The title of this post probably makes it clear that by “signs and wonders” I’m sort of picking off various topics that have something to do with sign gifts. Yes, it’s a bit random in terms of approach, but I’m setting the stage for future blogging. It will make sense...
Paul
Christians, Christmas, and Such
The latest episode of the Naked Bible Podcast just uploaded. The topic is on whether Christians should consider Christmas a pagan holiday. I hope you'll give it a listen. I broke down the topic into two areas: the traditional date of Christmas (December 25) and what...
Naked Bible Podcast Episodes 190, 191, and 192: Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Interviews
The interviews from the 2017 SBL meetings had to be broken up into three episodes: Episode 190 (SBL, Part 1) We get caught up with David Burnett, now in his first semester of doctoral work at Marquette University. We also chat with Marina Westerdahl, a former student...
Michael Bird: Brief Thoughts on the New Perspective on Paul (NPP)
I get asked about my opinion of the NPP at events and on Q & A episodes of the Naked Bible Podcast. I always recommend Kent Yinger's book, The New Perspective on Paul: An Introduction. It's short and clear. I'm happy to also recommend this brief set of comments...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 164: Paul’s Ascent and Angelic Torment with David Burnett
David Burnett returns to the podcast to discuss Paul’s defense of his apostleship and his heavenly ascent in 2 Corinthians 11-12. This episode expands upon an earlier episode on Paul’s ascent, specifically linking it to Second Temple Jewish apocalyptic literature (the...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 163: Other Gods and Other Religions with Gerald McDermott
Gerald R. McDermott (PhD, University of Iowa) is Anglican Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Before joining Beeson, he was the Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion at Roanoke College. He is also associate pastor at Christ the King...
Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions: Part 3: Becoming as the Stars and the Inheritance of the Nations
This is Part 3 of the series by David Burnett; see Part 1, Part 2 Part 3 - Becoming as the Stars and the Inheritance of the Nations The Deuteronomic Vision of the Celestial Bodies as the Gods (or Angels) of the Nations The precedent for this assumed connection in...
Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions: Part 2: Early Jewish Qualitative Interpretation of Genesis 15:5 and Related Texts
This is Part 2 of a series of guest pots by David Burnett. Part 1 is located here. - MSH PART 2 – Early Jewish Qualitative Interpretation of Genesis 15:5 and Related Texts Philo of Alexandria and the Saying “So Shall Your Seed Be” In commenting on Genesis 15:5 in Who...
Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions: Part 1: Introduction
This is the first of four installments on this topic, all written by David Burnett. This series is based on a paper David read at the Society of Biblical Literature. -- MSH Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions[1. I...
Did Yahweh Demand Blood for a True Relationship with Him? Part 3: Bloodless Atonement and New Testament Justification
[MSH: When readers finish this essay, they will recognize its internal consistency with my argument in The Unseen Realm that salvation was the same across the board in both testaments. The issue was believing loyalty to Yahweh. Dr. Johnson raises the question of how...
Naked Bible 95: David Burnett – Resurrection and the Death of the Gods
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 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 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 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 60: Acts 27 & 28
Acts 27 & 28 This episode wraps up our study of the book of Acts. These two chapters focus on Luke’s account of Paul’s hazardous journey by ship to Rome. Through the course of his narrative, Luke drops some cryptic references to the theological concept of a...