Power Grabs and Patriarchs • Firstborn Ep. 4
Early in the story of the Bible, God chooses the family of Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac’s son Jacob as his chosen representatives to bless other peoples. But these families are full of the same rivalry, envy, and division present in any other family. What is God doing with these less-than-ideal candidates? Join Tim and Jon as they trace the theme of the firstborn in the narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Heaven and Earth Q+R
Jon and Tim respond to questions about the theme of Heaven and Earth in the Bible.
Rivalry Among Brothers • Firstborn Ep. 3
Only a few pages into the story of the Bible, the story starts to get really bleak. Cain kills his brother Abel, Cain’s descendants become famous murderers, and Noah’s youngest son violates his father and mother. And all of it happens because humans decide that power is worth the cost of harming others. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the dark side of human nature and the God who favors the powerless—the people who choose to trust him for blessing and exaltation.
What Happens When We Die According to the Bible? • Heaven and Earth Ep. 4
The Bible doesn't use the phrase "go to heaven" to describe what happens after death. In fact, Jesus says some things about heaven that can seem confusing to us. Join Tim and Jon as they continue their conversation about the biblical themes of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, you'll learn ... 1. What Jesus was trying to communicate about Heaven in the Gospel of John 2. What it means for Heaven and Earth to overlap 3. What it means for Jesus' followers to be "not of this world" Browse our entire channel for more podcast episodes and animated videos that help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
Seizing vs. Receiving Power • Firstborn Ep. 2
It’s not explicitly stated, but the theme of the firstborn first appears in the opening narratives of the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 1 and 2, Yahweh elevates humans, the latecomers of creation, to rule the land. In Genesis 3, a snake, who is some kind of spiritual being, tricks the humans despite their authority as God’s image bearers. This story is echoed in other accounts of sibling rivalry that continue throughout the Hebrew Bible. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the land rulers and sky rulers and the theme of the firstborn in Genesis 1-3.
Jesus Followers and the Connection Between Heaven and Earth • Heaven and Earth Ep. 3
Jesus claimed to replace God's temple, rebuilding it first in the form of his resurrected body and then in the community of his followers. Join Tim and Jon as they continue their conversation about the biblical themes of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, you'll learn ... 1. How we know that God's presence exists in followers of Jesus 2. What the implications are for Christians having the presence of God within them 3. What happens when we die according to Jesus and the New Testament authors Browse our entire channel for more podcast episodes and animated videos that help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
God's Response to Human Power Structures • Firstborn Ep. 1
In ancient Near Eastern societies, firstborn sons were prized above all other children and inherited special privileges and authority simply because of their birth order. In this episode, Tim and Jon start a new theme study covering the theme of the firstborn. Spoiler alert: The God of the Bible opposes lots of human ideas about power, and the privilege of the firstborn is no exception. Again and again, we’ll see Yahweh picking younger siblings and people we wouldn’t expect to be his chosen representatives.
How the Bible Is About the Reunion of Heaven and Earth • Heaven and Earth Ep. 2
According to the Bible, God's space and human space were intended to be united. So where did God's space go? Why isn't it everywhere anymore? Join Tim and Jon as they continue their conversation about the biblical themes of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, you'll learn ... 1. What the cherubim in the Bible tell us about human and heavenly space intermingling 2. How the concept of resurrection and new creation relates to the overlap of God's space and human space. 3. How temples symbolized God's presence on Earth and how their purposed was fulfilled in Jesus Browse our entire channel for more podcast episodes and animated videos that help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
Happy New Year From BibleProject!
We shared a lot of firsts together in 2022—from launching our first app, to reading the Torah movement by movement as an international community, to experiencing the Bible through new classes and videos. In our final episode of 2022, Tim, Jon, and BibleProject CEO, Steve, reflect on the year behind us and look forward to the years ahead.
The Last Will Be First
Who gets to be first? Trace the theme of the firstborn through the story of the Bible and discover how God overturns human systems and redefines power as love.