Shows
Character in ContextEpisode 193: Sukkot and the Great Wilderness ResetAlthough what we see today in Jerusalem is more like tabernacling for a week in some pretty elaborate, luxurious, and comfortable “temporary dwellings,” the original command to observe the festival of Sukkot was a memorial to those difficult wilderness years when diligently following the cloud and fire and gathering the daily manna was a mater of life and death. How does this relate to Yeshua’s/Jesus’s command to “follow me”? Why does this change everything in heaven and on earth?
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Azv6kB2HM_A
2024-10-0819 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 192: Yom Kippur and the Great Cosmic Community ResetYom Kippur, apart from being the holiest day of the year, was also the happiest. There’s just something about setting things right with God that is incredibly satisfying. Yes there was fasting and somber reflection because it isn’t joyous to have to watch the High Priest clean up the defilement of the community through blood cleansing, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate to be feasting, but there was also this very real phenomenon of wiping clean the slates in heaven and on earth.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ipC3haFqoV0
2024-10-0814 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 191: Tishri 1 and the Great Cosmic Kingship ResetChag Sameach! Happy Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets! This is a series I did for an online conference back when I was younger and thinner and not hacking up a lung. Just kidding, my lungs are right where they belong but they aren’t happy about it. Since I am under the weather this year in a big way (I shouldn’t hug and kiss sick people but that’s why I get everything that comes through this house), I decided to pull this out of my online conference archives and publish it. Parts 2 and 3 about Yom Kippur...
2024-09-3014 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 190: Gen 21 for the grownups, part 1I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am that I can teach this chapter without having to go into gory details about sexual nonsense and, as such, anyone can listen to this Context for Kids supplemental teaching on the first portion of Gen 21, which covers the birth of Isaac and the exile of Ishmael and Hagar. Things won’t get awkward again until Gen 29, thankfully—at least not in ways I would end up in an ankle bracelet for talking to kids about.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2024/08/episode-190-gen-21-for-the-grownups-part-1/
YouTube: https...
2024-08-1929 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 189: Genesis 20 --Abraham's Sister? A Headache of a ChapterI am about to begin teaching the kids about Genesis 20 and 21 over on Context for Kids and so it is time to explore the disturbing implications of what is said in Genesis 20 back to what wasn't said in Genesis 12 when Pharaoh took Sarai.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2024/06/episode-189-genesis-20-abrahams-sister-a-headache-of-a-chapter/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/CD1jhyK8sZU
2024-06-1826 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 188: Stuff I Can’t Teach Kids about Sodom and GomorrahUgh. When I started my Context for Kids radio show, I was just dreading this series. Genesis 19—really the only chapter in the Bible I would want to teach even less is Judges 19. But, I can’t skip it over, right? I will be teaching the kids Genesis 19 interpretation by using the prophets and how they viewed and spoke about Sodom—as an unhospitable and oppressively wicked society—and leave sex out of it. But you guys need to be able to answer the hard questions that would get me fitted for an ankle bracelet if I tried it. This is...
2024-04-1128 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 187: Hospitality or not? Rahab, Yael, Abigail, and Lydia in ContextNow that we’ve covered the ancient rules for hospitality, I want to talk about the commonly misunderstood accounts of Rahab, Yael and Abigail. And we’ll also talk about how the world had changed by the time of the apostles with a quick look at Lydia.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2024/03/episode-187-hospitality-or-not-rahab-yael-abigail-and-lydia-in-context/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/nbEgohsMR00
2024-03-0119 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 186: Hospitality, Family, and Travel in the Days of SodomGenesis chapters 18 and 19 read as very shallow morality tales without an intimate understanding of the social dynamics going on in the arena of hospitality expectations. This is the first of two teachings describing the established parameters and rituals associated with dealing with strangers to a community and the who, what, when, where and why’s of offering sustenance and lodging. What did Abraham do right? What did Lot do wrong? This is where we can begin to understand these two complex chapters of Scripture—as well as Judges 19.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2024/02/episode-186-hospitality-family-and-travel-in-the-days-of-sodom/
YouTube: http...
2024-02-2227 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 185: Are we Modeling Good Fruit or Folly?This is a companion and more intensive lesson for adults based upon my current series on Context for Kids on "being like Jesus."
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2024/01/episode-185-are-we-modeling-good-fruit-or-folly/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qh8SjoSnwiA
2024-01-2532 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 184: The Gospel of Matthew #3—The ‘Greater Than’ Motif/Second MosesA huge early theme of the Gospel of Matthew that carries throughout is the portrayal of Yeshua as the latter and greater Moses. In addition to this, He also declares Himself to be greater than the Temple and a whole lot of other sacred cows of the first century. This week we will investigate these claims and find out why they are so important to Matthew’s particular audience.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/11/episode-184-the-gospel-of-matthew-3-the-greater-than-motif-second-moses/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/6zimKlSuW0k
2023-11-0916 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 183: Gospel of Matthew #2--Honor and Shame in the Kingdom of HeavenWhat is the Kingdom of Heaven and how does it differ (if at all) from the Kingdom of God spoken of by Mark and Luke? How is it to be compared with the Kingdom of the Beast and the worldly systems of honor and shame culture?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/11/episode-183-gospel-of-matthew-2-honor-and-shame-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/RYrRBigIdo0
2023-11-0228 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 182: Matthew #1—The who, what, why and when of the “first” Gospel.Why is the Gospel of Matthew called a biography when it looks absolutely nothing like our modern biographies? What were the rules of writing an ancient life story and how did Matthew use this genre to communicate the story of the Messiah to his very unique audience at a very tumultuous time in history?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/10/episode-182-matthew-1-the-who-what-why-and-when-of-the-first-gospel/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/_RMRv0sxLRI
2023-10-1927 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 181: Privilege--what it is, isn’t, and why it mattersWhen I teach the kids, they call me Miss Tyler, but today I am Auntie Tyler. Privilege is a concept that appears all over the Bible and in every sort of literature within it. Privilege is incredibly important within the Biblical narrative--but why? I want to peel back a lot of the rhetoric, talking points, and misinformation out there to take a hard look at how Christians should view privilege and what it should mean in the life of the Body of Christ.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/10/episode-181-privilege-what-it-is-isnt-and-why-it-matters/
YouTube: https://yo...
