The Bible (Unmuted)

#95: Restoring the Boundaries: Brief Thoughts on Peacemaking in a Messy World Nov 19, 2024

Christians are called to be peacemakers. But what, exactly, does this entail? Specifically, how do we live as peacemakers in a world such as ours? How are we, for instance, called to handle toxic relationships? And how can the story of creation in Genesis 1 help us answer these questions?

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Matt's newest book: ⁠⁠⁠The End of the World As You Know It⁠⁠⁠

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#94: Revelation, Part 18 (Rev. 10) Nov 12, 2024

Revelation 10 introduces a "mighty angel" from heaven. The angel's speech, message, and activities resemble that of an angel depicted in the Old Testament (i.e. in Daniel). But there are also dissimilarities between the two. How might observing these features help us understand Revelation 10, especially with respect to the angel's enigmatic speech about time (10:6)? There's also the mysterious message of "the seven thunders," which John is told not to write down. What does this mean, and how could the Old Testament help us understand the message's concealment? Finally, what's going on with John being told to "eat" a scroll, and how does this lead into the discussion about the two witnesses in Revelation 11? Listen to find out!

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Matt's newest book: ⁠⁠The End of the World As You Know It⁠⁠

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#93: Revelation, Part 17 (Rev. 9:13-21) Nov 05, 2024

The sixth trumpet brings about the release of four angels, who had been bound (imprisoned) at the Euphrates River. Who are these angels, and what's the point of their being bound at a geographical location such as the Euphrates? Readers also encounter a cavalry that numbers 200 million. What's the significance off this number, and what, exactly,is this cavalry? Is it a demonic ? Is it a human? And will this cavalry appear in the future, or should we think differently about it?

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Read Matt's blog: ⁠matthewhalsted.substack.com⁠

Matt's newest book: ⁠The End of the World As You Know It⁠

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#92: Revelation, Part 16 (Rev. 9:1-12) Oct 29, 2024

Matt discusses the events that occur at the fifth trumpet. Who is the "star" that Revelation says "had fallen from heaven to earth"? Is this the "destroyer" of Exodus 12? And what relationship do these texts have with Isaiah 14:12-20? Furthermore, what are the locust-beings that come up from the "bottomless pit," and what are they doing to the earth and its inhabitants? Does this text describe acts of judgments, and if so, what is their purpose?

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Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com

Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It

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#91: An Interview with Mark Beuving: The Life & Thought of Søren Kierkegaard Oct 22, 2024

Matt chats with pastor and author Mark Beuving about the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, whose thought-provoking writings have captivated readers ever since they were first published. Mark unpacks this intriguing thinker, sharing specifically how Kierkegaard's essays on love and faith could influence our own thinking about what it means to live out the Christian life.

Get a copy of Mark Beuving's book:Resonate: Enjoying God's Gift of Music

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#90: Q&A: Lazarus and Resurrection; Death and the Intermediate State; Did God offer Job up as a Pawn? Oct 15, 2024

This episode comes with an interesting lineup of topics: Why did Jesus allow Lazarus to die? What does the Bible say about death and the intermediate state? Do Christians who have died know what's happening on earth? Do they experience emotion, such as regret? Why would God allow Job to suffer? Did God offer Job up as a pawn or is something else going on?

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#89: Does God Still Speak Through Dreams and Visions? Oct 09, 2024

Here are some brief reflections on the question of whether God still speak in dreams and visions and how this question relates to biblical texts such as Hebrews 1:1-2.

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#88: Q&A - Believing Loyalty, Faith, Old & New Covenants, Determinism & Free Will Oct 08, 2024

Matt takes questions about faith as "believing loyalty" and how that relates to the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament (as it relates to obedience), and a question about John 6:65 -- can it be interpreted non-deterministically?

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#87: Q&A - Angels, Divine Wrath, Evangelism, Inerrancy Oct 01, 2024

Matt takes listener questions about angels (are they still active in the world today?), God's wrath (who is the destroying angel in the Old Testament? How does divine wrath relate to free will?), the "Romans road salvation plan" (does it capture the full story of the Gospel? How can we better incorporate the story of Israel in our evangelistic efforts?), and the inerrancy of Scripture (is "inerrancy" a good word to use for describing the Bible? What are some pitfalls in the way it's often employed in contemporary discussions?).

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#86: Revelation, Part 15 (Rev. 8) Sep 24, 2024

Revelation 8 raises a lot of questions, such as: Who are the seven angels with seven trumpets? What is the significance of their using trumpets? What is the "great mountain" that is "thrown in the sea"? Is this literally a mountain? How does one interpret the "great star" (called "Wormwood") that falls from heaven (this, after all, can hardly be taken as a literal "star")? And, lastly, why is the fraction "one-third" used so often in Revelation 8? How does this number fit into the larger narrative? These questions and more are addressed in this episode. Listen to explore some answers!

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Sigve Tonstad's Revelation commentary: https://a.co/d/1xqmIIM

On "wrath" as divine withdrawal, see Greg Boyd's 2-volume work, Crucifixion of the Warrior God: https://a.co/d/0PTkbwA

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Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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#85: Revelation, Part 14 (Rev. 7) Sep 17, 2024

In Revelation 7, there are 144,000 people sealed on their foreheads -- 12,000 drawn from 12 Jewish tribes. What is John describing in this vision? Should we interpret this literally, as a group of 144,000 individual Jewish people? Or is this symbolic for something else? In this episode, Matt dives into the text and offers reasons why the 144,000 should be understood as referring to the fulness of God's multi-ethnic church -- a company of saints who exist within (and because of) the story of Israel.

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#84: Revelation, Part 13 (Rev. 6:9-17; 8:1-5) Sep 10, 2024

There's a lot to consider in Revelation 6:9-17; 8:1-5. First, after the 5th seal is opened, we read of martyrs under an altar praying to God for justice to be restored to the earth; they are given white robes and told to "rest a little longer." What's significant about their prayer? What do the white robes signify? Second, with the opening of the 6th seal, the cosmos undergoes a dissolution of sorts -- the sun is darkened, the moon turns blood red, the stars fall from the sky. This symbolism can be found in the prophets (e.g. Joel, Isaiah), as well as in other parts of the New Testament (e.g. Matthew, Acts). Why is this important to note, and what do these apocalyptic images signify? Finally, at the 7th seal, there is "silence" in heaven. What does this mean? How can the Old Testament help us answer that question?

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#83: God as Sovereign, Creator, and Sustainer (A Sermon) Sep 03, 2024

What do you think of God? What thoughts come to mind when you hear the words "sovereign" applied to him? Do you think of God as a Father -- one who has intimate knowledge of, and deep care for, his creation? In this sermon, Matt unpacks Psalm 147:4-5, which speaks of both God's infinite wisdom/understanding and the comos' contingency/finitude. The implications of these two verses are far-reaching, inviting us to think deeply and carefully about the one, true eternal God and our relationship with him.

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#82: Revelation, Part 12 (Rev. 6:1-8) Aug 27, 2024

In Revelation 6:1-8, we encounter "the four horseman of the apocalypse." And, to be sure, there are many questions to consider: Who are these characters? Are they angelic beings (the "good guys?") simply carrying out God's judgment? Or are they sinister forces who are allowed to bring chaos and destruction? Does this text describe exclusively future events (i.e., a future tribulation), or is there a better way to understand it? Finally, how does John's vision of the four horsemen relate to the visions of Zechariah's horsemen and chariots?

