The Divine Council Worldview Podcast

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer two questions sent in by listeners: 1) What should we think about Roman Catholics who venerate Mary and give her titles that should be reserved for Jesus? Does God consider this idolatry? Or can God simply see this as an example of a loyal (righteous) person being unwittingly misled? 2) Why does Jesus say "ask and it shall be given"? Is this specifically for his disciples, or for us believers? And how do we deal with prayers which are not answered? Is there any reason God would keep a person in a situation that is sin when they have asked to be freed from it?

In this milestone 100th episode, the Divine Council Worldview podcast welcomes Drenna Heiser-Hollander, president of the Michael S. Heiser Foundation, for an intimate conversation about the man behind the scholarship. Drenna traces the journey she and Mike shared, from their early love story through the cross-country moves that shaped his calling, the years of relentless academic pursuit, and the painful season of illness that took him from us too soon. Through it all, she reveals a fuller picture of who Mike was. Not just as a scholar, but as a husband, a companion, and a man whose life left an indelible mark on everyone it touched. She also shares how she's found new beginnings in Florida and the work she's carrying forward through the foundation to ensure Mike's legacy continues to reach those he never got to meet.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer two questions sent in by listeners: 1) After the resurrection, NT writers rarely refer to Jesus simply by the name "Jesus" without attaching a title such as "Lord," "Christ," or "Jesus Christ." Is referring to Jesus without a title unintentionally minimizing early Christian confession about its messiah? 2) The story of 1 Kings 22, in which a spirit is sent by Yahweh to lie to Ahab's prophets, seems to imply that created gods have the ability to manipulate or obstruct human freedom. Is this story teaching this, and are there any other OT passages which teach this? THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Kompass Financial Advisors is a Christian independent Certified Financial Planner® firm, offering personalized financial planning and insurance solutions to help individuals and businesses achieve long-term security. Learn more at: https://www.kompassfinancial.com

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer two questions sent in by listeners: 1) Is the logic of hell (and eternal concious torment) consistent with God's justice? And if God's justice wasn't satisfied at the cross, it must be satisfied  at some point, correct? 2) Could Jesus' teaching regrading loyalty to his Father be understood as a polemic against Israel's loyalty to created gods, especially Baal? Could it also be a polemic against the rebellious gods' relationship to Yahweh?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer three questions sent in by listeners: 1) How does the origial meaning of Jeremiah 16:16 (including the idea of "fishers of men") relate to Jesus' use of the phrase in Mark 1:17? 2) Is it possible to trace the appearance of the serpent in Genesis 3 throiugh the rest of the biblical story? Is he, for example, the same being that tempts Jesus? 3) How did the gods of the nations communicate with their worshippers? Is there any written evidence explaining how and why people would choose these gods over Yahweh?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike discuss John 12 as a theological and narrative hinge in the Gospel, situating it within the chronology of Passion Week while exploring its deeper implications for atonement, messianic expectation, and Gentile inclusion. They noted that early church councils never defined a single atonement theory, arguing instead for a flexible, text-driven, and retrospective understanding of Jesus' death that emerges only after the resurrection. Walking through key scenes—the anointing at Bethany, the triumphal entry, the growing threat posed by Lazarus, and Jesus' interaction with Greeks seeking him—they emphasized how John frames Jesus' death as the means by which the Gentile world is drawn in to Abraham's family and the ruler of this world is judged. Along the way, they challenged overly simplistic prophecy-fulfillment models, cautioned against reading the Old Testament too quickly through a New Testament lens.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike complete the 11th chapter of John (verses 45-57). Their main point of discussion is Caiaphas' description of the meaning of the death of Jesus in vs.52: "he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." Ronn recommended that this "gathering" of Abraham's family was understood by later NT writers as accomplished through Jesus' symbolic ritual cleansing of Gentiles. He noted how most discussions of Jesus' death in the NT are associated with ideas of entering sacred space ("clean," "heal," "enter," "sanctify," etc.) as opposed to ideas that describe salvation ("righteous/ness," "save/d," "salvation," etc.).

In this episode, Ronn and Mike enjoy the story of Lazarus' resuscitation in John 11:1-44. For several reasons found within this narrative, Ronn recommended that original readers would have been tempted to regard Lazarus as the "disciple that Jesus loved" referred to in later stories of John. A key element in this story, of course, was Martha's belief that Lazarus would "rise again in the resurrection" (11:24), offering a chance to talk about death and resurrection beliefs within 2nd Temple Judaism. Did the crowd expect Jesus to literally "be the resurrection and the life"? Apparentliy not—until Lazarus heard his name attached to the invitation to come out of the tomb! The conversation closes with personal application of this story to our understanding and hopes for eternal life.