2023-10-1123 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 180: Help Me C4K! My Kids Need to Learn about Circumcision!Or maybe you think they don’t need to learn about Circumcision. Fair enough, but I can’t teach them anything about Genesis 17 and the foundation of the Land Grant Covenant without dealing with it. Neither of us can teach them about the important Scriptural meta-narrative of the circumcision of the heart that they will need to understand in order to live as disciples in the New Creation life we want for them. I will also be talking frankly about the importance of being open and honest with our kids about body parts and sex because if we can’t do t...
2023-09-2727 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 179: What Yom Kippur Can’t FixThere are many misconceptions about Yom Kippur but the most grievous is the lack of understanding of exactly what is cleansed and what is forgiven and what is not. Yom Kippur was good news for the community but not necessarily for the individual so this week we will talk about why.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-179-what-yom-kippur-cant-fix/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/G46UG2EHPm8
2023-09-2024 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 178: Psalm 4: What on Earth Is Going on Here??There is so much debate about this Psalm. Not only does it contain two words that we don’t know what the heck they mean, but the context is quite the mystery. Is the Psalmist (David?) being lied about? Are the Kingdom elites resorting to Ba’al worship in order to bring an end to a famine? Is this Psalm 3 part 2 where David’s advisors are defecting to Absalom? Lots of questions and lots of debate.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-178-psalm-4-what-on-earth-is-going-on-here/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/42lW87CiS08
2023-09-1426 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 177: Psalm 3-- ”Mimzor l’David?”What is a Psalm of David? Or is it a Psalm by David? A Psalm in the style of David or about him? This week we will talk about irritating Hebrew conjunctions and why context is incredibly important—and sometimes unknowable. And what about the fourteen titled Psalms? How do we read this one in light of David and Absalom? The Bible is a messy book about messy people and messy situations and so this Psalm is going to be really messy too.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-177-psalm-3-mimzor-ldavid/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/IXKgCjbL4DA...
2023-09-0829 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 176 Psalm 2: More than MessianicPsalm 2 is one of the most famous “Messianic” psalms out there but it also pairs with Psalm 1 to teach the readers how to view the entire collection of hymns, laments, and royal tributes. How do Psalm1 and Psalm 2 work as a team in introducing the rest of the psalter? Why is it important for wisdom and kingship to dwell side by side in Covenant relations?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/08/episode-176-psalm-2-more-than-messianic/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/fyonTJg9AjM
2023-08-3125 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 175: Psalm 1--A Proverb in the Psalms?This is the beginning of a new series exploring the Psalms. I am going to alternate between the Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew because knowing the Psalms will help with understanding this Gospel and Yeshua’s/Jesus’s role as the Greater Moses as well as the Greater David. It won’t be obvious at first, but after a while it really will begin to make sense.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/07/episode-175-psalm-1/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/05Vnl-DvsgU
2023-07-2827 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 174: Help! How do I explain Hagar’s story to my kids?I have actually been dreading this moment since I began the Context for Kids radio show and knew that one day, I would have to cover the Biblical account of Abram and Sarai’s use of Hagar to produce a child. In context, it’s an ugly tale, albeit a common one in the ancient world. I can’t be as blunt about the situation with the kids as I can be with adults and so I am devoting a program over on this side of my ministry with the hopes of helping adults know how to teach children about...
2023-07-1428 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 173: The Study Series 18—Inerrancy, Inspiration, and AuthorityWhat is inerrancy? Depends on who you ask. And yet, with so many definitions and no absolute agreement even on the basics, people sure do a lot of fighting about it. It’s a word that means different things to different people and so, based on what we have covered so far in the study series, what can we believe about the Bible? And does the Bible claim to be inerrant, or something else entirely?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/06/episode-173-the-study-series-18-inerrancy-inspiration-and-authority/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MSzugzF9s-w
2023-06-2926 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 172: The Study Series 17—Psalms and LamentsHow come, when forty percent of the Psalms are laments, plus whole sections of the prophets and the entire book of Lamentations, are worship songs so focused on how hunky-dory life is? Sure, some of the Psalms are praises, but there are fewer praises than sad songs of complaint and hopelessness. As my next series is going to be about the Psalms, it is important that we have a healthy and balanced perspective on how psalms work, what we should expect to find in them, and what they tell us about how to relate to God.
Transcript...
