The Bible as Literature

When Christians talk about evangelization, they do so along the lines of the historical King Herod, who twisted biblical circumcision into a trademark of the temple cult, a stigma with which to brand people living outside of Judea as Jews, in order to extract wealth from them in the name of scripture—you guessed it—to build his temple.  But Matthew ends outside of Jerusalem in the green pastures o...

This week, Fr. Paul notes that the story of Jacob and his sons in the Bible continued through the story of the scriptural Jacob or Israel. (Episode 216) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The behavior of the chief priests after the resurrection of Jesus in Matthew 28 is so cynical, so unredeemable, and so pathetic that the only bearable quality of the story is that in the victory of Jesus, the author gives us a little space to laugh.  But here’s the rub, if you’ve been listening carefully, especially those of you who are like me—a priest and a religious leader—you should take care...

This week Fr. Paul explains how the names Shechem and Bethel function against the will of God. (Episode 215) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In Genesis, God is interested in the oneness of humans in the land, so much so that from a modern perspective, you might say that the Scriptural God is not only anti-institution but anti-family values. Not only Jerusalem, not only the Temple, not only Religious leaders and government, but even Jesus’ family is broken up in the hope of the coming Kingdom, wherein all the families of the earth will...

This week, Fr. Paul explains that the book of Genesis is so complete that once you’ve finished it, technically, you don’t need to hear the rest of the Bible, except for points of clarification. (Episode 214) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Human institutions operate under the assumption that they are justified. I was going to say human communities, but let’s be honest, we no longer have communities. We have institutions. Thanks to Plato (and the US Supreme court), there is even such a thing as “corporate personhood.” So, according to American law, institutions are people too.  Listening to the biblical writers ridicule cities filled...

This week, Fr. Paul reminds us that the scriptural God is a judge who decides to behave as a loving father, but is not essentially “father”. (Episode 213) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When we approach Scripture with human presuppositions, we inevitably and systematically mishear the topic of a given book, dislocating God’s agency in the story and silencing his voice in our ears. If your premise is you, the tale distorts and twists itself into a parable about you. If your premise is your king (in the end, just another version of you), then the story becomes a lie about the impor...

In this week’s episode, Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 32, noting the Bible’s tendency to belittle the main protagonist to the glory of God. (Episode 212) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When someone does something terrible, and you step in to clean up their mess, and then you explain what went wrong, and then you show them how to avoid making the same mistake in the future, and then they proclaim their immense gratitude and undying loyalty to you, and then they do the same thing, over and over again, what would you do? “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world...

This week Fr. Paul explains what theology cannot accept: that terror and glory function in the same way in scripture.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

“Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings.“ (Psalm 61:1-4) I trust you so much, Lord, that I’ll just hang out back here, at a distanc...

This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 31 noting the significance of the Hebrew word teraphim. (Episode 210) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;”  “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments.” (Psalms 111:10 - 112:1) “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom; before honor comes humility.”(Proverbs 15:33) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and...

This week, Fr. Paul begins a discussion of Genesis 31. (Episode 209) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In the book of Genesis, the sons of Cain seek divine status and an artificial life forged in everlasting stone. In Matthew, Jesus, like the sons of Adam in Genesis 5, is humanized and weakened on the Cross. The line of Cain ends in the abomination of human kingship; in the Crucifixion, Jesus is humiliated in front of everyone to make it clear that no human being may sit on his Father’s throne. At...

This week, Fr. Paul explains that when something is mentioned only once in Scripture it’s a good indication that we should pay attention. (Episode 208) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We modern folk like to think we invented confusion, but human beings have always been easily confused. We hear and see whatever we want, ignoring everything only to marvel at a phantom we mistake for our reflection.  In Matthew 27, this behavior exposes the characters’ folly in the story. The bystanders are listening for something other than the content of what is preached from the cross. Like us,...

In today’s program Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 30.  (Episode 207) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Self-appointed apologists are quick to explain that God may allow “bad things” to happen, but he in no way causes them. So the apologist assesses God’s will from a human point of view and then decides that it is wrong, concluding that God obviously could not have meant what he said and did in the story. This way of thinking not only sidelines God in Scripture but stretches the “self” in self-appoi...

This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 29, touching on the significance of Rachel’s barrenness.  (Episode 206)  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Everybody loves to quote Scripture—I’m not sure why—because no matter the text, the minute you open your mouth to pronounce what it says, it condemns you. Sometimes in obvious ways, but more often in subtle ways that betray the depth of your ignorance—like the chief priests in Matthew’s gospel.  My advice, skip the Bible memes on your profile and avoid empty words about how much you love your pers...

In today’s program Fr. Paul stresses that it is the text itself, not the person hearing it, that makes connections within the story. (Episode 205)  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There is no such thing as an oral tradition. By its very definition, “the rule” of the Gospel is written down. It’s called a rule because God issued and inscribed a ruling, shared publicly as an objective reference and standard for all to follow. The Gospel of Matthew itself demonstrates the importance of this mechanism by showing us what happens when religious and political authorities ignore thi...