Genesis Marks the Spot

Two by Seven: Are We There Yet? - Episode 174

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we return to the flood narrative to ask a cluster of strange but important questions about the animals and the ark. Why does Genesis 6 say two of every kind, while Genesis 7 speaks of clean animals by sevens? Why does the text mention food before the ark-entry scene fully unfolds? Why does Genesis say “Noah did this,” only to keep giving more instructions afterward? And how does Noah already know the difference between clean and unclean animals?

Drawing on Gordon Wenham, Victor Hamilton, John Walton, Kenneth Mathews, and Umberto Cassuto, we explore several interpretive options. Along the way, we also consider whether Noah had to gather the animals himself, why the food verse matters more than it first appears, and how these details connect the flood story to creation, Adam, Joseph, and the broader patterns of Genesis.

This episode does not try to solve every problem at once. Instead, it clears space to read the text more carefully and prepares the way for a deeper follow-up on the strangest question of all: why Noah already knows clean and unclean animals.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Stranger Than We Think
(00:05:03) - Two of Every Kind? Reading Genesis 6 Closely
(00:10:53) - Genesis 7 Starts the Scene Again
(00:16:01) - Strange Question #1: Why the Command Repeats
(00:24:27) - Epic vs Prose Patterning
(00:29:40) - Does Noah Gather the Animals, or Do They Come?
(00:33:20) - Strange Question #2: Two Animals or Seven?
(00:36:18) - Strange Question #3: Why the Food Verse Matters
(00:40:21) - Adam, Joseph, and the Theology of Preservation
(00:43:35) - Strange Question #4: It's Done — So Why More Instruction?
(00:46:09) - Strange Question #5: Clean and Unclean Before Sinai

Easter Through a Divine Council Lens - Episode 173

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:22:00 +0000

What happens when you read Easter through the Divine Council worldview?

In this special episode, Carey reflects on how biblical theology and the Divine Council worldview reshaped her understanding of the gospel, the cross, and the resurrection. Rather than reducing Easter to a narrow legal framework, this episode explores a richer biblical pattern: covenant, allegiance, deliverance, sacred space, resurrection, new creation, and the victory of God over every rebellious power.

Along the way, Carey explains why the Divine Council worldview is often misunderstood, why the story of Scripture cannot be flattened into a simple sin-management system, and why the resurrection must remain central to the meaning of Easter. She also reflects personally on how these patterns helped correct distorted views of God and opened up a deeper understanding of the gospel.

This episode touches on biblical theology, the rule of faith, the relationship between Scripture and tradition, critiques of penal substitutionary framing, participation in Christ, Passover, sacred space, liturgy, temple theology, and the cosmic scope of Easter.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - My Faith Journey and Why Biblical Theology
(00:08:00) - Biblical Theology and the Divine Council Worldview
(00:16:08) - The Bible as a Rule of Faith
(00:23:56) - Why I Reject a Flattened PSA Framing
(00:28:39) - Sin, Death, Suffering, and Participation
(00:34:33) - Atonement, Sacred Space, and Purification
(00:38:46) - Covenant Deliverance vs. Reformation Soteriology
(00:41:05) - Easter as a Cosmic, New-Creation Event
(00:47:14) - Sacred Space, Liturgy, and Memorial
(00:54:40) - Correction, Discernment, and the Gospel
(01:01:45) - Easter Blessings

Wrath and Rescue: Saved Through Judgment - Episode 172

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:35:00 +0000

We continue into the flood narrative by closely examining Genesis 6:17–18. What at first looks like a small textual unit turns out to be a concentrated picture of divine judgment, de-creation, preservation, and covenant. Verse 17 announces comprehensive destruction through the flood, while verse 18 sharply pivots toward preserved life, named persons, and covenantal continuity.

Along the way, we ask how the flood helps us think about the wrath of God. Even though the word wrath does not appear in the passage, the narrative still gives us a foundational biblical picture of judgment. Rather than treating wrath as mere emotion or as a cold legal mechanism, this episode explores how Genesis presents judgment as both intentional divine action and a giving over of the world to its own corruption.

This episode also traces the literary structure around Genesis 6:13–18, highlighting the oracle and instrument of death, the ark instructions, and the covenant promise. The flood is not only the means of destruction; it is also the means through which Noah and his household are preserved. That pattern then opens outward into Scripture’s larger story: the Red Sea, exile and remnant, Christ’s judgment-bearing faithfulness, and the New Testament’s baptismal use of Noah as a pattern of salvation through judgment.

If covenant language has ever felt vague or overly “Christianese,” this episode works to make it concrete again. Covenant here is not an abstract theological idea. It is God’s answer to universal judgment, his commitment to preserve life through death-waters.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Wrath and Genesis 6:17–18
(00:04:18) - Judgment, preservation, and covenant
(00:08:07) - Ark instruction inclusio
(00:21:56) - Divine agency and the flood of waters
(00:33:25) - All flesh, breath of life, and decreation
(00:44:29) - The covenant turn in verse 18
(00:51:19) - Ark and covenant: preservation through judgment
(00:52:23) - Canonical trajectories: Noah, baptism, and salvation
(00:59:29) - Allegiance and covenant, not mechanism
(01:05:44) - Global flood myths and covenant
(01:10:10) - Correction: Jesus and the Father’s wrath

Where Have All the Arks Gone? - Episode 171

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:38:00 +0000

In this episode, Carey takes a different approach to the question of Noah’s Ark’s location. Rather than trying to “solve” the mystery or defend a favorite site, this episode asks a more basic question: how should we weigh the evidence?

Starting with Genesis 8:4 and the phrase “the mountains of Ararat,” we see that the biblical text gives a regional horizon, not a single named summit. From there, the discussion moves into historical geography, early tradition, Mount Judi and Mount Ararat as major contenders, the role of sacred geography and oral tradition, and how and why modern ark claims often rely on weak or poorly controlled evidence.

This episode also connects the ark-location question to broader issues we’re exploring elsewhere: how traditions are preserved, how memory becomes attached to places, and why those same questions will matter for future work on global flood stories and comparative tradition history.

Topics include:

Why Mount Judi carries strong early traditional weight and why Mount Ararat became dominant in later imagination
How the Epic of Gilgamesh and Mount Nisir fit into the discussion
Why Durupınar, Ron Wyatt, and other modern claims should be approached skeptically
How to think about provenance, chain of custody, independent verification, and evidential hierarchy
Why “skepticism” is not unbelief, but disciplined critical thinking

This is not an episode about forcing a final answer. It is about building a better framework for judging claims — one that respects the biblical text, takes early tradition seriously, and refuses to be carried away by sensationalism.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Not the Same Old Question
(00:05:29) - Oral Tradition and Sacred Geography
(00:06:47) - The Mountains of Ararat
(00:08:31) - How I Weigh the Evidence
(00:15:41) - Verification, Outsiders, and Bad Science
(00:24:17) - Ararat, Urartu, and the Biblical Frame
(00:27:24) - Mount Ararat vs. Mount Judi
(00:30:13) - Mount Nisir and ANE Flood Traditions
(00:33:53) - Punching Up Mount Judi’s Case
(00:36:24) - Why Mount Ararat Became Dominant
(00:39:42) - Modern Ark Discovery Culture
(00:42:32) - Durupınar
(00:51:29) - Ararat Anomalies and Eyewitness Claims
(00:52:33) - Nani?? NAMI and the “Wood Rooms” Claim
(00:54:51) - Ron Wyatt and Sensationalism
(00:59:31) - Why Finding the Ark Is So Hard

Noah’s Ark: A Shelter in the Deep - Episode 170

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:09:00 +0000

What exactly is Noah’s ark? In this episode, we examine the construction details in Genesis 6 and compare them with ancient Near Eastern flood traditions to see what the biblical text is and is not trying to do. We look at the Hebrew terminology, the ark’s dimensions and compartments, the puzzling “roof” or “window,” the use of pitch, and the striking lack of normal ship features like a mast, rudder, or sail. We also connect Noah’s ark with Moses’ basket and explore whether the ark functions as a kind of proto-sacred space—a divinely ordered vessel preserving life through chaos. Rather than treating Genesis as a technical blueprint, this episode focuses on the theological meaning of the ark and what it reveals about God’s judgment, mercy, and preserving presence.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - More Than a Boat
(00:04:39) - Flood Parallels and Gilgamesh
(00:09:43) - Genesis 6 and Ark Basics
(00:10:52) - Moses’ Basket and Noah’s Ark
(00:13:59) - Functional Creation and Ordered Space
(00:17:02) - The Ark as Proto-Sacred Space
(00:21:18) - The Meaning of Tevah
(00:23:40) - What Is Gopher Wood?
(00:27:35) - Rooms, Nests, and Compartments
(00:31:19) - Pitch and Boundary Marking
(00:35:06) - Dimensions and Seaworthiness
(00:39:43) - Roof, Window, or Opening?
(00:45:19) - The Door in Its Side and Three Decks
(00:48:13) - ANE Boat Parallels
(00:51:58) - Theological Meaning of the Ark

Flood Limits and Motifs: Genesis 6:3 & the ANE - Episode 169

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:44:00 +0000

What does Genesis 6:3 mean when God says, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever… his days shall be 120 years”? Is this a countdown to the flood, a limit on human lifespan, or a broader boundary marker announcing divine judgment?

In this episode, Carey explores Genesis 6:3 in conversation with major ancient Near Eastern flood traditions like Atrahasis, Gilgamesh, Eridu Genesis, and the Sumerian King List. Along the way, she highlights shared flood motifs—divine judgment, the warned survivor, the boat, preserved seed, birds, sacrifice, and the flood as a boundary between worlds—while showing that the theology of Genesis remains radically distinct.

Rather than portraying the flood as the result of annoyed or conflicted gods trying to manage humanity, Genesis frames the flood in terms of corruption, violence, mercy, covenant, and God’s care for human flourishing. The result is a rich discussion of how Genesis 6:3 functions at the threshold of the flood story and why its “limiting factor” should be read through the lens of divine justice, mercy, and covenant rather than pagan divine politics.

If you’ve ever wondered what the “120 years” means—or how Genesis compares to the flood stories of the ancient world—this episode offers a thoughtful and theologically grounded entry point.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - “My Spirit shall not abide”: the verse in focus
(00:02:39) - Flood motifs in the ancient Near East
(00:10:07) - The warned survivor and divine politics
(00:14:34) - Ark or escape pod?
(00:22:52) - Preserving seed, animals, and human vocation
(00:27:52) - Birds, rest, and the return of life
(00:34:47) - Sacrifice after the flood
(00:35:55) - The flood as a mythic boundary
(00:40:11) - Atrahasis and post-flood birth control
(00:44:23) - What does the 120 years mean?
(00:46:07) - What is “My Spirit”?
(00:48:10) - View 1: countdown to the flood
(00:48:59) - View 2: human lifespan cap
(00:51:00) - View 3: boundary marker, not statistic
(00:54:40) - Why Genesis is theologically different
(00:58:17) - Judgment, mercy, and covenant
(01:01:45) - Could Genesis 6:3 refer to the Holy Spirit?

Flood Myths & Oral Tradition: A Discernment Toolkit - Episode 168

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:19:00 +0000

Oral tradition can function as real evidence—sometimes. But it’s not automatically reliable, and it isn’t always “just a telephone game,” either. In this episode, we lay down guardrails for how to evaluate worldwide flood traditions critically and fairly—without sliding into cynicism, speculation, or wishful thinking.

We build an “evaluation toolkit” for weighing flood stories as evidence: provenance (who recorded it, when, and from whom), transmission setting (ritual/public context, custodians, specialists), genre, and the difference between shared motifs (often “cheap” and common) versus shared structure (more “costly” and evidentially weighty).

Along the way, we look at how stories predictably reshape over time: compression/expansion, harmonization, normalization (turning weird into familiar), moralization, politics/legitimization, and “prestige borrowing”—plus the complications of missionary/colonial recording and finally, we ground this in three lanes of observable evidence—psychology, ethnography, and ancient textual witnesses—so we can ask better questions as we move into global flood traditions in upcoming episodes.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Flood Myths: What Are We Even Doing Here?
(00:02:30) - Three Guardrails: Cynicism, Credulity, Speculation
(00:04:35) - The Toolkit: How to Test a Tradition
(00:08:58) - Two Complications: Missionaries + Local Floods
(00:11:24) - How Stories Drift: The Usual Suspects
(00:13:36) - Core vs Surface: Stop Overreading Parallels
(00:21:46) - Social Pressure: Identity, Authority, Contact
(00:24:24) - Memory Science: Why Details Change
(00:28:37) - “Memory Contagion”: How Groups Rewrite Stories
(00:30:57) - ANE Flood Texts: Variation Isn’t a Bug
(00:39:08) - Why Traditions Converge (Even Without “Proof”)
(00:43:37) - Cheap vs Costly Similarities (This Matters)
(00:51:21) - Red Flags + Stability Markers

The Bible as an Oral-Written Book - Episode 167

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Last week we talked about why oral tradition can be trustworthy. This week we widen the lens: a lot of what we assume about “oral tradition” also applies to written tradition, because in the ancient world writing and orality weren’t sealed-off categories.

We walk through Jan Vansina’s Oral Tradition as History to sort out key distinctions (oral history vs. oral tradition, “news” vs. interpretation, genres, and why stories inevitably get shaped in transmission). Then we connect the dots with David M. Carr’s Writing on the Tablet of the Heart, which argues that many ancient texts were written as memory aids for performance — more like a musical score than a modern book meant for silent, cold reading and reference.

If we take that seriously, it changes how we think about:

why multiple textual traditions exist (including what we see reflected in the NT and preserved at Qumran),
why scribal education mattered so much,
and why the formation and stabilization of Scripture is a process — not a threat.

Resources mentioned

Jan Vansina, Oral Tradition as History
David M. Carr, Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature

Key ideas you’ll hear

Oral history (within living memory) vs. oral tradition (passed between generations)
“News” becomes interpretation, and memory fills gaps
Genre and worldview shape meaning (and outsiders can misread both)
The “floating gap”: why communities often remember origins + the near past most strongly
Ancient “literacy” as oral-written mastery (memorize + perform + reproduce)

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - What is “history”?
(00:02:47) - Oral and written tradition similarities
(00:04:00) - Two key books: Vansina + Carr
(00:08:28) - Vansina: memory, meaning, and why tradition exists
(00:10:22) - Oral history vs oral tradition
(00:11:50) - News vs interpretation vs fiction
(00:17:42) - Categories of oral tradition
(00:24:53) - The “floating gap”
(00:31:30) - How traditions stabilize, self-correct, or drift
(00:35:09) - Insider/outsider meaning; genre is culture-bound
(00:41:03) - What is worldview?
(00:46:25) - Carr: a new model of scribal writing
(00:49:03) - Literacy: memorize + perform + reproduce
(00:54:09) - Israel, canon, exile, and why this isn’t a threat
(01:02:57) - Diffusion of ideas isn’t “borrowing” or sinister polemic

Not a Telephone Game: Oral Tradition and Memory - Episode 166

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0000

We sometimes assume that written = reliable and oral = fragile — like oral tradition is basically a centuries-long telephone game. But that’s not how real oral cultures work, and it’s not even how human memory works.

In this episode, we ask: can communal memory be reliable evidence? And the answer — with some important guardrails — is yes.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why “oral tradition” isn’t random campfire improvisation — it’s socially supervised, identity-shaped knowledge
How memory actually works (hint: it’s not a video recorder)
Why retrieval strengthens memory more than mere repetition — and why oral cultures do retrieval “as a way of life”
Ritual and liturgy as “memory technology” (stability through public, repeated performance)
How compression, lists, genealogies, and repeated patterns help traditions stay stable
The Wiseman tablet hypothesis — and why most scholars today aren’t convinced
A practical rule of thumb: don’t dismiss oral tradition by default — ask what stabilizers are present

Questions to help you “weigh the evidence”:

Is this identity-defining material, or entertainment?
Is it performed publicly and repeated over time?
Are there authorized contexts (rituals, festivals, communal recitation)?
Are there custodians of the story?
Do you see cues, patterns, scaffolding, lists, genealogies?

Next time: if oral tradition can count as evidence, how do traditions shift — and how do we evaluate them carefully without becoming cynical?

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Written vs oral tradition
(00:03:31) - Evidence, certainty, and avoiding “anything goes”
(00:07:58) - Two extremes: “telephone game” vs “history textbook”
(00:11:38) - Genesis structure: tablet hypothesis / ancestor epic cycles
(00:14:10) - Wiseman and why scholars don’t buy it now
(00:19:35) - Oral transmission: not campfire improv
(00:21:48) - Memory is reconstructive: meaning > verbatim detail
(00:27:16) - Retrieval practice + ritual as “memory technology”
(00:32:56) - Cues, scaffolding, and designed memory environments
(00:37:51) - Identity stories and public “quality control”
(00:41:10) - Compression, chunking, and why “boring parts” stabilize tradition
(00:49:15) - Drift, correction, and why communities fracture
(00:56:11) - The spectrum of oral + written
(01:04:17) - NT-shaped reading traditions and inherited lenses
(01:07:08) - Rule of thumb + “ask what stabilizers are present”

Were the Nephilim Superheroes? - Episode 165

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:21:00 +0000

Were the Nephilim basically superheroes? Genesis 6 gives us “mighty men,” “heroes,” and “men of renown” language—but the flood narrative isn’t inviting admiration. Instead, this episode reframes that “superhero” instinct as something darker: a counterfeit immortality project built on power, fame, and self-made identity.

From there, we follow the Bible’s “name” thread: men of the name → let us make a name for ourselves (Babel) → I will make your name great (Abram). Babel and Abraham become interpretive keys for Genesis 6—showing how “making a name” can function like self-salvation, while a God-given “name” becomes covenant gift and vocation.

Finally, we connect name-language to worship: who authorizes your identity, and who secures your future? That trajectory culminates in the New Testament, where God bestows the decisive Name on Jesus—the “name above every name.”

In this episode

Why “superhero” is a misleading frame for the Nephilim
“Men of renown” vs. “men of the name”: reputation, memory, authority, legacy
Babel and Abram as interpretive keys for Genesis 6
Gibbor (“mighty one”) across Scripture (warrior, elite, even heavenly beings)
Guardrails for reading reception history (including 1 Enoch) without turning speculation into exegesis
Bearing God’s name (with a nod to Carmen Imes)

Scripture mentioned
Genesis 6:4; Genesis 11; Genesis 12; Deuteronomy 25:5–10; Ruth 4; 2 Samuel 18:18; Psalms 33:16; Isaiah 3; Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 5:22; Psalm 52:1; Numbers 6:22–27; Deuteronomy 28:10; Jeremiah 14:9; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9–11; Matthew 1:21; John 17:6.

Resources mentioned

Episodes 140–141 on John H. Walton’s dissertation
Michael S. Heiser’s blog and Reversing Hermon

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Were the Nephilim superheroes?
(00:03:20) - The “name” thread: immortality, remembrance, legacy
(00:08:46) - Genesis 6:4: “men of renown / men of name”
(00:15:23) - Biblical examples of name-perpetuation (Deut 25; Ruth 4; Absalom)
(00:21:49) - Gibbor: mighty ones, warriors, and etc.
(00:29:21) - Babel vs. Abraham: making a name vs. receiving a name
(00:40:03) - Bearing God’s Name
(00:45:12) - Reception history + guardrails
(00:52:24) - The Name given to Jesus

Blotting Out: From Flood to Forgiveness - Episode 164

Carey Griffel — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:28:00 +0000

This week we’re back in the Flood narrative—but we zoom out to follow one biblical metaphor across the whole storyline: “blotting out.” This is a frame-semantics-heavy episode where we build what I’m calling the erasure frame and track how the meaning shifts depending on what is erased and where it’s erased from.

In this episode

Why “blotting out” isn’t a single idea—the object + the medium control the meaning.
The five frame elements I use to map each passage: agent, object, medium, resultant state, moral logic.
“Blotting out” in the Flood: erasure as judgment (and possibly purification).
A concrete “prototype” scene: Numbers 5 (curses written, washed off, and ingested)—erasure as judicial cleansing.
Erasing a place (Jerusalem “wiped like a dish”) and what that could imply beyond simple demolition.
Erasing a name (legacy/standing)—more than physical death: social memory and generational continuity.
Erasing from a book/record (Exodus 32): what it might mean to be “blotted out,” and why that doesn’t automatically equal annihilation.
The major turn: erasing sins instead of erasing sinners—blotting out as forgiveness and covenant restoration.
The far horizon: wiping away tears—erasure as comfort, healing, and new-creation restoration.
Contrast frame: remembering in Scripture isn’t “God recalling facts”—it’s covenant action (deliverance, preservation, inclusion).

Scripture and passages referenced

Genesis 6–8; Numbers 5; 2 Kings 21:13; Deuteronomy 29:20; Exodus 32:32–33; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 25:8; Jeremiah 31:34; Luke 23:42–43; Leviticus 2:2; Numbers 10:10; Joshua 4:6–7; Exodus 12.

Notes

Don’t forget to check out the earlier discussion on "blotting out" in Episode 077
Study guide notes: I’ll be building a companion resource to go with this “deep frame semantics” episode (check back later!)

