72 episodes
The Bible (Unmuted) The Bible (Unmuted) with Dr. Matthew L. Halsted
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- Religion & Spirituality
In this podcast, author and professor Matthew Halsted helps listeners understand the Bible in light of its ancient cultural and literary context. These episodes dig deep into the world of Scripture, theology, interpretation, and religion. But don't worry: it's not all cerebral. Each episode comes with practical insights to help listeners walk away with something meaningful and applicable from a Christian worldview. Some episodes are standalone, while others are part of a longer series. Many episodes feature guests (e.g., authors and speakers) who offer their insights into a particular topic.
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#72: Revelation, Part 8 (Rev. 3:14-22)
The church of Laodicea considered itself rich and self-sustaining. And yet, it wasn't. Jesus calls it "wretched" and "poor." He also says the church is "lukewarm" and that he'd rather it be either "cold" or "hot." These metaphors have led to a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. What does Jesus mean by "hot"? Why does he say he'd rather them be "cold" than "lukewarm"? As with anything, if we want to understand the content of Revelation, we need to know a thing or two about the context of Revelation. And this includes Laodicea's geographical context. How does this help? Listen to find out!
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Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted -
#71: Revelation, Part 7 (Rev. 3:7-13)
In the message to the church at Philadelphia, Jesus is described as one who possesses "the key of David." What is significant about a "key" in this context, and how does Isaiah shed light upon it? Many prophecy teachers, furthermore, think this message to the Philadelphian believers is actually a message about the final tribulation and specifically alludes to the "rapture" when it says that Jesus will keep this church "from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world" (v. 10). How well does this idea stack up? Listen to find out!
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Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted -
#70: Revelation, Part 6 (Rev. 3:1-6)
The church at Sardis has a reputation for "being alive," but in reality they are a "dead" church. Jesus's response is simple: he tells them to have a change of heart and "wake up." But there are other aspects of this passage that are difficult to understand. For example, Jesus tells Sardis that, if they don't repent, he "will come like a thief." Does this mean his second coming is contingent on their decision? Moreover, Jesus seems to imply that, depending on how they respond, Christians in Sardis risk having their names blotted out of the "book of life." How do we make sense of this?
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Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted -
#69: Revelation, Part 5 (Rev. 2:18-29)
In this episode, Matt leads listeners through the message given to the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29). This church was a growing church, though not without problems. A local false prophet, a person called "Jezebel," was apparently wreaking havoc upon the congregation by her teaching. Matt explores what, exactly, this might have been all about, as well as discusses how to make sense of the judgments depicted in vv. 22-23. He also explains the role Psalm 2:8-9 plays in this passage and outlines the textual difference between the Hebrew Bible and its corresponding Greek text. Lastly, Matt talks about the variety of ways commentators interpret "the morning star" passage in v. 28.
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Check out Matt's newest book, The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted -
#68: An Interview with Brian Zahnd, Part 2 (The Wood Between the Worlds)
Part 2 of 2 of Matt's interview with Brian Zahnd, the author of The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross (link below).
Description:
Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story―the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude―that there is always something more to be said.
Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.
Link to book: https://a.co/d/i02RYTa
Brian's website: https://brianzahnd.com
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Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted -
#67: An Interview with Brian Zahnd, Part 1 (The Wood Between the Worlds)
Part 1 of 2 of Matt's interview with Brian Zahnd, the author of The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross (link below).
Description:
Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story―the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude―that there is always something more to be said.
Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.
Link to book: https://a.co/d/i02RYTa
Brian's website: https://brianzahnd.com
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Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It: (link here)
Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted
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