In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Phil Bray—author of Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block and creator of the YouTube channel Leviticus is Fun—for a wide-ranging conversation on sacrifice, atonement, and the surprising beauty of Leviticus.

They explore:

- How Leviticus reframes atonement away from wrath and toward restoration

- Why sacrifice isn’t about death, but about life and communion

- What Phil learned from being both a butcher and a Bible nerd

- How Leviticus helps us understand Hebrews, Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper

- Whether the sacrificial system was an accommodation… and if so, what kind

- Why blood and water both purify—and how Jesus’ life transforms both

- Why Passover and atonement aren't the same, and why that matters for communion

- The deeper frames behind the word “substitution”

Carey and Phil also dive into the contagious holiness of Jesus, purification rituals, and why Christians must learn to disambiguate muddy theological terms like “atonement” and “substitution.”

This episode is part of our Atonement monthly theme over at the On This Rock biblical theology community. Join us to discuss the many frames of substitution, atonement, and covenant—and be sure to check out Phil’s channel and book!

Links & Resources:

- [Phil’s YouTube: Leviticus Is Fun](https://www.youtube.com/@LeviticusIsFun)
- [Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block](https://www.amazon.com/Leviticus-Butchers-Block-Making-Toughest/dp/B0F4BVFMBM/)

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: [genesismarksthespot.com](http://genesismarksthespot.com/)

Patreon: https://www.patreon.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

00:00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
00:02:00 From Butcher to Bible Nerd
00:04:32 Echo Chambers & Reading the Bible for Yourself
00:08:14 Making Leviticus Fun
00:14:09 Was Leviticus an Accommodation?
00:18:07 Life, Not Death, Is the Goal
00:20:53 Fellowship Meal and...Purification??
00:25:04 Passover and Blood on the Doorframe
00:27:45 Was Passover a Sacrifice?
00:29:52 The Blood is for Covenant
00:33:28 Leviticus and Christian Communion
00:36:45 Water & Blood: The Life Connection
00:41:21 Contagious Holiness
00:46:12 What If We Didn’t Have the Word Atonement?
00:50:01 Restoring Creation, Not Just Covering Sin
00:52:46 Phil’s Channel & Upcoming Projects
00:55:51 Leviticus Helps Us Read Hebrews
00:57:43 Frames of Substitution: A Project is Born
01:01:31 Leviticus on the Butcher's Block
01:05:56 An Immersive Experience