Enter the Bible

Enter the Bible from Luther Seminary
  • 5.0 (26)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Enter the Bible podcast is where you can get answers (or at least reflections) on everything you wanted to know about the Bible but were afraid to ask.

  1. 08/04/2025

    The Question Every Grieving Heart Asks (And What the Bible Really Says)

    Will we know our loved ones in heaven? This question emerges from the deepest places of human longing and loss, touching anyone who has ever said goodbye to someone they cherish. In this profound episode of Enter the Bible, hosts Katie Langston and Kathryn Schifferdecker welcome back Rev. Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore, former Luther Seminary professor and current Aging Life Care Management specialist, to explore what Scripture reveals about eternal relationships. Through careful examination of Jesus's resurrection appearances, Paul's teachings in 1 Thessalonians 4, and the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11-12, the conversation navigates both the mystery and the hope that surrounds our understanding of heavenly relationships. Rather than offering simplistic answers, this thoughtful discussion acknowledges the complexity of biblical texts while affirming the central Christian hope that love—not separation—defines eternity. The panel explores challenging questions about marriage in heaven, the nature of resurrected bodies, and what it means that "nothing good is ever lost" in God's care. Drawing from pastoral experience alongside scholarly insight, this episode provides comfort and biblical grounding for anyone wrestling with questions about reunion with loved ones, offering hope rooted in Scripture's promise that we will indeed recognize and be with those we love in the new heaven and new earth.

    20 min

  2. 07/29/2025

    Why the Bible Never Actually Calls Anyone a 'False Prophet' (And What That Means for Us Today)

    How do you distinguish between true and false prophets? This timeless question, which plagued biblical communities for centuries, remains just as relevant today. In this thought-provoking episode, Professor Emeritus Richard Nysse from Luther Seminary joins hosts Katie Langston and Kathryn Schifferdecker to explore the biblical wisdom surrounding false prophets and spiritual discernment. Drawing from key Old Testament passages including Deuteronomy 18 and the dramatic confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah, the conversation reveals why the Bible itself doesn't simply assign "true" or "false" labels to prophets, leaving believers to wrestle with discernment in real time. The discussion moves beyond surface-level tests like prediction fulfillment to examine deeper biblical principles for identifying false prophets. From Jesus' teaching about knowing them "by their fruits" in Matthew 7 to understanding the prophetic role as exposition rather than fortune-telling, this episode offers practical wisdom for modern believers navigating questions of spiritual authority. Whether you're evaluating church leadership, processing conflicting teachings, or simply seeking to grow in biblical discernment, this conversation provides essential tools for recognizing authentic spiritual voices while avoiding the pitfalls of false prophets who may lead God's people astray.

    33 min

  3. 07/22/2025

    Did This Biblical Father Really Sacrifice His Own Daughter? The Shocking Truth Behind Judges 11

    The Jephthah's daughter Bible story in Judges 11 has puzzled scholars and believers for centuries, raising difficult questions about faith, sacrifice, and the nature of biblical narrative. In this episode, hosts Catherine Shifreder and Katie Langston welcome back Dennis Olson, Professor of Old Testament Theology Emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of the New Interpreter Commentary on Judges, to explore this controversial passage. The discussion centers on whether Jephthah actually sacrificed his daughter or dedicated her to lifelong service to God, examining the ambiguous Hebrew text and the various interpretive traditions that have emerged over time. Professor Olson provides crucial context for understanding this Jephthah's daughter Bible story, including Jephthah's background as an outcast turned judge, his negotiations with the Ammonites, and the significance of his vow in light of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. The conversation explores how this narrative fits into the larger theme of moral decline in Judges, where "everyone did what was right in their own eyes," and draws parallels to other biblical stories including Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac and Saul's vow regarding Jonathan. Through scholarly analysis and thoughtful discussion, this episode demonstrates that not every story in the Bible serves as a moral example, but rather some narratives function as cautionary tales about the dangers of acting without community wisdom and divine guidance.

    22 min

  4. 07/15/2025

    The Real Meaning Behind 666 and Other Biblical Numbers That Will Surprise You

    What do the mysterious numbers in the Book of Revelation really mean? In this fascinating episode, we explore Revelation numbers meaning with distinguished biblical scholar Professor Craig Koester, author of the Anchor Bible Commentary on Revelation. From the infamous 666 to the seven churches and seven stars, discover how these ancient numerical symbols made perfect sense to first-century readers and what they reveal about early Christian struggles with Roman imperial power. Professor Koester explains how the number 666 likely refers to Emperor Nero through ancient Hebrew letter-number calculations, why the seven churches represented completeness rather than limitation, and how the mark of the beast symbolized allegiance rather than literal markings. This episode transforms confusing biblical puzzles into clear historical insights, showing how understanding the original context unlocks the deeper meaning of Revelation's most enigmatic passages.