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Frame semantics without worksheets
(00:07:29) - “Blotting out” & “cut off”: not automatically a death sentence
(00:11:19) - Introducing the Erasure Frame: object + medium control meaning
(00:13:10) - 5 frame elements: agent, object, medium, result, moral logic
(00:15:11) - Genesis 6: erasing life from the land
(00:16:04) - Numbers 5 prototype: written curses blotted out
(00:21:23) - 2 Kings 21: blotting out a place
(00:24:55) - Deuteronomy 29: blotting out a name
(00:28:12) - Exodus 32: blotting out from God’s scroll
(00:33:44) - Substitution: the golden calf
(00:36:14) - Isaiah 43/44: sins blotted out
(00:40:14) - Wiping away tears: comfort, healing, restoration
(00:48:23) - Contrast frame: “remembering” as covenant action
(00:52:32) - Book of Life + resurrection?
(00:54:19) - Memorial rituals: remembering as embodied in worship

Genesis 6 Without 1 Enoch: Worship and the World of Violence - Episode 163

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:48:00 +0000

In Genesis 6, how do we get from “sons of God and daughters of men” to a world “filled with violence”—without leaning on 1 Enoch as the primary interpretive lens? In this episode, Carey builds an intra-biblical case that follows Scripture’s own narrative logic: the issue isn’t “giant genetics” or DNA speculation, but a tangled moral ecology where worship disorder, sexual boundary-crossing, oppression/injustice, and bloodshed belong to the same web of corruption.

We also trace how the prophets (especially Ezekiel) routinely pair idolatry and violence in the same indictment, helping us see how Scripture itself connects vertical worship and horizontal ethics.

What you’ll find in this episode:

Why an intra-biblical approach can still land on a supernatural reading of “sons of God,” without importing later Second Temple details as the controlling frame.
Why the “through line” to the flood is not genetics, even though procreation is in the story.
The recurring biblical “package deal”: false worship ↔ injustice/oppression ↔ violence/bloodshed ↔ sexual immorality, all functioning as covenant pollution.
Why “blotting out” signals removal/unmaking, not just retribution—and why creation itself is portrayed as impacted by human corruption.
Salvation and deliverance aren’t in human systems or self-repair, but in Christ alone (Acts 4:12).

Scripture & passages referenced (highlights)
Genesis 6; Ezekiel 8–9; Ezekiel 22; Leviticus 18; Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 9, 18, 29; Habakkuk 2; Numbers 25; Psalm 82; Acts 4:12.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Genesis 6 without extra-biblical “control”
(00:02:21) - The through-line to flood violence (it’s not “DNA”)
(00:06:05) - Formation/deformation: how false worship distorts the image
(00:10:07) - Ancient “institutional worship”: you couldn’t just opt out
(00:15:19) - Patterns, not systems
(00:17:34) - Ezekiel 8: temple abominations and violence
(00:20:23) - Back to Genesis 6: Not letting humanity off the hook
(00:27:54) - Genesis 6:7: “blot out” vs “destroy”
(00:32:08) - Genesis 6:11–12: “corrupt” + “filled with violence” as a moral ecology
(00:36:53) - Land pollution texts: Leviticus 18, Numbers 35, Deuteronomy
(00:45:01) - Ezekiel’s flood-logic: worship disorder produces societal violence
(00:50:43) - Pulling it together: spiritual + human causality, layered not competing
(01:00:08) - Psalm 82 and justice: why “justice talk” still sits inside worship realities
(01:01:35) - Acts 4:12: salvation and deliverance in Christ alone

Between Glory and Ashes 6: End-Times Fire - Episode 162

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:02:00 +0000

In the finale of the Fire series, Carey traces eschatological fire across Scripture—not as a single “hellfire” image, but as a matrix of scenes where fire unveils, judges, purifies, and ultimately makes creation fit for God’s presence.

We start with Daniel 7, where fire is judicial theophany: God’s flaming throne, the opened books, and the public verdict against beastly dominion. Then Zephaniah 3 reframes fire as the jealous flame of covenant holiness—wrath that consumes and then leads to purified speech and unified worship among the nations. From there, 2 Peter 3 expands the horizon to the whole cosmos: fire that exposes and dissolves the old order on the way to new heavens and a new earth. Finally, Revelation 20–22 places the lake of fire and the “second death” beside the arrival of New Jerusalem, with death itself thrown down and the nations healed.

Carey also explains why faithful Christians land in different places on final judgment—Eternal Conscious Torment, Conditional Immortality (Annihilation), and Universal Reconciliation—and argues we can’t shortcut the debate without first mapping what each text is doing with “fire.”

Download the 40+ page study guide (link in the episode notes) for passage lists, questions to take into your own study, and a framework for reading these texts carefully.

In this episode

Five questions for reading end-times “fire” texts
Daniel 7: fire as courtroom unveiling + verdict
Zephaniah 3: jealous fire, nations gathered, purified lips, “one shoulder” worship
2 Peter 3: cosmic fire, exposure, holiness now, new creation
Revelation 20–22: lake of fire, second death, death defeated, healing for the nations
Why Christians “join” or “split” apocalyptic images differently (Heiser’s framing)

Companion episode: Episode 55 (on Gehenna / Sheol / related “hell” imagery).

STUDY GUIDE for this week's episode!: Study Guide: Fire Imagery, Judgment, and New Creation in Scripture

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Study guide mention + 3 major afterlife views
(00:04:09) - Core question: Day of the Lord, hell fire, and why views differ
(00:06:25) - Five interpretive questions for “end-times fire” texts
(00:07:42) - Daniel 7: courtroom fire as judicial theophany
(00:10:56) - Holy ones / Divine Council angle
(00:15:06) - Retribution and restoration in Daniel 7
(00:18:00) - Zephaniah 3: jealous fire + wrath
(00:27:08) - “Seek Yahweh”: from retribution to restoration
(00:31:03) - 2 Peter 3: cosmic fire and holiness now
(00:37:26) - Revelation 20: lake of fire, final judgment
(00:44:03) - Revelation 21: restoration promises
(00:50:15) - Worship, oppression, deception: who bears responsibility?
(00:53:59) - Summary: Day-of-the-Lord fire = unveiling God’s reign
(00:55:25) - ECT / CI / UR: Matthew 25 + Mark 9
(00:59:07) - Heiser “joiner vs splitter”: interpretive moves for eschatological imagery
(01:03:28) - What each view “privileges”

Between Glory and Ashes 5: Distributed Fire - Episode 161

Carey Griffel — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:56:00 +0000

In this episode, Carey connects the “fire series” to a bigger question: what does it mean for God’s holy presence to be “distributed” through the Church—and even into the world—often in spite of us?

From Genesis to Pentecost to Paul’s “corporate temple” language, we explore how God’s glory spreads through a holy people, and why the refiner’s fire is not just about individual sin—but about community formation, church worldliness, and shared discipleship.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Glory filling the earth as a creation purpose (Genesis 1; Habakkuk 2:14)
Pentecost as Sinai-going-public: Spirit fire, covenant presence, and commissioning
Why the Church isn’t a bunch of private temples: one Spirit, one holy dwelling
Refiner’s fire as compatibility with holiness: exposure + purging, not mere “punishment”
Malachi 3 and the “prosperity gospel” misunderstanding: corporate justice and care for the poor
“Milk vs. solid food” as a formation diagnosis, not only an education level
Why the “marketplace of ideas” is never neutral: it forms desires, attention, identity, and instincts
Practical implications: treat community life as sacred space, pursue unity, justice, integrity—without moral superiority

Scriptures referenced

Genesis 1:26–28; Habakkuk 2:14; Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 3; Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:9–10; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Malachi 3; Hebrews 5:11–14 (and additional allusions to Acts 17; Jeremiah 29; “salt and light”).

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Big Question: God’s Holy Fire “Distributed”
(00:02:29) - Beyond Individualism: Identity, Community, and Tribalism
(00:10:17) - Refiner’s Fire as Communal Formation
(00:12:48) - The Church Was Always the Point: Setting the Biblical Arc
(00:14:55) - Pentecost as Sinai Going Public
(00:17:01) - One Spirit, One Temple: The Corporate Dwelling
(00:22:46) - What Gets Burned Up: Fire Reveals and Purges
(00:29:45) - What Fire Exposes: Idols, Factions, Falsehood, Straw
(00:34:55) - Present Refining vs “The Day”: Vindication and Judgment
(00:38:32) - Milk vs Meat: A Formation Diagnosis (Not Just “Education”)
(00:47:37) - No Neutral Space: Formation in the Marketplace of Ideas

Atonement in Genesis: A Torah-to-Genesis Map - Episode 160

Carey Griffel — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:59:00 +0000

Where do we actually see atonement in Genesis—before the Levitical system even exists? In this episode, Carey uses frame semantics to map the Hebrew “atonement” word-group (kipper and its conceptual neighborhood) across the Torah, then searches Genesis for both the explicit word and strong conceptual rhymes.

Along the way, we challenge the assumption that “atonement” means penal forgiveness. Instead, we explore atonement as functional repair—keeping God’s dwelling space fit for his presence—and the wider matrix that includes cleansing, washing, reparations, and relational restoration.

Key moves in the episode:

A quick framework for “atonement” in Torah: problem → agent → means → wording → result.
Why Genesis can legitimately be read with Levitical concepts in mind (without forcing later theology backward).
Genesis “touchpoints,” including:
- Noah’s ark “covering” with pitch (Genesis 6:14) and why “cover” here signals protection, not hiding.
- Jacob “appeasing” Esau with gifts (Genesis 32:20) as the first clear use of atonement language—relational, non-blood, non-judicial.
- How a “relational repair” lens changes what we notice across Genesis narratives.

Join the conversation: Carey first worked through this as a livestream inside the On This Rock biblical theology community—and an upcoming study will deep-dive atonement themes using Lamb of the Free.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Atonement as functional repair (holiness/purity ≠ courtroom)
(00:04:55) - Framing “atonement” (kipper) with frame semantics
(00:07:25) - The atonement “cast”: agents, actions, and Exodus 32
(00:11:18) - Bloodguilt & land pollution (Numbers 35)
(00:14:56) - Process + results: means, directionality, cleansing/forgiveness
(00:20:55) - How to spot atonement frames in Genesis (method questions)
(00:30:24) - Atonement, forgiveness, righteousness, and “restoring shalom”
(00:31:54) - Genesis 1-2: in the beginning was atonement?
(00:35:24) - Genesis 3: garments of skin (mercy/covering, not penal)
(00:39:21) - Adam / blood wordplay + challenging our default assumptions
(00:41:10) - Genesis 4: Cain & Abel (blood cries out; no expected “penal” outcome)
(00:43:41) - Genesis 6: “cover the ark with pitch” (kapar/covering as protection)
(00:46:23) - Genesis 8: post-flood offering (not appeasing judgment)
(00:48:03) - Genesis 15 and 18: covenant blood logic + Abraham’s intercession
(00:49:51) - Genesis 22: binding of Isaac (covenant track vs purification track)
(00:52:57) - Genesis 27 → 32: substitution dynamics, then actual “appease/atonement”
(00:56:45) - Joseph story: gifts/ransom language → reconciliation
(01:00:07) - Guardrails: anchor in the text

Jesus and the Forces of Death: Ritual Purity in the Gospels - Episode 159

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:36:00 +0000

This week, Carey continues the Purity Series by digging into Matthew Thiessen’s Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal of Ritual Impurity within First-Century Judaism—and uses it as a springboard to talk about atonement, purification, and why “apocalypse” is not just end-times hype.

A core thread: modern readers (and plenty of scholars) often read Jesus as if he’s against Jewish purity, when the Gospels actually portray him as rescuing people from the forces of ritual impurity—with a “contagious holiness” that overwhelms impurity at its source.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why we misread the Gospels when we unconsciously import our modern conceptual world into a first-century purity framework (a frame-semantics problem)
The common scholarly false dichotomy: “Jewish holiness vs Jesus’ mercy,” and why it fails
A helpful map for thinking clearly: holy/profane (common) and pure/impure as distinct-but-related categories
Why “ritual impurity vs moral impurity” can be a useful discussion tool—but isn’t quite a clean biblical taxonomy
“Death-logic,” sacred space, and why childbirth (surprisingly) gets pulled into the conversation
How this connects to Genesis (childbirth, Eden as sacred space, exile from the presence, Sabbath, and the start of death)
Demonic impurity / unclean spirits: why Genesis 6/Nephilim and 1 Enoch matter, but don’t “solve” everything—and why you have to account for broader ancient exorcism
Apocalyptic vs prophetic genre: prophecy as covenant lawsuit and warning to rebels; apocalypse as hope for the faithful and God “breaking in”
A bridge into the atonement conversation: how “atonement” language can mean purification/purgation of sacred space, and how that differs from broader “at-one-ment” reconciliation talk

Referenced

Matthew Thiessen, Jesus and the Forces of Death
Andrew Rillera, Lamb of the Free (and the PSA conversation)
Jacob Milgrom and “death-logic”

Join the study (On This Rock)

Carey is formally kicking off a deep-dive study of Lamb of the Free in January 2026, with recorded Zoom discussions and supporting visuals/charts; the study is for paid members (noted as $5/month in the episode)

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Win...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Thiessen, purity, atonement, apocalypse vs prophecy
(00:04:37) - The big misread: “Jesus vs Jewish purity”
(00:08:52) - Unclean spirits, sickness/wholeness, and why “unclean” is a category worth studying
(00:12:37) - Jesus vs the forces of death (impurity, conflict, cross, resurrection)
(00:13:28) - PSA debates and why Lamb of the Free is in this conversation
(00:16:51) - “Atonement”: at-one-ment vs purification/purgation (word-logic matters)
(00:19:12) - Invite: the Lamb of the Free study group on On This Rock
(00:21:24) - Genesis Marks the Spot: death, child birth, sacred space, exile, Sabbath
(00:25:25) - Genesis as “proto” + why Leviticus becomes essential
(00:26:12) - Two binaries: holy/common and pure/impure
(00:31:07) - Ritual vs moral impurity: helpful distinction, messy taxonomy
(00:34:31) - “Death logic” (Milgrom), chaos/order, and why impurity matters
(00:40:14) - Childbirth, blood, and why “death” gets linked to impurity
(00:44:45) - Apocalypse: what it is (and isn’t) + why genre matters
(00:54:58) - Eschatology reflections: prophecy vs apocalypse
(00:59:19) - Demonic impurity beyond 1 Enoch: demons, bodies, exorcism, and kingdom signs

Theophanies, Spirit-Fire, and the “Angel of the LORD” (with Courtney Trotter) - Episode 158

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:44:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Courtney Trotter of Kairos Classroom for a deep-dive into how Scripture portrays God’s appearances—especially the debated “Angel of the LORD,” and the often-overlooked manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

Courtney outlines a helpful taxonomy (aural, phenomenological, and embodied theophanies) and explains how these encounters operate across “tiers” of experience—earthly, heavenly vision from earth, and heavenly vision in the heavenly realm.

Together, Carey and Courtney explore why this matters for Trinitarian theology (including how Augustine’s approach shifted Western instincts, and how Luther/Calvin helped repopularize a Christophany reading), and why it matters for worship, embodiment, and daily Christian life—especially in an age tempted toward “functional deism.”

In this conversation:

What a theophany is—and why the “Angel of the LORD” question isn’t a side issue
A practical framework for how God appears in Scripture (aural / phenomenological / embodied + where the experiencer is)
Spirit theophanies as wind/breath/fire: Genesis 1 and Exodus 14 as “Breath/Wind/Spirit” readings
The fire-thread: Sinai fire, temple presence, exile traditions, Hanukkah (2 Maccabees 2), and Pentecost as “fire moving outward”
Why John’s Gospel presses the issue (“that was me” logic tied to Abraham/Isaiah/Jacob patterns) and how that connects to the Transfiguration
A key scholarly prompt: Benjamin Sommer’s argument that a “God with an earthly body… and a heavenly manifestation” is a perfectly Jewish model (and why that matters for Christian claims)
Why this isn’t “too mystical”: seeing creation as an arena for encounter, not mere “resources”

Referenced / mentioned in the episode:

Courtney Trotter’s Kairos Classroom (Greek & Hebrew instruction): Kairos Classroom
Benjamin Sommer, The Bodies of God in Ancient Israel
C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image
2 Maccabees 2 (the preserved fire tradition)

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Theophanies, Angel of the LORD, and Spirit manifestations
(00:04:57) - Intro: Courtney Trotter (Kairos Classroom)
(00:07:06) - Theophany taxonomy + the “three tiers” framework
(00:09:21) - Are embodied theophanies pre-incarnate Logos?
(00:20:30) - Sinai fire → altar/temple → exile/Hanukkah → Pentecost → Revelation lampstands
(00:27:29) - Benjamin Sommer and the Jewishness of theophanies and Spirit manifestations
(00:45:08) - Incarnation uniqueness + “time traveling Jesus?”
(00:55:31) - Rabbinic commentary on the “Great Angel” of Genesis 22

Noah and the Nephilim: Violence, Corruption, and Idolatry in Genesis 6 - Episode 157

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:47:00 +0000

In this episode we head back into Genesis 6 and ask what it means that Noah was “blameless in his generations.” Is this about genetic purity and Nephilim DNA… or about covenant faithfulness in a violently corrupt world?

Working through the structure of Genesis, ancient “ancestor epics,” and the toledoth of Adam and Noah, Carey explores how Genesis 6 sets up a pattern that runs through the prophets and into the New Testament: idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment… with a righteous remnant preserved. Along the way, she interacts with Sandra Richter’s “primeval sons of God” view, nuances Michael Heiser’s “three rebellions” framework, and pushes back against the Christian Supernatural Entertainment Complex’s obsession with hybrid DNA and racialized readings of the Nephilim.

You’ll hear how:

“Generations” in Genesis 6 uses two different Hebrew words (toledoth vs Noah’s “blamelessness”), and why that matters.
Noah’s “without defect” language echoes cultic purity and covenant wholeness, not lab-grade genetics.
The flood narrative prototypes the idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment pattern seen in Ezekiel, Amos, Hosea, Habakkuk, and Romans 1.
The Nephilim, “men of the name,” and hero cults connect Genesis 6 with Babel, Deuteronomy 32, and Second Temple traditions (apkallu, Enoch, Rephaim).
Why over-focusing on supernatural beings can distract from human responsibility, justice, and repentance—and how Noah models a different way of walking with God.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Back to Genesis 6: Noah, Purity, and Corruption
(00:03:19) - Toledoth, Ancestor Epics, and the Structure of Genesis
(00:07:31) - Who Are the “Sons of God”? Richter, Heiser, and Human Responsibility
(00:12:25) - “Blameless in His Generations”: Ethics, Cultic Purity, or DNA?
(00:21:20) - Corruption, Violence (ḥamas), and Noah as Ethical Contrast
(00:31:28) - Heiser's Description of the Three Rebellions
(00:40:54) - From Idolatry to Corruption: The Prophetic Pattern
(00:49:12) - Primeval History as Template: Israel Recapitulates Noah’s World
(00:55:12) - Nephilim, Hero Cults, and the Origins of Idolatry
(01:03:07) - Purity, Worship, and Why Noah’s Blamelessness Still Matters Today

Between Glory and Ashes 4: Refined, Not Consumed - Episode 156

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:11:00 +0000

In this episode, Carey continues the fire in Scripture series by following the holy fire of God into the furnace—where His presence purifies without consuming. We trace how Isaiah and Daniel picture God’s burning holiness as both judgment and safety, a place where the faithful can actually live inside the fire without being destroyed.

Using frame semantics and the idea of sensus plenior (“fuller sense”), we explore how Scripture’s meaning develops without contradiction, moving from Torah’s guarded nearness to God, through exile and restoration, into the incarnation, resurrection, Pentecost, and the church’s baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

We look at key passages in Isaiah 4, 6, 30, and 63 alongside Daniel 3, 7, and 12 to show how God’s jealous love guards, guides, evaluates, and refines His people. Trials are not signs of abandonment but a refining furnace that exposes and burns away what cannot live in God’s presence—while preserving and beautifying what can.

We then bring this all the way to the New Testament: Hebrews, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Peter, and Matthew 3’s promise that Jesus will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” What does it mean to be baptized into the One who dwells in the fire? How can the church live near the consuming fire of Hebrews 12 without being consumed? And how do suffering, repentance, and our everyday choices fit into that larger frame of glory, presence, and purification?

If you’ve wrestled with judgment, suffering, or the fear of “not doing enough” in repentance, this episode will help reframe those fears inside the story of God’s refining love—and why baptism belongs inside the fire-and-glory framework rather than outside of it.

In this episode, we explore:

How frame semantics helps us see “fire” as a family of frames: boundary, guarding, purification/furnace, guidance, glory, and judgment
Isaiah 6 as a divine council scene where holy fire purifies Isaiah’s lips and commissions him rather than destroying him
Isaiah 4, 30, and 63 as pictures of in-house purification, guidance, and God’s breath/Spirit as burning, judging, and leading presence
Daniel 3 and the fiery furnace: why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego can live in the flames with the “one like a son of the gods”
Daniel 7 & 12: the Son of Man, rivers of fire, judgment of the beasts, and the shining resurrection hope of the wise
How sensus plenior works: later Scripture doesn’t contradict earlier Scripture, but fills out seeds already planted
Why trials and suffering in the New Testament function as a refining furnace rather than a sign that God has abandoned us
1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 4: judgment beginning with the household of God, and works tested “as through fire”
Matthew 3:11–12 and what it means that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire
Baptism as participation in Christ’s indwelling fire—where the person is not consumed, but the unfit things are burned away

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s websit...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Hermeneutic Corner: Sensus Plenior & Fire
(00:10:24) - Isaiah 6: Holy Fire, Purification, and Calling
(00:17:32) - Isaiah 4: In-House Purification & Spirit of Burning
(00:22:31) - Isaiah 30 & 63: Judgment, Guidance, and Spirit-Led Exile Living
(00:35:21) - Daniel 3: The Fiery Furnace & Living Inside the Flames
(00:39:05) - Daniel 7 & 12: Son of Man, Rivers of Fire, and Resurrection Hope
(00:47:53) - From Daniel to Jesus: Fire Brought Near in the New Testament
(00:52:35) - Drawing Near to the Consuming Fire Today
(00:57:17) - Judgment Begins with the Household of God
(01:01:43) - Baptism and the Furnace of God’s Presence

Between Glory and Ashes 3: Authorized Fire vs. Zeal - Episode 155

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:13:00 +0000

What if fire really does fall from heaven…and the nation still doesn’t change? In this episode, Carey walks through Elijah’s showdown with Baal, the prophetic lawsuit pattern, Psalm 82, and how Jesus redirects our zeal so we don’t weaponize “calling down fire” today.

