The Alabaster Jar

In this archived episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews her longtime friend and New Testament scholar Dr. Jeannine Brown about biblical hermeneutics and her work on Philippians. Brown explains how her book Scripture as Communication shapes her approach to interpretation, especially concepts like the implied author and ancient rhetoric’s logos, ethos, and pathos. They also explore...

In this special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and co-host Dr. Josephine Stringer explore the life and work of Dorothy Sayers, a 20th‑century detective novelist, playwright, translator of Dante, and public theologian. They discuss Sayers’ celebrated Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries—especially Gaudy Night—and how her Oxford background, church upbringing, and participation in the “golden a...

In this special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick talks with Dr. Michelle Knight, Old Testament scholar and Senior Reviewer for the New Living Translation (NLT), about their recent work with the NLT translation committee. They describe the collaborative, worshipful environment of the committee, where men and women scholars work together as respected peers in translating Scripture. Lynn...

In this special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and co-host Dr. Josephine Stringer look back on over five years of conversations, featuring more than 250 episodes, 200,000 downloads, and listeners in 25 countries. Lynn shares the story and theological richness behind the podcast’s name, drawn from the New Testament account of the woman with the alabaster jar, and how that narrative h...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. Preston Sprinkle about his new book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership , which traces what the Bible says about women in leadership. Preston describes his work as a genuine research journey rather than a defense of a preconceived position, walking listeners through key texts like Gen...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall (Liz Hall) about her book When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul . Drawing from her own stage two breast cancer diagnosis and a decade of research, Liz explains the psychological concept of meaning-making, distinguishing between global and situational meaning and how their tension f...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Tiffany Stein about her book, Mourning God: Grieving Loss, Wrestling with God, and Finding Your Way Back to Life . Tiffany shares the story of her son David, who lived 53 days in the NICU, and how his death led her into both profound grief and a disorienting season of feeling God’s absence after initially sensing His nearness. Drawing on Tim Keller...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. Sandra L. Richter, the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, to talk about reading Proverbs 31 in its ancient context. Richter explains that Proverbs 31 is the climactic conclusion of a high-level work of wisdom literature, framed as the queen mother’s counsel to her son, King Lemuel, about the kind of partner he truly...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer complete the final episode of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring Paul’s rich teaching on the resurrection in chapters 15–16 and why a bodily resurrection is central to the Christian faith. They unpack how Christ’s resurrection defeats both sin and death, securing not only our persona...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer cover part 4 of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians 11–14, where Paul addresses worship, headship, and life together in the church. Dr. Cohick unpacks the debated term kephalē (“head”) and considers how early church voices, cultural context, and Paul’s own rhetoric shape...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer begin part 3 of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians, un 7-10, showing that Paul’s vision of freedom in Christ is not for personal autonomy but for loving service within community. They highlight Paul’s radically countercultural teaching on mutuality in marriage and his a...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer embark on episode 2 of this 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians 1–6, unpacking Paul’s call to a cross-shaped life marked by humility rather than status or eloquence. Lynn explains how the Corinthians’ fascination with elite leaders, worldly wisdom, and personal freedom clashes...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer introduce a 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by setting the historical and cultural scene of ancient Corinth. Dr. Cohick explains Paul’s 18‑month ministry there, the city’s significance as a hub for the Isthmian Games, and how its love of rhetoric, status, and public performance shaped the church’s p...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick sits down with New Testament scholar Dr. Scot McKnight and trauma counselor Adrienne Gibson to discuss their new book, Traumatized Church: What Paul's Relationship with the Corinthian Church Teaches Us About Helping Those Who are Hurting . Adrienne explains what trauma is, how it impacts the body and brain, and unpacks key concepts like complex...

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick talks with theologian and author Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing about her new book, Forgiveness: Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear . Together they explore why forgiveness is often misunderstood in both secular culture and the church, and how it can uphold, rather than undermine, justice. Dr. Orr-Ewing unpacks different models of forgiven...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer explore the Book of Esther through the lives of Esther and Vashti, highlighting how both women display courage under an abusive and volatile king. They set the story in its historical context in the Persian palace at Susa, unpacking Vashti’s costly refusal and Esther’s hidden, strategic path to influencing the king. Along the way, th...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Joseph R. Dodson and his daughter Maddie Mae Motl about their book, Conquerors, Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life . They challenge the popular view that the “I” in Romans 7 is Paul describing the normal Christian struggle with sin and instead argue that Paul is using a rhetorical persona, not speaking autobiographically....

In Part 2 of their conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Cyndi Parker, an expert in biblical context, continue their discussion about the women in Jesus’ life and the importance of place in understanding Scripture. They focus on the Samaritan woman at the well and Dr. Parker first situates the story in its rich geographical and Old Testament context, explaining the significance of Shechem/Samaria,...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Cyndi Parker, an expert in biblical context, about the women in Jesus’ life and the importance of place in understanding Scripture. They begin with Mary, the mother of Jesus, challenging modern labels like “unwed teenage mother” by situating her in the deeply Jewish, small-village context of Nazareth and highlighting her rich scriptural format...

In this 3rd edition of "Coffee with Cohick" episode of The Alabaster Jar podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Kelley Mathews answer listener-submitted questions that explore various themes centered around women's empowerment, biblical understanding, and the significance of questions in faith. They discuss the importance of asking questions, the cultural context of adoption in the first century, and th...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Sandra Glahn joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her upcoming book (releasing August 25th, 2026), A Woman's Place Is in the Story: Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative . They explore the question of why women-focused study Bibles are necessary, emphasizing that many significant female figures have been overlooked in traditional biblical narratives....

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Eve Tibbs joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her book, Seeing the Gospel: An Interpretive Guide to Orthodox Icons . They explore the significance of Orthodox icons, their unique visual language, and how they convey biblical stories and theological truths. They also cover the differences between icons and religious art, common misconceptions about ico...

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Knight joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to talk about how to read the book of Ruth with careful hermeneutics rather than as a “Hallmark” love story. They explore the harsh realities of famine, displacement, and economic vulnerability in the days of the Judges and how these shape Naomi and Ruth’s choices. Dr. Knight also highlights Ruth’s boldness, loyalty (hesed), and agenc...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer conclude their three-part series on Paul's letter to the Galatians. They delve into what freedom in Christ truly means, emphasizing that faith—rather than strict adherence to the law—welcomes believers into God’s family. They also discuss how outward practices, such as circumcision and dietary laws, are less i...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer continue their exploration of Paul's letter to the Galatians, focusing on chapters 3 and 4. They delve into Paul's frustration with the Galatians' confusion over faith, Mosaic law, and the meaning of true belonging in God's family.   Resources Mentioned:    The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity   2026 Vis...