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The Bible as Literature — Education
The Bible as Literature

Each week, Fr. Marc Boulos discusses the content of the Bible as literature. On Tuesdays, Fr. Paul Tarazi presents an in-depth analysis of the biblical text in the original languages.

Latest Episodes:

Blood Sacrifice Feb 12, 2015

Show notes

What is the purpose of ritual sacrifice in the Bible? Why is so much emphasis placed on blood sacrifice as a means of expiation? Why would Ezekiel incorporate blood sacrifice in his depiction of the heavenly Jerusalem? In a continuation of last week’s theme, Richard and Fr. Marc discuss the importance of sticking with difficult or confusing texts, even when you're not sure what to make of them. A review of Ezekiel 43 leads to an interesting discussion of Genesis and the sanctity of animal life. (Episode 56)

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Boring Texts Feb 05, 2015

Show notes

Why do chapters 41 and 42 of Ezekiel spend so much time talking about the monotonous details of temple architecture? Why would these details matter in a book like Ezekiel, which undermines the temple cult in Jerusalem? Are the design schematics outlined in Ezekiel applicable to real world construction? Even if they were, why list these lengthy, boring details as part of the biblical storyline? Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on the usefulness of boring texts found in Ezekiel, Exodus and elsewhere in the Bible. Like all good things, the blessings of these passages come to those who are patient and willing to listen, over and over again. (Episode 55)

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Interview with Fr. Timothy Lowe Jan 29, 2015

Show notes

This week, Richard and Fr. Marc interview Fr. Timothy Lowe about his paper, The Gospel of Matthew and the Law Interpreted for Jew and Gentile, one of several excellent papers presented in Phoenix, AZ at the 2015 Symposium of the Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies. Fr. Timothy explains how the gospel of Matthew was written, not just to carry but to impose the Torah on both Israel and the Nations.

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Wheat, Wine, and Oil Jan 22, 2015

Show notes

The BBC recently reported that "the share of the world's wealth owned by the richest 1% increased from 44% in 2009 to 48%" in 2015 and that "on current trends, Oxfam...expects the wealthiest 1% to own more than 50% of the world's wealth by 2016." What must we hear from the biblical prophets in the face of this staggering trend? How should the rich and the poor relate to each other? How does scripture understand wealth and the consequences of greed? Fr. Marc and Richard reflect on these questions and the shame that God's generosity brings to those who believe that they've earned what they have.

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What’s More Important? Jan 15, 2015

Show notes

What is the purpose of St. Paul’s discussion of gender and marriage in 1 Corinthians? Why is he seemingly ambivalent about the status of Roman slaves? On what basis does he chastise his disciples for airing their grievances in the Roman court system? How does his critique of 'speaking in tongues’ or his discussion of idolatry and Roman religion (summarized in his excursus on infidelity) relate to these questions? Not surprisingly, the series of pastoral issues presented in Paul's letter are systematic and interconnected with his overall argument. 1 Corinthians hinges on the question of one’s allegiance and the ruthless priority of the gospel in all things. As usual, the discussion leads Richard and Fr. Marc to some uncomfortable conclusions. (Episode 52)

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Interview with Dr. Mary Youssef Jan 08, 2015

Show notes

Dr. Mary Youssef is Associate Professor of Arabic Literature in the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies at Binghamton University. Her research areas include Modern and Contemporary Arabic Literature, Postcolonial Studies, World Literature, Genre Studies, Migration Studies, Gender Studies, Arab Women's Writing and African Literature. She is currently working on a new book: Rethinking Difference: The Emergence of a New Consciousness in the Contemporary Egyptian Novel. Dr. Youssef describes a new development among contemporary Egyptian writers, who present Egyptian society as fundamentally heterogeneous, consisting of several diverse groups that undermine commonly held assumptions about national identity. Fr. Marc and Richard reflect on Dr. Youssef's ideas as they relate to the biblical tradition, especially her thesis on the function of "the other" in Arabic literature. The discussion leads to some surprising and helpful parallels bewtween the two genres. (Episode 51)

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Cloud of Witnesses Dec 31, 2014

Show notes

Is each generation an improvement on the previous one? Are people living today the apex of human progress? In practical terms, most of us intuit the problems of western idealism. Even so, we continue to cling to assumptions about human progress that cripple our ability to hear the wisdom handed down to us in the Bible. Nowhere is this more keenly felt than in Hebrews chapters 11 and 12. Some might say we stand on the shoulders of giants. For the sake of wisdom, it may be more helpful for us to tremble in the shadow of mighty ancestors. (Episode 50)

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Who's Your Daddy? Dec 25, 2014

Show notes

When people think of meaningful passages in the Bible, the many lengthy genealogies found in Genesis and elsewhere rarely, if ever, come to mind. Yet, it is exactly one such passage--the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew--that holds significant meaning for the Christmas season. Who are the people listed in the opening verses of Matthew's gospel, and why do they matter? What is the purpose of Matthew's genealogy? Is the Messiah's pedigree relevant, or is something else going on? Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 1:1-17. (Episode 49)

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Playing All Sides Dec 18, 2014

Show notes

In this week's episode, Richard explores the Lord's counter-intuitive stance in Ezekiel, in which judgement falls on all sides and no human being finds favor in God's sight. Why would the story present God as the one who brings evil against Israel? Why would he use Israel's enemies only to bring more evil against them, after the fact? The podcast explores these questions as we discuss the very passages in Ezekiel which gave rise to the expression, "fire and brimstone." (Episode 48)

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The Apostle Paul's Book Club Dec 11, 2014

Show notes

Does it matter which book of the Bible you read or which testament it comes from? Where should beginners start? Are some books more important than others? What is the purpose of the New Testament? Is the concept of grace a new idea, or was it part of the story all along? How do the books of the Bible interact with each other within the context of the Bible's storyline? Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on the continuity of the Bible and the importance of--well--jumping in head first. (Episode 47)

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