It Means What It Means

Episode 26: Travel Anxiety in Early Judaism with Elisa Uusimäki

Elisa Uusimäki discusses the topic of travel and anxiety in early Jewish literature. She shares her background and research interests, including her focus on the figure of the wise person and the intersection of wisdom and travel. She explains how she defines and approaches anxiety in her article, drawing on psychological and affect studies. She discusses the texts she analyzes, including Tobit and the writings of Philo of Alexandria, and how they depict travel-related anxiety. Elisa also explores the societal and personal dimensions of travel in the ancient world and its relevance today. The conversation explores the motivation for the journey in Tobit and the gendered representation of anxiety and delves into the different ways Tobit and his wife manage their anxiety and the role of blessings and proactive actions. It then examines Philo's understanding of travel and the experiences of diaspora communities.

Episode 25: Christmaker: A life of John the Baptist with James F McGrath

James McGrath is a religious studies professor and author of the book Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist. In this conversation, McGrath explains how his interest in John the Baptist was sparked by his previous work on the Gospel of John and the Mandaeans, a group that emerged from followers of John the Baptist. He also challenges common misconceptions about John's appearance and lifestyle, highlighting the complexity of his family background and his role as a charismatic figure challenging the religious establishment. The conversation explores the foundational tradition of John the Baptist and his role in challenging the existing religious practices of his time. It delves into the connection between John and Jesus, the influence of the prophetic tradition, and the significance of baptism. The conversation also highlights the importance of understanding John the Baptist in order to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and Christian origins. Recommended resources for further study are provided, along with a discussion on the author's approach to writing and the connection between his work and his personal interests.

Episode 24: Building the Tabernacle and Priestly Hegemony with Nathan MacDonald

In this conversation, Nathan McDonald discusses the concept of priestly hegemony and its utilization of different aspects of culture to establish power. He explains the development of the biblical text and the complex history behind it. Nathan also explores the connection between the priestly and Deuteronomic sources and how they collided and harmonized over time. He highlights the significance of the names of the sons of Israel in the priestly vestments as a representation of the transformation of identity. Overall, this conversation provides insights into the construction and evolution of the biblical text. This conversation explores the development of the text, the significance of the breastplate, the relationship between the tabernacle and the temple, and the power dynamics within the priesthood. It also delves into the puzzling figure of Moses and the role of sacrifice in priestly power. The chapters cover topics such as the interpretation of the text, the different meanings of the sons of Israel, and the complex nature of power in the ancient world. Overall, the conversation highlights the nuanced and multifaceted nature of the biblical text and its ongoing interpretation. The conversation explores the profound reflections found in priestly literature, which engages with big issues and offers insights on creation, humanity, sin, and redemption. It highlights the influence of priestly literature on later texts, including the New Testament and early Judaism. The original focus of the book is on ritual change and innovation, particularly the ordination rituals and the transformation of rituals over time. Recommended books on priestly literature are mentioned, including Consuming Fire by Leanne Feldman and Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus by Jim Watts. The conversation also touches on reading history for fun and the importance of approaching texts in a better way. It concludes with a discussion on epiphanies and revelatory moments in biblical studies.

Episode 23: Disentangling Disability in the Hebrew Bible with Eric J Harvey

In this conversation, Eric J. Harvey discusses his research on blindness in the ancient Middle East, particularly in the Hebrew Bible. He explains the differences between the categories of not seeing, unseeing, and blind, and how interpreters have often misunderstood and conflated them. Eric also delves into the concept of the normate body and the ableist interpretations of biblical texts. He explores the significance of Second Isaiah and its portrayal of disability as a metaphor for the end of exile and a new beginning. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the embodiment and corporeality of God in the Hebrew Bible. In this conversation, Jared and Eric discuss the concept of materiality in the Bible and its implications for disability. They explore passages in Corinthians and Galatians that highlight the material nature of bodies and breath. They also delve into the tension between spirituality and material embodiment, questioning whether disability will exist in the eschaton and the importance of grappling with the intersection of disability and materiality. Eric recommends books such as Biblical Corpora: Representations of Disability in Hebrew Biblical Literature by Rebecca Raphael and The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel by Benjamin D Sommer for further exploration of bodies and disability in biblical studies. For fun, Eric suggests science fiction books like The Power by Naomi Alderman and Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Episode 22: Mourning for Tammuz in Ezekiel 8 with William S Morrow

In this episode, Jared talks to William Morrow about his article “Mourning for Tammuz: Prophecy and Projection in Ezekiel 8:14” from The Journal of Biblical Literature. Recommendations made include the Society of Biblical Literature website, Bible Odyssey, Biblical Archaeological Review, American Theological Library Association, Review Biblical Literature, Ancient World Online, and Ian Rankin’s Rebus books. Click here to find out where you can follow the podcast.

