What the Bible Actually Says

Dr Tyson Putthoff
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

What the Bible Actually Says. Join Dr Tyson Putthoff—a published scholar, college professor, conference speaker & Jesus follower, as he takes a radically fresh, thought-provoking approach to examining Scripture. Discover what the Bible actually says about critically important & relevant topics—challenging dangerous assumptions, exploring ancient worlds & examining biblical texts in ways you never imagined. By making academic tools & insights accessible, this podcast will empower you to think about Scripture like a scholar & beyond. Join us & you’ll never read the Bible the same way again!

  1. Human Body as Sacred Space: Making Better Sense of the "Image of God" in Genesis 1–2

    Apr 16

    Human Body as Sacred Space: Making Better Sense of the "Image of God" in Genesis 1–2

    What if the Bible’s understanding of human nature is far stranger—and far more profound—than most of us realize? In this episode of Gospel, Not Shame, Tyson Putthoff explores one of Scripture’s most overlooked claims: that human beings are not described in the Bible as sealed, self-contained individuals, but as living sacred space—created to host divine presence. Drawing on Genesis 1–2, temple theology, ancient Near Eastern statue practices, and key Old Testament passages about God’s dwelling presence, this episode rethinks what it means to be made in the “image of God.” Rather than a vague metaphor about rationality or morality, the biblical language points toward something much more concrete: humanity as God’s living embodied presence on earth. Along the way, this episode explores: • Why modern Western ideas of the “closed self” do not match biblical anthropology • How ancient temple and idol practices illuminate Genesis’ creation language • Why the Hebrew word ṣelem (“image”) means more than resemblance—it means embodied representation • How God’s presence in Scripture is spatial, locatable, and inhabiting • Why humans are portrayed as sacred, inhabitable “statue-space” for divine indwelling • What it means to say that God chose the human body as His dwelling place If humans are designed as sacred space, then indwelling is not strange—it is expected. And that raises the next major question in this series: if we are inhabitable, what exactly seeks to inhabit us? This episode continues the theological framework developed in Tyson Putthoff’s groundbreaking book: I, Monster: A New Model for Understanding Sin, Death, and Human Nature (Hekhal, 2026) Available wherever books are sold.

    36 min
  2. Why Did Jesus Die? The Day Jesus Stole Lazarus from Death (John 11)

    Mar 18

    Why Did Jesus Die? The Day Jesus Stole Lazarus from Death (John 11)

    What if the Gospel is less about escaping our sins—and more about confronting death itself? In this talk, recorded from a live Bible study at Victory Family Church (Norman, Oklahoma), we revisit one of the most basic questions in Christianity—Why did Jesus die?—and we look at Jesus’ raising of Lazarus in John 11 as a key to answering this question. We continue our series called Gospel, Not Shame, in which we point out whom God came to defeat, showing that he came to rescue you and me from heinous foes, not to shame us for our mistakes. Many Christians instinctively answer questions about why Jesus died in terms of sin, forgiveness, or sacrifice. But when we read the Bible closely—especially the Gospels and Paul’s letters—a different emphasis begins to emerge. Alongside sin, Scripture consistently portrays death as a living, active enemy—something that reigns, devours, enslaves, and holds creation in its grip. Walking through key Old Testament texts (Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah) and Paul’s theology in Romans 5–8 and 1 Corinthians 15, this episode explores how the biblical writers understood death not just as a moment or event, but as a power at work in the world. At the center of the discussion is John 11—the raising of Lazarus. Rather than reading this as just another miracle, we examine how John presents it as a direct confrontation with death itself. From Jesus’ deliberate delay, to his emotional response at the tomb, to the language of binding, release, and emergence from the grave, this story offers a vivid picture of what Jesus came to do. Along the way, we explore: • How ancient Israel and its neighbors understood death as a devouring force • Why Sheol is described as having an appetite that is never satisfied • The significance of Lazarus being dead for four days • The meaning behind Jesus being “deeply moved” at the tomb • How resurrection language connects to broader biblical hopes of defeating death This episode invites listeners to reconsider the cross not only as forgiveness of sins, but as God’s decisive confrontation with the power of death itself—a battle that culminates in Jesus’ own death and resurrection. Based on my new, groundbreaking book: I, Monster: A New Model for Understanding Sin, Death, and Human Nature(Hekhal, 2026). Grab your copy at ⁠Amazon⁠, ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠, or any of your favorite booksellers.

