Buried Bible Podcast

Why did God place a forbidden tree in Eden — and was it really just about knowing right from wrong? In this episode, Dr. Mark Chavalas as he examines Genesis 2:16–25 through the lens of the ancient Near East. You’ll discover how the phrase “good and evil” may have carried legal and judicial implications, and why the true issue at the heart of Eden may not have been just moral naivety—but moral aut...

Why would God create humans from dust — the lowliest material imaginable — and yet call us His image-bearers? In this episode of The Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives deep into the ancient Near Eastern background behind Genesis 2. Discover how the ancient world viewed dust, how Mesopotamian gods "created" divine statues, and why the biblical creation story stands radically apart. 🔥 In...

What does it really mean to be made in God’s image? Is it about how we look, how we act… or something far more profound that we’ve missed for centuries? In this eye-opening episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, ancient Near Eastern scholar Dr. Mark Chavalas takes a deep look into the cultural and historical context behind Genesis 1:26–2:3, exploring what it meant to be made in the "image and likene...

In this episode, ancient Near Eastern scholar Dr. Mark Chavalas explores the historical context behind Genesis 1 and what the original audience would have understood about creation, time, and order. Discover the secrets of creation and some of the 'hidden meanings' behind the book of Genesis. We’ll unpack what “day” meant in the ancient world, how creation stories functioned in Mesopotamia...

Was Genesis 1 written as a scientific explanation—or something far deeper? Welcome to  Part 1  of our Genesis series, where we explore the opening verse of the Bible through the lens of  ancient Near Eastern history, literature, and theology . Join Dr. Mark Chavalas, a renowned scholar and historian, as we uncover what Genesis 1 truly meant to its original audience and why it was never intended to...

📜 Wrapping Up the Ancient Near East & the Context Behind the Bible 📜 In the final installment of our  Ancient Near East deep dive , we uncover how understanding the historical and cultural world of the Bible transforms the way we read Scripture. Dr. Mark Chavalas, a leading expert in ancient history and biblical studies, returns to revisit key themes, explore listener questions, and reveal h...

📜 The Ancient Near East Part 3! 📜 In Part 3 of our journey through the  Ancient Near East , we continue our deep dive into the historical and cultural context behind the Bible. We explore the rise and fall of the great empires that shaped the biblical world— Assyria, Babylon, and Persia.  These civilizations weren’t just historical footnotes—they played major roles in the  spiritual, political,...

Welcome back to Part 2 of our journey through the  Ancient Near East ! In this episode, we explore the  civilizations that shaped the biblical world —from Sumer to Babylon—and how their culture, language, and beliefs influenced Scripture. Dr. Mark Chavalas, an esteemed historian and archaeologist, takes us beyond the surface of scripture to reveal the hidden connections between Mesopotamia and the...

The Bible is more than an ancient book—it's the inspired and authoritative Word of God. But it was written to real people, in real places, shaped by real cultures. To fully grasp Scripture, we must read it through the lens of the  Ancient Near East , the world in which it was born. This episode lays the foundation for understanding the  context behind Genesis, Abraham, Mesopotamia , and more—b...

📜 Welcome to Episode 1 of the Buried Bible Podcast! 📜 We’re uncovering the Bible through the lens of the ancient world, exploring the context, cultures, and stories buried beneath Scripture. Join Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas, a renowned scholar and archaeologist with decades of expertise in ancient Near Eastern history, as they introduce the podcast’s mission and explore how understanding t...