The Bridge Builders Forum

Send us Fan Mail What does Paul really mean by “One New Man” in Ephesians 2:15? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore how a widely misunderstood phrase has fueled theological confusion and erased the very Jewish-Gentile harmony Paul worked to establish. Is “One New Man” about replacing identities—or reconciling them? You’ll learn why mistranslations have shaped Christian theo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the Book of Revelation—long seen as a mysterious, apocalyptic Christian text—is actually rooted in Jewish thought and tradition? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rebekah Haigh, a scholar of Second Temple Judaism whose research challenges the way most people read Revelation. We explore Revelation’s connections to Jewish apocalyptic literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and th...

Send us Fan Mail Did Paul believe Christians replaced the Jewish people? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore what Romans really says about Replacement Theology and Israel. Far from promoting triumphalism, Paul urges Gentile believers to stay humble—and to see themselves as joined among Israel, not instead of Israel. Discover how reframing Romans in its Jewish context challe...

Send us Fan Mail Was Paul just a Jewish teacher—or was he also shaped by the Greek world around him? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore how Paul’s deeply Jewish identity was expressed within the Greco-Roman culture of his day. Drawing on examples from Romans 7 and 11, we highlight how Paul used Greek literary techniques, cultural metaphors, and the Septuagint to connect wi...

Send us Fan Mail The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most polarizing issues of our time. But what if there was a way to discuss it with biblical clarity, human compassion, and moral courage? In this timely and powerful episode of the Bridge Builders Forum, Ryan sits down with Justin Kron — founder of The Kesher Project and co-producer of the award-winning film Hope in the Holy Land. The...

Send us Fan Mail Who was the Jewish prophet behind Paul’s passion? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore why the Apostle Paul quoted Isaiah more than any other prophet—and how Isaiah’s vision of the nations streaming to Jerusalem shaped Paul’s mission, message, and hope. Far from abandoning the Hebrew Bible, Paul was fueled by it. Isaiah didn’t just inform Paul’s theology—he...

Send us Fan Mail Did Paul expect Gentiles to keep the Torah? Most people would say, “Absolutely not.” After all, Paul is often seen as the one who set Christians free from the Law. But is that what Paul really taught? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore this surprising truth: Paul taught Torah to Gentile believers—and expected them to live by its wisdom. But not as Jews. Pa...

Send us Fan Mail Why would a traditional Jewish rabbi teach about Jesus, Paul, and the New Testament? In this episode of Bridge Builders Forum, Rabbi Joe Charnes joins Ryan Lambert for an honest conversation about the Jewishness of Jesus and Paul, the evolving Jewish perspective on Christianity, and why Jewish-Christian friendship matters now more than ever. Rabbi Joe also shares the personal push...

Send us Fan Mail Did Paul teach early Christians to celebrate Pentecost… or Shavuot? Today, these two holidays are often seen as separate—Pentecost as a Christian celebration of the Holy Spirit, and Shavuot as a Jewish festival remembering the giving of the Torah. But in Paul’s time, they were one and the same. In this 3-minute episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore: What Pentecost an...

Send us Fan Mail Did Paul abandon Jerusalem after his encounter with Jesus? Many assume so—but the evidence tells a different story. In this episode, Ryan Lambert draws from his book The Weird Apostle to explore Paul’s enduring commitment to Jerusalem and the Temple. Discover why Jerusalem remained sacred to Paul, how his letters and actions reflect deep solidarity with the city, and why reclaimin...

Send us Fan Mail Is the New Testament antisemitic? In this thought-provoking episode of the Bridge Builders Forum, Lutheran theologian Dr. Jesper Svartvik joins Ryan Lambert to explore this controversial question. Drawing from his book Jewish Foundations of the New Testament, Dr. Svartvik addresses how supersessionism and misreadings of texts like John 8 have fueled antisemitism for generations. W...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know the first interpreter of Paul’s most important letter was a woman? Her name was Phoebe—and she didn’t just carry Paul’s letter to the Romans; she likely read it aloud, fielded questions, and explained its meaning. In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore Phoebe's remarkable role in the early Jesus movement and what her story reveals about Paul’...