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#81: Revelation, Part 11 (The Structure of Rev. 6-22) Aug 20, 2024

If there's one cardinal rule about interpreting Revelation, it's this: If you want to understand the content of Revelation, it's a good idea to have a grasp on the structure of Revelation. In this episode, Matt addresses this very issue. How, for example, should readers understand the three cycles of judgment -- that is, the seals, trumpets, and bowls? Are they depicting events that occur chronologically? Are they describing future events? Or is something else going on?

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#80: Revelation, Part 10 (Rev. 5) Aug 13, 2024

There's a big reveal in Revelation 5 -- a vision that allows John to get a glimpse into the heart, the way, and the character of God. What does John see that is so extraordinary? How does his vision counter the politics of his day? How might it challenge ours? And how does this vision in particular recall (and shed light upon) key Old Testament texts? Listen to find out!

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#79: Revelation, Part 9 (Rev. 4) Aug 06, 2024

Some popular prophecy teachers think Revelation 4 references a future "rapture" of the church. In this episode, Matt offers a different take, arguing that such notions read more into the text than is justified. Matt also discusses the many Old Testament texts that comprise the background for the throne room scene in this chapter. In fact, the OT context can shed some meaningful light on not just the scene itself, but the important elements and characters within the scene -- e.g., the twenty-four elders and the living creatures.

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#78: Tosha's Takeover Jul 30, 2024

The Mrs. Halsted takes over the microphone to explain why there's no episode this week.

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#77: The Sheep in the Wilderness (musings on Mark 6:33-44) Jul 23, 2024

In this episode, Matt discusses the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This event is by no means an isolated, random miracle. To the contrary, it's allusions back to the Old Testament reveal it's true, Jewish context. What allusions can be detected? Why are they important for this text in particular, and how do they contribute to larger story of redemption? Importantly, how can this story offer hope to the church of the 21st century? Listen to find out.

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#76: An Interview with Joey Dodson: Paul, Romans, and Seneca Jul 16, 2024

In this episode, Matt chats with Joey Dodson, a New Testament professor at Denver Seminary. Their conversation centers around Paul and his theology (and in particular what Paul means by "wretched man" in Romans 7). Joey also talks a bit about Seneca and how knowing about his life and writings can be helpful for modern readers of Paul. A range of other things are covered as well: Paul and Empire, "the righteousness of God," the value of reading fiction, and the list goes on.

Dr. Dodson's bio:

Dr. Joseph (Joey) Dodson is the Dr. Craig L. Blomberg Endowed Chair of New Testament. He studied at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and the University of Tübingen in Germany. In addition to many academic and devotional essays, he has written a number of articles for top-tier, peer review journals such as Harvard Theological Review, Novum Testamentum, the Journal for Jewish Studies, and Catholic Biblical Quarterly. His most recent books include Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context, IVP Publishing, 2019, co-edited with David E. Briones, The Things I Want to Do: Romans 7 Revisited (forthcoming), A Little Book for New Bible Scholars with E. Randolph Richards (2017) and a co-edited volume with David E. Briones, Paul and Seneca in Dialogue (2017). Dr. Dodson’s current research includes a Romans commentary in the Brill Exegetical Commentary Series and a Colossians-Philemon commentary in The Christian Standard Commentary Series.

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#75: An Interview with Aimee Byrd: The Hope in our Scars Jul 09, 2024

Have you ever felt (or currently feel) discouraged by the church? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Matt chats with Aimee Byrd about this very issue. In her latest book, The Hope in Our Scars, Aimee offers insights on how to find hope, truth, and beauty for those who have grown disillusioned with the church. In an era when the modern church has become infatuated with power and intoxicated by celebrity culture -- leading many to abandon their faith altogether -- Aimee's voice of reason offers a better way: A way of finding hope in Christ. Drawing on a wealth of experience (most of which was very painful), she offers insightful and encouraging thoughts to those who are struggling to hold on.

About: Aimee Byrd is an author, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and former coffee shop owner. She is the author of several books, including Why Can't We Be Friends?, Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and Sexual Reformation. Her articles have appeared in First Things, Table Talk, Modern Reformation, By Faith, New Horizons, Ordained Servant, Harvest USA, and Credo Magazine, and she has been interviewed and quoted in Christianity Today and The Atlantic.

https://aimeebyrd.com/

https://www.instagram.com/aimeebyrdlife/

https://www.facebook.com/aimee.byrd.39

https://twitter.com/aimeebyrdPYW

https://www.threads.net/@aimeebyrdlife

https://aimeebyrd.substack.com/

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Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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#74: An Interview with Ryan Dillion: Sacramental Identity Jul 02, 2024

How does one go about crafting a theology of human identity? That's the question today's guest, Ryan Dillon, seeks to answer. Ryan recently published a book called Sacramental Identity: Finding Who We Are through Participation in God's Story (link below). In this conversation, listeners get a taste of what the book is all about, as well as some additional insights from Ryan about "theology" in general and why it's important to read the church Fathers.

Purchase Ryan's book here: https://a.co/d/hBEIGYI

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Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠)

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#73: An Interview with Emmanuel Engulu: Apophatic theology, Trinitarianism, and Hermeneutics Jun 25, 2024

In this conversation, Matt chats with Emmanuel Engulu (PhD candidate at Kings College, London). The conversation travels down many paths: apophatic theology, christology, incarnation, trinitarianism, the problems of subordinationism, and the list goes on. Weaved throughout the conversation is the thread of hermeneutics. Emmanuel discusses the role tradition plays in hermeneutics and how engaging with the Fathers can help us read Scripture well.

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#72: Revelation, Part 8 (Rev. 3:14-22) Jun 18, 2024

The church of Laodicea considered itself rich and self-sustaining. And yet, it wasn't. Jesus calls it "wretched" and "poor." He also says the church is "lukewarm" and that he'd rather it be either "cold" or "hot." These metaphors have led to a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. What does Jesus mean by "hot"? Why does he say he'd rather them be "cold" than "lukewarm"? As with anything, if we want to understand the content of Revelation, we need to know a thing or two about the context of Revelation. And this includes Laodicea's geographical context. How does this help? Listen to find out!

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Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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#71: Revelation, Part 7 (Rev. 3:7-13) Jun 11, 2024

In the message to the church at Philadelphia, Jesus is described as one who possesses "the key of David." What is significant about a "key" in this context, and how does Isaiah shed light upon it? Many prophecy teachers, furthermore, think this message to the Philadelphian believers is actually a message about the final tribulation and specifically alludes to the "rapture" when it says that Jesus will keep this church "from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world" (v. 10). How well does this idea stack up? Listen to find out!

+++

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠)

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Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#70: Revelation, Part 6 (Rev. 3:1-6) Jun 03, 2024

The church at Sardis has a reputation for "being alive," but in reality they are a "dead" church. Jesus's response is simple: he tells them to have a change of heart and "wake up." But there are other aspects of this passage that are difficult to understand. For example, Jesus tells Sardis that, if they don't repent, he "will come like a thief." Does this mean his second coming is contingent on their decision? Moreover, Jesus seems to imply that, depending on how they respond, Christians in Sardis risk having their names blotted out of the "book of life." How do we make sense of this?

