Reparadigmed Podcast

In a world of deep political division, how should we as followers of Jesus navigate national identity? And how should we think about not only partisan allegiance, but allegiance to the states we are born into? From the "Constantinian shift" to modern Christian Nationalism, the church has often struggled to balance the ethics of the Gospel with the demands of worldly power. Sometimes we have privatized the Kingdom of God, while at other times, we have sacrificed its uniqueness in order to seize state power.In this episode, we strip away the layers of "Christian Realism" and "Two Kingdoms" theology and we urge American Evangelical Christians to rediscover the radical political identity of the early church and reject the spirit and propaganda of our age.Resource Referenced: Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon, The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder, Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, The Schleitheim Confession (1527) (Anabaptist Statement of Faith), The City of God (De Civitate Dei) by Augustine of Hippo, Whether Soldiers, Too, Can Be Saved (1526) by Martin LutherInterlude Music: Elysian Echoes by Ben ElsonTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Did Jesus satisfy God’s wrath on the cross? Christians have developed a wide variety of theories to explain how Jesus saves from sin. The most popular theory in Evangelical churches, Penal Substitutionary Atonement, is considered central to the gospel by some, an unbiblical distortion by others. Matt and Nick look at the history and development of atonement theories through church history in order to understand the origins of this debate and the way it’s being handled by Evangelical churches today.Resource Referenced: The Major Works by St. Anselm of Canterbury, The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views Edited by Jakes K. Beilby, Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement by Gustaf Aulen, The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance by Leon Morris, The Cross of Christ by John Stott, Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament and Contemporary Contexts by Mark Baker and Joel Green, Two Views of the Cross: Orthodoxy and the West by Frederica Mathewes-Green, Reclaiming the Atonement by Patrick Henry Reardon, Word Studies in the New Testament by Marvin R. Vincent, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion by N.T. WrightInterlude Music: Known and Loved by JOYSPRINGConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Apologetics are important, reading the Bible well is important, but we can make a big mistake when we read our Bible with apologetics-driven questions in mind. The history of the church is full of strange (and sometimes troubling) interpretations arising from apologetics-driven interpretations. Nick and Matt discuss the difference between reading Scripture for answers, and reading scripture for wisdom, looking at God’s purpose for Israel’s law, modern creation debates, and the church’s interpretation of scripture on slavery.Resource Referenced: The Troublesome Nature of Apologetics by Patrick Henry Reardon, St Augustine: From the Literal Meaning of Genesis by Mark J Joshua, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark Noll, Reclaiming the Atonement: An Orthodox Theology of Redemption by Patrick Henry Reardon, Wisdom for Faithful Reading by John H. Walton, The Lost World of the Torah by John H. Walton and J. Harvey WaltonInterlude Music: The Softer Side by Wave SaverConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Is the Lord’s Supper an act of resistance against empire? What does Christ the logos mean for how we know God? Where has the church missed the mark? Dr. Paul Axton, Director of Ploughshares Bible Institute and host of the Forging Ploughshares Podcast, joins Matt and Nick in discussing psychology, atonement, and the church’s call to live as a peaceful kingdom community. He offers some harsh critiques for christian participation in the ways of the world rather than the way of the cross.Theme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great!” Revelation is loaded with descriptions of Rome’s oppressive systems, exploitative wealth, and coming downfall. Nick and Matt discuss the vivid imagery used to embolden the early Christian communities against their surrounding corruptions. They consider how Revelation encourages Christians to stand against Babylon in our own day as we look forward to the future restoration of all things.Resources: In the Shadow of Empire, Revelation chapter by Greg Carey, Edited by Richard Horsley, Exiles: the Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle, Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael Goreman, Revelation for the Rest of Us by Scot McKnight, “Towards an Ethical Reading of the Apocalypse: Reflections on John’s Use of Power, Violence, and Misogyny,” by David L. Barr, Revelation (Word Biblical Commentary) by David Aune, Revelation (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary) by G.K. Beale, The problem of violence: discipleship and non-violence in the Book of Revelation by Rob Nicholls, The Lion and the Lamb in Revelation 5 by Sergio H Monteiro.Interlude Music: Heavy Handed by BallpointConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Revelation is often read as a predictive prophecy for the Western Church, full of obscure symbolism and veiled oracles awaiting future fulfillment. However, if we take seriously the context of the letter, and seek to understand the purpose of apocalyptic literature - we’ll find the letter becomes less cryptic and far more practical to its original audience. Nick explores how this letter would have served as both a challenge and a form of encouragement to Jesus communities seeking faithful allegiance to Jesus in a world that demanded allegiance to the Emperor.Resources Referenced: In the Shadow of Empire, Revelation chapter by Greg Carey, Edited by Richard Horsley, Exiles: the Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle, Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael Goreman, Revelation for the Rest of Us by Scot McKnight, Tim LaHaye, Revelation Unveiled, “Towards an Ethical Reading of the Apocalypse: Reflections on John’s Use of Power, Violence, and Misogyny,” by David L. Barr, Revelation (Word Biblical Commentary), Revelation (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary) by G.K. BealeInterlude Music: Radioactive Cover by Joel AnsettTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Is human violence ever right? Rev. Dr. Helen Paynter’s work Blessed are the Peacemakers: A Biblical Theology of Human Violence dives into the difficulties of finding a consistent Biblical theology among the variety of voices and perspectives offered in Scripture. Dr. Paynter joins Reparadigmed to discuss how Christians can find ethical guidance in Scriptures for navigating a fallen world. She addresses some common pitfalls and problematic assumptions that can skew our understanding of what Scripture has to say about human violence. She also discusses how a community of faith can work to hold the eschatological goals of justice, peace, and holiness in a tempered tension on this side of restoration.Resource Referenced: The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don't have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control, The Church, the Far Right, and the Claim to Christianity,  Blessed Are the Peacemakers: A Biblical Theology of Violence by Helen Paynter

