four cubits and a span
A layperson's conversation about ancient biblical narrative in the life of the modern believer, incorporating the best of biblical scholarship. Also, stories.
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- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Episodes
- 101
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2021
emotion and hierarchy (2018/09/02)
It's our one-year anniversary! We're looking at the significance of the generic 'Elisha and the king of Israel' stories early in 2 Kings, and really getting stuck into the emotional struggle in Lamen…
Sun 26 Aug 2018
retribution and conscience (2018/08/26)
As we continue to engage with the historical storytelling of the Deuteronomist, we're confronted with whiny cry-baby King Ahab and a sneak attack by the challenge of divine retribution. Jeremiah has …
Sat 18 Aug 2018
divinity (2018/08/19)
History today is not what is was, and we're going to be digging into the genres of ancient history in the book(s) of Kings over the next few weeks. Also this week: a prophesying Babylonian general, a…
Sun 12 Aug 2018
Lost Stories of King David (2 Samuel)
I had a wonderful afternoon with Wardley Christadelphians on Sunday 5th, where I was giving two talks. The exhortation (sermon/message/whatever) put the last two episodes-worth of King David narrativ…
Mon 06 Aug 2018
lost stories (2018/08/05)
How do we read the biblical narratives (and counter-narratives) when we can see that there are so many stories and lives not recorded? In this episode, we read around and behind the text to see more …
Sun 29 Jul 2018
faith and fire (2018/07/29)
Well, for a 'shorter summer episode' this one turned out to have legs. The King David narrative has reached Absalom's rebellion in 2 Samuel, which really brings up questions about how David's reign g…
Tue 24 Jul 2018
promise and ambiguity (2018/07/22)
Strap in for another short but fun week on 4QS, despite being late due to holidays and other stuff. There's quite a lot packed into these here 20 minutes: how God flips everything upside down by refu…
Thu 19 Jul 2018
heavens and earth (2018/07/15)
This week we introduce ourselves to Jeremiah, the Reverse Moses, and an epic, ironic, mythological indictment of Israelite idolatry. Jeremiah leaks into the Matthew reading this week as Jesus is comp…
Mon 09 Jul 2018
humanity (2018/07/08)
This week we're looking for the first time at what I expect will be a recurring theme: sanitised and euphemised stories about David. There's also an interesting dialogue in Isaiah as the prophet sets…
Mon 02 Jul 2018
confidence and redemption (2018/07/01)
What's going on with King Saul, and what's going on with the text of the book(s) of Samuel? And could Isaiah be any more inspiring, or any more foundational for the message of Revelation? (TL;DL: nob…
Wed 27 Jun 2018
rebirth and reiteration (2018/06/24)
The Bible Companion drops an enormous chunk of Revelation on us this week, almost as though it just wants the Apocalypse to be over. So, there's a double-length NT segment this week as we get stuck i…
Mon 18 Jun 2018
severed (2018/06/17)
No punches pulled this week, folks. The Judges story narrates a story of truly inhuman violence that pushes the tribes into a civil war, and we are forced to confront the age-old abomination of man's…
Sun 10 Jun 2018
Taste and See (1 Peter)
For this week's bonus episode is an introduction to 1 Peter that I recorded last year. We look at the social backdrop of the letter, and how its quintessentially Christian concepts of society and ass…
Wed 06 Jun 2018
kings and empires (2018/06/10)
We're into the first of two weeks in Judges, with its downwards-spiraling narrative and mixed bag of characters. Jerub-baal (aka Gideon) is up this week, and we watch him swing from hesitance to not-…
Sun 03 Jun 2018
faithfulness and re-creation (2018/06/03)
Well, I hope you've enjoyed our time in Joshua these three weeks: this week we've reached the end of the dividing of the Land. The book still has surprises and challenges for us, as we explore the ro…
Sun 27 May 2018
peace and war (2018/05/27)
We're still in the weeds of the conquest narrative in Joshua, and we're hitting that hard this week. Allow scripture to challenge and inspire you, and we'll be fine. In Isaiah we have a glorious, hop…
Mon 21 May 2018
history and commentary (2018/05/20)
In the first of two weeks tackling one of the most difficult issues in the Hebrew Bible, we dive into the Canaanite genocide narratives in Joshua. Beginning with Jericho, we look at the historical an…
Mon 14 May 2018
knowing and being known (2018/05/13)
I've just about talked myself into doing a weekly Torah slot, because this is the last week in Torah on the Bible Companion for this year! This week, the end of Deuteronomy is our springboard for con…
Sun 06 May 2018
pilgrimage and belonging (2018/04/29)
We're back! Our first weekly show in four months brings us back just in time to do Deuteronomy and catch the end of the wisdom literature in Ecclesiastes. In the New Testament slot we're trying a new…
Mon 30 Apr 2018
Introduction To New Testament Textual Criticism
I'm excited to venture into New Testament textual criticism on the podcast, in a new format for the New Testament segment of the weekly show. To introduce the new segment, here's a special episode wi…
Wed 25 Apr 2018
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