On My Strange Bible, we're focused on exploring the strange and fascinating aspects of the Bible that often go unnoticed or forgotten. Delve along with us into the oddities, miracles, and unexplained events in the Bible that make it truly unique. In each episode, we'll uncover these hidden gems and invite you to reimagine familiar stories and discover new perspectives. This ain’t your grandma’s Bible.
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Welcome to Exploring My Strange Bible by Tim Mackie, lead theologian and co-founder of BibleProject.
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Join us on this episode of My Strange Bible as we dive deep into Jonah Chapter 2. Steve and Alex discuss Jonah's introspective prayer while in the belly of the fish, highlighting themes of God's faithfulness and second chances. They explore the complexities of Jonah's lack of repentance, the concept of Sheol, and the broader implications of the cha…
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Join us in this exciting episode of My Strange Bible as we delve into Jonah Chapter 1. Our hosts explore the comedic elements and deep theological insights of Jonah's initial defiance of God’s command to go to Nineveh. They analyze the satire in the narrative, the protagonist's futile attempts to flee from God's presence, and the extraordinary stor…
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Ever wondered if the story of Jonah and the whale is more than just a Sunday school tale? Join us on "My Strange Bible" as we dive into the book of Jonah like never before! From misconceptions to fascinating scholarly insights, we’re peeling back the layers of this ancient text. In this episode, we explore Jonah’s ironic journey, his short yet powe…
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Join us on this episode of "My Strange Bible," as we delve into the perplexing question: why did God destroy the world with a flood? We explore various perspectives on this ancient narrative, from theological implications to scientific evidence. Timestamps: 00:00 Back to Basics and Personal Beliefs 20:56 Engaging with Different Views on the Global …
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Join us for a deep dive into a brief but fascinating passage from the Gospel of Matthew. In this episode, we explore Jesus' interaction with Peter regarding temple taxes, leading to a miraculous moment involving a fish and a gold coin. Through our discussion, we uncover layers of meaning behind this seemingly odd event, revealing profound insights …
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Most people aren't sure how to read the Bible. Should it be taken literally? Metaphorally? Some other way? Using specific examples, hosts Alex and Steve dymystify Bible interpretation and talk through some practical tools to discover the meaning of any given text. 00:00 : Introduction and greetings. 03:00 : Discussing reading the Bible as fiction o…
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Dive deep into the strange and intriguing story of talking donkeys in the Bible with Steve and Alex on this week's episode of My Strange Bible! From Balak's request for curses to Balaam's unexpected encounters with God, this tale is full of twists and turns. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Catching up and the allure of talking donkeys 4:23 - Setting the …
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In this episode, we dive into the long lifespans recorded in the early chapters of Genesis, where figures are noted to have lived for several hundred years. The hosts, Steve and Alex, discuss the plausibility and implications of these long ages from various perspectives, including biblical interpretation, scientific analysis, and archaeological evi…
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In this episode of 'My Strange Bible,' hosts Alex and Steve delve into the perplexing question of why Satan appears on God's payroll in the Book of Job. They discuss the notion of cognitive dissonance experienced by many when encountering this scenario and suggest that a common misunderstanding of the text has led to confusion. Introducing the conc…
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How God Crushed Abimelech's Ambition | Judges 9:26-57
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Dive into the captivating conclusion of 'The Rise and Fall of the Bramble King - Part 3.' In this episode, Steve and Alex decipher the profound lessons embedded in Judges Chapter 9, discussing themes such as idolatry, ambition, divine justice, and the complexities of biblical figures. Join them on this insightful journey that not only explores the …
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This episode delves into the second part of the biblical story of Abimelech, exploring its dark and complex themes. The hosts, Steve and Alex, discuss how the story, found in the Book of Judges, reflects on Abimelech's tyrannical rule over Israel and his rise to power through deceit and murder. They analyze the parable of Jotham, Abimelech's sole s…
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What if Israel Had Become Canaanites? | Judges 8:30-9:6
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This episode of My Strange Bible dives into one of the Bible's darkest passages, found in Judges 9, telling the story of Abimelech, the son of Gideon. The hosts discuss the complex background of idolatry, leadership, and the consequences of ambition through a detailed examination. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:09 The Excitement for th…
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A Hard Look at Biblical Inerrancy
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In this episode, we discuss the concept of 'Inerrancy' in relation to the Bible, raising questions about its meaning, and how it applies to our understanding and interpretation of scripture. Join us as we navigate through this complex topic, engaging in thought-provoking discussions. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:35 - Role of Script-Editing Ass…
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Joseph's Sneaky Mind Games
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In this episode, Steve and Alex dive into the story of Joseph from the Bible, bringing new insights and perspectives to a tale that has been told many times. They discuss the themes of deception and guilt, the oddities of Joseph's mind games on his brothers, Judah's story arc, and the divine plans at work behind the scenes. The hosts also explore t…
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In this episode of My Strange Bible, the hosts discuss the potential existence of aliens based on biblical teachings. The conversation reflects on the ambiguous nature of scripture regarding alien life and delves into assumptions that have shaped traditional Christian perspectives on the concept. The hosts further relate this to modern technologica…
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In this episode of 'My Strange Bible', the hosts discuss the importance of understanding the original context in which the Bible was written, including the ancient Near Eastern culture and mindset. They dive into questions around who the Bible was written for and how its teachings apply today. They highlight the importance of not viewing the Bible …
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Join us on this episode of 'My Strange Bible' as hosts Alex and Steve dive deep into a fascinating but often misunderstood topic - the Giants or 'Nephilim' mentioned in the Bible. Drawing on biblical texts, particularly from the Book of Genesis, and other scholarly insights, they attempt to unravel the historical and theological significance of the…