    47 min
  3. Rethinking Jesus' Parable of the Talents: Why the One Talent Servant is the Hero of the Story (Matthew 25:14–30)

    Mar 7

    Rethinking Jesus' Parable of the Talents: Why the One Talent Servant is the Hero of the Story (Matthew 25:14–30)

    Rethinking Jesus' Parable of the Talents: Why the One Talent Servant is the Hero of the Story—Special Episode From a Bible Study talk at Victory Family Church—Norman, Oklahoma—March 2026 The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) is one of the most familiar stories Jesus ever told—and also one of the most troubling. This parable has long been interpreted as a lesson about using our “talents” (skills or abilities) for God. But when we actually read the story closely, the portrait of God that emerges becomes deeply unsettling: a master who rewards the rich, condemns the poor, and casts out a servant who preserved what he was given. In this special episode, we revisit this famous parable and ask: What if we’ve been reading it wrong? Walking carefully through the text, its historical setting, and its literary context in Matthew 25, I explore how Jesus’ audience in the first century may have heard the story—and why the parable may actually be critiquing systems of exploitation rather than encouraging them.   Along the way, we look at: • How the word talent originally meant a massive sum of money • Why doubling that money would have sounded suspicious to Jesus’ listeners • Ancient Jewish teachings about burying money for safekeeping • The economic realities of debt, land loss, and elite extraction in first-century Galilee • Why the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31–46) may function as the conclusion—or “answer key”—to the Parable of the Talents   Rather than condemning those who struggle with this passage, this episode offers hope for anyone who has felt confused or discouraged by it. If you’ve ever wondered whether the Parable of the Talents really reflects the character of the God Jesus describes elsewhere in the Gospels, this conversation invites you to take another look.   Episode Notes   Six Parables That Reveal God’s Character Brief overview of key “God parables” in the Gospels: The Prodigal Son The Lost Sheep Workers in the Vineyard The Unforgiving Servant The Faithful Steward The Wicked Tenants   A Consistent Portrait of God Common themes in Jesus’ parables: God pursues the lost God forgives generously God protects the vulnerable God calls for mercy and justice   The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14–30   The Traditional Interpretation God as the master “Talents” as abilities Faithful servants rewarded Unfaithful servant punished   Why This Interpretation Raises Problems A troubling portrait of God: Giving more to those who already have Harsh judgment toward the least capable Punishment for preserving what was given   How Did We Get This Interpretation? The influence of Origen (c. AD 245) A talent (talanton) was roughly 20 years of wages for a day laborer. Why doubling this kind of wealth sounded suspicious. Why burying money was actually considered the safest and most responsible practice (b. Bava Metzia 42a). Why the “bankers” in the parable refer to shady money-lenders.   Texts: Exodus 22:25 Leviticus 25:36–37 Deuteronomy 23:19–20   Re-Reading the Parable The master represents exploitative systems The first two servants participate in that system The third servant refuses   The Missing Conclusion (Matthew 25:31–46) What true faithfulness looks like: feeding the hungry welcoming the stranger caring for the vulnerable In verse 30, Jesus exposes what will happen to those who refuse to participate in the world's exploitative means of making money: the world will kick them out of the banquet. It rewards the rich, the powerful, and gives more to whomever has much already. But when it kicks you out of the banquet, into the dark streets, Jesus will be there waiting, in the faces of the poor, the outcast, the unhoused. According to his message about the Sheep and the Goats, it is Jesus himself who is out there, and to serve those outside of the banquet is to serve Jesus, who will reward the one talent servants for eternity. If you are a one talent servant, you are the hero of the story.

    57 min
  4. What is a Human? The Porous Self in Biblical Theology

    Mar 3

    What is a Human? The Porous Self in Biblical Theology

    What kind of “self” does the Bible actually assume you and I are? In Episode 2 of Gospel, Not Shame, we take a step back and ask a foundational question: What is a human being according to Scripture? Before we can understand Sin, Death, or salvation, we need to understand the nature of the human person itself. Modern Western culture often imagines the self as sealed, autonomous, and internally self-contained. But the Bible describes something different. Drawing from Genesis, temple theology, and ancient Near Eastern context, this episode explores the human being as living sacred space—formed from dust, animated by divine breath, and structured for indwelling presence. If humans are porous, responsive "statues" of God, according to Genesis 1–2, or "temples" of the Spirit, according to Paul, then biblical language about dwelling, reigning, and transformation begins to make new sense. This episode lays the anthropological groundwork for the rest of Season 3, and moves us toward rethinking some of the core elements of the Gospel story itself. Based on Tyson Putthoff’s new, groundbreaking book: I, Monster: A New Model for Understanding Sin, Death, and Human Nature (Hekhal, 2026). Grab your copy at ⁠Amazon⁠, ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠, or any of your favorite booksellers.

    1 hr
  5. What if We've Misunderstood the Gospel?

    Feb 5

    What if We've Misunderstood the Gospel?

