Dr. Taylor Gray is an associate faculty member and the professor of a recently released course at IBC called Divine Imagery in the Biblical World. This week we discuss what we can learn from iconography from the ancient world, and how these pieces of art may enhance the way we read the Bible. What changes to our picture of cherubim and seraphim? There are also challenges including the pottery with pictures and writing that refer to YHWH and his Asherah. What was going on in ancient Israelite soc...
Sep 01, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Dr. Taylor Gray is an associate faculty member at Israel Bible Center. He recently released a new course called Divine Imagery in the Biblical World. We sit down with Dr. Gray to talk about the study of iconography, its growth over the last few decades, and its ability to give modern readers a glimpse into how ancient people perceived the world. Enroll in the class Divine Imagery in the Biblical World HERE View Othmar Keel's influential book Symbolism of the Biblical World Explore a catalogue of...
Aug 25, 2023•31 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Part 2 of the conversation between Dr. Benjamin Sommer and Dr. Yeshaya Gruber explores the idea of if the Israelites thought of God had fluidity like the polytheists thought their gods had. Perhaps different authors had differing views? What do we gain by exploring the ancient views of the body or form of the Divine? Watch the whole Round Table Talk with Dr. Sommer called God's Bodies in the Bible Explore the book The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel . Take Dr. Gruber's class Kabbal...
Aug 18, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Dr. Benjamin Sommer and Dr. Yeshaya Gruber to discuss God's Bodies in the Bible. Is it controversial to claim that God has a body? Are ancient Near Eastern conceptions of deities reflected or refuted in the Hebrew Bible? These questions lead us into a conversation about God's presence. Watch the whole Round Table Talk with Dr. Sommer called God's Bodies in the Bible Explore the book The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel . Take Dr. Gruber's class Kabbalah and the Bible, Part 1 Find ou...
Aug 11, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Dr. Drew Longacre is a guest lecturer at IBC who recently released a course on the Psalms. Today talk about some of the psalms that make you cringe...those imprecatory psalms that call down God's judgment on your enemy. Dr. Longacre also introduces us to a new online tool that helps us study the psalms well. Enroll in the course Psalms: A Songbook for the Ages HERE Explore the new resource on the psalms through the Cambridge Digital Bible HERE Find out how you can get this and many other courses...
Aug 04, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Dr. Drew Longacre is a guest lecturer at IBC who recently released a course on the Psalms. Today we explore the organization of the Psalter along with what the Dead Sea Scrolls contribute to our understanding of how to read the psalms. Enroll in the course Psalms: A Songbook for the Ages HERE Explore the new resource on the psalms through the Cambridge Digital Bible HERE Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Sta...
Jul 28, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 12
What is archaeology's role in helping us interpret the Bible? In last week’s episode we raised some initial guiding principles related to what archaeology is, and this week we discover how complex this conversation can be. Around the table today are Dr. Yeshaya Gruber, Dr. Nicholas Schaser, and Dr. Cyndi Parker. Dr. Gruber starts with a comment about the conquest narratives, and then we will rewind to dating the Exodus which influences how we look at the archaeology. And if you hang in there, we...
Jul 21, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Archaeology is a fantastic tool to help modern audiences understand the world of the Bible and the lives of the people depicted in the Bible. But what is archaeology's role in helping us interpret the Bible? This was the topic of conversation between three of Israel Bible Center's faculty. Listen to this Round Table Talk with archaeologist Jodi Magnuss: https://israelbiblecenter.com/roundtable-talks/archaeology-life-first-century/ Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one sma...
Jul 14, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Answering the question, "Who is the Servant in Isaiah 53" is the topic of this conversation. Dr. Yeshaya Gruber, Dr. Tupá Guerra, and Dr. Nicholas Schaser gather around the table to discuss the nuances of this passage. We start with the Dead Sea Scrolls and move on to discuss how the New Testament writers use Isaiah's writings to point to Jesus and also other people. Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay co...
