Podcasts about Two Cities

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elisabeth Lefebvre (associate professor of Education at Bethel University in Saint Paul, MN) and Dr. Kristin VanEyk (assistant professor of English Education at Hope College in Holland, MI). Together, they are the editors of the new book, Purpose & Joy: Pursuing a Meaningful Career in Christian Higher Education (published by Abilene Christian University Press). In our conversation, we talked about what the essays in their volumes address related to the state of Christian Higher Education, navigating academia over the course of a career, and some helpful tips and tricks for educators of all sorts. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Haejin and Makoto Fujimura. Together they're the authors of Beauty & Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage (published by Brazos). Haejin Shim Fujimura is a lawyer, entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist whose work bridges justice, beauty, and cultural transformation. She is the founding attorney of Shim & Associates, a law firm rooted in cultural renewal, and the CEO and cofounder of Embers International, a global NGO working to end intergenerational exploitation and prevent human trafficking. Makoto Fujimura is an internationally renowned artist, writer, and arts advocate. His books include Art + Faith, Silence and Beauty, Refractions, and Culture Care. In our conversation, we talk about the relationship between beauty and justice, art and law, and why they desperately need each other. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Love in Two Cities: A Tale of Hope and Distance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-06-01-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: תל אביב שקרנית ואורה שוטף את הרחובות.En: Tel Aviv is a liar and Ora washes the streets.He: בעיר הזו, החיים של נעם מלאים עבודה ומחויבויות.En: In this city, Noam's life is filled with work and commitments.He: ראשו טרוד.En: His mind is troubled.He: בבוקר אחד, בעודו יושב במשרדו, הודעה מגיעה.En: One morning, while sitting in his office, a message arrives.He: טליה, האהבה שלו, בבית חולים בניו יורק.En: Talia, his love, is in a hospital in New York.He: היא צריכה לעבור ניתוח דחוף.En: She needs to undergo urgent surgery.He: שעתיים בין העולם שבו הוא חי ובין העולם בו חיה היא.En: Two hours separate the world where he lives and the world where she lives.He: בניו יורק, האביב שולח קרני שמש חמימות.En: In New York, spring sends warm sunbeams.He: טליה צופה מחלון החדר בבית החולים באלונים הפורחים, מתקשה להאמין למצב שבו היא נמצאת.En: Talia watches the blooming oaks from the window of her hospital room, struggling to believe the situation she is in.He: הלב שלה חף ביטחון.En: Her heart lacks confidence.He: היא רחוקה ממשפחתה וחבריה, ורק אליאב, חבר קרוב של שניהם בניו יורק, נמצא עבורה.En: She is far from her family and friends, and only Eliav, a close friend of both of them in New York, is there for her.He: הנה יום השבעות, יום של תקווה והתחדשות, אך טליה מרגישה את העומס הבודד.En: Here comes the day of promises, a day of hope and renewal, but Talia feels the lonely burden.He: היא יודעת שעליה להישען על אליאב.En: She knows she must rely on Eliav.He: נעם מתבלט.En: Noam is indecisive.He: עליו לבחור לבת נו: האם לעזוב את כל מחויבויותיו בתל אביב ולהיות עם טליה?En: He must make a choice: should he leave all his commitments in Tel Aviv to be with Talia?He: הוא מתבונן בטלפון שלו, רואה את הטיסות המתוכננות.En: He looks at his phone, seeing the scheduled flights.He: יש טיסה אחת, ובעוד ימים או מה, אפשרות לסופות בדרך.En: There is one flight, and in a few days or so, the possibility of storms along the way.He: הזמן קצר, הלב רחוק.En: Time is short, the heart is far.He: לאור ההתלבטות הזו, טליה משתדלת לנשום עמוק ולהתכונן לניתוח.En: Amid this hesitation, Talia tries to breathe deeply and prepare for the surgery.He: אליאב יושב לצדה, מחזיק בידה.En: Eliav sits beside her, holding her hand.He: היא מבינה שהמצב דורש ממנה הרבה עוצמה, אך הנוכחות של אליאב עוזרת לה להירגע מעט.En: She understands that the situation requires a lot of strength from her, but the presence of Eliav helps