The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

In John chapter five, Jesus is accused of making himself equal with God. Is this actually what Jesus was doing or did the Jews misunderstand Jesus and his intentions? This episode will look at the narrative in John 5 in order to better understand what "Son of God" means. Buy my new book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/iMFP9VC   Buy the ebook:  https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CTcDEQAAQBAJ&...

This episode examines the "Son of God" references in John chapter three. In doing so, we discuss what it means that God "gave" the Son, God "sent" the Son, the Son came "into the world", the Son has been given "all things," and the Son is due belief/obedience. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To support the Biblical U...

The Gospel of John is often assumed to be the document that portrays Jesus in the most exalted christology--even higher than what Matthew, Mark, and Luke taught. But is this really the case? This episode begins our study of what the Fourth Gospel means when it calls Jesus "Son of God" to see if popular opinion holds up to a detailed analysis of the text. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podca...

The role of "Son of God" is a crucial role in the messianic understanding of Jesus, according to Matthew. This episode will look at the Son of God's relationship to the heavenly Father, the Son's lack of omniscience, the understanding of the Jewish authorities in regard to Jesus' claims, and the use of the title surrounding the events of the crucifixion. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podca...

As we continue to survey the Gospel of Matthew, we explore what it means for Jesus (as Son of God) to share intimate knowledge of the Father. We also carefully examine Simon Peter's confession to see what the Father revealed to him about Jesus' identity. Lastly, we explore the meaning behind Jesus walking on the water in a manner that led to him being worshipped as the Son of God. Subscribe for fr...

Matthew's Gospel appears to define Jesus as "Son of God" as the one who shows solidarity with humanity. This episode will explore how Jesus is the embodiment of the nation of Israel, how Jesus identifies with the Jewish people in baptism, that Jesus is the climactic type of Isaac, and how Jesus closely associates himself with other faithful human beings called "sons of God." Subscribe for free on...

In the final installment of our exploration into what Luke's Gospel means when attributing the title "Son of God" to Jesus, we explore Jesus' interactions with the demons, the vision of the Transfiguration, a special comment by Jesus himself, and Jesus' confession before the authorities. It turns out that "Son of God" in Luke is a title consistent with a high human Christology, rather than a trini...

This episode continues our survey of Luke's Gospel to see how he defines the title "Son of God" in regard to Jesus. We explore the baptism of Jesus, the genealogy, and the temptation narrative in the wilderness. Luke's portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God is consistent with a high human Christology. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/...

Being the largest Gospel in the New Testament, Luke has a lot to say about Jesus as the Son of God. Does Luke agree with Mark that Jesus is the messianic human Son of God, rejected and killed for God's purposes, or does Luke make the title "Son of God" out to refer to a preexistent divine being who became human? This episode will look at Jesus' birth and childhood to see how "Son of God" is define...

What sort of information can be gained by examining Jesus' dialogues with the unclean spirits--those who know that he is the Son of God? Does Jesus calling himself the "beloved son" in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants make him a preexistent being? What should be made of Jesus' admission of ignorance concerning the day and hour of the second coming? These questions will be answered as we continue...

Does the title "Son of God" refer to a preexistent being who became human in Jesus? Does "Son of God" refer to the second person of the Godhead? The earliest New Testament gospel, Mark, does not seem to think so. Rather, Mark teaches that Jesus is the royal Son of God who suffers and dies as God's authorized and highly empowered human Messiah. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.c...

In this episode, we note how the human Israelite kings from the line of David are called "mighty god", share in God's shepherding prerogatives, are invested with God's own name, and can be described as one who is "like God." If all of these things can be said of fully human kings, then this has considerable implications for how we interpret New Testament christology where the very same empowerment...

Our exploration of how the Hebrew Bible depicts God investing his authority, attributes, and prerogatives into the human Israelite king continues with a survey of Psalm 89 and 1 Chronicles 29. In these passages, the human king possesses unique empowerment from God, receives worship, and even rules on the throne of Yahweh. We then turn to the New Testament to note that the human Jesus is portrayed...

