The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

Certificate of Divorce? Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

When children argue, they lobby their parents to choose a side. An unwise parent intervenes to solve the conflict, deciding who is right and who is wrong. This parent is unwise, because no matter how well-reasoned the discussion, the intervention teaches the child a horrible lesson: when you have a dispute with another person, instead of humbling yourself and negotiating a compromise, appeal to a higher authority. If the authority sides with you, you have the power to impose your will on your neighbor. In contrast, a wise parent intervenes only when circumstances demand action—and if they intervene—it is to hold both parties accountable. Under the care of a wise parent, nobody wins the argument. Instead, each child looks to their own mistakes and embraces their sibling in friendship.

Acting like children, adults try to use the law the same way children use their parents: “If I can just get the law on my side, then I can impose my will on others.” That’s exactly why the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce. Like a wise parent, Jesus turns the question against the accuser.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 19:1-9.

Episode 336 Matthew 19:1-9; Music:

Misuse by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4062-misuse

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

New Podcast on ESN: The Way Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Fr. Dustin explores how scripture frees us from the Pharoah's of our day so that we can walk The Way in obedience to the scriptural God. (Episode 1)

Subscribe: https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-way

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Out of the Rubble Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

Cautioning against the preconceived meaning of words, Fr. Paul explains that our understanding of a term’s meaning must conform to that term’s usage in the text, in context. (Episode 125)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Sword of Damocles Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

The meaning of Scripture is plain and straightforward. It is intricate and detailed, yes. It takes time and effort to digest, yes. It presents arguments that demand intellectual engagement, yes. But all this must never be confused with complexity. As we often say on the podcast, you do not need a seminary degree to understand the Bible.

You may need help from someone who knows languages, or another who is familiar with history, only because so much time has passed since the Bible was written. But the original audience did not need the help of scholars to get the message. The average Joe heard and immediately understood. Why else would the Romans have been so terrified of St. Paul’s Gospel?

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 18:23-35.

Episode 335 Matthew 18:23-35; Music:

Miami Viceroy by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4046-miami-viceroy

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Reshith Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Walking us through the author’s use of the Hebrew word reshith in Genesis, Fr. Paul exposes the deficiency of biblical translations. (Episode 124)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On the Hook Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

People love rules for two reasons. First, they want clear guidelines on what they need to do to be in good standing, and therefore, off the hook. Second, as rule followers, they want a high perch from which to look down and criticize others who, by their measure, do not follow the rules.

In Matthew, Jesus teaches that God provides his rules in the Torah because of the hardness of men's hearts. Such laws are not the measure of success, but a minimum requirement from a God who demands perfection of his followers.

So Peter—please—do not quote Leviticus to get yourself off the hook for your duty to the Gentiles.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 18:21-22.

Episode 334 Matthew 18:21-22; Music:

Bama Country by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3417-bama-country

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Nothing New Under the Sun Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

In today’s program, Fr. Paul demonstrates the importance of submitting to the order of the Hebrew canon in lieu of historicization. (Episode 123)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If Your Brother Sins Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

When Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” it is usually misunderstood as the gift of personal power, as though Peter is himself invested with divine authority. (Matthew 16:19) This is an incorrect reading. The keys entrusted to Peter are the words handed down to the church in the content of Paul’s gospel—the teaching Peter betrayed in Galatians. These keys do not belong to Peter. They are entrusted to him and to the other disciples to preach, teach, and discern the path of righteousness for the Lord’s flock. Neither the keys nor the flock belongs to Peter. It is the teaching itself, not Peter, that bears God’s authority, holding sway over all of the disciples for the sake of the weaker brother.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 18:15-19.

This week’s episode was presented live at the 2020 Symposium of the Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies, in honor of the Jubilee year if Fr. Paul Tarazi’s teaching ministry.

Episode 333 Matthew 18:15-19; Music:

Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3338-achaidh-cheide

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Asah and Bara Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul explains how the biblical author uses the Hebrew terms Asah and Bara to establish the finality of God’s work. (Episode 122)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Boot of Caesar Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

When you see George Floyd under the boot of Caesar, you must hear the words of Scripture:

“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” (Galatians 3:1)

All of you were, “standing at a distance, seeing these things.” (Luke 23:49)

Do you not know that, “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong”? ( 1 Corinthians 1:27)

Have you not heard, that “If you cause the weaker brother harm, “it would be better for [you] to have a heavy millstone hung around [your] neck, and to be drowned in the of the sea”? (Matthew 18:6)

This week’s show is dedicated to the eternal memory of George Floyd.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 18:12-14.

Episode 332 Matthew 18:12-14; Music:

Heartbreaking by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3863-heartbreaking

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★