Have you ever wondered why early Jesus-followers called each other siblings, holy ones, or beloved? Norman Hubbard sits down with Matt and Nick to discuss the early church’s use of normal language in surprising ways to express and shape their unique relationships. He describes how these unique relationships were an expression of the gospel of Jesus, and considers ways our church tradition has been teaching an incomplete gospel when it prioritizes justification at the expense of reconciliation and redemption. Check out this conversation about Norm’s book, “More than Christians: Practicing Gospel-Shaped Community with the Language of the Early Church”.Theme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Greek translations of the Hebrew Scriptures helped prepare the way for the message of Jesus and the spread of Christianity. These translations (the Septuagint) were the Scriptures used by the earliest churches, and help us understand connections between our Old and New Testaments. Nick and Matt take a look at some of the interesting and significant differences between the Septuagint and the Masoretic text like the inclusion of Apocryphal writings. They consider the disagreement between Augustine and Jerome around which version to use when developing the Vulgate, Finally they discuss the multiple text forms present in the Dead Sea Scrolls which raise important questions for Bible translators considering the importance of the Septuagint.Resources Referenced: Invitation to the Septuagint by Karen Jobes and Moises Silva, The Septuagint, What is is and Why it Matters by Gregory Lanier and William Ross, When God Spoke Greek: the Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible by Timothy Michael Law, Koine Greek Reader, Selections from the New Testament, Septuagint, and Early Christian Writers by Rodney Decker, A Plea for the Septuagint by Mogens Muller, Was There only ONE Version of the Old Testament In Ancient Times? by Michael HeiserInterlude Music: Between Moments by Amber Glow, After the Fight by Cherry the PenguinTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

When astronomers like Copernicus and Galileo challenged conventional beliefs, Christians held to their understanding of Scripture’s plain teachings against the dangerous new ideas. Today we look back at those who stuck to their Biblical convictions and we celebrate … the astronomers. In this episode Nick and Matt reflect on the church’s response to heliocentrism and compare modern approaches to reading the Bible’s cosmology, and how understanding strange (to us) ancient cosmology can help us read the Bible better.Resources Referenced: The Firmament and the Water Above by Paul Seely, The Hebrew Conception of the World: A Philological and Literary Study by Stadelmann, Luis, Ancient Near Eastern thought and the Old Testament by John Walton, John Calvin on Nicolaus Copernicus and Heliocentrism by Wyatt Houtz, Adam and the Genome: Reading Scripture After Genetic Science by Scot McKnight and Dennis Venema, Reality is Not What it Seems by Carlo Rovelli, The Faith and Reason of Father George Lemaître by Joseph R. Laracy, Geocentrism: History and Background by Danny R. Faulkner, NET Bible Translation NotesInterlude Music: On a Stroller by Harry Edvino, Space Waves by Ben ElsonTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

