This episode invites David Burnett back to the podcast for a discussion of his research on 1 Cor 15:35-50. In an earlier episode on this chapter, we talked about the meaning of Paul’s phrase “the spiritual body.” This time around, David draws our attention to the...
Naked Bible Podcast
Naked Bible 94: The Sin of the Watchers and Galatians 3-4
Biblical scholars know that Paul subordinates the Law to Christ (Gal 3:1-18). He writes about how the Law could not result in the fruition of the promises given to Abraham (and, by extension, to all nations; Gen 12:1-3). Paul then asks “Why then was the law given?” He...
Naked Bible 93: The Book of Enoch in the Early Church
The book we know as 1 Enoch was well known to early Christians. Its importance produced an understandable question among some influential early Christian writers and, one may presume, Christians in general: Should 1 Enoch be considered inspired and thus “Scripture” in...
Naked Bible 92: Stones of Fire
Ezekiel 28:14, 16 describe an “anointed cherub” who walked in the midst of “the stones of fire” and was removed from among “the stones of fire.” What are the stones of fire? What do these verses describe? How do the phrases relate to what’s going on in Ezekiel 28 and...
Naked Bible 91: Q&A 10
Our 10th Question and Answer episode! Episode 91 – Q&A 10 features Dr. Michael Heiser responding to a wide range of listener-submitted questions on biblical and theological topics. He addresses the meaning behind Jesus’ rebuke of Peter in Mark 8:33, explores the...
Naked Bible 90: Lake of Fire
This episode discusses why hellfire in the New Testament is associated with “the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41). Where does that idea come from? There are in fact earlier books that are the basis for this language—inside and outside the Old Testament. Transcript...
Naked Bible 89: The Book of Life
There are over a dozen references in the Old and New Testaments to “books” in heaven. The idea of such books extends back to Sumer and Mesopotamian (“tablets of destinies”). In this episode, we trace the lineage of the idea through ancient Near Eastern examples, the...
Naked Bible 88: What is the “spiritual body” Paul talks about in 1 Cor 15?
This episode focuses on Paul’s language, in 1 Cor 15 and elsewhere, about the “spiritual body” of the resurrected Jesus—a body that believers will also share. In Paul's day, Gentiles (Greco-Roman culture) and Jews (OT) both believed that gods had bodies -- not made...
Naked Bible 87: Exorcism of Demons as Part of the Messianic Profile
There is no direct talk in the Old Testament about the messiah, the son of David, would cast out demons. Yet that title (“son of David”) is found only in the synoptic gospels in association with Jesus’ healing and demonic exorcisms. While healing is a clear part of...
Naked Bible 86: The Head Covering of 1 Corinthians 11:13-15
This episode begins a series of topical episodes following the end of our series on Leviticus. The topic for this episode is the controversial head covering reference in 1 Cor. 11:13-15. The discussion summarizes the material discussed in a scholarly journal article...
Naked Bible 85: Q&A 9
Our 9th Question and Answer episode! Also find out what topics are next for the podcast. Harvey book on the term Jew: Graham Harvey, The True Israel: Uses of the Names Jew, Hebrew, and Israel in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Literature (Brill, 2001) Transcript 85...
Naked Bible 84: Leviticus 26-27
This episode covers Leviticus 26-27, bringing our study of Leviticus to a close. Our focus is primarily a question raised by Lev 26 -- whether the offer of restoration to Yahweh (and thus to the land) described in Lev 26:40-42 is being fulfilled now or is yet to be...
Naked Bible 83: Leviticus 23-25
This episode discusses items in three chapters of Leviticus including how Leviticus 23 conceptualizes the Sabbath, how its description of Israelite feasts and festivals diverges with other passages in the Torah, the imagery of the “shewbread” (“bread of the...
Naked Bible 82: Q&A 8
Our 8th Question and Answer episode! Transcript 82 Q&A 8 00:00 – Intro and holiday update 01:00 – Genesis 32:22–32 – Is Jacob wrestling with God a unique story? 06:55 – Enoch – Was Genesis 5's Enoch based on earlier material or real? 17:45 – Enoch’s 365 years...
Naked Bible 81: Leviticus 21-22
Leviticus 21-22 overlaps a great deal with earlier material in Leviticus. This episode focuses on certain mourning rites and Israel’s need to maintain a holiness distinction from pagan religions in that regard. Of special interest in this episode is Lev 21:5 (cp. Lev...