The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

Although Jesus is the Son of God in light of his begetting by the Father, the four New Testament gospels also attribute "Son of God" as a title to Jesus at his baptism. At this baptism, John the Baptist immerses Jesus in water and the Spirit descends to anoint Jesus for his royal messianic task. The voice from heaven confirms that the newly appointed Jesus is the royal Son of God. This episode exa...

Having noted that New Testament authors depict Jesus as "Son of God" in distinct ways, we set out to further explore how this designation relates to Jesus' birth. In this episode, we look at how prominent New Testament authors (Matthew, Luke, Paul) portray Jesus' moment of conception in terms of him being the Son of God. We also explore the implications for the preexistence of Jesus as well as the...

New Testament authors regularly portray Jesus Christ as the Son of God. However, not all manners of designating Jesus with this vital description are alike. This episode introduces the various ways in which Jesus is the Son of God in the New Testament by examining the writings of Luke (Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles) to see how one author seems to comfortably regard Jesus as the Son of Go...

This episode examines the NT to see if its authors reimagined the God of Israel or reaffirmed him as he is portrayed in the Hebrew Bible.  Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks       To view the notes from this episode please click the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wnQtcz3R44WIPa3-LzRduFSjgzK48ETSFJdmDXaF...

This week's episode explores the popular noun Adonai as it describes the God of Israel. We define its meaning and show how its form is plural but singular in function. We then look at biblical examples to demonstrate that the authors of the Hebrew Bible employed the title Adonai to depict God as a single person. We also examine whether Adonai is a plural of majesty word and why that is noteworthy....

After Yahweh, the Hebrew word elohim is the most common noun in the Hebrew Bible. This episode explores the word elohim in its relation to the one true God of Israel. We examine the meaning of the plural form and ask what this means when referencing the Israelite God regularly defined as a single person. We also explore the grammatical concept called the "plural of majesty" and look at how it pert...

The true God has a name, and that name is Yahweh. This episode explores the person of Yahweh and the ways in which he is portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. We examine if "Yahweh" is even the correct pronunciation of the divine name. We also seek to understand if Yahweh is depicted as the Father alone or if he is a multi-personal God. Lastly, we explore the ways in which Yahweh is differentiated from t...

In this final episode dealing with the instances of misunderstanding in the Fourth Gospel, we see Jesus telling his disciples about the forthcoming time of grief when he will be taken away followed by a time of joy. Some of the disciples deliberate as to what Jesus means with this cryptic saying. This results in Jesus clarifying the misunderstanding in a manner that redirects readers forward into...

In this week's episode, we explore the confusion surrounding the role and function of the Jewish agent. Jesus tells his disciples in John chapter 14 that they have known and seen the Father, but what Jesus really means is that he himself has been acting as the Father's authorized agent all this time. We also examine some of the ways in which the Gospel of John portrays Jesus as the definitive agen...

In this episode, we explore the misunderstanding that arises when Jesus speaks about the way to the Father. Thomas, a well-known doubter, fails to grasp that Jesus is speaking about himself as the way. When Jesus clarifies the misunderstanding of Thomas, he claims to be the definitive way to the Father, following with an equal claim of being the truth and the life. We explore what these characteri...

In this week's episode, we explore the conversation on the topic of discipleship that takes place between Jesus and Peter. Peter, who makes a bold statement about his commitment to following Jesus without counting the costs of discipleship, misunderstands Jesus and ends up denying him three times shortly thereafter. This episode also examines what it means for Jesus to be glorified as a martyr, wh...

In John 12, Jesus declares himself to be the Son of Man who will be lifted up in a manner that causes confusion among the crowds. They fail to understand how the messianic Son of Man--who is supposed to remain forever according to Jewish theology--will be lifted away. Jesus, however, is speaking about his impending death when he will be lifted up on the cross to both die and be glorified. This epi...

In yet another example of the Johannine theme of misunderstanding, Jesus speaks about Lazarus rising from the grave in a way that raises the question of timing and the identity of the one who is to perform this miracle. In this episode, we look at how Martha misunderstands Jesus and the manner in which Jesus corrects her confusion. We also explore the Christological significance of Jesus' self-dec...

