Connected with Dr. Gary Schnittjer

In this conversation with host Tim Howe, Dr. Gary Schnittjer unpacks his book Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture and explains why many modern Bible study methods start in the wrong place. Instead of building artificial bridges to get to the text, he argues that the Bible itself gives us the pattern for reading it well, because the biblical writers were constantly reading, interpreting, and building on what came before. Discover how Jesus reads Scripture in Mark 12, Luke 4, and Matthew 28, and why those passages are not random proof texts but carefully woven connections that reveal the shape of the whole story. From the burning bush to Isaiah’s Jubilee language to the Great Commission’s echo of Emmanuel, Schnittjer shows how the Old Testament is alive in the New and how Jesus models a deeply connected way of reading.We also explore the Old Testament’s own use of earlier revelation, why progressive revelation is not a modern invention but an organic feature of the Bible itself. It’s a valuable listen for Bible readers, teachers, students, and anyone eager to rediscover the unity, beauty, and authority of God’s Word. Gary Schnittjer is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Cairn Theological Seminary and the author of The Torah Story, The Old Testament Use of the Old Testament, and Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture. You can find the book here. 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Gary Schnittjer and Connected 01:11 — Why study the Bible through the Bible’s own teaching? 05:41 — Scripture as an interconnected story, not isolated books 07:48 — Mark 12: Jesus, the Sadducees, and the resurrection 12:31 — Luke 4: Jesus’ reading of Isaiah and the meaning of Jubilee 18:33 — Jesus’ formation in Scripture and the Old Testament as his Bible 21:46 — Matthew 28: The Great Commission and Matthew’s literary bookends 28:24 — How the Old Testament interprets earlier Old Testament revelation 35:59 — Can readers today interpret Scripture as the biblical authors did? 38:09 — How to see Christ in the Old Testament without forcing him into every verse 43:20 — Reading and rereading Scripture: Jonah, Nineveh, and God’s grace 47:54 — Practical encouragement for new Bible readers 50:02 — Gary’s upcoming book, The Verses We Hate 52:14 — Closing thanks and farewell