2023-06-1929 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 171: The Study Series 16—The Torah, the Sermons and the Problem with EpistlesWe’re almost done with genre studies, I promise, so next week will be it. But this time, we have to look at the differences between the Sermons that Yeshua/Jesus delivered and the letters to specific congregations written by Paul, Peter, James and others. When we read a letter (aka epistle) as though it is a sermon, it can lead to some really bad problems. Maybe most importantly, how are we supposed to read the “law codes” in the Bible?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/06/episode-171-the-study-series-16-the-torah-the-sermons-and-the-problem-with-epistles/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c0yX5u1iclg
2023-06-0226 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 170: Why Gender and Identity Confusion Are All YOUR Fault…and Mine Too.Last summer, I did a series on my kids show about gender identity issues and I wrote this at that time to help adults understand how it is absolutely not the kids or just the liberal media who have created this problem—we’ve been just as bad and even worse as believers. How can that be? What can we do? This week we are going to explore just that. There is an extensive book list on this issue at the end of my transcript.
My series for kids can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watc...
2023-05-1230 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 169: The Study Series 15—Wisdom literature, Poetry, Parables, and AllegoriesAlonso Schökel once said that “what has been written with imagination must be read with imagination,” and although we completely understand the difference between reading one of Shakespeare’s sonnets and Shirer’s Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, we tend not to do that with Biblical poetry, which makes up roughly a third of the Hebrew Scriptures. We have the same problem when we don’t understand the original purpose of wisdom literature in general, and parables and allegories. Learning how to read these will revolutionize your Bible studies.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/04/episode-169-the-study...
2023-04-3025 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 168: The Study Series 14—Apocalyptic Literature vs Prophecy vs Historical NarrativesWe’re going to look at Daniel, Revelation, and Enoch within the context of post-exilic Israel to find out what an apocalypse is, what it isn’t, and how the original audience would have read it. We’ll also cover what the Prophets are and are not, as well as historical narratives and how getting these confused with Apocalyptic writings make the popular books on Revelation not even worth the paper they are printed on.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/04/episode-168-the-study-series-14-apocalyptic-literature-vs-prophecy-vs-historical-narratives/
2023-04-2325 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 167: Study Series 13—Your Bible is an InterpretationTranslation isn’t an exact science and there is no “one true interpretation”—not in any language. Translators have to look at words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek and then make hard choices about which word in their own language would be the best substitute. And not every word can be translated easily—some can’t be translated at all because the original meaning of the word was lost. Also, sometimes Paul simply seems to have made up words by putting two actual words together. Words like dayenu, shema, ubuntu, and many others throughout the world cannot be translated without usin...
2023-04-1625 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 166: The Study Series 12—The Speaker, Audience and Context of VersesIf you have ever sent me a question asking me about such and such, I will almost always ask you for the book, chapter and verse. Not because I don’t know my Bible, but because I respect it enough not to lean on the Holy Spirit to teach me something out of context. Who a section of Scripture is addressed to is just important as who the speaker is, what situation is being addressed, the genre type, and what the historical reality is. When we don’t know these things, we can turn the Bible into a cherry-picker’s idea...
2023-03-1925 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 165: Study 11—Binding the “Strong’s” Man: How Not to Use a ConcordanceOne of the most misunderstood and definitely the most misused Bible study aid is Strong’s Concordance. Today we’re going to find out what the problem is, what a Concordance is and isn’t and what it should and shouldn’t be used for. Warning: this lesson will likely make you wince at a lot of YouTube sermons.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/03/episode-165-study-11-binding-the-strongs-man-how-not-to-use-a-concordance/
2023-03-0530 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 164: Purim 2023—Honor, Shame and Two Brave QueensThe book of Esther is a thrilling story to read about and yet we rarely look into what this would have been like to live through for the two very brave and virtuous (yes, both of them) Queens who had to walk a knife edge within the world of honor/shame dynamics where a shamed woman could easily wind up a dead woman. (And yes, Mordecai was her cousin--not sure where my brain was on that and why I didn't catch it in editing.)
For families, I recommend the more child-friendly content that I will be putting...
2023-02-2625 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 163: Sociology II—Religion, Weird Science, and Practical LinguisticsYou might be wondering why we need to talk about religion when we are already studying the Bible—but religion in the ancient world was nothing like what we experience today. There was no separation between “church and state” or church and anything. Religion was everything and everything was religious. We’re going to tie ancient religion into their pre-scientific beliefs, and we are also going to talk about some of the wrong ways to treat ancient words in modern interpretations.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/02/episode-163-sociology-ii-religion-weird-science-and-practical-linguistics/
2023-02-2025 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 162 Sociology I: Groupthink, Holy/Profane and Clean/UncleanAnyone who knows me knows that ancient sociology is my absolute favorite aspect of Biblical context. Today we’ll talk about the ancient community identity, and the differences between Holy and Profane/Common as well as Clean vs Unclean. They are all entirely different but once you understand them, the Bible makes a whole lot more sense!
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/02/episode-162-sociology-i-groupthink-holy-profane-and-clean-unclean/
2023-02-0525 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 161: The Advent of John the Baptist in LukeSometimes we forget that the Gospels contain three, and not just two, advent accounts because the arrival of “Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord” was anticipated almost as much as the coming of the Messiah Himself! And it’s an exciting story full of angelic visitations, a barren older mamma, a prophetic unborn child, and a dad who is quite literally speechless!
