The story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is famous for good reason—a burning bush, a transforming staff, 10 plagues, and the Passover. The exodus is also the story that defines God’s personal name, Yahweh. What does this narrative show us about Yahweh? And why does God care so much that people know his name? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about God’s character revealed through his acts of deliverance and judgment. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 294
God is not a name—it’s a title. In fact, the God of the Bible introduces himself by a specific name in one of the most famous stories in the Bible, the exodus event, when he works through Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the first movement of the Exodus scroll and explore the theme of God’s name. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-12:15) Part two (12:15-23:45) Part three (23:45-46:30) Part four (46:30...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 293
How is Jesus the first-born of creation and the “second Adam”? Why are the biblical authors so obsessed with the east? And why can’t Jacob and Esau both be blessed? In this episode, Tim and Jon tackle your questions about the Genesis scroll. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Is Jesus Both the First-born and Chosen Second-Born? (1:27) Why Are the Biblical Authors Obsessed with the East? (7:00) Where Did Cain Find a Wife? (15:55) Who Are the Nephilim? (21:14) Does God Test Abraha...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 292
He lays down his life to save a remnant of God’s people, he brings God’s blessing to all nations, he forgives those who tried to kill him, and his name is … Joseph? In this episode, Tim and Jon conclude our study of the Genesis scroll with a final look at the theme of exile. See how Joseph’s story becomes an important part of the Bible’s depiction of the ultimate suffering servant, Jesus the Messiah. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-6:30) Part two (6:30-17:00) ...
Feb 28, 2022•45 min•Ep. 291
Joseph is one of the Bible’s most famous characters, and in the Genesis scroll, his story is a climactic moment in the theme of exile that spans the whole book. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the fourth and final movement of Genesis, a narrative rich with patterns, repeated words, and the presence of God even in the pit. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-11:30) Part two (11:30-24:45) Part three (24:45-41:51) Referenced Resources Interested in more? Check...
Feb 21, 2022•42 min•Ep. 290
Throughout the story of the Bible, God singles out different people, like Jacob, to be the conduit of his blessing to all humanity. But from birth, Jacob consistently acts more like the snake from the garden of Eden than a righteous chosen one of God. He lies his way into blessings that God had intended for him all along. So what will God do? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the theme of blessing and curse in the life of Jacob. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 289
The word “blessing” brings to mind a variety of images for all of us. But what exactly does it mean when God blesses someone? And where did the curse come from? In this episode, Tim and Jon start exploring the third movement of Genesis, tracing the theme of blessing and curse. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-18:35) Part two (18:35-37:40) Part three (37:40-51:30) Part four (51:30-1:01:42) Referenced Resources The Blessing and the Curse: Trajectories in the Theo...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 288
Today would have been our 287th podcast episode. We haven’t missed a single week in seven years! Unfortunately, we won’t be able to release our next episode until a week from now, Monday, February 7th, when we will dive into the third movement of Genesis, focusing on the life of Jacob. This week take the time to explore our catalogue and listen to an episode you haven’t heard before. You can also listen to the podcast in our new app and check out our new interactive podcast feature. As you liste...
Jan 31, 2022•2 min•Ep. 287
The family of Abraham is chosen by God. But despite God’s promises to them, they continually act out of greed, division, fear, deception, and lack of trust in Yahweh. How does God respond to this? What will he do to make sure his blessing comes to all nations? Join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they continue tracing the theme of the tree of life in the second movement of Genesis. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-13:50) Part two (13:50-27:45) Part three (27:45-36:30)...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 286
Blessing, testing, failure, success, God’s plan for the nations—you’ll find all these themes woven through the story of the Bible, often accompanied by … trees? While it might not seem obvious, trees play an important role in the Bible and, notably, in the life of Abraham. In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they dive into the second movement of Genesis and trace the theme of trees through the story of Abraham. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-08:25)...