Episode 21: The Faithful Son in Hebrews 1:3b with Jonathan Rowlands

Jonathan Rowlands, a theology lecturer, discusses the book of Hebrews and its themes. He explains that Hebrews is a unique text in the New Testament, and its genre and authorship are still debated. The book emphasizes Jesus as a high priest and his role in atonement. Rowlands explores different readings of Hebrews 1:3b and how they impact the understanding of the text. He also discusses the importance of Jesus' pre-crucifixion life in the overall message of Hebrews. In this conversation, Jonathan Rowlands discusses his research on the book of Hebrews and the sacrificial system. He explains that the sacrifice Jesus offers in the heavenly temple is not his death on the cross, but the totality of his obedient life. The author of Hebrews is primarily concerned with what Jesus is doing now, present tense, as a high priest. There are glimpses of a broader renewal of all things, including heaven and earth, in the book. Rowlands recommends reading the works of David Moffat and Matthew Thiessen for further insights into Hebrews and biblical studies.

Episode 20: Unitarian Evangelicals and the Faith of Jesus with Curtis Freeman

In this episode, Jared talks to Curtis Freeman about his essay “The Faith of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Conundrum” from the book Beyond Old and New Perspectives on Paul: Reflections on the Work of Douglas Campbell. Recommendations made include James William McClendon, Glen Butner, Fred Sanders, NT Wright, Richard Hays, and Mark A Noll features prominently in the conversation. Reach out with feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com, on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Spoutible, or check out the podcast Linktree.

Episode 19: Liberating Paul's Gospel with Jon DePue

In this conversation, Jon DePue discusses the main themes of his book Beyond Justification: Liberating Paul’s Gospel with Jared. They explore the concept of Paul's gospel as a gospel of life and liberation, moving beyond the traditional understanding of justification. They discuss the cosmic scope of Paul's gospel and the importance of the afterlife in Paul's thinking. They also delve into the alternative gospel proposed by justification theorists and the significance of Jewish practices in Paul's theology. In this conversation, Jon and Jared discuss the overcorrection in Second Temple Judaism studies and the need for a theological perspective. They highlight the pre-Sanders scholars who were already challenging traditional interpretations of Paul. They also address the resistance to covenantal nomism and the failure of some theologians to find a different path. The seriousness of describing Judaism in a negative light is emphasized, along with the implication of Christianity in historical atrocities against Jews. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the dialogues in Romans and recommended resources on Paul and Second Temple Judaism. Books referenced in the conversation include Deliverance of God, A Jewish Paul, The Fall of Númenor, Silence, and his forthcoming book with Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Takeaways
Paul's gospel is a gospel of life and liberation, going beyond the traditional understanding of justification.
The cosmic scope of Paul's gospel includes the redemption of the entire cosmos, not just individual moral actors.
The afterlife is important in Paul's thinking, but he is more concerned with the present reality of the new age and the ethical implications of the gospel.
The alternative gospel proposed by justification theorists focuses on individual moral actors and their salvation through faith in Christ, often disregarding Jewish practices and traditions. There was an overcorrection in Pauline studies that needed to be addressed.
Pre-Sanders scholars were already challenging traditional interpretations of Paul.
Some theologians failed to find a different path and resisted the idea of covenantal nomism.
Describing Judaism in a negative light is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Christianity is implicated in historical atrocities against Jews and needs to be reckoned with.
The dialogues in Romans provide insight into Paul's response to certain problem people.
There are recommended resources available for a better understanding of Paul and Second Temple Judaism.
 

Episode 18: Re-remembering Hagar with Haley Gabrielle

In this episode, Jared talks to Haley Gabrielle about her article “Re-remembering Hagar: Reading Σάρξ in Galatians with Spillers” from the Journal of Biblical Literature. Recommendations made include Shively Smith, Randall Bailey, Gay Byron, Vanessa Lovelace, Mitzi Smith, Sharon Jacob, Dolores Williams, and (I added) Gale Yee. 
Reach out with feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com, on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Spoutible, or check out the podcast Linktree.

Episode 17: America's Book with Mark A Noll

Mark A. Noll discusses his book America's Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization, 1794 to 1911. He shares his motivation for writing the book and explains that it is a continuation of his research on the use of the Bible in American history. Noll highlights the entrepreneurial and free-form nature of religion in America, particularly in relation to the production and use of the Bible. He also explores the role of learning Greek and Hebrew in America and the presence of anti-intellectualism in American Christianity. Noll concludes by discussing the diverse perspectives and communities in biblical interpretation in America. In this conversation, Mark Noll discusses different approaches to the Bible, including the dominant Enlightenment view and the narrative-focused approach of African-American communities. He also explores the decline of dispensationalism and the role of the Bible in the debate over slavery. Noll highlights the changing significance of the Bible in the 20th century and recommends books on these topics. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the historical and cultural contexts that shape interpretations of the Bible.
Reach out with feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com, on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Spoutible, or check out the podcast Linktree.