The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

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...

In the Gospel of John, there is a narrative device that scholars call the theme of misunderstanding. This episode will introduce the theme, explain how it functions, talk about what scholars have to say about it, and examine it in a test case involving Jesus and the temple to be destroyed and raised. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/...

This episode continues the topic from the previous week, which sought to examine how the one true God is portrayed as a single person in passages of the New Testament that are not typically considered in these sorts of discussions. This episode will explore passages from 2 Corinthians to the Book of Revelation where God is portrayed by the biblical authors as a single self, one person.  Please con...

In the Greek New Testament, there are many ways in which the true God is portrayed as a single person. While it is common to point to verses stressing God’s oneness and the Shema, there are other ways in which the Greek expresses this important truth. This week’s episode will begin to explore how independent pronouns–both reflective and intensive–are used to highlight the clear fact that God is on...

This episode offers reflections from four years of podcasting in the form of ten tips for exploring, seeking, teaching, and discerning truth as we aim to honor the one true God and his human son, Jesus Christ. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks                                To view the notes from this episode please cl...

In our 200th episode, we listen to the closing statements from the recent debate on the Unitarian God in the Old Testament, I then bring on Brandon Duke to interview regarding the debate, the arguments therein, and whether there should be further debates in the future. If you would like to see the debate in its entirety, follow this link: https://youtu.be/b0t90eJe0q4   Please consider supporting t...

In this episode, we listen to the second cross-examination portion of the recent debate entitled, "Does the Old Testament Teach Unitarianism?". I offer my hindsight reactions and perspectives on the ways in which Kelly Powers answered my questions, discuss what his answers say about the strength of his case, and offer my feelings about declaring a winner of the debate. You can watch the debate in...

This week's episode will focus on the first cross-examination portion of the recent debate "Does the Old Testament Teach Unitarianism?". I also offer some personal reactions to the answers revealed in the cross-examination as well as assess the strength of the opposition position. You can find the entire debate video here: https://youtu.be/b0t90eJe0q4   Please consider supporting this Podcast and...

This episode explores the rebuttal phase of the recent debate entitled, "Does the Old Testament Teach Unitarianism?". I offer my insider strategies for preparing for a rebuttal as well as share my reactions to my opponent's attempt to rebut my opening statement. You can watch the debate in its entirety here: https://youtu.be/b0t90eJe0q4   Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects...

This episode will feature the opening statements of my recent debate on the topic "Does the Old Testament Teach Unitarianism?" with Kelly Powers. I open by discussing my reasons for organizing my opening statement in the manner that I did, my overarching strategy, and a few of my observations. You can watch the debate in its entirety here: https://youtu.be/b0t90eJe0q4    Please consider supporting...

The author of Hebrews offers a unique contribution to New Testament theology by portraying Jesus as the high priest. This episode explores the theology surrounding Jesus' high priesthood, looking at how the author of Hebrews understands this role and its wider purposes. We also discuss how Jesus came to inherit the position, the ways in which Jesus is qualified, how Jesus' priesthood is superior t...

The latter part of Hebrew chapter 2 is one of the Bible's most persuasive and extended arguments for Jesus' humanity. The passage cites two quotations from the Old Testament in order to demonstrate that Jesus has human brothers and sisters. It argues that Jesus was likened to human beings in all things, including mortality, ability to be tempted, and possessing a faithful relationship with God. We...

The grammatically ambiguous reference to the number one in Hebrews 2:11 opens the door for two competing interpretations, both with significant implications for Biblical Unitarians. Does the passage indicate that Jesus and the believers all derive from a single creator--the Father alone? Or did the author of Hebrews intend to portray Jesus as sharing the same humanity as believers? This episode wi...

Although Psalm 8 is cited and alluded to frequently in the New Testament, Biblical Unitarians have only seldom used it in their portrayals of Jesus. This episode looks at Hebrews chapter 2 and its use of Psalm 8 in order to better understand its Christological impact. We discuss the differences between the Hebrew version and the Greek version of Psalm 8, the meaning of the phrase "He made him lowe...