Episode 23: Chasing Ancient Texts: Bobby Duke's Path from Qumran to Chief Curator

Dr. Michael Ward, Oxford scholar and professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, didn't just study C. S. Lewis—he lived in his bedroom and study for three years. In this episode, Dr. Ward takes us through his discovery that will change how you read Narnia, as well as Lewis's journey from atheism to faith, his pivotal late-night conversation with Tolkien about Christianity as "the true myth," and why Lewis believed story captures truth better than systematic theology. We’ll explore his wrestling with pain and grief, and the imaginative genius behind works like Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and the Ransom trilogy.   Want to dive deeper into Lewis's world? The C. S. Lewis exhibit at Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, closes February 14, 2026. Don't miss your chance to experience it firsthand. Guest bio: Dr. Michael Ward is a theologian and literary scholar with a particular focus on the work of C. S. Lewis. He is an associate member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford and a professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, Texas. MichaelWard.net "After Humanity: A Guide to C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man" “Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis” “The Cambridge Companion to C. S. Lewis (Cambridge Companions to Religion)” The Official Website of C. S. Lewis  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible

Join us for a fascinating deep dive into the Dead Sea Scrolls with Dr. Robert "Bobby" Duke, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls scholar. In this episode, with Museum of the Bible’s President and CEO, Dr. Carlos Campo, Duke shares what these ancient texts reveal about Scripture, Second Temple Judaism, and the transmission of the Bible. Guest bio: Dr. Robert "Bobby" Duke serves as the Chief Curatorial Officer and as the Director of the Scholars Initiative at Museum of the Bible. Bobby earned both his PhD and MA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA, as well as an MA in Hebrew Bible from Jerusalem University College and a theology degree from Multnomah University. Show Notesmuseumofthebible.org/exhibits/dead-sea-scrolls-the-exhibition Israel Antiquities Authority - iaa.org.il/en Amazon Link to Dr. Duke's Books - “Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary” and “The Social Location of the Visions of Amram (4Q543-547) (Studies in Biblical Literature)” museumofthebible.org/exhibits/megiddo  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

In this episode of Unscrolled, the “Street Preachers” join guest host Tracy Thomas at Museum of the Bible's World Stage Theater for a raw and powerful discussion about revival, obedience, and what it means to live out Scripture in a generation hungry for truth. Through personal testimony and bold faith, they reveal how real transformation begins with surrender, prayer, and the power of the Bible.Guest bio: Tim Timberlake serves as the Senior Pastor of Celebration Church, in Jacksonville, FL. Philip Anthony Mitchell, is a native of Queens, NY. He is the founder and lead pastor of 2819 CHURCH, a lively Christ-centered movement based in Atlanta, GA, and the founder of the 2819 INSTITUTE. Show Notes:  streetpreachers.tv/podcast philipanthonymitchell.com timtimberlake.tv   Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

Dr. Joe Uziel, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Dead Sea Scrolls Unit, takes us inside the discovery and preservation of one of archaeology’s most significant discoveries. He explains how modern archaeology works in Israel, how AI-driven analysis is transforming scroll research, and what scholars continue to debate about the ancient Qumran community. Plus, we’ll get an exclusive glimpse into key artifacts featured in Museum of the Bible's Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition.Guest bio: Joe Uziel, PhD, is the head of the Dead Sea Scrolls Unit at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).  Show Notes:  www.iaa.org.il/en/ https://antiquities.academia.edu/JoeUziel MOTB Press Release - The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition with the Oldest Biblical Texts Arrives at Museum of the Bible in November 2025” RunningSubway.com  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible

Wycliffe Bible Translators started with the idea that everyone should be able to read the Bible in their heart language. In this episode of Unscrolled, host Matthias Walther talks with Wycliffe's CEO Dr. John Chesnut, and his wife, Spiritual Development Officer, Kelly Chesnut, about the stories of how the Bible has transformed hearts and communities.   Guest bio: Dr. John Chesnut is the president and CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Kelly Chesnut serves as Spiritual Development Officer.  Show Notes:  wycliffe.org illuminations.bible museumofthebible.org/floor-4-the-history-of-the-bible  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, started with a $600 loan and grew Hobby Lobby into more than 1,000 stores, generating billions in revenue. But his proudest achievement isn’t business success; it’s a family of 50+ people across four generations united by a shared mission of faith and generosity.     In this episode of Unscrolled, host Matthias Walther sits down with David Green and Bill High, his family’s legacy advisor and CEO of Legacy Stone. Together, they explore how the Green family built their “family constitution,” why they give away 50% of Hobby Lobby’s profits, and how they are shaping a multi-generational impact through intentional planning and biblical principles. David Green, Founder & CEO of Hobby Lobby; Bill High, CEO of Legacy Stone hobbylobby.com legacystone.com Book: “The Legacy Life: Leading Your Family to Make a Difference for Eternity”   Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

Few people navigate the intersection of evil, faith, and human nature like Monsignor Stephen J. Rossetti. As a Catholic priest, psychologist, and chaplain to the Washington Nationals, Monsignor Rossetti brings rare insight into one of Scripture's most profound truths: the ongoing battle between light and darkness. In this episode of Unscrolled, Monsignor Rossetti joins host Matthias Walther for a thoughtful exploration of spiritual warfare and its effect on the human heart. Together, they examine what it means to face this unseen conflict with courage, and how to maintain hope in its midst. Msgr. Stephen Rossetti’s website - https://www.catholicexorcism.org Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

Dr. Jennifer Holloran, CEO of the American Bible Society, joins host Matthias Walther on Unscrolled to share her unexpected journey from Wycliffe typist to leading a more than 200-year-old institution founded by figures like Elias Boudinot and John Jay. She explains how the society has grown from distributing Bibles to soldiers as early as 1817 to pioneering new ways of helping people engage deeply with Scripture today.  Guest Bio: Dr. Jennifer Holloran serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at the American Bible Society.  https://www.americanbible.org/ americanbible.org/news/state-of-the-bible/  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible  

Jonathan Isaac grew up in the Bronx. He went to church often, but it wasn’t until he started his career as an NBA player for the Orlando Magic that, through a chance encounter, he was encouraged to dig deeper into his Christian faith. In this episode of Unscrolled, Jonathan shares with host and Museum of the Bible CMO Matthias Walther, his journey of faith and the strategic decisions he made in 2020 that helped shape his future.   Guest bio: Jonathan Isaac, forward for NBA’s Orlando Magic. Founder of the sports brand Unitus.  Show Notes:  weareunitus.com Social Media X: @JJudahIsaac Instagram: @jonisaac_01  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

What does it take to hand-copy the Torah, letter by letter? And why does this ancient craft remain vital in our age of AI and digital texts? Join us as Rabbi Moshe Englander, Hebrew Bible (Torah) Scribe at Museum of the Bible and longtime Jewish educator, and host Matthias Walther explore the meticulous art, sacred meaning, and enduring legacy of Torah scribes. Guest bio: Rabbi Moshe Englander is the Hebrew Bible (Torah) scribe at Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.   Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible