Bible Talk — A podcast by 9Marks: Recent Episodes
9Marks
The last episode before summer break ends on a high note. If Isaiah 34 depicts a world overrun by the sin's curse, then Isaiah 35 depicts a world overrun by salvation's joy. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if God left us alone after Genesis 3? That's kind of what Isaiah 34 is like. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
This episode touches on a lot: the founding of America and its separation of powers, whether Isaiah writes like William Faulkner, and how the world will end. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 33.
In Isaiah 31–32, we get a great example of the "dual lenses" through which Isaiah sees God's work in the future. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
Isaiah 30 offers glimpses of both Israel's near future and eternal future. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss this fascinating passage.
Isaiah 29 offers a play-by-play of what we see in the Gospels—from the miraculous to the call to the meek and the poor. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
We're covering similar terrain in Isaiah 28, which raises an important question: What do you do when you come across seemingly repetitive segments of Scripture? Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
This passage has everything: dying dragons, a world covered in the fruit of forgiveness, and a surprising trumpet blast. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 27.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about Isaiah 26, a dense, metaphor-laden passage that cranes its neck to the glorious future that awaits all those who trust in the LORD.
The judgment of the whole earth (Isaiah 24) gives way to the hope of the whole earth: a God-initiated resurrection. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 25–26.
In this passage, the scope widens as the destruction of particular nations gives way to the destruction of the world. Alex, Jim, and Sam talk about Isaiah 24.
In this bonus episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about 1 Peter 5:1–5. They focus on a pastor's job description and disposition. Who knew these guys talked about the New Testament, too!?
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about the oracle against Tyre in Isaiah 23. This passage teaches us, among other things, why it's stupid to put our hope in money.
After several chapters of judgment against the nations, the scope of God's judgment now zeroes in on Judah. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 22.
This episode of Bible Talk walks through Isaiah 21, which features an enigmatic, yet grand prophecy on the coming judgment of Babylon. Watch as Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
One of the clearest motivators for global missions can be found, believe it or not, right here amidst oracles of judgment against disobedient nations. This passage is glorious. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 19–20.
After our holiday hiatus, Bible Talk is back!
In this episode, Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 17–18, which includes the LORD's oracle against Damascus and Cush.
This chapter marks a transition, as the prophet shifts his attention from Israel to the nations. The Lord has sworn to judge the nations for their unbelief. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 13–14.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about this small, but action chapter: Isaiah 12.
Isaiah 11 is a marvelous passage about the coming messiah, and all the blessings that he will bring to his people. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In Isaiah 10, there's an axe of judgment wielded against a "godless nation." That axe is Assyria; the godless nation is Judah. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
We've all read this passage at Christmas Eve services. It's a dark, enigmatic passage—and then the promise of God-with-us breaks through. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 9.
In this special episode of Bible Talk, recorded in at the recent Promised and Fulfilled Conference, Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 8. Judgment is coming, says the LORD, but there is a way out.
You can watch the talks from the Promised and Fulfilled Conference here.
Isaiah 7 is well-known for its prophecy about a "virgin who will conceive." Well, who exactly is Isaiah talking about? Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In Isaiah 6, the prophet sees the Lord and learns his mission. It's a difficult one: "Preach to a bunch of people who won't listen to you. In fact, your preaching will harden them further."
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 6.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about Isaiah 5, a sobering passage about God’s judgment.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about Isaiah 3–4, a poignant passage about—what else?—God's glory in salvation through judgment.
In Isaiah 2, Isaiah envisions a glorious future where all the nations stream to worship the Lord and all their inhabitants lay down their weapons forever. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss and, for the first time in a while, disagree.
We’ve started a new book: Isaiah. In Isaiah 1, the prophet explains Israel’s heart problem, and what they need to do—or believe!—in order to fix it. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
After a summer delay, Bible Talk is back! And we’re switching genres . . . or do genres even exist? Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss “rules” for reading prophetic literature. (Spoiler: Jim doesn’t like the rules.)
In this special episode, Alex and Sam talk to Jim about his new book on John’s Gospel.