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/12/episode-161-the-advent-of-john-the-baptist-in-luke/
2022-12-2125 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 160: Special Teaching #1--The Advent of the Messiah in MatthewAs this is the time of year when a third of the world is focused on the birth of Immanuel, and many believe that Hannukah was the time of His divine conception, I wanted to spend a few weeks learning about the account that Matthew and Luke dedicated two chapters each teaching us. This week we will learn Joseph’s story in the Gospel of Matthew. What better time of year to become educated about the answer to so many Jewish prayers for so long?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/12/episode-160-special-teaching-1-the-advent-of-the-messiah-in-matthew/
2022-12-1125 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 159: The Study Series--Understanding Polemic and IronyI have always enjoyed teaching the ancient art of polemic but I have never actually taught Biblical irony before and I can tell you that it is absolutely a game changer for understanding how the Bible works, how the Kingdom of Heaven works, and how God works. I really enjoyed putting this one together, and I have some great book recommendations for you.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/12/episode-189-the-study-series-understanding-polemic-and-irony/
2022-12-0425 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 158: The Study Series—Understanding Rhetoric, Locution, and Figures of SpeechCan the Bible be understood literally? At face value? Was it meant to be understood that way and what does that even mean? This week, we will talk about communication and how figures of speech (anthropomorphisms, metaphors, and similes) have to be accepted on their own terms so that we don’t misunderstand the intention of the passages.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/11/episode-158-the-study-series-understanding-rhetoric-locution-and-figures-of-speech/
2022-11-2025 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 157: The Study Series—Reading the Bible as a Library, Not as a BookWhen we look at the Bible as just one book with one kind of literature and don’t learn how to do “resets” based on what exactly we are reading, we can really misunderstand and misinterpret the text. What is Genre and why is it so important for understanding what different parts of Scripture are and aren’t useful for? How can we get into trouble when we try to make all of the Bible fit into one kind of box?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/11/episode-157-the-study-series-reading-the-bible-as-a-library-not-as-a-book/
2022-11-1425 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 156: The Study Series—Reading the Bible as it was meant to be HEARD 3How and why did the transmission of Scripture change in the first century and beyond? How did they get from the spoken words of John the Baptist and Yeshua/Jesus to the epistles of Paul and written Gospel accounts—and more importantly, why did they do it? What does it mean for us today in terms of God’s ongoing relational quest to communicate with His people?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/10/episode-156-the-study-series-reading-the-bible-as-it-was-meant-to-be-heard-3/
2022-10-3125 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 155: The Study Series—READING the Bible as it was meant to be HEARD 2This week we will continue with the discussion of how Scripture was originally presented and experienced--orally as a relational conversation between God and mankind and as wisdom literature. We will look at how things began to change due to Persian and Greek influences and will segue into the ongoing controversy over the Apocryphal books and how an avoidance of and a loss of knowledge of Hebrew led to it.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/10/episode-155-the-study-series-reading-the-bible-as-it-was-meant-to-be-heard-2/
2022-10-2325 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 154: Sukkot and the Mystery of the Eighth DayI apologize for uploading the episode from last week again this week! Thanks to my friend Elizabeth for catching that! It's fixed now!
What do the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, the eighth day, the pilgrimage festivals, and the Fruit of the Spirit all have in common? Everything.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/10/episode-154-sukkot-and-the-mystery-of-the-eighth-day/
2022-10-1125 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 154: Sukkot and the Mystery of the Eighth DayWhat do the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, the eighth day, the pilgrimage festivals, and the Fruit of the Spirit all have in common? Everything.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/10/episode-154-sukkot-and-the-mystery-of-the-eighth-day/
2022-10-1025 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 153: Yom Kippur and the RaptureNo, I am not suddenly endorsing the Rapture hypothesis but I am going to talk about how it is incompatible with any idea of white American (like me) and European Christians qualifying for it based on both Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25 and the historical reality of the persecuted church worldwide never being snatched from far worse than we can even imagine. This is a clarion call to all of us to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, without which, all the fasting in the world won’t impress God. For those of you unfamiliar with my pre-Yom Kippur broadcasts, just kn...
2022-10-0325 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 152: The Study Series—Reading the Bible as it was meant to be HEARD 1I can’t stress enough how important it is to understand the ancient Hebrew view of authority and what makes a text inerrant and what does not. We’re going to start exploring what it means to the Body corporately and to us as individuals when we are aware that the Bible was never written to be read but to be heard. It means, among other things, that we have to look at the Bible as a community text and not as a personal one. Neither is it a scientific text. Neither was it finally written down in order to b...
2022-09-2825 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 151: The Study Series—Good Source or Bad Source, Part 2Last week I talked about the red flags to avoid while building a library and I even named names on some of the worst of the resources. This week, I am going to share not only how to build a terrific library but also the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary resources. I will also be posting my resource list for this series in a separate blog that I will link as soon as I get done putting it together. No secrets or mysteries here.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/09/episode-151-the-study-series-good-source-or-bad-source-part-2/
My Facebook E-Book Sale...
2022-09-1624 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 150: The Study Series—Good Source or Bad Source, Part 1One of the most important first steps in really getting serious about Bible context studies is to get yourself a good quality library (and learning how not to misuse it) without investing in stinkers or spending more money than you have to. This week, we’re going to look at the most common red flags that will keep you from buying books that should have never been printed, and avoiding common YouTube and Google mistakes.
My Facebook E-Book Sale Page: https://www.facebook.com/TDRScholarlyBookSales
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/09/episode-150-the-study-series-good-source-or-bad-source-part-1/
2022-09-0925 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 149: Mark 74 The Empty Tomb and the Contested VersesAt long last, the last episode about the Gospel of Mark and this one has a lot more context and controversy that most. We’re going to go through the entirety of chapter 16, including all four of the proposed endings—but are any of them the original? We will also talk about the legality of using women as witnesses during those times within Judaism.
