Bad Books of the Bible

Rediscover a little classic of penitential devotion, used by Christians across traditions and throughout the centuries.

How should readers understand the violence of 1 Maccabees or the Old Testament in general? We close out our conversation with several tough cases.

How should readers understand the violence of 1 Maccabees or the Old Testament in general? We introduce the problem and some sticky passages.

Jamey Bennett and Joel Miller discuss their key takeaways from 1 Maccabees and answer listener questions.

The intrigue continues, and the story comes full circle as we meet yet another Antiochus and end up back in Modein. Plus, we discuss the significance of history and the role of of the one telling the story.

We take a few minutes to review the story. Then, the primary drama comes to a close as Simon ascends the throne, expels the enemy, and wins freedom for the Jews.

Jonathan navigates the perils of Greek politics and runs aground. Plus: History has layers!

Theron Mathis, author of The Rest of the Bible, discusses the ongoing relevance of the so-called Apocrypha in church and devotional life with Joel and Jamey.

Jonathan plays Syrian politics and wins big. Plus, we take a deep dive into Jewish festivals, just in time for Hanukkah.

Alcimus, a compromising priest, takes the stage; Judas gets the band back together; and Israel allies with Rome. Plus: How the heck did everyone get around back then?

Antiochus the Madman dies, the Seleucids loosen their grip, and the Jews take another step toward freedom. Bonus: Joel provides some background with a sketch of Seleucid history.

A look inside some of our favorite books for studying the so-called Apocrypha. Plus: How did ancient Jews access the Torah?

Judas Maccabeus takes charge, earns his nickname “The Hammer,” and rededicates the Temple. Plus, what do ugly Hanukkah sweaters have to do with repelling foreign invaders?

Mattathias refuses participation in pagan worship and starts a revolt—before dying and leaving his sons in charge. Joel Miller and Jamey Bennett also take an excursion on the canon of Scripture among Ethiopian Christians and Jews.

“Bad” Books of the Bible returns with an essential chapter in Jewish history. 1 Maccabees 1 covers the rise of tyrant and “madman” Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Jews that tried to accommodate Greek dominance, and the start of resistance.

Bad Books of the Bible is back, introducing a book that sets the historical and cultural stage for the New Testament world of Jesus and the Apostles.

We chat with Orthodox priest and author Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon on the Bible's place in human life and imagination.

We chat with the renowned Jewish New Testament scholar about the themes of Tobit, its historical context, and contemporary applications. Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies (among other things) at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Graduate Department of Religion, and Department of Jewish Studies; she is also Affiliated Professor, Woolf Institute, Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, Cambridge UK.

But wait there's more! Joel and Jamey answer listener questions, revisit a few themes of Tobit, and announce some bonus interviews in the next couple of weeks!

Tobit prophesies the end of Israel's exile and the conversion of the Gentiles. We cover Tobit 13.1–14.15 and discuss the role of the Septuagint—the Greek Old Testament—in that conversion.

Tobit tries to pay Azarias for his services, when it is revealed that he actually is the Archangel Raphael in disguise! We talk about some of the names of God in the Old Testament, and we look at Tobit chapter 12.

Tobias loads up and heads home to his folks in Ninevah with the crew, along with the ingredients for a super special eye medicine for his dad. Today we talk about the role of edifying stories about virtuous lives, and we look at Tobit chapter 11.

While Tobias and Sarah celebrate, and Raphael runs off to retrieve Tobit's money, Tobit and Anna are back home worried sick. Today we cover Tobit 8.19–10.13 and discuss the role of women in the book—along with a surprising edit in the Book of Common Prayer.

With Raphael's help, Tobias and Sarah defeat her dreaded demon while her father digs an unnecessary grave. In today's episode, we cover Tobit 7.1–8.18 and discuss the book's surprising reappearance in Sherlock Holmes!

Raphael tries to convince Tobias to marry Sarah. But Tobias has heard about the seven prior suitors—all dead on their wedding night! What will he do? In this episode we cover Tobit 6.7–7.1.

Tobit and Raphael hit the road with the dog and wrestle a giant fish. In this episode we discuss Tobit 6.2–6.9 and define some terms: What do “apocrypha” and “deuterocanonical” mean anyway?

Tobit hires a companion for Tobias and gets more than they bargained for. In this episode, we discuss Tobit 5.4-6.1 and explore what kind of book Tobit is: history, wisdom, fiction?

As the impoverished Tobit prepares to die, he remembers a treasure he left years ago in another city! How should he prepare his son for the journey? In this episode we look at Tobit 4.1-5.3

Why would two biblical characters pray to die, and how would God answer that petition? In this episode, we discuss Tobit 3:1-17.

Getting to know the Bible's least lucky philanthropist, deportee, grave-digger, fugitive, and pauper—along with the book that tells his story. In this episode, we discuss Tobit 1:1-2:14.

The Bible is full of weird and wonderful books. But some of the most weird and wonderful—the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books—get a bad rap today. What's the deal? In this inaugural conversation, Joel and Jamey introduce the “bad” books, discuss their history, and explain their value to contemporary readers.