Shows
choice MagazineEpisode 142: Climate Consciousness: The Coaching Connection with guest, Lydia Stevens and Grattan DonnellySend us a textWhat if the key to transformative coaching isn't about adding climate awareness to your practice, but recognizing it's already there? Climate biodiversity coach Lydia Stevens and regenerative leadership coach Grattan Donnelly challenge us to look "upstream" beyond immediate client concerns to the interconnected living systems that shape all human experience.The powerful metaphor they share illuminates why this matters: villagers downstream rescue bodies floating in a river but rarely venture upstream to discover why people are falling in. Similarly, coaching that ignores ecological context addresses symptoms rather than root causes. "Business...
2025-05-2132 min
History in the BibleAfterlife 2: New Book Announcement- Genesis to BabylonAnnouncing the publication of a new volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion set of books, “Genesis to Babylon”. This contains the complete scripts of the first season of the show. You can get it from these Amazon marketplaces: https://www.amazon.com/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 https://www.amazon.ca/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Garry-Stevens-PhD/dp/0645950734 https://www.amazon.fr/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734 ttps://www.amazon.com.au/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Genesis/dp/0645950734
2024-06-2203 minHistory in the BibleAfterlife 0: Announcing The History in the Bible Podcast Companion, volume oneAnnouncing the publication of the first volume in the History in the Bible Podcast Companion set of books, “Essential Resources”. You can get it from these Amazon marketplaces: https://www.amazon.com/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.ca/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Garry-Stevens-PhD/dp/0645950726/ https://www.amazon.fr/History-Bible-Podcast-Companion-Essential/dp/0645950726/
2024-03-1904 minHistory in the BibleBonus: Top Moments in the Old Testament/Tanakh IIIn this bonus episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I continue our look at some of our favourite moments in the Old Testament or Tanakh. First, Steve investigates the unfortunate incident of Dinah and the Hebites. Then Garry shows a little-known side to Joseph's rule in Egypt.
2023-01-2931 min
Conspirinormal PodcastConspirinormal 431- Garry Stevens (History in the Bible)Recorded November 30th, 2022https://www.patreon.com/conspirinormalWe do a little something different in this episode with a discussion about history. We talk Biblical history with Garry Stevens from the "History in the Bible" podcast. We speak to Garry about his journey producing his podcast and how he became interested in the subject. We delve into the history of the writing of the bible, what was written when and what they tell us about the history of the ancient world.You can check out Garry's Excellent Podcast at:https://www.historyinthebible.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conspirinormal-podcast/do...
2022-12-091h 34
Conspirinormal PodcastConspirinormal 431- Garry Stevens (History in the Bible)Recorded November 30th, 2022https://www.patreon.com/conspirinormalWe do a little something different in this episode with a discussion about history. We talk Biblical history with Garry Stevens from the "History in the Bible" podcast. We speak to Garry about his journey producing his podcast and how he became interested in the subject. We delve into the history of the writing of the bible, what was written when and what they tell us about the history of the ancient world.You can check out Garry's Excellent Podcast at:https://www...
2022-12-091h 34History in the BibleBonus: Top Moments in the Old Testament/Tanakh IIn this bonus episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I take a look at some of our favourite moments in the Old Testament or Tanakh. First, Steve wonders what the deal is with Melchizedek. Then Garry shows how a single verse about the patriarch Enoch spawned a whole literature. Back to Steve, who finds some surprising verses in Psalm 137. We conclude with the old she’s not my wife she’s my sister scam, which Abraham and Isaac pull three times
2022-06-2639 min
History of the Papacy Podcast116h The Passion of the Christ with Garry StevensEpisode 116h The Passion of the Christ with Garry StevensDescription: Stephen and Stevens, Garry Stevens of the History in the Bible Podcast that is are back at it again talking about the big one, Mel Gibson’s 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. This movie was blockbuster where Mel got a chance to show the more brutal side of the Passion story from the Gospels. Garry and I will look at how the book lines up to the Gospel accounts and speculate why Mel Gibson made some of the dramatic choices he made in the film.
2021-11-121h 08
A Podcast of Biblical ProportionsCollab: Overview of Biblical Scholarship w/ Garry StevensIn this collaboration with History in the Bible Podcast, Gil, Omri, and Garry Stevens discuss the different strains of biblical scholarship that look into the ideologies of the different biblical authors and how that clashes with theology. Check out Garry's podcast A History in the Bible https://www.historyinthebible.com/ Support our podcast on Patreon! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-06-3053 min
Fan of History109. Garry Stevens and Deuteronomy part 2Special Episode with Garry Steven of History in the Bible Part 2Final part of Bernie’s discussion with Garry Stevens from History In the Bible Podcast about King Josiah of Judah and Deuteronomy. (And of course some Life of Brian!)The Book of Deuteronomy | KJV | Audio Bible (FULL) by Alexander Scourby:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy0EG8HrR7QHistory In the Bible Podcast:https://play.acast.com/s/history-in-the-bible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-2837 minFan of History109. Garry Stevens and Deuteronomy part 2Special Episode with Garry Steven of History in the Bible Part 2Final part of Bernie’s discussion with Garry Stevens from History In the Bible Podcast about King Josiah of Judah and Deuteronomy. (And of course some Life of Brian!)The Book of Deuteronomy | KJV | Audio Bible (FULL) by Alexander Scourby:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy0EG8HrR7QHistory In the Bible Podcast:https://play.acast.com/s/history-in-the-bible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-2837 minFan of History108. Garry Stevens and Deuteronomy part 1Special Episode with Garry Steven of History in the Bible Part 1 Bernie talks with Garry Stevens from History In the Bible Podcast about King Josiah of Judah and Deuteronomy. (Maybe a little Monty Python too!)The Book of Deuteronomy | KJV | Audio Bible (FULL) by Alexander Scourby:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy0EG8HrR7QHistory In the Bible Podcast:https://play.acast.com/s/history-in-the-bible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-1430 minFan of History108. Garry Stevens and Deuteronomy part 1Special Episode with Garry Steven of History in the Bible Part 1 Bernie talks with Garry Stevens from History In the Bible Podcast about King Josiah of Judah and Deuteronomy. (Maybe a little Monty Python too!)The Book of Deuteronomy | KJV | Audio Bible (FULL) by Alexander Scourby:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy0EG8HrR7QHistory In the Bible Podcast:https://play.acast.com/s/history-in-the-bible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-1430 minHistory in the BibleAn Epilogue and a Prologue: Season Two FinaleI finish season two and invite you to season three, which will launch early in 2021. The third season will explore the tumultuous history of the two children of Second Temple Judaism: the rabbinic movement, and Christianity. Both were sent spinning into the void after the cataclysm of the destruction of the Temple and the annihilation of the age-old religious and political structures of the Jewish state.
