Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture The Unseen Spiritual Battle (With Joel Muddamalle)
21 snips
May 12, 2026 
Joel Muddamalle, director of theology and research and author of The Unseen Battle, brings scholarly clarity on the divine council and spiritual warfare. He traces ancient texts that show a cosmic spiritual landscape, re-reads Genesis, Psalm 82, and Deuteronomy 32 in that light. He connects these realities to Christ's victory and argues the gospel, not spectacle, is the primary way to confront dark powers.
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How A Tough Conversation Changed A PhD Path
- Joel recounts confronting Michael Heiser about Psalm 82, expecting pushback but receiving humble engagement instead.
- That conversation shifted Joel from skepticism to deeper study and eventually led Heiser to become his PhD second reader.
Gospel Is A Cosmic Event
- The gospel and Jesus' life are inherently cosmic events that demand a non-naturalistic reading of Scripture.
- Joel argues that if the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension are cosmic, we should read Genesis–Deuteronomy with the same supernatural worldview.
Eden As A Divine Mountaintop Garden
- Genesis 2–3 presents Eden as a mountain garden where divine beings and humans freely interact.
- Joel links Eden's setting and routine divine walks to ancient Near Eastern mountaintop council imagery, normalizing supernatural presence.