The Bible doesn’t sound very Christian when it talks about the soul… Wait that didn’t sound right. Could it be that Christians don’t sound very Biblical when they  talk about it? In this episode, Matt and Nick do a thorough lexical study of the most common Hebrew and Greek words translated into English Bible’s as soul. What they find is surprising, and it makes them think that maybe (just maybe), Christians are yet again more influenced by Greek and Enlightenment-era philosophers than they are by the Bible itself.Resources Referenced: The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament by Ludwig Koehler et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature by William Arndt et al., Body, Soul, and Human Life: The Nature of Humanity in the Bible by Joel B. Green, The Case for the Reality of the Traditional Christian Soul by Peter Gordziejko.Interlude Music: Turning Over a New Leaf by Auxjack, In Foam by Lama HouseTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Heaven and Earth - Resurrection Ep 3Do humans have souls? What is the difference between spirit and flesh? Will the earth be turned into a giant zoo free from humans? Where do the dead go until the resurrection? What is heaven? Matt and Nick discuss the importance of creation in the Biblical story, the mixing of platonism with Christianity, and some of the strange readings of the Bible that occur when we lose sight of God’s plans for restoration.Resources Referenced: Four Views on Heaven Edited by Michael Eugene Wittmer and Stanley, From Plato to Christ by Louis Markos, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisInterlude Music: Somewhat Elegant by Dye O, A Tiny Spark by Edgar HoppTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

The resurrection of the Messiah before the end of the age was a surprising event. What does it mean to be living between the start and the end of the resurrection? Death is defeated but our bodies are still mortal. New creation is here but we’re still so sinful! The New Testament puts Jesus' resurrection at the center of Christian identity, hope, and ethics. Nick and Matt discuss the importance of resurrection within the Biblical story of redemption for humanity and for the cosmos.Resources Referenced: Paul and Time by Ann L Jervis, Jesus and the Forces of Death by Matthew Thiessen, A New Heaven and a New Earth by Richard MiddletonInterlude Music: Dreaming at Night by HeysonTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Many Christians hope to leave earth and spend eternity in a disembodied bliss, but the Hebrew Bible describes God’s good creation and his purpose for image bearing humanity within that creation. Has God abandoned his plans for creation? Did death win? Nick and Matt discuss death’s invasion into the Biblical story, God’s work to limit the effects of death, and Hebrew Bible hope that one day, the creator God will swallow up death.Resources Referenced: A New Heaven and a New Earth by Richard Middleton, The Rationale of the Laws of Clean and Unclean in the Old Testament by Joe M. Sprinkle, Jesus and the Forces of Death by Matthew Thiessen, The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright.Interlude Music: Hopeful by Nebulae, Mountain Top by Marc TorchTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

Dr. J. Richard Middleton joins the podcast to discuss “A New Heaven and a New Earth”, his book exploring the future hope of Jesus-followers according to the Bible. Nick presses Dr. Middleton on what the Bible has to say about the Image of God and culture creation, the “sacred/secular” divide, the joy of God’s world, the earthy future hope of believers, the intermediate state, the resurrection of animals, and finally, the politics of others-centered love and the importance of social engagement while we await Jesus’ restoration of all things.Resources: A New Heaven and a New Earth by J. Richard MiddletonTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

The expectation that believers will be raptured away from earth before the apocalypse has inspired imagination, lots of fiction, and some strange readings of the Bible. Matt and Nick investigate a key rapture passage within its original context, trying to understand how 1st century cultural practices illuminate this passage. Why does this provide comfort regarding those who’ve died? Why would anyone travel out to meet an arriving official? Does anyone know where Matt can get a veloci-rapture shirt? Try not to get left behind during this dive into 1 Thessalonians 4.Resources Referenced: A New Heaven and a New Earth by J. Richard Middleton, The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess, The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsay, The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.Interlude Music: Dreamday by Autohacker, Angels and Stardust by SquiidTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram Email

“When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus’ answer to these questions has been a hotbed of debate. Is Jesus speaking about events that occurred in Rome’s sacking Jerusalem, or further beyond to another day of judgment? How can Jesus be certain that “this generation” won’t pass away until these things have happened, and say that no one knows the hour or the day that it will occur, not even the son? Nick and Matt discuss some ways people have tried to make sense of his answer. Although the specifics of his "coming" are tricky, the most important truths about the Son of Man are made crystal clear in the New Testament: he’s already been vindicated as the true ruler of the world. To recognize this reality and to live in light of it is all that is left to do.Resources: Reflections on the ‘Son of Man’: Implications for a Christian Transformational Worldview by Randal Bush, Church History by Eusebius of Caesaria (c. 263 – c. 339 CE), The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus (c. 37 – c. 100 CE),  The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright.Interlude Music: Breaths by AGSTTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