Bible Talk is brought to you by 9Marks and Southern Seminary. To learn more about Southern Seminary, visit https://www.sbts.edu
We've finally arrived at the end of 2 Kings. Judah is ransacked by Babylon, and the people are funneling back to Egypt of all places. They have no king. And yet . . . is there reason for hope?
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In 2 Kings 23, King Josiah is on the warpath against wickedness. He’s a great king, perhaps the best in Israel’s history. And yet, he still wasn’t good enough.
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
The closing chapters of 2 Kings have been dark. And then, out of nowhere, King Josiah and a few unsung heroes show up and lead Judah back to God. But it's too late . . . right?
Jim, Alex, and Sam discuss 2 Kings 22.
As Judah continues its descent toward destruction, we meet Manasseh. He's a terrible, wicked, awful king. He should be building the temple, but instead he's blaspheming it. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 2 Kings 21.
In 2 Kings 20, we come across the sad final chapter of Hezekiah's reign. What started out so well ends so poorly. What can we learn from this? Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In this special episode of Bible Talk, Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi interview Alex Duke about From Eden to Egypt, a book about Genesis “for normal people.”
From Eden to Egypt, by Alex Duke
In 2 Kings 19, King Sennacherib of Assyria offers a juiced-up diatribe about his own accomplishments. And then the Lord speaks up and gets to work.
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 2 Kings 19.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex, Jim, and Adam discuss 2 Kings 18, which features the surprisingly hopeful opening overture of Judah’s final act.
In this episode, the author of Kings writes a theologically informed obituary for the nation of Israel. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 2 Kings 17.
In 2 Kings 16, Judah’s worst king to date takes the throne—what happens next is despicable and blasphemous. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In this episode of Bible Talk, the author serves up a sandwich made up of bad Israelite meat and good Judean bread.
Bible Talk is brought to you by 9Marks and Southern Seminary. To learn more about Southern Seminary, visit https://www.sbts.edu
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex, Jim, and Sam pivot to video, while Israel and Judah pivot toward civil war and eventual exile.
In 2 Kings 13, we get two evil reigns—Jehoahaz and Jehoash—and two weird things—which involve some misguided arrows and some life-giving bones. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
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Bible Talk is brought to you by 9Marks and Southern Seminary. To learn more about Southern Seminary, visit sbts.edu.
As 2 Kings has gone on, it's been harder and harder to tell the difference between Israel and Judah. They intersected, and then they intermingled. So we might ask: Is there really any meaningful difference between the two?
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 2 Kings 11–12.
Subscribe to our new podcast, A Storm in the Desert.
Bible Talk is brought to you by 9Marks and Southern Seminary. To learn more about Southern Seminary, visit sbts.edu.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Jim, Sam, and Alex talk about 2 Kings 10, where Jehu continues to administer justice to God's long-promised enemies.
Subscribe to our new podcast, A Storm in the Desert.
Bible Talk is back for another season!
In this episode, Jim, Sam, and Alex discuss 2 Kings 9 and the bloody end of Jezebel's wicked reign, which the Lord had promised years and years ago.
Subscribe to our new podcast, A Storm in the Desert.
In 2 Kings 8, we realize that the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah have become indistinguishable in almost every way, from their behavior to their birth names. What’s going on in this enigmatic chapter? Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In 2 Kings 6–7, we get a floating axe-head and a Syrian siege and an angelic army. But why?
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
In 2 Kings 5, we witness two surprising reversals: a foreign, leprous general becomes a servant of the LORD; meanwhile, a servant of the LORD becomes a leper. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
In 2 Kings 3–4, Elisha is not a mere miracle worker—he’s a true prophet, and listening to him will lead Israel back to Yahweh.
Jim Hamilton, Alex Duke, and Sam Emadi discuss.
In 2 Kings 1–2, Elijah ascends to heaven on a chariot of fire and Elisha curses 42 scoffers just before two she-bears rip them apart. What!? Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.
First Kings concludes with the death of a wicked king and the scattering of a nation that’s beginning to look a lot like . . . Egypt.
Listen in as Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 1 Kings 21–22.