Jul 07, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 9
When you read the Servant Song in Isaiah 53, to whom do you think it is referring? Traditions point to a singular person and also to a collection of people. Answering the question, "Who is the Servant in Isaiah 53" is the topic of this conversation. Dr. Yeshaya Gruber, Dr. Tupá Guerra, and Dr. Nicholas Schaser gather around the table to discuss the nuances of this passage. Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com S...
Jun 30, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 8
This week's conversation comes from a Round Table Talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Dr. Bruce Chilton who is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Executive Director of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. To watch the full talk Jesus, Paul, Resurrection, And History go here: https://israelbiblecenter.com/roundtable-talks/gospels-and-resurrection-in-the-first-century-jewish-context/ Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small m...
Jun 23, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This week we talk about some new terms: Who is a Rabbi? And when did that term get established? How does the Apostle Paul use the term when he talks about Rabbi Jesus? This week's conversation comes from a Round Table Talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Dr. Bruce Chilton who is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Executive Director of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. To watch the full talk Jesus, Paul, Resurrection, And History go here: https://is...
Jun 16, 2023•23 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This week we start with a discussion of the interaction across time between some of Paul's ideas about "goy" and those of the early rabbis. Whose ideas came first? Who is reacting to whom? And how do we - people influenced by these ancient texts - respond to the dissonance that may arise from what we feel to be appropriate morality from these conversations? The Round Table Talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Professor Ishay Rosen-Zvi is called Jew vs. Goy in Pauline and Rabbinic Thought. Listen ...
Jun 09, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Does the Bible create a distinction between Israelites and non-Israelites? When does the sharp distinction between Jew and Gentile show up in the literature? These questions are at the heart of a Round Table Talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Professor Ishay Rosen-Zvi called Jew vs. Goy in Pauline and Rabbinic Thought. The concepts and conclusions may surprise you! Listen to the full Round Table Talk called Jew vs. Goy in Pauline and Rabbinic Thought HERE Explore the book: Goy: Israel's Multipl...
Jun 02, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Today we continue to explore a Round Table Talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Dr. Hindy Najman that is called Revelation and Interpretation . It is a stimulating and thought provoking conversation that challenges many pre-conceived ideas about historical writings and distinct (and separate) time periods. Dr. Najman helps us reconsider the heavy black lines that tend to separate land, language, and cultural influences. It is a conversation you may want to listen to a couple times! To listen to t...
May 26, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Today we will listen to a portion of a talk between Dr. Yeshaya Gruber and Dr. Hindy Najman that is called Revelation and Interpretation. They discuss the categories and expectations we bring to the biblical text and ask if we are requiring the text to fit OUR expectations. In this episode they talk through definitions of "apocalypse", "Second Temple Period", and "Scripture." To listen to the whole Round Table Talk: https://israelbiblecenter.com/roundtable-talks/temple-and-text-in-ancient-judais...
May 19, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Dr. Carlos Santos is our newest member of the faculty at Israel Bible Center. He brings a wealth of information about Second Temple Literature with a focus on Enoch. How does this book help us read and understand the biblical text better? In this episode we cover a general introduction to Enoch and then explore its relationship to the book of Daniel. Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC ...
May 12, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Today marks the final installment of the conversation between Pinchas Shir and I about food and the Bible. We move into a full Greco-Roman context with questions regarding how Roman families ate and feasted. And within that context, why would Paul get mad at Peter for changing his eating habits (Gal. 2)? If you love conversations like this, join us at IBC where you have you have access to many amazing courses that dig into the details of culture and interpretation. You can earn credit toward Isr...
Feb 24, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 993
Food shapes culture and identity, so what did it mean for the Israelites to gather and feast at God's table? This week professor Pinchas Shir and I discuss food and the Bible with a focus on feasting with God and the development of Kosher laws...can we call them "Kosher" laws? If you love conversations like this, join us at IBC where you have you have access to many amazing courses that dig into the details of culture and interpretation. You can earn credit toward Israel Bible Center’s certifica...
