Bible Feed

In this episode Dan and returning guest Jon Davies explore the concept of the 'canon of scripture,' the historical debates surrounding the inclusion of various books in the Old and New Testaments, and the influence of early church councils. By highlighting that the gospel message was preached even before the New Testament was written, they emphasize the extensive agreement on core scriptures throughout history. They also discuss how Jesus and His followers viewed these authoritative texts, offering helpful perspectives for anyone grappling with this foundational topic.

Join Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport as they continue their mini series on the Old Testament prophets by starting to look at the Book of Isaiah. They explore Isaiah's historical context and, referring to the seven types of prophetic content introduced in the previous episode, they work through some examples of his messages to Judah, the surrounding nations and the promise of future blessings for all people. Discussing key themes and passages in chapters 1 to 39, Dan and Paul aim to demystify Isaiah's complex but rich narrative, encouraging listeners to dive into the text themselves. This episode sets the stage for the second part of the discussion, which will cover chapters 40 onwards.

Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport introduce a mini-series exploring the role of prophets in the Bible. Recalling their first podcast on prophecy and faith back in 2020, they revisit key themes, focusing on the significance of prophets in the covenant history of Israel. They identify the prophets in the Hebrew Bible, including the major and minor prophets, and discuss the diverse ways prophets conveyed their messages—through criticism, warnings, and symbolic actions. Dan and Paul set the stage for a more detailed exploration of Isaiah and the minor prophets, offering listeners practical tools to read and reflect on the writings of the prophets.

In this episode of the Bible Feed Podcast, host Dan Weatherall talks with Sam Mansfield from Australia, delving into the Nicene Creed's origins, historical context, and importance. They explore early Christian doctrinal developments, the controversies leading up to and following the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, and the eventual establishment of the Trinitarian doctrine by the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. Through a series of quotes from Christadelphian writings from the 19th and early 20th century, the discussion highlights the doctrinal shifts and theological debates that shaped early Christianity, and reflects on the necessity of adhering to Bible based creeds for contemporary Christians.

Bible Feed podcast hosts Paul and Dan return after a hiatus to provide an in-depth exploration of John 14:2, a verse often cited for comfort during funerals. The episode discusses how the verse 'In my Father's house are many mansions' has been traditionally interpreted and its possible deeper meanings. They connect this with Jewish concepts of the temple and heaven, showing that Jesus's words about 'going away to prepare places' refer to his impending death and resurrection, which then allows his followers to dwell in the presence of God. By examining both the textual and cultural context, they reveal a profoundly comforting understanding of how Jesus enables a renewed, spiritually rich life for his followers, with a living relationship with God, rather than a literal journey to heaven.

Dan and Laurence delve into the fascinating historical context surrounding the birth of Jesus. Journey through the regal yet tumultuous world of King Herod and the Roman Caesars, and uncover the stark contrasts between their rule and the teachings of Jesus. Discover how Jesus' birth and teachings presented a radical departure from the totalitarian and often brutal reigns of worldly kings. This Christmas-themed podcast reveals the profound differences between the kings of men and the king who was laid in a manger. Tune in to explore the themes of humility, justice, and divine kingship that continue to inspire and challenge us today.

This episode on the book of Judges, with Dan and Paul, kicks off by placing Judges in its historical timeline immediately following the book of Joshua. Then they examine the structure of Judges, highlighting its three main sections and the cyclical pattern of Israel’s faithfulness and failure. After exploring the darkest chapters towards the end of Judges, illustrating Israel's moral decline, they conclude on a more positive note by briefly discussing the book of Ruth. This is a story of loyalty and redemption set in the same tumultuous period, but showcasing God's continued faithfulness in moving his plan for redemption forward in an unexpected way.

Josh and Dan explore the Book of Joshua in this episode, as a sequel to our series on the 5 books of the Torah. They trace its placement in the biblical narrative as a transition from the Torah and describe its themes of conquest and faith. Highlighting key figures like Rahab and the Gibeonites, they discuss the moral and historical complexities and offer context to understand the destruction narratives. By connecting Joshua's story to larger biblical themes and references in later scriptures, Josh and Dan provide a nuanced understanding that avoids simplistic interpretations and points towards a broader divine purpose in Jesus.

In today's episode, Laurence and Paul try to make the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament, easier to read. They explore the theme of wisdom contained within this unique and sometimes challenging book. By breaking down its seven distinct sections, from fatherly advice to the young, through to reflections at the end of life, they aim to make Proverbs more accessible and meaningful. They also think about how Proverbs relates to other ancient wisdom literature and finish up by testing Laurence on his ability to recognise types of parallelisms! 

