Water into Wine

Alec
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Conversations and studies exploring Scripture, history, and faith. Hosted by Alec, the show brings together music, biblical scholarship, and diverse perspectives to edify and grow the body of Messiah.

  1. 1d ago

    Does the Jewishness of Jesus Change How We Read the Bible? | Jacob Fronczak

    Jacob Fronczak of First Fruits of Zion joins Water Into Wine to discuss a simple but far-reaching question: If Jesus is Jewish, should that change the way we read the Bible? Starting with Jacob’s journey through homeschooling, Bible college, seminary, and eventually First Fruits of Zion, the conversation explores what happens when we place Jesus, the apostles, the gospel, and the kingdom of God back in their first-century Jewish context. Jacob describes how his study of Scripture led him to reconsider inherited assumptions about Torah, Israel, the church, and the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. The discussion then turns to some of the larger implications of recovering the Jewish Jesus: the continuing place of Israel and the Jewish people, the importance of Torah as the foundation of the biblical story, the restoration of the Davidic kingdom, bodily resurrection, the distinction between this age and the age to come, and the first-century Jewish apocalyptic meaning of the gospel of the kingdom. Near the end of the conversation, Jacob summarizes three major implications of Jesus’ Jewishness: the Jewish people never stopped being God’s people, Torah remains essential for understanding the biblical narrative, and the gospel must be heard in its kingdom context. Jacob Fronczak is a writer and content editor with First Fruits of Zion and host of Messiah Podcast. Consider joining the Water Into Wine community as we study Scripture in its original, historical, literary, and biblical context. Visit https://www.alecdunlop.com/ to explore episodes, articles, resources, and connect with fellow students of Scripture. Resources mentioned in the conversationFirst Fruits of Zionhttps://ffoz.org/Yeshua Matters — Jacob Fronczakhttps://ffoz.store/products/yeshua-matters-bookIsrael Matters — Jacob Fronczakhttps://ffoz.store/products/israel-matters-bookMessiah Podcast / Messiah Onlinehttps://ffoz.org/messiah/listen

  2. Oct 4

    What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls? | Dr. James VanderKam

    What are the Dead Sea Scrolls, and why have they become so important for understanding the Bible and the Jewish world of Jesus? In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr. James C. VanderKam, a leading scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Judaism. Dr. VanderKam walks us through the discovery of the Scrolls, what was actually found in the caves near Qumran, and why these ancient manuscripts transformed the study of the Hebrew Bible and early Judaism. We discuss: - what the Dead Sea Scrolls actually are and when they were written - what the biblical manuscripts reveal about the preservation and transmission of Scripture - textual stability alongside genuine textual variation - Qumran, the Essenes, and who may have collected and preserved the manuscripts - the Community Rule, Damascus Document, biblical commentaries, and other writings found among the Scrolls - the importance of works such as 1 Enoch and Jubilees - how the Scrolls illuminate Jewish debates about Torah, halakhah, Sabbath, purity, and eschatology - different Jewish expectations concerning the Messiah - connections between messianic expectations in the Scrolls and the Gospel accounts - the Qumran community’s 364-day calendar - what became of the controversy surrounding unpublished Scrolls and claims of hidden manuscripts - what the Scrolls ultimately tell us about the reliability and transmission of the biblical text. VanderKam also recommends two accessible starting points for those who would like to study further: The Dead Sea Scrolls Today — James C. VanderKam https://www.amazon.com/dp/080286435X An Introduction to Early Judaism — James C. VanderKam https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802880169 Join the Water into Wine community: https://www.alecdunlop.com/ Note: Dr. VanderKam’s audio was affected by internet connection issues, resulting in occasional dropped words.

  3. Sep 23

    How Does Jesus Atone for Our Sins? | The Cross, Resurrection & Ascension with Dr. David Moffitt