2020-08-0919 minHistory in the BibleThe Fates of the ApostlesOf all the apostles, the New Testament only describes the fate of James the Just. For all the others, we have only stories written decades or even centuries after the deaths. I also discuss the letters 1st Peter, James, and Jude.
2020-07-1930 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Fate and Final LettersThe final chapters of Acts are a rollicking adventure where Paul endures storms and shipwreck on his way to trial in Rome. Paul spends two years in Rome, insulting the local Jews to their faces. So abruptly ends the Book of Acts. In his letter to the Phillipians, Paul changes his mind about the afterlife. According to the 2nd letter to Timothy, Paul spends his last days embittered and abandoned. The Acts of Paul fabricates an account of Paul's life after Italy.
2020-06-2825 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Arrest and TrialAfter decades preaching to the gentiles in Asia Minor and Greece, Paul returns to Jerusalem for a final time. James the Just humiliates Paul by demanding Paul demonstrate his adherence to the Jewish law. The story is unlikely. James suddenly vanishes from the narrative when the Romans save Paul from a Jewish lynching. They place Paul into protective custody. Paul surprises the Romans when he declares his Roman citizenship. In a confusing series of trials, Paul is dragged before the Jewish council, defends himself against charges that no one has laid against him, is rescued by his nephew, and...
2020-06-0734 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Third Mission: To the Corinthians and RomansIn 1st Corinthians, Paul struggles to impose his authority on his foundation. He denounces other preachers. He attacks the Corinthians for tolerating sexual immorality, and for favouring the rich members.He has to explain the resurrection. 2nd Corinthians is believed to be a composite of at least two other letters. In the first part of the letter, Paul buries the hatchet, and makes nice with the previously rebellious Corinthians. In the second part, Paul turns into Mr Hyde, and lashes into the Corinthians for listening to others, others who say that Paul is no apostle. In his letter to...
2020-05-1729 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Third Mission: To the GalatiansPaul has been on the road for 20 years. In his third and final mission, Paul travels from his base in Antioch in Syria through his earlier foundations in Turkey and Greece. He re-unites with Priscilla and Aquila. He spends a few years in the great city of Ephesus in Asia Minor. We meet Apollos, who is spreading the word of John the Baptist. As usual, Paul is violently ejected from Ephesus. This time, the pagans are to blame. Paul tells all and sundry that he has the monopoly on religious trinkets. That really upsets all those making a fortune...
2020-04-2625 minHistory in the BibleBonus: The Mysterious Q SourceThe three synoptic gospels are markedly different from John. It is clear that both Matthew and Luke used Mark. But Matthew and Luke have much material in common. Most scholars think they have a common source, the mysterious "Q". Others think one evangelist copied the other. Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I tackle the issue.
2020-04-191h 02
History of the Papacy PodcastEpisode 92: The Q Source with Garry StevensEpisode 92: The Q Source with Garry Stevens Description: Today, I am joined once again by the indomitable Garry Stevens of the History in the Bible Podcast. In this episode, we tackle one of the most challenging aspects of the New Testament, the Q Source. Q is what might be called the “missing link” of the Gospels. It could very well be the source or even the document that ties many of the loose ends and questions raised in the typology of the New Testament. I’m very excited about this topic! You can learn more about the History...
2020-04-191h 05
History of the Papacy PodcastEpisode 92: The Q Source with Garry StevensEpisode 92: The Q Source with Garry Stevens
Description: Today, I am joined once again by the indomitable Garry Stevens of the History in the Bible Podcast. In this episode, we tackle one of the most challenging aspects of the New Testament, the Q Source. Q is what might be called the “missing link” of the Gospels. It could very well be the source or even the document that ties many of the loose ends and questions raised in the typology of the New Testament. I’m very excited about this topic!
You can learn more a...
2020-04-191h 07History in the BibleAfter-dinner Mint: A Pagan visits a Jesus ClubThis is an addendum to episode 2.54, Paul's Second Mission: To The Greeks. It is a repeat of part of an earlier episode. I imagine a curious pagan's reaction to hearing Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.