+++

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠here⁠⁠)

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Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#69: Revelation, Part 5 (Rev. 2:18-29) May 28, 2024

In this episode, Matt leads listeners through the message given to the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29). This church was a growing church, though not without problems. A local false prophet, a person called "Jezebel," was apparently wreaking havoc upon the congregation by her teaching. Matt explores what, exactly, this might have been all about, as well as discusses how to make sense of the judgments depicted in vv. 22-23. He also explains the role Psalm 2:8-9 plays in this passage and outlines the textual difference between the Hebrew Bible and its corresponding Greek text. Lastly, Matt talks about the variety of ways commentators interpret "the morning star" passage in v. 28.

+++

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠here⁠)

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Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#68: An Interview with Brian Zahnd, Part 2 (The Wood Between the Worlds) May 21, 2024

Part 2 of 2 of Matt's interview with Brian Zahnd, the author of The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross (link below).

Description:

Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story―the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude―that there is always something more to be said.

Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.

Link to book: ⁠https://a.co/d/i02RYTa⁠

Brian's website: ⁠https://brianzahnd.com⁠

+++

Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠⁠here⁠⁠)

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#67: An Interview with Brian Zahnd, Part 1 (The Wood Between the Worlds) May 14, 2024

Part 1 of 2 of Matt's interview with Brian Zahnd, the author of The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross (link below).

Description:

Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story―the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude―that there is always something more to be said.

Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.

Link to book: https://a.co/d/i02RYTa

Brian's website: https://brianzahnd.com

+++

Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link ⁠here⁠)

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#66: Revelation, Part 4 (Rev. 2:12-17) May 07, 2024

The city of Pergamum had a long history with the Imperial Cult. How might knowing about that relationship help modern readers understand Rev. 2:12-17 -- particularly with respect to how John writes that "Satan's throne" resides in Pergamum? Are there other things in Pergamum to which this could refer? There's also the mention of the Old Testament character Balaam, which may shed light upon the enigmatic Nicolaitans. How do we make sense of this group? And finally, there is the mysterious "hidden manna" reference in v. 17. What is John talking about and what role does it play in encouraging the church at Pergamum to be faithful in their chaotic world?

+++

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠ (link here)

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#65: Revelation, Part 3 (Rev. 2:1-11) Apr 30, 2024

In this episode, Matt takes listeners through the first and second messages to the seven churches -- to Ephesus and Smyrna, respectively. How do we understand the critique given to the Ephesian church? What is meant, for example, by their having "abandoned the love [they] had at first"? Moreover, who were the Nicolaitans, and what challenge did they present to these believers? When the church at Smyrna was told they would encounter difficulties for "ten days," how should we interpret that?

+++ Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#64: Revelation, Part 2 (Rev. 1:9-20) Apr 23, 2024

John’s opening vision of “the Son of Man” is full of Old Testament allusions, and readers need to gain familiarity with these OT texts in order to understand the depth of meaning John seeks to convey. It invites us to ask, “What did John’s vision—and the symbols inherent to it—intend to communicate? Why was it important for the seven churches to learn about this vision?” Moreover, some prophecy teachers think John’s “seven churches” represent seven eras of church history. How plausible is this view? Is there warrant for this idea? +++ Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#63: Revelation, Part 1 (Rev. 1:1-8) Apr 16, 2024

Revelation is an ancient text that garners a lot of speculation in today's modern world. Sadly, it's been read in such a way that has spread a lot of fear --not to mention confusion about what Christianity actually teaches about eschatology. In this episode, Matt kicks off a new series on this fascinating text, showing how it was originally intended to spread encouragement and clarity for the church, not despair and confusion. A range of questions are explored, such as: What (or who!) is Revelation revealing? What kind of "book" is it? How did it's author intend it to be read? Listen to find out!

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠

#62: Hermeneutics and Genre Theory: An Interview with Andrew Judd Apr 09, 2024

In this episode, Matt talks with Andrew Judd, whose research brings together hermeneutics, genre theory, and biblical studies. Andrew gives listeners a tour of some of the more troubling/difficult passages of Scripture and brings to bear upon them them the insights of his research, specifically as it has to do with genre theory and the hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer -- both of which can help modern interpreters think critically and carefully about interpreting the Bible.

Andrew's website: www.andyjudd.com

Check out Andrew's books: www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CPLZNJKF

+ + + Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

#61: All The Genealogies of the Bible - An Interview with Nancy Dawson Apr 02, 2024

Matt chats with Dr. Nancy Dawson about her new book, All the Genealogies of the Bible: Visual Charts and Exegetical Commentary⁠. Why are genealogies important? How do they contribute to discovering Scripture's narrative? How do genealogies give us insights into the way early Jewish and Christian people viewed the past in relation to their present? Listen to find out!

Order Dr Dawson's book: https://a.co/d/62Ysg27

+ + + Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠

#60: The Divine Council Worldview - An Interview with Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu Mar 26, 2024

Matt chats with Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu, who both host The Divine Council Worldview Podcast. The conversation covers a range of topics, from what is a divine council worldview and the fall of spiritual beings to translation issues and the practical benefits of DCW.

Subscribe to The Divine Council Worldview Podcast on all major podcast platforms, including:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4UdkIcEWNTw9EoniNWSa4e...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-divine.../id1732773760
Audible: https://www.audible.com/.../The-Divine-Council.../B0CW783R23
Website: ⁠https://sites.libsyn.com/513968/⁠

AWKNG School of Theology: ⁠https://awkngschooloftheology.com/⁠

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠

#59: Thy Kingdom Come: Rethinking the Darkness of Earth in Light of the Dawn of Heaven Mar 20, 2024

How can the Lord's Prayer help us anticipate the eschaton? In this episode, Matt takes listeners from Eden to Easter, showing how the bodily resurrection of Jesus can inspire us to work for the Kingdom here and now as we await our own resurrection.

*This is based on an article posted to Matt's website, which you can read here: "Thy Kingdom Come"

+ + + Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#58: Eschatology and Psalm 45 LXX (46 MT) Mar 19, 2024

Matt takes listeners through Psalm 45 LXX (46 MT). This Psalm is well-known ("Be still, and know that I am God"; NRSV, v. 10), but many people might not be aware of its eschatological context -- the first clue of which can be found in the LXX superscription ("For the end"). What, for instance, does this Psalm have to do with the temple visions of Ezekiel and Revelation? And how does all this connect to the Creation story of Genesis 1? Listen to find out! + + + Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#57: Musings on Psalm 22 (LXX) Mar 12, 2024

Matt takes a deep dive into Psalm 22 LXX (23 MT). Lots of questions are explored. For example, what is meant by "soul" in v. 3? And what does it have to do with the body? Moreover, what sort of image is evoked in v. 5, where God sets a table "opposite those who afflict" the psalmist? Furthermore, how might Christians understand this "table" in light of what Paul says about the Eucharist in 1 Corinthians?

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#56: Romans, Part 25 (Rom 16) Mar 05, 2024

In this final episode of the Romans series, Matt tackles a number of topics and addresses several important questions, such as: How does Romans 16 fit within the letter as a whole? Are there reasons for thinking it was not part of the original letter and, if so, how do these reasons hold up to critical scrutiny? Paul mentions a number of other people in this section, too, (Phoebe, for example) and their ministry work. What can we learn from this "greeting section"? Moreover, how does the reference to Satan being crushed under the feet of the Roman Christians shed light upon Paul's ecclesiology and christology? Listen to find out!