This episode examines Psalm 72 in its portrayal of the human Israelite king--a king empowered with God's own prerogatives and judgments. This human king is worshiped, acts as a savior, and even possesses a name that preexisted the daytime sun. Each of these points finds parallels in the NT Gospels in their portrayal of King Jesus, a human being empowered by the one true God in a manner consistent...

In what ways can a study of the various human kings of Israel within the Old Testament help understand the four Gospels' portrayal of Jesus, the human king of God's kingdom? In this episode, we will begin by examining Psalms 2 and 45, noting how these human Israelite kings were highly invested and empowered by God in ways that parallel the high human christology of the New Testament. Subscribe for...

The lesser-known prophet Elisha is depicted in 2 Kings as an extraordinarily empowered human being, possessing control over nature, the ability to extend his human presence, and even summoning the heavenly host to his disposal. If Elisha was a divinely empowered human being, what does it mean when the four New Testament Gospels depict Jesus Christ with the same miracles and authority? Answer: Jesu...

Like the human beings Adam and Moses, the prophet Elijah shared in God's unique attributes, glory, and prerogatives. If Elijah was a divinely empowered human being who controlled nature, gave life, and shared in God's glory, then we should not be surprised when the four New Testament Gospels portray Jesus Christ as a human being sharing the same empowerment. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://p...

In what ways does Moses function as God's agent by bearing God's unique attributes and prerogatives? Moses is called "God," Moses shares in God's actions, and Moses even bears God's glory upon his unveiled face. The New Testament Gospels also depict the human Jesus as empowered with God's name, sharing in God's actions, and bearing a glorified face, resulting in a high human christology. Subscribe...

What is the best way of understanding the four Gospels as they depict the human Jesus sharing in divine attributes belonging to God alone? This episode examines three portrayals of the primordial human being Adam, who is regularly depicted as also sharing God's unique traits and attributes. Understanding how Jews regarded Adam's relationship with God helps us better interpret how the Gospels portr...

As we continue our study into Paul's depiction of Christ in Phil 2:5-11, we note further examples where Caesar is subverted. Rome's harmonious peace is called into question with the exaltation of Jesus and his newly acquired authority. The authoritative titles "Augustus" and "Father of the Fatherland" are also subverted when the Father's authoritative name is bestowed upon Jesus. Lastly, Jesus act...

This episode sets out to explore the important christological passage of Phil 2:5-11 to see if it also subverts the claims of Rome and her emperors. Would Paul's depiction of Jesus have been heard as offensive to those loyal to Caesar and his empire? I think so, and I think Paul intended that his argument be subversive. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblic...

In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul regards Jesus as the true savior and lord, deliberately drawing his readers away from their loyalties to Caesar, to whom these titles were widely given. How else does Paul laud the risen Jesus Christ while simultaneously subverting the Roman emperor in this passage? This episode offers some answers to this important question.  Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podc...

This episode observes how 1 Thessalonians underscores Jesus' lordship in opposition to the lordship of Caesar. The Christian gospel opposed the gospel of Caesar, and Paul demanded his converts turn away from participation in the imperial cult in favor of monotheism and messianism Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To su...

In what sort of ways did Paul's preaching in Thessalonica subvert the imperial claims about Caesar? In this first installment of a two-part series, we will examine some of the ways in which the Lord Jesus Christ upstages the Lord Caesar Nero in 1 Thessalonians. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To support the Biblical...

How were the claims about the person and work of Jesus Christ understood in the Roman Empire where Caesar was widely worshipped as the "son of God," "Lord," and the bringer of peace to the kingdom? Could Jesus be the exalted Lord and Caesar be the Lord at the same time? This episode seeks to examine how Paul described Jesus to his Roman audience, asking if Paul openly subverted the political claim...