2020-04-0515 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Second Mission: To The GreeksPaul’s 2nd mission is much more extensive than his first. He starts from his base in Antioch. Before he even begins, Paul has a face-off with Peter in Antioch, and Paul’s first backer and friend Barnabas. Paul acquires Timothy as a companion. He then gallivants across the province of Asia. Paul takes ship to Thrace in Europe, where he establishes a church at Philippi. After an unfortunate misunderstanding with the local authorities, he treks down through Macedonia, where he establishes a church at the capital of the province, Thessalonica. Paul travels south into Achaia, modern Greece. A gr...
2020-04-0533 minHistory in the BiblePaul's Lost and First MissionsPaul's letters say that he spent 17 years in Arabia Nabatea, in Damascus, and in what is now southern Turkey. In all those long years, he met the disciples precisely once, and then only Peter and James the brother of Jesus. I call this Paul's lost mission. The Book Acts ignores it. The chronology of Acts is impossible to reconcile with Paul's letters.
2020-03-1539 minHistory in the BibleThe Many Puzzles of Paul's lettersPaul's letters are puzzles. Why do we have so few? Paul loved to write. We should have 90 or more letters, not the scant dozen we have. And why don't we have letters from Paul's contemporary missionaries? How do we reconcile the vast differences between the three Pauls shown in his letters?
2020-02-2336 minHistory in the BibleWe Need To Talk About PaulKeynote ep: Paul is the major protagonist in the Book of Acts. His letters comprise almost half the books in the New Testament. After Jesus, Paul dominates the New Testament. His letters are the earliest Christian documents we possess. But that is only thanks to the accidents of history. The overwhelming personality of Paul tramples that of the disciples into the dust. Not even Peter and James, brother of Jesus, can withstand the force of nature that is Paul. Paul is the first to launch a systematic campaign to bring Jesus to the pagans, in the face of opposition...
2020-02-0233 minHistory in the BibleThe First Jesus Club II: TribulationsThe first chapters of Acts describe the perfect community of the Jerusalem Jesus club. Events take a dark turn after the first five chapters. The club is beset by tribulations. The disciples decide to appoint a set of deacons, middle-managers. That turns out not so well for the deacon Stephen. Stephen is accused of blasphemy, and delivers the longest speech in the book. He is the first to die for his faith after Jesus. Wemeet Simon Magus. Peter converts Cornelius, a pagan Roman. In his last major appearance in Acts, Peter is arrested, released by an angel, and disappears...
2020-01-1227 minHistory in the BibleThe First Jesus Club 1: Perfect CommunityI introduce the book of Acts. The book tries to harmonise the deeds of the two great apostles: the pro-Jewish Peter and the pro-gentile Paul. Paul's letters say that Acts is telling porkies. The first third of the book is centred on the Jerusalem Jesus club. The book of Acts describes the disciples' earliest Jesus club as a golden age, a hippie commune, but a commune with a dark side. The disciples are arrested, but keep escaping from prison. The authorities eventually give up, letting them go after a light flogging. The Saducees appear in a rare cameo.
2019-12-2238 minHistory in the BibleDo You Think You’re What They Say You Are?What solid statements can we make about the life of Jesus? Who did Jesus think he was? We can never know, but we can make some guesses. Certainly, he thought he was like an Old Testament prophet. He believed that God's kingly rule was about to intervene. Jesus believed that his mission was to prepare the Jews for God’s imminent intervention in the world. Did Jesus intend to found a new religion? I doubt it.
2019-12-0123 minHistory in the BibleThe ResurrectionNone of the gospels recount the resurrection. They tell of the discovery of the empty by Mary Magdalene and some other women, and then move to Jesus post-resurrection appearances. The resurrection happens off stage. The Gospel of Peter is the only document that describes the actual moment of resurrection. The gospels present differing accounts of Jesus' appearances after his death. Did he appear in spirit, like an angel, or as real fleshly human? How many people did he appear to, and when, and where?
2019-11-1027 minHistory in the BibleBonus: The Whacky Book of DanielThis is a bonus episode for season two. Steve Guerra and I tackle the the book of Daniel. We all know the book's stories of Daniel: the lion's den, the fiery furnace, and the writing on the wall. We discover a book of two parts, one of which claims to be a reliable history of Babylonian times. Spoiler: It's not. The second half is the only apocalypse in the Old Testament.
2019-11-0359 minHistory in the BibleThe Death of JesusJesus' death is the supreme sacrifice. The Son of God takes upon himself the sins of the world to redeem all of mankind. From the disparate gospel accounts of Jesus' death, what can we actually say is dependable evidence? The gospels give us two surprise cameo appearances: Simon of Cyrene, and Joseph of Arimathea.
2019-10-2025 minHistory in the BibleJesus on TrialAfter the Last Supper, Jesus and his mates take a post-prandial stroll in the dark to the Mount of Olives, a 30 minute walk due east of the Temple. Jesus had delivered an apocaplytic sermon at the mount the day before. According to the gospel of John, Jesus serenely accepts his fate, and refuses to ask his Father to save him. The synoptic gospels challenge that. In those gospels, Jesus lashes out at his disciples. As the company return from the Mount through the Garden of Gethsamene, Jesus asks his Father to save him from death. Jesus is arrested at...
2019-09-2929 minHistory in the BibleThe Last SupperAfter Jesus has resurrected Lazarus, he briefly flies to Ephraim, outside of Judea, for fear of the Jews. He quickly regains his confidence, and returns to Bethany, and the home of Lazarus. From there he moves to Jerusalem to participate in the annual Passover. In Jerusalem, he and his disciples partake in a final meal. Judas betrays Jesus. The gospel of John disagrees with the synoptics as to the dating of the Last Supper: the day of Passover, or the day before? John uses the supper to introduce a bunch of theology. He also introduces the mysterious Beloved Disciple...