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/09/episode-149-mark-74-the-empty-tomb-and-the-contested-verses/
2022-09-0250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 148: Sisterhood, Unity, and Miracles: My Weekend at Surge Messianic Women’s ConferenceI promised a report on the amazing things that happened in Texas at the conference and so here is a small taste of the miracles, friendship and healing I experienced over a weekend that I freely admit to dreading but so glad I went.
https://www.younityfitness.com/conferences
She's already planning a bigger and better sequel because this one completely sold out and the attendees are already clamoring for another!
2022-08-2535 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 147: The Sin of Sodom and Setting the Record Straight on Recent Accusations of HeresyFirst off, I had an AMAZING weekend with the most wonderful group of ladies at the Surge Conference over the weekend in Texas. I had a miraculous healing that will allow me to travel and I will share that next week!
But Monday was bizarre--as it always the case when we have spiritual triumphs, right? And so I was subjected to some false accusations about what I do and do not support, teach, and say in two private Facebook groups which cater to a grand total of 800 members, while what I actually say was twisted and misrepresented...
2022-08-1845 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 146: Critical Failure--Why Are So Many Homeschooled Adults Abandoning the Bible?This was a homeschool conference talk I gave over the weekend and fair warning--it is not for the faint of heart. I directly tackle the reason so many kids are walking away from the Bible and their faith and deconstructing after being homeschooled. But it also applies to churched kids in general. What happens when we teach our kids to think critically about everything EXCEPT the Bible and about faith and about our own interpretations and doctrines? It's an easy mistake to make even without meaning to. Let's explore the problems and how to reverse is so that if...
2022-08-0142 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 145: Mark 73 Good Friday?Which Preparation day was this? The day before the Passover or the day before the Sabbath or something else entirely? We’ll explore this controversy by pulling together some information that might surprise you! What was the significance of Joseph of Arimathea claiming the body of Yeshua/Jesus?
Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2022/07/episode-145-mark-73-good-friday/
2022-07-2250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 144: Mark 72 The Ninth Hour and the Centurion’s DeclarationThere is far more to the account of Yeshua’s/Jesus’s death than meets the eye. We’re going to be talking about the Tamid offerings and their timing, the cosmic event language in Matthew and Mark concerning the darkness and the torn veil, and the importance of the Centurion’s declaration that, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Transcript https://theancientbridge.com/2022/07/episode-144-mark-72-the-ninth-hour-and-the-centurions-declaration/
2022-07-0850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 143: Mark 71 Save Yourself!This week we will continue with Yeshua/Jesus in the background as the world takes center stage against Him. This week is very context heavy, from the proposed location of Golgotha, the properties of myrrh, the rights of Roman soldiers, the hours of prayer, the controversy of cross vs tree vs stake, to the importance of the titles King of the Jews and King of Israel.
2022-07-0150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 142: Mark 70 The Mockers, the Passerby, and Where Do We Fit in?Something that generally goes unnoticed in chapter fifteen is that Yeshua/Jesus has ceased to be the main character, replaced by a multitude of “they” references. He is no longer the actor but the acted upon. What does this have to do with the forces of chaos, evil, sin, and death? And where exactly did the crucifixion take place?
2022-06-1750 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 141: Mark 69 Pilate, Barabbas, and the PawnSo, at long last we are beginning the most harrowing chapter of the Gospel of Mark—chapter fifteen. Chapter fourteen ended with a condemnation of death, but one without any teeth because the power over life and death in Judea belonged entirely to Pontius Pilate, who was so cruel that he managed to achieve modern war criminal status during peacetime and even the Romans couldn't deal with him anymore. It is here that Yeshua/Jesus becomes a mere pawn in political power games—or so it seems.
2022-06-1050 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 140: Avoiding ”Torah Terrorism”--a beginner’s guide to not destroying your witnessWhen I wrote The Bridge: Crossing Over into the Fulness of Covenant Life, it was for the purpose of bringing people together who didn't understand one another. On one hand, we had the burgeoning "Torah movement" of Christians who were discovering the delights of the Sabbath and Festivals, and the benefits of eating cleaner and on the other hand we had their families who were taught that this was legalistic. And no one was really behaving themselves or really listening and so people got needlessly angry and when people are angry, they are very likely to believe the worst...
2022-04-2950 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 139: Firstfruits and the Resurrection--The Foundation of Our FaithHE IS RISEN! Although we take it for granted, it was very controversial among both Jews and Gentiles--but why? We will look at this obscure day on the Biblical Calendar, what it meant in the first century, and why Yeshua's fulfillment of it is the most important event in the history of the world. We'll also talk about why it is the foundation of our faith and what it means to live in belief and why so many of us really don't.
2022-04-1450 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 138: Mark 68 The Oath, the Curse, and the DenialThis is our last encounter with Peter in this Gospel and what a horrible end it is. Of course, we know the other side of the story, but in the Gospel traditionally credited as being Peter’s recollections he makes no effort to paint himself as a great hero of the faith or to restore his reputation--instead, it paves the way to tell the greater story of the One who did not fail and led the Greater Exodus promised by Isaiah. As we finish up chapter 14 this week, we are going to come face to face with our own fr...
2022-04-0850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 137: Mark 67 The Kangaroo Court?Now that the controversy over the status of the hearing itself has been covered, let’s look at another big scholarly debate—what exactly triggered the blasphemy charge? It isn’t as obvious as it may appear once we take extra-biblical accounts from that same time period into account.
