scripture, parsing out the original languages, in hopes to come to a greater understanding of the total story being told.

Produced in association with the Ephesus School Network.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You Said It Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

For the one who answers only to the will of God, written in Scripture, the words people speak and the judgments they make are immaterial. More than that, in Matthew, the one who hears the commandment with a pure heart carries it out like a Roman soldier, willing to say—or not say—or do whatever it takes to deliver the mission. God forbid your self-righteous, enlightened, ethical and moral judgment of his means interfere with an end willed by God himself.

Like the man said:

“Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and by your standard of measure, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:11-14.

Episode 410 Matthew 27:11-14; Music:

No Frills Cumbia by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3571-no-frills-cumbia

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Platonic “We” Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul presents a brief introduction to his discussion of Genesis 28, noting the false assumption of a perceived hero in scripture. (Episode 199)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Worthless Shepherd Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

“Thus says the Lord my God, “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!’

They got me at a magnificent discount! (Zechariah 11:13) It must have been Giving Tuesday, or was it Black Friday? No it was their day of Thanks, in which they bless the Lord saying, “I have become rich!”

Their own shepherds have no pity on them.” (Zechariah 11:4-5)

“Behold, I will cause them to fall, each into another’s power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I will not deliver them from their power.” (Zechariah 11:6)

And their own shepherds have no pity on them.” (Zechariah 11:4-5)

“Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!” (Zechariah 11:17)

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 27:6-10.

Episode 409 Matthew 27:6-10; Music:

Just As Soon by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3947-just-as-soon

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★