2019-09-0829 minHistory in the BiblePalm SundayThe Passion story story begins with Jesus in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem. Jesus is staying with his best buddies Martha, Mary, and the risen Lazarus. Jesus arranges with his students to organise a grand parade for his entry into the capital. That goes swimmingly. Ebullient from his grand reception, Jesus marches into the Temple, determined to destroy its commercial activities. Jesus then delivers a little apocalypse at the Mount of Olives.
2019-08-1832 minHistory in the BibleBonus: The Trinity: Part 2The notion of the Trinity is one of -- if not the -- most difficult concepts in Christian theology. Steve Guerra and I plough through centuries of Jewish and Christian thought to try to make sense of it. Part two of two.
2019-08-0446 minHistory in the BibleThe Road To JerusalemAs so often, the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke tell a different story of the third and final act of Jesus' life compared to the gospel of John. In the gospel of John, Jesus spends six months in Judea before his death, and is attacked by the authorities because he raised Lazarus from the dead. John has Jesus deliver a series of confusing speeches about his relationship with God. Against John, the synoptic gospels assert that Jesus spent a few weeks traveling to Judea, and only a week in the city.
2019-07-2731 minHistory in the BibleBonus: All things Biblical at the IntelligentSpeech conference in NYCThis is a bonus episode for season two. My long-time collaborator, Steve Guerra, attended the IntelligentSpeech podcasting conference in New York in June 2019. I appeared with Steve thanks to the magic that is Skype. We talk all things Biblical. I hope you enjoy this bonus show. The conference was organised by Roifield Brown, producer of numerous podcasts: How Jamaica Conquered the World, and The Things That Made England, amongst others. Roifield was the man who introduced me to history podcasting.
2019-07-0742 minHistory in the BibleJesus' Disciples II: The Other GuysAfter the Big Three disciples come the forgettable bit-players, the Nondescript Nine: Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew (also known as Nathaniel), Matthew, Thomas Didymus, James son of Alphaeus, Judas (also known as Thaddaeus), Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot.
2019-06-2334 minHistory in the BibleBonus: The Trinity- Part 1The notion of the Trinity is one of -- if not the -- most difficult concepts in Christian theology. Steve Guerra and I plough through centuries of Jewish and Christian thought to try to make sense of it. Part one of two.
2019-06-0957 minHistory in the BibleJesus' Disciples I: The Cabinet of ThreeKeynote ep: Jesus had an inner cabinet of three disciples: Simon Peter; and James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Only they have significant speaking parts. The often appear together at many significant moments, such as the Transfiguration. The rest of the disciples are ciphers. Peter is by far the pre-eminent disciple, named more often in the New Testament all the other disciples put together. He is Jesus’ devoted wombat, an impulsive, exuberant, and eminently likeable individual. But he fails when put to the test. A work attributed to him, the Apocalypse of Peter, provided all our modern images of...
2019-06-0230 minHistory in the BibleConflict and TransfigurationJesus' mission to Galilee does not go as well as hoped. The Pharisees and scribes attack him for teaching and working wonders on the sabbath. Jesus spars with the Jewish factions many times. Jesus attacks the Pharisees for their petty legalism. Modern interpretations of these accounts hold them to reflect the situation when the gospels were written, projected back into the time of Jesus. Jesus' Galilean ministry concludes with his Transfiguration, where he stands between Moses and Elijah, and the voice of God again declares that Jesus is his son.
2019-05-1222 minHistory in the BibleMiracles and Healings in GalileeMost of Jesus ministry was conducted in Galilee. This time is stuffed to the brim with miracles and parables. Jesus exorcizes demons, raises people from the dead, and cures the sick. He feeds thousands, walks on water, and calms the storm. He teaches parables about old wine into new skins, mustard seeds, pearls, and weeds amongst the wheat. He meets Mary Magdalene. Jesus predicts his own death. Peter professes him the Messiah and Son of God.
2019-04-2130 minHistory in the BibleJesus All Over the PlaceIn John's account of the early ministry, Jesus flies all over the place. He steals the disciples Simon Peter and Andrew from the Baptist while in the Perea. In his first great sign, he turns water into wine at Cana, then finds the disciples Philip and Nathaniel. He cleanses the temple and debates Nicodemus. He is first recognised as Messiah by a Samaritan, a people derided by the Jews. Jesus gives us his first theology lesson. None of this is in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
2019-03-3132 minHistory in the BibleJesus in GalileeThis episode presents Jesus' earliest ministry as the synoptic gospels tell it. Straight after his baptism by John, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness near the Dead Sea. He passes with flying colours. You know that quote "Get the behind me Satan"? It's not here. When Jesus learns that the Baptist has been arrested, he flies back to Galilee. According to Mark and Matthew, Jesus summons two sets of two brothers as his first followers. Mark and Luke describes Jesus first act as a sermon in a synagogue. Matthew has a much more spectacular debut: the Sermon...
2019-03-1030 minHistory in the BiblePrologue to Jesus' MinistryKeynote ep: An introduction to the geo-political world of Jesus. I also discuss the many problems we have when attempting to reconcile the chronologies of the gospels. The synoptic gospels differ in the details. The big problem is with the gospel of John. We simply cannot reconcile the chronology of John with the synoptics.