In this Fire series episode, we step onto Mount Carmel and into the divine courtroom. Elijah calls down fire, Baal stays silent, the people shout “Yahweh is God!”—and yet the monarchy doesn’t change, Jezebel still hunts Elijah, and injustice continues.

We trace how this scene works as a prophetic lawsuit rooted in the covenant of Deuteronomy, how it mirrors Psalm 82’s divine council courtroom, and why public spectacle can expose idols but can’t regenerate hearts. Along the way, we explore the difference between magic and covenant obedience, Baal’s “silence,” and why Carmel doesn’t mean rival powers don’t exist.

The episode then jumps forward to 2 Kings 1 and Luke 9, where Elijah’s script is picked up—and corrected—by Jesus. The disciples want to call down fire on a Samaritan village; Jesus rebukes them and re-orders zeal under his timing, his mission, and his authority.

If you’ve ever wished God would “just show up” with a big miracle to settle everything—or been tempted to weaponize judgment texts against your enemies—this conversation on holiness, power, and posture is for you.

In this episode we:

Frame the Fire series in terms of God as consuming, jealous love
Unpack Elijah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) as a prophetic lawsuit
Connect covenant drought, Baal’s failure, and Yahweh’s fire as legal evidence
Read Psalm 82 alongside Carmel as a divine council courtroom scene
Explore why spectacle can expose idols but can’t legislate heart change
Distinguish magic-technique vs. covenant obedience in Elijah’s actions
Clarify idols vs. gods and why Baal’s silence doesn’t equal non-existence
Follow Elijah to Horeb (1 Kings 19) and the remnant that didn’t bow to Baal
Walk through 2 Kings 1 and the captains of fifty as a case study in posture
Watch Jesus reorient Elijah-style fire in Luke 9 and Luke 10
Reflect on James 1 and what meekness, anger, and “strength under authority” look like
Consider what it means for us to act as God’s hands and feet without hijacking his judgment

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Why We'll “Skip” Exodus–Leviticus
(00:02:02) - Elijah and the Ethics of Power
(00:07:45) - Covenant Drought, Baal Worship, and Setting Mount Carmel
(00:10:15) - 1 Kings 18: Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal
(00:21:41) - The Prophetic Courtroom: Claim, Evidence, Verdict, Sentence
(00:24:11) - Psalm 82, Deuteronomy 32, and the Cosmic Ethics of Power
(00:27:01) - What Fire from Heaven Can (and Can’t) Do
(00:28:32) - Magic vs. Covenant: Technique, Obedience, and Yahweh’s Turf
(00:31:15) - Idols, Gods, and Why Baal’s Silence Isn’t Non-Existence
(00:34:48) - Elijah at Horeb: Remnant, Whisper, and God’s Pursuit of Hearts
(00:38:44) - 2 Kings 1: Captains of Fifty and the Ethics of Calling Down Fire
(00:44:36) - Jesus, James & John: When Not to Torch the Samaritan Village
(00:51:40) - Meekness, Anger, and Acting Under God’s Authority Today
(00:56:49) - Unseen Realm, Holiness as Fire, and Living Under God’s Jurisdiction

Between Glory and Ashes 2: God Is a Consuming Fire - Episode 154

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:43:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey continues tracing the theme of fire through Scripture—this time by pairing it with the biblical theme of glory and the language of God as a “consuming fire” and “jealous God.” We explore how glory functions as weight, radiance, presence, boundary, purification, guidance, evaluation, and honor—and how fire shows one way those realities are enacted.

Walking through key passages like Deuteronomy 4, Exodus 13–14, Numbers 9, and Hebrews 12, demonstrates how God’s jealous love guards covenant loyalty, guides His people, and exposes what cannot survive His holy presence. Along the way, we situate these texts in a Divine Council framework and wrestle with different readings of the “allotment of the nations.”

Finally, we step into the water–fire–Spirit framework of baptism: how the flood, the Red Sea, and Pentecost help us see baptism not just as a declaration of allegiance, but as a boundary marker, a call into sanctification, and an invitation to live near holy love without being consumed.

You’ll also hear about a Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire, created to help you visualize the overlapping frames that Carey describes throughout the episode.

In this episode, we explore:

Why glory is more than “brightness”—it’s God’s gravity, weight, and worth
How glory and fire overlap but are not identical (glory answers why, fire answers how)
Deuteronomy 4’s “consuming fire and jealous God” in light of the Divine Council
Several textually plausible options for what it means that the nations are “allotted” to the heavenly host—and why Carey leans toward a “handing over” reading
The pillar of cloud and fire as a moving fence, guide, and protector in Exodus and Numbers
Hebrews 12’s contrast between Sinai and Zion, and why “acceptable worship with reverence and awe” still matters for the church
How baptism sits inside a broader water–fire–Spirit pattern: flood, Red Sea, Spirit as distributed fire, sanctification as a furnace
Why baptism is more than a finish line—it enrolls us into a space where God’s jealous love guards, purifies, and forms us for communion and mission

Resources mentioned:

Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire: God is a Consuming Fire: How “Glory” and “Fire” Frames Help You Read the Bible
Carey’s broader Frame Semantics Study Guide can be found here.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Fire Theme, Biblical Theology & Resources
(00:03:23) - Glory as Weight, Radiance, Presence & Boundary
(00:17:14) - Purification, Guidance & Honor: Overlapping Glory Frames
(00:22:23) - How Fire Frames Relate to Glory
(00:26:22) - Deuteronomy 4: Consuming Fire and Jealous God
(00:29:52) - Divine Council and the Allotment of the Nations
(00:44:25) - Exodus and Numbers: The Mobile Pillar of Fire and Cloud
(00:51:09) - Hebrews 12: Sinai, Zion and Acceptable Worship
(00:55:57) - Baptism in the Water–Fire–Spirit Framework

Between Glory and Ashes: Fire at the Boundary - Episode 153

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:51:00 +0000

This episode launches a new mini-series on the theme of fire in Scripture and how it works as more than just a judgment or “end times” metaphor. Fire marks boundaries, tests fitness for nearness, guards holy space, and signals God’s own presence with His people.

Starting at the flaming sword of Eden, Carey traces how fire shows up as a guardian of sacred space, a refining presence, and a covenant sign—from Noah’s burnt offerings and Abram’s smoking firepot to Moses and the burning bush. Along the way, she draws on frame semantics to help us see fire not as a single symbol, but as a cluster of overlapping frames: guardian, purifier, theophany, judgment, empowerment.

We also explore some fascinating scholarly debates about Genesis 3:24:

Is the flaming sword just a weapon… or a spiritual being in its own right?
How do ancient Near Eastern parallels and Psalm 104 factor in?
What do later readings like the Targums suggest about God’s presence “east of Eden”?

From Cain and Abel to Noah, Abram’s covenant ceremony, and Moses at the burning bush, this episode asks:

What counts as a boundary in these stories?
What makes someone fit to draw near?
How do judgment and mercy belong together in God’s fiery presence?

Finally, these themes connect to the bigger biblical story of glory, conquest, and God’s dangerous-yet-merciful nearness—with an invitation to go hunting for fire imagery in your own studies, using word studies as a launchpad but not the destination.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website:

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Why Fire is a Burning Topic
(00:04:26) - Flaming Sword of Eden: Judgment or Mercy?
(00:11:17) - Divine Council Readings: Is the Sword a Spiritual Being?
(00:21:24) - Targums and Divine Presence
(00:28:21) - Fire, Boundaries, and Sacrifice I: Cain and Abel
(00:32:59) - Fire, Boundaries, and Sacrifice II: Noah
(00:38:08) - Covenant by Fire: Abram’s Vision and the Smoking Firepot
(00:43:46) - Names, Circumcision, and Ishmael in the Promise
(00:49:01) - The Burning Bush: Holy Ground and a Reluctant Prophet
(00:54:01) - Glory and Word Studies

From Magic to Presence: Prayer, Baptism, and Protection - Episode 152

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:01:00 +0000

In this sweeping synthesis episode, Carey zooms out from Mesopotamian exorcism texts to contrast ancient magic/technique with the Bible’s holiness/presence frame. We explore how Scripture attributes sickness and calamity to God’s covenant governance (not a sprawling demonology), why ritual ≠ incantation, and how protection language (Psalm 91) differs when it’s used as prayerful trust rather than magical leverage. We also trace Passover’s blood as sign of covenant loyalty (protection for presence) versus pagan apotropaic rites (protection from volatile powers), and we re-situate baptism as incorporation into a purified people indwelt by the Spirit. Along the way: John Walton on conflict theology, Heiser’s take on Psalm 91 and the “evil eye,” Egypt’s maat, Hittite purity, and the danger of the sacred. We finish by reframing discipleship around holiness first, not death first—so that ethics flow from presence, not technique.

Resources & references mentioned

Psalm 91 and Jesus’ temptation (Matt 4); Heiser’s Naked Bible episodes on Psalm 91 & “evil eye” (ep. 162 and 321 referenced).
Udug-hul Tablet 12; Shurpu confessional series; Egypt’s maat; Hittite rituals and kings.

Community note
In November 2025 the On This Rock community is discussing the church—join the conversation; link in show notes.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan:

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Agency & sickness
(00:05:36) - Ritual vs technique
(00:07:21) - Psalm 91 & the “evil eye”
(00:09:07) - Guarding against “magical drift”
(00:15:25) - Holiness-first ethics
(00:18:49) - Baptism in the holiness frame
(00:22:37) - Plague & providence
(00:25:30) - Priest vs healer roles
(00:27:12) - Shurpu confessions & fire
(00:32:49) - Incantation vs prayer
(00:36:22) - Divination & technique creep
(00:41:02) - Jesus’ temptation and amulets
(00:44:43) - Comparing Egypt and Israel
(00:50:31) - The danger of the sacred
(00:59:32) - Holiness that transforms

Purity before Sinai 3: One Goat to Clean Them All - Episode 151

Carey Griffel — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:57:00 +0000

Concluding the mini-series reading from Udug-hul (Udug-hul) Tablet 12, a Mesopotamian exorcism/purification text, and tracing how a single goat in this ritual ends up doing several jobs—substitute, container of breath, apotropaic object, and finally the thing that carries evil away. From there, Carey compares the logic of the text with Leviticus 16 (Day of Atonement) and Numbers 19 (red heifer) and asks the hard question: where’s the line between ritual and magic? The answer is more nuanced than “the Bible isn’t magical.” Sometimes the Bible does very ANE-looking things—but without trying to force the deity. We also see that Mesopotamia loved protective objects (bells, cords, incense, figurines, “good” demons) and how Israel’s Scriptures both fit into and flip that world.

What we cover

Quick recap of the first two episodes in this series
Reading the next section of Tablet 12 (the “one goat doing many jobs” part)
Apotropaic magic 101: bells, cords, circles, incantations, and why people felt vulnerable
Why Mesopotamia can use the same class of being (storm demon) for harm or healing
Parallels and contrasts with Leviticus 16 and Numbers 19
“You don’t do a ritual if you don’t think it does something” — but what kind of “something”?
How Israel’s rituals purify space without acting like they’re trapping a stray demon
The seven protective figures and divine-council overtones
A pastoral-ish landing: how might Christians still hedge their bets with low-key magical thinking?

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Purity before Sinai 2: Sacred Technology of Cosmic Repair - Episode 150

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:11:00 +0000

This episode continues last week’s deep dive (Ep. 149) into Udug-hul Tablet 12, exploring how ancient Mesopotamians understood purity, sacred space, demons, and ritual—and how that compares (and collides) with the Bible’s worldview. Carey walks through Ea (Enki), Marduk, Belet-ili, Eridu, decreed destinies, and a striking black-goat “scapegoat” rite tied to breath, life, and expulsion—then turns to the big question: what’s the difference between magic and ritual for Christians, and how does that shape practices like baptism, exorcism, and embodied worship?

150 TRANSCRIPT

In this episode:

Why look before Sinai to grasp biblical purity and sacred space
Mesopotamian divine council logic: Ea → Marduk → priest as mediator
Eridu as a prototype of divine order; destinies and lots language
Belet-ili (Mami/Nintu) and “learning the ways of the demons”
The black goat rite: breath, life, and removing the ālu/utukku demon
Biblical contrasts: Leviticus 16 scapegoat vs. Mesopotamian incantation
Magic vs. ritual: mechanistic tech vs. covenantal, participatory practice
Embodied sacred space/time: why liturgy, baptism, Eucharist still matter

Mentioned texts & themes: Genesis 1–2 (cosmic temple), Deut 32 (lots), Enūma Eliš, Atrahasis, Eridu traditions, Leviticus 16 (scapegoat), Ezekiel 37 (breath & life).

150 TRANSCRIPT

Join the community: On This Rock (Carey’s biblical-theology community) and ways to support via Patreon/PayPal.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon:

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Mesopotamian demonology vs. Bible terms
(00:04:59) - Tablet 12 overview: the eco-destroying demon
(00:07:27) - “Not a god”: categories of beings & elohim
(00:09:02) - Ea (Enki), Marduk, and priestly mediation
(00:15:03) - Eridu, Apsu, and heavenly blueprints
(00:24:21) - Consulting Belet-ili: learning the demons’ ways
(00:29:19) - Order vs. chaos: does chaos have a pattern?
(00:35:12) - The black-goat rite: setup & purpose
(00:38:56) - Personal deities
(00:43:30) - Prayers & offerings: doing the same work
(00:47:59) - Who can be a "son of the god"?
(00:50:58) - Activated mercy via performance
(00:52:37) - The strange case of the breathing goat
(00:56:23) - Breath, life, and expulsion mechanics
(01:03:50) - Magic vs. ritual: Christian stakes
(01:11:11) - Embodied sacred space/time today

Purity Before Sinai: Subverting Storm Demons - Episode 149

Carey Griffel — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:54:00 +0000

Today we step before Leviticus into Sumerian and Akkadian worlds to see how ancient people thought about purity, danger, and the sacred—and how Israel both echoes and upends that world. We sample Udug-hul exorcism tablets (incl. Tablet 12), meet storm-like demons, and trace common ancient ritual media (living water, flour circles, fire, incense, bells, tamarisk).

Along the way we test big claims: holiness as a spatial/ritual frame, why “purity precedes holiness,” why Israel’s God doesn’t do “conflict theology” like Mesopotamia, and how not to over-systematize the Divine Council.

If you’ve read Heiser, Walton, or dabbled in 1 Enoch, apkallu lore, or Enuma Elish, this episode gives you a more complex, historically grounded backdrop—without ransacking your faith.

Don’t forget to check out the community at On This Rock for resources for Geller’s Healing Magic and Evil Demons.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Ancient Frames and Why They Matter
(00:06:09) - Recap: Holiness as a Spatial/Ritual Frame
(00:09:57) - How to Read ANE Texts Responsibly
(00:19:11) - Clean/Unclean as Ritual Categories
(00:21:30) - Research Question: Did Purity Precede Holiness?
(00:25:49) - The Ancient World’s Pragmatic Religion
(00:27:17) - Demons, Disease, and Incantations
(00:29:02) - Demons in ANE vs the Bible
(00:31:23) - “Conflict Theology” vs Israel’s God
(00:34:29) - Tablet 7: Water Rites & Feeding the Ghosts
(00:40:56) - Tablet 8: Birds, Omens, and Red Garments
(00:42:42) - Tablet 9: Purifying Buildings
(00:44:47) - Tablet 12 (Reading): The Storm Demon’s Ruin
(00:49:26) - Context Matters: Storm God vs Storm Demon
(00:52:04) - Apkallu & Geography Cautions
(00:54:59) - Not Exegesis: Parallels to Genesis 1–9
(00:58:14) - “Not a God,” Yet Gigantic: Status & Radiance
(01:00:48) - Multiple Chaos Frames in the ANE
(01:02:54) - Contrast of Solutions: Udug-hul vs Genesis
(01:05:51) - Takeaways from Mesopotamian Materials

Unseen Realm Expanded with Mike Chu - A Heiser-ish Conversation Episode 148

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:24:00 +0000

Carey sits down with Mike Chu to talk through the new Unseen Realm - Expanded Edition, how Heiser clarified his stance on creeds, why frame semantics and ancient contexts matter, and why a Christotelic reading (aimed at the eschaton) can keep Scripture’s big story intact. Along the way: pastoral cautions about celebrity culture, the value of scholarship and seminary, and a practical reframing of Imago Dei as being made as God's image (not merely "in" it). Highlights include: Heiser’s "non-credal" (not anti-credal) posture, Genesis 6 in an exilic frame, and how holiness as "other" reshapes baptism, worship, and daily vocation.

What's actually new in Unseen Realm (Expanded Edition) and why it matters for teachers and small-group leaders
Heiser on creeds: non-credal vs anti-credal, and using creeds as boundaries, not as an interpretive lens
Christocentric vs Christotelic: aiming at the end goal of Christ (including the Spirit and the Eschaton)
Reading Genesis 6 with an exilic Mesopotamian frame vs a Mosaic/Egyptian frame
Imago Dei as vocation: "made as God's image," and why that lands pastorally
The completion of AWKNG School of Theology's "Seminary on a Thumb Drive" initiative

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/
Website: genesismarksthespot.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot
Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Welcoming Mike; DCW year ahead & community vibe
(00:05:01) - Expanded Edition notes (preface timeline, Awakening)
(00:06:46) - "Vibe shift": hunger for scholarship & plain speech
(00:08:34) - Pushback & avoiding Heiser-only celebrity culture
(00:10:21) - Listening > labels; scholarly retrieval as discipleship
(00:21:05) - Heiser and the Creeds: Non-credal, Not Anti-credal
(00:25:21) - Christocentric vs Christotelic (aiming at the eschaton)
(00:35:59) - Theological Messaging: God with Us
(00:41:28) - Genesis 6: Exilic Mesopotamian Frame vs Mosaic/Egyptian
(00:48:05) - The value of listening in scholarly study
(00:53:24) - Imago Dei: "as" God’s image, not merely "in" (pastoral payoffs)
(00:58:55) - Why we need teachers who do the dirty work
(01:05:12) - Are seminaries cemetaries?
(01:09:21) - The value of learning in cohorts
(01:12:36) - Diversity, cohesion, and the need to find support
(01:17:47) - Remind, Remind, Remind: Don't lose your identity
(01:24:07) - Wrapping up thoughts on The Unseen Realm Expanded Edition
(01:24:08) - AWKNG School of Theology: Seminary on a Thumb Drive

Purity Before Holiness: Reading Toward Christ - Episode 147

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:49:00 +0000

Continuing the water series by framing purification and holiness through an ancient Near Eastern lens and a Christotelic (telos-aimed) reading of Scripture. We contrast Christocentric “reading back” with Christotelic “reading forward,” explore holy/common vs clean/unclean as two distinct axes, and ask whether Leviticus was ever meant to be a sin-management system—or a way to host a holy God in sacred space. Along the way: covenant at Sinai, ritual logic, righteousness in OT vs NT, and why Jesus as incarnate Holy One unites holy and common in himself. Bonus at the end: Carey’s first look at The Unseen Realm: Expanded Edition and its nods to frame semantics and christological lenses.

In this episode

Editing experiment: does lighter editing serve the mission better?
Why hermeneutics matters: Christocentric vs Christotelic readings
Purity → Holiness: which comes first in human religious imagination?
Two spectra, not one: holy/common and clean/unclean
Leviticus beyond “sin management”: making space for divine presence
Covenant first, cult second; why Israel is unique amid the ANE
Righteousness reconsidered across Testaments
Word-study pointers: “pure/purge/refine” (gold, oil, incense), ritual vs ethical usage
Teaser: upcoming episodes on atonement frames, water vs fire, and Divine Council themes

Resources mentioned

Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm — Expanded Edition (new front-matter on frames & christological lenses)
John Walton on Christotelic reading (telos-oriented Scripture)
Carey’s On This Rock community (October theme: Unseen Realm)

Support / connect

Join the conversation in the On This Rock community
Share the episode; leave a rating/review
Send pushback & questions for office hours

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Baptism and Ritual: Symbol, Reality, and Identity - Episode 146

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:01:00 +0000

This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot explores the meaning and function of ritual with a special focus on baptism. From Jewish mikvahs and Qumran practices to Greco-Roman mystery rites and John the Baptist’s wilderness call, baptism emerges as more than a symbol—it’s participation in a story of death, resurrection, and new creation. We’ll look at biblical passages (Romans 6, Galatians 3, Colossians 2, and more), denominational perspectives, and how ritual frames help us move beyond false binaries of “just symbolic” versus “mechanistic.”

Topics include:

What ritual is and why it matters
Rituals as communal participation and transformation
Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts for baptism
Jesus’ baptism as a Trinitarian theophany
Baptism in Acts and the Pauline letters
Denominational views on baptism
How rituals shape identity, allegiance, and belonging

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Ritual Before Purification
(00:04:33) - Defining Ritual
(00:10:24) - Scriptural Examples
(00:13:25) - Ritual Frames
(00:16:12) - Backgrounds: Jewish & Greco-Roman
(00:22:14) - John the Baptist
(00:24:36) - Jesus’ Baptism as Theophany (Identity and Revelation)
(00:27:16) - Baptism in Acts
(00:29:42) - Paul on Baptism
(00:38:34) - New Creation & Reconciliation
(00:42:02) - Baptism as Allegiance/Exodus
(00:43:55) - What Baptism Does
(00:49:28) - Baptism, Spirit, & Sacred Space
(00:52:24) - Denominational Snapshots
(00:55:08) - Reflection Questions and Moving Past False Binaries

Living Water vs. Rain: Toil, Covenant, & Spirit - Episode 145

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:27:00 +0000

This episode continues our deep dive into the biblical theme of water. From Genesis to the prophets, from Eden’s rivers to Israel’s covenant rain, water frames the story of God’s presence, judgment, and renewal. Along the way we’ll explore:

How waters above (rain) and waters below (springs, rivers) carry distinct theological meanings
Why the flood brings both destruction and recreation
Ancient Near Eastern cosmology of water and how the Bible reframes it
The difference between living water, rainwater, and cisterns—and how they connect to Spirit and baptism
Stories like Hagar in the wilderness and Rebekah at the well as pictures of God’s provision and promise

What does all of this mean for baptism, covenant, and discipleship today? Join me as we trace the living streams back to their source.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Various Frames of Water
(00:05:17) - The Flood and Cosmic Collapse
(00:07:12) - Baptism in Living Water
(00:09:08) - Genesis 2 and the Mist/Stream Debate
(00:12:00) - Ancient Views: Canopy, Myth, or Irrigation?
(00:18:38) - Irrigation, Eden, and God’s Presence
(00:24:14) - Three Kinds of Water
(00:25:51) - Rain as Divine Gift (and Judgment)
(00:28:27) - Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology
(00:32:58) - Paradise and Covenant: Two Water Frames
(00:36:12) - Spirit as Living Water
(00:40:10) - Springs Drying Up: Judgment & Apostasy
(00:43:53) - Toil, Curse, and Exile from Eden
(00:53:22) - Rebekah at the Well: Hospitality & Testing...Who?
(00:56:29) - Israel’s Water Supply, Covenant, and Thresholds
(00:58:47) - Thematic Tracing & Frame Semantics
(01:04:01) - Resources & Invitation

The Butcher, the Book, and the Bloody Good Theology - Episode 144

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:01:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Phil Bray—author of Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block and creator of the YouTube channel Leviticus is Fun—for a wide-ranging conversation on sacrifice, atonement, and the surprising beauty of Leviticus.

They explore:

How Leviticus reframes atonement away from wrath and toward restoration
Why sacrifice isn’t about death, but about life and communion
What Phil learned from being both a butcher and a Bible nerd
How Leviticus helps us understand Hebrews, Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper
Whether the sacrificial system was an accommodation… and if so, what kind
Why blood and water both purify—and how Jesus’ life transforms both
Why Passover and atonement aren't the same, and why that matters for communion
The deeper frames behind the word “substitution”

Carey and Phil also dive into the contagious holiness of Jesus, purification rituals, and why Christians must learn to disambiguate muddy theological terms like “atonement” and “substitution.”

This episode is part of our Atonement monthly theme over at the On This Rock biblical theology community. Join us to discuss the many frames of substitution, atonement, and covenant—and be sure to check out Phil’s channel and book!

Links & Resources:

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Intro & Guest Welcome
(00:02:00) - From Butcher to Bible Nerd
(00:04:32) - Echo Chambers & Reading the Bible for Yourself
(00:08:14) - Making Leviticus Fun
(00:14:09) - Was Leviticus an Accommodation?
(00:18:07) - Life, Not Death, Is the Goal
(00:20:53) - Fellowship Meal and...Purification??
(00:25:04) - Passover and Blood on the Doorframe
(00:27:45) - Was Passover a Sacrifice?
(00:29:52) - The Blood is for Covenant
(00:33:28) - Leviticus and Christian Communion
(00:36:45) - Water & Blood: The Life Connection
(00:41:21) - Contagious Holiness
(00:46:12) - What If We Didn’t Have the Word Atonement?
(00:50:01) - Restoring Creation, Not Just Covering Sin
(00:52:46) - Phil’s Channel & Upcoming Projects
(00:55:51) - Leviticus Helps Us Read Hebrews
(00:57:43) - Frames of Substitution: A Project is Born
(01:01:31) - Leviticus on the Butcher's Block
(01:05:56) - An Immersive Experience

Living Water & Covenant Union: Hospitality & Power Struggles - Episode 143

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:07:00 +0000

Water flows through Scripture as far more than a backdrop — it carries covenant, hospitality, conflict, and even divine judgment. This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot traces how the Bible uses water as a sign of both intimacy and power.

We begin at the wells of Genesis, where stories like Rebekah’s hospitality and the Samaritan woman in John 4 tie water to covenant, marriage, and the faithful love of God. These encounters at the well aren’t just about refreshment — they become turning points where covenant identity is revealed and extended.

From there, the theme widens: Isaac’s struggle over wells in Genesis 26, Hezekiah’s tunnel in 2 Chronicles 32, and the strange, unsettling story of 2 Kings 3 where water looks like blood and wrath erupts on the battlefield. In each case, water symbolizes more than survival — it becomes a stage where covenant promises, human conflict, and divine purposes collide.

Through these narratives, we see how living water ultimately finds fulfillment in Christ, the true Bridegroom, who offers hospitality at the well and baptismal union in the Spirit. Water can be a gift of life, a sign of covenant marriage, or even a weapon of war — but all of these streams converge in Jesus, the one who brings both judgment and renewal.

Wade into the deep waters — from covenant hospitality to power struggles — and uncover how Scripture’s water stories prepare us to understand baptism in all its richness.

Explore more and join the conversation at On-This-Rock.com

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Many Faces of Water in Scripture
(00:05:34) - Water in Creation
(00:07:12) - Water Bookends the Bible
(00:10:23) - Water, Hospitality & Covenant
(00:11:32) - Rebekah at the Well (Genesis 24)
(00:17:19) - John 4: The Samaritan Woman
(00:21:19) - Narrative vs. Doctrinal Reading
(00:23:39) - Marriage, Wells, and Covenant in Scripture
(00:25:36) - Marriage Type Scenes and John 4
(00:27:42) - Covenant & Baptism Connections
(00:32:44) - Transition to Water as Conflict & Power
(00:33:34) - Isaac’s Wells (Genesis 26)
(00:36:49) - Hezekiah and the Tunnel (2 Chronicles 32)
(00:41:29) - Toil vs. God’s Provision (Deuteronomy 11)
(00:43:31) - Strange Story of 2 Kings 3
(00:50:03) - Whose Wrath? Interpretive Puzzles
(00:55:24) - Water, Wrath, and Mercy
(00:58:15) - Christ as the Fulfillment of the Water Stories

Allegiance, Baptism, and the King Jesus Gospel with Matthew Bates - Episode 142

Carey Griffel — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:18:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey Griffel sits down with Dr. Matthew Bates—New Testament scholar and author of Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Gospel Allegiance, and Beyond the Salvation Wars. Together, they explore what it really means to proclaim Jesus as King, how allegiance reframes faith, and why justification should be seen as a benefit of the gospel rather than the gospel itself.

The conversation touches on:

The difference between biblical theology and systematic theology
How gospel allegiance compares with “lordship salvation” and “believing loyalty”
Substitution, atonement, and representation in Paul’s letters
Baptism, corporate identity, and the role of children in the believing community
How Catholics and Protestants might find common ground

This dialogue bridges scholarship and discipleship, inviting us to think deeply about what the gospel is, what it isn’t, and how it calls us to live together as the people of God.

Links mentioned in the show:

Dr. Matthew Bates’ website: Matthew W. Bates
On Script Podcast: OnScript

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Win...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction to Dr. Bates’ Work
(00:06:12) - Matthew Bates’ Journey
(00:10:53) - What Is Biblical Theology?
(00:13:14) - The Gospel as Royal Allegiance
(00:17:25) - Allegiance, Lordship Salvation, and Believing Loyalty
(00:23:01) - Gospel, Holiness, and Priesthood
(00:27:20) - Justification and the Gospel
(00:33:20) - Cross-Shaped Love and Substitution
(00:41:44) - Individual and Corporate Salvation
(00:45:34) - Baptism and Allegiance
(00:53:21) - Beyond the Salvation Wars
(00:57:17) - Catholic Responses to the Book?
(00:59:05) - Looking Ahead: Tracing Baptism-Adjacent Themes

Adam, Christ, and the Fragile Order - Episode 141

Carey Griffel — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:05:00 +0000

In this follow-up to the discussion of J. Harvey Walton’s dissertation, let’s look closer into his reframing of Eden—not as a perfect paradise but as fragile divine order. Carey pushes back on Walton’s rejection of covenant in Genesis 2–3 and explores how his ideas intersect with Paul’s Adam–Christ typology in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15.

Along the way, we’ll examine:

The tension between fragile order, chaos, and evil in Genesis
Whether Eden was covenantal “proto-temple” space
Adam’s act as covenantal headship rather than simple rebellion
How covenant strengthens Paul’s Adam–Christ parallel without collapsing it into a theodicy
What Christ’s resurrection means as “secured divine order”

If Eden sets the stage for fragile human order, then Christ secures incorruptible life. This episode explores how covenant, resurrection, and divine order fit together in the big story of Scripture.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Walton’s Reframing of Eden
(00:04:49) - Mortality and the Tree of Life
(00:08:33) - Trees as Legitimate Choice?
(00:11:16) - Sin vs Premature Disobedience
(00:15:38) - Pushback: Did Adam Still Break Order?
(00:18:25) - Ancient Theodicy vs. Genesis’ Covenant Story
(00:23:30) - The Gospel in Genesis?
(00:28:29) - Walton’s Major Inconsistency
(00:32:37) - Adam as Universal Archetype and Proto-Israel
(00:38:12) - Proto-Covenant Theology vs. Walton’s Break
(00:42:33) - Adam and Jesus: Temptation in Parallel
(00:43:19) - Romans 5 in Covenant Light
(00:55:37) - 1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection as Secured Order
(01:03:07) - Comparing Theological Traditions
(01:05:23) - Resurrection as Completed Divine Order

Myth of a Perfect Eden: Chaos, Order, and Divine Space - Episode 140

Carey Griffel — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:54:00 +0000

Was Eden ever the perfect paradise we imagine? Exploring J. Harvey Walton’s groundbreaking dissertation on Genesis 2–4. Walton challenges the familiar Eden–Fall–Redemption narrative, arguing that the text’s original audience didn’t see a perfect paradise shattered by sin, but a fragile, unfinished order constantly threatened by chaos and evil.

We unpack:

Walton’s tri-fold framework of order, chaos, and evil;
Genesis’s critique of Babylonian cultural ideals;
and the surprising role of Eden as divine—but uncomfortable—space
which leads to the choice between two trees: stay eternally in discomfort or enter the realm of human-ordered existence.

Along the way, Carey offers her own insights, engages early church perspectives, and asks what this reframing means for our understanding of the gospel.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Walton’s Threefold Framework: Order, Chaos, and Evil
(00:05:35) - Eden as Divine Space, Not Perfect Paradise
(00:10:34) - The Hebraic Mindset vs Greek Dualism
(00:15:21) - Civilization, Legacy, and the Problem of Mortality
(00:21:16) - Cain, Cities, and the Fragility of Human Order
(00:26:41) - Chaos vs. Evil in Biblical Theology
(00:32:01) - Eternal Life or Human Ordered Existence?
(00:37:38) - Axiology: That Which Brings Good
(00:42:43) - ANE Death, Legacy, and the Defeat of Chaos
(00:50:02) - Seeing Chaos, Not Just Evil
(00:55:33) - Opening the Door to New Ideas

On This Rock: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology Community - Episode 139

Carey Griffel — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:01:00 +0000

In this special episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey shares the heart and vision behind her new online community—On This Rock—a distraction-free space for deep Bible study, discipleship, and ministry growth. From the biblical inspiration in Matthew 16 to the practical ways members can connect, learn, and serve together, Carey invites you into a global conversation that’s Christ-centered, Scripture-drenched, Spirit-led, and community-shaped.

Whether you’re passionate about the Divine Council Worldview, eager to explore the Bible in its original context, or simply looking for a place to grow in faith alongside others, this is your invitation to join a movement where theology meets life.

Links & Resources:

Join the community: on-this-rock.com
Related places & spaces: Genesis Marks the Spot, Leviticus is Fun, Answers to Giant Questions, the Two Trees Podcast, and more.

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Vision: A Biblical Theology Community
(00:04:44) - Why Social Media Isn’t Enough
(00:07:41) - Launching “On This Rock” & Why the Name
(00:11:20) - Faith, Evidence, and Unity in Christ
(00:16:23) - Asking Questions While Staying Christ-Centered
(00:20:01) - Unity at the Table & Romans 14
(00:29:04) - Critical Thinking Meets Discipleship
(00:32:09) - Bridging Scripture, Tradition, and Church History
(00:36:06) - The Holy Spirit’s Role in Community
(00:40:31) - What “On This Rock” Is & Isn’t
(00:45:07) - Spaces, Themes, and Paid Tier Benefits
(00:54:13) - How to Join & Participate
(00:57:55) - August Theme: How to Read a Book
(00:59:08) - Closing Thoughts & Next Week’s Topic

Zero Female Nephilim: Violence, Symbolism, and Covenant - Episode 138

Carey Griffel — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:28:00 +0000

Did female Nephilim exist? It's a fascinating question—and one that seems straightforward from a modern lens. But this episode takes you deep into the symbolic, theological, and cultural frameworks of the ancient world to explore why the biblical narrative omits female Nephilim entirely.

Unpack the logic of Genesis 6 through the lens of biblical theology, cultural anthropology, ancient gender norms, and frame semantics. You'll also explore the significance of “gibborim,” the role of the queen mother in Israelite tradition, ancient conceptions of reproduction, and why projecting modern biological assumptions onto Genesis may distort what the text is affirming.

This episode loops in Walton’s concepts of “referent and affirmation” and gives bonus insight into the conquest narratives, giant clans, and the enduring theological danger of false worship—whether it comes from the sword or the seduction of idolatry.

Are queen mothers the female counterpart to the gibborim?
⚔️ Why is violence—not biology—the defining symbol of Nephilim identity?
What does this all mean for how we read Genesis today?

A thoughtful, bold, and theologically grounded journey through ancient texts and modern assumptions.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Question Nobody’s Asking
(00:01:37) - Sons of God, Not Just Angels
(00:03:56) - Affirmation, Referent, and Modern Assumptions
(00:06:39) - Symbolism, Genre, and Mount Hermon
(00:12:07) - Ancient Frame: Chaos, Corruption, and Cosmic Rebellion
(00:13:44) - Who Are the Gibborim?
(00:24:00) - Gender, Power, and the Queen Mother
(00:31:07) - Two Paths of Power: Warrior vs. Womb
(00:37:16) - Ancient Theories of Conception
(00:44:43) - Why Nephilim Were Always Male
(00:49:27) - Queen Mothers as Chaos Agents
(00:56:28) - Giant Clans, the Flood, and the Disconnect
(01:01:19) - Conquest Fears, Violence, and False Worship

This One Goes to 11: Rethinking Referent and Affirmation - Episode 137

Carey Griffel — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:35:00 +0000

What if the Bible talks about things it doesn’t actually affirm? That’s the question John and J. Harvey Walton explore in their referent/affirmation hermeneutic—a method that seeks to distinguish between what Scripture uses culturally and what it teaches theologically.

In this content-heavy episode, we dig deep into the Waltons' approach, explore strengths and critiques (especially in relation to canonical reading and supernatural conflict), and propose ways to integrate their work into a more theological, Christ-centered, and canonically-aware method of reading.

We’ll examine where this model helps (especially with ancient Near Eastern context), where it struggles (like with canonical coherence and spiritual conflict), and how it interacts with voices like Michael Heiser. Along the way, we’ll ask the hard questions:

Can a time-bound referent convey timeless truth?
Does later canonical development affirm what earlier authors left open?
Are we treating the Bible like a spiritual taxonomy or a wisdom text?

If you’ve wrestled with how the Bible speaks of firmaments, spirits, demons, cosmic powers—or just how to read your Bible with both eyes open—this episode is for you.

On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Conflict Theology as Time-Bound Context
(00:02:48) - Minimalist vs Maximalist Hermeneutics
(00:04:48) - Waltons’ Book on Demons
(00:06:03) - Heiser: "Danger, Danger John Walton"
(00:09:06) - Referent vs Affirmation: Genesis and Cosmology
(00:11:07) - The Core Tension: Cultural Context & Lasting Truth
(00:13:11) - Defining Referent and Affirmation
(00:16:29) - Are the Waltons DeMythologizing?
(00:18:45) - Why Methodology, Not the Model, Is the Problem
(00:21:52) - Methodology and Canonical vs Minimalist Readings
(00:25:03) - Dangers of Misreading Referent as Affirmation
(00:30:36) - Baal, Pharaoh, Accommodation, and Ontology
(00:35:11) - Canon, Redaction, and Authorial Intent
(00:40:20) - Beyond “New”: Reaffirming, Recontextualizing, Redeeming
(00:44:18) - Is Supernatural = Not Scientific?
(00:47:49) - The Problem of Mapping Ancient Deities Across Time
(00:54:18) - Affirmation Without Systematizing
(00:57:32) - Turning It Up to 11

Our Interpretive Toolkit: Framing How We Read Scripture - Episode 136

Carey Griffel — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:08:28 +0000

Venturing deep into the world of biblical interpretation—exploring the methods that shape how we read Scripture, how we understand righteousness, holiness, and obedience, and why John Walton's work continues to spark both admiration and controversy.

We’ll survey key interpretive methodologies: literalist, historical-grammatical, canonical, literary-narrative, historical-critical, and the socio-cultural ancient Near Eastern approach. Then, we dive headfirst into the power of frame semantics—a tool that challenges modern assumptions and re-centers our understanding around ancient biblical worldviews.

Topics covered:

What’s the difference between exegesis, interpretation, and hermeneutics?
Why biblical theology requires a mix of methods
How John Walton’s approach reframes key concepts
The covenantal, vocational meaning of obedience
Holiness as divine presence, not moral perfection
Righteousness as relational fidelity, not legal status
How salvation is more about divine rescue than a heavenly transaction

Mentioned Resources:

Frame Semantics Study Guide

Whether you're a seminarian, a Sunday school teacher, or just someone who wants to understand the Bible on its own terms, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Also, join my new Biblical Theology Community! Find it here: on-this-rock.com
“On This Rock” Biblical Theology Community

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction & Walton’s Work
(00:04:29) - Frame Semantics Mention & Community Plug
(00:06:15) - Why Methodology Matters
(00:07:11) - Defining Interpretation, Exegesis, and Hermeneutics
(00:11:17) - My Toolkit: Method Crossover
(00:18:26) - Method #1: Literalist Reading
(00:20:03) - Method #2: Historical-Grammatical
(00:22:41) - Method #3: Canonical Approach
(00:27:23) - Comparison: Historical-Grammatical vs Canonical
(00:33:31) - Method #4: Literary / Narrative Criticism
(00:36:12) - Comparison: Historical-Grammatical vs Literary
(00:37:15) - Method #5: Historical-Critical
(00:39:17) - Method #6: Socio-Cultural / Ancient Near Eastern (Walton's Method)
(00:44:58) - Introduction to Frame Semantics
(00:46:30) - Compatibility with Each Method
(00:51:24) - Reframing Key Words (Walton Examples)
(00:52:12) - Frame: Righteousness
(00:55:05) - Frame: Holiness
(00:57:26) - Frame: Obedience
(01:03:48) - Frame: Salvation
(01:11:39) - Righteousness vs. Salvation: Comparative Frames
(01:14:55) - Frame Review: How Righteousness & Salvation Work Together
(01:18:13) - Why Frame Semantics Matters for Interpretation
(01:19:05) - Outro & Community Invitation

Torah and the Two Ways: Wisdom unto Life, Not Legal Death - Episode 135

Carey Griffel — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:03:00 +0000

This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot centers on an example of biblical theology, reframing how we understand law—not as rigid legislation, but as wisdom anchored in covenant relationship. Drawing from The Lost World of the Torah by John Walton and J. Harvey Walton, Carey challenges modern assumptions about law, obedience, and divine command theory, while weaving in reflections on context, tradition, and the role of interpretation in the church.

Why does it matter how we define “law”? What does Torah as wisdom mean for our modern theological frameworks? And how can covenant thinking reshape our understanding of justice, purity, and faithfulness?

Carey doesn’t shy away from the complexities—she explores the intersection of Scripture, culture, and context with clarity and conviction. If you’ve ever wrestled with the law/grace debate or wondered how ancient covenants connect with contemporary discipleship, this episode is for you.

Plus, Carey shares details about an exciting new community platform for deeper study, discussion, and collaboration in biblical theology. Don’t miss it!

