All Episodes
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...
Abraham and Isaac
This week, Fr. Paul introduces his presentation of Genesis 24 touching on Isaac’s role and the significance of what he terms the prolegomena of the story. (Episode 181)
There Will Be No Flags in the Kingdom
Whatever term we use to describe it, be it “worldly,” “earthly,” “materialistic,” or the more precise biblical phrase, “of the flesh,” the fact is, the way we think an...
Let’s Make it Functional
This week Fr. Paul takes questions and discussion on the meaning and usage of Hebrew terminology in Genesis. (Episode 180)
Repeat These Words
Repetition is the foundation of knowledge. A student repeats vocabulary. An athlete repeats a physical movement. An apprentice repeats a task. A reporter repeats what ...
Hebron
In this week’s episode, Fr. Paul explains Hebron’s significance in Genesis 23 as the place of fraternity when human beings return to the adamah. (Episode 179)
Flash-forward, Be Afraid
The opening verses of the Judgment in Matthew 25 establish what the Bible repeatedly proclaims on every page, within every paragraph, and in every single verse. There ...