A raw, global conversation on applying theology to real life—addressing spiritual abuse, prison ministry, and a growing hunger for biblical understanding in Brazil. Sandra Alex and the hosts explore why translation, community, humility, and lived faith matter more than knowledge alone.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike work their way through John 10, starting with Jesus' self-identification as Israel's "good shepherd." They recommend that Jesus is thuf fulfilling the meaning of Ezekiel 34, which recalls the extended metaphor of Yahweh claiming to be Israel's ultimate shepherd. This leads to a necessary discussion of the issue of "divine agency," and how God could be seen working through figures who receive their authority through God's appointment. Closing discussion attempts explanations of Jesus' curious statement that he and his Father are "one" (v. 30) and Jesus' use of Psalm 82 to extinguish charges of blasphemy.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike look at John 9, reading through the extended story of the man born blind who is healed by Jesus. They discuss the significance of some of the interesting details of the story, including why Jesus patched the man's eyes with spittle, and why he had the man go a half-mile away to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Ronn recommended that the use of "sinner" in the story hearkens back to the OT understanding that this was a category akin to someone outside the covenant of Israel, as opposed to someone who simply was guilty of sin. Closing discussion noted how the man was led to confess to Jesus that he believed in the "Son of Man," a title reminiscent of Daniel 7's role of the messiah.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer six questions sent in by listeners: 1) What is the best way to study the original authors, recipients, and cultures of the biblical world? 2) Does a DCW have any specific opinion on the issue of human free will? 3)  Why didn't Jesus condemn the adulterous woman in John 8? It seems mercy is the exception in how God handles sin in the Bible. 4) Ronn has said that Jesus' death did not accomplish anything which had not already been true before. How does that work with things like death and ritual impurity? 5) Does a Mormon worship the right god? 6) What caused Mary Magdalene to be possessed by seven demons?

Rich and Mel talk with Curt Ferrell, discussing how the gospel's true power thrives in relationships—not institutions. From Indiana prisons to everyday life, discover how God builds His family through faith, community, and the transformative presence of His kingdom today. Curt's book: The Way to Discipleship: Thinking Well About the Kingdom of God: https://a.co/d/dHo6y66

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) Were the nations that were apportioned to created elohim by Yahweh expected to obey these gods? Did Yahweh hold them accountable if they did? 2) What did Jesus mean in Mark 10:18 when he said "No one is good except God alone"? 3) Why does Ronn disparage Reformed theology so often? 4) Are giants still around? Where may they be today? 5) Could "sin" (Greek, hamartia) be better understood as misalignment of one's loyalty away from God and toward Satan?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) How does God handle ignorance about Jesus and his present lordship over all gods? 2) What are we to make about the large numbers in a book such as Numbers? 3) How do loyalty and obedience relate to each other? 4) Could Lazarus be the Beloved Disciple in John's gospel? 5) Why was the temptation to worship other gods so strong in the OT?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) How is kosmos ("world") used in the NT? 2) How does Jesus use Psalm 82 in John 10:34-36? 3) What does the Bible teach on the state of soul after death? 4) Can Hindu polytheism be interpreted within the framework of DCW monotheism? 5) Why did Jesus use "eating flesh" language which was abhorrent to his Jewis audience?

How do culture and suffering shape our faith? Mike Chu unpacks his story with Mel and Rich, exploring the Chinese church, Awakening School, and why theology, mentorship, and mission matter more than ever in today's spiritual landscape. You can find Awakening (AWKNG) School of Theology here:  https://awkng.com/ You can find the Shane & Shane songs mentioned in this podcast here: Psalms 45 https://youtu.be/-d_lQI15fxo?si=-hl3FiECl4F5C7dA Psalms 46 https://youtu.be/PKs_gQecaDY?si=k9yWx1F0Ekk1NEen Over the Sun https://youtu.be/qGbT7FkhIus?si=lDaATBgY38ACTw-i

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) How does a person go about studying the DCW and the related topics it uncovers? 2) How can a DCW increase a person's intimacy with God? 3) Are idols a human invention, and if so, does this show that gods are invented as well? 4) Can I combine Eastern Orthodoxy with western Protestant theology? 5) How should the gospel be presented to a child—say, a 7-year old?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) Are there foundational beliefs regarding the identity of Jesus and Yahweh in order to be worshipping the correct deity? 2) Is the Hebrew text (MT) younger than the Septuagint? 3) What sins were considered "high-handed"? 4) Are spirit "hauntings" related to sacred space? 5) Does the DCW favor the New Perspective on Paul?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners:  Could the effects of Jesus' "finished work" have been true while he was still active in his ministry?  Did the church fathers use "faith" to mean "loyalty" or "allegiance"?  How does the Septuagint handle the Hebrew definite article when it translates the phrase "the angel of the LORD" into Greek?  Can a Mormon have saving faith?  Is "sonship" to be understood differently than "inheritance"? Will we have different inheritances in the next age?