The Bible Project

The Wilderness E7 — By the time we get to the Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, the meaning of the wilderness is well established. It’s a desolate, dangerous place where humans can’t survive. And it’s a place where God meets with his people to reform their character and deepen their trust in him. But Israel’s prophets remix the meaning and imagery of the wilderness in surprising ways that prepare us for the story of Jesus. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the wilderness in Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, discovering unique portraits of a prison, romance, tragedy, and promise of a new heart.CHAPTERSRecap of the Theme and Setup for the Prophets (0:00-16:07)Hosea’s Wilderness as Containment and Reformation (16:07-27:40)Jeremiah’s Romance and Ezekiel’s Tragedy in the Wilderness (27:40-49:58)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, availab

The Wilderness E6 — In the Genesis and Exodus wilderness stories, God is present with his people, testing them and teaching them to listen to his voice. Most of the people fail to trust God there, but finally, in 1 Samuel, we meet a character who can succeed in the desolate place, David. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore David’s wilderness stories in 1 Samuel 24-26, finding a human who will trust God for provision and listen to his voice.CHAPTERSRecap of the Theme and Setup for David (0:00-17:00)David’s Successes and Tests in the Wilderness (17:00-32:00)David’s Test With Nabal and Abigail (32:00-43:58)Abigail Saves the Day (43:58-1:05:12)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Walk In The City ft. Me & The Boys” by Lofi Su

The Wilderness E5 — After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses and the second generation of Israelites stand at the border of the promised land. What does Moses say about the purpose of their time in the wilderness, and what do they need to remember about it when they’re in the garden land? In this episode, Jon and Tim look at Deuteronomy 8 and the hard lessons of the wilderness that can help the people flourish in the promised land.CHAPTERSSummary and Recap of Theme (0:00-11:26)Why Adam and Eve Can’t Stay in the Garden (11:26-23:07)The Purpose of 40 Years in the Wilderness (23:07-41:58)The Wilderness Is the Truth (41:58-1:05:28)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESIn chapter 2, Jon and Tim discuss the Divine Council and Genesis 3:22. For more on this topic, check out our God and Spiritual Beings series.A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanaukenIn chapter 3, Tim references our Deuteronomy Scroll series.You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entir

The Wilderness E4 — After God delivers the Israelites out of Egypt, he tells Moses to lead them to the promised land—through the wilderness. This is perplexing because a much shorter, safer route existed along the coast. So why does God lead his people along the longer, harder way? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Israel’s wilderness tests, reflecting on God’s plan to create a new people through a relationship of radical trust and dependence.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for the Israelites in the Wilderness (0:00-10:05)God’s Intentional Path Into the Wilderness (10:05-27:11)Three Wilderness Tests in Exodus (27:11-47:28)Seven Wilderness Tests in Numbers (47:28-1:02:23)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Blue Sky ft. TBabz” by Lo

The Wilderness E3 — In the Bible, the wilderness is a hostile, dangerous place where humans can’t survive. Because of this, the wilderness also reminds us that we all live on the precipice of life and death, and our survival depends on the one who is greater than us. The Bible’s earliest wilderness stories depict humans finding themselves in this setting due to their own foolish choices or the foolish choices of others. In this episode, Jon and Tim look at the wilderness stories of Adam and Eve, Hagar, and Moses, highlighting how God responds with surprising compassion.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Today’s Stories (0:00-11:36)Adam and Eve Exiled Into the Wilderness (11:36-20:31)Hagar Flees From Abraham and Sarah Into the Wilderness (20:31-45:13)Moses Flees From Pharaoh Into the Wilderness (45:13-1:08:15)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESTim references an episode from The Exodus Way series about Abraham and Hagar. You can find that episode here: How Did Israel

The Wilderness E2 — In the Bible, the wilderness is an uninhabitable, hostile place for human life. And in the creation narratives of Genesis 1 and 2, the wilderness symbolically represents the chaos of a pre-creation state. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the wilderness language in the creation narrative and how it contrasts with Eden, God’s oasis of beauty, order, and abundance.CHAPTERSRecap on the Meaning of the Wilderness (0:00-9:16)Pre-Creation Wilderness and the Eden Oasis (9:16-40:27)Wilderness and Eden Imagery in the Prophets (40:27-57:32)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.SHOW MUSIC“Break Bread” by Lofi Sunday, Oly.Lo“Refuge ft. Just Derrick” by Lofi SundayBibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW CREDITSProduction of today’s

The Wilderness E1 — This year, we are looking at themes that play a prominent role in the Exodus story. And today, we’re starting a new series on the theme of the wilderness. The wilderness is a setting that shows up constantly in the Bible, and it mainly represents a hostile, barren place where humans can’t survive. So why does God repeatedly lead his people through it? In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce the theme and discuss how the biblical authors portray the wilderness as a place of testing, character formation, and even an Eden-like refuge.CHAPTERSThe Breadth and Meaning of the Wilderness in the Bible (0:00-12:30)A Place Hostile for Human Life (12:30-30:35)A Place of Testing and Refuge (30:35-47:09)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESTim alludes to this past episode about the function of settings in the Bible: Setting in Biblical Narrative from our How to Read the Bible series.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.You can vi

