It Means What It Means

Episode 51: Seconding Sinai with Hindy Najman

In this conversation, Hindy Najman discusses her book Seconding Sinai: The Development of Mosaic Discourse in Second Temple Judaism. She challenges the traditional understanding of pseudepigrapha as inauthentic and instead explores how texts associated with figures like Moses can be seen as faithful to the tradition and transformative in the hands of later writers. She emphasizes the importance of ethical reading and the responsibility of individuals and communities to interpret and revitalize traditions. The conversation also touches on the tension between tradition and progress, the role of natural law in Philo's thought, and the concept of tikkun olam in Judaism. She recommends reading the works of scholars such as James Kugel, Jeffrey Kahn, Judith Newman, and John Barton to gain a deeper understanding of biblical textual studies. If you would like to support the podcast financially, $5 a month will get you access to episodes a week before they are released for free at patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast.

Episode 50: Ancient Polemic in the New Testament with Luke Timothy Johnson

In this conversation, Luke Timothy Johnson discusses his article on the “New Testament's Anti-Jewish slander and the Conventions of Ancient Polemic.” He argues that the negative characterizations of Jews in the New Testament were not aimed at Judaism as a whole, but at specific groups within Judaism. Johnson emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and sociological context in which these writings were produced. He also explores the relationship between early Christianity and Judaism, and the misinterpretation of New Testament language as divinely inspired condemnations of Jews. The conversation explores the liturgical approach to reading scripture in the Catholic tradition and contrasts it with the evangelical approach. It delves into the Catholic lectionary and the engagement with the words and acts of Jesus in the Mass. The conversation also discusses the Catholic hermeneutics of generosity and the academic hermeneutics of suspicion, the Protestant preoccupation with recovering the primal instance of something, and the Catholic view of development in Christianity. It touches on the influence of Martin Luther and the New Perspective on Paul, as well as the state of New Testament studies today. The conversation concludes with a discussion on reading habits and recommendations for books. If you would like to support the podcast financially, $5 a month will get you access to episodes a week before they are released for free at patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast.

Episode 49: Paul within Judaism with Mark D Nanos

Mark Nanos discusses his interest in Jewish history and his focus on reading the New Testament, particularly Paul, from a more Jewish perspective. He explains how his research and writing have challenged traditional interpretations of Paul and the Jewish tradition. Nanos emphasizes the importance of reframing the language used to discuss Jewish law and sacred teaching. He also explores the concept of creating a new culture of understanding and the role of the Shema as a unifying theological proposition in Paul's work. Nanos concludes by discussing the conversion of Gentiles into Jews and the significance of reading Romans 11 in light of the Shema. In this conversation, Mark Nanos discusses Paul's teaching and behavior, his audience and assumptions, and the importance of understanding the Jewish context. He clarifies that Paul's target audience is primarily non-Jews who are being socialized into a Jewish movement. Nanos emphasizes the distinction between the rhetorical audience and the historical audience in Paul's letters. He also explores the role of the Shema in Paul's writings and the acknowledgement of other gods in ancient Israelite culture. Nanos recommends various resources for further study and shares his personal reading preferences. If you would like to support the podcast financially, $5 a month will get you access to episodes a week before they are released for free at patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast.

Episode 48: Who's Present in Psalm 82 with Shane M Thompson

In this conversation, Shane Thompson discusses his article “Local Manifestations of YHWH within El’s divine Council: Psalm 82 in the Context of Israelite Religion.” He explores the concepts of monotheism, monolatry, and henotheism, and proposes that Psalm 82 describes multiple local manifestations of Yahweh. He argues that ancient Israelite religion was not a monolithic monotheistic system, but rather a complex and diverse belief system influenced by neighboring cultures. The conversation also touches on the challenges of interpreting ancient texts and understanding the religious practices of ancient Israel. The conversation explores the development of monotheism in ancient Israel and the role of Psalm 82 in this process. Jared and Shane discuss the biases and historical context of biblical texts, the significance of Yahweh's concern for justice and care for the weak, and the ambiguity surrounding the identity of the singular Elohim in the psalm. They also touch on the unique characteristics of ancient Israelite religion and the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of biblical texts.

Episode 47: Traditions I: Greek Orthodoxy with Father John Haby

Father John Haby discusses his personal background and journey to the Greek Orthodox Church. He explains the liturgical engagement with biblical texts in the Greek Orthodox tradition, emphasizing the importance of tradition and the Eucharist. Father Haby also addresses the issue of biblical literacy within the church and the challenges it faces. He highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the Bible and the traditions of the church. Additionally, he discusses the challenges posed by a trust fund mentality among parishioners and the geopolitical issues within the Orthodox Church. In this conversation, Fr. John Haby discusses various aspects of Orthodox Christianity. He explains the different sects within Orthodox Christianity and the historical divides between them. Fr. Haby also talks about the formation of different Orthodox churches through immigration. He emphasizes the importance of loving God and others as the foundation of faith. He presents the Orthodox Church as the original form of Christianity and encourages individuals to explore it. Fr. Haby suggests resources for understanding Orthodox Christianity and shares his reading habits. The conversation concludes with closing remarks.