2019-02-1731 minHistory in the BibleThe Problem of John the BaptistJesus' identity as Son of God is revealed at his baptism by John, an old-style prophet who promotes Jewish ritual washing. Did John recognise Jesus at this event or not? The gospels differ. They regard the Baptist as a problematic figure, and treat him enigmatically. The synoptic gospels downplay him. The gospel of John (the apostle, not the Baptist) takes him over.
2019-01-2735 minHistory in the BibleWe Three Kings: 2019 Epiphany SpecialMy Epiphany special relates the story of Christmas as told by the gospel of Matthew. In Matthew, the story is told from Joseph's point of view, not Mary's. Matthew has wise men, the infamous massacre of the innocents, and the flight to Egypt. No angels and no shepherds. He does not mention Mary's relative Elizabeth, and her son John the Baptist. If you read Matthew carefully, he says nothing of the day of Christmas, but he has a lot to say about the day of Epiphany, 6th January, the day the magi paid homage. I also introduce the Gospel...
2019-01-0643 minHistory in the BibleBonus: The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism and ChristianitySecond Temple Judaism (530 BC-70 AD) was a lush forest of beliefs, factions, and sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Sicarri, Zealots, the Fourth Philosophy and more. All were swept away in the First Roman-Jewish war that ended with the destruction of the temple. From this forest, two new religions emerged: Rabbinic Judaism, and Christianity.
2018-12-301h 23History in the BibleHark! The Herald Angels Sing: 2018 Christmas SpecialMy Christmas special tells the story of Christmas as related by the gospel of Luke. With lots of canticles and shepherds. My forthcoming Epiphany special relates the gospel of Matthew's version of the nativity.
2018-12-1643 minHistory in the BibleThe Many Names of JesusKing of the Jews, Saviour, Son of Man, God, Son of God, Messiah and Christos, and Lord. The New Testament has many titles for Jesus. Let's investigate them.
2018-12-0229 minHistory in the BibleJohn's Gospel of KnowledgeThe gospel of John reads nothing like the other gospels. John defines Jesus as a cosmological figure, not the man adopted by God at his baptism that the other gospels talk about. John has a quite different biography of Jesus. In the synoptic gospels, Jesus travels to Jerusalem once in his life, to meet his destiny. The gospel of John has Jesus travelling to Jerusalem several times, and places the cleansing of the Temple at the beginning of Jesus' career, not at the end. John's gospel is clearly the product of a community, rather than a single author. This...
2018-11-1836 minHistory in the BibleThe Gospels of Matthew and LukeThe gospel of Matthew is the most Jewish of the gospels. He insists that his readers must follow Jewish law. Yet his gospel contains the infamous blood cry. Matthew's community might have been Jews who went to synagogue, and believed that what we call Christianity was the right way to be a Jew. Or they might have been outside the synagogues. Matthew today is understood as a factional writer, one who contended against the emerging rabbinical community. The gospel of Luke is part of a package, with the book of Acts. Luke is the most polished of the gospels...
2018-10-2831 minHistory in the BibleThe Gospels of Mark and MatthewMark is the earliest, shortest, and least popular gospel. We don't know if Mark was a Jew or a gentile. Mark's audience is assailed by the powers that be. He has an especial dislike of the Pharisees. His Greek is rough, but punchy. Mark expects the return of Jesus any day now. Mark's Jesus was a man adopted by God at Jesus' baptism. His Jesus is forever telling people shut up about Jesus' true identity. In Mark, Jesus is Clark Kent, not Superman. In Mark, the reader always knows more than the characters in the story. Mark thinks the...
2018-10-0734 minHistory in the BibleWhat We Know About the Life of JesusOur earliest pagan sources for the life of Jesus - the historians Josephus, Tacitus, and Suetonius - tell us almost nothing about Jesus. The letters of St Paul are uninformative, as are rabbinic sources. We have to rely on the four gospels. These have their own agendas. In this episode I explore the relationships between the synoptic gospels: Mark, Matthew, and Luke. Today, we believe that Mark was the first gospel, and that both Matthew and Luke drew upon Mark. But Matthew and Luke have material in common, material not found in Mark. Where did that come from? Most...
2018-09-1634 minHistory in the BibleChristianity's Earliest Witness: Paul Writes to the ThessaloniansPaul's first letter to the Thessalonians is the earliest surviving document of Christianity. I drop in on the Thessalonian Jesus-club to discover how a pagan newcomer would have reacted to the club and the letter. The newcomer is befuddled by the strange words used by club members, and confused about Paul. I also dissect the letter, and discover that Paul knew almost nothing about the life of Jesus.
2018-08-2632 minHistory in the BibleQuest for the Historical JesusKeynote ep: Since the Enlightenment, three great academic attempts have been made to make sense of the life of Jesus: the first, second, and third quests for the historical Jesus. I follow the Third Questers.
2018-08-0535 minHistory in the BibleBattle for the New Testament IV: Modern TimesThe discovery of the ancient Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus in the 19th century revealed that the New Testament circulated in three different textual traditions: the Byzantine, the Alexandrian, and the Western. It became clear that the Textus Receptus was based entirely on Byzantine manuscripts, all written in the high Middle Ages. Modern Protestant and Catholic bibles rely on the much older Alexandrian manuscripts, represented by Vaticanus and Sinaiticus, and on modern papyrus discoveries.