In 1 Kings 20, we get the story of Ahab vs. Ben-hadad, of a battle between Israel vs. Syria. But is that it? Does this chapter give us anything more than military history?
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
At this point in 1 Kings, we’re faced with a question: how will the Lord work through a beaten-down prophet in a disobedient nation? Through his Word.
Listen to this episode of Bible Talk as Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss 1 Kings 19.
It doesn’t take long for Elijah to be hurried into a battle with the prophets of Baal. But it’s not Elijah who is fighting — it’s Yahweh.
Listen as Alex Duke, Sam Emadi, and Jim Hamilton discuss 1 Kings 18.
In 1 Kings 17, a new main character comes onto the scene. And he reminds us of someone we’ve seen before.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
At first, 1 Kings 15 looks like a mostly chronologically organized list of mostly bad kings. But there’s more going on.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
As the prophet looks at the future of Jeroboam's dynasty, he doesn't see excitement; he sees excrement.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 14.
In 1 Kings 12, King Jeroboam sets up his bootleg religion at his satellite campus. It's blasphemous. And then, in 1 Kings 13, a liar gets a prophet mauled by a lion. It's bloody.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
In 1 Kings 12, the new King of Israel sure looks a lot like the old Pharaoh of Egypt. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
Bible Talk is back! Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 1 Kings 11 and the downfall of King Solomon.
When the Queen of Sheba shows up, Solomon’s reign takes her breath away. His people are blessed, his coffers are full, and she seems to trust the Lord. But is this the beginning of the end?
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 10.
When we read the Old Testament, we’re tempted to see characters as either all good or all bad. But when we get to 1 Kings 9 and see Solomon’s interactions with Hiram the King of Tyre, well, it’s more complicated than that.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
The glory of the LORD has filled the Temple. So . . . now what? How do God's people actually use it?
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton about 1 Kings 8:31–66, which doubles as a kind of user's manual for the temple.
The biblical storyline takes a leap forward when the LORD’s glory fills the Temple. While this moment is significant, it also becomes clear that the Temple isn’t the end goal.
Listen to Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 1 Kings 8:1–30.
The Lord's presence has more or less been a nomad since Genesis 3. But with the temple, he's about to have a permanent address (kind of). In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 6–7.
So . . . Jim Hamilton had a wild idea: let's do a whole episode on 1 Kings 6:1. Alex Duke was dubious, even aghast. But he and Sam Emadi obliged. This conversation is the result.
In this episode of Bible Talk, they talk about burn layers and interpretive priority and Indiana Jones.
The story of the Old Testament is the story of God's people returning to God's presence. The building of the temple significantly advances that story. In 1 Kings 5, we get Phase 1 of Solomon's construction project. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
Solomon is wise. Solomon is wealthy. Solomon is worth listening to. This is his Platinum Age, better than anything that came with his father David. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 3:16–4:34.
We all know the story about Solomon pleading with the Lord for wisdom. But do you remember how it begins? It’s surprising.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Kings 2:12–3:15, which highlights Solomon’s shrewdness and his sinfulness.
King David is on his deathbed. What does he say to his son? “Be strong. Follow the Lord and all his ways. If you don’t . . .”
Jim Hamilton, Alex Duke, and Sam Emadi chat about 1 Kings 2:1–12.
Bible Talk begins a new book! In this episode, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about 1 Kings 1.
The end of 2 Samuel is odd: it portrays the king at cruising altitude and then describes his bumpy descent. What's going on here? Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the messianic finale of 2 Samuel 23–24.
We've entered 1–2 Samuel's epilogue, which rewinds the clock to mighty deeds of mighty men and gives us a chiastic cheat code that reveals some fascinating connections between King David and all that's gone before.
By now, David’s reign is beginning to unravel. In fact, these chapters are beginning to remind us not of 1–2 Samuel, but of the book of Judges. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 19–20.
A father should never have to mourn the death of his son. But that's precisely what happens here. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 2 Samuel 17–18.
A messenger comes to David and gives him bad news: "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom." Then David flees—and in doing so he fails as both father and king.
