#162: The Individual and Communal Aspects of Faith (Pistis)

The concept of "faith" (Greek: pistis) is often understood by Christians as being nothing more than just individual belief -- such as, say, personal belief in God. But "faith" can't be reduced to just the individual aspect. Faith, for instance, is also depicted in the New Testament as a communal reality. But the early Christians weren't doing anything novel. To the contrary, they drew from the rich tradition of the Jews, whose emphasis on the community can be seen clearly in many Old Testament passages. +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

John Goldingay (PhD, University of Nottingham) joins The Bible (Unmuted) to chat about two important Old Testament prophetic books: Daniel and Ezekiel. Both texts are especially important for students of the New Testament to learn because they provide an immense amount of content that is utilized by the early Christian movement. This episode covers a lot of ground and will leave listeners/viewers with a lot of further questions for reflection and consideration. Check out Dr. Goldingay's latest book: Ezekiel in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series: https://a.co/d/0fwCoRVl +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Part 2 of 2Ellie Paley (PhD, Cambridge University) has spent a lot of time in the book of Job -- she even memorized the entire book in Hebrew! In this two-part discussion, Dr. Paley walks listeners carefully through this intriguing Old Testament text, addressing important questions and highlighting key aspects of its fascinating narrative. Visit Dr. Paley's blog: ⁠https://elliemarie.substack.com ⁠+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Part 1 of 2Ellie Paley (PhD, Cambridge University) has spent a lot of time in the book of Job -- she even memorized the entire book in Hebrew! In this two-part discussion, Dr. Paley walks listeners carefully through this intriguing Old Testament text, addressing important questions and highlighting key aspects of its fascinating narrative. Visit Dr. Paley's blog: https://elliemarie.substack.com Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: Patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

In Part 2 of this discussion, Matt chats with Dr. Ingrid Faro about her book Redeeming Eden. She shares with listeners the ways in which women advance Scripture's narrative by furthering the story of God's plan of redemption. About Dr. Faro: Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Interim President of Northern Seminary and Professor of Old Testament and Coordinator of the MA in Old Testament–Jerusalem University College Program. Ingrid is an author and international speaker on topics including deconstructing evil, navigating suffering, forgiveness, lament, abuse and power dynamics, women in the Bible and ministry, Genesis, and Ecclesiastes. Ingrid is the author of Evil in Genesis, co-author of Honest Answers, and author of the recently-released Demystifying Evil. Link to Ingrid’s book, Redeeming Eden: https://a.co/d/00oj8xyy +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Matt chats with Dr. Ingrid Faro about the problem of evil and suffering. Ingrid share with readers about not just the nature of evil, but how we can navigate through a world that finds itself caught up in it. Like the prophets, we must responsibly confront the evils of our own day as divine image-bearers. About Dr. Faro: Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Interim President of Northern Seminary and Professor of Old Testament and Coordinator of the MA in Old Testament–Jerusalem University College Program. Ingrid is an author and international speaker on topics including deconstructing evil, navigating suffering, forgiveness, lament, abuse and power dynamics, women in the Bible and ministry, Genesis, and Ecclesiastes. Ingrid is the author of Evil in Genesis, co-author of Honest Answers, and author of the recently-released Demystifying Evil. Link to Ingrid’s book, Redeeming Eden: https://a.co/d/00oj8xyy +++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

What does it mean to seek God, and what does it mean to desire God? What role do our emotions play in seeking and desiring God? Can we still desire God even if we feel nothing? In this episode, Matt addresses these and other questions. In the Western Christian world, there’s a tendency to center one’s relationship with God around emotion and feelings. Some Christians turn Christianity into nothing but brainy intellectualism. How can we leave room for both emotions and the life of the mind without reducing everything down to one or the other? Listen to find out! Mentioned in this episode: “Teach me to seek you, and as I seek you, show yourself to me; for I cannot seek you unless you show me how, and I will never find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you by desiring you, and desire you by seeking you; let me find you by loving you, and love you in finding you. Amen." (Anselm of Canterbury / BCP 2019)+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Matt welcomes to the show his Doktorvater, Thorsten Moritz, to talk about all things hermeneutics. This million-dollar word “hermeneutics” is often associated with interpreting the Bible, but it can’t be reduced down to just that. Hermeneutics actually has to do with the broader human experience itself. This insight serves as the basis for Matt and Thorsten’s discussion, which delves into a range of topics: from the interdisciplinary nature of hermeneutics to the necessity of prejudgments to a metanarrative approach to Scripture. About Thorsten: https://agicate.mykajabi.com/+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Matt takes listeners through the text of Jeremiah 20, which records the prophet's prayer of dismay and discouragement. In his turmoil, Jeremiah questions God's character as he comes to term with his calling and his trials. Arguably, this text offers important insights about how prayer can become an avenue for experiencing God in the hard times, especially through seasons of doubt.+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

Why are answers to prayers sometimes delayed? Matt considers several possible reasons. But there's one possibility that, perhaps, many Christians may not have ever considered: What if answers to our prayers are delayed because angels are fighting? Mentioned in this episode: Frank Viola's, Where's God?+++Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matthew's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!