2022-04-0150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 136: Mark 66 The Trial: Sanhedrin or Beit Din?Before we go forward with the trial, we need to talk about the difference between the sort of Sanhedrin Josephus chronicled during the first century, and the more Biblical Beth Din described in Mishnah Tractate Sanhedrin. The difference is extremely important for understanding exactly what was going on and whether it was a Kangaroo Court or not.
2022-03-2550 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 135: Mark 65 The Kiss and the Falling AwayAs the prophecies begin to come true, the disciples are shocked and scattered—and probably more than just a bit crushed to discover that Yeshua won’t be leading a Messianic uprising after all.
2022-03-1850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 134: Mark 64 GethsemaneThis week we are going to make good use of my last year spent studying laments in Hebrew scripture and culture. We’ll talk about the word Abba and what it does and does not mean, and whether or not Gethsemane was actually a garden or if the word points to something other than the traditional understanding.
2022-03-1150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 133: Mark Part 63—The Communion and the Coming DenialThis is both a beautiful and dreadful section of scripture. Beautiful because Yeshua/Jesus is revealing how the Passover is redefined through His ministry, and dreadful because of Peter’s proud assurances that he will never deny His Master—and calling Him a false prophet in the process.
2022-03-0450 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 132: Mark Excursus—The Passover in the First CenturyBefore we get into the actual breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine, we need to talk about the Passover in the first century and what we can know (and can’t know) about it through contemporary writings. Not contemporary to us but contemporary to Yeshua/Jesus and His followers.
2022-02-2550 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 131: Mark Part 62--The Controversial Passover ControversyWas the Last Supper a Passover seder or not? John and the Synoptics seem to disagree. But this week what we are really going to ask is: "Is that even the right question or are we missing the bigger theological picture of what the author of Mark (as well as Matthew, Luke, and John) was trying to communicate to us?" Lots to discuss this week about ancient Hospitality laws and social etiquette.
2022-02-1850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 130: Mark Part 61—The Plot, the Anointing, and the BetrayalThis week we are going to talk about the Greek word paradidomi, translated as handed over, betrayed, delivered over, etc. in both the Gospels and in the Greek OT, the Septuagint. What does the way paradidomi was used in translating the prophets teach us about Yeshua’s/Jesus’s betrayal?
2022-02-1150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 129: Excursus—The Biblical CalendarI am back and I am going to talk very briefly about why the episodes stopped and what has been going on over the last five months. As for this episode, I was writing out Mark part 61 concerning the Passover, and about two pages in, I realized that not everyone would be familiar with the Biblical calendar so we’ll be covering that today. We’ll be covering all four Biblical new years mentioned in Scripture but with a special emphasis, obviously, on the festival calendar because—you know, Passover is the subject of the final three chapters in Mark. T...
2022-01-2750 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 128: Sukkot—When the Season of Our Joy isn’t JoyfulWe knew how to celebrate and love Christmas, but a lot of people really struggle when coming into the Biblical festivals and especially Sukkot. We’re going to take a look at some really common challenges based on a great conversation on my social media wall and come up with some solutions and we’re also going to talk about that elusive spiritual fruit of joy—which doesn’t mean being happy all the time!
2021-09-1750 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 127: Yom Kippur, Job, and the Prosperity GospelThe Prosperity Gospel comes in many forms—all of them smacking of paganism and an extreme misreading of the purpose of blessings and curses in the Bible and oftentimes a lopsided cherry-picking of wisdom literature. As this aberration curses those who we are commanded to bless, we’re going to talk about how believers should respond to the reality that not everyone who seems blessed has their blessings due to righteousness and not everyone who seems cursed has their troubles due to unrighteousness.
2021-09-1050 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 126: Rosh HaShanah and the Barren WomanTraditionally, the barren women of Scripture are studied and celebrated on Rosh HaShanah—so why are they historically considered cursed and sometimes even experience persecution by other women? And what does Proverbs 31 woman have to say about the perfect wife/woman?
2021-09-0350 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 125: Mark Part 60—No One Knows the Day or Hour…Except the Guys on YouTubeYeah, you guys get the picture. I have my snark on for this one. Yeshua/Jesus is pretty specific here but we don't like it so we try to find workarounds. Let's look at these final verses of the Olivet Discourse in Mark 13 to find out exactly what He is and is not saying.
2021-08-2750 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 124: Mark Part 59—The Coming on the Clouds and the Fig TreeWhat is the huge deal here about the Son of Man coming on the clouds and what does it tell us about the identity of Yeshua/Jesus? And fig trees again? Did the fig tree growers association have an endorsement deal with the writers or is there a deeper meaning to be found here?
2021-08-2050 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 123: Mark Part 58—The Abomination that Causes DesolationSuch a controversial subject and we are going to look at some of the leading theories as to when this was as well as some more off the beaten path proposals. And just what is it that the reader is directed to understand?
2021-08-1350 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 122: Mark Part 57—These Are Not the Signs You’re Looking ForHere, at the beginning of the Olivet Discourse, the longest speech in Mark and perhaps the oldest written document about Yeshua/Jesus, Yeshua responds to the disciples question of “When the heck is the Temple going to be destroyed??!!” with a bunch of false signs which won’t tell them much of anything because, as He says, “These are all just part of normal life.” And so why, when so many non-scholars read them, do they get moved out of the immediate context and into predictions of still future events?
2021-08-0650 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 121: Mark Part 56—The Fall of Jerusalem and the Temple of DoomThe destruction of the Temple Herod rebuilt marked the end of Jewish life as they had known it. The Temple marked the center of Jewish culture, Jewish religion, Jewish worship, Jewish hopes, Jewish nationalism, and Jewish identity. To call it the end of the world as they knew it is to severely misrepresent what it was like for them. This week, we will look at the writings of Josephus, Tacitus, and other historians at the Jewish war of 66-70 CE and the destruction of the Temple by Titus in 70 CE.
2021-07-3050 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 120: Mark Excursus—Apocalypticism, Prophecy, and Eschatology in ContextMark 13 is filled with apocalyptic symbolism and prophecy—but is it pointing to what we presume it us? We’re going to do a quick and dirty crash course in the genre of Jewish apocalypse. We’re going to clarify and clean up the reality and wrong assumptions about prophecy in Scripture. And we will find out what eschatology means and how it relates to Mark 13, if at all.
2021-07-2350 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 119: Pharmakeia in Context/Mental Illness, Suicide, and the ChurchThe son of a social media friend committed suicide back in February and while talking about it, I realized how shamefully the believing community fails to serve those who are suicidal, clinically depressed, and mentally ill. Part of the problem is a terrible misunderstanding of what the word Pharmakeia meant in the ancient world and the tendency for modern people to look at a word and judge the ancient context by what related terms mean today. As this misunderstanding adversely affects those who need our help the most, we’ll be looking at Pharmakeia in the Greco-Roman world and al...
2021-07-1650 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 118: Is Polygamy/Polygyny Really a Biblical Thing?This is a real controversial topic within some fringe Torah groups and I was asked to address it from a Biblical/historical perspective. Last week, I talked about male and female-identified religion and the dangers—and this is a big draw for some men. So, we’re going to look at what the Bible does and does not say about it. Is it ever spoken of in a positive way? What is the fruit? What restrictions did Yeshua/Jesus put on marriage and what did Paul have to say about polygynists in leadership?
2021-07-0950 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 117: Gender-Identified Religion and the Anti-Missionary MenaceHey all! The Dire Straits is upon us—that three-week period before the 9th of Av when like all heck breaks lose spiritually. We’re starting out the next few weeks with a break before diving into Mark 13 and 14, and I am going to cover three (at least) topics that people have been requesting I discuss. This week I want to talk about those pesky people who used to be believers before denying Yeshua/Jesus and then become stealth missionaries for the other side, actively manipulating people by presenting the Bible out of context for the sole purpose of slow...
2021-07-0250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 116: Mark Part 55--The Scribes and the Widow’s MiteLest all the scribes get credit for the wisdom and honesty of the one (remember, the ones attached to the Sanhedrin have decided to get rid of him at this point), Yeshua takes the group of them to task for, among other things, oppressing the vulnerable and namely, widows. And what is the tragedy of the “Widow’s Mite” that is so often missed?
2021-06-2550 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 115: Mark Part 54--The Great Commandment and the Son of DavidLest we make the mistake of thinking that all scribes are against Yeshua/Jesus, we have a wonderful encounter here and *gasp* an honest question for a change. After Yeshua answers, no one dares approach Him again—and after He brings up His own controversy about the Son of David in Psalm 110, the leadership has no choice but to follow Him or kill Him.
2021-06-1850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 114: Mark Part 53—Death and TaxesAfter being bested in their challenge to Yeshua’s/Jesus’s authority, the Sanhedrin delegation sends in the Pharisees and the Herodians, who have been plotting together since Mark 3:6 as to how to destroy Him. Then, the Sadducees, who have gone unmentioned up to this point, take a stab at tripping Him up. Exactly how does that work out for them?
2021-06-1150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 113: Mark Part 52—The Tenants and the CornerstoneWhen read in context, this comes off as nothing short of a terrifying political thriller. And as such, we should not be shocked to learn that this is the moment when Yeshua/Jesus purposefully signs His own death warrant—not at His mock trial but here with a terrible accusation, made in parable form against the Jerusalem power-brokers.
2021-06-0450 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 112: Mark Part 51—The Baptism of John and the Rejection of the MessiahIn the first of five (or four or six depending on which scholar you agree with) controversy dialogues on the Temple Mount before Passover, Yeshua/Jesus deftly captures the chief priests, scribes and elders in their own trap. They demand to know what right He had to shut down Temple commerce the previous day, and He demands that they take a stand on whether or not John was a prophet—putting them in the hot seat no matter which answer they give. Also, we are going to talk about the Constitutionality of the Ten Commandments and whether or not Ch...
2021-05-2850 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 111: Shavuot 2021—Ruth and the Reverse of the CurseThe kingship of David appears to be in direct violation of the Mosaic Law—or is it? As Ruth is traditionally studied in celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost, I want to tackle this important question.
2021-05-2150 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 110: Mark Part 50—The Unfruitful Tree and the Den of RobbersThis is a very commonly misinterpreted section of Scripture when we don’t see the “Markan sandwich” which tells us to interpret the overturning of tables through the cursing of the fig tree and vice versa. We will be covering a lot of Biblical fig tree references with respect to the coming of the Messiah and the coming of judgment. We will also be analyzing Yeshua’s/Jesus’s actions in light of later Talmudic writings—which come up on his side in this. And we’re going to talk about those horrid memes about Yeshua overturning tables in light of the p...