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#55: Romans, Part 24 (Rom 15:14-33) Feb 27, 2024

How did Paul envision his apostolic ministry with respect to, say, the Old Testament's levitical/sacrificial system? Did Paul think his ministry was wholly discontinuous with that system? Or did he see it as operating in continuity with it? Moreover, how did Paul think his missionary efforts related to the ministry of Isaiah's suffering servant? And finally, what role did "signs and wonders" play in Paul's work as an apostle? Listen to find out!

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#54: Acts and More - An Interview with Steve Walton Feb 20, 2024

Matt chats with Steve Walton, a Senior Research Fellow at Trinity, College, Bristol. Steve is the author of Reading Acts Theologically, which was published by T&T Clark in the Library of New Testament Studies series. He is currently working on an Acts commentary, which will be published as part of the Word Biblical Commentary set. Steve’s Acts commentary comes in three volumes, the first of which will come out in October of 2024. Steve and I discuss a range of topics, including the way Luke depicts early Christian ecclesiology and missions, visions and divine revelation, the Roman empire, and what Luke can teach us about Paul.

Steve Walton's website: ⁠https://stevewalton.info/⁠

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It:⁠https://a.co/d/7fuglXx⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#53: Covenants and Cross-Purposes - An Interview with Berel Dov Lerner, Part 2 Feb 13, 2024

In this episode (Part 2 of 2), Matt talks with philosopher Berel Dov Lerner (PhD, Tel Aviv University) about his new book, Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures: Covenants and Cross-Purposes. The conversation touches on a range of topics, including the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Hebrew Bible, the Abrahamic Covenant, the problem of evil, Job's suffering, the concept of "negative theology," and other topics as well.

Berel's bio: ⁠https://herzlinstitute.org/en/people/berel-dov-lerner/⁠

Check out Berel's book here: ⁠https://a.co/d/aFuT4uR⁠

Berel also mentioned Charlotte Katzoff's book, Human Agency and Divine Will: The Book of Genesis, which you can find here: ⁠https://a.co/d/cIi7liY⁠

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It, here:⁠https://a.co/d/4Hvbv8R⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#52: Covenants and Cross-Purposes - An Interview with Berel Dov Lerner, Part 1 Feb 06, 2024

In this episode (Part 1 of 2), Matt talks with philosopher Berel Dov Lerner (PhD, Tel Aviv University) about his new book, Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures: Covenants and Cross-Purposes. The conversation touches on a range of topics, including the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Hebrew Bible, the Abrahamic Covenant, the problem of evil, Job's suffering, the concept of "negative theology," and other topics as well.

Berel's bio: https://herzlinstitute.org/en/people/berel-dov-lerner/

Check out Berel's book here: https://a.co/d/aFuT4uR

Berel also mentioned Charlotte Katzoff's book, Human Agency and Divine Will: The Book of Genesis, which you can find here: https://a.co/d/cIi7liY

+ + +

Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It, here:https://a.co/d/4Hvbv8R

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#51: The Hebrew Bible - Language, Translation, and "The Heresy of Explanation": An Interview with Robert Alter Jan 30, 2024

In this episode, Matt talks with Dr. Robert Alter (PhD, Harvard University) about his Hebrew Bible translation. They discuss translation theory in general and what Alter calls "the heresy of explanation." A range of other topics are discussed as well: How the language of the Hebrew Bible compared with the everyday language of an ancient Hebrew, the poem in Jeremiah 20, the two creation stories of Genesis 1-2, as well as Alter's personal writing practices through the years and a new book he's working on.

About Robert Alter: https://complit.berkeley.edu/user/260

Alter's Hebrew Bible translation: https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Bible-Translation-Commentary-Three/dp/0393292495/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IM1Z1D0CYETK&keywords=alter+bible+translation&qid=1551481284&s=gateway&sprefix=alter+bible%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/End-World-You-Know-Really/dp/1683597125/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QDN940K0TNGN&keywords=the+end+of+the+world+as+you+know+it&qid=1706044398&sprefix=the+end+of+the+world+as+you+know+it%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#50: Romans, Part 23 (Rom 15:1-13) Jan 23, 2024

In Romans 14-15, Paul appeals to his christological convictions to help believers learn how to navigate for themselves life within a church full of different opinions. But he does this by way of appealing to Scripture, particular to Psalm 68 (LXX) in Romans 15. Matt argues that Paul's use of Scripture here -- like the many times before in Romans -- occurs within the context of a story so important to Paul, namely, the story of God's plan to use Israel to bless the nations (Genesis 12). This episode takes listeners through Romans 15:1-13 while revisiting the concept of a "storied approach" to Scripture. In doing so, one betters sees how the story Paul tells was envisioned by him to impact life within the community of God.

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#49: Romans, Part 22 (Rom 14) Jan 16, 2024

In the early Roman church, it appears there might have been some serious disagreements about whether (and how) to follow certain dietary restrictions. While Jewish Christians, for instance, would have wanted to follow the dietary regulations outlined in Torah, Gentiles Christians likely had different opinions on the matter. In Romans 14, Paul offers his readers some helpful guidelines for how to navigate these sorts of disagreements. When it comes to opinions over matters adiaphora, the Apostle thinks there's a lot of freedom to enjoy. In other words, Christians have the right (and responsibility) to follow the dictates of their individual conscience. That being said, what ultimately mattered to him at the end of the day was that Christians show charity toward one another. And this idea of charity, for Paul, flowed directly downstream of his christological convictions.

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#48: Romans, Part 21 (Rom 13) Jan 09, 2024

Questions about the relationship between earthly empires and the heavenly Kingdom is one that garners a lot of discussion and debate these days. But as we read through Romans 13 (and, at the same time, taking into account the witness of other relevant New Testament texts) the message is clear: Christians are to pass their days in exile by exhibiting the cruciform love of Christ. This type of ethic is powerful, for it testifies to the world that Christians have a different sort of politics than the world does. By imitating Christ, believers show themselves to be part of a Kingdom that is much different than the kingdoms of this world.

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#47: Celebrating Advent with Apocalyptic Eyes Dec 19, 2023

During this Advent season, we prepare our hearts for Christmas. This involves, quite naturally, reflecting on Jesus' coming to the earth 2,000 years ago. (And it also involves anticipation -- awaiting the day when he returns again.) But as we reflect upon the coming of Jesus, we have to ask ourselves, What did Jesus reveal to us by his coming? One place to find the answer is at the back of the book, in Revelation -- originally known as The Apocalypse, which means the revealing. In Revelation, Jesus reveals a lot of things. But Jesus is also himself the revelation. So, what exactly does he reveal? Specifically, what does he reveal about the nature and character of God? To answer these questions, we take a dive this week into Revelation 4-5.

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠

Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠

#46: What Hath Darwin to Do with Scripture? An Interview with Dr. Dru Johnson Dec 12, 2023

So what hath Darwin to do with Scripture? That's the question Dr. Dru Johnson seeks to answer in his latest book. In this episode, I chat with Dru about all things evolution -- well, not all the things. Due to time constraints I, quite naturally, had to select only a few of the important ones (did you see what I did there?). At any rate, the question of evolution is one that causes many Christians (particularly North American evangelicals) a bit of angst, to say the least. Why is that? And what is the relationship between nature and the supernatural realm? How does the story of Scripture (particularly Genesis 1-11) compare to the picture Darwinian evolution paints? And how does the problem of evil come into the discussion? Listen to find out!