In this episode, we dive into the meaning of the apocalyptic “Son of Man,” why Jesus used it as a title in the Gospel accounts, and what it means for a human–any human–to be exalted to the throne of God as a representative ruler of the world. Drawing from biblical sources like Daniel, 1 Enoch, and the Gospels, we explore the origins of the term and consider the implications of Jesus of Nazareth taking this title for himself.Resources: Enoch and Son of Man I by Julia Blum, The Jewish Gospels; The Story of the Jewish Christ by Daniel Boyarin, Reflections on the ‘Son of Man’: Implications for a Christian Transformational Worldview by Randal Bush, The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature by John J. Collins, The Son of Man in Mark’s Gospel by Simon Gathercole, Prophesy Remains a Mystery Until it is Fulfilled and Is Jesus the “NAME” of God? by Michael Heiser, What does “Son of Man” Mean by Dan McClellan, Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple by Scott McKnight, The Enochic Son of Man and the Apocalyptic Background of the Son of Man Sayings in John’s Gospel by Benjamin E. Reynolds, Two Powers in Heaven: Early Rabbinic Reports About Christianity and Gnosticism by Alan Segal, The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, Video on the Son of Man and Daniel in the Lion’s Den Narrative by N.T. Wright.Interlude Music: Mocha by bomul, Slow Motion by ElliptikTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

KJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NET, AMP, CSB, NLT, LEB, GNB, RSV, and on and on and on… How do you decide which English Bible translation to use? Translated from the Masoretic text or Dead Sea Scrolls? Textus Receptus or Critical Text? Formal or dynamic equivalence? Who pisseth against the wall? There are a lot of questions that have to be answered by Bible translators, and their decisions can have a serious impact on Bible reading. There’s no shortage of ideas about how to pick a translation, and they’re not all helpful. Matt and Nick discuss the limitations of translations, what they can do well, and some tools that help readers go beyond the limitations of reading in English.Resources Referenced: The Hebrew Bible by Robert Alter, Sreetlights Audio Bible by StreetlightsInterlude Music: Try Try Try by AiraeTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

The ancient Hebrews were to hit the economic reset button every fifty years, restoring the people and the land they had accumulated back to the original tribal allotments God had proscribed.  The Jubilee functioned as a time-designated practice in the Hebrew Bible for liberation, restoration, and the redistribution of wealth. In this episode, Matt and Nick explore the concept of Jubilee and its profound connection to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. We delve into how Jesus embraced and expanded this concept, viewing Himself as the ultimate cosmic liberator. Through His teachings, Jesus redefined the idea of freedom and renewal, emphasizing a life marked by generosity, love, and communal well-being. We examine how Jesus’ call to His followers to embody these values reflects the spirit of Jubilee in a new, transformative light. The Jubilee ideal can have culture-shaping, world-changing significance when embodied by the community of Jesus, that is, if we dare not to leave it as a relic of bygone Bible days.Interlude Music: Heavenly Bound by AluvioTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

Can a genealogy list present a gold challenge to the powers that be? Matt and Nick discuss the violent and wild history of intertestamental Israel under priests who gained tremendous wealth and power. They consider the varying messianic hopes in Judaism and why the arrival of the Son of David was hoped for by some and feared by others. It turns out that a genealogy list really can be exciting, even if reading through the names is still boring.Suggested Resource: Bridging the Testaments by George AthasInterlude Music: Boost by Dream CaveTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

Do the biblical promises God made to ancient Israel apply to the modern nation state that goes by the same name? Was its formation in 1948 a fulfillment of prophecy? Believing so, many evangelicals have fervently supported the state of Israel, sometimes in ways that aren’t consistent with the ethics of Jesus. In this episode Nick and Matt take a look at the idea of Israel according to the Bible, trying to splice out what the word actually means, and offering some clarifying reflections on the relationship between the modern state Israel, the Israel of God’s promises, and the Jesus community.Interlude Music: Domentum by Of Water, Dreamed of This by Dream CaveTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

The Bible has some extraordinary things to say about Christian community and the body of Christ. What we think about church should have a major impact on the way we think and live.  We take a look at the language behind English translations of church, connections to the Old Testament that get lost in translation, and the politically loaded history of its translation. Lastly, we consider the question, “Is church a good translation?”Resources Referenced:  Septuagint Word Search by Reparadigmed Podcast, The Myth of a Christian Nation & The Myth of a Christian Religion by Greg BoydInterlude Music: The Light From Within by Howard Harper-BarnesTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