Absalom is a smarmy guy who makes himself seem powerful and compassionate. King David, meanwhile, stays quiet while his kingdom nears collapse.
The story of Amnon, Tamar, and the subsequent terrible fallout is ultimately a story about two fake loves. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi talk through 2 Samuel 13.
At the beginning of 2 Samuel 12, King David is in a dark place. Even worse, he doesn't seem to know it. By the end of 2 Samuel 12, he's back where he belongs and he's writing Psalm 51. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
For a while now, we've been tracking the avalanche in the distance. Now, with the story of David and Bathsheba, it's finally here.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about 2 Samuel 11.
After the mountain top of 2 Samuel 7, we get David’s Golden Age. He’s successful, he’s subduing the LORD’s enemies, and he’s showing surprising mercy to helpless people like Mephibosheth.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 2 Samuel 8–10.
To celebrate our 100th episode, we did something a little different. But the conversation—on perhaps the mountain-peak of the whole OT—ended up at the same place: the Bible is amazing.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about 2 Samuel 7.
After the squelching of Ish-bosheth's insurrection, David is anointed king over a united kingdom and the nations are streaming to the city of Zion. And yet . . . the author wants us to know that something's not quite right in the state of Israel. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 2 Samuel 4–6.
In 2 Samuel 1–3, the inaugural moments of King David's reign are full of stomach-stabbings, failed coups, and heartfelt laments. And through it all, King David remains upright and unscathed. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
When you get to the end of 1 Samuel, you realize how Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1–10) really does frame everything that's to come.
In 1 Samuel 25, David is face-to-face with a foolish man who thinks he’s a king. As readers, we’re face-to-face with a vital question: What kind of king will David be?
Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss (and have their biggest argument yet!).
The cat-and-mouse game between David and Saul continues and, in the quiet darkness of a cave in the wilderness, it reaches a shocking climax. We don't get revenge. We get . . . a reunion?
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Samuel 23–24.
David's now a fugitive on the run. But he's not alone. He's got the support of his best friend Jonathan. He's gathered to himself Israel's strugglers and stragglers. Oh, and he's also got Goliath's sword.
Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss 1 Samuel 20–22.
The second David kills Goliath, Saul wants to kill David. Why? Because he's a puny, self-righteous man. Thankfully, David has Jonathan on his side to slow down his father's murderous rampages.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Eamdi about 1 Samuel 18–19.
The story of David and Goliath is not giving us a strategy for how we can fight our everyday battles. It's giving us an evangelistic beheading.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Samuel 17.
In 1 Samuel 16, we finally meet David. He's an afterthought to his father, a caretaker to his father's sheep, and a comforter to the demon-addled king Saul. But to the Lord? He's the King. Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
In Samuel 15, the Lord "regrets" and Saul "repents." Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi discuss.
Some people would look at this passage as Saul's "Golden Age." But when you look closer, clearly something else is going on. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about 1 Samuel 11–12.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi on 1 Samuel 8–10.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 19–21.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 11–12.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 13–14. They discuss Samson, Israel's surprising, set-apart, and sinful savior.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Judges 11–12.
The story of Balaam and Balak raises an all-important question: “What will win out—the might of Moab or the promises of God?”
Miriam and Aaron die, the people complain (again!), and Moses makes a grave error with even graver consequences. Oh, and there are also a fiery snakes.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Numbers 15–16. They cover Korah’s Rebellion, the absurdity of theonomy, and . . . more laws about purification and the priesthood? Why!?
There’s no way around it: these chapters are grim. Moses’ siblings turn on him, the Israelites want to stone him, and the Lord seems ready to end the covenant.
How did we get here? Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Numbers 12–14.
Finally, Israel leaves Mount Sinai. They march toward the Promised Land and, for a while, things go well! They take the Passover, the LORD dwells among them, and the people are marching according to the word of the Lord.
And then . . . the people start to grumble.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Sam Emadi and Jim Hamilton about Numbers 9–11.
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, we discover a strange test for adultery, the genesis of the Nazirite vow, and one of the most well-known passages in the whole Bible.