In John chapter 11, Jesus attends to his friend Lazarus who has sadly fallen asleep. Jesus' disciples misunderstand Jesus, thinking he is speaking of the natural sleep that takes place each night, while Jesus was actually speaking of the sleep of death. This episode explores the theme of misunderstanding pertaining to the sleep of death and examines the Christological implications of a human being...

In the final instance of misunderstanding in John 8, Jesus speaks about Abraham rejoicing to see the day of Messiah. The Jews mishear Jesus and accuse him of claiming to be old enough to have seen Abraham. In Jesus' clarification to the misunderstanding, we come to the disputed text where Jesus states that "I am he" who was before Abraham was born. This episode explores the theme of misunderstandi...

When Jesus promises that those who keep his word will never see death, his Jewish opponents misunderstand him on two points. This episode explores the theme of misunderstanding and the ways in which Jesus is misheard, both in regard to the life he has to offer as a prerogative belonging to the Father and in regard to the identity of Jesus as God's authorized Messiah. We also look at how Jesus agre...

As we continue to study the many misunderstandings thematically embedded in the Gospel of John, we come across Jesus speaking about the freedom offered by the Son of God. This immediately raises questions about the nature of freedom, what really enslaves humanity, and the definition of a son in comparison to his father. We also discuss the importance of Jesus' claim to be a human being and the Jew...

As we continue to explore the many instances of the theme of misunderstanding in the 8th chapter of the Gospel of John, we arrive at Jesus speaking ambiguously about his own death. In doing so, Jesus introduces the concept of dying in one's own sin and why failing to believe in him will bring about that consequence. As we explore the nature of Jesus' misunderstood words, we come to better understa...

As we begin our study of the many misunderstandings thematically presented in John chapter 8, we come across Jesus speaking about his Father. The dialoguing Pharisees seek to understand who Jesus' Father is, assuming that Jesus is referring to an ordinary human father. However, Jesus is referring to God the Father, and by calling God his own Father, Jesus is making a self-declaration to be the Son...

This week, we explore the dialogue between Jesus and the Jews that results in a misunderstanding over where Jesus is going (to which he cannot be followed). The Jews seem to misunderstand Jesus on a geographic level as well as in regard to who sent Jesus. We look closely at the misunderstanding, attempt to make sense of what Jesus did in fact mean, and how his words and deeds result in proper Chri...

As we continue to explore the theme of misunderstanding in the Fourth Gospel, we come upon Jesus speaking about the need to eat his flesh. The grumbling Jews misunderstand Jesus by taking his words literally to the point of absurdity. However, Jesus was speaking about the feasting that takes place in the Eucharist meal where those who commune with the Son of Man are able to receive eternal life fr...

In another example of the Johannine theme of misunderstanding, Jesus claims to be the bread of life that has come down out of heaven. While the crowds are eager for this food, Jesus was actually pointing to himself as the locus of God's life, offered to those who believe. This episode explores the misunderstanding that took place, what Jesus meant with his statement, and how the self-designation f...

Having previously discussed the difference between ordinary and spiritual water, Jesus defines his own food as obediently doing the will of Him who sent Jesus. This episode explores this exchange between Jesus and his disciples wherein a misunderstanding takes place regarding the proper meaning of Jesus' food. As Jesus clarifies the disciples' misunderstanding, he refers to himself as an empowered...

In this week's episode, we explore the exchange between Jesus and a woman from Samaria. Jesus' discussion about the gift of living water is misunderstood as a reference to ordinary water, but Jesus is pointing to the gift of the spirit of God as well as to his own unique role as God's messianic agent. We look closely at the misunderstanding offered by the Samaritan woman and her developing christo...

This week’s episode will explore the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter 3. We look at what it means to be "born again" (and discuss if that is actually the best translation for what Jesus meant). We place the words of Nicodemus into the outline of the theme of misunderstanding, figure out where he misheard Jesus, and what Jesus actually meant. Afterwards, we look further into the...