Pre-order Dru Johnson's book: ⁠https://a.co/d/4wi0fvW⁠

Check out Dru's Website: https://drujohnson.com

+ + +

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

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#45: Preview Pod Dec 07, 2023

In a few days I will be interviewing Dr. Dru Johnson about his new book, What Hath Darwin to Do with Scripture? Comparing Conceptual Worlds of the Bible and Evolution. If you have questions you would like to ask Dr. Johnson about evolution and how it might relate to the scriptural creation stories, send them my way. You can do so by submitting the contact form on my website (link below).

Pre-order Dru Johnson's book: https://a.co/d/4wi0fvW

Send me your questions here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.matthewhalsted.com⁠⁠

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#44: Torah & Meditation - Reading Psalm 1 (LXX) Dec 05, 2023

Has the practice of extended and uninterrupted attention become a lost art -- not least with respect to meditating on Scripture? In the first chapter of the Psalter, we learn that the godly person lives a life of meditationon Torah. In this episode, Matt takes listeners through this text and discusses ways in which the righteous life is contrasted with the unrighteous life. Matt also discusses how Psalm 1 accords with Paul's discussions about Torah in Romans.

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It here: ⁠⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠⁠.

Check out Eternity College - www.eternity.edu

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#43: Romans, Part 20 (Rom 12:9-21) Nov 28, 2023

In this episode, we take a look at Romans 12:9-21, where Paul encourages Christians to live out genuine, unhypocritical love toward others. The apostle gives readers a strategy for facing the trials and tribulations of life -- namely, exhorting them to a life of hope, endurance, and prayer. As Matt comments, prayer entails communication with God, but it is also, at the same time, deeper than that. It is, most fundamentally, communion with God. Matt also connects the discussion back to Genesis 1, outlining the way Paul conceives the Christian life as one that embodies God's original creation plan by conquering darkness with light.

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It at ⁠⁠Lexham Press⁠⁠.

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#42: Romans, Part 19 (Rom 12:1-8) Nov 21, 2023

In this episode, Matt dives into Romans 12:1-8, where Paul encourages the church to be a living sacrifice. What does this mean? What is the significance of that word "sacrifice," and how does Paul use this concept to shape his readers' ecclesiology? And what does it have to do with spiritual gifts? Listen to find out!

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It. You can purchase through (1)⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or (2) ⁠Lexham Press⁠(as well as other outlets).

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#41: Romans, Part 18 (Rom 11) Nov 14, 2023

If you read Romans 9, you need to read Romans 11. The points Paul makes in Romans 11 are so significant such that, if you were to miss them (or ignore them), you'll misunderstand how he reads key parts of the Jewish story. In this episode, we dive into Romans 11 and see how Paul continues, and builds upon, his previous discussions about "foreknowledge," "election," and "hardening." We also look at Genesis 12 -- what does that passage have to do with Paul's argument in Romans 11? The answer is: everything. Listen to find out how Paul understands the promise of Genesis 12:1-3 in light of his christological convictions.

Pre-order Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It. You can purchase through (1)Amazon⁠ or (2) Lexham Press(as well as other outlets).

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#40: Romans, Part 17 (Rom 10) Nov 07, 2023

In this episode, Matt gives a tour through Romans 10, where Paul showcases some of his creative exegetical moves. In this chapter, Paul says Jesus is the telos (culmination) of the Torah (Rom 10:4). In this vein, Paul continues along the same road as his previous statements about the Law and its relationship to the manifestation of the righteousness of God through Jesus the Messiah (e.g. Rom 2-3). In Romans 10, readers see specifically how, for Paul, everything (including his hermeneutics!) revolves around Jesus the Messiah.

Pre-order Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It (Amazon)

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#39: Artemis and the New Testament: An Interview with Dr. Sandra Glahn Oct 31, 2023

In this episode, Matt chats with Sandra Glahn (PhD, University of Texas at Dallas) about her latest book, Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament. Sandra's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Greco-Roman world and, specifically, the New Testament. Of particular interest in this conversation is how to make sense of the phrase "she will be saved through childbearing" (1 Tim 2:15). Sandra makes a strong case that Paul is addressing the Artemis cult in this passage, which, arguably, has ramifications for how one interprets this and other parts of the pericope. Buy Dr. Glahn's book: www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Mother-Ephesians-Antiquity-Testament/dp/1514005921 Bio: www.ivpress.com/sandra-l-glahn Website: https://sandraglahn.com/ Follow her on Twitter: @sandraglahn

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#38: The Doctrine of Justification: An Interview with Dr. Matthew J. Thomas Oct 24, 2023

What does it mean to be "justified"? This is a question that has been discussed and debated for a long time within the Christian tradition. And it's one that continues to garner much attention even today. This week Dr. Matthew J. Thomas joins the show to chat about his recent article on the doctrine of justification, which was published by the St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (link below). Dr. Thomas discusses the major historical players, the variety of reformed views, as well as fields listener questions.

About Matthew J. Thomas: https://dspt.edu/matthew-thomas

Read his article "Justification" here: https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/Justification

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#37: Are We Alone in the Universe? An Interview with Dr. Paul Thigpen Oct 17, 2023

Matt is joined by Dr. Paul Thigpen, the author of Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the Catholic Faith: Are We Alone in the Universe with God and the Angels? Matt and Paul discuss some of the biblical and theological issues that might come up if we were to discover extraterrestrial existence. For example, what sort of ontological status would ETs have? Would they be with or without sin? Or a mix of both? And if ETs were sinful, how might God redeem them?

As a historical theologian, Dr. Thigpen invites listeners to hear the wisdom of the Christian tradition. He believes the theologians of the past can lend invaluable insights for this topic. And in this vein, he leads us back to some of the church’s greatest thinkers: From Jerome to Augustine to Aquinas to the celebrated Christian apologist of the last century, namely, C.S. Lewis -- each of these giants of the faith can, arguably, help us ponder the ET question.

About Paul Thigpen:

Paul is the author of 60 books, as well as a graduate from Yale University in religious studies. He also has an MA and PhD in historical theology from Emory University. In addition to having been appointed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to their National Advisory Council, Paul has also served the church in a variety of capacities, including as a university professor, historian, apologist, catechist, and musician.

Purchase Paul's book: https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestrial-Intelligence-Catholic-Faith-Universe/dp/1505120136

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#36: Women, Submission, and Household Codes Oct 10, 2023

In this episode, we visit some interesting (and, indeed, controversial) texts. What does Paul mean when he says wives should "submit" to their husbands (Ephesians 5)? When he writes a letter to Corinth, Paul also says that women are to be "silent" in the church (1 Corinthians 14). How should we interpret that passage? And why does Peter call women weaker vessels (1 Peter 3)? I address these questions and more by taking a look at not just the textual context, but also the Hellenistic/cultural context. To do this, I bring attention to an important ancient text, namely, Aristotle's Politics. This provides relevant background material that will help us to see what life was like for women in ancient Greek culture and how it compares to what the New Testament says about the roles of women in ministry, marriage, and society.

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#35: Romans, Part 16 (Romans 9:14-33) Oct 03, 2023

In Romans 9:14-33, Paul talks about God's right to show mercy in the way he wants, with the same being said about divine hardening. To illustrate this, the apostle brings to the fore the story of Pharaoh, who God hardened. Matt connects this story, and the concept of hardening, back to Romans 1, which arguably sheds some light on how to understand what Paul means by "hardening." Matt also explains the metaphor of God as "the potter," who, according to Paul, fashions some for destruction and others for glory. Does this mean that salvation (and damnation) is not ultimately up to the individual? How does this relate to the question of human free will? Moreover, how does all this talk of "election" relate to the question of God's righteousness and the covenant--not least with respect to the Jews and Gentiles? Listen to find out!