    How does Jesus atone for our sins?For many Christians, atonement is understood almost entirely through Jesus’ death on the cross. But what if the New Testament presents a larger sacrificial process—one that includes not only His death, but also His resurrection, ascension, entrance into the heavenly sanctuary, and ongoing priestly ministry?In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. David M. Moffitt, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and author of Rethinking the Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus’s Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.Drawing especially on Leviticus and the book of Hebrews, we explore what sacrifice and atonement meant in the biblical world and how those concepts can reshape how we understand the work of Jesus.Dr. Moffitt also discusses his forthcoming work, Ascension and Sacrifice: The Return of the Risen Son, which develops his understanding of sacrifice in greater detail and explores these themes not only in Hebrews but also in texts such as Romans and 1 John.JOIN THE WATER INTO WINE COMMUNITYIf you want to go beyond simplified explanations of the atonement and dig more deeply into the biblical concepts of sacrifice, priesthood, resurrection, ascension, and the heavenly temple, I hope this conversation gives you plenty to think about and study further.Water Into Wine is a community for serious students of Scripture who want to go deeper into the biblical text, its ancient context, and the world of biblical scholarship.Join the community and stay connected:https://alecdunlop.comDAVID MOFFITT — BOOKS & RESOURCESRethinking the Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus’s Death, Resurrection, and AscensionBaker Academic:https://bakeracademic.com/products/9781540966230_rethinking-the-atonementAmazonhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1540966232?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackLEARN MORE ABOUT DR. DAVID M. MOFFITTUniversity of St Andrews:https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/divinity/people/dm206/PHOTO CREDITPhoto of Dr. David M. Moffitt, courtesy of Isabella Baradaran.#DavidMoffitt #Atonement #Hebrews #Jesus #Resurrection #Ascension #Sacrifice #HighPriest #BibleStudy #BiblicalStudies #ChristianTheology

  4. Sep 6

    What Exactly Is the Gospel? | Dr. Matthew Bates

    What exactly is the gospel?In this episode of Water Into Wine, I sit down with New Testament scholar Dr. Matthew W. Bates to explore one of the most foundational questions in Christianity.Bates argues that the gospel is bigger than the familiar summary, “Jesus died for your sins.” The cross is essential, but the gospel is the full royal announcement that Jesus is the Christ—the promised King.We discuss Isaiah’s background to the “good news,” whether Jesus and Paul preached the same gospel, the incarnation, atonement, resurrection, enthronement, and why Bates believes pistis includes trust, faithfulness, loyalty, and allegiance to King Jesus.We also explore the Davidic pattern of anointing and enthronement, Josephus and Maccabean examples of royal loyalty, and the practical question: If this is the gospel, how should Christians actually proclaim it?Dr. Matthew W. Bates is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and the author of several books on the gospel, salvation, faith, allegiance, and Christology.ResourcesMatthew Bateshttps://matthewwbates.com/Books by Matthew Bateshttps://matthewwbates.com/books/The Grammar of Messianism — Matthew V. Novensonhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Grammar+of+Messianism+Matthew+NovensonOnScript Podcasthttps://onscript.study/Join the Water Into Wine communityFor more interviews, biblical scholarship, and resources:https://alecdunlop.com/

  5. Aug 24

    Gentiles, Israel & the New Covenant: What Did Acts 15 Really Decide? | Caleb Hegg

    In this conversation, Caleb Hegg of TorahResource joins me to explore the Abrahamic covenant, the New Covenant, the fullness of the Gentiles, and the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.We discuss Gentile inclusion in God's covenant people, Paul's teaching on circumcision, the four prohibitions of Acts 15, Torah and discipleship, and Caleb's belief that we may be witnessing a “second Reformation.”Join the Water Into Wine community:https://www.alecdunlop.com/Connect with Caleb Hegg:TorahResource: https://torahresource.com/Messiah Matters: https://messiahmatters.com/TIMS — Theological Institute of Messianic Studies: https://www.theological-institute-of-messianic-studies.com/If you enjoy serious conversations about Scripture, its Jewish roots, the Second Temple world, biblical theology, and the historical context of Jesus and the apostles, subscribe to Water Into Wine.

  6. Aug 7

    What is the Divine Council Worldview? With Mike Chu

    What did the biblical authors believe about the unseen world?In this conversation, Mike Chu joins Water Into Wine to explain the Divine Council worldview and why recovering the biblical writers' worldview changes how we understand Scripture. Rather than importing modern assumptions into the text, we explore the supernatural worldview shared by the authors of the Bible, including Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 82, the "sons of God," the nations, spiritual beings, and how these ideas shape both the Old and New Testaments.Whether you've never heard of the Divine Council or you've read Michael Heiser's work, this discussion provides an accessible introduction grounded in Scripture and the ancient Near Eastern context.Interested in studying Scripture in its original context? Join the Water Into Wine community at https://www.alecdunlop.com/ for interviews, articles, and biblical study resources.Mike Chu's Ministry https://awkng.com/ https://youtube.com/@chu_on_this?si=s8cMMs5aJQlaK3Q6 Divine Council Worldview Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfjUxja_BKcaWv3hBTWDpo0OpydSLSeqhttps://awkng.com/podcast/ #BibleStudy #DivineCouncil #MichaelHeiser #Deuteronomy32 #Psalm82 #AncientNearEast #BiblicalTheology #SecondTempleJudaism #HebrewBible #WaterIntoWine

