The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

It's Not a Fortune Cookie Jul 12, 2018

Show notes

Modern students of Scripture dumb down the power of the New Testament by dealing with the Old Testament as a kind of antiquated fortune cookie. They see a connection between Matthew and Jeremiah, and exclaim, "You see! Jeremiah predicts Matthew!" Even if we suspend reality for a moment (and ignore the fact that Matthew had access to Jeremiah before he wrote his book) fortune cookie theology does something far worse: it strips the New Testament of its nuance, functionality, interconnection, and narrative continuity with the Old Testament. In other words, if your understanding of Jeremiah is that he predicts Jesus, you have already shut down the meaning of Matthew's gospel.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 2:16-18.

Episode 234 Matthew 2:16-18; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Raw” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: B.y Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Palásh Jul 10, 2018

Show notes

Fr. Paul discusses the term palásh as it relates to the word Philistine. (Episode 22)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Liberation of Egypt Jul 05, 2018

Show notes

In secular ideology, we tend to depict everything as a struggle between bad actors and (so-called) good actors; between victims and oppressors. Thankfully, this self-righteous view of the world is dismantled in the Bible, which assumes that all humans are bad actors. In Scripture, all peoples come face-to-face with God's wrath through a functional judgment that pivots constantly against anyone who will listen. This mechanism is on full display in Matthew, who not only presents Israel's oppressor in a positive light; but as a people enslaved on Israel's account; and without whom Israel can't be saved.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 2:13-15.

Episode 233 Matthew 2:13-15; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “The Forest and the Trees” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: B.y Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In Christ Jesus Jul 03, 2018

Show notes

Fr. Paul unpacks the literary function of the expression ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. (Episode 21)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

The most difficult part of following the Bible is accepting the factuality of our powerlessness. Human beings repeatedly invent ways to sustain the illusion of control and self-importance, scheming tirelessly to defend and secure the passing fallacy of our place in the world.

According to (more accurately, as evidenced by) the written Gospel of Matthew, Scripture is written; and what is written in Scripture controls everything because it is factually correct and deals with the factuality of the world around us. Matthew's account of the Nativity amplifies this point through the sign of Mary's weakness, which highlight's the sign of Joseph's absence, and, ultimately, the helplessness and vulnerability of the child, Jesus Christ.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 2:7-12.

Episode 232 Matthew 2:7-12; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “The Death of Kings” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: B.y Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hope As a Mindset Jun 26, 2018

Show notes

Fr. Paul explains the function of hope in the biblical story. (Episode 20)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

And You, Bethlehem Jun 21, 2018

Show notes

Everyone emphasizes Jerusalem. It's the big city, the important city, and the object of David's kingly ambitions—but it's not the city from which (or to which) David was called. On the contrary, it is Jerusalem's little sister, the city of Bethlehem, that is set apart as the fruit bearing house of the bread of God's instruction. It is this little town—a place of pasture for shepherds—that is by no means least among the rulers of Judah.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 2:4-6.

Episode 231 Matthew 2:4-6; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “All This” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: B.y Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Raised Jun 19, 2018

Show notes

Fr. Paul discusses the usage and meaning of the term raised in the biblical canon. (Episode 19)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The People’s Hero Jun 14, 2018

Show notes

People read religious and philosophical symbols into the Bible all the time. They study other traditions or the symbols of ancient mythologies and jump to conclusions, reading biblical metaphor against a non-biblical context. Worse, they make horrific assumptions about the supposed continuity between these traditions and the biblical tradition. God forbid.

When the Bible employs such symbols from the ancient world, it does so, not to endorse, but to co-opt in order to make its own point. For the Magi, this point is clear: the truth is definitely not in our stars, but in the hand of the one who both made the stars and controls them, the Father of righteousness.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 2:1-3.

Episode 230 Matthew 2:1-3; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Pale Rider” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: B.y Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aman Jun 12, 2018

Show notes

Fr. Paul explains the importance of the term aman in the Bible. (Episode 18)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected