The Bible Project Podcasts
The Bible Project is a non-profit that produces dozens of animated videos with in-depth bible discussions. They also produce a podcast with their co-founders Tim Mackie and Jon Collins.
Cities have a bad reputation in the Bible, as places of immorality and unrighteous living. But in the scroll of Isaiah, God shows us a different picture of city life.
The City
The Bible Project podcasts are deep bible discussions offering endless possibilities for learning. They are uplifting and help you understand scripture in a clear and helpful way.
The theme of cities and gardens is a surprising one in the Bible. At first, cities appear to be inherently bad, while gardens seem to be humanity’s ideal setting. But then Jesus calls his followers a city on a hill and the new creation in Revelation is a city.
In this episode, Tim and Jon continue exploring the biblical theme of the city. They look at the stories of Noah and Abraham to see how their obedience and sacrifice before a tree on a high place opened up mercy and blessing. It also set them up for a hope of someone who would overcome the curse of the tree in Eden and restore humanity.
They then move on to the city of Jerusalem, where God’s presence was established. They explain how this city overturned the popular idea that God’s holiness prevents him from being near sinful humans.
The Firstborn
In this episode, Tim and Jon explore biblical theology through the theme of the firstborn. As they do, they point to Christ as the firstborn of God’s new creation—not in the sense that he was created first but that as the Son he has preeminence over all things.
The Bible Project podcast’s in-depth discussions on diverse biblical matters make it a helpful tool for Christians looking to better understand the Scriptures. It is especially helpful for those who want to know more about ancient Hebrew and Greek linguistics and the ancient authors’ intent behind the texts they are reading.
While the podcast’s content seems to be generally well-done, it would be beneficial for them to include scholars from outside their camp that look at the foundations of Christian theological thought in a different way. This is especially true when it comes to issues like the atonement and hell. Nevertheless, the podcast remains an excellent resource for understanding the biblical narrative and its application to our lives today.
The Son of God
In this episode, Tim and Jon explore the meaning of the Son of God. The phrase, like the words “son of” in other Biblical contexts—like Barnabas and James and John—refers not to a biological relation but a quality or nature. For instance, the angel tells Mary that the Holy Child she’s bearing will be called “the Son of God.” When Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 14, His disciples worshipped Him—and said he was the Son of God.
The Bible Project podcast offers deep Bible discussions, including theological and literary themes, for an hour each week. It’s a great option for Christians who want to keep reading and studying the Scriptures. It’s also a helpful way to get back into Bible reading, particularly during times like the pandemic when we need to reset our habits. You can subscribe on iTunes, or listen online at bppodcasts.com and on the Bible Project app for Android and iOS.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem, or Yerushalayim in Hebrew and al-Quds in Arabic, is the holiest city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It is a central focus of their scriptures and has played a dominant role in the history, politics, culture, religion, and national consciousness of Jews and Judaism for thousands of years.
In this podcast series, Tim and Jon explore the unexpected theme of cities in the Bible. Why is it that gardens represent humanity’s ideal setting but cities are God’s response to violence? And why did Cain’s city get a better fate than Sodom and Gomorrah?
Founded in 2014, the bible project offers podcasts and videos designed to help people understand the Bible. Its goal is to “help people overcome any obstacles that keep them from reading and understanding God’s Word,” says Cobble. Its content covers a variety of topics from biblical characters to faith topics and church culture. Its podcasts are detailed and inviting, drawing on 19th century German scholarship but also pulling from evangelical and reformed scholars.