Theology Unpacked
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Designed for RE teachers and open to all listeners, to explore and navigate Christian theology within the new RE curriculum directory for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges in England and Wales.
A podcast by Heythrop Institute in collaboration with London Jesuit Centre, hosted by Dr John Moffatt SJ.
A podcast by Heythrop Institute in collaboration with London Jesuit Centre, hosted by Dr John Moffatt SJ.
64 Episodes
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In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ examines Jesus’ final prophetic discourse over the Temple and Jerusalem, showing how the synoptic Gospels narrate this moment differently and offer distinct perspectives on the end time: Mark emphasises imminent judgment and hope for persecuted believers, Matthew shifts the focus to long-term vigilance and compassionate action through parables such as the bridesmaids, talents, and Last Judgment, while Luke situates the prophecy more clearly after the fall of Jerusalem, highlighting historical fulfilment and ongoing faithfulness in a world where judgment has already begun to unfold.These accounts portray Jesus as prophet and Messiah announcing both historical and cosmic judgment, providing an apocalyptic backdrop to the Passion and shaping later Christian understandings of Salvation.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ moves into Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem through the synoptic Gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, each shaping the narrative with distinct emphases.He centres on Jesus’ confrontations with the religious leaders in the Temple, where his teaching and authority provoke mounting tension and reveal divine judgment at work. The episode culminates with the widow’s offering, a symbol of total faithfulness that foreshadows Jesus’ own self-giving sacrifice.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ traces ideas of sin and atonement in the Jewish tradition that lie behind much of Christian language, such as the Jewish Day of Atonement with the Christian seasons of Lent and Easter, where Ash Wednesday and Good Friday recall collective repentance and Christ’s sacrifice carrying the sins of the world into the wilderness.He also reflects on the first Christian ascetics, the desert fathers, whose retreat into the wilderness embodied Lent’s call to repentance and renewal, seeing the desert not as punishment but as the place to encounter God.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores ancient reflections on cosmic justice, reward, and punishment across Greek, Hindu, and Jewish traditions, showing how different cultures grappled with the suffering of the righteous. The stories of Plato’s philosopher, Arjuna’s divine duty, and Job’s trials reveal a shared search for meaning and vindication through encounter with the divine. These ideas provide the cultural and spiritual background for the Christian vision of salvation, where the just one is ultimately vindicated through Christ’s suffering and resurrection.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this final episode of the "Galilee to Jerusalem" series of the “Theology Unpacked” podcast, Dr John Moffatt SJ looks at the theme of miracles, a challenge for many people shaped by today’s scientific way of thinking.He suggests that instead of seeing miracles as impossible events, we can understand them as signs of God at work in people’s lives. The Gospel stories then become invitations to notice where we too might experience God’s presence in our own lives.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ revisits how the Gospels and Paul’s letters, shaped by Jewish scripture and tradition, formed early Christian understandings of Jesus as both divine and human, laying the groundwork for later doctrines of the Trinity and Christ’s dual nature.He highlights the range of early interpretations—from those that denied Jesus’ divinity to Gnostic views that rejected his humanity—and notes that debates about Christ’s nature and meaning continue to shape Christian theology today.📧 Follow us on Substack🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit Centre📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop LibraryIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores the different layers of text articulating expectations for those who commit to a Christian way of life, and the different models present in early Christianity itself.In time, the mark of true Christian ethics emphasis on character, intention, and the transformative power of grace over mere rule-following. 📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores key dialogues of Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael, the Jerusalem witnesses, Nicodemus, and the Samaritan woman that guide both the characters and the reader toward deeper insight into who Jesus truly is. Through symbolic language and spiritual metaphors, the Gospel of John moves its audience from surface-level misunderstandings to a transformative recognition of Jesus as Messiah and Saviour of the world. These encounters reveal that true understanding comes through faith, not literal interpretation, and invite all people into a new way of seeing and worshipping.📧 Follow us on Substack📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ outlines how John’s Gospel differs from the others by presenting Jesus’ divine identity from the very beginning and shaping the narrative around festivals, signs, places, dialogues, and meditations that all reveal him as the Son of God.Temple rituals, geography, and miracle “signs” are reinterpreted as symbols fulfilled in Jesus, while intimate dialogues and meditations invite the reader into deeper recognition and belief. The story builds toward the Passion, where unique features like the foot-washing and extended Last Supper teachings turn the Gospel into a sacred drama of revelation and glory.