Paul and Dan talk with Dale Tuggy and Mark Cain to find out about all the work they do with the Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) including their upcoming first conference outside the US to be held in Windsor, London 25 July 2024. They also discuss how increasing numbers of people are coming to understand the Biblical God, rather than one of the many 'trinity theories'.  It's exciting times for unitarian theology so listen in to find out about the UK conference or just how you can help the growing network of people coming to a Biblical understanding of God and his son Jesus!

Dan is joined for this episode by Rachel Hocking from Brisbane, Australia. Rachel has been instrumental in the creation of the latest Worship Book, a further collection of "Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" crafted by members of the Christadelphian community. Together, they discuss the origins, development, and significance of the Worship Book project, including its blend of traditional and contemporary styles and the global collaboration it fostered. Tune in for a look at the creative process behind this remarkable anthology and its role in expressing the faith and identity of Christadelphians worldwide.

In this episode, instead of a high level overview, we delve deep into one specific passage, the "in the form of God" verse in Philippians 2, to explore the possible nuanced interpretations. Josh Dean and Dan Weatherall consider this complex and much debated passage. Focusing on what it means for Jesus to be "in the form of God", they navigate through various translations, interpretations, and biblical contexts to uncover the essence of this pivotal scripture. Join them as they attempt to demystify one of the most important and challenging sections in the letter to the Philippians, shedding light on its implications for understanding Jesus and the message of personal service it conveys to believers.

In this episode Dan and Paul embark on an exploration of John's Gospel, unraveling its sense of majesty and mystery right from the opening verses. They discuss the unique structure and content of John's Gospel, comparing it to the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—highlighting its distinct opening, key themes, and the explicit purpose stated in John's narrative. They delve into the significance of belief, the role of witnessing, and the powerful symbolism of water and blood, offering a compelling argument for understanding John’s Gospel as a carefully selected collection of events aimed at strengthening the reader's faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Tune in to this episode for an insightful high-level overview of one of the most profound texts in the New Testament.

Dan and Jon discuss the relevance and impact of Christianity in the modern world. They delve into how aspects of Christianity have influenced society, not only in superficial ways like our calendar, but in deeper things such as values, moral codes, and societal norms. The hosts reference various sources, including notable historians and authors like Tom Holland and Yuval Noah Harari, asserting that many fundamental beliefs and values in Western society, such as the sanctity of life and the concept of equality, have their roots in Christian teachings. That may make Christianity relevant in modern society, but does it make it true?

In our first episode of 2024 Paul and Dan talk about "intertextuality" - basically, how the meaning of a text is influenced by references to other texts. The Bible (not surprisingly) is full of links between its 66 books. But how far can we take this? Can we go too far and see patterns where there are none (like seeing the face of Jesus in a slice of toast)?!  What guardrails might we have to make sure we read responsibly?

Relaunching the podcast, Dan and Laurence celebrate by pondering a lesser known Christmas story. They encounter Simeon, Anna and a community of people in the temple at Jerusalem "waiting for the consolation of Israel". As the baby is held high by Simeon, they realise that the birth of Jesus is not only deeply rooted in a backstory, but is the climax of a centuries old narrative. Complete with mystery deaths and incomplete sentences, this is an invitation to have yourself a lesser known Christmas story!

Paul and Dan continue their exploration of the Divine Council worldview by looking at claims made about verses in Deuteronomy 32, the introduction to the book of Job and Psalm 82.  In summary, they conclude that while it is useful to understand the cultural background to the text of the Bible, it is also important to avoid being distracted by relatively speculative ideas from the main thrust of the Bible message - that Jesus died to reconcile humans to God.  Let us know what you think!

Having explored how the Bible uses the terms 'devil', 'satan' and 'demons', Paul and Dan now turn to the whole subject of whether the Bible talks about fallen angels.  Is the phrase 'sons of God' used to refer to angels?  If so, does that include spiritual beings with independent power to oppose God and his people?  Using the framework of Michael Heiser's book, Unseen Realm, they start to examine what is termed the 'Divine Council' worldview.  This involves grappling with some of the most mystifying parts of the Bible text - but hey, we're just ordinary people trying to understand the Bible better!

Dan and Laurence step into the New Testament for an introduction to the three letters of John.  After exploring the stark contrasts and Torah references in the first letter they then see how the second and third letters apply the theory from the first letter to two opposite situations. And finally, little children, keep yourselves from idols...uh?

Laurence and Paul finish our series on the 5 books of Moses, the Torah by looking at Deuteronomy.  It turns out that this section doesn't conclude with the people of Israel reaching their destination, then the main character dies (sorry for the spoiler...)! Instead they find that this book acts as a stage-setter, defining how leaders of this ancient people will be described for the next 600 years.  Remarkably, they also find Deuteronomy making a surprise appearance at the end of that history, just before Israel were exiled to Babylon.