her relax a little.He: רעש המטוסים נשמע חזק, וטליה מבינה שמשהו השתנה.En: The sound of airplanes is loud, and Talia realizes that something has changed.He: נעם, עם לב פועם, עולה למטוס בידיעה שהכניסה לתוך הסופה עלולה לעכב אותו.En: Noam, with a racing heart, boards the plane knowing that entering the storm might delay him.He: העננים מתעבים, והרעש מעליהם מטלטל.En: The clouds thicken, and the noise above them is unsettling.He: אך נעם מרגיש חייב להיות שם עם טליה.En: But Noam feels compelled to be there with Talia.He: הוא יודע שזו לא רק תחושת חובה, אלא צורך בנפש.En: He knows it is not just a sense of duty but a need in his soul.He: הטיסה אכן מתאחרת.En: The flight indeed gets delayed.He: נעם יושב במטוס בדאגה לוחצת, מחשבותיו נודדות לבשורת האבוד.En: Noam sits in the plane with pressing anxiety, his thoughts drifting to the lost message.He: כשהוא נוחת, הוא ממהר לבית החולים, תקוהו ונשימתו חסרות.En: When he lands, he rushes to the hospital, his hope and breath missing.He: אך כשהוא מגיע, הוא רואה את טליה כבר לאחר הניתוח, מוקפת אהבה וחיוכים.En: But when he arrives, he sees Talia already after the surgery, surrounded by love and smiles.He: היא נחלמת, והעיקר הוא שהוא שם.En: She is recovering, and the main thing is that he is there.He: נעם וטליה מתקרבים זה לזה, מחזיקים ידיים, ברגע של חיבור מחודש.En: Noam and Talia draw closer to each other, holding hands in a moment of renewed connection.He: טליה מתוודה לנעם על פחדיה, ונעם מבין את חשיבות הנוכחות בחיים של האנשים שאוהבים אותו.En: Talia confesses her fears to Noam, and Noam understands the importance of being present in the lives of those who love him.He: למרות המרחק הפיזי, הוא מבין שליבם תמיד היה, ולעד יהיה, אחד.En: Despite the physical distance, he realizes their hearts were always, and will always be, one.He: האביב מביא עמו התחדשות, ונעם לומד שדברים החשובים באמת שווים את המלחמה.En: Spring brings renewal, and Noam learns that things that truly matter are worth the struggle.He: אהבה, תקווה, ונוכחות אמיתית — אלו הדברים שמתקנים כל מרחק וטורנ מפערים ביניהם.En: Love, hope, and genuine presence — these are the things that heal every distance and bridge the gaps between them. Vocabulary Words:liar: שקרניתcommitments: מחויבויותurgent: דחוףundergo: לעבורblooming: הפורחיםconfidence: ביטחוןburden: עומסindecisive: מתבלטsurgery: ניתוחscheduled: המתוכננותhesitation: התלבטותstrength: עוצמהpresence: נוכחותunsettling: מטלטלcompelled: חייבdelay: לעכבpressing: לוחצתdrifting: נודדותconfesses: מתוודהgenuine: אמיתיתrenewal: התחדשותstruggle: מלחמהheal: מתקניםdistance: מרחקgap: פעריםurgent: דחוףpromises: השבעותrealizes: מבינהanxiety: דאגהrecovery: נחלמתBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Tim Vickery is joined by Philippe Auclair to discuss the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG this weekend. They chat about the professional football culture of London and Paris ahead of the clash in Budapest, discuss if Paris is a one club city and Tim gives us an update on Neymar. Order Tim's Book Mundiales here:https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/mundialesJoin the Brazilian Shirt Name Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBNgO58PgsAgQXRP32T

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. T. Christopher Hoklotubbe, who is associate professor of indigenous theological studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago and NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, and Dr. H. Daniel Zacharias, who is associate dean and professor of New Testament studies at Acadia Divinity College, and an adjunct faculty for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Together, they're the authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation (published by IVP Academic). In our conversation, we talk about interpreting the Bible from a North American Indigenous perspective, the distinctive hermeneutical features of that approach (including an emphasis on the personhood and agency of all of creation), and address the difference between syncretism and contextual interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Bo Lim, who is professor of Old Testament at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, and the author of Contextual Theological Interpretation: An Integrated Model for Reading the Bible (published by Baker Academic). In the course of our conversation we talk about the value and importance of contextualizing our interpretations of scripture to our theological and cultural backgrounds, and we also discuss the relationship between contextual interpretation and historical critical exegesis. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elizabeth Backfish (PhD, Trinity International University), who is associate professor of biblical studies at William Jessup University, and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott (PhD, University of Sheffield), who is associate professor of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. And together they're the authors of Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Cultural Context That Formed Ancient Israel (Baker Academic). In our conversation we discuss the relationship between our biblical texts and material culture on a whole host of issues, highlighting how the two need to be understood together for proper interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Jennifer Matheny, who is associate professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, and the author of Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story: New Life for Old Testament Theology (published by Baker Academic). As we discuss, the term Hesed is notoriously difficult to translate, but by situating its variegated meanings within the stories and the Story of scripture, Dr. Matheny helps to shed new light on its significance. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Andrew Remington Rillera, who is assistant professor of biblical studies and theology at The King's University in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, and the author of Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus's Death (Cascade). Over the course of our conversation, we discuss what the sacrificial death of Jesus means in the NT, how it relates to sacrifices in the Torah, and why Dr. Rillera finds Penal Substitutionary Atonement to be unbiblical and theologically problematic. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Andrew Root, who is Professor and Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN. He's the author of several books, including: Baal and the gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry (published by Baker Academic). In our conversation, we discuss how capitalism has co-opted church growth discussions and turned it into a fertility idol. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Prof. Cor Bennema, Professor of New Testament at London School of Theology and the author of Imitation in Early Christianity: Mimesis and Religious-Ethical Formation (published by Eerdmans). Prof. Bennema talks about the distinctives of mimesis relative to other kinds of ethical formation/development, and where early Christianity is situated relative to mimesis in Greco-Roman philosophy. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Max Botner, associate professor of New Testament at Jessup University, host of the On the Way podcast, and the author of How Then Shall We Read?A Student's Guide to Interpreting the New Testament (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about how Dr. Botner's book compares to other primers on interpretation and how his book emphasizes the locationality of the interpreter, and the overall aim of faithful interpretation rather than "correct" interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we indulge in a little April Fool's fun by discussing the best worst movies we've ever seen, and why we absolutely love to watch them ironically and in some cases even unironically. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Paul continued his missionary work in Macedonia, Luke records the response of two cities. The comparison gives us insights into why some respond to the gospel positively, and others respond negatively. It also offers a lesson in how we discern the truth and define success. 

