The Godwit Podcast: Recent Episodes
Paul Smith and David Kowalick
David Kowalick and Paul Smith discuss matters of Christian theology, the bible, church and Christianity.
Godwit is changing direction, not with the type of content but the way we want to present it. In this episode #43 of The Godwit Podcast we discuss our change of direction.
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This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/Mxa-mRlU2EE
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Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Genesis 1 & 2 describe humanity as being made in the image of God, male and female, and that it is not good for humans to be alone. In this episode #42 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss how part of the goodness of creation before the fall was in the relationships humans had with each other, the creation and God.
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/w5WXXfHrYGg
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Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
The first 2 chapters of Genesis lay an important foundation for the whole story of the Bible. How we read these chapters effects how read the rest of the story.
In this episode #41 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss how to read the early chapters of Genesis as "true myth"; the creation as God's temple; the relationship between creation and humanity; what it means to rule and subdue; and what it means to be "Sons of God".
Recommended reading: "The Unseen Realm" by Michael Heiser - https://amzn.to/3HY7rm3
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This episode is also available as audio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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In our previous podcast episode we made the claim that no one goes to heaven when they die, that instead the destiny of the people of God is to have resurrected bodies on a new earth. But then, what happens to us before then, between death and the time of resurrection?
In this episode #40 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss what the New Testament has to so say about what happens to us when we die. The discussion includes the parable of the rich man and Lazarus; passages from the apostle Paul in 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians and 1 Thessalonians; the judgement scene in Revelation; heaven, hell, Sheol, Hades, Gehenna and Paradise.
Recommended reading:
"Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright
This episode is also available as audio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Many Christians believe that we go to heaven as disembodied souls when we die, and that heaven is our final destination for spending eternity. Neither of those ideas are actually biblical. In this episode #39 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss what the Bible actually says about our final destination - a new earth with resurrected bodies.
Check out this video by Bible Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k
Book recommendation on this subject: "Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright
This episode is also available as audio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
What is faith? What is the relationship between the words "faith" and "believe"? Does God have faith?
Faith is most commonly understood these days as a religious word, but in the 1st Century context of the New Testament it was a widely used societal term, with different connotations to the way we use it now. In this episode #38 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss what faith means, as used in the Bible.
Books referenced in this episode:
- "Salvation By Allegiance Alone" by Matthew Bates
- "The King Jesus Gospel" by Scot McKnight
- "The Unseen Realm" by Dr Michael Heiser
- "Paul And The Language Of Faith" by Nijay Gupta
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/08vp80Fnx04
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Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
According to the bible we are justified by faith, not by works. But what does that mean?
In this episode #37 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss what faith and works of the law mean in Paul's letters, and why faith and "good works" are not mutually exclusive in defining who the righteous are.
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/M40QnBmFOlo
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
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To really understand justification in the New Testament it needs to be understood in the right context. In this episode #36 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss how a distorted grand narrative of the Bible as well as a distorted understanding of the New Testament context has led to a distorted understanding of justification. Instead justification in the New Testament needs to be placed in the right context: the transition from old to new covenants.
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/ZVHfnYg4oco
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
What is a righteous person, according to the Bible? And what does justification mean? In this episode #35 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss both of these questions, and try to give a simple and clear summary of each as a foundation to build on for upcoming conversations about "justification by faith".
This episode is also available to watch on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/UhzzvRI-w9g
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
The whole concept of righteousness has become a bit muddied throughout Christian history. In this episode #34 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we continue our discussion of righteousness by looking at what is meant by "the righteousness of God", including distinguishing it from "righteousness FROM God".
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/BxcE_t9N9lE
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
A popular belief in modern Christianity is that we get "Christ's righteousness credited to our account." This is known as the "imputation of Christ's righteousness". It's a popular idea, but is it biblical?
In this episode #33 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss what the Bible has to say about imputed righteousness. Then we take a look at some major historical factors that have contributed to what, we believe, is a distorted view of what righteousness is and how to get it.
Here's a helpful podcast with N.T. Wright on Platonism:
https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Weekday/Ask-NT-Wright-Anything/Podcast/Ask-NT-Wright-Anything-91-Tom-s-problems-with-Platonism
A couple of blog posts Paul wrote a few years ago about metaphysics and the over -philosophication of Christianity:
https://thestoryandtheshape.com/index.php/2019/08/09/lets-get-metaphysical-metaphysical/
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/wIzgew4A2S8
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
After the events of "The Fall" in Genesis 3, humanity became instantly enslaved to sin and separated from God. Or so a lot of popular theology says. But does that theology square up with the story as it continues in the very next chapter? In this episode #32 of The Godwit Podcast, Paul Smith takes a look at Genesis chapter 4 and how it clashes with some big ideas in popular theology.