Send us Fan Mail Romans 10:4 is often quoted to claim that Jesus put an end to the Torah. But is that really what Paul meant? In this episode, we take a fresh look at Romans 10:4 and explore what Paul was actually saying about the Torah, the Gentiles, and God’s promises to Israel. Was Paul declaring the law obsolete—or revealing its deeper purpose through Christ?  Drawing on insights from scholar...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean for Christians to truly understand Judaism—and why does it matter? In this thought-provoking conversation, Orthodox Jewish scholar Dr. Tzvi Novick (Notre Dame) joins the Bridge Builders Forum to discuss his bold new book "Judaism: A Guide for Christians". From the lasting impact of supersessionism to what Jews really believe about the Talmud and the Hol...

Send us Fan Mail Did the Apostle Paul abandon the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel? Many Christians assume he did—but the Bible tells a different story. In this special Bridge Builders Forum episode, released for Israel’s Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut), we explore Paul’s deep commitment to the Abrahamic covenant and why that matters for how we understand the biblical promise of the land. ...

Send us Fan Mail Is the Apostle Paul anti-Jewish? Or have we misunderstood him for centuries? In this episode of Bridge Builders Forum, we confront one of the most damaging legacies of Christian interpretation: the misreading of Paul that has fueled antisemitism. We unpack three common distortions of Paul’s writings and explore how reclaiming his Jewish identity can lead to healing, not harm. 🔍 Y...

Send us Fan Mail Was Paul’s body as robust as his reputation? In this episode, Dr. Isaac Soon joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, A Disabled Apostle . We explore compelling historical evidence that Paul lived with multiple disabilities—and how this impacts how we read his letters. From “thorn in the flesh” to ancient views on circumcision and stature, this conversation offers a powerful n...

Send us Fan Mail Within a few hundred years after Jesus and Paul, very few Christian groups maintained a connection to Passover. But what would it have been like for the Christ-following communities that Paul visited and wrote to? Would they have celebrated Passover?  And would Paul support them doing so? And what would Paul think about Christians celebrating Passover today? We cover these questio...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus' resurrection was indeed a cause for celebration in Paul's mind! But when would Paul have celebrated the resurrection? Would it have been Easter or Passover? And what would Paul think about Christians celebrating Jesus' resurrection on Easter in modern times? We discuss all this and more in this 3-minute video! Bridge Builders Forum - https://www.bridgebuilder...

Send us Fan Mail Moving forward, this podcast will be known as the Bridge Builders Forum. Why the change? Watch this 4-minute video and find out! Bridge Builders Forum - https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/ An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians better understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews an...

Send us Fan Mail The Apostle Paul has been used to support a longstanding viewpoint that assigns a timeless responsibility for Jesus’ death to “the Jews.” This has led to countless Jewish people being persecuted for being “Christ-killers,” even in modern times. One of the texts used to justify the continuous, generational guilt of “the Jews” for killing Jesus is found in the letters of Paul.  1 Th...

Send us Fan Mail What is Paul’s gospel? Is it the Christian message of salvation? Is it Paul’s view of how to get to heaven? Did Paul's gospel serve to replace Jewish legalism? Despite how often this term is used, there is a lot of misunderstanding about Paul's gospel. Check out this 3-minute video where I briefly discuss what Paul's gospel is...and what it's not. Bridge Builde...

Send us Fan Mail A growing number of Christians are celebrating Passover to restore the foundations of their faith…and out of a desire to celebrate the holidays that Jesus celebrated. But there are Christian and Jewish voices that push back and don’t see Christians celebrating Passover as healthy or appropriate. My guest in this episode is Jewish theologian David Nekrutman. David is a veteran voic...

Send us Fan Mail Paul’s opposition to circumcision is one of the biggest concerns in his letters. However, Paul’s viewpoint on circumcision is widely misunderstood by many Christians. In this 3-minute video, Ryan explains Paul's nuanced view of circumcision and how this can help us understand Paul better today. Bridge Builders Forum An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christia...

Send us Fan Mail Many Jews and a growing number of Christians have great affection for the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim is also a somber reminder of the ongoing presence of what Jewish tradition refers to as “the spirit of Amalek.”  In the book of Exodus, “Amalek” was a nation that attacked the Jewish people without cause. So in Jewish thinking, “Amalek” represents a timeless antisemitic force t...