The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

In Revelation 19:13, Jesus is called "the word of God." Is this a reference to the Prologue of John's Gospel, where the Word is with God in the beginning? Or is the word of God a descriptive reference to Jesus' preaching of the gospel of the kingdom? This episode explores how the phrase "word of God" functions in the Book of Revelation, looking closely at Jesus as a faithful witness of the good ne...

The covenant is often portrayed as a marriage in both testaments of the Bible. While the Hebrew Bible regards Yahweh as the covenantal husband, the New Testament unambiguously insists that the husband is now Jesus, God's human agent. This episode explores how both testaments depict the marriage metaphor within the covenant relationship to discern the Christological implications of the husband/groo...

Biblical scholars and commentaries on the Book of Revelation often portray the three antagonists--the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet--loosely as the "unholy Trinity." The implication is that the unholy Trinity must be the evil counterpart to the "Holy Trinity." This episode explores these concepts and examines whether "trinity" is an appropriate term for the three antagonists. We also lo...

Revelation 12:1-6 depicts the cosmic struggle between the woman and the dragon. While modern readers are probably correct in interpreting these figures are the people of God and the devil, they often fail to note that this story is a retelling of an ancient mythic fable involving the woman Leto and the dragon Python. This episode explores the Leto Myth and compares it with its Christian retelling...

The Christology within the Book of Revelation portrays Jesus as both a lion and a lamb. This episode explores these images, asks about their messianic significance, and emphasizes the literary motif where the lamb further defines how Jesus conquered as a lion. The result is that Jesus is thoroughly regarded as a human ruler who descended from a long line of notable Israelite persons. Please consid...

As Jesus speaks to the Christian communities in Philadelphia and Laodicea, much can be gathered about the Christology presented in the Book of Revelation. Various titles insist that Jesus is a trustworthy and reliable speaker. Furthermore, Jesus differentiates himself from God, who is identified as Jesus' God and Jesus' Father. Moreover, we learn that God has shared his prerogatives of kingship an...

When Jesus reveals himself to the churches in Thyatira and Sardis, we learn a great deal about the Christology of the Book of Revelation. This episode explores how Jesus presents himself to these two Christian communities, paying special attention to how he frames his identity in light of the cities' histories and social contexts. Furthermore, we note that Jesus still has a God, the Father of Jesu...

The risen Jesus appeared to John of Patmos and instructed him to write what he saw to seven churches in Asia Minor. In these letters, Jesus communicates in ways that reveal much about who he is and his authority. This episode examines the first three letters to the seven churches in Revelation to uncover what we can learn about Jesus. We discover a Jesus that is most clearly understood within a hi...

In Revelation chapter 1, the exalted Jesus appears to John of Patmos. John offers readers many descriptions of Jesus that reveal much about his Christology. This episode examines seven of these characteristics from a Jewish theological perspective, a Roman imperial perspective, and a scriptural allusion perspective. We find that Jesus is a highly exalted and exceptionally authorized human being. ...

In this episode, we explore the implications of Jesus being described in terms that associate him with the Lord God. Our first test case examines the combined biblical citations of God being pierced and the Son of Man. The second test case seeks to understand the meaning of the title "Alpha and Omega," which is used by both the Lord God and Jesus. We conclude that Jesus Christ is regularly portray...

The Book of Revelation has much to say about Jesus Christ's person and identity. This episode introduces the Christology of Revelation by examining how Jesus is portrayed in the opening verses of the first chapter. We note that Revelation depicts Jesus as subordinate to God, distinguished from God, and faithful to God.  Buy Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John (paperback): https://a.co/d/iMFP9...

The Book of Revelation is known for its images and metaphors. This episode explores how Revelation reveals the person and identity of the true God. The most powerful image of God is that he is the one seated upon the throne. This image, which expresses the truth that God is in charge and he is ruling, is later employed within the narrative of Revelation to show that the exalted Jesus shares in God...