Jehovah, LORD, Yahweh – what is God’s name and does it matter? Nick and Matt chat about God’s name, whether or not we should use it, and how it got lost (continues to get lost) in translation(s). What about Jesus’ name? The GOAT (greatest of all time) from Galilee certainly was never called “GEEZUS” (Jesus) in his life, so are we wrong for using the English name to refer to him? Wouldn’t it matter to pronounce it correctly if, as every other contemporary worship song reminds us, there is “power in the name of Jesus?”Interlude Music: Open by Edgar HoppTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

Sacrifice is a weird practice. If we want to know what’s going on, we must understand the practice within its own setting. Matt leads us down the rabbit hole of sacrificial atonement theology in the Hebrew Bible. Matt and Nick discuss why YHWH told the ancient Hebrews to send their stinky goat to the devil, how animal blood was considered an effective detergent to clean sacred space, and how all these strange ideas influence the way we understand Jesus and his mission.Suggested Resources: Leviticus Scroll (Podcast Series), Sacrifice and Atonement (Video), Animal Sacrifice? Really? (Article) by BibleProject; Leviticus (Podcast Series), What or WHO is AZAZEL? (Video), What were the Sacrifices REALLY About? (Video), by Dr. Michael Heiser on YouTube and The Naked Bible Podcast.Interlude Music: Tomentum by Of WaterTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

The military is an efficient allegiance-forming machine. What does that mean for a Christian in military service? U.S. Air Force veteran Joey Fasulo joins the  Reparadigmed Podcast to talk about his experience finding Jesus while in the US Air Force, how the military uses Christianity for its purposes, and what trying to live by the ethic of Jesus looks like while serving as an airman.  He shares his desire for Christians to think more critically about national identity before jumping wholesale into a military vocation. He draws out the very real tension between living as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom and caring about one's country, as these two powers demand support by means of radically different ethics.Resources Referenced: End of the Spear by Steve Saint, “Letters from War” by Mark Schultz, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by Toby Keith, “Letters from Home” by John Michael Montgomery.Theme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

Dr. Greg Boyd sits down with the Reparadigmed Podcast to discuss Christian nationalism, the misinterpretation of faith in political actions, and the urgent need for a genuine Christian witness that transcends violence and political ideology. Our discussion sheds light on the historical misunderstanding of a 'Christian nation,' critiques the fusion of faith with political power, and calls for a return to the authentic teachings of Jesus Christ. Through examining the pitfalls of cultural Christianity and advocating for a radical, love-based approach to living out our faith, Greg challenges both the church and individuals to reevaluate their role in society. This critical exploration of faith, power, and the path to true kingdom citizenship is one that the evangelical church in America desperately needs today, as much as it did 20 years ago when Greg wrote The Myth of a Christian Nation.Resources Referenced: The Myth of a Christian Nation, The Myth of a Christian Religion, Inspired Imperfection, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas, The Subversion of Christianity by Jaques Roulou.Additional Resources: ‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza and ‘The machine did it coldly’: Israel used AI to identify 37,000 Hamas targets from The Guardian, US looking at report that Israel used AI to identify bombing targets in Gaza and Who were the World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza by Israel? from Reuters, Behind the numbers: Gaza’s unprecedented aid worker death toll from The New Humanitarian, Lavender & Where’s Daddy: How Israel Used AI to Form Kill Lists & Bomb Palestinians in Their Homes from Democracy Now.Theme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

The Reparadigmed Podcast welcomes Dr. George Kalantzis to discuss his book, Caesar and the Lamb: Early Christian Attitudes on War and Military Service. As a patristics scholar, Dr. Kalantzis takes Matt and Nick for a deep dive into the contrasts and comparisons between Christianity's historical stance on military service and contemporary views, spawned primarily from Augustine of Hippo in the 5th Century CE. He shares his insights into the early Christian rejection of military participation in the Roman Empire, drawing parallels to the challenges Christians face today in reconciling their faith with national allegiance. Through a rich discussion on theology, history, and personal conviction, sparing no criticism, Dr. Kalantzis challenges listeners to reflect on what it truly means to live out one's Christian faith in the context of modern civil and military obligations. The conversation spans from the foundations of Christian pacifism in antiquity to the complex entanglement of religion and state power in the present day, offering a unique perspective on how historical practices inform current debates on Christian identity and loyalty.Resources Referenced: Caesar and the Lamb by George KalantzisTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