Jan 17, 2022•50 min•Ep. 285
When we think of God’s Spirit, judgment is probably not what comes to mind. But the biblical authors saw God’s Spirit as the one who gave life and took it away—the one who could create, de-create, and recreate. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa follow the theme of God’s Spirit through the second half of the first movement of Genesis. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:20) Part two (10:20-29:00) Part three (29:00-35:00) Part four (35:00-43:30) Part five (4...
Jan 10, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 284
Why does the author of Genesis make a point to name God’s Spirit in Genesis 1 and 2? In this week’s episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa embark on a new journey for the BibleProject podcast—reading the Bible in thematic movements, starting with a close look at the Holy Spirit’s role in the book of Genesis. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:00) Part two (10:00-23:00) Part three (23:00-39:00) Part four (39:00-50:00) Part five (50:00-end) Referenced Resources Interest...
Jan 03, 2022•56 min•Ep. 283
In the final episode of the year, Tim, Jon, Carissa, and the CEO of BibleProject, Steve, reflect on our journey together in 2021 and look forward to some exciting plans for 2022 and beyond. Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters for your generosity and for joining us as we experience the Bible together. View full show notes from this episode → Referenced Resources Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here. Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS Show produced by Cooper Pel...
Dec 27, 2021•19 min•Ep. 282
How do we apply the biblical paradigm to our own Bible reading? It starts with reading the Bible in movements—the thematic patterns in which the biblical authors organized their ideas long before chapters and verse numbers were printed. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa introduce us to biblical movements and walk through how to identify and trace biblical themes on our own. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-14:00) Part two (14:00-19:45) Part three (19:45-29:...
Dec 20, 2021•57 min•Ep. 281
How do we teach the Bible to our children? How can a book written by humans be divinely authoritative? Is the Bible historically accurate? In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa wrap up the Paradigm series by responding to your questions! View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps How Do We Teach the Bible to Our Children? (1:01) Are the Epistles Meditation Literature? (15:54) Can Anyone Understand the Bible? (25:45) How Do We Help Our Churches Learn How to Read the Bible? (32:32) How C...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 280
What do we do with the passages in the Bible that are really difficult? Violence, slavery, the treatment of women—what the Bible has to say about these topics has, at times, been misinterpreted and misused. Join Tim, Jon, Carissa, and special guest Dan Kimball as they discuss his book, How (Not) to Read the Bible , and explore how any topic in the Bible looks different when we see it as part of a unified story. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-15:20) Part two (...
Dec 06, 2021•56 min•Ep. 279
Are there ways to read the Bible other than a private quiet time? For most of Church history, followers of Jesus read the Bible out loud in groups and passed along its message verbally. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa talk about what it means for the Bible to be communal literature and how knowing that might just change the way we experience it today. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-9:30) Part two (9:30-13:45) Part three (13:45-21:30) Part four (21:30-31...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 278
Have you ever figured out halfway through a conversation that you and another person were on totally different pages? Reading the Bible can feel like this at times. We’re all products of our cultures, families, and environments, and it affects how we understand others. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa prepare us for a cross-cultural conversation with the Bible by discussing the cultural values of the biblical authors. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-13:2...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 277
What makes the biblical languages so important? Because the Bible was written in another time and culture, we need to honor its ancient historical context and original languages as we read and study it. In this week’s podcast episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa explore why an awareness of the Bible’s culture––and our own––can help us be better interpreters of the Bible. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-15:00) Part two (15:00-20:30) Part three (20:30-33:15) Part four...
