Bible Problems: Slavery - Part 2

In part two of a three-part series on slavery in the Bible, Dan Weatherall and Martyn Lawrence respond to listener comments and continue examining Old Testament passages in context. They defend Genesis 1’s “image of God” as a basis for human dignity and then explore Deuteronomy 23:15–16 on runaway slaves being protected and integrated, contrasting it with Hammurabi’s code and American slave laws, Finally they tackle the difficult Leviticus 25 passage on foreign slaves while noting protections for foreigners in Leviticus 24 and the wider narrative (including Ruth).

 Dan talks to historian Martyn Lawrence about the moral problem of slavery in the Bible, noting that critics argue the Old and New Testaments endorse slavery. They begin an Old Testament deep dive, contrasting modern assumptions shaped by the Atlantic slave trade and civil rights era with ancient realities and translation issues around the Hebrew word for 'slave'.  After establishing some principles from Genesis, they focus on Exodus 21 as case law for a people just escaped from brutal slavery in Egypt, demonstrating that the regulations protect the vulnerable in a world which was far from utopian. The series will continue with further Old Testament examples and a later New Testament/Roman-world discussion.

Jon interviews Josh in this episode about reading the Gospel of Mark as a self-contained book rather than harmonizing it with the other gospels. Josh argues that Mark’s distinctive power comes from its fast-paced, gritty, confrontation-filled narrative and its repeated focus on the question of Jesus’ identity. Josh suggests reading Mark straight through without chapters, although he notes that there are structural markers such as a pivot around Peter's confession in Mark 8 toward repeated predictions of Jesus’ death.  There is geographical movement also from Galilee (in boats) towards Jerusalem (on roads) and then in Jerusalem itself. Josh also highlights Mark's aim to reach a wide audience through his explanations (currency, Jewish customs and translations) and closes with Mark 15’s picture of faithful women at the crucifixion as a final challenge to the reader.

Dan Weatherall welcomes back Becky Lewis to discuss neurodiversity in church life, recorded during Autism Acceptance Month and following a Birmingham Neurodiversity Awareness Day run by the Christadelphian Support Network (chsn.org.uk). Drawing on family, personal, and teaching experience, they define neurodiversity (which includes everyone) and neurodivergence (about one in seven people) and outline common strengths and struggles for autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. They discuss how, in a church context, this can affect worship, relationships, Bible reading, and participation, while also bringing gifts like deep interests, creativity, justice-focus, and big-picture thinking. They close with the biblical call to unity in diversity, for example in the "one body" image of Ephesians 4.

Dan and Paul conclude their series on the prophets by surveying the “minor prophets” as the intentionally arranged “Book of the Twelve,” noting editorial links between books and recurring themes. They explain how prophets spoke to real historical audiences (both before and after the Babylonian exile) while also pointing beyond their own time. Key themes explored include covenant faithfulness, fruitfulness, the “day of the Lord” as justice and restoration and promises of a coming deliverer highlighted especially in Zechariah and Micah.

We start a new series for 2026 addressing problems people have with the Bible, for newcomers, the curious, and those whose faith has been challenged. Dan and guest Jon Davies begin by asking why God’s message comes in the form of such a long, and sometimes complicated collection of texts. They talk through examples from poetry, law, prophecy, including Revelation’s vivid imagery and suggest that all this complexity has deliberate benefits. It provokes reflection in the context of real life, encourages community reading while avoiding coercion or legalism. While the Bible is complex, they also stress that the core gospel about Jesus is actually really simple.

Join us for the final Bible Feed Podcast episode of 2025 as we explore Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in an advent calendar format! Guided by Paul, the arbiter of chocolate rewards, Dan and Laurence delve into 24 quotations, discussing their origins, contexts, and fulfillment in Jesus' life, ministry, and resurrection. From Genesis to Isaiah and beyond, discover how these ancient texts foretell the coming of the Messiah, his humble birth in Bethlehem, and his ultimate role in salvation. Tune in for an enriching journey through scripture as 2025 draws to a close.

Join hosts Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport as they continue reviewing the book of Isaiah. Starting with a recap of their series so far on prophets, they explore the historical context of Isaiah, focusing on its connections to King Hezekiah and the Assyrian crisis. The discussion then moves to the structure and themes of Isaiah 40 to 66, highlighting the famous servant songs and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  This is intertwined with thinking about the scholarly debates around authorship to provide a robust framework for reading one of the Bible's most intricate books as inspired scripture.

In this episode Dan and returning guest Jon Davies explore the concept of the 'canon of scripture,' the historical debates surrounding the inclusion of various books in the Old and New Testaments, and the influence of early church councils. By highlighting that the gospel message was preached even before the New Testament was written, they emphasize the extensive agreement on core scriptures throughout history. They also discuss how Jesus and His followers viewed these authoritative texts, offering helpful perspectives for anyone grappling with this foundational topic.

Join Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport as they continue their mini series on the Old Testament prophets by starting to look at the Book of Isaiah. They explore Isaiah's historical context and, referring to the seven types of prophetic content introduced in the previous episode, they work through some examples of his messages to Judah, the surrounding nations and the promise of future blessings for all people. Discussing key themes and passages in chapters 1 to 39, Dan and Paul aim to demystify Isaiah's complex but rich narrative, encouraging listeners to dive into the text themselves. This episode sets the stage for the second part of the discussion, which will cover chapters 40 onwards.