Iron and Myth 34: Gods of Greece in the Bible

OLYMPIANS, Titans, and demigod heroes in the Bible? Yes, and the Jews of Jesus’ day knew it.Joining us to discuss what most of us call “mythology” is our Iron and Myth crew: Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, Dr. Judd Burton (www.BurtonBeyond.net), director of The Institute of Biblical Anthropology and author of Interview with the Giant and The Nephilim Chronicles, and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of Chronicles of the Nephilim, Chronicles of the Watchers, the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and a forthcoming novel relevant to this month’s discussion based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea.We discuss the intricate relationship between Greek mythology and biblical narratives, particularly focusing on the influence of Greco-Roman religion on Jewish thought, and the significance of the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Matt. 24:15).We also explore the role of demigods and the Rephaim in ancient beliefs, the reality of ancient deities, and how the New Testament engages with Greek mythology. Doug highlights subversive storytelling in the Book of Acts, undermining Greek stories about the gods Zeus and Hermes. And we discuss the influence of ancient oracles on early Christianity; specifically, how the spread of the gospel silenced the oracles of Apollo, which provoked the most intense persecution of Christians in the history of the Roman Empire.Finally, we discuss the significance of the Septuagint and how it provides insights into biblical texts that may have been lost in translation, emphasizing the supernatural elements present in the Bible.