The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we discuss Jesus’ “illustration” of the shepherd and the gate from John 10:1-18. Jesus speaks these words in response to the negative reaction by the religious leaders to the healing of blind man (9:40). Akin to the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus invokes Israel’s prophetic indictment of self-serving leadership. As the “good shepherd,” Jesus asserts his messianic role as the eschatological Davidic shepherd (Eze 34; Ps Sol 17).

Show notes

• The Gospel of John and the Memra tradition - Genesis 15; Jeremiah 1; Psalm 119; Psalm 33:6; Proverbs 8 (3:53)
• Parables/illustrations in John (14:34)
• The apocalyptic context of John 10:1-18 (18:40)
• Shepherd/sheep in Jewish literature - Jeremiah 50:6-7; Psalms of Solomon 17:21; 39-42; Ezekiel 34:4, 23 (25:00)
• “Thieves and bandits” (28:10)
• “Abundant life” and the resurrection - John 5:28-29; 6:40, 54; 10:28; 11:25; 20:31 (34:09)
• One flock, one shepherd, and the regathering of the lost tribes - Ezekiel 37:15-28; Testament of Joseph 19; 1 Enoch 89:72; 4 Ezra 13:39-50 (37:57)
• Wrapping up (47:30)

In this episode we discuss the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18. Jesus speaks this parable in context to the discussion of the sudden and apocalyptic coming of the messianic kingdom in Luke 17:20-37. As has been common throughout Jewish liturgical history, this parable is spoken to encourage faith and prayer for the coming of the Messiah and the day of the Lord.

Show notes

• The apocalyptic context of the parable - Luke 17:20-37 (5:32)
• Allegory: the widow and the judge - Lamentations 1:1; Isaiah 54:4 (13:02)
• The “elect” in its covenantal context - Isaiah 65:9-22; 1 Enoch 1:8-9 (18:14)
• The delay and losing heart (22:18)
• Similar language in Second Temple literature - Sirach 35:14–25; 36:1-29 (28:35)
• Liturgy and the redemption of Israel - Isaiah 62:1-7; Amidah; Didache 10:5-6 (35:56)
• Modern approaches to the parable (47:35)

In this episode we discuss the parable of the wise and foolish servants in Matthew 24 and the parable of ten virgins in Matthew 25. The parallels in Mark and Luke indicate that the details communicated in the parables need not be understood allegorically. Rather, Jesus is simply exhorting his disciples to sobriety and urgency in light of common Jewish apocalyptic expectations concerning the day of God and the coming of the Messiah. 

Show notes

• The apocalyptic context of the parables - Ascension of Isaiah 5:1; Life of the Prophets Isaiah 1; Hebrews 11:37 (4:11)
• The lamps and the oil are not allegorical (11:03)
• “The delay” in Jewish thought - 2 Peter 3:4; Psalm 90:4; Ezekiel 12:22; Habakkuk 2:3; 2 Baruch 21:8; Tobit 14:4; 1QpHab 7:1-14 (14:45)
• Early application of the parable: the Didache - Didache 16:1-8 (27:28)
• The apostolic witness of “staying awake” - 2 Timothy 4; 1 Peter 1:13 (30:33)

In this episode we develop the quote of Amos 9:11-12 in Acts 15.  Rather than a redefinition of the prophets’ words about the Gentiles flowing to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel, James quotes Amos 9 to affirm that the Gentiles turning to God in his time accords with the vision of the “eschatological pilgrimage” of the nations to Zion in the age to come. Like the cross and the Spirit, the novelty of God’s mercy being extended to the Gentiles is actually an affirmation of the apostles’ Jewish apocalyptic hopes.

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into Acts 15 to understand the primary question that is being asked and the answer that is being offered.  We analyze three particular points in the passage that often create confusion: circumcision (v. 1, 5), “conversion” (v. 3), and the “yoke” (v. 10).  Rather than being an anti-Judaism or anti-Torah council, the apostles answer the question of what to do with the Gentiles who are turning to the God of Israel. 

In this episode we give an overview of Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council where the apostles gather to discuss the issues brought up recently by many Gentiles turning to the God of Israel. Rather than redefining the hope of Israel, the apostles conclude that the Gentiles can be saved from the wrath to come and inherit eternal life without becoming Jews. We work through an overview of the major themes surrounding the discussion in the passage.

In this episode we explore Peter’s vision of the “great sheet” filled with unclean animals and the events which followed. Peter’s interpretation of the vision and the first sermon towards a Gentile audience are often interpreted within a redefined narrative of redemptive history which sees God establishing a ‘new people’. We revisit the events and the how they are described in Acts 10-11 to show that they are actually intended to reinforce the Jewish apocalyptic framework and the Gentiles’ place within that hope.

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this second Q&A episode.  Topics include cross-cultural discipleship, why some solid Old Testament scholars reject first century Jewish eschatology, and how Jews perceived the destruction of the temple in light of Jesus’ words.  Don’t miss the “rapid fire” round at the end!

In this week’s episode we discuss the language that the apostles used to describe the effects of the crucifixion of the Messiah. Terms like justification, redemption, propitiation, and reconciliation were understood within the context of first-century Jewish apocalyptic thought, rather than in contrast to it or disconnected from it. Passages like 2 Cor. 5 and Romans 5 illustrate clearly that Paul had the day of judgment and the resurrection of the dead in mind when he was theologizing about the cross.

The apostles understood the cross within a first century Jewish apocalyptic worldview. As seen in 1 Cor. 15:3, the interpretation of the Messiah’s death was handed down by the apostles and revolved around Isaiah 53 and the Levitical sacrificial tradition. Thus Paul’s gospel centered on Jesus Christ, “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:4).