All Episodes
It’s That Serious
In this week’s program, Fr. Paul wraps up his question and answer session on Genesis 26. (Episode 195)
On the Record
In human affairs, it is always important to document our statements. Was something promised? Make sure to find the original email. Did something problematic come up in...
Leave Eden to God
In today’s program, Fr. Paul notes the connection between Ezekiel, Genesis, and the Gospel of Matthew. (Episode 194)
It Might Be a Duck
Just as an argument’s value can be assessed by examining its premise, in Scripture (and in life) an individual character’s action or statement can be understood by ide...
It’s Not That Simple
This week, Fr. Paul reminds us that the way we speak and the way that Scripture works are not the same thing, and the Bible is trickier than we think. (Episode 193)
Put Away the Sword
A committed person is hard to find in 2021. Well, let me rephrase. All of us—every last one of us—are committed to ourselves, and we organize the time allotted to us a...
Isaac Obeyed
In today’s program, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 26, reiterating the unique role of Isaac in the story while highlighting critical Hebrew wordplay that...
An Offer You Can’t Refuse
Trapped by the Reformation and endless reactions against it, it’s difficult for contemporary Christians to escape ongoing and silly theological debates about grace and...
Because Abraham Obeyed My Voice
Fr. Paul begins his reading of Genesis 26 by pointing out what so many miss and thus misread Paul: you are blessed not only because Abraham trusted God but because he ...
Failed Watchmen
We scratch our heads when the Bible repeats a boring statement over and over again, but what should puzzle us is the odd moment when the Bible seems to take shortcuts ...
Salama, Aslama, Salam
In today’s program, Fr. Paul wraps up his Q and A session with Richard and Fr. Marc on Genesis 25. (Episode 190)
The Problem With Peter
When English speakers co-opt the Matthean expression, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” they inevitably de-scripturalize them. They twist the words of Je...
Not As I Will
We naturally want Jesus to be invulnerable, and the thought of him feeling anxiety or, as Matthew writes, extreme grief about his predicament presents an uncomfortable...
No! No! You Have to Know!
In this week’s discussion of Genesis, Fr. Paul recalls a personal example, reflecting on the criticality of memorization for the study of Scripture. (Episode 188)
The Bitter Pill
Just as human biology is inevitable, so too are human words about development and growth. We talk about building and sustaining to defend and survive, and we talk abou...
The More You Know Scripture
This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 25. (Episode 187)
Pink Floyd and Mr. Rogers
When Jesus uses the word “body” in Matthew’s gospel, unless you abandon all assumptions, transporting yourself to first-century Roman society, it is impossible to hear...
It’s All About You!
We Americans love it when it’s about us. We just love it. Until we are sitting with Jesus in the Middle East, eating with our hands, and Jesus says, “it’s the guy ...
It Can Be Done
This week, Fr. Paul takes questions regarding his analysis of Genesis 24. (Episode 185)
You Are Not Ancient
We imagine an historical connection between the peoples of the biblical story and the peoples living in the modern world because our premise in 2021 is our identity. W...
How Many Ships?
This week, Fr. Paul concludes his reading of Genesis 24, noting the importance of paying close attention to even the smallest detail of every verse. (Episode 184)
Judas Iscariot
Tribe, nation, city, patrimony, heritage, religion, flags and bumper stickers—Judas Iscariot. Value, opportunity, market, profit, commerce, civilization, exploitat...
Live Long and ṣālēaḥ
In today’s program, Fr. Paul explains how the term “prosper,” used in English translations of the Bible, does not reflect the meaning of the original Hebrew term, yiṣl...
A Poverty of Instruction
In so far as the “daily bread” of the Lord’s prayer is the daily reading by which the disciples should be fed, in Matthew’s gospel, poverty is the consequence of refus...
Debarim
This week, Fr. Paul critiques the biblical priests as the first platonists who sought control by making out of the many words of God’s instruction a platonic oneness—“...
An Ordinary Guy
Sometimes we want so desperately for Jesus to be a super hero that we willfully ignore what is written before our eyes. Faced with powerful religious chiefs and elders...