While the Hebrew concept called the "plural of majesty" described the one God with plural forms in order to heighten his excellence, what are we to make of plural forms used to describe individual human beings? This episode looks at instances in the Hebrew Bible where human individuals are portrayed with plural nouns, not unlike the plural of majesty examples. If plural forms can be used to descri...

As we continue to examine the plural of majesty, which seeks to explain how Israel's one God came to be expressed in occasional plural forms, we see that God's holiness is poetically depicted in the plural. We also explore references to God as the Creator and even as the covenant husband of Israel, which are sometimes in the plural. Lastly, we find that the plural of majesty has extended into bibl...

The God revealed in the Old Testament is awesome and majestic, but this God is still a single, undivided self--one person. He is expressed in plural forms, like elohim, for intensification purposes, and this is regarded by Hebrew grammarians as the plural of majesty. This episode explores how the plural of majesty is expressed throughout the Hebrew poetry of Psalms, where plural forms indicative o...

Does the plural form of the Hebrew noun elohim indicate that Yahweh is a plurality of persons? Hebrew grammarians call this concept the plural of majesty--namely when elohim is paired with singular verbs to indicate that God is only one person (not two or three persons). This episode introduces the plural of majesty in order to understand better the significance of plural references to God within...

Apologists who attempt to defend the preexistence of Jesus sometimes suggest that Malachi 3:1 proves their claim. This episode examines Malachi 3:1 to see what it says, if anything, about the preexistence of Jesus. We listen to the wisdom of biblical scholars on Malachi and consider how the New Testament authors interpret it. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating...

This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast lets us tune into the never before released live Q&A that took place after my recent debate on whether Jesus Christ consciously preexisted his birth. You can listen to the debate in its entirety here: https://youtu.be/Nmg_y4q4RsQ . Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks    ...

In this episode, we get to hear the final portions of my recent debate regarding whether Jesus Christ preexisted his birth consciously. In particular, we will listen to the cross-examination and the closing statements. I also offer some insider perspective on why I chose the cross-examination question that I used as well as some thoughts on the conclusion of the debate. Please consider supporting...

In this episode, we listen to the next segment of my recent debate/dialogue with Mr. Eric Miller on the nature of Jesus' preexistence. Eric Miller argued that Jesus did consciously preexist his birth while I argued that Jesus came into existence at his birth. We both have a chance to offer two rebuttals, with Mr. Miller beginning and with me following afterward. I offer some insights and commentar...

In this week's episode, we will listen to the opening statements of my recent debate with Mr. Eric Miller on the nature of Jesus' preexistence. I also offer a few reflections on the debate. To listen to the entire debate, click on this link: https://youtu.be/Nmg_y4q4RsQ   Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks         To vi...

The first letter of Peter offers much insight into Petrine Christianity, especially its monotheism and Christology. This episode examines how Peter regarded the God of Jesus and wrestles with difficult passages surrounding Jesus' person and preexistence. Buy Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John (paperback): https://a.co/d/iMFP9VC    Buy The Son of God: Three Views of the Identity of Jesus: htt...

Philippians is the letter of Paul that many interpreters feel exhibits high Christology. What we actually find is that Paul holds a high human Christology, where the obedient king took upon the attitude of the Suffering Servant and was highly exalted afterward. Paul continues to portray his monotheism, human Christology, and his understanding of the relationship between God and Christ in terms tha...

Paul's massive letter to the Romans has much to say about monotheism, Christology, and the relationship between God and Jesus. For Paul, God continues to be one person, as expressed in the Jewish Shema. Jesus is the descendant of David and the second Adam--a human being. This episode also explores some of the trickier passages in Romans surrounding the person of Jesus and his exalted role as Lord....

In this episode, we examine 2 Corinthians to see how Paul understands the true God and the risen Jesus. We discuss the benediction of 2 Corinthians, which is often thought of being a reference to the Trinity. Furthermore, we examine the theology of the "rich" Jesus who became poor, asking if this is even a reference to incarnation at all. We also pay special attention to the theology of the God an...