    22 min

  5. 07/07/2025

    The Secret to Understanding Old Testament Law (Most Christians Get This Wrong)

    How should Christians approach biblical interpretation when it comes to Old Testament law? This episode tackles the essential question of Christian biblical interpretation with father-daughter theologians Paul Hinlicky and Sarah Hinlicky Wilson. They explore how proper interpretive methods help us understand the relationship between biblical law, Jesus' fulfillment of the law, and contemporary Christian living. The discussion emphasizes that effective Christian biblical interpretation requires avoiding supersessionism while recognizing Jesus as the interpretive key to understanding Torah and Old Testament law. The conversation reveals why Christian biblical interpretation must be grounded in deep scriptural knowledge and practiced within faithful communities. The guests discuss Lutheran interpretive frameworks, including the three uses of law, and address how churches can develop better practices of Christian biblical interpretation. They emphasize that biblical law interpretation shouldn't be a weapon or burden, but should promote human flourishing when approached through proper Christian biblical interpretation methods rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    30 min

  6. 07/01/2025

    Is Faith Really a Gift If We Have to Choose to Believe?

    What does it mean that faith is Gods work rather than human achievement? In this thought-provoking episode, father-daughter duo Lutheran theologians Paul Hinlicky and Sarah Hinlicky Wilson tackle a listener's question about the nature of faith and Gods work in our spiritual lives. They explore how Gods work manifests in gifting us faith while still crediting Abraham's faith as righteousness, addressing the seeming paradox between divine initiative and human response. The conversation delves deep into Lutheran theology's understanding of how Gods work operates through grace, breaking down barriers in our hearts while respecting human dignity. From Augustine's journey to modern faith crises, the hosts demonstrate how Gods work encompasses both the gift of faith and our authentic human response, showing that doubt itself can be part of Gods work in deepening our trust and understanding.

    27 min

  7. 06/24/2025

    Why the Gospel of Mark Has No Resurrection Eye Witness Accounts (Biblical Scholar Explains)

    Why Doesn't the Gospel of Mark Include Any Resurrection Eye Witness Accounts Like the Other Gospels? Why doesn't the Gospel of Mark contain any resurrection eye witness accounts when the other three gospels do? This question about the gospel of mark resurrection eye witness problem has fascinated biblical scholars for generations. In this episode, New Testament professor Kristofer Phan Coffman from Luther Seminary tackles this complex issue, explaining why Mark - considered the oldest and potentially most historically accurate gospel - ends so abruptly without Jesus appearing to his followers after the resurrection. Through expert analysis of ancient manuscripts like Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, Coffman reveals how the "longer ending" of Mark was likely added later to address this very concern. He explores the literary context of ancient Greek writings, the relationship between Paul and the original disciples, and what Mark's unique ending tells us about early Christian communities. Rather than undermining the resurrection, Mark's approach may actually invite readers into the ongoing story of faith in ways that make the Gospel of Mark resurrection eye witness question less problematic than it initially appears. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:The Oxford Handbook of the Synoptic Gospels (2023) MORE FROM US:Our website: https://enterthebible.org/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enterthebible/ SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!

    25 min

  8. 06/17/2025

    Is it Possible to Read Hebrews Without Displacing the Jews?

    The Hidden Agenda Behind How We've Been Reading Hebrews All Wrong. Can you read the Book of Hebrews without displacing the Jews? This crucial question gets to the heart of how Christians interpret one of the New Testament's most challenging books. In this episode, New Testament scholar Craig Koester explains why centuries of interpretation have wrongly positioned Hebrews as anti-Jewish, tracing this problematic reading back to John Chrysostom's 4th-century commentary. Koester, author of the Anchor Bible Commentary on Hebrews, reveals how the book was actually written to encourage a small, beleaguered community of Jesus-followers—not to condemn or replace Jewish people. Rather than promoting displacement theology, Hebrews invites its readers into Israel's ongoing story and God's expanding covenant. Koester demonstrates how understanding the book's original context, audience, and purpose completely transforms its meaning, showing how early Christians saw themselves as participants in—not replacements of—God's relationship with Israel. This conversation offers essential insights for pastors, Bible study leaders, and anyone seeking to read Scripture responsibly in our contemporary context, where anti-Semitism remains a persistent threat. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1. The Anti-Jewish Reading of Hebrews Is a Historical Mistake – The interpretation of Hebrews as demonstrating Christianity's superiority over Judaism traces back to John Chrysostom's 4th-century agenda to prevent Christians from participating in Jewish community life. 2. Hebrews Includes Rather Than Excludes – The Book of Hebrews never condemns Jewish people who don't follow Jesus, but instead shows how Jesus-followers participate in Israel's expanding story through journey metaphors and covenant language. 3. Understanding Context Transforms Interpretation – Reading Hebrews as encouragement to a discouraged early Christian community—rather than as anti-Jewish polemic—reveals it as a book about God's expanding grace rather than religious replacement. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: - Anchor Bible Commentary on Hebrews by Craig Koester - John Chrysostom's 4th-century commentary on Hebrews

    25 min
See All (159)

5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

The Enter the Bible podcast is where you can get answers (or at least reflections) on everything you wanted to know about the Bible but were afraid to ask.

Information

  • Creator
    Enter the Bible from Luther Seminary
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    159
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Enter the Bible from Luther Seminary
  • Show Website
    Enter the Bible

You Might Also Like