    What if the Gospel hasn’t been rejected as much as it’s been misunderstood? In this opening episode of Gospel, Not Shame, we revisit the basic assumptions many Christians have inherited about sin, salvation, and the purpose of Jesus’ mission. Rather than treating sin and death as mere mistakes or natural events, Scripture often portrays them as active, enslaving powers that dominate human life and distort God’s good creation. Drawing on the Gospels, Paul’s letters (especially Romans 5–8), and the Bible’s broader story of liberation, this episode asks whether the Gospel is primarily about moral failure and forgiveness—or about God confronting and defeating the forces that enslave the world. This episode sets the foundation for Season 3 by reframing the Gospel not as a story of shame and legal acquittal, but as the announcement of freedom, healing, and resurrection. Based on Tyson Putthoff's new, groundbreaking book: I, Monster: A New Model for Understanding Sin, Death, and Human Nature (Hekhal, 2026). Grab your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or any of your favorite booksellers.

    43 min

  6. 11/28/2025

    NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!—Scene 30: JesusX30 Challenge

    JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 30: NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! @TysonPutthoff | #JesusX30Challenge #JesusX30 #JX30Challenge   Thank you for joining me on this challenge.   Thank you even more for your heart to engage with Jesus in a way that may make you uncomfortable, pushing you out of your comfort zones. This is, after all, where Jesus reveals himself to us in radical and life-changing ways.    Don’t stop pursuing Jesus on a level beyond what you hear on social media, or from your politicians, or in teachings or sermons. Continue to engage with Jesus and pursue him.   He knows you’ll fail. He knows you’ll struggle to believe. He knows you’ll grow weary. But he promises that no matter what you do or how badly you fail, he will never abandon you. Live in that peace, and live your life in a risky and strategic way—just like Jesus did.    Now it’s your turn to carry out the revolutionary insurgency that Jesus launched in 27 AD!   LEKH ULMAD—Go and Learn!   Buy the books!    I encourage you also to grab your copies of the books this 30-day challenge has followed.   This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025).   You can buy or borrow the trilogy at:   Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well) Jesus, vol. 1 Jesus, vol. 2 Jesus, vol. 3 Amazon (print or ebook) Barnes & Noble (print or ebook) Hoopla (borrow)   Many more booksellers worldwide!    Follow the PODCAST for more!   Tune in to What the Bible Actually Says (bibleactuallysays.com) wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

    11 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    THE LAUNCH OF THE MOVEMENT—Scene 29: JesusX30 Challenge

    JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 29: THE LAUNCH OF THE MOVEMENT @TysonPutthoff | #JesusX30Challenge #JesusX30 #JX30Challenge   1. Key Texts • Acts 1–2 — Ascension, waiting, Pentecost • Joel 2 — Spirit poured out • Exodus 19–20 — Sinai backdrop • Genesis 11 — Babel reversed 2. Date & Place • Spring 29 AD, Jerusalem. • Fifty days after Passover; Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost. • Jesus has ascended; disciples are waiting as instructed. • About 120 followers gathered in prayer and unity. 3. Main Account A. Ascension & Waiting (Acts 1) • Jesus teaches 40 days about the Kingdom. • Command: wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit. • “You will receive power… you will be my witnesses (martyres).” • Ascension = enthronement (Daniel 7 imagery). • Angels redirect them: stop staring upward—prepare for mission. B. Pentecost: Wind, Fire, Speech (Acts 2:1–13) • Shavuot commemorates Sinai; now God’s fire descends again. • Wind fills the house; divided tongues of fire rest on each person. • Spirit empowers speech in real global languages. • Babel reversed: unity without uniformity. • Crowd bewildered; some dismiss it as drunkenness. C. Peter’s Spirit-Empowered Sermon (Acts 2:14–36) • Joel 2 fulfilled: Spirit on all flesh—sons, daughters, young, old, enslaved. • No hierarchy in the new community. • Peter proclaims Jesus’ death and resurrection as God’s vindication. • Climactic declaration: “God has made this Jesus… Lord and Messiah.” • Lord = Caesar’s title; Messiah = Israel’s true king. D. Response & New Community (Acts 2:37–47) • Crowd “cut to the heart.” • Call to action: repent, be baptized, receive the Spirit. • About 3,000 join the movement that day. • A new kind of society emerges: shared meals, shared resources, generosity, worship, justice, and unity. • Spirit forms not just belief but a new economy of love. 4. Main Point • Pentecost is the ignition of the Jesus movement. • The Kingdom advances through Spirit-filled people, not political power. • This is the new Sinai—law written on hearts, not stone. • The movement expands from 120 to thousands in hours. • The Spirit creates a community shaped by Jesus’ values: courage, compassion, and shared life. 5. Exegetical Insight • “Witnesses” (martyres) anticipates sacrificial faithfulness. • Tongues of fire echo Sinai; divided fire = distributed presence. • Peter’s “Lord and Messiah” fuses imperial and messianic claims. • Pentecost undoes Babel: global languages unite rather than divide. 6. Reflection Questions • Where am I waiting between promise and fulfillment? • What would it look like for the Spirit to breathe new courage into me? • How can I embody a Kingdom community marked by generosity and justice? • Where is God inviting me to become a witness in word and action? 7. Action Step / Challenge • Pray daily: “Spirit, breathe on me.” • Practice one Pentecost action: reconciliation, generosity, courage, or testimony. • Look for places where God is creating unity across difference.   Buy the books!  This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025). You can buy or borrow the trilogy at: Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well) Jesus, vol. 1 Jesus, vol. 2 Jesus, vol. 3 Amazon (print or ebook) Barnes & Noble (print or ebook) Hoopla (borrow) Many more booksellers worldwide!