2018-07-1533 minHistory in the BibleBattle for the New Testament III: the ReformationUnlike the Jews, Christians preserved many versions of their scriptures. The invention of printing spurred European scholars to revisit ancient Greek manuscripts in an attempt to create one single version of the sacred books. Over a century, Erasmus, Beza, Stephanus and the Elzevirs produced Greek editions. Their collective efforts are known as the Textus Receptus, the text behind the King James bible.
2018-06-2425 minHistory in the BibleBattle for the New Testament II: Against MarcionThe Jesus-clubs reacted against Marcion's tiny list of sacred works. The invention of the codex, the book, brought the issue of the canon to the forefront. Melito, Tatian, Irenaeus, Eusebius, and Athanasius made the first attempts to list a sacred canon. The Christians struggled against Marcionites, Montanists, and Gnostics to define what they believed. I introduce the Shepherd of Hermas.
2018-06-0332 minHistory in the BibleBattle for the New Testament I: Earliest TimesChristians in the first two centuries did not have a sacred canon of books. In this first of four parts, I discuss what the earliest church fathers Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp and Papias were reading. Marcion spurred the Jesus-clubs into action.
2018-05-1334 minHistory in the BibleBonus: Samson on TrialWe all know of the biblical hero Samson, known to his friends as Shimshon ben Manoah, and to his enemies as “that bastard”. Samson of the long hair, Samson who was seduced by Delilah, Samson who brought down the Philistine temple. In this bonus episode, three award-worthy history podcast writers and producers bring Samson to trial for mass murder.
2018-05-0637 minHistory in the BibleHerod's HeirsHerod’s kingdom was divided. The Romans took their own chunk. His sons Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip received portions. Their success was mixed. Judea was never easy to rule, often breaking out into brigandage, even when run by Jews. Race riots between Greeks and Jews were common. Philip does not play a role in the New Testament story. Archelaus has a cameo part. Herod Antipas figures in the lives of Jesus and John the Baptist. Herod’s grandson Herod Agrippa I appears in the story of the arrest of St Peter. In the end, the Romans decided on dire...
2018-04-2228 minHistory in the BibleWhat Have the Romans Ever Done For Us?Rome created an efficient economic system that enabled even middle-strata Judeans to buy goods from far-distant places. Rome introduced new social structures, the patron-client system, and the household headed by the pater familias. The Jews created their own system of governance under the Roman rulers. They also created the synagogue. Jewish religion transformed itself. God became more numinous, while Satan turned into a person. Jews came up with a definite concept of a life after death.
2018-04-0132 minHistory in the BibleModern Debates: Scandal of the Dead Sea ScrollsThe Biblical find of the century, the Dead Sea Scrolls, were turned over to an international committee for study. Bad idea. The cabal refused to let the wider scholarly community examine the documents, and forced their own interpretations on the world. The cabal bamboozled first the Jordanian authorities, then the Israelis. The cabal's stranglehold was only broken by a bunch of academic freedom-fighters in the 1990s.
2018-03-1832 minHistory in the BibleBonus: Yochi Brandes' novel 'The Orchard'- Judaism and Christianity after the fall of the TempleDan Libenson of the Judaism Unbound podcast returns to the show. This time we discuss best-selling Israeli author Yochi Brandes' novel 'The Orchard'. Dan translated the book into English. The novel centres on Rabbi Akiva, the man who forged rabbinic Judaism after teh fall of the Temple. Along the way we encounter a host of other rabbis and Paul of Tarsus. We also ponder the difficulties of translation and working out what actually happened in history.
2018-03-1159 minHistory in the BibleRecovering the Bible: A Century of RevelationsSo much to cover: the discovery of the oldest Jewish bible, the Leningrad Codex; and the oldest Christian bible, the Codex Sinaticus. At the Cairo Geniza, finds revealed another thousand years of manuscripts. The Didache was recovered, and another bunch of books discovered in an obscure tomb in Egypt, revealing a Christianity hitherto unknown. The Dead Sea Scrolls then showed that Judaism was not the dessicated religion that the New Testament described.
2018-03-0428 minHistory in the BibleMeet the Neighbours: Pharisees, Sadducees, and EssenesAs the Tanakh tells it, the Jewish nation comprised a united body-politic from the fall of the kingdom of Israel right through the return. The only division in Judaism was between those who followed God’s laws, and those who strayed. From the time of the Seleucids on, the people fragmented into factions and religious renewal movements. Prime amongst these were the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes: maybe.
2018-02-1826 minHistory in the BibleThe Rise and Ruin of the MaccabeansThe Maccabeans reach their apogee under John Hyrcanus I, and his sons Aristobulus and Alexander Jannaeus. Alexander's widow, Alexandra Salome, became known as a ruler of wisdom and moderation. Her incompetent children and successors John Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II blew it all in a fratricidal civil war. The Romans stepped in, ditched the Maccabean ditzes, and installed more reliable bureaucrats: Antipater, and his son Herod.
2018-02-0433 minHistory in the BibleGrappling with the Greeks V: Jubilees Reconstructs JudaismThe Book of Jubilees was preserved by the Ethiopian Orthodox. Until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was held to be a parody of Jewish thought. Now we know the book was immensely popular with Jews and Christians until the early Middle Ages. The book re-writes Genesis and Exodus. Jubilees claims a higher authority than those books. It creates a new sacred calendar, and invents the figure we call Satan. I also have something to say about that odious book written at the same time, the Wisdom of Ben Sira.
