The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

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...

Having examined the Adam Christology in Paul's letters, we can now explore how this theology functioned in the argument of Hebrews. For the unknown author of Hebrews, Jesus the Messiah was an authentic member of the human race, perfected by the sufferings of death, exalted above all things, and acts as the current high priest. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the...

While Adam Christology is clearly apparent in Paul's letters to the Romans and 1 Corinthians, what can we say about its presence in Philippians? This episode explores the possibility that the Christ-hymn of Phil. 2:5-11 evokes allusions and echoes to Adam in such as way as to highlight Christ's distinctive person, work, and humanity. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podc...

1 Corinthians sheds much light on how Paul understood Jesus as the Second Adam. Not only does Paul define Jesus as an authentic human being who represents the new humanity, but Paul also regards the Jesus and Adam pair as having salvific and eschatological significance. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To support the...

The Apostle Paul describes Jesus as the "second Adam". What does this term mean for Paul's christology and how does it relate to whether Jesus consciously preexisted his birth? This episode explores Paul's well-integrated theology of Jesus as the "second Adam" in the Letter to the Romans. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id134798388...

What exactly does Matthew intend for his readers to understand with the reference to Jesus being ‘God with us’? Does this mean that Jesus was to be explicitly equated with the Lord God or is Matthew’s argument more nuanced and developed? This episode seeks to examine the theology and purpose of Jesus being called “Emmanuel” within the Gospel of Matthew. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcas...

Since it is clear that God often invested his name, authority, attributes, and rule into human beings and angels within the Old Testament, does the same phenomenon appear in the New Testament? This episode explores how God indeed continues to invest and empower human agents--especially Jesus Christ--with these traits, without losing his oneness or threatening monotheism. Subscribe for free on iTun...

God regularly uses qualified human agents to carry forth his will and deeds on earth. How much authority do these agents have? What does it mean when God invests his rule and attributes in his agents? This episode seeks to examine God and his agents in the Old Testament as a preview of how God sends and authorizes Jesus. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bibli...

In a more casual episode, I wanted to freely think out loud about the relevance of Jesus as a human being, the original function of human beings as image-bearers, how Jesus goes about reflecting God's love, goodness, and just rule, and how Jesus is an example to me personally. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To suppo...

One of the most unfamiliar titles and vocations attributed to Jesus Christ within the New Testament is that he is "the Prophet", or "the Prophet like Moses". What is the significance of this title for understanding who Jesus is and his origins? The key lies in Deut. 18:15-19. This episode seems to explore the importance of this oft-neglected designation for Jesus. Subscribe for free on iTunes: htt...

Despite the 25,000 grammatical references to God being a single person within Scripture, some readers are more persuaded by a handful of verses where God speaks in the first person plural. One of these passages is the famous Genesis 1:26. This episode explores these rare "us" texts and concludes that they most likely refer to God speaking with his angelic court (and are thereby not a threat to God...

What does the Gospel of John mean when it twice argues that the Son of Man "ascended" and "descended" from heaven? Does this mean that the Son of Man preexisted in heaven, or is there something else intended? This episode seeks to unravel and answer these complex questions. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To support...

This episode will examine John 1:1, just a single verse, to within an inch of its life. The study draws readers back to Genesis, notes the importance of Hebrew poetry, and even quotes scholars on a critical point of grammar. Subscribe for free on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biblical-unitarian-podcast/id1347983887   To support the Biblical Unitarian Podcast, donate here: https...