Redemption Q+R (E12) — Is deliverance from evil spirits a redemption from the evil one over to God’s possession? Was God demanding a redemption payment through Jesus’ death? And are salvation and redemption basically the same thing? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from our Redemption series. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!View all of our resources for Redemption →CHAPTERSRevisiting the Conversation of Redemption and Tackling Your Questions! (0:00-2:50)How does payment relate to redemption, and why does God demand a payment? (2:50-24:15)Why did Jesus’ death have to be such an awful, gruesome crucifixion? (24:15-36:12)When Jesus delivers a person possessed by an evil spirit, is this a redemption from the evil one over to God’s possession? (36:12-42:50)What does it mean to be saved, and is it the same as redemption? (42:50-55:09)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESWhen discussing Jesus’ redempti

Redemption Hyperlink Episode (E11) — There are so many themes in the Bible, from redemption to exile, to mountains and cities. In every series, we attempt to isolate and study one biblical theme. But it’s important to remember that biblical themes are woven together throughout the Bible like instruments in a symphony. Today in this hyperlink episode, we’ll listen to clips from previous podcast series where the theme of redemption also came up in Jon and Tim’s conversations.View all of our resources for Redemption →CHAPTERS Redemption and the Day of Atonement (0:00-30:24)Redeeming the Time (30:24-38:20)Redemption From the Grave (38:20-50:24)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESClip 1 is from “What Is the Day of Atonement?,” episode 6 in our 2022 series, Leviticus Scroll.The Mythic Mind by Nicolas WyattSin, Impurity, Sacrifice, Atonement: The Priestly Conceptions by Jay SklarCult and Character: Purification Offerings, Day of Atonement, and Theodicy by Roy GaneCl

Redemption E10 — We’ve made it to the end of our series on redemption, where we’ll look at two last examples of redemption in the New Testament. When Jesus redeemed us from sin and death, did he pay a redemption price, and how does his redemption relate to the Torah’s sacrificial system? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore 1 Peter 1 and Hebrews 9, which connect Jesus’ redemption to sacrifices at the center of Passover and the Day of Atonement. CHAPTERSSeries Recap of Redemption (0:00-18:04)Redeemed by the Blood in 1 Peter 1 (18:04-32:46)An Eternal Redemption in Hebrews 9 (32:46-55:27)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESCheck out our Leviticus Scroll series.The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Enveloped In Love”

Redemption E9 — So far in the series, we’ve been talking about how redemption means being reclaimed—freed from slavery and returned to where we belong. But what are we enslaved to, and how does Jesus set us free? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Romans 8 and Hebrews 2 to trace how Jesus enters our suffering and overcomes death to bring us back to life.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Romans 8 (0:00-21:57)The Redemption of Creation in Romans 8 (21:57-33:41)Jesus’ Identification With Us in Hebrews 2 (33:41-49:41)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESDeification through the Cross: An Eastern Christian Theology of Salvation by Khaled Anatolios“For that which He has not assumed He has not healed.” Quote from Gregory of Nazianzus in his “Epistle 101 to Cledonius the Priest Against Apollinarius.”“He became what we are so that we might become what he is.” Quote often attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria. It captures his thoughts in his larger work On the Incarnation. 

Redemption E8 — Both in his public ministry and sacrificial death, Jesus redeems people from humanity’s cosmic “pharaohs,” the Satan, sin, and death. Jesus’ miracles show more clearly how this redemption works, but he says very little about how his death serves as a redemption. In fact, the most substantial thing we get is his symbolic body and blood language during the Last Supper Passover meal. And even this still feels cryptic! Later in the New Testament, one writer offers much more explanation on how Jesus’ death works to redeem people. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the letter to the Romans, where the Apostle Paul crafts a detailed explanation of how Jesus joins with us in death to transfer us from the domain of death into his Kingdom of life.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for the Apostle Paul (0:00-15:09)Paul’s Condensed Redemption Story (15:09-22:03)A Gift of Redemption in Romans 3 (22:03-44:21)The Transfer from Death to Life in Romans 6 (44:21-58:34)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s offici

Redemption E7 — When murmurs about the birth of the Messiah began spreading, 1st-century Jewish people already had very specific expectations of what his redemption would look like. He was to be a new Moses who would overthrow Rome, enabling them to live freely in the land. But even after Jesus’ resurrection, none of that had happened. So what kind of redemption did Jesus actually accomplish? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the theme of redemption in the Gospel of Luke, uncovering ways that Jesus’ mission aligned with, subverted, and transcended Israel’s expectations.CHAPTERSSetup for Redemption in Luke (00:00-5:39)Redemption at the Beginning and End of Luke (5:39-24:15)The Cosmic Jubilee Has Arrived (24:15-30:53)Cosmic Redemption from Sin, Death, and the Satan (30:53-50:41)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for

