During the recent annual meetings for biblical studies scholars held in San Antonio, Dr. Heiser interviewed a number of scholars about their recent work. In Part 5 of those interviews, we meet Dr. John Walton (Old Testament professor at Wheaton College), Dr. Ben Witherington (New Testament professor at Asbury Theological Seminary), and Dr. Tremper Longman (Old Testament professor at Westmont College).

Click here for Part 4.

This SBL floor episode brings three perspectives that converge on one goal: reading the Bible in its world, for our world. John Walton starts with a simple but crucial observation: we are outsiders to the biblical world; the authors and first hearers were insiders. If we want the authoritative word—God’s message mediated through ancient authors—we must cross that cultural gap. Walton showcases the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, purpose-built to supply geography, history, archaeology, customs, and ancient literature in-line, drawing on ZIBBCOT and the IVP Background Commentary. He underlines a key axiom: you can’t “impose” the ANE on the Bible, because the Bible is already embedded in the ANE. Looking ahead, he previews Lost World of the Flood, Lost World of the Conquest, and an OT Theology aimed at Christians reading the OT on its own terms.
Ben Witherington then moves from tools to method. He’s preparing two volumes of C.K. Barrett’s sermons for publication and discusses his Old & New series (Isaiah → Psalms → Law), modeling how to read the OT forward in its context and backward in NT usage. He recommends Richard Hays’s Reading Backwards (with caveats), and reframes the NT as a primarily oral/aural culture: the “reader” in Mark 13 and Revelation 1:3–4 is a public lector—a detail that affects how intertextual cues would be heard.
Finally, Tremper Longman highlights the IBR community and the Story of God Commentary (OT)—a series that joins careful exegesis with Luke 24-shaped Christological significance. He previews a wisdom theology volume and a balanced treatment of controversial OT issues (from historicity and divine violence to sexuality and slavery), aiming at scholarly depth with accessibility. He also notes a forthcoming Revelation commentary for the NT Through OT Eyes series.

Timestamp guide (mini-interviews)

• 00:00–~01:45 — Intro @ SBL
  Trey tees up Part 5 and previews the three guests: John Walton, Ben Witherington, Tremper Longman.

• ~01:45–~19:30 — Interview 1: Dr. John Walton (ANE context & resources)

  • Why “insider vs. outsider” perspective matters for biblical authority and interpretation.

  • The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: only background notes (geography, history, archaeology, manners/customs, ancient lit.), photos, and sidebars.

  • Relationship to ZIBBCOT (5 vols) and IVP Background Commentary; stats: 2,200 photos / 22,000 footnotes in ZIBBCOT.

  • “You can’t ‘impose’ the ANE on the Bible—it’s embedded in it”; upcoming Lost World of the Flood & Conquest; OT Theology manuscript.

• ~19:30–~39:45 — Interview 2: Dr. Ben Witherington (blogging, intertextuality, orality)

  • On publishing C.K. Barrett’s sermons (two volumes) and why they matter.

  • Series: Isaiah Old and New (Fortress), Psalms Old and New, next The Law Old and New (OT used in NT).

  • Reading Backwards (R. Hays) as a gateway to intertextuality—Witherington’s caveats about audience literacy and reception.

  • Orality: “reader” (ἀναγινώσκων) in Mark 13 and Rev 1:3–4 is the public lector, not the audience.

• ~39:45–~58:30 — Interview 3: Dr. Tremper Longman (IBR, Story of God, Wisdom, hot-button OT issues)

  • IBR overview and memberships; networking within faith-affirming scholarship.

  • Story of God Commentary (OT)—Genesis vol.; concern for original meaning and contemporary significance; Luke 24-shaped Christological ties.

  • Forthcoming wisdom theology book; then a project on controversial OT issues (historicity, divine violence, creation/evolution, sexuality, slavery, patriarchy).

  • Emphasis on charitable engagement (e.g., with Peter Enns) and a planned Revelation commentary in NT Through OT Eyes.

• ~58:30–end — Wrap-up
  Part 6 is teased after the “Live from San Antonio” episode. (Sign-off banter follows.)