By the time we get to the beginning of Numbers, Israel is poised to take the Promised Land. But first, they need to receive their marching orders.
Leviticus ends with a speech from the Lord that sounds like a warning. But in reality, it’s a prophecy of what’s to come for Israel—in all its high highs and low lows. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats about Leviticus 26–27.
In the Old Testament, the Lord wants his people to be holy as he is holy (Lev. 20:26). That means sacred lives, but it also means he them to be marked of by sacred times and sacred places.
Alex chats with Jim and Sam about Leviticus 21–25.
Leviticus 17–20 covers a lot: goat demons, the meaning of blood, Molech, the holiness of God, and loving your neighbor as yourself. How does it all fit together?
For a while now, Jim and Sam have been saying that Leviticus 16—the Day of the Atonement—is the theological center of the Torah. In this episode, they finally defend their case.
In Leviticus, uncleanness results from death. That’s the big idea of Leviticus 11–15 and its discussion of chewing the cud, leprosy, and bodily discharges.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the next section of Leviticus.
At the end of Leviticus 9, it’s almost as if we’ve fixed the problem of sin. But in the very next chapter, the Lord strikes down two priests—Nadab and Abihu—for offering “strange fire.”
In this episode of Bible Talk, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi chat about Leviticus 8–10.
The book of Leviticus isn’t just a bunch of random rules. It provides an answer to the problem that’s been swirling over God’s people since Genesis 3: How can a sinful people dwell in the midst of a holy God?
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duck talks with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Leviticus 1–7.
By the end of Exodus, our story has come full circle. Humanity has been exiled since the Garden. But now, God will dwell amidst his people and they will have access to his presence.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Exodus 35–40.
In Exodus 34, Moses learns that the God who has saved and revealed himself to Israel is a God who has established his justice so that he can display the wonders of his mercy. This becomes the center of biblical theology.
In Exodus 26–31, Moses is on the mountain talking with God. While that was happening, what were God’s people up to?
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Exodus 32–33, in which God’s people “worship” God in terribly destructive ways.
When we get to Exodus 26–31, we’re tempted to let our eyes glaze over what seems to be an overly long list of the Tabernacle furniture and its accompanying details. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi what these chapters tell us and why we as Christians should care about them.
In Exodus 24–25, the summit of Sinai becomes the floor of heaven. Through Israel, God is once again establishing a connection between heaven and earth. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about what all this means.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke, Jim Hamilton, and Sam Emadi continue their conversation through Exodus. This time, they discuss all those laws in Exodus 22–23. Why are they there? Why should Christians not just let their eyes glaze over them?
When Moses refers to slavery in the Torah, how should we understand it? What about “justice”? In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about a difficult chapter of Scripture: Exodus 21.
At this point in Exodus, we have the people of God at the mountain of God to receive the Law of God in order to engage in the worship of God.
It doesn’t take long for the Israelites to go from singing by the sea to grumbling against God, begging him to take them back to Egypt.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Exodus 14–15.
Here, the people of Israel are overjoyed as they move from beheading the snake to singing by the sea.
Exodus 8 begins with a plague of frogs. By the end of Exodus 10, the whole nation of Egypt is covered in total darkness—so much so that “they did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days.” It’s as if the people of Egypt were stuck in a grave.
But the people of Israel? Moses tells us: “But all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Exodus 8–10.
By the end of Exodus 7, the Lord has brought the first plague against Egypt. But before we get there, Moses makes us wait.
At the beginning of Exodus 3, Moses is just milling about in Midian. Then the LORD shows up—and everything changes.
Genesis ends with Joseph’s bones in a box in the belly of the beast. Exodus begins with Israel being fruitful and multiplying under the harsh rule of a Pharaoh who knows neither Joseph nor his God. In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Exodus 1–2.
Alex Duke hosts the “Academy Awards of Genesis,” in which he gives some superlatives and asks Jim and Sam to look back and reflect on what they’ve learned as they’ve walked slowly through Moses’ masterpiece.
In chapters 48–50, Genesis finally fades to black . . . very, very slowly.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Moses’ conclusion—which includes Jacob’s death, Joseph’s death, and a fascinating snapshot of “what could have been” for Egypt.
