The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

Which Life is Life? Jun 16, 2016

Show notes

When someone sets out to do something difficult, they console themselves that their sacrifice is worth the effort because of what they will have achieved or attained. The problem, of course, is that we humans are as much aware of our own futility as we are comforted by delusions of permanence. In other words, no matter how much we lie to ourselves about life, sooner or later, everyone asks, “what’s it all for?” The answer, Paul explains, lies behind us because it was before us and mercifully, it was handed down to us. We need only honor the one who taught us by repeating it and acting on it. No matter how tough it gets or how futile our efforts seem, we have hope, because what we have received and what we now speak manifests a glory that does not die. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 2 Corinthians 4. (Episode 126; 2 Corinthians 4); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Eternity” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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From Glory to Glory Jun 09, 2016

Show notes

When St. Paul contrasts tablets of stone with the human heart, or the letter inscribed in stone with the Spirit, or the Old Covenant with the New, Christians are quick to assume that the Old is incomplete without the New, or, worse, that the human heart is preferable to following the letter of the law. Strange, how people convince themselves that God would inscribe a teaching and then say, "oops," I never meant for you to actually read it or do it. Just get the gist, so that Obi Wan can teach you to reach out to me with the force. Then you can ignore the letter of my law and be free. That might work for a hollywood screenplay embedded with product placements, but it has nothing to do with the Bible. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 2 Corinthians 3. (Episode 125; 2 Corinthians 3); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Upbeat Forever” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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Who is Testing Whom? Jun 02, 2016

Show notes

It is common for students to judge their teachers. Worse, students today are encouraged to do so, being routinely asked to fill out teacher evaluation forms. Some have even created websites to aggregate student gossip about their teachers. In a culture that lauds greed and shames mothers, it seems that everyone has an opinion about the one who stands before them bearing gifts. Not so and not on Paul's watch, who reminds the church, it is not you who evaluates me, but I who evaluate you, "So that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things." Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 2 Corinthians 2. (Episode 124; 2 Corinthians 2; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Meatball Parade” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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Wax On Wax Off May 26, 2016

Show notes

According to human standards of leadership, when Paul changes course midstream, it appears to his disciples that he is vascillating between "yes" and "no," like a man who can't keep his promises. In reality, it is the church that is wavering because Paul's disciples are unwilling to place all their trust in the instruction that controls their teacher's actions. Richard and Fr. Marc discussion 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 (Episode 123; 2 Corinthians 1:12-24); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “SONG NAME” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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The Blessing and the Curse May 19, 2016

Show notes

When Paul talks about comfort in 2 Corinthians, it is easy to receive his words as much needed nurturing, as though we have suffered unjustly and are in need of God's intervention. But what if God has already intervened? What if the difficulties in our life are not unjust? What if the suffering of which we complain is not evil? What if the blessings and the curses in our life come from the same source? Richard and Fr. Marc begin their discussion of 2 Corinthians. (Episode 122; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Fife and Drum” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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Whistling to the Flock May 12, 2016

Show notes

Without realizing it, when people hear the word “church,” they usually imagine a meta institution with clear organizational or ideological boundaries, akin to a government or global corporation. Worse, in our various expressions of Christianity, one way or another, we tend to operate as such. Whether attempting to control the world through ideology, or to market ourselves for institutional gain, our understanding of church rebels against the Lord’s teaching. As disciples of Scripture, our duty, according to St. Paul, is to refresh our minds, supplanting our idolatrous notions of institution with the literary context imposed by the Bible. For Paul, who invites his addressees to hear him “according to the Scriptures,” the reference for “church” is something far less glamorous than the powerful institutions idolized by human beings. A church, in Scripture, is akin to a shepherd’s flock, and Paul himself is the slave, not of a powerful institution, but of a Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep. Richard and Fr. Marc conclude their study of 1 Corinthians. (Episode 121; 1 Corinthians 14:29-58); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Floating Cities” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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Baptism for the Dead May 05, 2016

Show notes

Isaiah 22:12 Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. 13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die. 14 But the Lord of hosts revealed Himself to me, “Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die,” says the Lord God of hosts. You guessed it: in preaching the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians, Paul is explaining and applying the judgement of Isaiah 22 to the church. However, what’s really clever is that the phrase in Isaiah, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we may die,” was also used by Roman gladiators on the eve of battle. Interesting, that the people of Israel, and now, the church in Corinth, share the same understanding of life and death as the Roman pagans. “Do not be deceived,” Paul explains, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Richard and Fr. Marc conclude their discussion of 1 Corinthians 15. (Episode 120; 1 Corinthians 14:29-58); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Thief in the Night” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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According to the Scriptures Apr 28, 2016

Show notes

Psalm 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware. ’” 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (NASB) Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 1 Corinthians 15.

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Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent Apr 21, 2016

Show notes

When reading an ancient text in translation—especially one laden with nuance—there is a high risk of misunderstanding. On the one hand, there are expressions, cultural and historical references, and terminology that are not immediately accessible to modern readers. At the same time, a statement’s meaning often seems obvious, when, in fact, the translation is misleading or the reader has assumed a context that is foreign to the narrative. The first rule of exegesis is that everything must be heard in context. Historical context, linguistic context, but most importantly, narrative context. When a phrase seems to jut out of St. Paul’s letter, such as, “women are to keep silent in the churches,” It feels jolting and chauvinist to modern readers. As jolting as it seems, rest assured, such a statement flows with the broader discussion and does not mean what your twenty first century ears think it means. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 1 Corinthians 14:20-39. (Episode 118; 1 Corinthians 14:20-39); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Anamalie” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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Five Words Apr 13, 2016

Show notes

Better to “speak five words” that give instruction, Paul explains, “than ten thousand words” that mean something to you but are useless for everyone else. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss 1 Corinthians 14:1-19. Prompted by listener feedback, this week’s episode begins with a review of the function of sin in the Torah and its implications for Paul’s gospel. (Episode 117; 1 Corinthians 14:1-19); Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Awesome Call” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/)

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