The Mountain E2 — Ancient Israel’s neighbors believed that the world originated as a mountain rising up out of the chaos waters. The gods ruled from this great cosmic mountain, fighting battles with nature and issuing decrees that kept the world in order. So how did this surrounding culture impact the cosmology of the Bible? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss what the cosmic mountain meant in the Ancient Near Eastern context and how the biblical authors adapted and subverted this symbol in surprising ways.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap and Intro to Cosmic Mountains in the Ancient Near East (0:00-6:52)
• Chapter 2: Egyptian and Mesopotamian Cosmic Mountains (6:52-17:54)
• Chapter 3: Canaanite and Phoenician Cosmic Mountains (17:54-28:17)
• Chapter 4: Psalm 48: The True Cosmic Mountain (28:17-38:40)

Referenced Resources

• The Cosmic Mountain in Canaan and the Old Testament by Richard J. Clifford
• “The Common Temple Ideology of the Ancient Near East” by John M. Lundquist
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Are We There Yet?” by The Bridge, Efechto & D. Steele
• “Lozari” by L’indécis
• “Lily (Floriana)” by Timothy Brindle
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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The Mountain E1 — What comes to mind when you think of mountains? Is it a strenuous climb or a feeling of smallness as you gaze on the majesty of nature? The biblical authors had similar connotations with mountains, presenting them as sublime, in-between spaces—that are also treacherous! This tension between majesty and danger led ancient Israel and their surrounding neighbors to connect real mountains to “The Mountain,” a cosmic place where Heaven and Earth overlap and the divine and human realms become one. In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce our new theme series, The Mountain.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Biblical Mountains (0:00-7:13)
• Chapter 2: What Is a Mountain in the Bible? (7:13-19:22)
• Chapter 3: What Do Mountains Mean in the Bible? (19:22-40:43)

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Astér” by Kissamilé
• “Soulangeana, ft. Dom R” by Illiterate
• “Twins” by Rose Noir
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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How is God’s generosity meant to change us? In the Bible, God’s gifts are intended to bring about transformation in our lives. This generosity challenges our natural tendencies toward selfishness, calling us to live in a community that freely shares and truly loves one another. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon explore the teachings of Jesus and the apostles on generosity and ponder the centrality of generosity to the Gospel itself.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Indiscriminate Gifting (0:00-16:32)
• Chapter 2: Give to Your Enemies (16:32-33:35)
• Chapter 3: Grace and Gifts (33:35-45:01)
• Chapter 4: A Blank Checkbook from Jesus (45:01-56:21)

Referenced Resources

• Paul and the Gift by John M. G. Barclay
• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Clouded Thoughts” by goosetaf
• “Reminisce (feat. HM Surf)” by goosetaf
• “Murmuration” by Blue Wednesday & Shopan
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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What happens when humans misuse the gifts God gives them? From Eve’s attitude toward the births of Cain and Seth, to the Tower of Babel, to Abraham’s response to the promised land, the stories in Genesis reveal a tension between God’s abundant generosity and humanity’s selfish responses. This tension continues when the people of Israel reside in the promised land—a gift they repeatedly misuse. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon trace the theme of generosity and scarcity from Genesis to Deuteronomy, uncovering what it means for us today.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: First-Born and Second-Born (00:00-20:05)
• Chapter 2: God Chooses the Unlikely One + TheTower of Babel (20:05-32:21)
• Chapter 3: Abraham Gets the Ultimate Gift (32:21-44:00)
• Chapter 4: Rescued Slaves (44:00-1:02:51)

Referenced Resources

• A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: Part I - From Adam to Noah by Umberto Cassuto
• Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought by Joshua A. Berman
• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Quietly” by blnkspc_
• “Mind Your Time” by Me.So
• “Cruising” by Evil Needle
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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The Bible begins with a portrait of God as an amazing and generous host to humanity, an image that is on full display in the Genesis creation narrative. But the humans ruin the party in Eden by believing the lies that God is stingy and withholding. In this re-released episode from 2019, Jon and Tim start at the beginning of the Bible, where God seeks to be generous and gracious, and where humans respond with suspicion, greed, jealousy, and murder.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Always One Horrible Choice From Ruining the Party (00:00-15:04)
• Chapter 2: A Noble-Looking Way to Ruin Abundance (15:04-26:47)
• Chapter 3: The Chosen and the Onlookers (26:47-39:17)

Referenced Resources

• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Spiral” by KV Twin
• “Leche 005” by Matthew Halbert-Howen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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What comes to mind when you think of generosity? Is it sharing your money, resources, or even time with others? For the biblical authors, generosity is much more than an act of kindness—it’s a reality woven into the universe, starting with the generous Creator. In this re-released of our 2019 series on generosity, Jon and Tim start by exploring Jesus’ perspective on resources and the Hebrew Bible’s portrayal of God’s gracious abundance.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: The Theme of Generosity in the Bible (00:00-7:58)
• Chapter 2: Generosity for the Poor, Anxiety About Life, and Birdwatching (7:58-36:25)
• Chapter 3: The Story of Generosity in the Hebrew Bible (36:25-53:06)
• Chapter 4: The Corruption of Abundance (53:06-1:07:04)

Referenced Resources

• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Conquer” by Beautiful Eulogy
• “Shot in the Back of the Head” by Moby
• “Scream Pilots” by Moby
• “Analogs” by Moby
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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Sermon on the Mount E38 – When Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount, his first audience responds with astonishment. What will our response be? And where will that response lead us? In this episode, Tim, Jon, Michelle, and members of our audience reflect on their journeys through the sermon. Listen to how meditating on Matthew 5-7 has changed them and how these words of Jesus are guiding them to seek God’s wisdom moving forward.

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: How Jesus' First Listeners Responded to the Sermon on the Mount (00:00-24:10)
• Chapter 2: A Lifetime of Meditating (24:10-33:59)
• Chapter 3: Jon and Tim Share Personal Reflections (33:59-48:02)

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS
• “Don’t Be Anxious” by Maddy Belskus

Show Credits

Jon Collins is the creative producer for today's show. Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; and Colin Wilson, producer. Stephanie Tam is our consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, and he edited and mixed today’s episode. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar. Special thanks to our incredible audience for their thoughtful reflections.

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Sermon on the Mount E37 – The final teaching of the Sermon on the Mount addresses the most important aspect of the choice Jesus presents to his listeners. Where does the path that we choose lead us? Jesus describes two builders—a foolish man who builds his house on sand and a wise man who builds his house on rock. When the storm comes, the house on sand is destroyed, while the house on rock remains standing. This seems straightforward, but unpacking the biblical themes of houses, cities, and floodwaters reveals deeper implications for Jesus followers in every generation. Listen in as Tim and Jon conclude their discussion of the sermon by exploring how Jesus' teachings equip us to weather storms outside of Eden, just as Jesus' life ultimately overcame the floodwaters of death.

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: The Simple-Minded (0:00-22:03)
• Chapter 2: When The Storms Come (22:03-30:50)
• Chapter 3: Neither Compromise Nor Revolt (30:50-39:53)
• Chapter 4: If You Live By the Way of Jesus (39:53-53:17)

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS
• “Lost Call” by Suuna & tulki
• “Soulangeana (feat. Dom R)” by Illiterate
• “Clementine.” by chromo, the dreamer

Show Credits

Jon Collins is the creative producer for today's show. Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; and Colin Wilson, producer. Stephanie Tam is our consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. Aaron Olsen also provided the sound design and mix for today's episode. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar.

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