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/-Xl3Z2eRsdM
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
The apostle Paul famously says in Romans 3:10 that, "There is no one righteous, not even one." This verse has been used as the foundation for a whole doctrinal system about righteousness and justification. But what do we do with all the scriptures that seem to say that there are, in fact, righteous people? Have we perhaps misunderstood what Paul is trying to say in Romans 3?
This episode #31 of the Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith is part 1 of a discussion on what the Bible really says about righteousness.
This episode is also available to watch on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/supMMFkgWJg
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
"Atonement creates the kingdom of God," says biblical scholar Scot McKnight. In this episode #30 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we round out our series on "Why Did Jesus Die?" with a summary of our discussions on this topic and our conclusion: that the various aspects and motifs around Jesus' death all contribute to the big picture of establishing the kingdom of God, the new covenant community.
Recommended reading:
https://www.logos.com/product/167776/a-community-called-atonement-living-theology
https://www.logos.com/product/121426/the-death-of-the-messiah-and-the-birth-of-the-new-covenant-a-not-so-new-model-of-the-atonement
This episode is also available to watch on YouTube here at https://youtu.be/dmlf9mDMUxQ
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Good theology and doctrine are obviously important for Christians, but how important, and why? In episode #29 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we give our answers to this question. We'd also love to hear your answers, let us know your thoughts in the comments for this episode on our Facebook page!
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/5qgIB30t4Q4
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Throughout Christian history a few major theories of "The Atonement" (what Jesus achieved through his death) have emerged. In this episode #28 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss a few of the most prominent ones and how well they square up with the Bible and Christian history. Theories discussed in this episode include Ransom, Christus Victor, Recapitulation, Satisfaction, Penal Substitution and Moral Influence.
Recommended reading on "Atonement Theories":
https://www.logos.com/product/167776/a-community-called-atonement-living-theology
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/ZrKCXOVeJA0
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
What does it mean that Jesus died for our sins? And that we have been "bought at a price"? Was Jesus' death a form of payment? In this episode #27 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss these questions, the use of the word "for", and we take a big look at the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah 53.
Here's the blog series mentioned in this episode:
http://blog.christilling.de/2022/02/mike-bird-and-andrew-rillera-on-penal.html
The OnScript podcast:
https://onscript.study/
This episode also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/eiPp2igKflM
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
As the title suggests, this episode of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith is a little overview of who we are, what we're trying to do, and the motivation behind it.
This episode is also available to watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/l4cULgFdu_w
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
"I have been crucified WITH Christ," says the apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20. This is not substitutionary language but participatory - Christ didn't die as our substitute, instead of us, but as our representative, and we join him in his death. In this episode of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss the major theme in the New Testament of participation in Christ's death and resurrection, and how it rescues us from slavery to sin and evil powers.
You can watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/VWxaUj1kmME
Here's a brief introduction to the "Deuteronomy 32 Worldview":
https://thedivinecouncil.com/Deuteronomy32OTWorldview.pdf
For more on the topic of evil spiritual powers ruling over nations (among other topics), we highly recommend the work of Dr Michael Heiser, especially his book "The Unseen Realm":
https://www.logos.com/product/49583/the-unseen-realm-recovering-the-supernatural-worldview-of-the-bible?utm_source=personalized_mailings&utm_medium=email&utm_content=5155907&utm_campaign=promo-theunseenrealm
Here's a short blog series I read 2 days after we recorded this episode, in which a New Testament scholar says very similar things to us putting forward representation instead of substitution:
http://blog.christilling.de/2022/02/mike-bird-and-andrew-rillera-on-penal.html
Contact us through our website at https://www.godwit.com.au/contact/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Romans 3:25 is the verse most often cited regarding atonement in the New Testament, but how to translate this verse and what it means is hotly debated. It all hinges on the Greek word "hilasterion", which is translated, depending on the translation, as propitiation, expiation, mercy seat or sacrifice of atonement. In episode #24 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we discuss the different translations of hilasterion, what they mean, and how they affect various ideas about the doctrine of atonement.
Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/MHX6cHTaQ3A
The Godwit Ministries website:
https://www.godwit.com.au/
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
There are several different motifs used in the New Testament to explain the significance of Jesus' death, one of which is the "sacrifice of atonement". In this episode, #23 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith, we discuss how the New Testament refers to Jesus' death as an atoning sacrifice in light of what we've discussed in previous episodes regarding atonement in the Old Testament. We look at atonement in the letter to the Hebrews, 1 John and the reference to atonement in Romans 3.
The word most commonly used to explain Jesus' death is "atonement". But what even is atonement? In this episode #22 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we continue looking at the concept of atonement in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the Israelite sacrificial system, as a precursor for understanding how Jesus' death relates to atonement.
This is part 2 of a 90 minute discussion broken up into 2 videos. In this second video we discuss the Sin Offering and the Day Of Atonement, with some interesting discussion on the "scapegoat".
Bible Project video on "Holiness":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9vn5UvsHvM
Naked Bible Podcast series on Leviticus:
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-63-introducing-leviticus/
You can also watch the video of this episode on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/Qs8s2Bz2DIs
The word most commonly used to explain Jesus' death is "atonement". But what even is atonement? In this episode #21 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we go right into looking at the concept of atonement in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the Israelite sacrificial system, as a precursor for understanding how Jesus' death relates to atonement.
This 90 minute discussion is broken up into 2 videos. In this first video we discuss holiness as a key concept to understanding atonement; how atonement featured in establishing the priesthood and tabernacle in the Israelite camp; the significance of blood; and the beginning of discussing the sin offering.
Bible Project video on "Holiness":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9vn5UvsHvM
Naked Bible Podcast series on Leviticus:
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-63-introducing-leviticus/
Video of this episode also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/iWSyULw4tzY
Jesus' death is often referred to as a sacrifice. But what is a sacrifice even for? Do all sacrifices achieve the same thing? In this episode #20 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith we begin a discussion of the sacrifices used in Ancient Israel, particularly the sacrifices prescribed in Leviticus. The sacrificial system of Ancient Israel is the foundation for understanding the death of Jesus as a sacrifice.
This episode is also available in to watch on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/zhVQ-oS6Ukk
0:00 - Sacrifice: Who Is It About?
6:21 - Not About Appeasing God
11:36 - Sacrifices In The Establishment Of Israel
15:57 - Sacrifice For Fellowship With God
19:30 - Good Resources On Leviticus
21:00 - No Penal Substitution
31:10 - 5 Different Levitical Sacrifices
34:00 - Gift Giving & Shared Meal For Relationship
43:20 - Conclusions
The first episode of the Naked Bible Podcast series on Leviticus with Dr Michael Heiser:
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-63-introducing-leviticus/
The Bible Project videos on Leviticus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmvyrLXoQio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ-FekWUZzE
The death of Jesus is a key part of the story of Christianity. But why did he die and what did his death achieve? Was his death all about atonement? Did he take our punishment in our place so that we could be forgiven? What does it mean that Jesus was "the lamb of God"?
This episode #19 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith is the introduction to a series discussing the death of Jesus and the multiple motifs the Bible uses in reference to it, including sacrifice and atonement.
Video version of this podcast also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/NMc8VLj_vjE
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is usually the go-to passage for a description of the gospel. But is this passage used correctly? In this episode we discuss how this passage fits with other scriptural definitions of the gospel, and also the larger context of the whole of 1 Corinthians 15, which is about resurrection, a major gospel theme.
This is episode #18 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith.
You can watch the video of this discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/G5Hhgil9NmQ
When Jesus began his ministry he announced the gospel that "The kingdom of God is near." Throughout his ministry his favourite topic was the kingdom of God. But was that a temporary message, just for Israel for that time? After his crucifixion, did the gospel then become a message about atonement through his death? In this episode we look at how the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) conclude, and whether or not Jesus gave his disciples a different message than the one he himself had been preaching.
This episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/DeM6diwhuuU
In this episode we discuss several popular Christmas carols and how they contain a very clear message if we know how to listen: The gospel. This is episode #16 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/lQFUXjNMEK4
Check out this amazing version of "Mary Did You Know":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zybbNvK25Y
Episode #15 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith. Continuing on from our last episode, we discuss the crucifixion of Jesus and how, again, his identity as Messiah is front and centre of the narrative. We also take a look at Psalm 22, which is referenced multiple times in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, and the question of whether or not God the Father turned his back on Jesus.