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Wisdom, Wine, and the Covenant Trail
(00:04:56) - Defining What’s Essential in Church and Sacrament
(00:06:55) - What Do We Do With All This Theology?
(00:10:27) - Interpretation: Why No Method is Sufficient Alone
(00:13:35) - Walton Framework: Torah as Covenant, Not Legislation
(00:17:54) - Can We Ever Really Leave Our Context Behind?
(00:22:05) - Law as Order: Oracles, Wisdom, and the Ancient Mindset
(00:27:32) - Legal Frameworks: Divine Command, Natural Law, and Legalism Today
(00:32:45) - Torah and the Two Ways: Life Through Wisdom, Not Death by Rulekeeping
(00:38:49) - Covenant Obligations vs. Codified Law
(00:46:00) - Holiness and Identity: More Than Moral Behavior
(00:50:00) - Sacrifice and Covenant: Participation, Not Propitiation
(00:55:19) - Law, Covenant, and the Ten Words: Genre Mashup or Divine Treaty?
(00:57:52) - The Three Pillars: Justice, Purity, and Faithfulness
(01:01:22) - Wrap-Up: Identity, Wisdom, and What’s Next
(01:02:40) - New Project Announcement: A Community for Biblical Theology
(01:08:30) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Torah on Trial: Rethinking Law in Ancient Israel - Episode 134

Carey Griffel — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:59:00 +0000

This illuminating episode of Genesis Marks the Spot dives deep into the nature of biblical law—just in time for the Fourth of July. What is law, really? Is the Torah a legislative code or a curated teaching tool for ethical formation? Drawing from Michael LeFebvre’s scholarly work Collections, Codes, and Torah, Carey unpacks how law functioned in the ancient world and how it evolved into what many of us assume today.

From ancient Near Eastern ox-goring laws to the reforms of Josiah and the philosophical pressures of Hellenistic thought, walk through a legal labyrinth to uncover a surprising alignment between Torah and Jesus’ teachings. Was the Torah meant to be prescriptive legislation—or something more dynamic?

This episode sets the stage for an upcoming conversation on J. Harvey Walton’s thesis and what it means to read Genesis 2–3 without modern legal baggage. Spoiler alert: It may change the way you think about sin, covenant, and civilization itself.

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction & July 4th Serendipity
(00:01:34) - Michael LeFebvre’s Work & Relevance
(00:03:26) - Ancient Law in Practice
(00:06:40) - The Wisdom Escape Clause?
(00:09:05) - Defining Law: Code vs. Collection
(00:11:09) - Torah: Code or Collection?
(00:14:25) - Literary, Royal, and Judicial Purposes of Law Writings
(00:17:04) - Aristotle on ANE Law
(00:18:37) - Athenian Influence on Law as Legislation
(00:22:20) - Law in Ancient Israel
(00:25:12) - Oracles, Customs, and Mosaic Delegation
(00:28:14) - Josiah and the Deuteronomic Shift?
(00:34:55) - Law, Covenant, and Ethical Formation
(00:35:58) - Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Persian Era
(00:38:09) - Hellenistic Era and Greek Influence
(00:44:46) - Civilization, Law, and Identity
(00:49:03) - Qumran Community and Prescriptive Rule
(00:50:32) - Jesus, Torah, and the Return of the King
(00:54:36) - Final Reflections & Looking Ahead
(00:58:14) - Community Vision & Outro

Carved in Covenant: Bronze Age Sinai and the Making of a People - Episode 133

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:54:00 +0000

Walk through the ancient Near Eastern background of biblical covenants to arrive at the archetypal Sinai covenant. Picking up where Episode 132 left off, Carey explores the formal elements of Late Bronze Age treaties and how they echo within the biblical text—especially in the Ten Commandments.

Through historical, grammatical, and theological analysis, Carey challenges modern assumptions about covenantal law, explores the dynamic interplay between law and grace, and examines how the Sinai covenant shaped Israel's identity. Are biblical covenants commands, ideals, or something even richer?

Also included are reflections on Abraham’s covenant, the significance of covenant ratification, and a glimpse into upcoming discussions on circumcision, purification, and baptism.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Welcome & Recap of Episode 132
(00:02:49) - Bronze Age Treaties and the Sinai Covenant
(00:06:29) - Prologue and Stipulations
(00:10:10) - Dating the Torah Using Covenant Types
(00:13:35) - Ten Commandments…Aren’t Commands??
(00:21:03) - Witnesses, Sacred Space, and the Ark
(00:24:26) - Blessings, Cursings, and Ratification Rituals
(00:30:40) - Covenant Violation and Narrative Structure
(00:43:06) - Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis 15 Revisited
(00:48:37) - Foreshadowing, Typology, and Misreadings
(00:51:55) - Patterned Reality vs. Systematization
(00:57:22) - Closing Thoughts & Teasers for What’s Next

Covenants Before Contracts: The Ancient Near Eastern Frame - Episode 132

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:34:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey takes listeners beyond prooftexts and into the deep structure of biblical meaning by asking: What kind of thing is a covenant? Drawing from ancient Near Eastern treaty forms, the episode explores how covenantal frames shape not only Genesis but also our understanding of baptism, representation, and the sacramental life.

This isn’t a systematics lecture or a typology sweep—it’s a frame-based investigation that pulls together Bronze Age political rituals, Reformed theology, and embodied covenant signs. Along the way, Carey untangles the difference between representation and substitution, explains why oaths are more than legalities, and opens the door to show how Genesis 2 might be less about a covenant of works and more about a narrative trajectory toward covenant presence…though we still have some work to fully flesh that out, so stay tuned!

Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, or a curious reader of Scripture, this episode will help you see “covenant” not as a theological label, but as a deeply embedded pattern of divine-human encounter.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Bridging Rituals—From Wine to Water
(00:05:21) - What Is a Covenant?
(00:08:17) - Covenant Frames—Systematic vs Ancient Context
(00:17:45) - Excavating the Ancient Near East
(00:20:07) - What Did Covenant Mean in the Ancient World?
(00:26:40) - Suzerain–Vassal Treaties in the Late Bronze Age
(00:39:25) - Historical Prologues and Ritual Structure
(00:48:12) - Ritual and Representation
(01:01:10) - From Blessing to Brutality—Iron Age Covenants
(01:05:26) - Reflection and Forward Motion

Covenant Theology, Baptism, and Biblical Imagery - Episode 131

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:38:00 +0000

What connects wine, wrath, baptism, and the flood? This powerful bridge episode toes out into the deep waters of systematic theology that will lead to biblical theology in order to explore how God's covenantal signs—from the cup to the flood—shape a story of transformation.

The conversation sets up how creation, judgment, and restoration are tied together in symbols like water, wine, and blood, but first, a look into how we think about these using a more modern theological lens. Why and how is the topic of covenant such contested theological ground? Seeing this will help us step into more daring theology…theology that sees what Scripture sees.

Along the way, we’ll look at:

How covenant theology differs between dispensationalism and biblical frameworks
Why it matters that covenants unfold across genres, authors, and history
Whether or not there is a “covenant of works” at the beginning of creation
How allegory and typology impact the way we read the beginning of time

Whether you’re a longtime student of covenant theology or new to the conversation, this episode invites you to reflect on theology and bridging the gaps it might contain.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Sacraments and Systematic Theology
(00:03:31) - Wrath, Salvation, and Flood Motifs
(00:14:37) - Covenant as a Transforming Symbol
(00:15:24) - Introduction to Covenant Theology
(00:21:05) - Covenant vs. Dispensational Frameworks
(00:24:43) - Desiring God Article Review
(00:38:54) - Biblical Theology and Narrative Flow
(00:47:09) - The Creation Covenant Debate
(00:57:04) - Typology, Headship, and Progressive Revelation
(01:00:51) - Sacraments, Signs, and Identity
(01:02:30) - Sign Up for the Newsletter

The Cups of the Cross: Cana, Gethsemane, and Golgotha - Episode 130

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:05:00 +0000

What does it mean that Jesus drank the cup—and said he would not drink again until the kingdom came? What is that mysterious cup that Jesus didn't want to drink? In this final episode on alcohol in Scripture and with the help of Mark Scarlata's book, Wine, Soil, and Salvation, Carey draws together themes of covenant, celebration, and sacrifice as she explores the messianic banquet and the wisdom of wine.

From the wedding at Cana to the crucifixion, wine serves as a sign of joy, a symbol of suffering, and a seal of the kingdom to come. Carey reflects on the contrast between Jesus and John the Baptist, the priestly significance of wine, and the long-awaited marriage supper of the Lamb.

Along the way, you'll discover:

How the Second Temple leads up to the New Testament
Why Jesus' first miracle wasn't random
How wine becomes covenantal communication
What the difference between John and Jesus reveals about divine calling
Why the cup Jesus took matters for every believer
And what the final feast will taste like

This is the final vintage in a full-bodied biblical theology series on alcohol. Come thirsty.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Banquet to Come
(00:03:18) - The Second Temple Vintage
(00:09:46) - Enoch's Feast
(00:14:19) - Jubilee's Joy - Wine in the Passover
(00:15:40) - Walking Past the Second Temple - 2 Baruch/4 Ezra
(00:17:58) - Dead Sea Scrolls - Calendar and New Wine Festival
(00:21:13) - Damascus Rule - Not Messing Around with those Greeks
(00:25:07) - New Testament: Jesus vs John, Epic Showdown!
(00:31:39) - Wedding at Cana: Jesus Opens the Banquet
(00:35:03) - Mary, Eve, and the Hour
(00:39:17) - Dionysus has Nothing on Jesus
(00:40:29) - Old Wine, Old Covenant??
(00:43:17) - "Eucharist"
(00:47:35) - Jesus as the Paschal Lamb--but Wait! There's More!
(00:52:29) - Jesus and the Cup of Wrath
(00:56:11) - The Cup of Suffering
(01:01:29) - The Cup on the Cross
(01:04:04) - Jesus as the True Vine: Abide in Him
(01:06:41) - Beyond the Gates of Eden and Revelation 19

The Cup of Wisdom: Drinking in Creation’s Order - Episode 129

Carey Griffel — Fri, 30 May 2025 11:20:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey uncorks the surprising biblical connection between wine and wisdom. What begins as a reflection on the interconnection of John Walton’s New Explorations and a survey of wisdom literature in Mark Scarlata's Wine, Soil, and Salvation blooms into a deeply interwoven meditation on creation order, covenant, and the spiritual maturity that wine represents in Scripture.

You'll hear how Lady Wisdom's banquet in Proverbs aligns with Walton’s evolving theology of creation-as-order, and how biblical wisdom challenges both moralistic and hedonistic extremes in our view of alcohol. We also tease next week’s exploration into the New Testament, including the contrasting ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist, and what they reveal about God's relational intent.

If you’ve ever wondered what wisdom really looks like with a glass of wine in hand—or why kings shouldn’t drink while the poor might—this is your episode.

Topics Covered:

Covenant as the telos of creation
Wisdom as ordered living in God's world
Wine as blessing, danger, and discernment
Lady Wisdom’s mixed wine in Proverbs 9
Ecclesiastes, Noah, and the post-flood vineyard
A teaser: Why Jesus drank wine but John didn’t

Resources Referenced:

Wine, Soil, and Salvation by Mark Scarlata
The Walton family's work on Genesis and covenant theology
Book of Sirach and Second Temple imagery of feasting

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Welcome to Wisdom's Table
(00:01:24) - A Surprising Connection to Walton’s Theology
(00:04:08) - Recap of the Wine Series So Far
(00:06:29) - Why the Lord’s Table Matters in Biblical Theology
(00:11:02) - Walton’s View: Creation and Order
(00:14:05) - Ancient Covenant, Not Modern Contract
(00:16:23) - Genesis 1–11 as a Subversive Narrative
(00:19:56) - Wine, Wisdom, and Covenant: A Thematic Convergence
(00:23:40) - Proverbs and the Fear of the Lord
(00:25:10) - The Immaturity of Abstaining?
(00:27:44) - Lady Wisdom’s Banquet and Wine in Proverbs 9
(00:31:45) - Wine and Kingship: The Sobriety of Justice
(00:36:12) - Drunkenness, Solitary Drinking, and Biblical Warnings
(00:37:43) - Ecclesiastes and the Vapor of Life
(00:42:46) - Genesis & Covenant vs Ecclesiastes & Toil
(00:44:40) - Work as a Gift, Not a Curse
(00:49:24) - Second Temple Wisdom: Sirach on Wine and Friendship
(00:52:40) - Temple Rituals and Wine Offerings
(00:55:03) - Preview of Next Week: Messianic Banquet Themes
(00:57:13) - Reflections on Wisdom and Discernment
(01:01:30) - What’s Next? Baptism, Feedback, and Prayer Requests

Goodnight, Adam. Goodnight, Eve. Goodnight, Functional Ontology. - Episode 128

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 May 2025 11:54:00 +0000

Reviewing John Walton’s newest entry in the Lost World series: New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis. With clarity and candor, Carey explores Walton’s theological evolution—particularly the move from “functional” to “ordered” creation—and discusses the role of biblical theology in understanding Genesis 1–3.

Carey also responds to popular-level criticisms of Walton’s work, emphasizing the need for good-faith engagement and theological humility. Along the way, she previews ideas from J. Harvey Walton’s dissertation and highlights the foundational theme of covenant, presence, and participation with God—over and above the traditional sin-salvation narrative.

What you'll hear in this episode:

Why biblical theology matters and how it differs from systematic theology
Walton’s shift from “functional” to “ordered” creation
A defense against bizarre and shallow critiques
The Eden debate: temple or divine space?
Adam as priest—or not?
A call for thoughtful, communal theological conversation

This episode is for anyone curious about origins, Genesis 1–3, and how to responsibly engage Scripture in its ancient context.

Blog post on biblical theology mentioned: What Is Biblical Theology?

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Good morning, John Walton.
(00:03:25) - Reclaiming the Lost World: What’s Biblical Theology Anyway?
(00:06:02) - From Functional to Ordered Creation
(00:08:07) - Theology Isn’t a Solo Sport: On Thinking in Community
(00:10:08) - What Is Biblical Theology, Really?
(00:15:51) - Presence, Not Just Salvation: A New Canonical Meta-Narrative
(00:19:51) - Walton, Heiser, and the Danger of Poisoned Wells
(00:22:42) - Critics Gonna Critic: Footnotes, Family, and Exegesis
(00:27:47) - Deploying the Old Testament: Not Redefining, Redeploying
(00:32:24) - Presence, Covenant, and the Real Meta-Narrative
(00:37:59) - Eden: Temple or Divine Space?
(00:41:13) - Is Adam a Priest or Not?
(00:44:13) - Covenant in Genesis 2–3: Is It There?
(00:46:51) - Order Through Covenant, Not Civilization
(00:49:06) - The Purpose of Covenant Isn’t Just Rules
(00:52:28) - Ideas Have Weight: Why Theology Requires Method
(00:54:56) - Redeploying the Sabbath: Practical Theology from Ancient Wisdom
(00:56:43) - Should You Read This Book?
(00:57:37) - What’s Next: Heiser, Divine Council, and More
(00:59:20) - Sign-Off: Not About Finding the Lost Ark…

Wrath and the gods: Deut. 32 and the Mirror of Judgment - Episode 127

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 May 2025 11:48:00 +0000

What does it mean when the Bible speaks of gods being judged? Is wrath just God's angry impulse, or is it the just consequence of misplaced allegiance?

In this episode, Carey dives deep into Deuteronomy 32, reading it not just as a poetic song, but as a cosmic indictment—against Israel, against the nations, and against their gods. Drawing from biblical imagery, ancient Near Eastern thought, and cosmic geography, this episode unpacks why wrath in the biblical story often comes not through lightning bolts, but through the unraveling of covenantal faithfulness.

You'll explore:

Why the mirroring of heaven and earth is key to understanding judgment
How military destruction, pestilence, and exile are linked to divine powers
Whether the Bible is de-mythologizing or re-mythologizing its spiritual worldview
Why God’s wrath is giving people over to what they desire—and how that's an act of divine faithfulness
Connections between Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 91, Habakkuk 3, and 1 Enoch

With respectful engagement of Dr. Michael Heiser’s work and thoughtful interaction with ancient context, this episode opens the gates to a deeper biblical theology of wrath, judgment, and restoration.

A blog post of interest: Gods, Idols, and the Battle for Worship: A Review of Thomas A. Judge’s Other Gods and Idols

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Dropping into Divine Council Worldview
(00:03:25) - Disagreement and Reality of DCW
(00:07:35) - Heaven and Earth: Mirror Realms and Spiritual Authority
(00:13:48) - Are Judges Called 'Elohim'? The Importance of Representation
(00:16:35) - Reading Deuteronomy 32: Enter the Song of Moses
(00:17:37) - Wrath, Covenant, and the Enemy’s Undoing
(00:21:26) - A Literary and Theological Breakdown of Verses 1–14
(00:29:01) - High Places, Honey, and the gods of Bashan
(00:36:05) - The Second Cycle: Idolatry, Demons, and Divine Jealousy
(00:40:17) - Wrath as Relational Turn: Not Just Divine Rage
(00:45:09) - Famine, Pestilence, and Deities of Destruction
(00:48:10) - Psalm 91 and the Exorcism Context
(00:52:35) - God Uses Agents: Angels and Rebels
(00:57:30) - Psalm 58 and Wrath Imagery Expansion
(01:03:29) - Exile, Nations, and Why the gods Lose
(01:07:34) - Final Reflections: Wrath as Faithfulness
(01:08:19) - Outro: Resources, Merch, and What's Next

The Cup of Wrath: Inheriting Your Desire at the Banquet - Episode 126

Carey Griffel — Fri, 09 May 2025 11:52:00 +0000

What does it mean to drink the cup of wrath? And why does Scripture use the language of vineyards, vintage, and wine to describe divine judgment?

In this richly layered episode, Carey walks us through the biblical vineyard—from Genesis to Revelation—where wine is not merely a blessing but a mirror. Here, wrath is not divine temper but a giving-over: the slow fermentation of unrepentant desire, poured back upon those who distilled it.

Drawing from Mark Scarlata, Geoff Johnson, 1 Enoch, and a range of biblical texts, this teaching explores how judgment, joy, and justice are deeply entwined—and how even wrath can be redemptive in the hands of God.

Why wrath is about relationship
How joy and judgment grow from the same vine
What the prophets, the land, and the nations show us about divine patience
Why drinking deeply matters—and who offers the final cup

Featured sources and passages include:

Wine, Soil, and Salvation by Mark Scarlata
Storeroom of Scripture (YouTube, Geoff Johnson)
1 Enoch, Revelation 14 & 16, Hosea, Isaiah 51, Psalm 75, Habakkuk, Deuteronomy 29

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Joy Twisted, Desire Revealed
(00:02:25) - Why Start with Joy?
(00:09:00) - Wrath Is Giving Over
(00:13:14) - Wrath and the Garden: Mercy in Exile
(00:18:25) - Revelation and Habakkuk: Cupbearers and Carnage
(00:22:59) - Wrath in the Prophets
(00:23:56) - Hosea and the False Vineyard
(00:24:47) - Wrath in Torah: Covenant, Land, and Curse
(00:30:15) - The Cup as Inheritance
(00:33:00) - When the Earth Itself Mourns
(00:36:46) - Wine That Foams: Active Fermentation
(00:41:07) - The Cup of Jerusalem and the Nations
(00:44:56) - Babylon as the Golden Cup
(00:46:46) - Habakkuk and the Ethics of Empire
(00:47:40) - Dangerous Banquets and Deadly Feasts
(00:53:18) - Jerusalem as Cupbearer
(00:54:51) - Wine Withheld, Fruit Denied
(00:57:03) - Poetry of Prophets: Salvation Twisted to Curse
(00:58:58) - This Is Not Pagan Rage
(01:00:26) - Fellowship and Judgment: A Shared Table
(01:01:19) - What We Inherit Is What We Wanted
(01:01:47) - Outro & What’s Next

Between the Vines: Soil, Symbol, and the Cups of Consequence - Episode 125

Carey Griffel — Fri, 02 May 2025 11:32:00 +0000

In this mid-series episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey takes a step between the Cup of Joy and the Cup of Wrath—into the vineyard itself. With the help of Mark Scarlata’s Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, we explore how the land, the vine, and the embodied experience of cultivation shape biblical theology.

From Genesis to Leviticus, from midrash to metaphor, we trace the deep roots of wine as both blessing and judgment. Why is God’s wrath described as a cup? Why is the soil cursed? Why does pruning produce better fruit? And how does wine connect us to presence, patience, and promise?

Topics include:

Wine as a metaphor of presence, covenant, and complexity
Frame semantics and why metaphors aren’t just symbols
The soil as sacred, enmeshed with humanity and justice
Noah, the vineyard, and post-flood theology
Sacred time, agrarian calendars, and forbidden fruit

Listen in to understand how the ground beneath the cups tells the story—and why wrath cannot be fully understood without joy.

Website: genesismarksthespot.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Cup of Wrath and a Necessary Pause
(00:05:52) - "What If I Don't Drink Wine?"
(00:07:12) - The Cultural Distance Around Alcohol
(00:09:33) - Mark Scarlata and the Theology of Wine
(00:11:08) - What's Wrong with Oil or Honey?
(00:16:20) - Frame Semantics and Sacred Meaning
(00:21:10) - Wine, Worship, and Covenant Memory
(00:24:24) - Soil and Sin: The Ground We Come From
(00:28:05) - Exile, Wrath, and the Withholding of Presence
(00:30:46) - The Frames of Soil and Wrath
(00:34:55) - Daily Life in the Vineyard
(00:39:27) - Agricultural Calendar of Israel
(00:43:08) - The Vine from Eden: a Jewish midrash
(00:46:36) - Satan and the Vine
(00:47:45) - What About Noah's Wife?
(00:53:01) - Donkeys Love Wine, Too
(00:57:28) - The Sacredness of the Vine
(00:59:41) - Huh. Forbidden Trees...
(01:02:20) - Conclusion: Cultivating Covenant Before Judgment

The Cup of Joy: Wine, Blessing, and Sacred Celebration - Episode 124

Carey Griffel — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:29:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, we trace the theme of wine as joy in Scripture—what it means to share in divine abundance, and how the vine tells a story of provision, blessing, and worship. This is the first of (at least) a trilogy exploring the biblical theology of wine: from joy to judgment to covenant. With stops in Genesis, Psalms, Judges, Proverbs, and Deuteronomy—and a splash of The Princess Bride—we'll see how the Bible’s portrayal of wine is more than metaphor; it’s a theological lens on joy, justice, and God’s hospitality.

