Recent Posts
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Q&A #6 with Bill, John, and Josh
Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this sixth Q&A episode. Topics include enjoying life within an apocalyptic view of the world, the meaning of “ekklesia”, the messiah’s relationship to the day of the Lord, the parable of the wineskins, revivals within an apocalyptic view, and how to weed through various competing theological narratives.
Show notes:
- How does love and joy fit into the gospel? (2:12)
- What does ‘ekklesia’ mean if it doesn’t mean ‘church’? (13:54)
- How do first century Jews relate the Messiah and the Day of the Lord? (20:46)
- Do you believe in a dispensational or apocalyptic view of the temple in Ezekiel 40-48?
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S3E19: I & II Kings, the Solomonic Ideal, and the Kingdom of God
In this episode we give a brief overview of 1 and 2 Kings and focus on the unfolding and later projection of David’s dynasty. After the failure of the Davidic monarchy, Solomon is idealized and anticipated by the prophetic tradition, wisdom literature, and second-temple literature as the king who is filled with God’s wisdom and who leads the nation in righteousness and obedience. Rather than redefining or reimagining this expectation, the New Testament reinforces the hope for the restoration of David’s throne in Jerusalem.
Show notes
- Overview of key events in 1 and 2 Kings (1:43)
- The height of Solomon’s reign: 1 Kings 4:32-34; 10 (4:07)
- Solomon’s failure and the anticipation of the idealized king: 1 Kings 11, Deuteronomy 17 (7:31)
- The idealized king and kingdom in the prophetic and apocalyptic literature: Micah 4:6-8, Testament of Dan 5:12-13, Amos 9:11-14; 2 Baruch 61:1-8; 72:2; 74:2-3 (10:26)
- The idealized king and kingdom in the wisdom literature: Psalm 72; Psalm 132:10-17; Psalms of Solomon 17:21-26; Isaiah 11:1-6, 32-37 (22:44)
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S3E18: I & II Samuel and the Anticipation of David’s Glorious Throne
In this episode we discuss 1 and 2 Samuel, and particularly the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7, with an eye toward its forward projection in the Tanakh, second-temple literature, and the New Testament. God’s election of David’s family and the city of Jerusalem play out in subsequent prophetic and apocalyptic traditions. God’s faithfulness to David and his descendants become the crucible of his faithfulness to creation as a whole.
Show notes
- A quick overview of the events of 1 and 2 Samuel (3:05)
- The Davidic Covenant: 2 Samuel 7 (6:02)
- The Davidic Covenant in the Writings and Prophets: Psalm 89:3-4, 20-29, 36-37; Psalm 2; Isaiah 9, 11, 16, 22, 55; Jeremiah 23:5, 33:20-21; Ezekiel 34, 37 (9:22)
- The “glorious throne” in Second Temple Literature: Ben Sira 47:11; 4 Ezra 12:31-34; 1 Enoch 45:3-5, 51:1-5 (26:58)
- The son of David and the Davidic throne in the New Testament: Matthew 19:28, 25:31, 1:1; Luke 1:32; Matthew 9:27-28; Mark 11:10 (36:13)
- Historical and modern distortions of David’s throne (47:36)
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S3E17: Joshua, Judges, Apocalypticism, and Martyrdom
In this episode we discuss the books of Joshua and Judges and how they are understood in second-temple apocalyptic literature. Though not often talked about, when they are referenced, they are assimilated into the later apocalyptic tradition. The lack of references is also discussed in light of apocalypticism downplaying synergism and human involvement in ultimate salvation. Similarly, the rise of the martyrdom tradition in second-temple Judaism coincides with the development of apocalyptic hopes.
Show notes
- Why are Joshua and Judges placed with the prophets in the Hebrew Bible? (4:23)
- Joshua and Judges in Jewish apocalyptic literature: 2 Baruch 53-74; 59:1-2; 60:1-2; 1 Enoch 85-90; 89:39-42; Acts 7; 13 (7:03)
- The elephant in the room: divine sanctioning of warfare and the killing of God’s enemies (14:55)
- The apocalyptic tradition minimizes synergism and human partnership with God in bringing the redemption: Isaiah 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:2-3; Daniel 2:44-45; Deuteronomy 32:36; Daniel 12:7 (18:51)
- Martyrdom in the apocalyptic tradition: Daniel 7; 2 Maccabees 6-7 (32:27)
- Martyrdom, Jesus, and the apostles: Matthew 16; Luke 9; Revelation 7 (36:59)
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S3E16: Deuteronomy and the Covenantal Cycle
In this episode we look more deeply at Deuteronomy and highlight how the Covenant and the Law are projected into the future both within the book of Deuteronomy as well as by later Jewish writers. Deuteronomy describes a cycle of covenant breaking, exile, repentance, and return that later becomes the foundation for Jewish eschatological conviction. This cycle thus becomes the engine of the apocalyptic hermeneutic in the second-temple period and in the New Testament.
