Episodes

The meaning of "sacrifice" has shifted between the time of the Bible to today.  How did that happen?  Join Cindy Beaver and I and let's get back to a more biblical view of what sacrifice is!  We discuss Jeremy Davis' book, Welcoming Gifts: Sacrifice in the Bible and Christian Life, and we lay out the offerings in Leviticus--their purposes and perhaps better translations for these offerings than we might see in our English Bibles. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Welcoming Gifts, by Jeremy Davis:  https://www.amazon.com/Welcoming-Gifts-Sacrifice-Bible-Christian-ebook/dp/B0B1B7TC1J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697772967&sr=8-2  Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://w…

Worship and the image of God: both are associated with sacred space and our relationship with God.  James Russell joins me for a conversation about how these things connect with our discipleship as believers.  While we don't touch on current events and eschatology, the things discussed in this conversation are how I personally relate to the topic of the end times.  **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Why do we worship God amidst suffering?  Cindy Beaver and I discuss the topic of theodicy in relation to worship, and Cindy reads the Poem of the Righteous Sufferer, also known as "the Babylonian Job." **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Here is a version of the Poem of the Righteous Sufferer:  http://tomsbiblesite.org/index.php/bible/christian-bible/old-testament/wisdom/job/babylonian-job?showall=&limitstart=  Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Worship in the ancient world and worship today seem like they're two totally different concepts and ideas.  Are they really that different?  Why would they be?  Cindy Beaver and I start to discuss this in the second part of the worship series. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Welcome to the series on worship!  Cindy Beaver and I introduce the topic of worship, discuss how we are going to be casting our study nets wide to see what we catch, and we track one theme in Genesis: calling on the name of the Lord.  Come listen to find out what the difference is between "bad" worship and "anti" worship and let's start thinking together about how and why we worship. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Welcome to the podcast's third Q&A episode! Timestamps: (0:36) - So, you're saying that Satan in Job isn't the serpent? (13:55) - Wait, we really don't see Satan in the Old Testament? (17:50) - Do we really need the apkallu narrative to understand the sons of God episode in Genesis 6? (23:25) - How do you make sure people aren't misled into error with all this extra-biblical literature? (33:09) - What is the etymology of the name El? (40:58) - What do you think about Rober Alter's Hebrew translation? (55:28) - What's the deal with Jordan Peterson and his psychoanalyzing Scripture? **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  L…

Merry Christmas!  ...wait?  Isn't it September?  Yes, it is!  Jeffrey Pitts, author of the book An Advent for the Cosmos, a "divine council worldview" devotional book joins me in this special Christmas-in-September episode to discuss his book as well as the idea that Jesus' birthday occurred in September. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ An Advent for the Cosmos, by Jeffrey Pitts:  https://www.amazon.com/Advent-Cosmos-Jeffrey-Pitts/dp/1733849718/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MRM3OS9CNST0&keywords=an+advent+for+the+cosmos&qid=1694142198&sprefix=an+advent+for+the+cosmos%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by …

Though this is "just" a basic introduction to the biblical concept of the priest, I am offering an invitation to deepen your Bible study with something beyond word studies by looking at concepts and themes in a more holistic way. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/   Raising Up a Faithful Priest:  https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Faithful-Priest-Richard-Nelson/dp/0664254373/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IOEDJJKKWGBA&keywords=raising+up+a+faithful+priest&qid=1693535441&sprefix=raising+up+a+faithful%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-1   The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God:  https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Priesthood-Studies-Biblical-Theology-ebook/dp/B097YXL9CW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R2131DDBFT0Q&keywords=the+royal+priesthood+and+the+glory+of+god&qid=1693535483&s…

Godzilla in Paradise??  Continuing the series of the spiritual realm and sources of the spirtual "bad guys," Paradise Lost features prominantly in our thinking, even if we aren't aware.  Here we ask three questions:  Who is Satan: serpent, seraph, or dragon?  How did he get to be the head honcho of the bad guys?  And what does Paradise Lost have to do with it?  We get into the book of Jubilees, the book of 1 Enoch, and lay out in whole the narrative of John Milton's Paradise Lost. **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com  My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Dr. Heiser's Demons book:  https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really-Powers-Darkness-ebook/dp/B088C559H7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692375270&sr=8-1 Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan  …

