The Bible (Unmuted)

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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!

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

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

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

Show notes

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/⁠

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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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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.

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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

Show notes

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.

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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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

Show notes

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.⁠⁠

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

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