Show notes
- Projecting the covenant and the law into Israel’s future – Daniel 9:11-13; 2 Maccabees 6:12–16 (1:40)
- The “covenantal cycle” of transgression, exile, repentance, return – Jeremiah 1:1, 11-12; 2 Kings 22:8; Ezekiel 1:1-3 (12:44)
- The cycle will not go on forever – Deuteronomy 4:30-31, 30:1-6, 6:6, 10:16; Jubilees 1:21-22 (19:26)
- Apocalyptic eschatology is built on the assumption of God’s faithfulness to the covenant – 4 Ezra 5:23-29; 4 Ezra 6:18-20 (27:14)
- The New Testament and the covenantal projection – Romans 9-11; Romans 11:11-16; Deuteronomy 32:18–21 (37:00)
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S3E15: A Survey of Deuteronomy: The Covenant, the Law, and the Land
In this episode, we give a brief overview of the book of Deuteronomy. We discuss some of the major themes of covenant, law, and land as we survey the book chapter by chapter. The book of Deuteronomy is often neglected in Christian tradition, but it was foundational for the oracles of the prophets and later the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Show notes
- Why an overview of Deuteronomy? (2:39)
- Deuteronomy 1-3: A review to reframe history toward a particular conclusion (4:36)
- Deuteronomy 4: Covenant, Law, and Land projected into the future (10:08)
- Deuteronomy 5: The Decalogue, Shabbat (17:00)
- Deuteronomy 6: The Shema (19:40)
- Deuteronomy 7: Israel’s election (22:46)
- Deuteronomy 8-11: Remembrance of God and his righteousness (24:44)
- Deuteronomy 12-26: Legal matters, kings and prophets, and how the Law is often misunderstood (33:02)
- Deuteronomy 27-28: Mount Ebal blessings and curses (45:39)
- Deuteronomy 29-30: Covenant renewal and future restoration (48:25)
- Deuteronomy 30: Joshua commissioned (51:10)
- Deuteronomy 31-34: Song of Moses, the final blessing, and Moses’ death (52:09)
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S3E14: Numbers and Apocalyptic Typology
In this episode we look at several themes in the book of Numbers that are pushed forward apocalyptically by second-temple literature and the New Testament. Many events in the Book of Numbers–for example, the manna, the snake on the pole, and the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness–are interpreted typologically within a Jewish apocalyptic framework. Though typology has been used throughout church history to change the Jewish hope, Jesus and the apostles simply assume an apocalyptic narrative when they speak of people and events from the Tanakh typologically.
Show notes
- An overview of Numbers (1:58)
- Manna in Numbers 11: 2 Baruch 29:5-30:2; Matthew 6; Psalm 78:25-28; 2 Corinthians 5:1-2; Midrash Rabbah on Eccl.
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S3E13: Leviticus and the “Apocalypticizing” of the Sacrifice, Priesthood, and the Calendar
In this episode we look at how Second Temple Jews, Jesus, and the apostles understand and project forward the major themes of Leviticus. Similar to how other themes in the Tanakh are “apocalypticized,” offering and sacrifice, the priesthood, and the calendar of feasts and holidays are understood in light of apocalyptic eschatology. For Jesus and the apostles, the major themes in Leviticus reinforce their native worldview and apocalyptic expectations rather than redefine them.
Show notes
- EP Sanders: Jews had multiple interests (7:33)
- Leviticus: offerings and sacrifices – Leviticus 5:17-18; 1 Enoch 19:1; Isaiah 1:11; Malachi 1:10; Jeremiah 6:20; 2 Enoch 45:3-46:2; Psalm 51; Hebrews 9:26-28 (9:25)
- Leviticus: the priesthood – Leviticus 8-10; Leviticus 10:10-11; Exodus 19; Ezekiel 44:23; 11QMelch; 2 Enoch 71-72; Psalm 110; 1 Peter 2:5-12; Acts 3; Acts 21; Acts 23 (21:02)
- Leviticus: the calendar – Leviticus 23-25; Exodus 23; 1 Enoch 72-82; Jubilees.
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S3E12: The Apocalyptic Moses and Mount Sinai
In this episode we discuss how Second Temple Jews understood Moses and Mount Sinai. The giving of the Torah accompanied by angels, the revelation of the age to come, and the projection of Sinai eschatologically are all presumed by Jews at the time. These ideas, for example, are reflected in the account of the Mount of Transfiguration and in encounters with angels throughout the New Testament.
Show notes
- Moses and Mount Sinai: The involvement of angels – Jubilees 2:1; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2; Acts 7:53; Deuteronomy 33:2; 4Q377.2.11 (1:20)
- Angels revealing the New Jerusalem and Israel’s eschatological future – 2 Baruch 4:4-6 cf.
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S3E11: The Apocalyptic Moses – The Deliverer
In this episode we discuss the important figure of Moses, who takes on a unique authority in Second Temple literature, extending the narrative found in the Tanakh. Because of his special relationship with God, he is given unique revelation of the end times and the coming Messiah. Moses is also viewed as something of a precursor to the Messiah, one who will build God’s house and restore the kingdom to Israel.
Show notes
- Who is Moses? (2:06)
- How Moses shapes the hermeneutic of the Tanakh and Second Temple literature – Acts 15:21; Deuteronomy 4:30, 31:29; 4 Ezra 14:3-5 (3:52)
- Moses’ prophetic authority – 2 Baruch 59:4-8 (12:00)
- The “angelization” of Moses – 1 Enoch 89:35-36, 90:28-28; Hebrews 3; Testament of Moses 9:6-10:5 (14:47)
- Moses as a precursor to the Messiah – Hebrews 11:23-31; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22, 7:37; Antiquities 20:97-99 (21:19)