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In this episode of 'My Strange Bible', hosts Steve and Alex dive deeper into the Divine Council worldview, discussing the implications for Christian theology, the interpretation of 'gods' in the Bible, and the concept of 'Elohim'. They also explore some biblical passages showcasing spiritual beings participating in governance with God, like the Div…
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In this podcast episode, hosts Steve and Alex delve into the divine council worldview based on Dr. Michael Heiser's influence. They discuss the supernatural realities painted in the Bible, the existence of spiritual beings like sons of God, and the potential significance of these entities in biblical narratives. They argue that comprehension of the…
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In this enlightening podcast episode, the hosts Steve and Al explore the often overlooked 'weird stuff' in the Bible and why it's essential to engage with these unique and peculiar aspects. As they delve into the strange stories and elements that may seem out of context or puzzling, they underline the importance of situating oneself within the anci…
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In this first episode of 'My Strange Bible Podcast,' hosts Steve and Alex celebrate the launch of the podcast by providing their perspectives on their Christian journeys and sharing what led them to appreciate the unique eccentricities present in the Christian Bible. They invite their audience into a deep exploration of seemingly odd or bizarre Bib…
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A message from Tim to let everyone know that we will be putting this podcast on pause for now. It will remain active online so you can still listen or re-listen to his sermons. If you want to hear more from Tim, check out The Bible Project Podcast: https://thebibleproject.com/podcasts/the-bible-project-podcast/…
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This story has changed the course of human history over the past 2,000 years. Of course the story is profound, but the IMPLICATIONS of what it means to the history of our universe leading up to Jesus’ resurrection is incredible. This teaching is a reflection about the significance of Easter. Jesus walking out of the empty tomb offered a whole new h…
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We are in the final moments of Jesus’ story, and we focus on his trial, but also the story in Matthew about Judas after his betrayal of Jesus. Judas experiences extreme remorse and ends up committing suicide. These are grim stories, but they are very important insights into human conditions. You can see how Judas became trapped in his black hole of…
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We’ve come to (from my perspective) one of the most profound, mysterious, and almost terrifying stories of the Gospel. It is the story of Jesus right before he gets arrested and executed. He took his friends and followers to a small olive grove and he was disappointed by their inability to stay awake… his closest people fail him at the moment that …
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This teaching is actually kind of a replay and development of a teaching that I gave numerous times about the Messianic Passover. As we retell the story of Passover year after year, we can see that the story is forward-pointing as it represents liberation. What Jesus does with this meal and how he takes its meaning and tweaks it is really interesti…
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Today we ponder a pretty well-known peril of Jesus that has been misused and abused in unfortunate ways when it is read out of context. This story is about a landowner who gives different sized investments to his servants and then expects them to produce something with the investments. Then based on what they have done with the investment, the land…
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We go over Matthew Chapter 24 today, which in modern, especially American Protestantism, has become a very controversial text related to biblical discussions about “the end times”. The longer I’ve gone on to learn more about the bible and how symbolism works and apocalyptic texts in Jewish writing, my understanding has really depended. That being s…
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We are in the “passion” week during Jesus’ stay in Jerusalem for Passover, and there are a series of controversies. Today we explore a controversy that Jesus has with some priests. They try to trap Jesus in a scripture-type puzzle, but he really doesn’t fall for it. We watch Jesus deal with controversy, the future, resurrection, and more in this ep…
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We look at a story from a controversy that Jesus was involved in in this episode. During his final week in Jerusalem for Passover, he ends up telling this famous story of God’s covenant with Israel leading up to Jesus. He tells it through a story about a landowner who owns a vineyard and then has some hired hands who end up hijacking the farm and g…
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In this teaching, we take apart Matthew Chapter 21 and the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem during the week of Passover, and he creates a storm. He literally storms into the temple and turns over tables and stages a protest. Immediately following that, there is a story about Jesus and a fig tree. Get ready for Hebrew word plays, prophetic poetr…
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We slow down on Matthew Chapter 18 and address Jesus’ aside road trip in this teaching. He is trying to give his staff and disciples an idea of what it is like to live in the upside-down value system of the kingdom in our personal conflicts and relationships. He particularly addresses forgiveness because, for Jesus, forgiveness was the quintessenti…
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This episode takes us into Matthew Chapter 18. Jesus was taking a road trip, and then he decided to go on a solo march towards Jerusalem for Passover. He had been trying to invite his disciples specifically (his closest followers). This chapter focuses on resolving conflicts and relational problems within the kingdom of Jesus. It is full of practic…
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At this point, we take a look at Matthew Chapter 17 about taxes and death. This isn't the most famous story about taxes in the Bible, but it is one of the first. It is about how Jesus relates to power and the Jewish institutions within religious people. This is an interesting story to show how Jesus related to these powers that he believed were cor…
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At this point, we look at Matthew Chapter 15. It is a story about a woman who approaches Jesus and asks him to heal her child, and Jesus HESITATES (which is totally bizarre because it doesn’t fit the portrait of Jesus, right?). The backstory of this woman and her history in the scriptures is really interesting, and it really helps us frame why Matt…
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We’re looking at Matthew Chapter 14. I consider two stories alongside each other in this teaching. One is the story of John the Baptist getting beheaded by the royal family. It is followed by another story of Jesus providing food for hungry people in the wilderness that interrupts his cousin’s death. The character of Jesus shines brightly in this e…
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