American politicians have referenced the Bible in support of all sorts of policies. In this episode, Matt and Nick connected with Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss the bizarre ways that scripture has been used and abused in the politics of slavery, the Cold War, civil rights, and how better Bible reading leads to better politics.Resources Referenced: The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here and The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor by Kaitlyn SchiessTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube Instagram

What happens to Christianity when it gets blended with another religion that uses violence to solve its problems? Nick and Matt discuss the American civil religion, competing definitions of victory, and how fear drives Christians to compromise.Resources Referenced: Revelation for the Rest of Us by Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett, Losing Our Religion by Russel Moore, American Legion: Preamble to the Constitution, American Legion: The Definition of AmericanismInterlude Music: The Powers of the Universe by Of WaterTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube InstagramEpisode Outline:00:27 Introduction02:39 America's Identity as a Christian Nation04:23 The Concept of American Civil Religion07:10 Values and Ritual Calendars and Holidays13:24 The Blending of Christianity and American Civil Religion16:36 The Incompatibility of Christian and American Civil Religion Ethics19:24 The Clash of Civil and Christian Values24:45 The Fleetingness of Empires, Even America28:41 Fear Tactics and the Christian Response33:20 Identity and Hope in Christianity Beyond National Borders36:00 Living the Revolutionary Kingdom Way

“Follow Jesus” seems like such a simple command, until you remember that Jesus went to the cross. The early church had an uncompromising allegiance to Jesus, unity in a non-violent ethic, and a shocking willingness to obey Jesus’ words, “Follow me.” But how did the church in Rome go from being a non-conforming problem for Rome to asking the Roman military to settle church division within a century? Nick and Matt chat about the transformative effect of a “Christianized” Roman Empire, and how this newfound political power radically shifted the church’s beliefs and practices regarding state, violence, and the purpose of the church, resulting in the horridly violent legacy that is church history.Resources Referenced: Caesar and the Lamb by George Kalantzis, Jesus Wars by Philip Jenkins.Interlude Music: In the Beginning of Time by Of WaterTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube InstagramEpisode Outline:00:41 Introduction: The Early Church and Its Ethic02:34 The Early Church's Response to Violence04:18 The Role of Martyrdom in the Early Church05:58 The Early Church's Stand Against Violence in the Roman Empire15:00 The Early Church's Rejection of Military Service21:31 The Shift in the Church's Stance on Violence22:55 Constantine and the Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire27:26 The Influence of the Roman Empire on Church Doctrine30:38 Augustine's Influence on Christianity33:35 The Shift in Christian Approach to Violence42:16 Christianity and Violence in the Reformation and Post Reformation Eras43:29 Manifest Destiny and the Dangers of Christianizing Behavior Contrary to Jesus' Ethic

You can’t give yourself a nickname. Before Jesus came, another man was heralded as the savior of the Jewish people. Judas, nicknamed “The Hammer” Maccabees was a brash, bold warrior who gave the Jewish oppressors more than they could handle. Surely, generations later, under the oppression of Rome, God’s people needed another Hammer, right? Nick and Matt discuss Jesus’s surprising approach to dealing with the powers that be, his victory over death and fear of death, and resurrection hope.Interlude Music: Aeon Ending by Dew of LightTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect With Us: Website Youtube InstagramEpisode Outline:00:00 Introduction - Human History is a History of Fear of Death00:24 Historical Context: Violence in Human History02:00 The Maccabean Revolt: A Case Study04:09 The Aftermath of the Maccabean Revolt04:19 The Expectation of a Warrior Messiah05:34 Jesus Enters the Scene: A Different Kind of Messiah07:10 Jesus' Teachings: A Radical Departure from Violence10:33 Jesus' Crucifixion: A Defeat or a Victory?19:00 Death as an Intruder and Jailer19:09 Jesus' Mission to Defeat Death20:07 The Fear of Death and Power Struggles20:31 Jesus' Victory Over Death23:25 The Power of Resurrection Hope24:32 The Church as a Witness to Jesus' Victory27:30 The Dichotomy of Fear and Love32:47 The Call to Active Resistance and Suffering if Need Be37:57 The Early Christian Ethic and the Cross of Jesus39:44 Closing Thoughts on Living Out the Gospel