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#34: Romans, Part 15 (Rom 9:1-13) Sep 26, 2023

In this episode, Matt continues to discuss Paul's concept of election. He tackles a range of questions, such as: What do Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have in common with respect to their election? And what does that have to do with the Gentiles? Moreover, what does Paul intend to communicate in Romans 9:13, when he says that God has “loved Jacob, but... hated Esau" (quoting Malachi 1:2)? Is this proof that God elects some to eternal salvation and others to eternal damnation? Listen to find out!

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#33: Romans, Part 14 (Rom 8:29-30) Sep 19, 2023

In this episode, Matt revisits Romans 8, specifically drawing attention to verses 29-30. These verses have for years been the subject of much attention, debate, and controversy. Do these verses teach that God has predestined some for eternal life? If so, does this mean that God also predestined some to eternal reprobation? If so, what does this say about the nature and character of God and human free will?

To answer these questions, Matt gives a brief overview of the various conceptions of free will, as well as offers thoughts on how God's love factors into the equation. In the end, Matt offers a christological conception of election as an alternative to theories which conceive of election as individualistic in nature.

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#32: Romans, Part 13 (Rom 8) Sep 12, 2023

Matt takes listeners through Romans 8, where Paul continues his engagement with the Old Testament's Exodus narrative. In this chapter, Paul appears to be alluding back to God's leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, his dwelling with his people in the tabernacle, his adoption of Israel as his "son," and his judgment upon spiritual beings (the "gods"). Paul connects each of these themes to the Christian's own "exodus" from slavery by outlining the work/leading of the Spirit. The final aim of God's work, says Paul, is to restore all things, thus granting the cosmos the freedom after which it longs and for which it was made.

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#31: Tell Her Story: An Interview with Dr. Nijay Gupta Sep 05, 2023

In this episode, Matt talks with Dr. Nijay Gupta, a biblical scholar at Northern Seminary. They chat about his latest book, Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. In his book, Nijay does a fantastic job showing how the Bible depicts women taking up the mantle of ministry, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. In this conversation, Nijay discusses the Old Testament's depiction of Deborah as a judge of Israel, the New Testament's portrayal of Phoebe as a deacon, Junia as an apostle, as well as the so-called "household codes" within the context of the Greco-Roman world.

Purchase Tell Her Story: https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Her-Story-Taught-Ministered

About Dr. Gupta: https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/nijay-gupta/

Follow him on Twitter/X: @NijayKGupta

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#30: Receive the Holy Spirit: An Interview with Dr. Dan Wilt Aug 29, 2023

In this episode, Matt chats with Dr. Dan Wilt, the author of the new book Receive the Holy Spirit: A 70-day Journey through the Scriptures. Dan shares about why he wrote the book, as well as fields some questions about how (and whether) God speaks to us today, the contemplative life, and how we can use our Spirit-wrought gifts in our various contexts. In this fascinating conversation, Dan offers a plethora of wise thoughts on Scripture, life, and ministry that you'll find immediately encouraging and eternally beneficial.

Buy Dan's book, Receive the Holy Spirit: A 70-day Journey through the Scriptures, here: https://seedbed.com/receive

About Dan:

For the past 30 years, Dr. Dan Wilt has served as an author, educator, worship leader, pastor, songwriter, and conference/seminar leader in the US and abroad. He is the author of the books, Receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus in the Wild, and Roots: Advent and the Family Story of Jesus (Seedbed), as well as being the co-author of two books of prayers inspired by the Psalms, Sheltering Mercy and Endless Grace (Brazos Press). Dan teaches on the topics of the Holy Spirit, worship, spiritual formation, and creativity in university and seminary settings, as well as in churches internationally. He has a longing to see God’s people awaken to the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in everyday life, and has invested decades mentoring artistic leaders as they influence from their vocational center in Christ. Dan works with Seedbed, a resourcing network that has the mission to “gather, connect, and resource the people of God to sow for a great awakening.” He lives with his wife Anita outside of Nashville, TN, and they have three grown children. You can connect with Dan's weekly spiritual formation email at DanWilt.com.

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#29: Romans, Part 12 (Rom 7) Aug 22, 2023

This episode builds upon the previous one, which outlined the ways in which Paul retells the Exodus story in Romans 6 in light of his christological convictions. It was there where Paul contextualized Christian baptism as an "exodus." In this episode, Matt explores Romans 7, where Paul continues with that same line of thinking. Paul argues that only Christ can rescue people out of their spiritual Egypt. Torah-keeping, he says, can't rescue anyone. In fact, Torah actually intensifies the problem of sin and, hence, one's spiritual enslavement (in the metaphorical Egypt). Does this mean the Torah is flawed? The answer for Paul is a resounding "no." The Torah is holy, just, and good. So how does Paul conceptualize all this -- namely, the relationship between Torah, Christology, and human sinfulness? Listen to find out!

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#28: Romans, Part 11 (Rom 6) Aug 15, 2023

In many ways, the meaning of Romans 6 is straightforward: If you're a Christian, baptized into the Messiah, then don't go back to the old ways of sinful living. Paul is adamant that, for those who have been united to Christ, the sinful lifestyle must be a thing of the past. This much is clear from the text. But is there more going on beneath the text? Arguably, there is. In this episode, Matt shows how Romans 6 harkens back to the Exodus story. By alluding to this important Jewish story, Paul effectively frames Christian baptism as a new Exodus event and the Christian family as a new Exodus people. This, in turn, reveals how Jesus' death and resurrection culminates the story of God's plan to set free those who have been enslaved by sin's dominion and lead them home to the Promised Land. Simply put: Romans 6 is all about leaving Egypt. + + + Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with others! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted www.matthewhalsted.com

#27: Romans, Part 10 (Rom 5) Aug 08, 2023

In Romans 5, Paul continues his discussion about justification by describing what results in justification, namely, peace with God. Paul continues his exposé by hearkening readers back to Genesis, where Adam sins. Modern readers are left with pressing questions -- not least about how the sin of Adam impacted humanity as a whole. Does this negate individual responsibility? Following other scholars, Matt offers a perspective that keeps a balance between the communal and individual aspects of human sinfulness. Additionally, with respect to hermeneutics, other questions are just as important: Does Paul argue from plight to solution or from solution to plight? What hermeneutical conclusions result from the answer to that question? Listen to find out!

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#26: Theology and the Bible: An Interview with Dr. Andrew Hollingsworth Aug 01, 2023

What is theology? And what is the relationship between theology and the Bible? In this episode, Matt chats with Andrew Hollingsworth, a well-versed theologian who has a knack for these sorts of questions. Matt and Andrew discuss the role reason and tradition play in interpreting Scripture, as well as the ins and outs of theological method -- dabbling into hermeneutical and philosophical issues along the way.

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#25: Christianity, ET, and UFOs Jul 27, 2023

Would the discovery of aliens undermine Christianity? In this short episode, I introduce a new article I wrote for Premier Christianity magazine (link below).

