All Episodes
Debarim
This week, Fr. Paul critiques the biblical priests as the first platonists who sought control by making out of the many words of God’s instruction a platonic oneness—“...
An Ordinary Guy
Sometimes we want so desperately for Jesus to be a super hero that we willfully ignore what is written before our eyes. Faced with powerful religious chiefs and elders...
Abraham and Isaac
This week, Fr. Paul introduces his presentation of Genesis 24 touching on Isaac’s role and the significance of what he terms the prolegomena of the story. (Episode 181)
There Will Be No Flags in the Kingdom
Whatever term we use to describe it, be it “worldly,” “earthly,” “materialistic,” or the more precise biblical phrase, “of the flesh,” the fact is, the way we think an...
Let’s Make it Functional
This week Fr. Paul takes questions and discussion on the meaning and usage of Hebrew terminology in Genesis. (Episode 180)
Repeat These Words
Repetition is the foundation of knowledge. A student repeats vocabulary. An athlete repeats a physical movement. An apprentice repeats a task. A reporter repeats what ...
Hebron
In this week’s episode, Fr. Paul explains Hebron’s significance in Genesis 23 as the place of fraternity when human beings return to the adamah. (Episode 179)
Flash-forward, Be Afraid
The opening verses of the Judgment in Matthew 25 establish what the Bible repeatedly proclaims on every page, within every paragraph, and in every single verse. There ...
The People of the Land
In today’s episode Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Genesis 23. (Episode 178)
Wisdom
The human being approaches every situation with the satanic question, “What’s in it for me?” From there, we establish goals, define measurements, and declare success w...
Not Our Mercy
To modern students of the Bible, it seems unfair that the least capable servant—to whom the least was given—was treated the most harshly by the Lord. Fortunately, for ...
The Blessing
This week, Fr. Paul wraps up and extended Q and A session following his reading of Genesis 22. (Episode 176)
The Merchant Class?
The parable of the Talents must be heard in the context of Matthew’s storyline. Jerusalem is about to fall. Jesus has repeatedly warned everyone to make ready for the ...
It’s a Big Deal
In Scripture, Fr. Paul explains, when a word can be removed without being missed, it’s usually an indication of the term’s significance in the broader storyline. (Epis...
Take It and Work It
The Parable of the Talents is a story about work assignments. How much work can each person do? How will each person—from the least to the greatest—be judged for the ...
Interlocked
In today's program, Fr. Paul notes the unmissable parallel between Genesis 22 and 26. As always, it's only unmissable, he explains, when you hear Genesis in the origi...
In the Fear of God
No parable is more widely abused than the Parable of the Talents. On the heels of a series of Matthean stories that warn of destruction and judgment, the Master assign...
Abraham’s Obedience
In this week’s episode Fr. Paul explains Abraham’s obedience and its functions in the content of the Pauline epistles. (Episode 173)
The Jury is Still Out
People who live comfortably look to religion as a source of comfort and stability. They construct their religious worldview as the Pharaohs of old built pyramids of st...
One of a Kind
Today, Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 22, correcting the common mistranslation “only son” while noting the passage’s interconnection with the servant poems ...
Bread and Oil
For those who impose a triumphalist or sectarian premise on the Bible, it is impossible to hear the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Even if they accept Matthew’s warning t...
The Scriptural Premise
This week Fr. Paul explains that the God of Scripture controls life and death, noting the advantage of using extreme examples when teaching. (Episode 171)
Epilogue: Create in Me a Clean Heart
Fr. Marc and Richard reflect on their editorial decision regarding Fr. Fouad Saba’s speech in Chicago on May 20, 2021.
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
The Lord’s warning in Matthew 10, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,” (10:34) is often abused as a justification for militarism. In truth, as with so much bi...
Not Before the Time
This week Fr. Paul explains that God himself will assess our function concerning our brother on the last day, based on the content of the Torah. (Episode 170)
“But,” Not “So”
The challenge of hearing Scripture has never been more difficult. Each of us is trained to hear what we want to hear. We decide what we think about God before we crack...