The Divine Council Worldview Podcast

In this episode, Ronn and Mike review the place of Genesis 5 in the early story of the Bible. They suspect that this list of fathers and sons was formatted to suit a literary purpose as well as to recognize that a line of Yahweh-worshippers could be identified between Adam and Noah. Enoch is noted as among these righteous men, mysteriously disappearing off the earth after faithfully walking with his God. At the conclusion of this episode they introduce the pivotal narrative which took place during the days of Noah: a certain number of bene elohim (a Hebrew phrase signifying god-class or divine beings) became involved with the human race resulting in the birth of nephilim, "famous men" known to the original readers. This is truly one of the most unusual stories in all the Bible—yet it is also a significant story in the development of a Divine Council worldview.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike discuss the events described in Genesis 4. They challenge the popular notion that God was frustrated with Cain's vegetable offering, suspecting that something much more ominous was at stake. After surveying the story of Cain and his expanding family, they recommend that the last verse of the chapter offers the necessary clue for understanding the chapter as a whole—where we hear that Yahweh-worship eventually returned to Adam's family through Enosh, the son of Seth (4:26). Thus Genesis 4 is describing something worse than just the spread of sin; it is the spread of non-Yahwistic worship through Adam's own son. It will come as no surprise to find that the New Testament labels Cain as "of the evil one" (1 John 3:12).

In this episode, hosts Rich and Mel share personal anecdotes about their relationship with Dr. Michael Heiser, and reminisce on how they first met. They then delve into their shared passion and vision of integrating Dr. Heiser's teachings with the core message of the Gospel. Together, they aim to foster discipleship and inspire listeners to embark on their own transformative journey.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike return to Genesis 2 & 3 and ponder some of the specific stories related to the Garden of Eden. What did the two trees mean, or represent? How was Eve "made," and what was her relationship to Adam? Who or what was the serpent? Even more importantly, what was the temptation that the serpent presented to the human pair? Was it to become like Yahweh, or to become a divine being, even like the snake himself?

In this episode of the Divine Council Worldview Podcast, Ronn and Mike interview Dr. Matthew Bates, author of Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose (Christianity Today's 2024 book award winner in the category of Popular Theology). Their conversation surveys the narrative nature of the gospel story, the meaning of divine kingship in the first century, and the modern implications of living under Jesus' sovereignty. In the end, Bates sees the gospel as much more than the forgiveness of sins. He believes that being a Christian includes both an intentional confession of Jesus as King and a commitment of allegiance to this King. Get the book here: Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose

In this episode of the Divine Council Worldview Podcast Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu discuss the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. They debate the possible options presented by the serpent to Eve: was the temptation to become like "God," or to become like himself, an elohim? And what did it mean for Adam and Eve to fear their "nakedness" when Yahweh entered the garden? The curses upon the snake, Eve, and Adam are lastly considered, specifically the famous "proto-gospel" passage of 3:15 which finds the seed of the woman crushing the head of the serpent. Could this "seed" be referring to Jesus?

In this episode of the Divine Council Worldview Podcast, Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu discuss the creation account of humanity and the implications of being made to be like/as divine beings (the "us" of Genesis 1:26). They "test drive" the possibility that Genesis 1 and 2 offer separate creation accounts, with Adam and Eve being formed and placed into a garden after an existing world had been populated with many plants, animals, and humans. The benefit of this option, as they understand it, is the later narrative of Genesis 4, where Cain appears to enter a populated world after his murder of Abel. Ronn refers to a recent book by S. Joshua Swamidass ("The Genealogical Adam and Eve") which gives scientific support to the idea that a historical Adam and Eve provide the genealogical ancestry for the entire human race. The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry by S. Joshua Swamidass

In this episode of the Divine Council Worldview Podcast, Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu introduce two friends who will be contributing to upcoming shows. Rich Baker and Mel were close followers and friends of Dr. Heiser and his ministry, and their goal will be to interview people from various cultures who have been impacted by Mike's work. They will enjoy recounting where a divine council worldview has been introduced into local ministries and how it has made a difference. Because the seduction of other gods is still very real in our modern world, understanding what it means to worship Yahweh and his Son Jesus has never been more crucial. The speakers express gratitude for the opportunity to connect with each other and witness this unique work in bringing people together for the sake of Christ.

Exploration of Divine Council worldview in Genesis 1, Hebrew translation of elohim, significance of non-evangelical scholarship, interpretation of creation days, and 'let us make man in our image' discussion.

In this podcast, Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu discuss the divine council worldview, the concept of loyalty to Jesus and God, believers becoming divine in the next age, the role of gods in the next world, theosis, and glorification. They also explore various topics often discussed within a divine council worldview and plan to dive into Genesis in future episodes.