The Bible as Literature

When people think of meaningful passages in the Bible, the many lengthy genealogies found in Genesis and elsewhere rarely, if ever, come to mind. Yet, it is exactly one such passage--the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew--that holds significant meaning for the Christmas season. Who are the people listed in the opening verses of Matthew's gospel, and why do they matter? What is the purpose of Matthew's genealogy? Is the Messiah's pedigree relevant, or is something else going on? Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Matthew 1:1-17. (Episode 49)

In this week's episode, Richard explores the Lord's counter-intuitive stance in Ezekiel, in which judgement falls on all sides and no human being finds favor in God's sight. Why would the story present God as the one who brings evil against Israel? Why would he use Israel's enemies only to bring more evil against them, after the fact? The podcast explores these questions as we discuss the very passages in Ezekiel which gave rise to the expression, "fire and brimstone." (Episode 48)

Does it matter which book of the Bible you read or which testament it comes from? Where should beginners start? Are some books more important than others? What is the purpose of the New Testament? Is the concept of grace a new idea, or was it part of the story all along? How do the books of the Bible interact with each other within the context of the Bible's storyline? Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on the continuity of the Bible and the importance of--well--jumping in head first. (Episode 47)

This week, Richard talks about his presentation at the Society of Biblical Literature gathering in San Diego, where he explored the various ways in which the study of language and poetry can enhance our understanding of the biblical text. The conversation sheds light on the broader goal of this podcast series: to hear, read and reflect on the content of the Bible as literature. (Episode 46)

Preachers often adapt themes from popular books and movies to make their sermons seem relevant for children and teens. But what happens when the content of the Bible is so nuanced that even C.S. Lewis can't capture it in a popular story? What happens when popular Christian themes are out of step with biblical meaning? Is the Bible still relevant? Can it still capture the attention of young adults? Of course it can--and maybe even especially--for those who have ears to hear. (Episode 45)

Richard interviews Fr. Marc about his new book, Torah to the Gentiles. The letter to the Galatians offers a brief but demanding exposition of the teaching of the Older Testament for a gentile audience. Highlighting the Bible's struggle against idolatry, power, and human identity, St. Paul's letter exposes Jerusalem's fatal misreading of biblical circumcision: a practice given to remove social barriers had been co-opted to build the same. By imposing their religious identity and practices on the gentiles, the Pillars of Jerusalem had betrayed the Torah, offering things that pass away as though they were eternal. Worse, they had done so at the expense of the weaker brother. Having been liberated by God from the worship of Caesar, why would the Galatians now turn to another human master? (Episode 44) To learn more, visit OCABS Press: http://www.ocabspress.org/news/2014/11/11/new-commentary-on-galatians-by-fr-marc-boulos

In a culture that thrives on positive messages and expects praise from everyone for just about everything, it is easy to assume that St. Paul's use of praise in his letters is a gesture of kindness. Unfortunately for Philemon, a word of praise isn't always praise; kindness is not always kind; and useful blessings come in ways that you least expect and may not appreciate--but when they come from Paul, they are always presented as an offer you can't refuse. (Episode 43)

Richard and Fr. Marc continue their discussion of the biblical functions "shepherd" and "sheep," exploring these roles in context of Ezekiel 34. Ezekiel's critique exposes the corruption of Israel's shepherds, but also undermines common assumptions about the role sheep play in the life of the flock. Do sheep have a career path? I'll give you a hint. Go with the obvious answer. We are talking about sheep. (Episode 42)

Do our good deeds count for anything? Is there a difference between a wicked person and a person who behaves correctly most of the time? What does it mean to be a child of Abraham? Who get's what inheritance? What is the inheritance of those who do not keep the Law? No, you guessed wrong. This week's episode is not about Paul's letter to the Galatians; it's about Ezekiel chapter 33. If only people knew. (Episode 41)

In this week's episode, Richard and Fr. Marc discuss the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 and the importance of hearing the Bible in its proper historical context. Where modern disciples tend to impose a Hellenistic worldview on the story, this podcast invites listeners to consider the mentality of the ancient shepherd. Where Hellenism emphasizes the importance of individuals, in the Ancient Near East, a shepherd deals with his flock as a totality. The implications of this for the parable's meaning are significant. (Episode 40)

Time travel, alien tyrants, world domination, epic battles, post-apocalyptic cities, sudden drought, unnatural trees reaching above the clouds...despite what you are thinking, this week's podcast is not about Dr. Who or an old episode of Stargate SG1; it's about Ezekiel 31. Who knew the Bible could be so much fun? (Episode 39)

The book of Lamentations offers a series of poetic reflections on the destruction of Jerusalem. Abandoned by God, hungry, homeless, and bereft of hope, once a queen among the provinces, Jerusalem had become a slave. Ridiculed by enemies, cast aside by lovers and betrayed by elders and priests, the city of sacred stones had itself become unclean. Despite this misery, Jerusalem continued to place her hope in the Lord, knowing, in chapter 5, that his utter rejection of her may be forever. Where's the hope in that? (Episode 38)

What is the purpose of campus ministry? What do we hope for our youth? What do we expect of them as they enter adulthood? In a contemporary setting, where campus ministry tends to emphasize social issues, religious identity, and topical theology, how can teachers engage college students with the serious study of the Bible? In this week's episode, Richard talks about a recent experience he had working through Hosea 6 on campus at the University of Minnesota. You will not be surprised to hear that in just 15 minutes, Richard had his students reading the Bible, taking notes and doing exegesis. His method is not complicated, but unlike popular approaches to campus ministry, it does require effort. (Episode 37)

A parable, like a short story, has a beginning, a plot, a set of characters, a complete thought, and an ending. With such a clear, simple structure, its tempting to take these stories on their own, outside the context of the broader story. To help illustrate this point, in this week's podcast, Richard and Fr. Marc explore how their understanding of the parable of the wedding feast (from last week's episode) holds up against the broader context of Matthew 22. The discussion illuminates the continuity of the chapter and brings together key themes from Genesis. It also leads to a Star Wars reference. This was bound to happen, sooner or later. (Episode 36)

In this week's episode, Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on the parable of the wedding feast in the gospel of Matthew. When the host's invitations are rejected by his would be guests--some of whom went so far as to mistreat and then murder his servants--it seems obvious why some are chosen and others are cast out. You'd think the host would be happy to call those who come to the feast his friends. You might also imagine that those who who accepted the invitation are better off than those who acted out of selfishness and spite. Unfortunately for all of us, a friend in Matthew is not a friend, the good and the bad are both on the guest list, and the dinner jacket you need is not in your closet. (Episode 35)