In this episode we're joined by Professor, James F. McGrath, who is Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, and the author of the book that we're discussing in this episode, Beyond Deconstruction: Building a More Expansive Faith (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation, Prof. McGrath says about his own journey of deconstruction and how he wanted to write this book to leave behind "bread crumbs" to help people navigate faith on the other side towards a faith that is more expansive. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Prof. Kelly M. Kapic (PhD, King's College, University of London), who is Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College, and the author of several books, including the book that we're discussing in this episode, Christian Life (as part of the New Studies in Dogmatics series published by Zondervan Academic). Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Kelly Kapic's aims to ground his theology of the Christian life in the Triune God, insisting that a theology of Christian life is necessarily theological. We also address how the particulars of Christian life pertain to universals, which helps to situate the topic in relation to various cultural and contextual settings. To round out the conversation, Prof. Kapic also highlights one of his main emphases that Christian life as a response to God begins with the Messiah's response to God first. From there flows the ecclesial gathering of Christ followers whose Christian life is bound up in our relations to one another, but also to God and to creation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Stephanie Kate Judd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin in Revelation 17, where the Apostle John is invited to witness the judgment of The spirit of the age - the City of Man. As G.K. Beale notes, these chapters (17–18) are an "expanded replay" of the final judgments, showing us the inner rot of the world system.Robert H. Mounce famously called this “A tale of two cities.” Throughout history, and peaking in Revelation, we see a collision between:The City of Man (Babylon): The world system organized in opposition to Christ.The City of God (New Jerusalem): The bride of Christ, the community of the elect.The Augustinian Insight: St. Augustine argued that these two cities are built on two different loves. The City of Man is built on amor sui: the love of self to the point of despising God; The City of God is built on amor Dei: the love of God to the point of despising self. Today, we see the "City of Man." We see it in its most seductive and predatory form. We see its demise and destruction.

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Preston Sprinkle, who hosts the Theology in the Raw podcast and is the author of From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership (published by David Cook). In our conversation we talk about what caused Dr. Sprinkle to change his mind on this topic, and we discuss several key issues and passages related to the topic of women in ministry in the Bible. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, so most Christians have been handed exactly one question about alcohol — is it okay? — and look, I get it, but what if that question is not just too small, it's actually the wrong one? Because when you sit down with John Anthony Dunne, New Testament scholar, beer nerd, and author of The Mountain Shall Drip Sweet Wine, and you actually let the Bible speak on its own terms, what you find is a text that is soaking in fermented beverages — daily beer libations poured out in the temple, prophets describing God's restoration of all things as mountains literally dripping with sweet wine, and Jesus showing up to a wedding and turning water into not just wine, but the best wine the sommelier had ever tasted — and John's Gospel puts that right next to the temple cleansing, on purpose, because of course it does. John brings this brilliant "varietal" framework to the whole conversation: just like wine comes in Cabernet, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, the Bible's wine symbolism comes in distinct varieties — blessing, judgment, abundance, sacrifice, joy, wrath — and here's the thing, all of them blend together in the Eucharistic cup, which means the Lord's table isn't a symbol of one thing, it's the thematic climax of the entire biblical story. Bible nerds, craft beer lovers, people who've ever wondered if there's more going on at communion than grape juice in a tiny plastic cup — come on. This one's for you. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Dr. John Anthony Dunne is Associate Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he also teaches courses on wine in the Bible. He completed his PhD at the University of St. Andrews under the supervision of N.T. Wright, which means he has the theological pedigree to back up every bold exegetical claim he makes over a pint. John is a co-host of the Two Cities podcast—a collaborative project featuring 15+ scholars and theologians—and volunteers at St. Croix Vineyard in Stillwater, Minnesota, because of course he does. Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ONLINE LENT CLASS: Jesus in Galilee w/ John Dominic Crossan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? And, what difference does it make? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Lenten class ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠begins where all of Dr. John Dominic Crossan's has work begins: with history. What was actually happening in Galilee in the 20s CE? What did Herod Antipas' transformation of the "Sea of Galilee" into the commercial "Sea of Tiberias" mean for peasant fishing communities? Why did Jesus emerge from John's baptism movement proclaiming God's Rule through parables—and what made that medium so perfectly suited to that message? Only by understanding what Jesus' parables meant then can we wrestle with what they might demand of us now. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The class is donation-based, including 0, so join, get info, and join up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker: Joshua KerstetterThe Gospel pierces dark cities, turning worlds upside down.

