E27: Is the Bible Lost in Translation? A Conversation with Gary Rendsburg

Episode description: Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, President and CEO of Compassion International, joins host Matthias Walther for a conversation about calling, identity, and the global church. Together, they trace how a childhood spent across developing nations, an Olympic journey, and a Harvard education shaped his lifelong mission. In this episode of “Unscrolled,” we explore the spiritual roots of poverty, the church’s biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable, and the simple question that reshaped Compassion’s work: What are you going to do with what you’ve seen? Get ready to discover how faith, formation, and global responsibility converge in one leader’s remarkable story.   Guest bio: Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado is the President and CEO of Compassion International.  Show Notes:  Compassion.com Compassion Leadership - Santiago "Jimmy" Mellado  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  LinkedIn: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

Gary Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor & Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair of Jewish History at Rutgers University, joins host Matthias Walther. Together, they discuss how language shapes the way we read the Bible. In this episode of “Unscrolled,” we’ll explore scribal precision, textual variation in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the revival of Hebrew through Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. Get ready to gain a deeper understanding of how Scripture was preserved, why it invites interpretation, and how ancient Hebrew continues to speak with clarity today. Want to see the Dead Sea Scrolls up close and in-person? They are now on display at Museum of the Bible. “Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition” is open through September 7, 2026. Get tickets here: (link). *This exhibition was created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the National Treasures, in partnership with Running Subway. It was curated by Navit Popovich-Geller, Risa Levitt, and Joe Uziel.  Guest bio: Gary Rendsburg, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University.  Show Notes:  jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/people/core-faculty/gary-a-rendsburg Books by Dr. Gary Rendsburg Dr. Rendsburg’s Facebook Dr. Rendsburg’s YouTube channel The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition at Museum 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 

Episode description: Is science sacred? Can faith and physics coexist? Dr. Bill West, Harvard-educated cancer researcher, founder of the West Cancer Center & Research Institute, and author of "Sacred Science," joins Museum of the Bible’s President and CEO, Dr. Carlos Campo to discuss the artificial wall between religion and science. As principal investigator of the pivotal study that led to approval of the first immunotherapy drug for cancer treatment, Dr. West brings a unique perspective to explore how 60% of scientists may be believers, God as the ultimate mathematician, the implications of artificial intelligence, and the ethical guardrails we may need most as technology advances.  Guest bio: William H. West, MD, founder emeritus of the West Cancer Center & Research Institute in Paris, Tennessee.  Show Notes:  "Sacred Science: Understanding Divine Creation" By William H. West  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, Lisa Fields and Dr. Jo Vitale join host Matthias Walther for a candid, heartfelt conversation about some of the Bible’s most challenging passages relating to suffering, justice, and the character of God. Together, they explore tough questions, engaging both the head and the heart, and share an honest look at how Scripture continues to shape, stretch, and speak to us today.  Guest bio: Lisa Fields is CEO and founder of the Jude 3 Project, a leading apologetics organization dedicated to equipping the Black community with the tools to know what they believe and why they believe it. As a renowned Christian apologist, speaker, author, and film producer, she has been a driving force in shaping conversations on faith, theology, and culture. She uses innovative content to engage diverse audiences and challenge them to think critically about their beliefs.  Dr. Jo Vitale, founder of Kardia, has always been interested in people’s questions about life and purpose, faith and culture. Growing up as a Christian in an increasingly secular society, those questions led her to pursue three degrees through the University of Oxford’s theology faculty: a theology BA, an MSt in biblical interpretation, and a DPhil in the field of Old Testament studies.   Show Notes:  Lisa Fields - Instagram Joe Vitale - Instagram jude3project.org kardiaquestions.com Jude 3 Project at Museum of the Bible - "The Bible's Hardest Questions: Slavery, Judgment, and Why We Won't Be Married in Heaven"  Stay up to date with Museum of the Bible on social media:  Instagram: @museumofBible  X: @museumofBible  Facebook: museumofBible  Linkedin: museumofBible  YouTube: @museumoftheBible 

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