2021-05-1450 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 109: Mark Part 49—The Untriumphal EntryWhen looked at as a “Triumph”, military victor’s parade, Yeshua’s/Jesus’s entry leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, He is absolutely snubbed by the very people who would have been required to greet a conquering general or a king with full honors. As such, this is a fitting beginning for the coming condemnation of Jerusalem and the Temple over the course of the following two chapters.
2021-05-0750 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 108: Mark Part 48—Greater than the TempleAs a preview of chapters 11 and 12, where Yeshua/Jesus condemns and increasingly replaces the Temple as the overlap between Heaven and Earth, we’ll be reviewing some of the “greater than” claims about Yeshua in the Bible and talking about the implications of Malachi, Isaiah and 4QFlor, which discusses the important concept of mikdash adam, the living Temple of the Qumran community.
2021-04-3050 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 107: Mark Part 47—Three Blind Men—James, John and BartimaeusThis is our last “in the way” narrative because next week, Yeshua/Jesus and His disciples enter Jerusalem. As such, this is the most climactic and revealing of Mark’s use of Isaiah 42:16 in highlighting the kind of blindness that was currently upon an Israel looking for a bloodthirsty Messiah instead of a Messiah determined to save not only Israel but also her enemies.
2021-04-2350 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 106: Mark Part 46—The Rich Young SeekerAlthough the disciples were guilty of shooing away the disabled and children, rich and powerful men make it right up to Yeshua/Jesus without any problems, highlighting their still very worldly mindsets. This young man asks a question that weighs heavily on the minds of many, “What can I do to merit a place in the world to come?” What does this conversation reveal about him, about Yeshua, and about ourselves?
2021-04-1650 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 105: Mark Part 45—Divorce and OppressionEver hear about “any cause” divorce? Jewish men in the first-century were committing a terrible crime against the wives of their youth and had come to see it as a right—as though marriage existed solely for their benefit and could be ended at their whim. She burns a meal? You can divorce her. Find someone prettier? You can divorce her. As they believed a man could not be guilty of adultery against His wife, and that adultery was only a crime against another man, Yeshua’s condemnation of their divorce entitlement mindset is particularly damning.
2021-04-0250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 104: Mark Part 44—The Passion PredictionsIn honor of the Passover this week, I am going to leapfrog over the next two accounts in Mark to tackle the third Passion Prediction in light of the first two, which we have already covered. It is important to explore them as a unit in order to learn how Yeshua was revealing, step by step, the fate that awaited Him in Jerusalem.
2021-03-2650 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 103: Mark Part 43—With Us? Against Us? Or Thrown into the Sea?The disciples aren’t too thrilled with someone honing in on what they mistakenly believe to be “their territory.” What Yeshua/Jesus has to say to them for getting in the way of another person’s good works should cause us all to pause and reflect on our own priorities and issues.
2021-03-1950 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 102: Mark Part 42—Messianic Reality Check #2This week we look at the second Passion Prediction and the disciples’ misplaced sense of ambition. What Yeshua/Jesus tells them about what kind of humility He expects from them would have been revolting in the extreme for any ancient man.
2021-03-1250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 101: Mark Part 41—Help My Unbelief!This is an incredibly heart-wrenching account of a father and son locked in an ongoing and deadly battle with a malicious demon—a battle they have been losing. When they go to the disciples for help, they are no help at all! What is the lesson here and what about the controversy over “this kind can’t go out except through prayer and fasting?”
2021-03-0550 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 100: Mark Part 40—The TransfigurationYeshua/Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain for different sort of proclamation—but this time the proclamation comes from the ultimate source. And what does this say about Yeshua’s mission and who we are ultimately called to listen to?
2021-02-2650 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 99: Mark Part 39— Mt Hermon and the Beast Kingdom/I Enoch in ContextJust because I Enoch isn’t Scripture or written by Enoch doesn’t mean it isn’t a vital window into the first century beliefs about Genesis 6 and the introduction of evil practices into the world. What did Mt Hermon mean to first-century Jews and why did Yeshua/Jesus make sure that the big announcement about His identity happened in Caesarea Philippi, on the southern slope of this infamous mountain?
2021-02-1950 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 98: Mark Part 38— The Bad News is the Good NewsAs far north as Yeshua/Jesus will ever travel again during His natural lifetime, it’s time for the secrets to be revealed and His mission laid out. Peter doesn’t like it and gets called Satan for his concerns. But is there more here than meets the eye? It’s our first Messianic reality check and no one liked it.
2021-02-1250 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 97: Mark Part 37— Healing Blindness and the Identity of the MessiahThis is a good example of what is called an acted-out parable. The two-stage healing of blindness is the only episode in the Gospels where someone isn’t healed right away. What is this meant to tell us about our own spiritual state and why is it important to understand before the disciples head to Caesarea Philippi?
2021-02-0550 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 96: Mark Part 36— The Leaven of the LeadershipThings are heating up and Yeshua/Jesus tries to teach the disciples an important lesson—but they miss it entirely because they have their mind on temporal concerns. What exactly is the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of the Herodians and what does it mean in our own lives?
2021-01-2950 minCharacter in ContextEpisode 95: Mark Part 35—The Feeding of the Four Thousand…Gentiles?In a miraculous and frustrating turn of events, the Pharisees from the district of Dalmanutha demand a sign from Heaven shortly after Yeshua/Jesus feeds a mixed multitude, leaving four thousand satisfied. But can the Pharisees be satisfied?
2021-01-2250 min