The Naked Bible Podcast

This podcast explores the importance of understanding the ancient Near East and Second Temple period for interpreting the Bible. It discusses English translations of Old and New Testament Apocrypha, digital versions available, and recommendations for studying ancient texts. Delving into resources for studying texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, and Philo, it provides insight into the context of biblical writings and the civilizations of the eras.

The last episode of the podcast dealt with the need to tap into the intellectual output of the ancient Mediterranean world — the Bible’s own context – in order to start thinking the thoughts of the biblical writers. This episode takes this recommendation further by directing listeners to the best volumes and websites for English translations of ancient literature pertinent to biblical studies. The episode focuses on the civilizations that give the OT its context – the civilizations of the ancient Near East (ANE). Dr. Heiser recommends books (whether hard copy or digital form) as well as websites for tapping into ANE literature.   Ancient Texts in English Translation: Ancient Near East Books: General Collections The Context of Scripture (COS); 3 volumes digital version Ancient Near Eastern Texts (ANET) by Pritchard (one volume hardcover; split into two volumes paperback; vol. 1 and vol. 2) digital version Writings from the Ancient World set (amazon link to volumes in the series) digital version Egyptian Literature: Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature (3 vols) digital version Foster, Ancient Egyptian Literature The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry; Third Edition by Professor William Kelley Simpson, Professor Robert K. Ritner, The Reverent Dr. Vincent A. Tobin and Professor Edward Wente Jr. Moran, The Amarna Letters digital version Mesopotamia (Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian) Foster, Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature Foster, From Distant Days: Myths, Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia Dalley, Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others Jacobsen, The Harps that Once … Sumerian Poetry in Translation Ugaritic Texts: Wyatt, Religious Texts from Ugarit digital version Gibson, Canaanite Myths and Legends digital version Coogan and M. Smith, Stories from Ancient Canaan Websites ETANA (Electronic Tools Ancient Near East Archives) Internet Sacred Texts Archive Internet Archive

In this second episode of the series on Bible study, Dr. Heiser discusses what interpreting the Bible “in context” really means — taking the Bible’s own primitive context seriously. Rather than filter the Bible through creeds dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, or even the period of early Christianity, the Bible’s actual context is the one that produced the biblical books — the era stretching from the 2nd millennium BC to the first century AD. All other contexts are foreign to the Bible, no matter how persuasive they are in denominational traditions. The student of the Bible must make all foreign contexts subservient to the Bible’s own context. That means replacing our own worldview with that of the biblical writer living during this ancient time span in the ancient Near East and eastern Mediterranean. The way to do that is to immerse ourselves in the intellectual output of those cultures in which the biblical Israelite and later Hellenistic Jews lived when God moved them to write Scripture. The episode ends with suggestions about resources for familiarizing oneself with the literature of all these cultures. These guides are the first step, and set the stage for a discussion of where to find these texts in English translation, as well as informed discussion of that material for enriching Bible study. Guides to the Literature of the Biblical Context and Worldview: Old Testament (informed by the Literature of the Ancient Near East) John Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context Victor Matthews, Old Testament Parallels: Laws And Stories from the Ancient Near East Kenton Sparks, Ancient Texts for the Study of the Hebrew Bible: A Guide to the Background Literature New Testament (informed by the literature of Second Temple / “Intertestamental” Judaism) Larry Helyer, Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period: A Guide for New Testament Students (Christian Classics Bible Studies) Craig Evans, Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature D. deSilva, Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance

Exploring the shift to in-depth biblical research, critiquing surface-level character studies, advocating for original language study and textual patterns. Emphasizing Bible interpretation in context, avoiding misattributions. Understanding the Bible's nature, balancing divine and human elements, interpreting peculiar passages. Engaging with exegesis, original language analysis, promoting deeper understanding through narrative exploration.

This episode builds on the previous one, where Dr. Heiser discussed the context of Paul’s teachings on the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11 — namely, the three chapters prior, 1 Corinthians 8-10. Those chapters show Paul laying out the “fellowship context” of the Lord’s Supper, that Paul wants believers to know that they “partake” of a meal by which they enjoy fellowship (koinoinia) with the Lord. His context for that thought is the partaking of OT priests in sacrificial meat (though not of the sacrifices for atonement or sin offering), and the demonic “fellowship” that is the result of pagan sacrifice. This episode moves into 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul describes the Lord’s Supper in relation to a fellowship meal. This context is crucial to understanding the focus of the Lord’s Supper and the admonitions of Paul in connection with observing the Lord’s Supper.

This episode transitions the discussion of a biblical theology of the Lord’s Supper to the primary passage in the New Testament on the topic: 1 Corinthians 11. The episode focuses on the context of 1 Corinthians 8-10 for informing what Paul says about the Lord’s Supper in chapter 11. The “fellowship context” of the Lord’s Supper is shown to be important for understanding the issues Paul will get into in 1 Corinthians 11. Paul wants believers to know that they “partake” of a meal by which they enjoy fellowship (koinoinia) with the Lord. His context for that thought is the partaking of OT priests in sacrificial meat (though not of the sacrifices for atonement or sin offering), and the demonic “fellowship” that is the result of pagan sacrifice — his primary concern in the disputation over meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Cor 8-10.

The podcast focuses on the interpretation of the 'bread of life' passage in John 6. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the first half of the passage and clarifies that John 6 is not about the Last Supper. The hosts explore the metaphor of eating and drinking Jesus' flesh and blood, the confusion among the disciples, and the significance of faith in the Lord's Supper. They suggest studying Paul's Corinthians for a comprehensive understanding of communion.

When I introduced this topic and series, I said that I’m convinced that this doctrine is one of the least critically examined of all biblical doctrines. This episode gets us into some territory that illustrates the pervasive influence of assumptions about this topic. Anyone who has studied the doctrine knows that it is linked to the Last Supper. They also know about the problem of John 6, the “bread of life” passage. But did you know that John 6 isn’t in the context of the Last Supper? Most students don’t, and the observation begs the question of whether the controversial “eat my flesh and drink my blood” wording in John 6 has anything at all to do with the Lord’s Supper, despite centuries of assuming that it’s central to the topic.

Today we begin a new topic, and with it a short series on a doctrine that most listeners will have heard of or experienced firsthand. I think it would be difficult to find anyone who has spent any time in a Christian church of any denomination who has not heard of the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion or the Lord’s Table. But while most listeners will have heard of the doctrine before, I’m willing to bet few have really thought about or, perhaps stated more precisely, have ever questioned what they’ve been taught about it in light of their own reading of the Scriptures. As familiar as you might think it is, I’m convinced that this doctrine is one of the least critically examined of all biblical doctrines. If I made a “Top Ten” list of things churches do without much thinking, this would be in the list for sure.

The hosts analyze the interpretation of Acts 2:38, discussing the controversial aspect of repentance and baptism. They address misconceptions regarding baptismal regeneration of infants and provide insights into the wider context of the Book of Acts. The relationship between circumcision and baptism is explored, raising questions about the importance of repentance. Comparisons are drawn between baptism and circumcision in the Book of Acts, emphasizing the primacy of repentance for loyalty to God. The connection between baptism and repentance is explored, clarifying that forgiveness of sins is a response to inward repentance.