Premier Christianity article: https://www.premierchristianity.com/features/why-its-time-for-christians-to-take-ufos-seriously/15974.article

Interview with Ross Coulthart: https://youtu.be/ZljDzLn1wso

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#24: Questions and Answers 2 Jul 25, 2023

In this episode, Matt address two listeners questions about eschatology: (1) What does it mean to "watch" and "wait" for Jesus' future return in the current day? And (2) when the Bible says God will save Christians from "wrath," how does this square with the view that says there will be no rapture?

Both questions are fantastic, and the various biblical texts explored in this episode make for intriguing conversations and further discussion as we think about eschatology.

Submit your questions to: https://matthewhalsted.com/contact/

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#23: Reflections on Table, Time, and Church Jul 21, 2023

In this episode, Matthew talks about the benefits of taking weekly communion and following the Christian calendar. He reminds us that Christianity is a communal faith -- one that promotes unity with Christ and each other. There are no "lone ranger" Christians, and rugged individualism is not part of our ancient faith. As a church, therefore, we are called to the communion table, and we are summoned to fix our time and attention around the rhythms of the biblical story -- the center of which is Jesus the Messiah.

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#22: Bible Education (Unmuted): An Interview with Ernesto Duke and Joshua Walker Jul 18, 2023

In this episode, I interview two of my Eternity Bible College colleagues, Ernesto Duke (President) and Joshua Walker (Vice President/Academic Dean). We talk about a range of things: from the rising cost of biblical education to curriculum to the virtues of thinking deeply and critical about our theological assumptions. In this honest and transparent conversation, we talk about the history, heart, and aims of Eternity Bible College. At the heart of our mission is to provide quality education in a way that is accessible (geographically/financially) to students all across the world.

To learn more about Eternity, visit www.eternity.edu

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#21: Romans, Part 9 (Rom 4) Jul 11, 2023

In this episode, Matt offers an interpretive tour through Romans 4. In this chapter, Paul quotes from Psalm 31 (LXX) and key portions of Genesis. One of the interesting questions about these quotations is the way in which Paul employs them as part of his argument that circumcision (works of Torah) are not required for covenant membership. But how would Paul's contemporaries (his non-Christian Jewish interlocutors) have thought about Paul's argument? Would they be persuaded by his interpretations of Genesis and Psalm 31? We answer these questions and more in this episode, addressing the nature of Paul's interpretive posture with respect to these important Old Testament texts.

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#20: Romans, Part 8 (the Servant in Philippians 2) Jul 04, 2023

This episode serves as a bridge of sorts between Romans 3 and 4. In the last episode, Matt discussed Paul's idea that God's righteousness is revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. This took listeners back to Genesis 11-12, as well to Isaiah's "Servant Songs" and connected those back to Jesus. In this episode, Matt look further into Paul's understanding of Isaiah's servant -- only this time taking a detour through Philippians 2:5-11, the "Christ Hymn." In this passage, Paul quotes from Isaiah, taking a YHWH text and reconfiguring it around Jesus the Messiah -- what one might call a christological interpretation. This is important to observe, not least in light of the next episode on Romans 4, where Paul reads the Abraham story christologically. In this episode (and the next), listeners get a look at the core of Paul's interpretive approach to the Old Testament.

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#19: Romans, Part 7 (Rom 3) Jun 27, 2023

In this episode, we dive back into Romans -- this time in chapter 3. This is a pivotal chapter in the book itself. From the start, Paul asks a very important question: If Israel has been unfaithful to her God-given vocation to be a light to the nations, then will God be unfaithful too? Will God backtrack on his promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3)? That's the question of Romans 3. For Paul, the answer is simple: God will be faithful to the covenant promises. But how? That's another key question. And the answer is that God's faithfulness is demonstrated through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. As we dive into these questions, we also take a journey through Isaiah and key sections of Matthew's gospel to show how, exactly, Jesus's faithfulness demonstrates the faithfulness of God.

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#18: The Judas We Never Knew: An Interview with Jerome Van Kuiken Jun 20, 2023

In this episode, Matt talks with Jerome Van Kuiken about his new book The Judas We Never Knew. Everyone is familiar with Judas in the New Testament, namely, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. But there's another Judas who many might not be familiar with at all. This Judas wrote a little book that can be found near the end of the New Testament -- the book of Jude. It's a rather short letter, and if you blink, you'll miss it altogether. Who was this Judas? What message would he have for today's world? Despite the small size of his book, it really does pack a lot of punch. Listeners will enjoy this fascinating discussion about all things Judas. And... there's even some talk about Spiderman thrown in as well.

Buy Jerome's book: The Judas We Never Knew (Amazon) // Publisher (Seedbed) page

About Jerome (from OKWU bio):

Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken earned his B.A. in Religion from Kentucky Mountain Bible College, his Master of Divinity from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Mississipi, and his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Manchester in England. He grew up as a Missionary Kid and Preacher’s Kid, and brings a wealth of practical experience to his teaching, having served in local church ministries and having taught college-level courses since 2000. He is married with two children.

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#17: Questions & Answers 1 Jun 13, 2023

In this episode, it's all about Q&A. Matt is accompanied by a very special guest as he offers answers to a range of questions, such as: Is evolution compatible with the Bible? Can the "Divine Withdrawal" view of God's wrath capture the full scope of what it means for God to bring judgment? Can Christians lose their salvation? and Would the existence of aliens undermine the truth of the Bible? A lot of ground is covered, so buckle up!

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#16: Romans, Part 6 (Rom 2:17-29) Jun 06, 2023

In this episode, Matt continues the journey through Romans 2, this time addressing vv. 17-29. The discussion centers around Israel's calling to be a light to the nations and how, due to her sin, Israel has not fulfilled this God-given mission. In fact, according to Paul, not only has Israel not glorified God's name among the nations, but her sin (and exile) has caused God's name to be dishonored among the nations -- despite the fact that Israel has boasted in Torah, believing it to be the source of truth and wisdom. Given that Israel is called to be a blessing, bringing the nations back to God (Genesis 12:1-3), Paul envisions a scenario in which this does happen -- though in a way that does not include performing works of the Torah (e.g., circumcision of the flesh). Paul's vision is, perhaps, controversial: covenant membership is about circumcision of the heart. And yet, Matt shows how this idea is not novel to Paul, for the Torah and the Prophets testify to this truth. In this episode, listeners get a glimpse of Paul's Messiah-centered, yet Torah-immersed, vision of what it means to be a covenant member of the family of God.

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#15: Romans, Part 5 (Romans 2:1-16) May 30, 2023

In this episode, Matt takes listeners through the first section of Romans 2 (vv. 1-16). This episode covers a lot of ground, tackling topics such as the relationship between good works and the final judgment, as well as addressing larger questions about the relationship between "grace" and "faithfulness." Specifically, this show focuses in on Paul's enigmatic statement that "it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified" (2:13). What does Paul mean by doing the law in this verse? And, furthermore, how does this statement align with Paul's later claim that "by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight" (3:20)? In this episode, all these questions (and more) are discussed and analyzed.

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#14: Romans, Part 4 (Rom 1:18-32) May 16, 2023

In this fourth installment of the Romans series, Matt guides listeners through the text of Romans 1:18-32, where Paul talks about the "wrath" of God. How should we think of divine wrath and judgment? Is the concept of divine wrath consistent with the idea that God is love? Matt addresses these and other questions in light of Greg Boyd's work on the subject -- particularly with respect to his idea of divine wrath as "aikido" and "divine withdrawal."