You can watch this episode on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/qo05yDVxt50
Episode #14 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith. In this episode we discuss the narrative of Jesus' trial in the lead up to his execution. It is a narrative filled with a very prominent theme: the identity of Jesus. Listen in as we discuss Jesus' claim to be king/Christ/ Son of Man, what those titles mean and what kind of king Jesus reveals himself to be.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/FOv5KVKZ9Lc
Episode #13 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith. The Christian practice of Communion or the Eucharist is based on the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples the night before his crucifixion. This supper has big theological implications for how Jesus saw his own upcoming sacrificial death. So what Old Testament motifs did Jesus use to explain his death to his disciples? What did he mean when he said, "This is my blood... poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins?"
Video version of this episode can be viewed at
https://youtu.be/xrUCQXFCVvo
Episode #12 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith. In this episode we discuss Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly before his death, and how this scene is absolutely loaded with significance from hundreds of years of Jewish expectation, reaching back to the Exile and announcements by the Old Testament prophets.
Watch this episode on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/e_4sPN4Z4jk
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thegodwitpodcast
Episode #11 of The Godwit Podcast with David Kowalick and Paul Smith. Jesus did and said a lot of things during his earthly ministry, and we could spend years discussing it all. But in this episode we try to give a brief overview and discuss how Jesus' ministry as a whole was to bring the kingdom of God and push back or tear down everything that stood in its way.
In episode #10 of The Godwit Podcast, David Kowalick and Paul Smith discuss whether the kingdom of God is inclusive or exclusive, and what it takes to get into the kingdom.
Immediately before beginning his public ministry, Jesus is baptised, anointed by God and then sent into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. In this episode of the Godwit Podcast, David Kowalick and Paul Smith discuss the details of Jesus' baptism and temptation and how they reveal the role of the Messiah as the representative of both Israel and humanity to bring humanity back under the rule of God.
Continuing our series on the gospel of the kingdom of God, we take a look at John the Baptist and his task of preparing the people of Israel for their long awaited king to come, the Messiah Jesus.
In this episode we look at the birth of Jesus as told in the gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke. There is a very clear theme in all of the stories: the Messiah, anticipated by the Old Testament, has arrived.
In this episode we trace the idea of the Messianic king in the Old Testament, from Abraham to Jacob, Judah, David and some of the many references by the psalmists and prophets.
In previous episodes we've discussed how the gospel is the declaration that the kingdom of God has arrived through its king, Jesus the Christ (Messiah), and how the preaching by the apostles in Acts centres on the claim that Jesus is the Christ. In this episode we introduce the backstory of the gospel and reframe the whole biblical story. This episode has a lot of crossover content with our episode "What Is The Kingdom Of God".
In our series on the gospel we have shown that the gospel is the message that the kingdom of God has arrived through Jesus, the Messiah. But what is the kingdom of God and where is it?
Continuing on with our discussion of the gospel as presented in Acts, we show that the consistent theme throughout the whole book is that Jesus is the Christ, as proven by his Davidic lineage and his resurrection from the dead.
The book of Acts in the Bible tells the story of the birth and expansion of the early church, led by the apostles who had been commissioned by Jesus. What was their message, the "gospel" they preached? We show what that gospel message is, using Paul's description of the gospel in the beginning of his letter to the Romans as a guide.
This is part one of a two part discussion. In this episode we focus on explaining the main components of the gospel message preached in Acts and take a look at Peter's sermon in Acts 2. In the next episode we show that the same essential message is repeated all throughout the book of Acts.
The gospel is really important, it's the central idea of Christianity. But is the gospel most commonly preached in 21st Century Christianity the same one that Jesus and his apostles preached? This is the first in a series looking at the gospel as expressed in the Bible.
You can view the video version of this podcast at YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oLHfGmQ4xo
Check out these great short videos on the gospel by the Bible Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmFPS0f-kzs&t=76s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT41M013X3A&t=10s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrzq_X1NNaA
This series by Bridgetown church is also excellent:
https://bridgetown.church/teaching/preaching-the-gospel/part-1-what-is-the-gospel/
Recommended books:
The King Jesus Gospel - Scot McKnight
How God Became King - N.T. Wright
Gospel Allegiance - Matthew Bates