Key themes:

Wine in creation and covenant
Tithing and feasting in Deuteronomy
Milk and honey vs. wine and grain
Judges 9 as a joyful refusal of power
Wisdom’s table and the Lord’s Table

Listen in and discover: joy is not just allowed—it’s commanded.

Check out the accompanying blog post with charts! As You Drink: Wine, Worship, and the God Who Feasts With Us

Website: genesismarksthespot.com
Patreon: patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music Credit:
“Marble Machine” by Wintergatan
Visit Wintergatan’s website: wintergatan.net
Watch the original Marble Machine video: YouTube

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Battle of Wits and the Biblical Table
(00:03:30) - What the Bible Says About Wine
(00:04:22) - Terminology Deep Dive: Wine, Strong Drink, New Wine
(00:13:36) - The Joy of Wine: Creation, Culture, and Celebration
(00:15:31) - Wine in Creation & Blessing
(00:17:40) - Judges 9 and the Fable of the Vine
(00:25:14) - The Cedars of Lebanon and Creation Imagery
(00:28:47) - Judges 9:13 – The Gods or God?
(00:33:02) - Wine and Worship in Proverbs & Ecclesiastes
(00:36:30) - Covenantal Cups: Melchizedek, Offerings, and Libations
(00:39:43) - Tithing as Joyful Worship
(00:46:28) - The Levitical Tithe vs. the Poor Tithe
(00:54:04) - Giving Was About More Than 10%
(00:58:57) - A Note on Passover and the Absence of Wine
(00:59:43) - God’s Character Through His Gifts
(01:04:05) - Conclusion & Preview of Two Trees Conference
(01:06:08) - Reflection: Receiving Joy as a Sacred Act

Wine, Judgment, and the Second Adam: Rethinking Noah’s Fall - Episode 123

Carey Griffel — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:05:00 +0000

In this compelling follow-up to our discussion on Noah and the relief of the cursed ground, we examine the puzzling aftermath: Noah’s drunkenness. Was it a relapse into chaos—or something else entirely?

Come walk through the deep theological and symbolic threads tied to wine in Scripture. Drawing on frame semantics, ancient rituals, and cultural insights, we explore how Noah’s actions in Genesis 9 parallel, reflect, and perhaps even invert the fall of Adam in Genesis 3. This episode also dives into the surprising history of alcohol in human civilization and Scripture—touching on Noah, Isaiah, Melchizedek, and more.

Key Topics:

The biological, social, and spiritual functions of alcohol
Noah’s drunkenness and the literary echoes of Genesis 3
Is Noah a second Adam—or something more?
The role of wine in culture, covenant, ritual, and vulnerability
Frame semantics and its value in biblical interpretation
How judgment reflects divine alignment—or divergence

Referenced Resources:

Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol by Iain Gately
Genesis 9 Frame Semantics Study Guide: Between Curse and Covenant: How Frame Semantics Reshapes Our View of Noah’s Drunkenness
Website: genesismarksthespot.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Intro & Recap
(00:01:18) - God works with creation
(00:02:07) - Setting Up the Big Question
(00:03:02) - Alcohol in History & Theology
(00:04:48) - The Downsides of Alcohol
(00:06:19) - Evolutionary Perspectives on Drinking
(00:08:45) - Why Do Humans Drink?
(00:14:04) - Positive Functions of Alcohol
(00:18:54) - Did Beer Come Before Bread?
(00:22:07) - Alcohol in the Bible
(00:24:34) - Wine in Genesis: Mixed Messages
(00:27:14) - Wine as a Gift of Creation
(00:28:30) - Wine as Judgment and Folly
(00:30:15) - Framing Drunkenness Theologically
(00:33:14) - Noah’s Tent and Frame Semantics
(00:37:08) - Drunkenness Frame Elements
(00:41:06) - Echoes of Eden: The Fall Frame
(00:43:09) - Comparing the Two Stories
(00:49:47) - Three Interpretive Options
(00:54:17) - Noah’s Surprising Role
(00:56:17) - Humanity’s Evolving Role
(00:59:02) - Final Reflections & Call to Respond

Eden to Ararat: A Ground-clearing Look at the Genesis Curse - Episode 122

Carey Griffel — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:39:00 +0000

Did the Flood reverse the curse of the ground? Carey builds a compelling case for a concept that’s often overlooked—or outright dismissed: that the Flood narrative in Genesis 6–9 isn't just about judgment, but also about restoration—specifically the cleansing of the cursed ground from Genesis 3.

Carey weaves together frame semantics, Hebrew wordplay, literary design (including an overlooked chiasm), and the theological role of Noah as a second Adam. She also unpacks how concepts like "serving the ground," the introduction of agriculture, and the story’s structural symmetry all speak to a larger narrative of renewal.

You’ll also hear:

A reexamination of Noah’s wife and the role of women in Genesis traditions
The conceptual link between Adam, Cain, and Noah through their relationship with the adamah
A chiasm that might not end where you think it does
A teaser for Carey’s upcoming contribution to the Two Trees Podcast Conference

Grab your study guide on frame semantics (linked below) and share it with your Bible study group or church!

Printable from Episode 121, direct download link: Frame Semantics Study Guide

Beyond the Gates of Eden Conference: Studies — The Two Trees Podcast

Contact Carey:

Website: genesismarksthespot.com
Facebook: Genesis Marks the Spot
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Let us know your thoughts: D...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Intro & Frame Semantics Recap
(00:01:36) - Framing the core question: Did the flood cleanse the curse?
(00:05:49) - Adam, Cain, and the Curse Connection
(00:06:22) - Noah’s Wife & the Power of Naming
(00:13:57) - Gender, Blame, and Literary Implications
(00:16:15) - Ground, Man, and Hebrew Wordplay
(00:20:39) - From Fruit to Bread: What Changed?
(00:24:10) - Cain, Adam, and Failed Soil Servants
(00:29:03) - Introducing Noah: A New Hope?
(00:30:18) - The Flood’s Chiasm and Literary Design
(00:34:00) - Noah: Man of the Soil and Mirror to Adam
(00:36:26) - The Chiasm is Longer Than You Think
(00:37:48) - Curse Reversed? What God Says After the Flood
(00:41:52) - Theological Implications of Agriculture
(00:43:48) - Noah’s Covenant and Re-Creation Motifs
(00:48:02) - Scholarly opinion on man of righteousness/man of the ground
(00:50:14) - Drunkenness, Judgment, and the New Role of Noah
(00:51:38) - Is This Another Fall? Or Something Better?
(00:54:36) - Righteousness and Restoration
(00:56:10) - Final Thoughts: Reversing the Curse and Rethinking Sin
(00:57:40) - Next Steps: Jesus, Wine, and the Conference

Devil in the Details: Rest, Relief, and Frame Semantics - Episode 121

Carey Griffel — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:38:00 +0000

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, we finally dive into a long-anticipated topic: frame semantics—a cognitive linguistic tool that could revolutionize how we approach biblical texts. From exploring how the word "rest" is more than just a Sabbath nap, to rethinking the identity of the Satan in Job and why the Sons of God are unique, this episode is a thoughtful journey into how meaning is framed, shaped, and sometimes flattened when we don’t consider conceptual structures behind words.

The usual truth-conditional semantics (where meaning hinges on objective truth) contrasts with the more holistic and contextual approach of frame semantics which is a better fit for the approach of biblical theology. Whether you’re a seasoned theology nerd or new to these ideas, this episode will challenge how you read Scripture—and may just spark your next Bible study breakthrough.

Topics Covered:

What is frame semantics, and why does it matter for Bible study?
How our language frames the way we think (and vice versa)
The nuanced difference between “rest” and “relief”
Why “the Satan” in Job might not be who you think he is
Cognitive vs. structural approaches to Scripture
How to use this tool in your own studies (and a call to collaborate!)

Don’t forget to download the handout mentioned in the episode for a visual aid to the concepts discussed. Want to help develop the next version? Carey is looking for collaborators!
Download link: https://genesismarksthespot.com/downloads/frame-semantics

Feedback or framework requests? Reach out at GenesisMarksTheSpot.com or connect on Facebook!

**My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Noah’s Name and the Rest of the Story - Episode 120

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 10:40:00 +0000

You know his name. You know the flood. You might even think you know why Noah was given that name in the first place. But what if I told you… there's some strange artifcacts with ‘rest’ in Genesis 5:29? What if the comfort Lamech longed for wasn’t exactly what Noah delivered? Or maybe it was more than he was looking for...

Today, we’re digging into the meaning of Noah’s name, the toil of the world he was born into, and the rest—and what form of it—that followed. Because as it turns out…

This is the rest of the story.

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Twu Wuv, Twoil, and the "Curse" of Genesis 3:16 - Episode 119

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:27:00 +0000

As You Wish… Or Maybe Not? Rethinking Genesis 3:16.

Genesis 3:16 has been a theological battleground for centuries—was Eve cursed? Does this verse establish male rule? And why did the ESV change its translation again? In this episode, we dive deep into the Hebrew text, ancient interpretations, and modern theological debates surrounding this passage.

We’ll explore:
Rabbinic and early Christian views on Eve’s "curse"
Whether Genesis 3:16 prescribes or describes male rulership
The ESV translation shift—what it means and why it matters
The surprising implications of Hebrew grammar (Hendiadys, anyone?)
How this passage connects to the broader biblical story

From Augustine to Chrysostom, from the Hebrew text to modern scholarship, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most debated verses in Scripture. Whether you lean complementarian, egalitarian, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge assumptions and spark new insights.

The Book of Eden: The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3: God Didn't Curse Eve (or Adam) or Limit Woman in Any Way (The Eden Book Series): Fleming, Bruce C. E., Fleming PhD, Joy, Hagemeyer, Joanne Guarnieri: 9780972575928: Amazon.com: Books

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ L
ink to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

There and Back Again: Scripture in Both Directions, with Spencer Owen - Episode 118

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:18:00 +0000

A conversation with Spencer Owen about reading the Bible from the OT to the NT and from the NT to the OT. Do we need Jesus in order to read the Old Testament?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Slavery: The Upside-Down Kingdom - Episode 117

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:50:00 +0000

Isn't it a bit weird that Christians are called slaves? Isn't slavery a bad thing?

Tyranno(saurus) Rex: Do We Only Rule Animals? - Episode 116

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:32:00 +0000

Genesis 1:28 - Is human rule meant only for animals and not for other humans? What is biblical government? Tying in some modern social psychology with Jonathan Haidt's moral foundation theory, I offer an encouragement to political engagement in a self-giving way rather than engaging in one-up-manship.

Not to 50!: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime? - Episode 115

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:00 +0000

What if we've all got an overdeveloped sense of vengeance? How are guilt and justice portrayed in the Bible, especially in relation to God's character? What does shame have to do with (legal) guilt? How do these concepts develop? And...why does Genesis 1-11 seem so Mesopotamian??

Nakedness, Shame, and Guilt - Episode 114

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:56:00 +0000

What's up with shame in Genesis 2 but not 3, and why were Adam and Eve naked in the garden? What were the garments of skin (and what's with these garments of glory)?

Jordan Peterson: Do I Believe in God? - Episode 113

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:00 +0000

Ruminations of a recent lecture and Jordan B. Peterson's new book, We Who Wrestle with God. Tyranny, slavery, sovereignty, calling, and conscience--oh, and the best way to cook a steak.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

We Who Wrestle with God: We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Finishing the Dangerous Parables of Enoch (Part 4) - Episode 112

Carey Griffel — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:02:00 +0000

Part 2 of the third Parable of Enoch. In this parable, we find some interesting bits about Noah and what's behind the flood, and ruminate on salvation, critical thinking, dangerous books, and what's upcoming on the podcast. Bit of a rambly episode at the end, but just opening the door a bit to consider some thoughts and importance of where we place our foundations.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Michael Heiser's Reader's Commentary, Parables of Enoch: https://www.amazon.com/Companion-Book-Enoch-Commentary-Parables/dp/1948014416

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Wisdom and Works: Parables of Enoch (Part 3) - Episode 111

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:19:00 +0000

Part 1 of the third Parable of Enoch. (Guys, I tried to fit it into one episode, but the more the merrier, right??) In this parable, we find some interesting bits about Noah and start to see what's behind the flood, and end up ruminating about what this text tells us about salvation--especially between OT and NT. (To be continued next week!)

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Son of Man: Parables of Enoch (Part 2) - Episode 110

Carey Griffel — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:14:00 +0000

Who is the Son of Man and why is this Jesus's preferred title for himself? An overview of the second part of 1 Enoch, the Parables of Enoch, with a reading of the second parable.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

The Messiah: Parables of Enoch (Part 1) - Episode 109

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 12:04:00 +0000

Is 1 Enoch a Christian writing? Some believe so because of its close description of the Son of Man and other messianic imagery, particularly in the Parables of Enoch. An overview of the second part of 1 Enoch, the Parables of Enoch, with a reading of the first parable.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Puzzling Donkeys in the Bible - Episode 108

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 12:55:00 +0000

What do donkeys have to do with Genesis 3? A survey of donkeys in the Bible and ancient Near East with a view to history and symbolism and explaining some difficult passages: the breaking of the firstborn donkey's neck in Exodus 13 and Balaam's jenny in Numbers 22.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Donkeys in the Biblical World: https://www.amazon.com/Donkeys-Biblical-World-Ceremony-Archaeology/dp/1575062135

An Overview + Reading of 1 Enoch: The Book of the Watchers - Episode 107

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:00 +0000

An overview of 1 Enoch with a reading of the Book of the Watchers. Bonus: comment on Timothy Alberino and Blurry Creatures' Enoch commentary.

18:32 - Reading of the Book of the Watchers.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Michael Heiser's Reader's Commentary, Book of the Watchers: https://www.amazon.com/Companion-Book-Enoch-Commentary-Watchers/dp/1948014300

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Origin of Sin: Genesis 6 Historical Interpretation, Part 4 - Episode 106

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:36:00 +0000

What did the ancient Israelite think about the origin of evil and sin? What did the first temple Jew think about the origin of evil and sin? What about the rabbis? Let's check out the literature, and track this topic so that we can better understand the Reformation's understanding of Genesis 6:1-4.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Sons of God from OT to NT: https://www.genesismarksthespot.com/blog/sons-of-god-from-ot-to-nt/

Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angels-History-Judaism-Christianity/dp/0521853788

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Poor Reading Comprehension is Unbiblical: A Review of "The Unbiblical Realm" - Episode 105

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:27:00 +0000

A review of Heath Henning's book, The Unbiblical Realm: Refuting the Divine Council of Michael Heiser's Deuteronomy 32 Worldview. Spoiler alert: I give this book negative stars.

Henning can't even present Dr. Heiser's understanding of the word elohim correctly, which is one of the most basic things that one must get "right" in order to understand much of what Dr. Heiser teaches. (Note: If you want to critique someone, you need to get what they say correct. Otherwise, don't bother.)

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Livestream mentioned in episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KktPfR7e71c

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Let's Blame Augustine: Genesis 6 Historical Intepretation, Part 3 - Episode 104

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:54:00 +0000

How much blame does Augustine deserve for the Sethite view of Genesis 6:1-4? A discussion on why I think the "angelic" view of Genesis 6 should be primary, and how the "human" view got solidified over time. Spoiler alert: it's politics.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Allegory: Genesis 6 Historical Interpretation, Part 2 - Episode 103

Carey Griffel — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 12:53:00 +0000

Who were the sons of God and the nephilim? What about the giants? The earliest views up to the human/Sethite view in historical interpretation, with a special focus on allegory and what it is and how we might look at it. (Skipping Augustine because he needs his own episode!)

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Pilgrims in a Holy Land -
The Epistle of Barnabas: Allegorical Interpretation and the Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvU6kRikkWA

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Genesis 6 Historical Interpretation, Part 1 - Episode 102

Carey Griffel — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:44:00 +0000

Who were the sons of God and the nephilim? What about the giants? What is the earliest interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4? When do we get the human/Sethite view? Historical interpretation and its development up to the first couple of centuries A.D.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

How Singleness Teaches Us, with Mike Chu - Episode 101

Carey Griffel — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:38:00 +0000

Continuing the conversation about singleness--this time with Mike Chu. What does the message of singleness as eschatological tell us about marriage and childlessness and how to value and interact within our relationships? A fantastic conversation that opens the doors to listening to one another and seeing how we reflect Jesus in our midst.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Resurrection Year: https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Year-Turning-Broken-Beginnings/dp/0849964806/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31I31J9HTQBHZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wY1avy4hKsyMGX8_gCyam6uu6P3quBrQor5hPY4mEi2RgvwhJIDHlMRL3EAXxSDQojoCkR4zEI4m88_GEpW-rY75Q78oym_bRMpg3Ao6R8O8UzFZsY0At0zFNviH7SUabJy8SFfp4ebHZn2q93ZizDGDXO7VXVDolS2LA8mHCC9Y3MoI-qhYkomEQ0TjRApkQ7X79uVvRXkq0DQ-zL0rKltalnCvVJocNd8KSzk1NhM.IUtzuSUECdda6ojXLtMaRuHat5xlqehdMzrHh1b89OA&dib_tag=se&keywords=resurrection+year&qid=1731616711&sprefix=resurrection+ye%2Caps%2C268&sr=8-1

The Making of Us: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Us-Become-Doesnt-Planned-ebook/dp/B07DT956GN/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=hxlJv&content-id=amzn1.sym.05575cf6-d484-437c-b7e0-42887775cf30&pf_rd_p=05575cf6-d484-437c-b7e0-42887775cf30&pf_rd_r=135-0557468-6927815&pd_rd_wg=kayqC&pd_rd_r=7f042134-251c-4a81-be61-d5b95564fa08&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Divine Council Worldview vs LDS Theology - Episode 100

Carey Griffel — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:50:00 +0000

A comparison of LDS theology with biblical theology, especially focused on the divine council worldview. A recounting of the LDS story of creation and salvation (otherwise known as "exaltation") and looking at how these display the differences between Christianity and "Mormonism."

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Angelic DNA, Hybrids, and Calvinball - Episode 099

Carey Griffel — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:48:00 +0000

Jesus says that angels in heaven don't marry, so how could the sons of God in Genesis 6 be spirit beings? How many generations does it take for "Nephilim DNA" to be diluted? How do we get Nephilim after the flood? Modern DNA vs. ancient bloodlines--what's the difference? And what does Calvinball have to do with any of that?

Singleness and the Eschaton - Episode 098

Carey Griffel — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 11:45:00 +0000

Is singleness what we all have to look forward to in the eschaton? Reviewing Danielle Treweek's book, The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church. The church has traditionally seen singleness to be THE "eschatological" view, but more recent history has flipped this on its head and now marriage is often elevated in ways that are potentially problematic. Perhaps there's a third way of seeing the eschaton's imagery rather than a battle between singleness OR marriage.

The Meaning of Singleness: https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Singleness-Retrieving-Eschatological-Contemporary/dp/1514004852/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3O7I48NPC0UP3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YXEpVQQ-V5QUCrn3I_qmqA.TmatIccOtPiAxgArStrdgTqjvnEoliAni1zZQygUbyQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=danielle+treweek&qid=1729798176&sprefix=danielle+treweek%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Homosexuality and the Kingdom of God - Episode 097

Carey Griffel — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:15:00 +0000

Answering the question begun in episode 92 about homosexuality and the kingdom of God. While there are differences in sexuality between the ancient world and today, let's encourage the development of a biblical imagination and the continual turning to Christ, our King.

Mark Ward on Homosexuality in the NT (language warning and adult themes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcnWOgoYfsU&t=5s&ab_channel=MarkWard

Redefining Marriage, Part 3: From Soul Ties to Lust - Episode 096

Carey Griffel — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:54:00 +0000

Marriage according the Bible: Continuity between the Old Testament to the New Testament to the church to today. Are we actually "thinking biblically"? Do our ideas about sex and marriage reflect what the Bible says? Inheritance, virginity, the divine council worldview, and the idea that Jesus expanded the Torah.

Jason Staples and Matt. 5:27-28: https://www.jasonstaples.com/bible/most-misinterpreted-bible-passages-1-matthew-527-28/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Redefining Marriage, Part 2: What About the Patriarchy? - Episode 095

Carey Griffel — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:55:00 +0000

Marriage according to the Bible: What was adultery in the Old Testament? Why is it only for women?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Redefining Marriage, Part 1: The Math is Wrong - Episode 094

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:15:00 +0000

Marriage according to the Bible. Beginning a survey of passages about marriage and defining marriage in the ancient Near East: what is a concubine and how did marriage "happen"? What's inheritance got to do with it? Why are polygamy and other "unsavory" practices in the Torah?

Marriage as Covenant: https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Covenant-Biblical-Developed-Malachi/dp/1620324563/ref=sr_1_1?crid=326QZJ7E4KXN1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2VI_JoGMAM15Uncw5k4sJS-hmOkmatHID5o8OZxfpNg.vERNi8IIY233ESckoVK-wgA63eQTbcLLIFifw_vzPhM&dib_tag=se&keywords=marriage+as+covenant+hugenberger&qid=1727381819&sprefix=marriage+as+covenant+hugenberge%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Ethics of Embodiment - Episode 093

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:30:00 +0000

Continuing the conversation about sexuality with a detour into the topic of physical embodiment as seen from Jesus, the gospel, sacrament, and community. Do you see creation as cursed? Are the sacraments "just" symbolic? Two connected questions that with the message of the gospel can help us address our discomforts with our bodies.

Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Triumph-Modern-Self-Individualism-ebook/dp/B089DNYCDY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JEO4LXC43NL8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.n7ClJSV_Ak5yIAAOfQjcZbTbWGEAai2Zs3V-T1OjaMQkNAAKwHG4O8z7t-S0sT6UWnN24LEVuXwVgsfDhDGeFqXgvpo88nhNf3hsx6kg0TR7yeh5z4A0qbDZOovf2T2_zRTOad6N7jh2NIPXK03M69bVL9owaZDmcTjbPCOL--C0DqD9YEHaZo_8ZPhBhhpJ.TvWT7w7_mCC4bJS0fSd2PsohBqEQ9OHOSXRdRC_WQq8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+rise+and+triumph+of+the+modern+self&qid=1726803170&sprefix=rise+and+triump%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Genesis of Gender, by Abigail Favale - Episode 092

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 11:43:00 +0000

How do we understand gender identity from a biblical perspective?

Focusing on the topic of gender and how it came to be today, I discuss the book the Genesis of Gender by Abigail Favale. She explains the "gender paradigm" and encourages us to see a "Genesis paradigm" in relation to how we see ourselves and our bodies.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The Genesis of Gender by Abigail Favale: https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Gender-Christian-Theory-ebook/dp/B0B788FF4P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZGFZ2I8ZMQCK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.j1LrLhnaMWMJu3WjdTEGlB3UVYx9h4HoH58TsSXYfQTkHO9FN87x7HTCwtdkxODFnjylTt4LAmPTk8NiRdU26W8RwfPwgoFua5pOsLJUh8aOfYlcnAWvbA3a2ggvmi7FNxgBrEtMFguSn2RiODZQAAr0BczXD7oUTF3BSkkH-vQM9Y-C2dcUGWr5UuXnBL-6b1Qv7IsXYDKQMR2dvvCSi43y3LQWFqJlPd181RQ02yY.mUGQ-bHZL2moVXEI-3j5Iq6zX0zW3DUr2kpCMf0Y6MA&dib_tag=se&keywords=genesis+of+gender&qid=1726187422&sprefix=genesis+of+gende%2Caps%2C413&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Modern Minds and Cosmic Geography - Episode 091

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 11:39:00 +0000

Seeing the cosmos as an interconnected whole does not come naturally to us today. This is a source of many of our struggles with understanding the divine council worldview, the image of God, and the deep meaning of ritual. A discussion on science, its nature and uses, and kicking some ideas around to stir up our minds to get that ancient context in our heads as we read Scripture. The raqia, thresholds, boundaries, and carrying our biblical imaginations from today into yesterday.

A Divine Council by Any Other Name, with Joshua Sherman - Episode 090

Carey Griffel — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:33:00 +0000

Responding to Doreen Virtue's critique of Dr. Michael Heiser. Definitions, definitions, definitions. Elohim, polytheism, divine....what do they mean? What did Dr. Heiser mean by them? Can a functional view of these terms help clear the waters?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Previous Critique Review on Faith Unaltered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmO60IOeUXg

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Nephilim: Before and Also Afterward, with TJ Steadman - Episode 089

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 11:03:00 +0000

The giant questions: what is the seed of the serpent, who are the Nephilim, and how is it that the flood didn't wipe them out?

Intersecting with the concepts of the divine council worldview and the identity of the sons of God (are they different from Genesis 6 to Genesis 11/Deuteronomy 32, and were they always rebellious?), and how all this fits in with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the body of Christ!

Come listen to some answers in Genesis from TJ Steadman.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Answers to Giant Questions: https://giantanswers.com/index.html

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Highlights of Bible Study, with BT Wallace - Episode 088

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 11:38:00 +0000

Couldn't resist another episode about notetaking, highlighting, and Bible translations!

Find some fun recommendations below! (No, I don't get kickbacks from the links, they are just there for you to check out what we're talking about!)

Bible Brights Accu-Dry: https://tinyurl.com/biblebrights

Zebra Mildliners: https://tinyurl.com/zebramildlinerhighlighterss

Prismacolors: https://tinyurl.com/prismacolorcolors

Ink Joy pens: https://tinyurl.com/inkjoyballpoint

Every Man's Study Bible: https://tinyurl.com/everymansstudybible

ESV Scripture Journal, Illuminated (full set): https://tinyurl.com/ESVscripturejournal

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Book of Enoch and Garden Eschatology, with Anthony Delgado - Episode 087

Carey Griffel — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 12:11:00 +0000

Should Christians read the book of Enoch? What use could it have? Can a book not in our canon of Scripture contain the gospel?

A conversation with Anthony Delgado ranging from the exile to the end of time.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Anthony Delgado's website: https://www.anthonydelgado.net/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Liturgy Through Time: Dead Sea Scrolls, Part 2 - Episode 086

Carey Griffel — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:59:00 +0000

Genesis interpretation in the Dead Sea Scrolls: the "Words of the Luminaries": (4Q504) and a "Paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus" (4Q422).

The Words of the Luminaries is a set of weekly liturgical prayers and the Paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus is in the genre of "rewritten Bible," perhaps used as or with a homily. These are excellent texts to investigate how the people of Qumran and other Jews were thinking about the creation account. What aspects were they bringing out for use and application outside Scripture? Some of the points might surprise us, and they can lead to some interesting conversation.

Bonus topic for this week: an encouragement for liturgical prayer!

Genesis Through Time: Dead Sea Scrolls, Part 1 - Episode 085

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:42:00 +0000

The Dead Sea Scrolls were an amazing find for the study of the Bible and understanding the context of Jesus' time. They can also help shed light on the ways that the biblical text is used through time by different communities. This can help us understand this strange time we are in today, where we have so much information about the context of the Bible and we discover that historical interpretation is often quite different from interpretation at the time of the final form of the text.

Do you want to help others learn about the context of the Bible, and why that's important for our understanding of this ancient text? The people in our churches who might feel like this is a threat to their faith might actually have a kind of point that we need to acknowledge, so maybe there's a better way we can help curb our tendencies to be too forceful and to understand where others are in their views. By understanding people better, we can then communicate to them better, and better communication is the key to better community. I hope this episode is a blessing to you as you try to teach and communicate the truths of Scripture to others.

Inspiration Theories, with Mike Chu - Episode 084

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:44:00 +0000

What is the role of the human in inspiration? Are the Scriptures the "inspired word of God" via dictation or "holy download" to the human writer? Is there room for editing and compiling?

Discussing the dictation view, the verbal plenary view, and the dynamic view of inspiration. Each view holds God in high regard, but how do they portray humanity?

AND! Exciting news from the AWKNG School of Theology! Tune in to the end to hear all about it!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

AWKNG School of Theology: https://awkngschooloftheology.com/

Donald Bloesch: https://tinyurl.com/Bloesh-Holy-Scripture

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Two Themes, Two Days, Two Goats; with Caleb Lewis - Episode 083

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:43:00 +0000

The Passover and the Day of Atonement both have their fulfillment in Jesus, but how do we see this in Genesis? Tracing the twin themes of the "two goats" and the exodus through the book of Genesis leads us right to the epicenter of Christological typology.

Check out Caleb's new book, and his podcast, The Bible in Context.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Through the Waters, A Biblical Theology of the Book of Genesis: https://tinyurl.com/Through-the-Waters

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Genesis of Exodus, with Caleb Lewis - Episode 082

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:31:00 +0000

Exodus begins in Genesis 1. Caleb Lewis joins me to discuss the many exoduses of Genesis. I can almost guarantee you'll find something here that you never thought about before that will shed light on the continuity of the Torah and how it points to Jesus and the church.

Check out Caleb's new book, and his podcast, The Bible in Context.

Mesopotamian Flood Stories - Episode 081

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:14:00 +0000

The first and primary parallel flood accounts to Genesis are the flood stories from Mesopotamia. Seeing how close these stories are to the narrative in Genesis will give us plenty to discuss in the future, and this will also help us investigate the question of the "many" flood accounts of the ancient world.

Reading the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Atrahasis Epic along with commentary on how this can begin to inform our Bible study...and as always, our understanding of God!

Flood Overview: JEDP to Chiasm, with Troy Yurchak - Episode 080

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:47:00 +0000

The more I study the Bible, the more I come back to the same question: Who is God, and what does the Bible tell us about Him? Looking at the flood narrative from the common paradigm and flipping it on its head to include a more expansive view of our relationship to God and what he wants for us. Troy Yurchak brings us a delightful symmetry of the flood narrative in contrast to the documentary hypothesis (the idea that the flood story is a combination of two sources).

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: https://tinyurl.com/Literary-Structure-of-the-OT

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Liturgical Chiasm of Genesis 1, with Troy Yurchak - Episode 079

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:02:00 +0000

How does the structure of Genesis 1 work as a chiasm, and what does that mean for our view of liturgy--what it is and why we do it? Troy Yurchak joins me for this great discussion that unexpectedly combines literary design with liturgy and discipleship!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: https://tinyurl.com/Literary-Structure-of-the-OT

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Flood Your Bible Study with Good Note-Taking - Episode 078

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:09:00 +0000

It's time to discuss two important things: the flood, and note-taking. Broad points about the flood are brought up, and then we do a deep dive into my method of note-taking and why you should do it, too.

**Blog post with pictures of my notes! https://www.genesismarksthespot.com/blog/note-taking/

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

How to Take Smart Notes: https://tinyurl.com/Zettlekasten

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Lifting the Curtain of Figurative Language - Episode 077

Carey Griffel — Fri, 31 May 2024 12:41:00 +0000

Is Genesis 1 poetry? A look at biblical poetry and elements of metaphor, ending on the question of what it means to be "blotted out."

The Impossibility of Calculating the Date of Creation - Episode 076

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 May 2024 11:27:00 +0000

Apologies to Bishop Ussher, but it is impossible to calculate the age of the earth using biblical statistics. I don't care if you are a young earth creationist or an old earth creationist or somewhere in between or nowhere else, but the Bible's genealogies cannot be used in scientific calculations. Hitting also a bit of information of the history of young earth creationism and its connections to Seventh-Day Adventism and scientific fraud.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

God of the Gaps: https://tinyurl.com/God-of-the-Gaps

The Creationists: https://tinyurl.com/The-Creationists

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Never Go in Against a Serpent When Death is on the Line - Episode 075

Carey Griffel — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:37:00 +0000

Death before the fall? It began when Eve decided and they both ate...or did it? It might not be that simple. Plus, in studying, you must have learned that man is mortal, but what about animals? If they weren't immortal, then how could creation have been a paradise? Why do we suddenly get "permission" to eat meat after the flood of all places? (Hint: it's not new.) Debunking common "certainties" and giving a look at Joshua John Van Ee's disseration, Death in the Garden: An Examinatin of Original Immortality, Vegetarianism, and Animal Peace in the Hebrew Bible and Mesopotamia. We may not be able to find out who is right, but we can have fun thinking about it.

**https://www.genesismarksthespot.com/blog/is-all-creation-cursed/

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Names of God, Part 2: YHWH - Episode 074

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 May 2024 15:04:00 +0000

BONUS questions this week: is Jesus Yahweh and what is the filioque? Because I had some extra time on my hands after not finishing last week's episode properly, those seemed some fun additions to the conversation. Talking about the divine economy before digging into the pronunciation of the name YHWH, when it stopped being pronounced, what does it mean that God is the Lord of Hosts, did the patriarchs know the name Yahweh, and why do Genesis 1 and 2 have different names for God?

A Survey on the Names of God: The Fear of Isaac - Episode 073

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 May 2024 12:15:00 +0000

A survey on the names, titles, and designations of God in the Old Testament. What do they mean? What do they reveal about the character and nature of God? In particular, why is God called The Fear of Isaac?

Exile: Life During Death - Episode 072

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:22:00 +0000

Genesis 3, the Passover, the exile, and Jesus. How do these relate to the wilderness, Babylon, Assyria, and why one always goes "down" to Egypt? Each of us can relate to the theme of exile in some way, and yet the prevalence of this concept might escape us when we read our Bibles. Understanding exile can help us understand Jesus and our lives today.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Exile, An Annotated Bibliography: https://www.genesismarksthespot.com/blog/exile-an-annotated-bibliography/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Cautions of Chiasms, with Mike Chu - Episode 071

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:36:00 +0000

Part two of the conversation from episode 70, we discuss the theodicies that Job's friends provide, the idea of Job as a member of the divine council, the structure of the book of Job, and a caution about structuring Scripture without a full knowledge of the language originally used.

Also, some information about what I'm up to beyond this podcast and some thoughts on how you can support me, and why. A big thank you to those of you who do!!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

This week's episode of Pilgrims in a Holy Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydBkKII_nR0&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Who is Leviathan: Chaos Monster, Satan, or Job? with Mike Chu - Episode 070

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:09:00 +0000

If Job is a second Adam, then the satan in Job must be the serpent from the Garden, right? In our previous conversation about Job as a second Adam, we didn't get into nearly enough talk about the satan reflecting or being the serpent from the garden, after all. Is it an I-told-you-so moment?? Exploring that further in this episode, we come to some surprising reflections on Leviathan and chaos in general.

Divine Council Worldview: Comparing Translations with Mike Chu - Episode 069

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:47:00 +0000

Comparing translations of passages that touch on the Divine Council Worldview. Why do some Bible translations have "sons of God" in Deut. 32:8 and others have "sons of Israel"? Can humans be elohim? What's with the "so-called gods" in 1 Cor. 8:5?

Exile and Forging Identity - Episode 068

Carey Griffel — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:30:00 +0000

We hear it, and it's true: we are made to be kings on the earth, and then we lost our dominion, exiled from our true home. But there is hope in our Messianic King who sets all to right!

But being reconciled to our true home is not all there is to the concept of exile. Reviewing biblical theology books on exile, talking about the Deuteronomistic history, and discussing the formation of the nation of Israel helps us see exile in the scope of both narrative and history. Are you being transformed in exile?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Bibliography: https://www.genesismarksthespot.com/blog/exile-an-annotated-bibliography/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Torah Marks the Spot, with Lois Tverberg - Episode 067

Carey Griffel — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:48:00 +0000

A conversation with Dr. Lois Tverberg about reading the Bible in Jesus' Jewish context: haftara, the importance of the prophetic literature, and the theme of kingship in the Bible.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Links from Dr. Tverberg's blogs:

Can We Call Jesus Rabbi?: https://ourrabbijesus.com/articles/can-we-call-jesus-rabbi/

Reading the Bible in Synagogue: https://ourrabbijesus.com/articles/triennial-reading/

What It Means to Fulfill the Law: https://engediresourcecenter.com/2018/11/09/what-it-means-to-fulfill-the-law-parts-1-2/

Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Job, a Righteous Dude (with Mike Chu) - Episode 066

Carey Griffel — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:42:00 +0000

Continuing a conversation about Job with Mike Chu about the message of the book of Job, its application to us, and vindication in speaking to God honestly.

Job as a Second Adam (with Mike Chu) - Episode 065

Carey Griffel — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:43:00 +0000

Job as a second Adam and other fascinating things like the dating of Job's trials, what's up with "the fear of the Lord," and a new look at the satan in Job; you won't want to miss this conversation with Mike Chu!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Sermon series on Job: https://granitecity.org/connect/news-and-events/tag/yelling-at-god/?fbclid=IwAR24GyxDLU4xqUoeu5mvKqLfR1hTlhBsn3jhqGRJxycrOWoRIWSSKfiuiEc

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Sin Offering, with Spencer Owen - Episode 064

Carey Griffel — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:27:00 +0000

What is "the sin offering"? What does it do? Why don't we see it in Genesis? What does it mean for the work of Jesus? Spencer Owen joins me for a discussion about this oft-misunderstood offering.

Is the LSB a Good Bible Translation? - Episode 063

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:31:00 +0000

Bible translations: why do we have so many of them and how do we vet them for our use? One of the newest translations out there is the LSB, the Legacy Standard Bible. Both John MacArthur and Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis (and the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum) say that the LSB is the "best" translation currently available. How does this translation actually stack up to other versions out there?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The Journey from Texts to Translations: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Texts-Translations-Origin-Development/dp/0801027993/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36J1AB1Z2ZCMD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ftvyY9bZifzzqg9Q2H5clR57CDD2SBRtm2ehopDl1WYqd66C3i_hvJJPaK6tpQUuND7JZXc1nCeehYBDRWrQNjJKFkvDdcIFq4BOKw7DOSXZybw9p31c3Kn44vDOWERF-rbWdS2ied-cx7ZbZ-YkOT644HjlAkWxANVrlGgCIV8RtItApGg_JVB8FkCfFltzcE29h9nEwa3wE6IAmZ6XQ1NuYwK2lOfO9J_yxg64-pE.TqkAQSUEWd8Ks6I01cCo2sNMr3NY7GkSzqpRj6WtkNQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=journey+from+texts+to+translations&qid=1708540540&sprefix=journey+from+texts+to+translation%2Caps%2C407&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Narrative Arc of the Hebrew Bible - Episode 062

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:19:00 +0000

The main theme and story of the Hebrew Bible, seen in the order of the Tanakh, gives us an even clearer picture than do individual prophecies of who the Messiah is and of his mission. This isn't to discount Messianic prophecy, but themes, patterns, and narrative arcs all point to Jesus, and guess what? It all begins in Genesis and flows through the whole Hebrew Bible.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

My breakdown of biblical theology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VVYetHb268&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered

Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster: https://www.amazon.com/Dominion-Dynasty-Theology-Studies-Biblical/dp/0830826157/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PWF1P9TUYXBJ&keywords=dominion+and+dynasty+by+stephen+dempster&qid=1707327662&sprefix=dominion+and+dynasty%2Caps%2C359&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Textual Unity of the Bible - Episode 061

Carey Griffel — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:40:00 +0000

The Bible is a book made up of many books. Each individual book of the Bible has its own context and meaning and purpose, but the Bible also has a unified story and meaning. We can't simply tear the text into pieces because that ruins the whole picture. And the way that the books are ordered in the canon affects the way that we read the Bible as a whole. The Tanakh, the Jewish ordering of the Hebrew Bible, tells a slightly different story than the Protestant ordering of these books. Seeing the narrative flow of Scripture can help us understand both the Bible as well as the Messiah, so comparing and contrasting the Tanakh and the Old Testament might give us some new insight here!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

My breakdown of biblical theology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VVYetHb268&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered

Who Causes Sickness? - Episode 060

Carey Griffel — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:10:00 +0000

Who causes sickness, Satan or God? And should we expect to be healed if we pray with enough faith?

Jesus and the Cosmic Powers - Episode 059

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:37:00 +0000

The gospel is more than "the Romans Road." It is not a mere story about forgiveness of sin. It is a battle of cosmic proportions. Part of this begins to dismantle the common depiction of atonement as an appeasement of God's wrath, but fear not, this doesn't lead to a state where we are capable of saving ourselves. Far from it, in fact!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Reality of the gods, an Argument - Episode 058

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:19:00 +0000

Does the Bible actually affirm the existence of other gods? Here is a defense for the argument that it does, and why it matters that we believe that.

Proclaim the Song of the Lord (Worship, Part 10) - Episode 057

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:24:00 +0000

Is modern worship practice biblical? Is it the same as what the first century church practiced? What does the Bible say about music and how should that inform the way we worship?

Stay tuned to the end for a bonus conclusion to this episode. :)

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Church Music: For the Care of Souls https://www.amazon.com/Church-Music-Lexham-Ministry-Guides/dp/1683597109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AVI624A7ZBJC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oJVwQY0CiKi7Dze7EO8vjBIDvP698xOp6rkNkuQVvMJ0fxmJ0ETelSFMVlrKKv6uR1rLGsLrX8DJ8iNe9J2bvQ.NCzewl9nlCCFZBadOMciYXwDkkSxKrzPgMbVbZ6jx1s&dib_tag=se&keywords=church+music+for+the+care+of+souls&qid=1705033744&sprefix=church+music+for+the+care+of+souls%2Caps%2C279&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Ancestor Epics (Structure of Genesis) - Episode 056

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:51:00 +0000

The "toledoth" structure of Genesis is useful, but feels random because we aren't using the toledoths like we should. Genesis reflects the struture of other ancient Near East ancestor epics like Atrahasis. Come have a listen to see what it's all about! Coming soon, I will have links to charts for you to use in your own study!

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Rethinking Genesis: https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Genesis-Source-Authorship-Pentateuch/dp/1857925769/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZLYPMKXI8X1J&keywords=rethinking+genesis&qid=1704423359&sprefix=rethinking+genesis%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Dark Side of the Cosmos - Episode 055

Carey Griffel — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 15:21:00 +0000

What do the deep and outer darkness have to do with each other? A survey of the dark side of the cosmos, from the deep to Sheol, to Hades and Gehenna--how does Scripture talk about these places and how related are they? Also, a discussion on the nature of hell--is eternal conscious torment a biblical idea?

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis in Revelation on the Storeroom of Scripture (YT channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLn9NVe3NkY&ab_channel=StoreroomofScripture

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Christmas Dragon - Episode 054

Carey Griffel — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:41:00 +0000

Discussing the not-so-cuddly Christmas dragon with Mike Chu. Come find out how Revelation 12 illuminates the Christ event.