It’s been decades since Jacob found out his beloved son Joseph had been torn apart by wild animals (Gen. 33:37). But at the end of last week’s episode, he discovered he was wrong! Joseph is alive! And so he wants to go see him before he dies.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Genesis 46–47. They cover this long-awaited reunion, and the tribes of Israel settling in Goshen.
Finally, Bible Talk is back—and finally, Joseph tells his brothers who he really is. In this episode, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Genesis 44–45.
Bible Talk celebrates Christmas!
In Matthew 1–2, the Gospel writer regularly appeals to the Old Testament to show that what’s happening in the present is a fulfillment of past prophecies. But when you begin to scrutinize the texts in their original context, it’s not at clear that they point forward to the Messiah.
This raises a few questions: How does the Old Testament predict Jesus’ birth? More broadly, how do the New Testament writers understand Old Testament prophecy? Do they twist the text to make it say something the original authors never intended? More broadly, is there more than one kind of promise-and-fulfillment?
In this special Christmas episode of Bible Talk, Alex chats with Jim and Sam about Matthew 1–2 in order to find answers to these questions. Spoiler alert: they’re fascinating!
In Genesis 42–43, Joseph has a brilliant plan to see if his brothers have been humbled, or if they’re still as wicked as they were when they threw him into a well and sold him into slavery.
At the beginning of Genesis 40, Joseph is living in the belly of the beast: an Egyptian prison. By the end of Genesis 41, he’s Pharaoh‘s second-in-command. But no matter his station, God’s favor remains on Joseph.
Joseph’s story resolves every major plot-line of Genesis, proving that Moses is a “literary genius,” as Jim Hamilton puts it.
Alex Duke chats with Jim & Sam about Genesis 37–39. They cover Joseph’s brothers, Judah & Tamar, and Joseph & Potiphar’s wife.
These chapters of Genesis cover some dark terrain, things that ought not be done in Israel (34:7). Shechem violates Dinah. Two of his others sons—Simeon and Levi—commit a war crime. And Esau’s descent away from God’s people is finally codified through his genealogy (Gen. 36).
What’s God up to in Genesis 34–36? Even amidst his chosen people’s sin and wickedness, he’s still preserving and preparing them for his purposes.
In Genesis 32–33, Jacob has two life-altering confrontations—one with the angel of God & one with the adversary of his lifetime: Esau, his brother. What happens next may surprise you.
Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton & Sam Emadi about all this & more.
There’s a lot of deception and re-deception going on here. There's also some poetic justice, some pathetic names, some junk science, and a tense camel chase. In Episode 10 of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Genesis 29–31.
These chapters of Genesis continue the story of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. They play out like an episode of a soap opera: family member against family member; deceit on top of deceit; the promise of revenge.
In these chapters, Moses shifts his attention to the next generation of the promised line. As he does, familiar themes show up.
Moses spends so much time cultivating an expectation for Isaac’s birth. But then, out of nowhere, the Lord tests Abraham, telling him to sacrifice his son, his only son whom he loves. Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton & Sam Emadi about Genesis 21–23.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the Genesis 18–20. These chapters cover some of the darkest episodes in all of Scripture. We see the wages of sin—death—on full display. And yet, we also see glimmers of God’s grace and mercy.
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the Lord’s covenant ceremony (Gen. 15), Sarah’s covenant scheme (Gen. 16), and Abraham’s covenant sign (Gen. 17).
In this episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about a towering Old Testament figure: Abram of the Chaldeans. What kind of man is he?
In this third episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Noah and the flood, the genealogy of Genesis 10, the Tower of Babel, and what all of this has to do with Jesus.
In the second episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about Genesis 3:20–6:8. As man’s sinfulness grows both broader and deeper, God is still preserving a line of promise.
In this inaugural episode of Bible Talk, Alex Duke chats with Jim Hamilton and Sam Emadi about the first three chapters of Genesis. These first three chapters of the Bible are so important because they set the trajectory for everything that comes next—all the way until we get to Revelation 22.