  7. Jul 27

    How Jesus Fulfilled the Law | David Wilber

    How did Jesus fulfill the Law? What did He mean in Matthew 5 when He said He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets?In this conversation, I sit down with author and Bible teacher David Wilber to explore one of the New Testament's most discussed passages—Matthew 5:17–20.We discuss how David understands Jesus' words about fulfilling the Law, the connection between the Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission, the inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts, Paul's teaching on the Spirit and the Law, and how the earliest followers of Jesus understood their faith within first-century Judaism.Whether you agree or disagree with the conclusions presented, this conversation invites viewers to revisit familiar passages and consider them carefully in their biblical and historical context.Connect with David Wilberhttps://davidwilber.com 0:00 Intro1:03 Welcome & Introducing David Wilber2:06 David's Faith Journey5:21 Discovering Messianic Theology8:16 What Is Pronomian Christianity?15:00 How Jesus Fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5)17:50 Matthew 5 & the Great Commission20:17 Gentiles Enter the Covenant (Acts 10 & 15)28:57 Paul, the New Covenant & the Spirit31:35 The Earliest Followers of Jesus34:10 The Parting of the Ways41:56 Recovering the Faith of the First Century44:13 David Wilber's ResourcesJoin the Water Into Wine CommunityConsider joining the Water Into Wine community as we study Scripture in its original historical context. Visit https://alecdunlop.com to sign up, explore episodes, articles, and resources, and connect with fellow students of Scripture.

  8. Jul 12

    Who Were the Sons of God? Mesopotamian Connections to Genesis 6 | Dr. Mark Chavalas

    Genesis 6 is one of the Bible's most mysterious passages. Who were the "sons of God"? Who were the Nephilim? Why does the biblical text assume its readers already understand the story?In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Mark Chavalas—Ancient Near Eastern historian, archaeologist, and co-host of The Buried Bible Podcast to explore the Mesopotamian background that may illuminate Genesis 6. Together we discuss Berossus, the Apkallu (Seven Sages), 1 Enoch, the Watchers, Jude, 2 Peter, and how these ancient traditions may help us better understand one of Scripture's most debated passages.Rather than sensational speculation, this interview examines the historical and literary evidence, showing how the biblical authors communicated within the shared cultural world of the ancient Near East while presenting a distinctly biblical theology.**In this interview, we discuss:**1:06 Introduction1:54 Genesis 6 and the Problem of the Sons of God3:27 Augustine and the Shift Away from the Supernatural View6:02 Berossus and the Babylonian Account of the Pre-Flood Sages9:55 1 Enoch, the Watchers, and the Nephilim Tradition13:08 The Mesopotamian Apkallu Connection15:40 Anne Kilmer's Proposal: Apkallu and Genesis 618:57 Who Were the Apkallu?21:38 The Seven Sages Before and After the Flood24:46 Shared Ancient Context vs. Borrowing Myths27:59 Why "Myth" Doesn't Mean "False"35:04 The Apkallu, the Abyss, and Jude & 2 Peter38:41 Cuneiform, Ancient Languages, and Why the Evidence Matters45:12 Watchers, Daniel, and Ongoing Scholarly Humility47:36 Returning to Genesis 6: The Ancient Supernatural Worldview53:25 Living with Unanswered Questions55:19 Where to Begin Studying Genesis 657:11 The Buried Bible Podcast and Further Resources58:40 Closing Thoughts**Recommended Resources**• Dr. Michael Heiser — *Reversing Hermon* (Dr. Chavalas' recommended starting point)• Dr. Michael Heiser — https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/ • Dr. Mark Chavalas — https://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ **Learn more from Dr. Mark Chavalas**Buried Bible Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ **Water Into Wine**Website:https://alecdunlop.comIf this conversation helped you better understand Scripture in its original historical context, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who enjoys digging deeper into the Bible.#Genesis6 #Nephilim #SonsofGod #Watchers #AncientNearEast #Mesopotamia #BibleStudy #BiblicalStudies #MichaelHeiser #MarkChavalas #Apkallu #Enoch #OldTestament #WaterIntoWine

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About

Conversations and studies exploring Scripture, history, and faith. Hosted by Alec, the show brings together music, biblical scholarship, and diverse perspectives to edify and grow the body of Messiah.

Information

  • Creator
    Alec
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alec
  • Show Website
    Water into Wine