Feb 17, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Professor Pinchas Shir joins me to talk about food and the Bible. What was the Israelite diet like? How does food shape cultural identity? Where do we go to look at food issues (hint: it's practically on every page!). How did the Israelites think about animals as food vs. plants as food? If you love conversations like this, join us at IBC where you have you have access to many amazing courses that dig into the details of culture and interpretation. You can earn credit toward Israel Bible Center’...
Feb 10, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Professor Israel Knohl is the Yehezkel Kaufmann Professor of Biblical studies at the Hebrew University and a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He recently sat down with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber to talk about his new book The Messiah Confrontation. The first Round Table Talk in which Professor Knohl talks about the Suffering Servant can be found HERE . Today's conversation was taken from the second Round Table talk which you can find HERE . Find out how you can get this and ma...
Feb 03, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Professor Israel Knohl is the Yehezkel Kaufmann Professor of Biblical studies at the Hebrew University and a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He recently sat down with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber to talk about his new book The Messiah Confrontation. The first Round Table Talk in which Professor Knohl talks about the Suffering Servant can be found HERE . Today's conversation was taken from the second Round Table talk which you can find HERE . Find out how you can get this and ma...
Jan 27, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 17
We talk about what drew Dr. Guerra into this field of study, why the Dead Sea Scrolls are important, and what can be learned from studying the material culture surrounding the scrolls. Keep an eye out for when the course is released HERE In the meantime, read a short article about the DSS and New Testament texts HERE Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCenter or ...
Jan 20, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 16
We talk about what drew Dr. Guerra into this field of study, why the Dead Sea Scrolls are important, and what can be learned from studying the material culture surrounding the scrolls. Keep an eye out for when the course is released HERE In the meantime, read a short article about the DSS and New Testament texts HERE Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCenter or ...
Jan 13, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This content will be available later this year in a new course at IBC. If you want to be a part of live online conversations, make sure you are connected with us! Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCenter or Twitter @ IsraelStudy...
Jan 06, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 14
The Dead Sea Scrolls are full of material that are not included in the Jewish or Christian canon. But they are helpful for setting the context for the Second Temple period. This week we talk about the War Scroll and ask, "who are the children of light?" and "who are the sons of darkness"? Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCenter or Twitter @ IsraelStudy...
Dec 23, 2022•21 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Find out more about creation, evil, Nephilim, the flood, Babel and more in Israel Bible Center's course called Study Genesis Stories for All They are Worth. Read a short article on the "Sons of God" in Genesis 6 HERE or the anger of God before the flood HERE Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCenter or Twitter @ IsraelStudy...
Dec 16, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Many readers of the Bible may be unfamiliar with Kabbalah, but what can it add to our understanding of the Bible? Is it even an appropriate way to study the Bible? This week we look at how Paul uses mystical language and we will conclude with a beautiful example from Ecclesiastes. Enroll in Dr. Gruber's course Kabbalah and the Bible, Part 1 Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Faceboo...
Dec 09, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Many readers of the Bible may be unfamiliar with Kabbalah, but what can it add to our understanding of the Bible? Is it even an appropriate way to study the Bible? This week we try to define the undefinable and get a glimpse of the divine spark inside all people. Enroll in Dr. Gruber's course Kabbalah and the Bible, Part 1 Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one small monthly subscription at: https://israelbiblecenter.com Stay connected with IBC on Facebook @IsraelBibleCent...
Dec 02, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 10
If you want to start at the beginning with an introduction to Israelite Creation in Context, click HERE There are a wide variety of articles you can find about Creation, Exodus, Plagues, and Numbers HERE A short collection are as follows: https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/moses-the-light-of-the-world/ https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/exodus-a-new-creation-story/ https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/how-is-the-body-a-temple/ Find out how you can get this and many other courses with one sma...
Nov 25, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 9