In this episode we're joined by Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Jeannine Brown, New Testament professors at Bethel Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to talk about their new book, The Greatest Story Ever Retold: Jesus Narratives From Gospels to Film (with Baker Academic). As we discuss, Drs. Dunne and Brown share how Jesus films provide an external vantage point for thinking about the hermeneutical process of envisioning narratives while we read, making us like the directors of Jesus films inside our heads each time we read. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Brandon Hurlbert and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Prof. Andrew Crislip, who is Blake Chair in the History of Christianity at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the author of Emotion in Early Christianity (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation, Prof. Crislip talks with us about what emotions really are, what early Christians thought about five key emotions, and how that thinking evolved within the first five centuries of the church. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ryan Collman, who is Associate Supervisor at Westcott House, Cambridge, and tutor in New Testament at the University of London, as well as the author of The Apostle to the Foreskin: Circumcision in the Letters of Paul (De Gruyter), which won the Lautenschlaeger Award in 2023. In our conversation, we talk about circumcision in the letters of Paul with reference to ancient practices and perspectives, as well as modern pseudoscientific views about the contemporary practice in America. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Rev. Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ruben Bühner, who is a postdoctoral researcher for New Testament Studies at the University of Zurich and the University of Bonn, and the author of Negotiating Jewishness: Paul's Ethnicity Between Continuity and Discontinuity (Baylor University Press). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about key passages in the interpretation of Paul that relate to matters of continuity and discontinuity with respect to Paul's Jewish identity and observance of the Torah. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ian Mills, who is Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at Hamilton College and the author of The Hypothesis of the Gospels: Narrative Traditions in Hellenistic Reading Culture (Fortress Press). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about how ancient readers understood the variation in Gospel production as writing on a common hypothesis (or the "gist") about Jesus. Dr. Mills explains to us what the ancient conception of a hypothesis is, and we talk about the various implications that this has for thinking about the relationship of the canonical four Gospels to each other as well as to other non-canonical Gospels. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Pastor Stephanie Williams O'Brien to talk about the realities of what's happening in Minnesota with the immigration enforcement agency known as I.C.E., and how Christians should respond to the situation. Pastor Steph is Lead Pastor of Mill City Church in Northeast Minneapolis, the co-host with Jo Saxton of the Lead Stories podcast, and author of two books, Stay Curious (Fortress) and Make A Move (Broadleaf). Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Kris Song of The Two Cities team introduce their new book for the pop culture and theology series published by Bloomsbury on the TV show, Twin Peaks. The volume is called Theology, Religion, and Twin Peaks (w/ Bloomsbury). In the episode, we're joined by five of the contributors to the volume, and we each talk about our respective essays. The guests on the episode include:Trevor Babcock, who is an Assistant Professor of English at Williams Baptist University (Walnut Ridge, AR).Dana Abu Dbay, who is an independent scholar based in Nazareth, who received her masters from the University of Edinburgh and specializes in the intersection of theater and film with literature.Joel Santos, who is a PhD Candidate in archeology at the University of Leicester (UK).Zachary Sheldon, who is a lecturer in the Department of Film and Digital Media at Baylor University (Waco, TX).Andrew H. Waller, who is a PhD Candidate in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beginnings | Week 21 Two Cities January 18, 2026 Pastor Scott Roten 00:00 The City of Man is Built on the Love of Self 23:25 The City of Man is Built on the Worship of Self 34:29 The City of God is Built on the Love and Worship of God

In this episode, we debrief Stranger Things Season 5 with Rev. Dr. Andy Byers, who is Tutor in New Testament at Ridley Hall of the University of Cambridge and the co-editor (with Adam J. Powell) of the volume, Religion, Theology, and Stranger Things: Studies from the Upside Down on Evil, Ethics, Horror, and Hope (published by Bloomsbury). Over the course of the conversation, we talk about our favorite parts of the final season and the finale itself, some of the things that we wished were different about the writing, and some of the key themes that the final season leaves with viewers. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Same weekend. Two different shows. Two very different experiences.In this episode of Con Job, we're fresh off the floor and diving deep into Fan Expo New Orleans where Ryan was holding it down and Central Carolina Comic Con, which Jeremy tackled in person. Was the crowd buying or just browsing? Did the shows deliver on their hype? Which con felt worth the time, travel, and table fee and which raised some serious questions? If you're a vendor deciding where to spend your weekends and your money, this episode is required listening.