Christians agree that the gospel is important, we just don't seem to be able to agree on what gospel means. Is it good news, the center of our faith, or a message about forgiveness? In this episode, Nick and Matt chat about the sometimes surprising gospel proclamations in the Old Testament and how they help us understand gospel proclamations in the New Testament.Resources Referenced: Septuagint Word Search by Reparadigmed PodcastInterlude Music: Winged by Clarence ReedTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousConnect with Us: Website Youtube InstagramEpisode Outline:00:00 Introduction: The Importance of the Gospel00:04 The Gospel: A Variety of Interpretations00:58 The Gospel in Scripture: A Closer Look03:04 The Gospel in the Old Testament04:07 The Gospel in the New Testament10:52 The Gospel in Greek and Roman Culture12:46 The Gospel: A Proclamation of Victory15:13 The Gospel: Good News for Some, Bad News for Others17:23 The Gospel: A Message of Authority and Power20:27 Understanding the Gospel in the New Testament20:43 Jesus and the Gospel in Luke 421:10 The Gospel in the Context of Translation22:48 Jesus' Authority and the Gospel23:44 Paul's Interpretation of the Gospel in Romans25:11 The Gospel and Jesus' Power and Authority26:33 The Gospel in Revelation28:07 The Gospel: A Call to Loyalty and Allegiance28:57 The Gospel and Individual Salvation32:24 The Gospel: A Proclamation of Jesus' Authority35:22 The Gospel: A Call to Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior38:09 Proclaiming the Gospel: What Do We Say?

Why should the caretakers of the land care about it if it's all gonna burn? Matt and Nick chat with Dr. Carmen Imes about her book 'Being God's Image.' She explains the importance of regular spiritual practices and how her work relates to everyday life and our understanding of human identity. Commenting on the connection between the image of God and creation care, Dr. Imes emphasizes that the Christian hope is thoroughly practical and political. She also discusses the role of Jesus in embodying the image of God. Additionally, she shares about her upcoming projects including a commentary on Exodus and a curriculum on scripture and multicultural identities.Resources Referenced: Being God’s Image by Carmen Imes, Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Imes, Torah Tuesday Podcast by Carmen Imes, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax by Bruce K. Waltke and Michael Patrick O'ConnorTheme Song: Believe by PosthumorousFor more fun, check out our Website or find us on Youtube and Instagram

Can a Christian be an environmentalist? Biblical Scholar Sandra Richter joins Nick and Matt to talk about why creation care is an important part of being the image of God. They discuss how divisive politics, the privileges of wealth, and peculiar understandings of the Bible have all contributed to the suspicion many Christians feel toward environmentalism. All this and more as they discuss Sandra Richter’s book, “Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why it Matters."Resources Referenced: Stewards of Eden, Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter. Appendix to Stewards of EdenTheme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more resources and recommendations, check out reparadigmed.com.

How does being made in the image of God affect the way we live? Does it have real implications for the jobs we do, the art we create, and the way we care for creation? Nick and Matt dive into some practical questions around living as the image of God in a fallen world, and how Jesus’ humanity lights the way.Resources Referenced: Radical Hope by Jonathan Lear, Earthkeeping and Character by Steven Bouma-Prediger, Culture Care by Makoto Fujimora, Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller and Katherine Leary Asdorf, Sermon on the Mount Series by BibleProjectInterlude Music: Everything Comes to an End by Of Water https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xIVZrl3azc/Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more resources and recommendations, check out reparadigmed.com.

In the ancient world, “god’s image” was a title a king took to show his relationship to a god and demonstrate his authority to rule. Idols are also called images of gods, acting as representative mediators between the gods they represent and the people. Genesis uses this 'image of God' language in a new way to demonstrate something remarkable about God’s relationship with humanity and our purpose in God’s creation.Resources Referenced: The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser, God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum.Interlude Music: Glorious by Loving Caliber https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zlcNnFTDsT/Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out reparadigmed.com.

Don't throw in the towel! It's not as difficult as it seems. Matt and Nick discuss several of the questions and concerns we've received from listeners of the How to Read the Bible series. At the end of the day, we hope we can all sing Kumbaya together in a giant circle of affinity, united in our love for the Bible.Resources Referenced: Reading Genesis: ANE Hermeneutic vs. Plain Meaning by Terry Mortenson. https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/genesis-ane-hermeneutic-vs-plain-meaning/Interlude Music: I Won't Let Them by North Sphere. https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/5hTmR6eTwF/Theme Song: Believe by Posthumorous. https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out reparadigmed.com.

