The Bible as Literature

According to the Preacher, no matter what you do, you are doomed to the one fate that awaits everyone. Are you a righteous man? Are you wicked? Can you, by your actions, determine the outcome of your life? Since all share the same fate, does it matter? For the author of Ecclesiastes, it does matter, but not in the way that you imagine and not in a way that makes sense—unless you accept that all deeds (and all things), both good and evil, are in the hand of God. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Ecclesiastes 9. (Episode 79; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

When a human judge seeks meaning in the abuses of the wicked or in the misfortunes of the righteous, if he is as honest with himself as the Preacher in Jerusalem, his pursuit of wisdom leads nowhere. As each door closes in his face and each path turns to vanity, he comes to a realization: every possibility he considers is judged by God. "Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life," says the Preacher, "still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, and who fear him openly." (Episode 78; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

If, for the sake of wisdom, death is better than birth, sorrow is better than laughter and mourning is better than feasting, what hope has the wise man of escaping ruin? Is such wisdom truly wise, or is it better to grasp righteousness without abandoning wickedness? God, the Preacher explains, has made the one as well as the other; the person who embraces this contradiction is the one who fears the Lord. This week, Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Ecclesiastes 7. (Episode 77; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

What would happen if God gave you honor, riches and wealth such that nothing you desired was beyond your reach? What if he then invited foreigners to enjoy this wealth in your place? What does this mean? Is the foreigner wrong to partake of your treasure? Is he now better off than you? Would you be right to condemn him? How can anyone reconcile God’s generosity with such terrible affliction? For that matter, how can one reconcile bounty with famine; honor with obscurity; or purpose with futility? Richard and Fr. Marc explore these questions as they discuss Ecclesiastes 6. This week’s episode is produced in solidarity with the people of Greece. We love you and we are praying for you. (Episode 76; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

In a culture that loves money and values everyone’s input, Ecclesiastes 5 is a bitter pill. Human speech, cries the Preacher, is the sacrifice of idiots and the gathering of wealth a grievous evil under the sun. Let your words be few. Shun the acquisition of wealth. Delight in your work and in the few years that God has given you. Sleep on an empty stomach. Fear God and trust in his judgment, even when faced with injustice, for even an oppressor, in the palm of God’s hand, brings advantage to the land. I would pay real money to see Hollywood try to package that message in a movie trailer. (Episode 75; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

Who is worse off, the oppressor or the oppressed? Is the power wielded by kings and empires real? Is a king of humble origins better than an old fool on the throne? What does Ecclesiastes have to do with Judas Iscariot or New Testament questions dealing with works of the Law and grace? Is there any way to salvage the vanity of man’s striving after wind? What does all this have to do with the invention of the automatic dish washer? For answers to these compelling questions and more, stay tuned for this week’s episode of the Bible as Literature. (Episode 74; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

There is a time for every season under heaven: A time to be silent and a time to speak; A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace: For many, these words call to mind a beautiful ballad lamenting the futility of war. However, for the Preacher in Jerusalem, the list of dichotomies presented in Ecclesiastes 3 speak to something far more difficult: inasmuch as war is as certain as peace, and tears are as certain laughter, all things, even the things we hate, are a gift from God. (Episode 73; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

Is there a difference between a fool and a wise man? Does a man who acts correctly gain advantage over one who stumbles? What has the Preacher in Jerusalem to do with the suburbs in Minnesota? Richard and Fr. Marc continue their discussion of Ecclesiastes. This week’s episode is dedicated to Paul Boulos, who died on May 29, 2015. (Episode 72; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

This past week, Fr. Marc’s dad, Paul Boulos, was transferred to a hospice facility. As Fr. Marc and Richard reflect on Paul's life and the meaning of his death, no text in the Bible brings more clarity than Ecclesiastes. (Episode 71; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

Fundamentalists are quick to apply biblical texts to current events, making fantastic claims about world leaders, foreign countries, and, as Matthew says, about "wars and rumors of war." (Matthew 24:6) Aside from having no real or legitimate connection to the Bible (or reality) such claims always deflect God's wrath, leveling judgment at other groups and other cultures but never at the Bible's intended audience: the person reading it. In this week's episode, Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on Hosea 4 and the insight it brings to recent examples of aberrant behavior among pre-teens. The discussion demonstrates how the Bible can and should be applied to current events without succumbing to self-righteousness or ignorance. (Episode 70; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

In the gospel of John, how do the actions of the Samaritan woman set her apart from the disciples of Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple? Is discipleship only about learning and following, or is more required? Why does fundamentalism make discipleship impossible? The answer to these questions comes with the difficult reminder that biblical knowledge can only be received at the expense of the disciple's ego. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss the parable of the Samaritan woman in John 4. (Episode 69; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

Religious and secular ideologies share much in common, including their emphasis on personality and identity. Who are you? What are you? What group are you from? What do you believe? Are you one of us? These questions betray our fear of each other and take attention away from what really matters, namely, our ability to receive and to share knowledge, and the actions we take based on knowledge. In religion, this emphasis unfolds as idolatry under the guise of devotion to God. Instead of asking, "what does God teach," we ask, "who is God?" Instead of acting on God's teaching, we ask others about their relationship with God. Contrary to widely held assumptions about the fourth gospel, it is not God’s identity that concerns John, but knowing the teaching of the Father, the very wisdom that sent Jesus to the Gentiles. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss John 5. (Episode 68; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

It's easy to allow symbols and ideas from outside the Bible to shape our understanding of the text. In contrast, serious biblical students set aside extra-biblical influences, so that only Scripture can interpret Scripture. In late antiquity, this tension was felt in the divergent schools of Antioch and Alexandria. While metaphor and allegory are present in both traditions, the Antiochians looked to the Bible as their primary source, forgoing Alexandria's affinity for Hellenistic philosophy. In this week's episode, Richard and Fr. Marc discuss the problem of biblical interpretation and the metaphor of the empty tomb in Mark 16. (Episode 67; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

What do the ending of John's gospel and the first chapters of Acts teach us about the problem of human feelings? How do our assumptions about love and its relationship to emotion cripple our ability to fulfill God's instruction? Why is it destructive and idolatrous to associate the Holy Spirit with an emotional response? Don't trust your feelings; Don't follow your heart; Turn off the Disney channel and stay tuned to this podcast. You might not feel good, but we promise not to lie to you. (Episode 66; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)

What do the narratives of Exodus and Daniel have to do with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why were these stories understood historically as penultimate readings during Easter week? What is the common thread that connects these texts with gospel accounts of Christ's Passion? If you've noticed that all of these stories feature oppressive kings, you're on the right track. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss the meaning of Pascha in light of Daniel 3:13-18. This week's episode is in loving memory of Ralph Sergi. (Episode 65; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature)