Join Andrea Bakas, as she explores examples from our world and culture to help us better understand the biblical text.
Tammy Faye Bakker was an evangelical Christian preacher and teacher who co-hosted television programs with her husband Jim on their PTL network from 1974 to 1987. Her story is told in the 2021 HBO movie “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” There is a scene in the movie which depicts a fundamental biblical theme. Andrea explains shame unto correction.
11/10/24 • 20:50
“Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos” is a new HBO documentary. In it, show creator David Chase and his creative team reflect on “The Sopranos” and how they came up with and developed certain themes. There are striking parallels between the crafting of the show & the themes explored and those we find in the Bible. Andrea discusses man’s impermanence and the Bible’s self-referentiality.
9/19/24 • 12:37
Breaking Bad, the TV series which aired from 2008 to 2013, is a work of creative genius; a tapestry of interweaving characters and storylines. It is modern storytelling at its finest. I recently re-watched the series and I wondered how it could be that I was enjoying my 3rd re-watch even more than when I’d first seen it. Why am I still enjoying a story that I already know? It is because it was my 3rd time through. With each watching, more and more of the story revealed itself to me. As with Breaking Bad, so it is with the Bible. It's the repetition. Hearing the Bible's repetitive story repeatedly is how come to know it & hear its lessons.
2/25/24 • 11:31
We are obsessed with Jesus. He is our hero, our superstar – our divine ideal. We try to follow his example; to imitate him. We not only want to be like him, we want to be him!In today’s episode, Andrea argues that this obsession is misplaced. It’s a projection of our own desires which we impose on the gospel narratives.The Jesus that we meet in the New Testament is not to be imitated but to be heard.
12/25/23 • 21:22
If you’re a church-going Christian, you’ve probably attended a Bible study. Bible studies, the way they are conducted today, don’t work.We’re comfortable with the common approaches but what do we really learn? We either select a few verses of text & then discuss them or we select a popular topic & then use the Bible as a lens. What does the Bible say about money or faith or forgiveness?These approaches are not Bible “study,” but rather, Bible manipulation. They turn the Bible into a mirror which we use to understand ourselves.In today’s episode, Andrea proposes a better way.
5/14/23 • 12:49
Translators make errors in their translation choices because they impose themselves onto the biblical text.In today’s episode, the last in this 4-part series on translations of the Bible, Andrea gives specific examples of translation errors. She distinguishes 3 kinds of errors: (1) euphemisms (2) word choices that force the text to make sense to the translator (3) word choices that impose the translator’s assumptions on the text.
1/15/23 • 47:17
The nativity scene is perhaps the best known visual depiction of the birth of Jesus. It is the emblem of the Christmas season. But it is not in the seeing of this scene that we understand its meaning, but rather, in the hearing of the biblical story. It is from the gospel books Luke and Matthew that we know about the birth of Jesus. In today's episode, Andrea takes a close look at Luke's text - chapter 2 verses 1-20. And she shares the work of 15th century Seinese Renaissance man, Francesco di Giorgio Martini. His Adoration by the Shepherds is a unique portrait of the nativity that conveys Luke's subversive message. In this piece, Rome is laid low.
12/24/22 • 47:04
In today’s episode, Andrea distinguishes two more reasons why translators make errors: (3)Their point of view about the Biblical text (4) A translation changes the form of what’s written and the form communicates the meaning.
12/11/22 • 35:32
In celebration of Thanksgiving, Andrea reads entries from "Of Plymouth Plantation," the diary of its 2nd governor, William Bradford. His diary tells of the fragile beginnings of that small group of daring believers known to us as “the Pilgrims.” But there is something else in the diary. Governor Bradford see his story – the struggles & hardships that he and his community endured - through the lens of the biblical story. “Of Plymouth Plantation,” is an example of the way the Bible imprints on its hearers: they are formatted by the story.
11/22/22 • 30:15
In today’s episode, Andrea distinguishes two reasons why translators make errors: (1) English is conceptually different than Biblical Hebrew (2) We are not the writers’ intended audience. Today, we are disconnected from both the writers’ language and their culture.