Have you seen the movie Nefarious, or read the book A Nefarious Plot?  Sharing a review of both along with a discussion of demons and where they came from, including a discussion on the book of 1 Enoch and the myth of the apkallu--this is a wide-ranging episode that gets into the "three falls" of Genesis and how that is a better way of understanding the structure of the powers of darkness.  (But also I caution that we shouldn't get too jazzed up about making a taxonomy of the spiritual realm.) ***I try to avoid spoilers of the movie, but I do mention a couple things that you wouldn't know if you've not seen the movie yet.*** **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot  Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Dr. Heiser's Demons book:  https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really…

Genesis 4 is our first action-packed genealogy in the Bible!  And seriously!  It's action packed!  Cindy Beaver and I read through the second half of Genesis chapter 4 and talk about what we see.  She reads from the Lexham English Septuagint (LES) and I read from the English Standard Version (ESV).  Amongst other things in this episode, we jump from Genesis all the way into the book of Kings because, well, this is just how the Bible works.  If you've ever thought genealogies are hard to get through, well, take a deep breath, slow down a bit, and get curious.NEW!  If you want to sign up to receive my newsletter, enter your email address at my new site below!**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Answers to Giant Questions podcast: https://giantanswers.com/index.html Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genes…

Science and the Bible: how do they intersect?  Can we read the Bible and come away with a solid view of creation?  Should we fight it out as believers?  Reading the "literal" or "plain" six-day creation in the text seems a given for many of us.  We have been told by people we may trust that this is the *only* legitimate view of creation.  Those evil evolutionists are trying to destroy the authority of the Bible!! ....or are they? Join me as I discuss two views of creation: the literal, 6-day creation, and the possibility of evolution as a mechanism for creation.  (While I don't get into any of the science of that, presented here are a number of resources you can dig in to the topic yourself!)  **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Dr.…

Special guest Cindy Beaver joins me for a public reading of Scripture where we begin reading Genesis 4 from two translations:  The English Standard Version (ESV) and the Lexham English Septuagint (LES).  We talk about the ancient Near East, sacrifices and offerings as shared meals (yep, that likely means that they weren't vegetarians!), Mesopotamian demons residing in doorways, allegories, and come across some interesting thoughts as to why Cain didn't receive the death penalty for the murder of his brother. This episode is packed full of good stuff and we hope you enjoy it! NEW!  If you want to sign up to receive my newsletter, enter your email address at my new site below! **New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble M…

Did God create chaos?  What is it?  What purpose does it serve in the biblical narrative?  In this episode, we reexaminie the traditional idea that "the fall" is best seen as an introduction of sin which caused all of creation to fall alongside humanity.  We talk about another view where "the fall" is, instead, a path that moves along chaos and away from God.  From glory into the dark wilderness of uncreation.While we do see hints of God vs. Leviathan (the chaos dragon) in the Bible, in Genesis what we see is humanity vs. chaos...what does that mean for our salvation and for creation as a whole? My new site!  www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Myths, Mysteries, and Majesty:  https://www.youtube.com/@3mmm777 Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Winterga…

I'm joined by Michael Norton for a reading of Genesis 3 and talk about the serpent figure in the garden, the nachash.  We read from two translations: the New English Translation (NET) and the New King James Version.  Michael is a seminary student, a certificate holder from the AWKNG School of Theology, and hosts his own podcast, My Mysterious Bible.  He is also author of the Divine Council Worldview Devotional.  All these and more are linked below! The Divine Council Worldview Devotional: https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Council-Worldview-Supernatural-Introduction-ebook/dp/B08Y596DJY Michael Norton's My Mysterious Bible:  https://www.mymysteriousbible.com/ Michael Heiser's Demons book:  https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really-Powers-Darkness-ebook/dp/B088C559H7 My new site!  www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:https…

Geoff Johnson joins me again for reading and discussing Genesis 2 from two translations: the New King James Version and the Lexham English Bible. Public readings of Scripture ought to be common practice, and reading from multiple translations provides an excellent way to delve into the original language of the text when you don’t have the years of schooling to read it yourself.  Here we compare the two creation accounts and talk about interesting things like why does it look like plants are made before humans and the possibility of man outside the garden. Geoff Johnson’s Storeroom of Scripture channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storeroomofscripture **New website is here!!!www.genesismarksthespot.com My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Winterga…

Theodicy: if there is a good God, then why is there evil and suffering?  I explore this question beginning from the ancient Near Eastern perspective and continue to what it means for us and creation. **New channel**  https://www.podpage.com/genesis-marks-the-spot/ Naked Bible Podcast 162, The Evil Eye:  https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-162-the-evil-eye/Faith Unaltered, Theodicy:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI8thfmPS2A&ab_channel=FaithUnalteredInspiring Philosophy, the Problem of Suffering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS16dqAjQ9k&ab_channel=InspiringPhilosophyTheodicy of Love:  https://www.amazon.com/Theodicy-Love-John-C-Peckham/dp/1540960269/ref=sr_1_1?crid=382CJR0VRLD4N&keywords=theodicy+of+love&qid=1688113413&sprefix=theodicy+of+lov%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1 My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesisma…