2018-01-2131 minHistory in the BibleGrappling with the Greeks IV: Daniel and the Book of ParablesThe book of Daniel is one-half comfy folktales, and one-half crazy. It was the only one of the many Jewish apocalyptic books to make it into the Old testament because it was the only book to talk of the resurection of the dead. It gets every historical detail wrong. Nonetheless, it can claim to be the founding document of the USA. Daniel's use of a common Hebrew idiom, "son of man", has created huge theological problems. That part of 1 Enoch called the Book of Parables re-creates the idiom for Christians.
2018-01-0727 minHistory in the BibleGrappling with the Greeks III: The Maccabeans RevoltRival high priests Jason and Menelaus plunge Judah into turmoil. Many Jews thought that both Jason and Menelaus were too Greek for their own good. Antiochus IV over-reacts and attempts to quash the civil strife. The Maccabeans stage a nationalistic rebellion. Judas Maccabeus reclaims the temple and creates Hanukkah. After Judas' death, his brother Jonathon transforms from insurgent to high-priest.
2017-12-2430 minHistory in the BibleGrappling With the Greeks II: Jerusalem Against AthensThe Judeans spent 120 happy years under the Hellenistic rule of the Egyptian Ptolemies. They chafed under the rule of the Hellenistic kingdom of the Seleucids, who faced severe geopolitical challenges. The social and economic tidal wave of international Hellenism challenged every aspect of Judean life and thought. A country Jewish priest called Mattathias revolted against this globalisation: Make Judea Holy Again!
2017-12-1030 minHistory in the BibleGrappling with the Greeks I: Josephus and the Books of MaccabeesFirst in a mini-series on the history of the Jews and the province of Judea under the Hellenistic empires, and under the Maccabees. I start with a summary of the history I will expand on in the next few episodes. Then I present our sources for that history, Josephus and Maccabees. I conclude with a few notes about the oddities of the Ethiopian orthodox biblical canon.
2017-11-2628 minHistory in the BibleThe Apocalypse to End Them All: 1 EnochApocalypses were popular reading amongst Jews in the centuries they spent under Roman rule. Rabbinical Judaism blotted the apocalypses from its collective memory. Christianity incorporated them into its very soul. I cover the greatest apocalypse of them all, 1st Enoch. The book of Tobit is my special guest star.
2017-11-1220 minHistory in the BibleLost Books of the New TestamentsJews produced a vast number of religious books in the centuries before the birth of Jesus. They had no influence on later Judaism, but profoundly influenced Christianity. We call them parabiblical or pseudipigraphical. Their significance was not appreciated until the discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
2017-10-2928 minHistory in the BibleUnder Persia: Farewell to the TanakhThe Jews have a placid existence under Persian rule, and create Judaism. They reconstruct their religion, one now without kings and prophets. From on, the Law is all. I discuss the last of the books of the Tanakh: the romances of Esther and Judith, the hateful but mercifully brief prophet Obadiah, and the funniest book in the canon, Jonah.
2017-10-1528 minHistory in the BibleLeaving Babylon IV: Nehemiah and Ezra Stand Against RuthGovernor Nehemiah and priest-scribe Ezra finally bring the Jews back home from Babylon. Modern scholars reverse the Biblical order of the two, and so do I. The two institute a tax-payer-funded theocracy. Ezra rejects the old Hebrew religion and founds modern Judaism. Intermarriage is forbidden. Against that stance is the Book of Ruth.
2017-10-0130 minHistory in the BibleLeaving Babylon III: The Enigma of Zerubbabel and JoshuaAfter Sheshbazzar's failure, the second wave of returnees are led by the enigmatic figures of the supposed Davidic king Zerubbabel and the high-priest Joshua. Those returning spurn those who stayed behind, implying that the only real Jews are those who were exiled. Zerubbabel inexplicably disappears from the narrative at the moment of his triumph. The book of Esdras Alpha rehabilitates him. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah are sources for the period. Zechariah writes the first apocalypse. I finish with the puny prophet Joel, who turns plowshares into swords, and pruning hooks into spears.
2017-09-1730 minHistory in the BibleLeaving Babylon II: Cyrus and the Mystery of SheshbazzarThe Babylonian empire is rendered helpless when its king Nabonidus goes on a ten year holiday to Arabia. The best-ever benevolent autocrat, Cyrus the Great of Persia, has no trouble mounting a friendly takeover of the empire. Cyrus urges the Jews to return home under the mysterious Sheshbazzar. Cyrus is applauded by Second Isaiah, who introduces the Age of Aquarius, and some new theology.
2017-09-0322 minHistory in the BibleLeaving Babylon I: The Ezra MuddleOur most important sources for the Return are the books known as Ezra and Nehemiah in Catholic and Protestant bibles. The Jews have a single book, called Ezra. There a whole bunch of other books of Ezra, many to be found in Russian and Greek bibles. 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Latin Esdras, Esdras Alpha, the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra, the Latin Vision of Ezra, the Questions of Ezra, the Revelation of Ezra. What a muddle! Colombus used 4 Esdras to discover America.
2017-08-2025 minHistory in the BibleIn Babylon II: Ezekiel and JobIn the book of Ezekiel God transforms from furious father to jealous husband. The prophet is commanded to protest against the Judeans with performance art. He has a few passages no-one can make head nor tail of. I also reluctantly tackle the book of Job, that most difficult of books.
2017-08-0626 minHistory in the BibleIn Babylon I: The ExileIn the first episode of series two, I begin with the Judeans in exile in Babylon. We move from the prophet Jeremiah to the prophet Ezekiel, and his crazy imagery, imagery that has inflamed Christian iconography for centuries. But not only Christians. Ezekiel is the father of Jewish mysticism, a movement which the rabbis only quashed in the early Middle Ages.
2017-07-2325 minHistory in the BibleBonus: A Conversation with Dan Libenson of Judaism UnboundMy special guest is Dan Libenson of the Judaism Unbound podcast. We talk about the Bible, the history of the Jewish religion, the difficulties of translation, how Jews and Christians think about God, and many other matters. All good fun!
2017-06-131h 01History in the BibleModern Debates: End of an EraIn the final episode of series one, I explain why I am leaving the remaining books of the Old Testament to my second series. I introduce the lush literature of the Second temple period, and describe in detail the nature of Judean religion as it was at the destruction of the kingdom of Judah. I reflect on what I have learnt making this series, and what is coming in series two.
2017-05-2134 minHistory in the BibleModern Debates: Into Exile.Scholars are divided about the Babylonian destruction wrought on Judah. The Biblical sources tell different stories. How many were deported to Babylon, and how many stayed behind? Was Judah left utterly desolate, as the Book of Chronicles says, or just reduced, as the Book of Kings says? We find out what happened to the prophet Jeremiah, and encounter the book of Lamentations; and the book of Baruch, one found in Catholic and Orthodox bibles, but not Protestant.
2017-05-0728 minHistory in the BibleFour Prophets of the Babylonian CrisisFour prophets lived in the last decades of the kingdom of Judah. In his short and miserable book, Zephaniah rails about the destruction to come. Jeremiah is a foreign policy advisor, and spreader of doom. We are all going to die! Surrender to your new overlords: Babylon! In a short and nasty work, Nahum gloats at the fall of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, a victory he did nothing to accomplish. Habakkuk is a contemplative philosopher, with an important question for God.
2017-04-2321 minHistory in the BibleThe Babylonian Conquest of JudahThe Egyptians kill Josiah, who is acting on behalf of Babylon against Egypt. They remove his pro-Babylonian son Jehoahaz from the throne, replacing him with the pro-Egyptian Jehoiakim. After the Egyptians are defeated, the Babylonians capture Jehoiakim and the city of Jerusalem, placing on the throne Jeconiah. King Nebuchadnezzar soon tosses him aside, settling on Zedekiah as the Babylonian puppet king. In a bad move, Zedekiah rebels. Nebuchadnezzar destroys Judah. The Jewish exile has begun.
2017-04-0928 minHistory in the BibleEvil King Manasseh and the Reformation of JosiahThe Bible tries to explain why the evil King Manasseh reigned for more than 50 years in peace and solitude, while his sublimely virtuous grandson, Josiah, was slaughtered in his prime. Josiah conducts a religious revolution and discovers the book of Deuteronomy.
2017-03-2627 minHistory in the BibleBonus: After Life - Surviving the ApocalypseIn this co-released episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I finish (for now) our series on the apocalyptic literature, with a discussion of how views on the afterlife changed in the Second Temple period.
2017-03-1953 minHistory in the BibleIsaiah and Micah, Prophets of the Assyrian CrisisIsaiah's ambiguity has made him a crowd-pleaser for over 2,500 years. He introduces a bunch of shiny-new theological ideas previously unknown in the Bible. Christians read into his book prophecies of the Christ. Micah is his counterpoint.
2017-03-1226 minHistory in the BibleKing Hezekiah, Father of Biblical ReligionIn 722 BC, Hezekiah of Judah faced his first great crisis: a mass of Israelite refugees fleeing from the Assyrians. He turned adversity into opportunity, strengthening his authority and using the Israelite intellectuals to create a nationalistic religion: Biblical religion. His second crisis was the invasion of Sennacherib of Assyria. The king saved his city, but lost the countryside.
2017-02-2627 minHistory in the BibleThe Fall of IsraelKing Ahaz of Judah calls on Assyria to save him from King Pekah of Israel and the kingdom of Aram-Damascus. That works out a treat: Aram-Damascus is left in ruins, and Israel left a rump state. The prophet Isaiah puts his oar in, to no effect. Pekah is followed by his son Hoshea, who makes a bad diplomatic move and is annihilated by Assyria. So begins the Jewish diaspora.
2017-02-1226 minHistory in the BibleBionus: Revelation- Apocalypse by NumbersIn this co-released episode, Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast and I continue our series on the apocalyptic literature, with the second of two episodes on the earliest Christian apocalypse, the Book of Revelation. We find lots of magical numbers.
2017-02-1251 minHistory in the BibleThe Assyrian StormIn Judah, we meet a bunch of kings: Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz. Uzziah gets leprosy when he offends the priests. Jotham's reign is confused, just like I am. Ahaz is threatened on all sides. Back in Israel, Jeroboam II is followed by Zechariah, then in quick succession by Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah. Israel is falling apart. King Retzin of Aram-Damascus hammers the Hebrews, but is squashed by the Assyrians.
2017-01-2927 minHistory in the BibleAmos and Hosea, Hammers of the House of JehuAmos and Hosea are the first two prophets who get their own books. They are also the last of the four northern Israelite prophets. Amos is the perfect prophet, the template for all later prophets. He launches a socialist critique on the Israelite upper-classes, and calls on the people to be righteous, and not just rule-followers. Hosea uses uncomfortable crazy sexual imagery to denounce the Israelites' worship of Baal. Hosea is nuts.
2017-01-1527 min