Nov 15, 2021•59 min•Ep. 276
As followers of Jesus, how can we know we are making the “right” choice in situations the Bible doesn’t address? How can we know the difference between what’s good and bad? In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa talk about the Bible’s purpose as wisdom literature designed to reveal God’s wisdom to humanity––even for complex circumstances it doesn’t explicitly address. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0-13:20) Part two (13:20-19:45) Part three (19:45-31:00) Part four ...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 275
How were the books of the Bible selected? What should we do if we have a hard time reading the Bible? How does the Bible apply to daily life? In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa respond to your questions from the Paradigm series so far. Thanks to our audience for all your incredible questions! View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Do Christians Need To Have a Daily Quiet Time? (0:38) What’s the Difference Between Inspired and Inerrant? (9:57) What Bible Did Jesus Use? (31:09) Sh...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 274
The apostle John is the most poetic of the Gospel storytellers, but what is he really communicating with his beautiful, imagery-laden language? Join Tim, Jon, and Carissa for a closer look at John 1 and discover how John incorporates elements of the Genesis and Exodus narratives to form a portrait of how God responds to rebellious people. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0-13:15) Part two (13:15-24:45) Part three (24:45-37:30) Part four (37:30-48:00) Part five (48:00...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 273
What’s the ideal way to study the Bible? Is it 20 minutes of reading every morning or larger blocks of time throughout the week? In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they discuss what it means for the Bible to be ancient Jewish meditation literature. The biblical authors never intended for it to be understood in one sitting, but over the course of a lifetime of re-reading. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0-19:30) Part two (19-30-32:00) Part three (32:00-46...
Oct 18, 2021•55 min•Ep. 272
Is the story of the Bible about humans or God? Because the Bible is about the Messiah—the God who became human—it’s about both God and humans. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa discuss how the story of the Bible and all of its main themes come to their fulfillment in Jesus, making it a story that’s personal but not private, a redemption story for all of us. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00 - 16:45) Part two (16:45 - 31:00) Part three (31:00 - 46:30) Part f...
Oct 11, 2021•56 min•Ep. 271
At first glance, the New Testament can seem wildly different from the Old Testament––but is it? Jesus saw himself as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures and the climax of the story that began thousands of years before his birth. In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they explore the unity of the New Testament and the intricate yet consistent storyline of the Bible. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:40) Part two (10:40-23:30) Part three (23:30-34...
Oct 04, 2021•53 min•Ep. 270
How can a collection of ancient manuscripts written by numerous people over thousands of years tell one unified story? In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Carissa dive into how the Bible was written and how such a diverse collection of authors, literary styles, and themes can form one divinely inspired, unified story. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00 - 13:30) Part two (13:30 - 22:00) Part three (22:00 - 36:00) Part four (36:00 - 45:40) Part five (45:40 - end) Refere...
Sep 27, 2021•58 min•Ep. 269
How does God work in the world and communicate with humanity? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore God’s relationship with his creation and the relationship between the Bible’s divine and human origins. They also discuss how God uses human words to communicate his divine word. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-16:30) Part two (16:30-31:30) Part three (31:30-end) Referenced Resources Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here. Show Music “Defender (Instrumen...
Sep 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 268
Have you ever read the Bible and felt like you’re not “getting it” or that you’re not connecting with God? In this episode, Tim and Jon take a look at the (often unhelpful) paradigms through which we interact with Scripture. They explore how seeing the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus not only gives the Bible space to do what it was created to do, but frees us up to be transformed by the story it’s telling. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-15:00) Par...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 267
What makes a person worthy to be chosen by God to do his work? In the story of the Bible, some of God’s choices seem obvious, people with lots of merit. Other times, his rationale is less clear to us––as with Jonah, a chosen one who might be worse than the people he was supposed to help. In this episode, listen in as Tim describes the biblical design pattern of the chosen righteous intercessor. This is a sneak peek into our free graduate-level course on Jonah, which will be featured in the new C...
Sep 06, 2021•55 min•Ep. 266
The Hebrew Bible contains one story of human failure after another, leaving us with no doubt in our minds: humanity desperately needs a leader. In this episode, Tim walks us through the structure of the Hebrew Bible and how it shows us Jonah is an anti-leader, the opposite of what humanity needs, whose failure prepares us for the ultimate leader and Savior, Jesus. This is a sneak peek into our free graduate-level course on Jonah, which will be featured in the new Classroom resource available in ...
Aug 30, 2021•54 min•Ep. 265