Special guest Geoff Johnson joins me for reading and discussing Genesis 1 from two translations: the New King James Version and the Lexham English Bible. Public readings of Scripture ought to be common practice, and reading from multiple translations provides an excellent way to delve into the original language of the text when you don’t have the years of schooling to read it yourself. Geoff Johnson’s Storeroom of Scripture channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storeroomofscripture Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/ **New website coming soon! My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/ Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8jo…

I went to see Jordan Peterson live, and so here are some thoughts on that and his life and work, including a response to that nosy question: what is Jordan Peterson’s relationship with God? I get into archetypes and rule number 8 from 12 Rules for Life, which is: Always tell the truth, or at least don’t lie. Jordan Peterson’s website: https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/ Naked Bible Podcast 201, God and Deception: https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-210-god-and-deception/ Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/ Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Welcome to the podcast’s second Q&A! Some fun and interesting topics…but warning: possibly NSFW or listening with kids around (not explicit, but I do talk about reproduction; yes, even dinos reproduced!). Timestamps: (0:58) - Where do we find dinosaurs in the Bible? (26:43) - How would Adam and Eve have procreated before the fall? (47:59) - What about original sin? (Mis)interpreting Genesis: How the Creation Museum Misunderstands the Ancient Near Eastern Context of the Bible by Ben Stanhope: https://www.amazon.com/Mis-interpreting-Genesis-Creation-Misunderstands-ebook/dp/B08R35P84H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PSBB4NB634E2&keywords=ben+stanhope&qid=1682911125&sprefix=ben+stanhop%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-1 The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry by S. Joshua Swamidass: https://www.amazon.com/Genealogical-Adam-Eve-Surprising-Universal/dp/B08QJQ8KS3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SSIA4ZZ2A8VL&keywords=joshua+swamidass&qid=1682911402&sprefix=joshua+swamidas%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1 Answers to …

Using the story of White Fang to illustrate some points of biblical theology. What does the Hebrew term “elohim” mean? How does that map onto the English word “god,” and how do we understand what a god is? If other “gods” are real, then what about the Most High God? What does it mean to have faith and what does it mean to worship? Also: are Christians actually monotheists? Responding to William Lane Craig’s response to Dr. Swamidass’ question concerning Dr. Michael Heiser’s suggestion that monotheism may not be the best way to understand our relationship to the spiritual world. I have a Patreon page up! Please consider donating to help support my podcast! https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot The question by Dr. Swamidass to Dr. Craig: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/michael-heiser-on-monotheism?fbclid=IwAR2aClVZGjOvX-H9HDV_uAsyCqBijBQ87jFPuiRDNUpYmQnfmnFYnAv3hlM#_ftn3 White Fang: https://www.amazon.com/White-Fang-Jack-London-ebook/dp/B08ML7D36C/ref=…

Continuing the image of God series with Joshua Sherman, we delve into Scripture to see that this concept is deeply embedded everywhere, and in places that you might not expect! Being God’s Image by Carmen Imes: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Gods-Image-Creation-Matters-ebook/dp/B0BLD43TVC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684376442&sr=8-1 The Image of God in the Garden of Eden by Catherine L. McDowell: https://www.amazon.com/Image-God-Garden-Eden-Mesopotamia/dp/1575063484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ALMVM276C533&keywords=image+of+god+in+the+garden+of+eden&qid=1684376488&sprefix=image+of+god+in+the+garden+of+eden%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc Why the Gospel? by Matthew Bates: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Gospel-Living-Jesus-Purpose/dp/0802881688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UET94GDTCWWY&keywords=why+the+gospel&qid=1684376528&sprefix=why+the+gose%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1 Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/ Genesis Marks the Spot on Faceb…

Digging into the concept of generational cursing—is it a biblical concept? What do we do about generational curses? Also, responding to the book, Free at Last: Breaking Generational Curses by Larry Huch and Benny Hinn. Why the Gospel? by Matthew Bates https://www.amazon.com/Why-Gospel-Living-Jesus-Purpose/dp/0802881688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MSFRAV4EBHH9&keywords=why+the+gospel&qid=1684450560&sprefix=why+the+gospel%2Caps%2C340&sr=8-1 Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/ Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Was light created? A study in biblical theology on the theme of light and what it means. Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/ Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan