Podcasts

There is a small Greek phrase that has had a massive impact on western civilization - "erga nomou," which is often translated as "works of the law." Dr. Mark Nanos joins us this week to discuss his ideas on a better interpretation. Dr. Nanos is a respected Jewish historian specializing in Saul of Tarsus...or the Apostle Paul. He has written extensively about how to understand "Judaism" in Second Temple.

Dr. Mark Nanos is a respected Jewish historian specializing in Saul of Tarsus...or the Apostle Paul. He has written extensively about how to understand "Judaism" in Second Temple. In modern times we tend to separate religion from other aspects of life, but did Paul think that way? Westerners can end up think that "what you believe" is different from "what you do." But did Paul think that way? Join us for the first part of this conversation and for what this has to do with Paul's phrase "works of the law."

If you are asking me...well, not much. But we have an expert panel who recently had a discussion about Demons in the Hebrew Bible. Their conversation has not yet been published, so I am bringing you a small appetizer before the big meal! What are demons? How are they described in the Hebrew Bible and in Second Temple Literature? Were they always considered evil?

If you are asking me...well, not much. But we have an expert panel who recently had a discussion about Angels and Demons in the Hebrew Bible. Their conversation has not yet been published, so I am bringing you a small appetizer before the big meal! What are angels? How are they described in the Hebrew Bible and in Second Temple Literature?

What is "ruah" in the Hebrew Bible? The word is translated as "spirit" and sometimes as "wind." This week's episode is a tiny sliver of the Roundtable Talk conversation called Spirit and Man in Ancient Judaism. Our guest is Dr. Jack Levison, who is a Hebrew Bible professor at Southern Methodist University. He addresses the significance of the Spirit in the Hebrew Bible using Numbers 11 as a test case.

The afterlife is an interesting and perplexing subject, which means it is a perfect conversation for the podcast! This week we sample a small part of the Hot Topics Seminar about Greek and Jewish views of the afterlife with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Dr. Nicholas Schaser and myself. We have Hebrew poetry, Jerusalem geography, and historic texts all weighing in. Lean in and enjoy the conversation!

Dr. Paul Wright is a friend and mentor who joins me again to discuss the significance of reading the Bible in its physical context. Last week we set the stage for the Luke version of the nativity scene, which we continue to talk about this week. If we picture Mary and Joseph isolated outside of the Bethlehem community, then we are telling the wrong story. How does the geography and culture impact our understanding of the night Jesus was born?