11/13/22 • 19:35
Today’s episode is the first of a four-episode series on the matter of translations of the Bible. We read the Bible in translation; in our case, in English. But a translation is not the original text. By definition, a translation changes – transforms – the text. And this is a problem. If you are not hearing the text in its languages, you are not hearing it.
10/16/22 • 24:56
In today’s episode, Andrea poses the question: is Jesus shepherd or sheep? From the biblical perspective, this is not only a strange question but also an invalid one. And yet, there is an answer. Jesus “is” neither and sometimes both. Follow along as she examines texts from Genesis, Deuteronomy and the book of John to explain the way Biblical languages work.
9/11/22 • 24:16
In today's episode, Andrea highlights the episode content that she is working on for 2022.
1/31/22 • 10:11
The nativity scene is perhaps the best known visual depiction of the birth of Jesus. It is the emblem of the Christmas season. But it is not in the seeing of this scene that we understand its meaning, but rather, in the hearing of the biblical story. It is from the gospel books Luke and Matthew that we know about the birth of Jesus. In today's episode, Andrea takes a close look at Luke's text - chapter 2 verses 1-20. And she shares the work of 15th century Seinese Renaissance man, Francesco di Giorgio Martini. His Adoration by the Shepherds is a unique portrait of the nativity that conveys Luke's subversive message. In this piece, Rome is laid low.
12/26/21 • 46:05
In traditional religious practice, the person who leads the community is addressed by a title. Why?Titles are special names; marks of distinction whose meaning comes from their source text. Today, Andrea explores two titles common in Christian traditions: pastor & father. She explains how these two words, employed as titles, express biblical wisdom. Titles, she argues, express function not ontology. They are about doing not being.
12/12/21 • 30:47
When we are in church, we hear selections from the Bible read to us. In today’s episode, Andrea explains the purpose of these readings.When a priest, pastor or rabbi reads selections from the Bible to their congregation, they function as ambassadors, speaking at the behest of their king. And it is neither they nor the gathered who matter, it is the king. In the 1995 movie Braveheart, William Wallace is brought before King Edward’s magistrates and put in his place. The scene is a powerful demonstration of the thesis of this week’s episode. Braveheart, the movie
11/28/21 • 17:26
In celebration of Thanksgiving, Andrea tells the story of the perilous beginnings of Plymouth Plantation from the diary of its 2nd governor, William Bradford. Bradford was among the 102 passengers who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower. It is from Governor Bradford’s diary – Of Plymouth Plantation – that we know about that small group of daring believers who are known to us as “the pilgrims”. He sees his experience through the lens of the biblical story and the story serves as a kind of mental template on which he writes the story of Plymouth Plantation. Andrea argues that this is an example of the way the Bible imprints on its hearers.
11/14/21 • 29:14
Today’s episode is a rebroadcast of episode 3, “the 10 Points” prepared for the 2021 OCABS Symposium. The Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies (OCABS) was established in 1999 to develop, promote & publish research in biblical studies. They hold an annual symposium at which members present their work. At this year’s online gathering, papers were presented on topics such as covenant in the Bible & first century Christianity. The books of Galatians & Hosea were featured. Andrea shared her revised episode 3, “10 Points: What do we mean by “the Bible as Literature?”" A transcript of the episode is here included.
