The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

This week's episode explores the third Isaianic Servant Song, located in Isaiah 50. This passage describes both the obedient nature of the servant to Yahweh, while also highlighting the ways in which he is rejected and humiliated by his peers. We then turn to the New Testament to note the impact that Isaiah 50 has had on the portrayal of Jesus as humiliated during his crucifixion, as one who is ob...

This week's episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores the second Isaianic Servant Song, located within Isaiah 49. This passage speaks of a servant created by Yahweh in the womb who has the destiny of restoring the children of Israel as well as being a light to the ends of the earth. We also take time to consider how the NT authors, especially Luke, the writer of Hebrews, and John the Reve...

In the first of Isaiah's famous Servant Songs, the chosen servant of Yahweh has a spirit-enabled mission to be a covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles. This episode explores the original meaning of this servant song and the ways it was adapted to illustrate Jesus Christ by the NT authors.  Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.m...

This week's episode explores the ways in which Isaiah 28:16 and its portrayal of the cornerstone in Zion was interpreted in Judaism and early Christianity to refer to the son of God--the royal Messiah.  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...

This week's episode explores the "Branch" imagery used for the royal Davidic king within the Book of Isaiah. Our first reference illustrates this figure as a descendant of Jesse, David's father. We also look at a similar reference that associates this Branch with Yahweh, and in doing so, we examine the possible ways that this reference came to possess the characteristics of a bright shining star....

This week's episode looks at the prophet Isaiah and his oracle concerning Immanuel. We explore the meaning of Immanuel in Isaiah's context and in Matthew's context. After considering the messianic relevance of Isaiah 7:14, we examine the meaning of "with us is God" in light of Matthew's Wisdom Christology. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.payp...

This week's episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast asks if the erotic Song of Solomon had any influence on Jesus' self-understanding and on the NT portrayal of the Jewish Messiah. Our study looks for traces of influence of the Song of Solomon upon Jesus' role as the bridegroom and his interaction with two women in the Gospel of John. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects b...

This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores how the Jewish sages portrayed personified wisdom alongside personified folly in Proverbs chapter 9. We then turn to note the many ways that this illustration of God's wisdom impacted the historical Jesus and the early Church in their messianic understandings, namely by seeing Jesus as the embodiment of Lady Wisdom. Please consider supporting...

Proverbs chapter eight contains the most heightened picture of personified wisdom within the Hebrew Bible. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast examines this chapter, discusses the portrayal of Lady Wisdom, and explores how the New Testament authors understood Jesus Christ as embodying many of personified wisdom's characteristics.  Please consider supporting this Podcast and future proje...

Proverbs chapter three had a massive impact on Jesus himself and on the NT writers who portrayed him as the locus of God's wisdom. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores the portrayal of personified wisdom in Proverbs chapter three and notes many of her traits and qualities. Next, we turn to the New Testament to see six discernable ways in which Jesus functions as the embodiment o...

Little do most readers of the Bible know, the Book of Proverbs significantly shaped the way that the New Testament writers characterized Jesus Christ. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores the first chapter of Proverbs and its depiction of the wisdom of God as a personified female figure. After examining wisdom in Proverbs 1, we offer some suggestions on ways in which the chapter...

Psalm 132 longs for a time when the Davidic kingship will be restored by God. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast looks at the contents of this oft-neglected psalm in order to better understand the implications behind the strong New Testament commitment to portraying Jesus as the Son of David. We will, furthermore, consider how this messianic title further defines the humanity of Jesus...

Psalm 118 was deeply influential upon the New Testament writers in portraying Jesus as the rejected Son of God, but originally it was a temple psalm that celebrated the battle fought by the psalmist. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores Psalm 118, first in its original context and then in the way it was used by the NT authors. We also explore the messianic pun with the stone and...

Psalm 110 is arguably the most impactful passage upon New Testament Christology. This episode examines the psalm and its contents and discusses the differences between the two lords. Afterward, we explore some of the many ways in which the various New Testament authors portrayed Jesus Christ as the exalted lord at the right hand of Israel's God. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future p...

This episode examines the messianic implications contained within Psalm 89--a psalm that expounds the Davidic covenant between Israel's God and the regent David. We explore how God shares his prerogatives and authority over the chaotic waters with the Davidic king and the vital relationship between the human king and God. Lastly, we look at the various ways in which Psalm 89 has impacted the messi...

Psalm 72 impacted the expectation of the Israelite Messiah in many noteworthy ways. This episode of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast explores the contents of Psalm 72, notes how the human king is empowered by the God of Israel, and observes how the contents of the psalm shaped the messianic expectations in the Babylonian Talmud and in the New Testament, especially pertaining to the subject of preexi...

Psalm 69 might not be the most popular psalm in the collection, but it was highly influential upon early Christians as they framed Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen messiah. This episode explores Psalm 69, examines the subject as a persecuted righteous person, and takes note of the relationship between the psalmist and the God of Israel. Then we turn to the many New Testament authors who dre...

Psalm 45 proves to be yet another remarkable passage that inspired early interpreters in their understanding of the Messiah. This psalm is a love song sung towards the human king--a royal groom who is highly empowered by the God of Israel's attributes, prerogatives, and authority. This episode looks at three ways in which the Gospel of John draws upon Psalm 45 in order to portray Jesus Christ dist...

This week's episode looks at Psalm 40 and the ways in which the New Testament authors drew upon this psalm to portray Jesus Christ as one who was faithful to God, resulting in the sacrificial death of Jesus. Psalm 40 illustrates the life of a faithful Israelite whose ear is opened to obeying the will of Yahweh, his God. This obedient orientation is highlighted in the psalm over the offering of var...

Psalm 22 was a highly influential passage for early Christians as they tried to understand the death of Jesus as well as the God who delivered Jesus from the grave. This episode explores the impact that Psalm 22 had upon both the historical Jesus and the writers of the New Testament. In doing so, we observe how Jesus has a God, how Jesus is a genuine human being, and how God delivered Jesus from t...

This week's episode examines the contents of Psalm 16 and the ways in which it influences the NT author's christological understanding of Jesus. While the psalm originally petitioned God for protection from death, the writers of the New Testament saw an application in the death and resurrection of Jesus--the Holy One of God. We explore how the psalm addresses and understands God, how the psalm hig...

As we turn to Psalm 8 in order to explore how it shaped the messianic expectations of early Jews and Christians, we note in this episode the various ways in which the passage draws upon Genesis 1 and its portrayal of the creator God and Adam. We also look into the ways in which Yahweh shares his privileges and prerogatives with human beings, as well as the ways in which God has done the very same...

This week's episode explores the highly influential Psalm 2. This psalm introduces "the Christ" as Yahweh's anointed king, the son of God. These titles proved to be impactful to early Christians in their understanding of Jesus, his role, and his relationship with the God of Israel. After exploring Psalm 2 in its original context, we look at three significant ways in which Psalm 2 reappears in the...

The Davidic covenant is arguably the most influential OT passage for New Testament Christology. This episode explores the contents of God's treaty with King David, examines the qualifications of David's royal descendants, looks into how the biblical chronicler understood this covenant, before turning to the New Testament to get a glimpse at some of the ways in which Jesus Christ is portrayed as th...

This week's episode explores the "Prophet like Moses" from Deuteronomy. This authorized and empowered spokesman for God is a member of the children of Israel (i.e., a human being), a bearer of the words of Yahweh, and one who speaks in God's name. There is evidence that the author of 1 Maccabees still looked forward to this highly authorized prophet. The New Testament, particularly the Gospel of J...