Episode 46: Dialogue in LXX Isaiah and Romans with Daniel Rodriguez

In this conversation, Daniel Rodriguez discusses his paper “On Γαρ'd: Dialogue in LXX Isaiah and Romans” and the misinterpretation of Paul's words in Romans. They explore the translation of biblical texts and the complexity of understanding theological concepts in Paul's writings. They also discuss the distinction between sin and transgression and the importance of listening to Jewish voices in biblical studies. The conversation concludes with recommendations for further reading and fun books and TV shows.

Episode 45: Suddenly Then Gradually with Edmon Gallagher

The conversation with Edmon Gallagher explores the growth and expansion of the Septuagint and its canon. The Septuagint refers to the Greek translation of the Old Testament, specifically the Torah. The traditional story is that King Ptolemy commissioned 70 Jewish scholars to translate the Torah from Hebrew into Greek. However, Gallagher argues that the Septuagint initially referred only to the Torah and later expanded to include other books. He discusses the sudden expansion of the Septuagint in the second century AD and the gradual growth that followed. The conversation also touches on the concept of canon and the different perspectives of Christians and Jews. The conversation explores the themes of the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the canonization of biblical texts. It discusses the historical context of the Septuagint and its role as a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The Vulgate, Jerome's Latin translation, is also examined, along with its status as the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. The conversation delves into the debates and arguments surrounding the inspired status of these translations. It concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding ancient perspectives on the Septuagint and the canon.

Episode 44: The Song of Songs: A Narrative in Lyric Poetry with Gavin Fernandes

Gavin Fernandes discusses his article on the Song of Songs and the issue with the interpretation of the words 'melech' and 'alamot'. He argues that the word 'melech' should be understood as 'king' and not dismissed or interpreted figuratively. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the literary integrity of the text and the presence of three parties: the king, the woman, and the women. Fernandes explores the debate on whether the Song of Songs has a narrative and argues that it is a lyric poetry that can convey a narrative. He discusses the historical and theological interpretations of the Song of Songs and the challenges of reconciling the literary and theological perspectives. The conversation explores the complexity and structure of the Song of Songs, focusing on the characters, themes, and narrative progression. The guest argues that the song is a literary unity rather than a collection of songs. They discuss the use of pastoral language and the presence of multiple characters speaking in the text. The guest also suggests that the song can be seen as an early Cinderella narrative. They touch on the performative potential of the song but argue that it was not originally intended as a stage piece.

Episode 43: Islam and the Bible V with Mark Durie

Mark Durie, an Anglican pastor and expert on Islam, discusses the influence of Charles Kraft on missions to Muslims. Kraft, a missiologist, promoted the idea of insider movements, where Muslims could follow Christ while retaining their Muslim identity. Durie explains that Kraft's approach to biblical translation was influenced by Eugene Nida, who believed that meaning was determined by the response it evoked. Kraft argued for the removal of terms like 'Son of God' and 'Father' from Bible translations to avoid offense to Muslims. Durie critiques Kraft's dismissal of the Nicene Creed and emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity in missions. In this conversation, Jared and Mark Durie discuss the issue of insider movements and Muslim idiom translations. They explore the interaction between Orthodox or Eastern Christians and the concept of insider movements. They also delve into the concern for ontology and the substance of Jesus in the biblical text, as well as the relationship between Christianity and Islam. Mark Durie critiques Charles Kraft's view of Islam as a cultural heresy of Christianity and discusses the challenges of understanding different cultures and languages. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with different perspectives and wrestling with complex ideas.

Episode 42: Islam and the Bible IV with Kyle from Bible Translation Fellowship

Kyle discusses the importance of Bible translation for the church and challenges the notion that the Bible is primarily for non-Christians. He emphasizes the need for pastors and laypeople to engage with the original languages of the Bible and highlights the role of exegesis, hermeneutics, and theology in interpretation. Kyle also emphasizes the importance of stable translations that can be used by Christian communities for worship, teaching, and evangelism. In this conversation, Kyle discusses the importance of receptivity and thinking about the audience when it comes to Bible translation. He also emphasizes the role of translations and footnotes in helping people understand the original languages. Kyle highlights the historical importance of Bible translation, particularly in the context of creeds and confessions. He emphasizes the need for Bible translation in local congregations and encourages pastors and laypeople to pray for and engage in this important work. Kyle also shares recommended resources for further exploration and discusses his reading preferences and ways to decompress.