Adam and Eve, ancestors of us all? Matt and Nick chat with Dr. Joshua Swamidass, author of “The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry.” In his book, Dr. Swamidass carefully investigates the findings of genetic science, biblical tradition, and some of the key assumptions that have divided Christians in the human origins debate. His thesis presents not only a surprising plot twist but also acts as a watershed moment for theological discourse on the issue.Resources Referenced: The Genealogical Adam and Eve by Joshua Swamidass, Adam and the Genome by Dennis Venema and Scot McKnight, The Lost World Series by John WaltonTheme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Can Biblical scholarship and the tough questions it forces us to ask actually bring a benefit for pastors and churches?  In this episode, Nick and Matt chat with Raleigh Clay, pastor, Bible enthusiast, and host of the Pistis with Us Podcast about why scholarship matters, how to make it practical, and signing on the dotted line.Resources Referenced: Pistis with Us Podcast by Raleigh Clay,  Nobody's Mother by Sandra L. Glahn, Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates, Wisdom for Faithful Reading by John Walton.Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Get your Indiana Jones hat on. Matt and Nick chat about recent discoveries that help us better understand the world of the Biblical authors. These discoveries offer both exciting new insight into the meaning of the Biblical texts, and a challenge to some of the long-standing assumptions made by Christians.Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

What is Biblical faith? Is it a blind leap, a group of teachings, or an internal conviction? Dr. Teresa Morgan, Biblical scholar and author of Roman Faith and Christian Faith, discusses with Matt and Nick what the word translated "faith" (pistis) meant in Greco-Roman culture, how the Biblical authors used it, and how its use changed over time in Christian vocabulary. She addresses questions about pistis christou, allegiance, grace, and salvation by faith alone. She also gives her opinion on whether Augustine and the Reformers took the “faithfulness” out of “faith.”Resources Referenced: Roman Faith and Christian Faith  by Teresa Morgan, Popular Morality in the Early Roman Empire by Teresa Morgan, Salvation by Allegiance Alone, by Matthew Bates, Paul and the Gift by John BarclayTheme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Ugh, history. If our goal is to understand the Biblical authors, how much help is church history? Nick and Matt discuss the ways church history can help us understand the Bible, along with some of the things to be careful of.Referenced Resources: Caesar and the Lamb by George Kalantzis, Reading While Black by Esau McCaulleyTheme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

John Walton, PhD, contends that we must "mercilessly" purge our interpretations of anything that can not be defended as part of the author's intention. Nick and Matt chat with Dr. Walton about his new book, Wisdom for Faithful Reading, and they discuss some of the most important interpretive principles that Bible readers need to employ every time they open the Bible. They discuss issues of authority and tradition, and they get into a discussion on Genesis 1-2 and how the ancient Jewish authors would have been trying to communicate. Nick asks Dr. Walton if it bothers him that many in church history and within Judaism do not share his views. Finally, Dr. Walton gives some practical advice on what to do in group settings when Bible reading is not being done well. Resources Referenced: Wisdom for Faithful Reading, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, The Lost World of Adam and Eve, The Lost World of Genesis One, The Lost World of Scripture, The Lost World of  the Israelite Conquest, The Lost World of the Flood, The Lost World of the Torah by John WaltonTheme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Who are the Nephilim and why does it matter? New Testament authors used stories that were well-known in their time to help communicate important ideas about Jesus. In this episode Nick and Matt chat about the Sons of God, the daughters of men, and how the gospels and Peter use these stories to help show Jesus' supreme authority, and how that should encourage followers.Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

The Bible wasn’t written in a vacuum. Nick and Matt chat about literature outside that Bible that is full of surprisingly biblical-sounding stories. These help us understand the world in which the Biblical authors lived. The history, culture, language, and sometimes surprising world of the Biblical authors can all be better understood through these texts.Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Put that thing back where it came from or so help me! Nick and Matt discuss the importance of reading the Bible within its own context and some of the pitfalls that come along with not doing so. They discuss the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, and offer some advice and tools that can help readers see the forest through the trees. Contextual readings, cross-references, and Septuagint word searches can all be valuable tools for better Bible reading. Read big, read small, read it all.Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Does it matter how we read the Bible? Nick and Matt discuss 3 key ideas for reading and studying the Bible, a collection of inspired ancient documents that have amazing power to transform. If we hope to understand what the Bible means, we need to seek to understand what its authors meant.Resources Referenced: Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament by John Walton, Links by BibleProject, Doctrinal Statement by The International Society for Biblical HermeneuticsTheme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousInterlude Music mixed and produced by the Re-Paradigmed team.For more fun, check out www.reparadigmed.com

Hello and welcome to the Re-Paradigmed Podcast! This is just a brief episode for you to get to know what the podcast is all about. Thanks for listening in, and we hope you're helped!Theme Music: "Believe" by Posthumorous. More at https://linktr.ee/posthumorousFor more fun, check out reparadigmed.com