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores how John’s Gospel differs from the Synoptics in its structure, layered composition, and extended dialogues, highlighting traditional identifications of its author with John the Apostle and his community. It presents a developed theology of Jesus as the eternal Word and Wisdom of God, drawing on Jewish scripture and Greek philosophy to portray him as both cosmic and historical. Together with John’s letters, the Gospel affirms Jesus’ full divinity and humanity, showing how authentic accounts of him arose through the Spirit’s action in scripture, community, and tradition.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores how Luke shapes his Gospel in a unique way, adding stories and details that bring extra depth to Jesus’ life and teaching. Compared to Matthew and Mark, Luke focuses more on real-life encounters, a broader view of history, and the world Jesus lived in. He also offers a more balanced view of the Pharisees and highlights how powerful leaders played a role in Jesus’ death, helping us see the Gospel as rooted in Jewish tradition but reaching out to all of humanity.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ presents the Gospel of Luke presents a sophisticated narrative that subtly embeds prophetic references, highlighting the continuity of salvation history from the Tanach (Tanakh) to the Christian era. The Gospel of Luke emphasises the importance of the faithful 'people' who recognise God’s work in Jesus, contrasting them with resistant religious elites. Central themes include justice for the oppressed, the coming of God's kingdom, and a great reversal that uplifts the lowly.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores how Matthew presents Jesus as the authoritative interpreter of the Tanach (Tanakh), offering the Sermon on the Mount as the foundation for a new, authentic way of living the covenant—centred on inner transformation, mercy, and righteousness.In a time of tension with emerging Jewish authorities after the destruction of the Temple, Jesus challenges the Pharisees while affirming the heart of the law. As judge at the end time, he calls his followers to serve the poor and live out God's will, promising his abiding presence in their community.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ highlights how Matthew presents Jesus as a wise teacher and fulfilment of the Torah, possibly reflecting Matthew’s self-understanding through the lens of Wisdom and Scripture. St Matthew structures Jesus’s teachings into 5 major collections and makes clear, unambiguous connections to the Tanach (Tanakh) to emphasise Jesus’s authority. His distinctive features of narrative style anticipate objections and reinforce Jesus’s role as the true interpreter of the law for a Jewish-Christian audience.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores Matthew’s possible sources and key concerns. He highlights Matthew’s effort to bridge tensions between Jewish Christians and non-Christian Jews, especially through infancy narratives rich in prophetic symbolism. The Gospel of Matthew affirms the importance of Torah, yet its message remains intentionally ambiguous—upholding the law while reinterpreting it through the life and mission of Jesus.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores the relationship between the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—discussing different theories of Gospel origins, including a hidden source, ‘Q’.He highlights how each writer emphasises different aspects, especially in their presentation of the disciples, with Mark offering a more critical view, while Matthew and Luke emphasise their importance, especially Peter’s. These insights help us appreciate how each Gospel speaks to its original audience and continues to shape our understanding of faith today.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this episode of “Theology Unpacked”, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores the Gospel of Mark as a powerful, layered story of discipleship. He traces three key phases: (1) the revelation of the Messiah, (2) the journey to Jerusalem where the Messiah must suffer and die, and (3) the approach to Passover week. Along the way, he uncovers how Mark invites us to see ourselves in the story—growing in understanding, faith, and courage.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
In this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ explores how Mark structures his Gospel to gradually reveal that Jesus—the one who is crucified—is truly the Messiah, the Son of God. Through dramatic action, confrontations, and fulfilment of prophecy, Mark invites us to see ourselves in the unfolding story. It's not just a biography—it's a call to recognise Jesus and respond to God's plan in our own lives.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
You’re listening to Branch 3 – Galilee to Jerusalem. This is Episode 3: Gospel BeginningsIn this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt SJ offers a best guess at how story fragments about Jesus were transmitted and eventually shaped into the four official Gospels. It highlights the growing need to preserve these teachings in writing, especially after the deaths of key witnesses and amid persecution. The destruction of the Temple in 70 CE during the Jewish revolt marked a turning point, influencing how early Christians interpreted Jesus’ message and prompting the composition of the Gospels, with Mark likely written first.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
You’re listening to Branch 3 of the Catholic RE Directory: Galilee to Jerusalem. This is Episode 1: The Background to Jesus’ Gospel JourneyIn this “Theology Unpacked” episode, Dr John Moffatt explores the history that shaped the Jesus’ world. He highlights the varieties of Jewish belief during the Persian, Greek, and Roman periods — deepens our understanding of the Gospels and the context of Jesus’s life and teachings.📧 Sign up for regular updates, including follow-up study days!📚 Explore the wide range of reading materials in the Heythrop Library🤓 Join online or in-person courses at the London Jesuit CentreIf you find our podcasts helpful, please consider donating to the London Jesuit Centre.
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