    16 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    THE KING’S VICTORY TOUR—Scene 28: JesusX30 Challenge

    JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 28: THE KING’S VICTORY TOUR @TysonPutthoff | #JesusX30Challenge #JesusX30 #JX30Challenge   1. Key Texts • Matthew 28 — Great Commission • Luke 24 — Resurrection appearances • John 20–21 — Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter restored • Acts 1:1–11 — Ascension • Daniel 7:13–14 — Son of Man enthronement 2. Date & Place • Spring 29 AD, during the weeks following Passover. • Appearances at the tomb, in Jerusalem, on the Emmaus Road, and in Galilee. • Final ascent from the Mount of Olives. 3. Main Account A. Mary Magdalene at the Tomb (John 20) • First witness of the resurrection. • Recognizes Jesus when he speaks her name. • “Do not cling to me”—a shift from old patterns to new resurrection reality. B. The Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13–35) • Two discouraged disciples meet Jesus unknowingly. • He opens the Scriptures; recognition comes through breaking bread. • Resurrection turns disappointment into movement. C. Appearance to the Disciples (John 20:19–23) • Behind locked doors; Jesus offers peace, shows scars, eats with them. • Breathes the Spirit—symbolic empowerment for mission. D. Thomas’ Encounter (John 20:24–29) • Jesus meets doubt with invitation, not rebuke. • Thomas’ confession: “My Lord and my God.” • Blessed are those who believe without seeing. E. Breakfast in Galilee (John 21) • Miraculous catch recalls early calling. • Jesus cooks breakfast—resurrection through humble presence. • Peter restored with three questions: “Do you love me?” • Commission: “Feed my sheep.” Restoration becomes leadership. F. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) • On a mountain in Galilee—echo of the movement’s beginning. • “All authority in heaven and on earth”—Daniel 7 language. • Mission: make disciples of all nations through teaching and presence. G. The Ascension (Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:6–11) • Jesus blesses the disciples from the Mount of Olives. • Ascension = enthronement; cloud imagery evokes God’s presence. • Two messengers: stop staring upward—the mission continues on earth. 4. Main Point • The resurrection is not spectacle—it is personal transformation. • Jesus restores people in grief, doubt, fear, and failure. • His authority is revealed not through force, but through presence. • The ascension marks the beginning of his reign and the continuation of his mission through his followers. 5. Exegetical Insight • “All authority” (exousia) echoes Daniel 7—the Son of Man enthroned. • “Peace be with you” signals covenant restoration after betrayal. • The Emmaus meal reverses the “eyes opened” moment of Genesis 3—shame replaced by recognition. • Breakfast scene mirrors Peter’s denial with a deliberate triple restoration. 6. Reflection Questions • Where do you need Jesus to meet you—grief, doubt, fear, or failure? • How is resurrection inviting you to live differently this week? • What does it look like to “go” and embody the Great Commission in your context? • Where might the Spirit be calling you to feed, lead, or restore others? 7. Action Step / Challenge • Look for a “resurrection moment” this week—where new life is breaking into old patterns. • Practice presence: a conversation, a meal, an act of mercy. • Take one step toward the mission you’ve been delaying—Jesus meets disciples in movement.   Buy the books!  This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025). You can buy or borrow the trilogy at: Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well) Jesus, vol. 1 Jesus, vol. 2 Jesus, vol. 3 Amazon (print or ebook) Barnes & Noble (print or ebook) Hoopla (borrow) Many more booksellers worldwide!

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
13 Ratings

About

What the Bible Actually Says. Join Dr Tyson Putthoff—a published scholar, college professor, conference speaker & Jesus follower, as he takes a radically fresh, thought-provoking approach to examining Scripture. Discover what the Bible actually says about critically important & relevant topics—challenging dangerous assumptions, exploring ancient worlds & examining biblical texts in ways you never imagined. By making academic tools & insights accessible, this podcast will empower you to think about Scripture like a scholar & beyond. Join us & you’ll never read the Bible the same way again!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Tyson Putthoff
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr Tyson Putthoff
  • Show Website
    What the Bible Actually Says