In With the Old

In this episode of In with the Old, host Tim Howe talks with Dr. Patrick Schreiner, professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, about his book The Four Senses of Scripture: Learning from Ancient Ways of Reading the Bible. They explore why Scripture should be read differently from other books, how divine authorship shapes interpretation, and why the church has historically recognized multiple senses of meaning in the Bible. The conversation focuses on the relationship between the literal sense and spiritual interpretation, with attention to Old Testament examples, New Testament usage, and the risks of subjective readings. It is especially useful for readers who want a more canonical, Christ-centered way of reading Scripture without abandoning historical context.You can purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Four-Senses-Scripture-Learning-Ancient/dp/1540968790.Key topicsWhy the Bible is unlike any other book because it has both human authors and a divine authorInspiration, inerrancy, and why dual authorship matters for interpretationHow the grammatical-historical method compares with the older fourfold sense of ScriptureThe quadriga (four senses): literal (grammatical-historical), allegorical (Christological), tropological (moral), and anagogical (eschatological)Examples including John’s signs, Jesus turning water into wine, the feeding of the five thousand, and circumcision of the heartHow Scripture often teaches readers how to read ScriptureHow modern readers can recognize spiritual meaning without claiming inspiration themselvesCanon, rereading, and whether the Old Testament should be approached differently after Christ has been revealedThe dangers of spiritual readings that dismiss the literal or ethical force of the textGuardrails for spiritual interpretation: do not contradict the literal sense, look for correspondence, read for canonical volume, and trace escalationTimestamps 0:00 — Welcome and Introduction0:33 — Introducing The Four Senses of Scripture1:08 — Divine and Human Authorship of Scripture5:13 — What Is the Fourfold Sense?13:00 — Can We Read Scripture Spiritually Today?16:21 — The Old Testament’s Use of the Old Testament19:34 — Moving from Literal Meaning to Spiritual Meaning25:17 — Christ, Canon, and the Meaning of Words29:32 — First Readings, Rereadings, and Progressive Revelation35:50 — Why Spiritual Reading Must Not Dismiss the Literal Sense43:13 — When Symbols Help—and When a Tree Is Just a Tree46:30 — Holding Canonical Reading and Historical Development Together51:23 — John’s Gospel and the Depth of Biblical Symbolism53:46 — Four Guardrails for Reading the Spiritual Sense56:04 — Confidence, Certainty, and Canonical Interpretation61:05 — Final Reflections63:16 — Closing and Farewell

When you encounter the violent stories in Scripture, does your view of God become shaken? Dr. Matthew Lynch, an expert in Old Testament studies, challenges the common assumptions with profound insights rooted in biblical theology and ancient Near Eastern context. He reveals how understanding God's original peaceful design for creation and His grief over violence reshape our interpretations—and deepen our trust in His character.You can find Dr. Lynch's book at https://www.amazon.com/Flood-Fury-Testament-Violence-Shalom/dp/B0DZXMLKV6.Introduction and Guest Introduction (0:00 - 0:55)Timothy introduces the podcast and guest, Dr. Matthew Lynch.Dr. Lynch's Background and Interest in Old Testament (0:55 - 3:44)Discussion about Dr. Lynch's journey and interest in studying the Old Testament.Importance of Wrestling with Old Testament Violence (3:44 - 7:45)Conversation on why it's crucial for Christians to engage with the topic of violence in the Old Testament.Genesis and the Concept of Violence (7:45 - 14:29)Exploration of how violence is depicted in Genesis and its implications.The Flood and God's Grief (14:29 - 21:43)Discussion on the story of the Flood and God's response to violence.Conquest and Hyperbolic Language (21:43 - 34:06)Examination of the conquest narratives and the use of hyperbolic language.Spiritual Background of Conquest (34:06 - 43:07)Insights into the spiritual dimensions of the conquest stories.Understanding God's Character (43:07 - 51:53)Reflection on how violent texts can reveal God's character.Conclusion and Final Thoughts (51:53 - 52:20)Closing remarks and encouragement to engage with the content.

Dr. Tim Howe walks through the foundational text for understanding God's call for the people of Israel, Exodus 19:3-6. What does it mean that God called Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation?

Discover how the Old Testament Historical Books foreshadow Christ with Dr. Ian Vaillancourt, exploring themes of redemption, typology, and the Bible's grand story. Part 2 of 2. You can find Dr. Vaillancourt's book @ https://www.amazon.com/Unfolding-Redemption-Gospel-Testament-History-ebook/dp/B0FGM6MSWT. 00:00 - Introduction: The themes of inclusion and God's redemptive plan across the Bible 02:36 - The call of Abraham and its universal promise to bless all nations 04:18 - Rahab and the blessing of the nations through Jericho 05:59 - Ruth's story as an example of conversion and God's plan for all nations 07:25 - Genealogy of Ruth, Boaz, and David highlighting divine inclusion 08:43 - The biblical motif of grafting non-Jews into God's covenant 10:20 - Prophets' role as shepherds to kings and their disturbing influence 11:40 - The prophetic voice in correction and disobedience 12:53 - Jesus as the ultimate prophet fulfilling and surpassing Old Testament prophecy 14:42 - The significance of the transfiguration and divine authority 16:35 - The ending of the historical books and the tension between hope and fulfillment20:04 - The "hourglass" of Scripture and the fulfillment in Jesus Christ 21:30 - Final thoughts: The call to ongoing worship and engagement with God's Word

Discover how the Old Testament Historical Books foreshadow Christ with Dr. Ian Vaillancourt, exploring themes of redemption, typology, and the Bible's grand story.Key Topics:Dr. Vaillancourt’s personal journey from non-reader to biblical scholar dedicated to Old Testament studies.The significance of biblical theology and the "big picture" perspective for understanding Scripture.The role of typology in seeing Christ revealed in Old Testament stories like Abraham and Isaac, Esther, Jonah, and others.How stories of sin and judgment, such as David and Bathsheba or Judges’ atrocities, reveal both sin’s severity and God's grace.The process of biblical scholarship and the humility involved in refining understanding through peer review.Recognizing themes of justice, judgment, and grace in difficult passages, and their relevance for today.Unfolding Redemption: The Heart of the Gospel in the Story of Old Testament History: Vaillancourt, Ian James, Vaillancourt, Ian J.: 9781514011546: Amazon.com: BooksTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Ian Vaillancourt and his focus on Old Testament theology 01:37 - Dr. Vaillancourt’s background and call to biblical studies 04:21 - The importance of biblical theology and seeing the forest, not just trees 08:37 - The Old Testament as gospel nourishment in Christ's perspective 10:06 - The story of Jesus healing and the Old Testament witness 12:29 - Interpreting difficult texts like David and Bathsheba with accuracy and humility 16:28 - The significance of the third day theme in Old Testament typology 20:17 - Redemptive themes from the Pentateuch to the conquest, and the hope amid unresolved promises 22:02 - Lessons from the grotesque story at the end of Judges as a warning and reflection of God's justice 28:20 - The importance of the Davidic covenant and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ 33:45 - Christ as the ultimate king, the son of David, reigning from heaven 36:24 - The process of sin through David’s life, culminating in Christ’s redemptive work 44:07 - The exaltation of Bathsheba and the grace of God's sovereignty amid human failure 45:52 - The inclusive nature of biblical stories, from Rahab to Ruth, pointing to Christ