In this episode, we're joined again by Professor Hylen for part two of our conversation on gender. Prof. Hylen is Almar H. Shatford Professor of New Testament and the Director of the Women, Theology, and Ministry Program at Candler School of Theology of Emory University. She is the most recent volume, Gender Mobility: Seven Ideas about Gender in the New Testament Period (published by Oxford University Press). In this conversation, Prof. Hylen explains how interconnected class and status was with gender, which creates the dynamic of there being at least ten genders in the New Testament period, as she argues. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Susan Hylen, who is Almar H. Shatford Professor of New Testament and the Director of the Women, Theology, and Ministry Program at Candler School of Theology of Emory University. She is the author of Women in the New Testament World (Oxford University Press) and Finding Phoebe: What New Testament Women Were Really Like (published by Eerdmans), which we discuss and overview in our conversation about the role of women in the NT period as Prof. Hylen highlights implications for several named women in the NT. This is part one of two of our conversation about gender with Prof. Hylen (next week we'll discuss her newest book, Gender Mobility with Oxford University Press). Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. John Anthony Dunne associate professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary and the Co-host and editor of The Two Cities podcast. John is the author of several books including his most recent book: The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine: A Biblical Theology of Alcohol, which is the topic of our conversation. What does the Bible say about alcohol? We talk about questions like: did wine have the same alcohol percentage as today? Was it diluted? What is strong drink? Is getting drunk or buzzed always condemned? How can Christians consume alcohol without abusing it? Or, should Christians simply stay away from alcohol? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we talk about our favorite Christmas movies. We give some nods to Christmas classics as well as more than a few surprises. Listen and see if your favorites end up on each of our top five Christmas films lists! Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Daniel Parham, Rev. Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Leslie Baynes, associate professor in the Department of Cultures, Languages, and Religions at Missouri State University and the author of the book that we're discussing in this episode, Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Lewis's posture towards the Bible, his views on biblical scholarship, how diverse segments of Christianity claim Lewis as their own (sometimes in spite of his views on the Bible), and the way that Lewis made use of the Bible in the Chronicles of Narnia. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This past weekend, Australia and Brown University in RI suffered tragic attacks. This hour, Dan invited callers to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Terence Lester, who is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. He also serves as the director of public policy and social change and as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU). And he's the author of the book that we're discussing today, From Dropout to Doctorate: Breaking the Chains of Educational Injustice (published by IVP Academic). In our conversation, Dr. Lester tells us about his personal story and educational journey, and reflects with us about matters of educational justice and injustice in higher education. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Caroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Rev. Daniel Parham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we debrief our time in Boston at SBL 2025. We discuss some of our highlights from the conferences, including our favorite papers and panels, and we took the mics around the book stalls for some impromptu interviews with (in order of appearance): Dr. Eva Puschautz, Prof. James McGrath, Dr. Andy Judd, Dr. Chris Fresch, Kent Hendricks, Emily Bruff, Dr. Jason Staples, Dr. Teresa McCaskill, Prof. Sean Adams, Dr. Erin Heim, and Dr. Hannah Craven. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Grace Hamman, who is an independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing, and is the author of Jesus through Medieval Eyes as well as the book that we're discussing in this episode, Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about the medieval understanding of virtues and vices, how they were categorized, and how they influenced medieval moral reasoning, and we learn how there's a lot that we could learn from Christians back then for our lives today. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Tim Dixon, who is the co-founder of More in Common, an organization that works to build stronger and more inclusive democratic societies that are resilient to the threats of populism and division. In our conversation, we discuss political polarization and perceptions of "the other side's" willingness to perpetuate violence for political purposes. Tim shares with us how his work has been to humanize the perspectives of other people with political views that differ from our own. As he illustrates, the data shows that we're all much more aligned than we normally think. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stephanie Kate Judd, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Greg Carey, who is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theology Seminary and Moravian Theological Seminary, and the author of the book that we're discussing in this episode: Rereading Revelation: Theology, Ethics, and Resistance (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation we talk about the meaning of Revelation in the light of its historical and cultural context, but also in the light of our contemporary contexts, especially in the United States, with its unique political and social situation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we're joined by Professor Mark Goodacre, who is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University and the author of The Fourth Synoptic Gospel: John's Knowledge of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (published by Eerdmans). In this episode we discuss Prof. Goodacre's thesis that John knew and used each of the Synoptic Gospels. We consider how NT scholarship came to view John as independent of the Synoptic, matters of dating and how that affects the thesis, as well as alternative proposals. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we're joined by Professor Brandon Grafius, who is academic dean and professor of biblical studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, and he's the author of several works on religion and horror, including the book that we're excited to talk about in this episode, Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture (published by Morehouse publishing). We discuss horrifying images in the Bible and how different sub-genres of horror films can help us think through the function and meaning of various stories in the Bible and what the terror might be doing rhetorically. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Rev. Dr. Christopher Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're celebrating our 300th episode, which means that this episode is full of listener comments and questions, our responses to those questions, several examples of bloopers over the past two years, new music for the next 100 episodes, some exciting announcements and updates from the team, and the names of the winners of our nine book-bundle giveaways!Many thanks to publishing partners: Baylor University Press, Eerdmans, IVP UK (Apollos), Wipf & Stock, Zondervan, and the Pop Culture and Theology series.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities includes: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Warne Adishian, Dr. Amber Bowen, Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Emmett, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stephanie Kate Judd, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Rev. Daniel Parham, Rev. Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, Dr. Kris Song, Dr. Sydney Tooth, and Dr. Logan Williams.Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we celebrate the release of our very own Dr. John Anthony Dunne's new book on wine in the Bible as we conclude our series on alcohol in the Bible and Jewish/Christian traditions. As we talk about the topic of wine and beer in the Bible, John shares many stories with us about his interests in wine and beer, his family background and upbringing, his experience making beer and volunteering at a vineyard, and why he was interested in writing about his topic. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Adult themes and language. In this episode we're joined by Professor Edward Slingerland, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and the author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization (published by Little, Brown Spark). In this conversation we discuss the role of alcohol relationally in the development of society through deepening trust and cooperation between people. Our conversation focuses on alcohol from its original developments on through to the present. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Atlanta, the brutal rape and double homicide of siblings left detectives with plenty of evidence but no suspect. For years, the case went cold. Then, a violent crime in Michigan revealed new DNA leads that could finally identify the killer, and deliver long-awaited justice for the Sumpter family while their mother is still alive to see it. America’s Crime Lab is a true crime podcast about how science solves cold cases, missing persons, and other unsolved cases. Hosted by journalist and clinical psychologist Elin Lantz Lesser, and powered by Othram’s forensic DNA lab, the show connects the science to the story, revealing what really happens in the lab and why it matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Gisela Kreglinger, who is the author of several books on wine, namely, The Spirituality of Wine (with Eerdmans), The Soul of Wine (with IVP), and most recently, Cup Overflowing: Wine's Place in Faith, Feasting, and Fellowship (with Zondervan Reflective). In this conversation we discuss the nature of wine as a blessing, America's fraught history with alcohol, and how we can cultivate better attitudes towards drinking today. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we're joined by the Very Rev'd Dr. Andrew McGowan, an Anglican priest, Dean and President of the Berkeley Divinity School of Yale University and the McFaddin Professor of Anglican Studies and Pastoral Theology, and he's the author of Ascetic Eucharists: Food and Drink in Early Christian Ritual Meals (with Oxford University Press). In this conversation we talk about eucharistic practices that used water instead of wine or no cup at all in the eucharist, and we think about eucharistic norms and ideals for modern practices today. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.