What is the Bible’s Big Story? Part 7 This is Part 7 of Dr. Ronn Johnson’s guest series. If you would like to catch up with any of the previous installments, the archive is located here. ------------------------- It was great to meet many of you at the first annual...
Hebrews
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 184: Hebrews 5:11-6:20
Our series on the book of Hebrews continues the writer’s emphasis on the faithful priesthood of Christ – this time as the basis for turning away from a theology of dead works and clinging to faith. The centrality of not turning from the true gospel of faith in the...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 182: Hebrews 4:1-13
Hebrews 4:1-13 continues an important theme introduced in Hebrews 3—holding fast to faith so as to enter into God’s rest (i.e., inherit the promise of eternal life). The writer strikes an analogy between the rest of God, earlier related to entrance (or not) into the...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 176: Hebrews 1:5-14
The writer of Hebrews builds on his assertions that the particular son of God (Jesus) who was the agent of creation, eternal wisdom, and the essence of God, by comparing him to other supernatural sons of God (angels). But what does a phrase like “You are my son, today...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 175: Hebrews 1:1-4
Hebrews 1:1-4 sets the tone for the entire epistle. The writer asserts that the revelation given by God through one particular son—Jesus Christ—is superior to Torah. It is Christ who is the full expression of God’s wisdom, and the actual, essential being of God...
Heavenly Worship in Second Temple Judaism, Early Christianity, and Gnostic Sects: Part 3
Guest blogger, Stephen Huebscher This is the third of five posts in this series. B. CONCEPTIONS OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY Early Christian conceptions of heavenly worship drew heavily on the OT and, not surprisingly, show a similarity, though with some...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 156: Ezekiel 40-48, Part 1
These final chapters of Ezekiel are known for the prophet’s vision of a new temple. However, scattered within that vision is an enigmatic figure referred to as the “prince” (Hebrew: nasiʾ). In this episode we discuss whether or not Ezekiel’s temple vision should be...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 150: Ezekiel 35-36
These two chapters seems intrusive. The oracles against the nations ended in Ezekiel 32, followed by the announcement of Jerusalem’s fall (ch. 33) and a transition to the future hope of Israel (ch. 34). Chapters 35-36 are an oracle against Edom (“Mount Seir”) followed...
Can Fallen Angels be Redeemed?
As I mentioned in the recent episode of the Naked Bible Podcast, the subject of angelic redemption seems to be percolating on the internet. I’m not sure of the reason. I am sure, as we discussed on that podcast episode, that the idea has led to disastrous spiritual...
Naked Bible Podcast 107 – Book of Obadiah, Part 2
The episode is now live. Naked Bible Podcast Episode 107 continues Dr. Michael Heiser’s expositional study of the Book of Obadiah, focusing on the final verses (vv. 18 and 21), where the judgment of Edom and the rise of God’s Kingdom are declared. Heiser unpacks how...
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 46: Q&A 2
Our second Question and Answer episode! Here are the papers referenced in the show:Why use the Septuagint?ANE Pagan Divination PracticesBelial-Mastema-Satan-Devil-DNTBLordsDayDLNT Transcript 46 Q&A2 Q&A Summary and Timestamps Here are the main listener...
Election, Salvation, Unbelief, and Eternal Security
Here we go. You'll note by the end that I really don't care for (or feel the need) to frame these issues they way they are typically framed. Election and Salvation The major point of my previous post on election was that it was not to be understood as synonymous with...
Choosing Election
Okay, it's a bad pun (are there really any good puns?). I've decided that it's time for the Naked Bible to weigh in on election. I've hinted at this a couple of times, but I figure it's a good way to have 2010 go out with a bang and start the New Year running. (Yes, I...
Biblical Anthropology, Part 7
Time to (finally) wrap this one up. You may have thought our discussion of biblical anthropology--specifically what "makes up" a human being--was over. Not so. We've spent six posts going through the evidence, beginning with looking up every occurrence of Hebrew...