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#13: Updates and Preliminary Thoughts on Divine Wrath May 09, 2023

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#12: Romans, Part 3 (Romans 1:8-17) May 02, 2023

In this third installment of our series through Romans, Matthew gives a tour through Romans 1:8-17. He begins by talking about "charisma" and Paul's mention of "grace-gift" in vv. 11-12. After a brief discussion regarding "spiritual gifts," Matthew takes listeners to the heart of this section, namely, to vv. 16-17. It is there where Paul offers readers his fundamental thesis that, in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. Time is spent investigating what, exactly, Paul meant by not being "ashamed" of the gospel (especially in light of the Old Testament texts like Psalm 71). Matthew also addresses questions about what Paul meant by "the righteousness of God," as well as his interpretation of Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17.

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#11: Romans: Introduction, Part 2 Apr 25, 2023

In this episode, Matthew continues through Romans 1:1-7, finishing up the introduction of Paul's letter to Romans. He revisits the concept of "gospel" by looking at Isaiah 52:7 and how Paul uses this verse in Romans. Matthew also looks at how Paul thinks Jesus' resurrection vindicated (=justified) his claim to be "son of God" and how this helps us understand the believer's own justification in Christ. Listeners are also given a tour into that ambiguous phrase "the obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5). What did Paul mean by this? What is the relationship between obedience and faith? How does this phrase relate to the Jewish Shema prayer in Deuteronomy 6? These and other questions are explored in this episode. In the end, listeners are introduced to a Paul who is thoroughly Jewish and covenantal with respect to his belief that Jesus is the Messiah.

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#10: Romans: Introduction, Part 1 Apr 18, 2023

In this episode, Matthew kicks off his extended series through the book of Romans. In this first installment, Matthew focuses on Romans 1:1. Specifically, he talks about Paul's calling as an apostle and his Damascus Road experience of the risen Christ. The remainder of the time is spent unpacking what Paul meant by "gospel” (Rom 1:1). To guide us in this investigation, Matthew points listeners to an ancient inscription -- the so-called "Priene Inscription," which was written around 9 BC. Arguably, this inscription offers important insights into how people of the first century thought about, and used, the word "gospel.” As a result, it helps us modern readers contextualize the New Testament's use of the word, too.

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#9: Review and Preview Apr 11, 2023

In this “review and preview” episode, Matt offers reflections on some of the highlights from the last 8 episodes. He also shares about an upcoming series from the New Testament he will be doing, as well as the various topics/subjects that will be explored in the weeks and months ahead related to that series. Hint: If you’re interested in questions surrounding divine and human agency with respect to sin/evil, judgment, and salvation, then you won’t want to miss future episodes!

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#8: The Resurrection of Jesus - An Interview with Gary Habermas Apr 04, 2023

Is it reasonable to believe Jesus rose from the dead? Do the historical facts support the conclusion that Jesus resurrected? During this holy week (2023), I chat with Dr. Gary Habermas about these and other related questions. Gary is a well-known scholar of resurrection studies, and in this conversation he shares about his lifelong investigation into what really happened on that first Easter morning.

A link to Gary's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gary-R.-Habermas/author/B001H6IJPO?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Gary's website: https://www.garyhabermas.com/

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#7: Revelation for the Rest of Us - An Interview with Scot McKnight Mar 28, 2023

In this episode, we dive back into Revelation, only this time with a special guest: Dr. Scot McKnight. Scot is a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He's a well-known biblical scholar and is the author of a number of books. Our conversation centers around his latest book, Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple. We talk about a host of topics that revolve around all things Revelation, such as understanding concepts like divine wrath and judgment and how that relates to Jesus being depicted as "Lamb." We also chat about the importance of knowing Revelation's ancient context, as well as applying Revelation's theo-political message in our 21st century world.

Link to Scot's book: https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Rest-Us-Prophetic-Dissident/dp/0310135788

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#6: Revelation: The mistakes we make, Part 2 Mar 20, 2023

In this episode, Matthew continues his discussion on Revelation. In the previous episode, Matthew talked about one mistake people make when they read Revelation -- namely, not knowing that Revelation is a letter to seven first-century churches (it's not a book in the modern sense of the word). In this episode, Matthew talks about two other common mistakes people make. He draws awareness to the fact that Revelation is an apocalypse, which is a genre of ancient writing that includes the use of symbols to convey important truths. He also corrects mistaken ideas about prophecy. Since Revelation describes itself as a prophecy, does this mean Revelation is all about predicting future events? Is biblical prophecy primarily about prediction? Check out this episode to find out!

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#5: Revelation: The mistakes we make, Part 1 Mar 13, 2023

In this episode, Matthew talks about one of the most common mistakes people make when they read Revelation. Many people have been taught that Revelation is a play-by-play of future, eschatological events. A lot of people assume that this last book of the New Testament lays out a blueprint for the end times. Is this true? In this episode, Matthew tackles these and other questions. He helps readers see the importance of becoming familiar with Revelation's historical context. He offers an example from Revelation 17 on how knowing historical/cultural context can shed much-needed light on an otherwise enigmatic passage.

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#4: What the Psalms can teach us about doubt, faith, and prayer Mar 06, 2023

In this episode, Matthew offers some quick thoughts on Psalms. How can reading the psalms teach us to pray? What can we learn from them about faith and doubt? Is it ever okay to share our doubts with God, even if they're about him? What about the imprecatory psalms -- should we pray them, too? What do they reveal about humanity, and what can they teach us about God?

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#3: How to read the Bible faithfully: Three things to keep in mind Feb 27, 2023

In this episode, Matthew talks about reading the Bible faithfully. What things should we keep in mind when we read Scripture? Does a person need to know the original context? If so, how does the original context relate to the interpreter's modern context? Can we read Scripture without bringing our presuppositions to it? Does applying Scripture to our unique situation play a role in our understanding of Scripture? In many ways, this episode only scratches the surface when it addresses these (and other) questions. But it provides listeners a launching point for thinking about how to read Scripture rightly, carefully, and faithfully.

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#2: Encountering Mystery - An interview with Dale C. Allison Feb 20, 2023

In an age dominated by secularism and philosophical naturalism, the idea that people have supernatural experiences is often considered to be a relic of a bygone era. And yet, credible people still report such experiences. That's the subject of this episode, which features an interview with Dale C. Allison about his recent book, Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age. In his book, Allison documents and discusses a range of religious experiences that people have reported -- including his own (which he shares in this interview). For students of the Bible, this topic is an important one to consider. The Bible is, after all, full of religious experiences. Allison's work on this subject will no doubt help modern people come to terms with a forgotten fact: There's more to reality than just physical reality.

About Dale C. Allison:
Dale C. Allison, Jr. is the Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned his MA and PhD from Duke University. His academic research and publications include the historical Jesus, the Gospel of Matthew, Second Temple Judaism, and the history of the interpretation and application of biblical texts. Read more here: https://www.ptsem.edu/people/dale-c-allison-jr

Amazon page for Encountering Mystery: https://www.amazon.com/Encountering-Mystery-Religious-Experience-Secular/dp/0802881882

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#1 Introducing The Bible Unmuted Feb 15, 2023

In this episode, Matthew introducesThe Bible Unmuted. What can you expect from the podcast in the days ahead? What's the format going to be like? In addition to answering these questions, Matthew also explains why he named the show "The Bible Unmuted." Here's a hint: the name is all about hermeneutics!

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