10/31/21 • 29:19
In today’s episode, Andrea addresses the question: "How do I read the Bible?" In this part two of a two-episode discussion, Andrea offers a list of suggestions for how to read the Bible.*How to read the Bible*List of do's1) Hear 2) Memorize 3) Repeat, repeat, repeat
10/17/21 • 29:09
In today’s episode, Andrea addresses the question: "How do I read the Bible?" In this part one of a two-episode discussion, Andrea offers a list of suggestions for how NOT to read the Bible. *How NOT to read the Bible*List of don'ts1) Don’t read it2) Don’t think3) Don’t jump to application
10/3/21 • 37:57
Andrea interviews Bethany Saros about her new book, “A Light in the Darkness: Bible Study for Children and Teens.”Links to Bethany’s book and the resources she recommends for parents.A Light in the Darkness: Bible Study for Children and Teens by Bethany SarosKnow and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen GlassBooks by Charlotte Mason
9/19/21 • 34:44
In today's episode, Andrea argues that the Hebrew toast "L'Chaim" is sourced from the Bible. It is a short but powerful expression of Biblical wisdom.The 1971 movie, "Fiddler on the Roof" is a classic of cinema. It is a story beautifully told. In it, we find a scene of hearty celebration as the village toasts "L'Chaim". This scene expresses a major biblical theme. In the Bible, God commands that life - not our life - but all life, continue. Fiddler on the Roof - the movie
9/5/21 • 17:18
In today’s episode, Andrea reads and discusses Paul's first letter to the Corinthians chapter 11, verses 20-26. Andrea explores the work of the late Anthony Bourdain. World traveler & explorer of food and culture, Bourdain knew what it meant to break bread: to sit at another’s table and receive their hospitality. He understood instinctively what the Corinthians in Paul’s letters failed to understand: that the Lord’s table is not about eating. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
8/22/21 • 21:26
In the Bible, there is a distinction between the senior and the junior. They are not equals. The senior -- the elder -- is above the other people in the story in wisdom and authority. The senior wields his authority for the good of the junior. In today’s episode, Andrea explains that the 1984 movie, “The Karate Kid,” demonstrates this difference between senior and junior and can help us understand how biblical wisdom functions.Karate Kid, the movie
8/8/21 • 24:20
In today's episode, Andrea tells the story of the discovery of the Codex Sinaiticus & highlights features of the manuscript.The Codex Sinaiticus is one of the world’s oldest Bibles. This ancient treasure was discovered & made known to the world in 1859 by German scholar Constantin von Tischendorf. Dated to the 4th century AD, the Codex Sinaiticus is the ancestor of the book form of Bible we have today. Follow along as Andrea tells the story of its discovery and highlights its features.
7/25/21 • 20:12
In today’s episode, Andrea reviews the history of the ancient scroll - its origins & evolution - culminating in the ancestor of our book: the codex.History of the Scroll*Origins*Scribes & scribal culture*Technology: materials, crafting & uses*Biblical scroll: oldest & most complete*Codex*Ancestor: Clay tablet
7/11/21 • 19:53
In today’s episode, Andrea discusses the earliest form of the Bible: the scroll.It is well known that form & function are closely related. Andrea asserts that the form & function of the scroll reveal its purpose, which is: instruction. Follow along as she explores the Isaiah Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls collection as an exemplar of the ancient scroll.
6/27/21 • 26:15
In today’s episode, Andrea explains the distinction between eisegesis and exegesis.Your point of view – the place from which you stand to view something – affects what you see. The student of the Bible must decide on their point of view before they begin reading. Follow along as Andrea explains two different ways to approach the biblical story.The Princess Bride, the movie
6/13/21 • 26:36
On the Ephesus School Network, when we use the term "the Bible as Literature”, what do we mean? In episode 3, Andrea explores this question. Follow along as she presents 10 points – assumptions – that form the foundation for this approach.10 points: "the Bible as Literature"1. Written2. Says what IT wants to say3. From a tradition of classical literature4. Literary mimesis5. Perceived & prized as a work of classical literature6. LONG story7. Hearer submits to the story8. A unity9. Literary context10. Instruction
5/30/21 • 31:16
Who is St. John Chrysostom? In episode 2, Andrea speaks about St. John Chrysostom & his Paschal homily. She explains what he is trying to say in the homily & how we are meant to hear it.St. John Chrysostom Paschal Homily in EnglishSt. John Chrysostom Paschal Homily in GreekIn the above English translation of St. John Chrysostom's Paschal Homily, "epikranthi" is translated as "troubled" and "uproar". Neither of these words capture the meaning of "epikranthi" quite the way that "vexed" does. Words matter. It is a difficult task to capture the spirit of the original meaning of words. When it comes to the Bible, we must make the effort - as Chrysostom did.
5/16/21 • 16:54