Redemption E6 — In the book of Psalms, the Hebrew words for “redemption” are often used to simply mean save, rescue, or release. This is especially true in the psalms of King David, who was never a slave but regularly used redemption language to speak of trials with his enemies. As the collection of psalms grew and shifted over many centuries, David’s personal longings for redemption came to represent something much bigger. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the themes of personal, communal, and cosmic redemption in Psalms.CHAPTERSRecap and Intro to Redemption in the Psalms (0:00-12:54)David’s Use of “Redeem” (12:54-34:28)Redemption From the Grave (34:28-48:30)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Just Truth” by Lofi Sunday,

Redemption E5 — For many centuries, ancient Israel lived in the land of promise but consistently broke their covenant with Yahweh. The prophet Isaiah warned the people that their corruption and idolatry would lead them back into slavery—not to Egypt but to the empires of Assyria and Babylon. After these two exiles happen, the prophecies in the book of Isaiah shift surprisingly from correction and warning to comfort and hope. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Isaiah 40-66. These chapters contain a higher density of the word “redemption” than any other part of the Hebrew Bible.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Isaiah 40-66 (0:00-7:38)Comfort From Yahweh the Redeemer (7:38-25:33)The Redeemer of Vulnerable Israel (25:33-41:02)REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Forgotten Dreams” by Aves“Hilltops ft

How the Bible Was Formed Q+R (E5) — What is the relationship between the written word of the Bible and Jesus as the Word at the beginning of creation? How do we reconcile the Bible’s editing process with Scriptures that forbid adding or taking away from God’s word? And what should we do with other writings that closely followed the New Testament? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from our How the Bible Was Formed series. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!CHAPTERSIntro (0:00-1:16)Do you have any new learnings or discoveries since the Making of the Bible series? (1:16-7:45)Does the Bible being written by humans, but inspired by God, change its reliability? (7:45-17:07)What is the relationship between the written word of the Bible and Jesus as the Word at creation? (17:07-31:00)How do you reconcile humans editing the Bible during its development with Scriptures that command not to add to or take away from God's Word? (31:00-42:18)What should we do wi

Redemption E4 — During a dark time in ancient Israel, idolatry, injustice, and death ruled the land and its people. In the midst of a famine, a destitute widow tragically loses her husband and adult sons and is left alone with her immigrant daughter-in-law. It’s a horrible situation, but God uses the faithful, loving, and generous acts of ordinary community members to redeem the widow’s story. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the cosmic redemption playing out in the short but profound story of Ruth.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Ruth (0:00-13:37)A Story Opening in Tragedy (13:37-27:26)In Comes the Redeemer (27:26-38:18)The Redeemer Redeems (38:18-53:43)Ordinary Acts of Love as Cosmic Redemption (53:43-1:04:40)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended b

Redemption E3 — So far in this series, we’ve explored the theme of redemption in the Eden story and in several stories in Exodus. In this episode, Jon and Tim look at how redemption language shows up in Torah laws about cities of refuge and unsolved murders, highlighting God’s provision for justice, the role of the blood redeemer, and communal responsibility in ancient Israel.CHAPTERSRecap of Where We’ve Been (0:00-10:50)Cities of Refuge and the “Blood Redeemer” (10:50-21:10)Preventing Bloodshed in the Land (21:10-29:29)A Sacrifice to Redeem a Guilty Community (29:29-47:20) OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Hard Times” by Courtland Urbano“Blue Sky” by C y g n“Untitled” by unknown artistBibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW C

Redemption E2 — Redemption involves a transfer of possession, and in the grand story of the Bible, humanity is under the possession of sin and death. But God’s plan is to snatch us back from death and bring us to life—to redeem us. But how does this redemption actually work? In this episode, Jon and Tim look at the Torah rituals of Jubilee and Passover, discovering the life-saving redemption that God is up to in both of these rituals.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Redemption in the Torah (0:00-11:24)Jubilee as a Redemption of Land and People (11:24-31:05)Redemption in the Passover Rescue (31:05-01:01:20)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Where Is the Love” by Johnny Gorillas“Lonely Like This Moon” by KicktracksBibleProject them

Redemption E1 — Following our series on the Exodus Way, we’re going to explore a word that first shows up in the Exodus scroll, redemption. This word can mean lots of things: redeeming a coupon, redeeming an otherwise bad day, or—from a Christian perspective—being redeemed by Jesus. But what does redemption actually refer to in the story of the Bible? Jon and Tim kick off this new theme series by exploring how this word is used throughout Scripture and then defining the two Hebrew words that are translated as “redemption” or “redeem.”CHAPTERSBiblical Redemption (0:00-11:08): Jesus’ Sacrifice as Redemption (11:08-29:23)The Meaning of Ga’al and Padah (29:23-48:36)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode’s official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Cookie” by Benno“Venice Beach