**Website: www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The Awakening School of Theology: https://awkngschooloftheology.com/

The End of the World as You Know It, by Matt Halstead: https://www.amazon.com/End-World-You-Know-Really-ebook/dp/B0CLCT29HD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36JV0GB98RDSX&keywords=matthew+halstead&qid=1703195194&sprefix=matthew+halstea%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-1

Mike Chu's original Christmas dragon sermon: https://soundcloud.com/mike_chu/2021-12-12-doyousee-christmasincosmos-week3?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&fbclid=IwAR2NKHhscyCKPCOYly197k2ontuz419J8t00ASbWcNW4AsEakrEA2QDy4LM

Q&A #4 - Manifestation, Discernment, and Gary Wayne - Episode 053

Carey Griffel — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:53:00 +0000

Welcome to the podcast's fourth Q&A episode!

Timestamps:

04:00 - How do the sons of God manifest themselves?

16:29 - How can we determine which entities exist and which don't?

19:55 - What do I think of Gary Wayne?

56:00 - How can we review content quickly to better discern what is worth reading?

It's Not the Years, Honey... - Episode 052

Carey Griffel — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:45:00 +0000

The ancient world did not use numbers in the way that we use them today. Learning about this can help us see Genesis 1 as historical account while acknowledging that creation may not have happened just as described. Michael LeFebvre's book, The Liturgy of Creation, explains how the Torah's dating system is not based on precise chronology, but rather is based on the festival calendar of Israel--and this actually gives us more evidence of Genesis as historical account!

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Liturgy of Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Liturgy-Creation-Understanding-Calendars-Testament/dp/083085262X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SYN186C9D0CO&keywords=liturgy+of+creation&qid=1701895856&sprefix=liturgy+of+creation%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Ping Pong History (Worship, Part 9) - Episode 051

Carey Griffel — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:10:00 +0000

Finishing up the overview of the book Sacred Power, Sacred Space, we discuss Christian worship spaces from Constantine up to the modern day.

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Sacred Power, Sacred Space: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Power-Space-Introduction-Architecture/dp/0195336062/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15K3214WZ8PLM&keywords=sacred+power+sacred+space&qid=1699596487&sprefix=sacred+power+sacred+spac%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

We aren't Wiped Clean by the Wrath of God (Worship, Part 8) - Episode 050

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 15:18:00 +0000

Buckle your seatbelt as Spencer Owen joins me to discuss how sacrifice isn't about turning away wrath.

Study Can Be Fun and Games! - Episode 049

Carey Griffel — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:14:00 +0000

Discussing Christian fiction with Cindy Beaver--from the Ten Commandments to the Chosen, Christian fiction can enrich our lives as we try to understand the ancient world. In addition to enlightening our study, art gives us new eyes to perceive.

Also, Cindy addresses whether or not it's heresy to read Dan Brown.

Week in the Fall of Jerusalem: https://www.amazon.com/Week-Fall-Jerusalem-Ben-Witherington-ebook/dp/B0751ZB9LN/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1700191091&sr=8-1

Jezebel, by Brian Godawa: https://www.amazon.com/Jezebel-Harlot-Israel-Chronicles-Watchers/dp/B083JZ9FSP/ref=sr_1_25?crid=3NN3PVIV94ZSX&keywords=brian+godawa&qid=1700191210&sprefix=brian+godawa%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-25

Week in the Life of Rome: https://www.amazon.com/Week-Life-Rome-ebook/dp/B07N7PHQRX/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1700191116&sr=8-1

The Chosen: https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Architecture of Worship (Worship, Part 7) - Episode 048

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:04:00 +0000

The architecture of worship space reflects the theology, doctrine, and organization of a faith tradition. Using the book, Sacred Power, Sacred Space, we examine the history of the early Christian churches and their spaces and reflect on what that means for us today from the perspective of both high and low liturgical traditions.

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Sacred Power, Sacred Space: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Power-Space-Introduction-Architecture/dp/0195336062/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15K3214WZ8PLM&keywords=sacred+power+sacred+space&qid=1699596487&sprefix=sacred+power+sacred+spac%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Coffee in the Temple - The Archetype of Sacred Space Thru Time (Worship, Part 6) - Episode 047

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:49:51 +0000

Is Eden the archetype of sacred space, or is it the temple? How do we utilize the archetype to shed light on how we worship today? Cindy Beaver and I overview the concept of sacred space and we move the idea forward to today in our own worship contexts.

Spirit of Organization (Curses, Part 4; Spiritual Realm, Part 6) - Episode 046

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:35:00 +0000

Spirits are not just entities. Is there a "real" spirit of jealousy? What about a spirit of drunkenness? Unpack Scripture to see how it uses the term "spirit" in a much broader way than spiritual beings. Come see how the generational curse crowd takes something true but hides the holistic way we should be dealing with our problems.

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Cosmic Corner on Faith Unaltered, What is a Spirit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns0Psz9hRJc&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Sacrifice as Celebration - (Worship, Part 5) - Episode 045

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 14:20:00 +0000

The meaning of "sacrifice" has shifted between the time of the Bible to today. How did that happen? Join Cindy Beaver and I and let's get back to a more biblical view of what sacrifice is! We discuss Jeremy Davis' book, Welcoming Gifts: Sacrifice in the Bible and Christian Life, and we lay out the offerings in Leviticus--their purposes and perhaps better translations for these offerings than we might see in our English Bibles.

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Welcoming Gifts, by Jeremy Davis: https://www.amazon.com/Welcoming-Gifts-Sacrifice-Bible-Christian-ebook/dp/B0B1B7TC1J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697772967&sr=8-2

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Discipleship as Worship (Worship, Part 4; Image, Part 6) - Episode 044

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:44:00 +0000

Worship and the image of God: both are associated with sacred space and our relationship with God. James Russell joins me for a conversation about how these things connect with our discipleship as believers. While we don't touch on current events and eschatology, the things discussed in this conversation are how I personally relate to the topic of the end times.

Life is Pain - The Babylonian Job (Worship, Part 3) - Episode 043

Carey Griffel — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:32:00 +0000

Why do we worship God amidst suffering? Cindy Beaver and I discuss the topic of theodicy in relation to worship, and Cindy reads the Poem of the Righteous Sufferer, also known as "the Babylonian Job."

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Here is a version of the Poem of the Righteous Sufferer: http://tomsbiblesite.org/index.php/bible/christian-bible/old-testament/wisdom/job/babylonian-job?showall=&limitstart=

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Divination to Adoration - Worship Then and Now (Worship, Part 2) - Episode 042

Carey Griffel — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:34:00 +0000

Worship in the ancient world and worship today seem like they're two totally different concepts and ideas. Are they really that different? Why would they be? Cindy Beaver and I start to discuss this in the second part of the worship series.

Heaven Calling (Worship, Part 1) - Episode 041

Carey Griffel — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:41:00 +0000

Welcome to the series on worship! Cindy Beaver and I introduce the topic of worship, discuss how we are going to be casting our study nets wide to see what we catch, and we track one theme in Genesis: calling on the name of the Lord. Come listen to find out what the difference is between "bad" worship and "anti" worship and let's start thinking together about how and why we worship.

Q&A #3 - Satan, Alter, and Peterson (in no particular order) - Episode 040

Carey Griffel — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:57:00 +0000

Welcome to the podcast's third Q&A episode!

Timestamps:

(0:36) - So, you're saying that Satan in Job isn't the serpent?

(13:55) - Wait, we really don't see Satan in the Old Testament?

(17:50) - Do we really need the apkallu narrative to understand the sons of God episode in Genesis 6?

(23:25) - How do you make sure people aren't misled into error with all this extra-biblical literature?

(33:09) - What is the etymology of the name El?

(40:58) - What do you think about Rober Alter's Hebrew translation?

(55:28) - What's the deal with Jordan Peterson and his psychoanalyzing Scripture?

An Advent for the Cosmos, a Discussion with Jeffrey Pitts - Episode 039

Carey Griffel — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:53:00 +0000

Merry Christmas! ...wait? Isn't it September? Yes, it is! Jeffrey Pitts, author of the book An Advent for the Cosmos, a "divine council worldview" devotional book joins me in this special Christmas-in-September episode to discuss his book as well as the idea that Jesus' birthday occurred in September.

An Advent for the Cosmos, by Jeffrey Pitts: https://www.amazon.com/Advent-Cosmos-Jeffrey-Pitts/dp/1733849718/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MRM3OS9CNST0&keywords=an+advent+for+the+cosmos&qid=1694142198&sprefix=an+advent+for+the+cosmos%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Beyond Word Studies: An Introduction to Priests - Episode 038

Carey Griffel — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:26:00 +0000

Though this is "just" a basic introduction to the biblical concept of the priest, I am offering an invitation to deepen your Bible study with something beyond word studies by looking at concepts and themes in a more holistic way.

The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God: https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Priesthood-Studies-Biblical-Theology-ebook/dp/B097YXL9CW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R2131DDBFT0Q&keywords=the+royal+priesthood+and+the+glory+of+god&qid=1693535483&sprefix=royal+priesthood+and+the+glory%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Nachash: King of Monsters (Spiritual Realm, Part 5) - Episode 037

Carey Griffel — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:30:00 +0000

Godzilla in Paradise?? Continuing the series of the spiritual realm and sources of the spirtual "bad guys," Paradise Lost features prominantly in our thinking, even if we aren't aware. Here we ask three questions: Who is Satan: serpent, seraph, or dragon? How did he get to be the head honcho of the bad guys? And what does Paradise Lost have to do with it? We get into the book of Jubilees, the book of 1 Enoch, and lay out in whole the narrative of John Milton's Paradise Lost.

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Dr. Heiser's Demons book: https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really-Powers-Darkness-ebook/dp/B088C559H7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692375270&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Three Nefarious Falls (Spiritual Realm, Part 4) - Episode 036

Carey Griffel — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:56:00 +0000

Have you seen the movie Nefarious, or read the book A Nefarious Plot? Sharing a review of both along with a discussion of demons and where they came from, including a discussion on the book of 1 Enoch and the myth of the apkallu--this is a wide-ranging episode that gets into the "three falls" of Genesis and how that is a better way of understanding the structure of the powers of darkness. (But also I caution that we shouldn't get too jazzed up about making a taxonomy of the spiritual realm.)
***I try to avoid spoilers of the movie, but I do mention a couple things that you wouldn't know if you've not seen the movie yet.***

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Dr. Heiser's Demons book: https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really-Powers-Darkness-ebook/dp/B088C559H7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692375270&sr=8-1

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Genealogies and How to Cram More Into a Story - Episode 035

Carey Griffel — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:32:00 +0000

Genesis 4 is our first action-packed genealogy in the Bible! And seriously! It's action packed! Cindy Beaver and I read through the second half of Genesis chapter 4 and talk about what we see. She reads from the Lexham English Septuagint (LES) and I read from the English Standard Version (ESV). Amongst other things in this episode, we jump from Genesis all the way into the book of Kings because, well, this is just how the Bible works. If you've ever thought genealogies are hard to get through, well, take a deep breath, slow down a bit, and get curious.

NEW! If you want to sign up to receive my newsletter, enter your email address at my new site below!

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Answers to Giant Questions podcast: https://giantanswers.com/index.html

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Who Doesn't Love a Good Science Book? (Views of Creation, Part 3) - Episode 034

Carey Griffel — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:35:00 +0000

Science and the Bible: how do they intersect? Can we read the Bible and come away with a solid view of creation? Should we fight it out as believers? Reading the "literal" or "plain" six-day creation in the text seems a given for many of us. We have been told by people we may trust that this is the *only* legitimate view of creation. Those evil evolutionists are trying to destroy the authority of the Bible!! ....or are they?

Join me as I discuss two views of creation: the literal, 6-day creation, and the possibility of evolution as a mechanism for creation. (While I don't get into any of the science of that, presented here are a number of resources you can dig in to the topic yourself!)

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Dr. Swamidass's book, The Genealogical Adam and Eve: https://www.amazon.com/Genealogical-Adam-Eve-Surprising-Universal-ebook/dp/B07V4TBL5Z/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1691110232&sr=8-1

https://peacefulscience.org/

https://biologos.org/

https://reasons.org/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Cain: Allegory and Mercy - Reading Genesis 4 with Cindy Beaver - Episode 033

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:40:00 +0000

Special guest Cindy Beaver joins me for a public reading of Scripture where we begin reading Genesis 4 from two translations: The English Standard Version (ESV) and the Lexham English Septuagint (LES). We talk about the ancient Near East, sacrifices and offerings as shared meals (yep, that likely means that they weren't vegetarians!), Mesopotamian demons residing in doorways, allegories, and come across some interesting thoughts as to why Cain didn't receive the death penalty for the murder of his brother.

This episode is packed full of good stuff and we hope you enjoy it!

NEW! If you want to sign up to receive my newsletter, enter your email address at my new site below!

**New website is here!!! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Chaos and Glory: The Story of Salvation - Episode 032

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:07:00 +0000

Did God create chaos? What is it? What purpose does it serve in the biblical narrative? In this episode, we reexaminie the traditional idea that "the fall" is best seen as an introduction of sin which caused all of creation to fall alongside humanity. We talk about another view where "the fall" is, instead, a path that moves along chaos and away from God. From glory into the dark wilderness of uncreation.

While we do see hints of God vs. Leviathan (the chaos dragon) in the Bible, in Genesis what we see is humanity vs. chaos...what does that mean for our salvation and for creation as a whole?

My new site! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Myths, Mysteries, and Majesty: https://www.youtube.com/@3mmm777

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Nachash, Why'd It Hafta Be Nachash? - Episode 031

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:44:00 +0000

I'm joined by Michael Norton for a reading of Genesis 3 and talk about the serpent figure in the garden, the nachash. We read from two translations: the New English Translation (NET) and the New King James Version. Michael is a seminary student, a certificate holder from the AWKNG School of Theology, and hosts his own podcast, My Mysterious Bible. He is also author of the Divine Council Worldview Devotional. All these and more are linked below!

The Divine Council Worldview Devotional: https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Council-Worldview-Supernatural-Introduction-ebook/dp/B08Y596DJY

Michael Norton's My Mysterious Bible: https://www.mymysteriousbible.com/

Michael Heiser's Demons book: https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Bible-Really-Powers-Darkness-ebook/dp/B088C559H7

My new site! www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot
Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot
Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/
Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Reading Genesis 2 with Geoff Johnson - Episode 030

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:33:00 +0000

Geoff Johnson joins me again for reading and discussing Genesis 2 from two translations: the New King James Version and the Lexham English Bible. Public readings of Scripture ought to be common practice, and reading from multiple translations provides an excellent way to delve into the original language of the text when you don’t have the years of schooling to read it yourself. Here we compare the two creation accounts and talk about interesting things like why does it look like plants are made before humans and the possibility of man outside the garden.

Geoff Johnson’s Storeroom of Scripture channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storeroomofscripture

**New website is here!!!
www.genesismarksthespot.com

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Theodicy (Curses, Part 3) - Episode 029

Carey Griffel — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:17:00 +0000

Theodicy: if there is a good God, then why is there evil and suffering? I explore this question beginning from the ancient Near Eastern perspective and continue to what it means for us and creation.

**New channel** https://www.podpage.com/genesis-marks-the-spot/

Naked Bible Podcast 162, The Evil Eye: https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-162-the-evil-eye/

Faith Unaltered, Theodicy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI8thfmPS2A&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered

Inspiring Philosophy, the Problem of Suffering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS16dqAjQ9k&ab_channel=InspiringPhilosophy

Theodicy of Love: https://www.amazon.com/Theodicy-Love-John-C-Peckham/dp/1540960269/ref=sr_1_1?crid=382CJR0VRLD4N&keywords=theodicy+of+love&qid=1688113413&sprefix=theodicy+of+lov%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Reading Genesis 1 with Geoff Johnson - Episode 028

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:03:00 +0000

Special guest Geoff Johnson joins me for reading and discussing Genesis 1 from two translations: the New King James Version and the Lexham English Bible. Public readings of Scripture ought to be common practice, and reading from multiple translations provides an excellent way to delve into the original language of the text when you don’t have the years of schooling to read it yourself.

Geoff Johnson’s Storeroom of Scripture channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storeroomofscripture

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

**New website coming soon!

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Genesis Marks the Spot on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/genesismarksthespot/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Jordan Peterson, Archetypes, and Rule 8 - Episode 027

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:06:00 +0000

I went to see Jordan Peterson live, and so here are some thoughts on that and his life and work, including a response to that nosy question: what is Jordan Peterson’s relationship with God?

I get into archetypes and rule number 8 from 12 Rules for Life, which is: Always tell the truth, or at least don’t lie.

Jordan Peterson’s website: https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/

Naked Bible Podcast 201, God and Deception: https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-210-god-and-deception/

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Q&A #2 - Dinosaurs, Procreation, and Original Sin - Episode 026

Carey Griffel — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:39:00 +0000

Welcome to the podcast’s second Q&A! Some fun and interesting topics…but warning: possibly NSFW or listening with kids around (not explicit, but I do talk about reproduction; yes, even dinos reproduced!).

Timestamps:

(0:58) - Where do we find dinosaurs in the Bible?

(26:43) - How would Adam and Eve have procreated before the fall?

(47:59) - What about original sin?

(Mis)interpreting Genesis: How the Creation Museum Misunderstands the Ancient Near Eastern Context of the Bible by Ben Stanhope: https://www.amazon.com/Mis-interpreting-Genesis-Creation-Misunderstands-ebook/dp/B08R35P84H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PSBB4NB634E2&keywords=ben+stanhope&qid=1682911125&sprefix=ben+stanhop%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-1

The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry by S. Joshua Swamidass: https://www.amazon.com/Genealogical-Adam-Eve-Surprising-Universal/dp/B08QJQ8KS3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SSIA4ZZ2A8VL&keywords=joshua+swamidass&qid=1682911402&sprefix=joshua+swamidas%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

Answers to Giant Questions: How Understanding the Biblical Nephilim Will Enlarge Your Faith by T.J. Steadman: https://www.amazon.com/Answers-Giant-Questions-Understanding-Biblical-ebook/dp/B08K4SHZQH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=C7SOLA6VCE0Z&keywords=answers+to+giant+questions&qid=1682912265&sprefix=answers+to+giant+questions%2Caps%2C226&sr=8-1

Dr. Michael S. Heiser’s blog series on Romans 5:12: https://drmsh.com/romans-512/

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

White Fang: the gods and Believing Loyalty - Episode 025

Carey Griffel — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:25:00 +0000

Using the story of White Fang to illustrate some points of biblical theology. What does the Hebrew term “elohim” mean? How does that map onto the English word “god,” and how do we understand what a god is? If other “gods” are real, then what about the Most High God? What does it mean to have faith and what does it mean to worship? Also: are Christians actually monotheists? Responding to William Lane Craig’s response to Dr. Swamidass’ question concerning Dr. Michael Heiser’s suggestion that monotheism may not be the best way to understand our relationship to the spiritual world.

I have a Patreon page up! Please consider donating to help support my podcast!

https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

The question by Dr. Swamidass to Dr. Craig: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/michael-heiser-on-monotheism?fbclid=IwAR2aClVZGjOvX-H9HDV_uAsyCqBijBQ87jFPuiRDNUpYmQnfmnFYnAv3hlM#_ftn3

White Fang: https://www.amazon.com/White-Fang-Jack-London-ebook/dp/B08ML7D36C/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685701799&sr=8-2

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Image and Idol - “Show Me the Money!” with Joshua Sherman (Image Series, Part 5) - Episode 024

Carey Griffel — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:21:00 +0000

Continuing the image of God series with Joshua Sherman, we delve into Scripture to see that this concept is deeply embedded everywhere, and in places that you might not expect!

Being God’s Image by Carmen Imes: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Gods-Image-Creation-Matters-ebook/dp/B0BLD43TVC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684376442&sr=8-1

The Image of God in the Garden of Eden by Catherine L. McDowell: https://www.amazon.com/Image-God-Garden-Eden-Mesopotamia/dp/1575063484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ALMVM276C533&keywords=image+of+god+in+the+garden+of+eden&qid=1684376488&sprefix=image+of+god+in+the+garden+of+eden%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

Why the Gospel? by Matthew Bates: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Gospel-Living-Jesus-Purpose/dp/0802881688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UET94GDTCWWY&keywords=why+the+gospel&qid=1684376528&sprefix=why+the+gose%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Gen X isn’t Cursed, I Hope (Curses, Part 2) - Episode 023

Carey Griffel — Fri, 19 May 2023 15:03:00 +0000

Digging into the concept of generational cursing—is it a biblical concept? What do we do about generational curses? Also, responding to the book, Free at Last: Breaking Generational Curses by Larry Huch and Benny Hinn.

Why the Gospel? by Matthew Bates https://www.amazon.com/Why-Gospel-Living-Jesus-Purpose/dp/0802881688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MSFRAV4EBHH9&keywords=why+the+gospel&qid=1684450560&sprefix=why+the+gospel%2Caps%2C340&sr=8-1

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Wave It at Anything that Slithers - Episode 022

Carey Griffel — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:24:00 +0000

Was light created? A study in biblical theology on the theme of light and what it means.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Image Embodied: Verb or Noun? with Joshua Sherman (Image Series, Part 4) - Episode 021

Carey Griffel — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:17:00 +0000

Continuing the discussion about the embodied image of God, Joshua Sherman and I talk about the ancient Near East context of the image and also ethical and philosophical implications of it. Is the image ontological or is it functional? It is a noun or is a verb--or can we see it as both?

Carmen Joy Imes, Being God’s Image: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Gods-Image-Creation-Matters-ebook/dp/B0BLD43TVC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1683274732&sr=8-1

Catherine L McDowell, The Image of God in the Garden of Eden: https://www.amazon.com/Image-God-Garden-Eden-Mesopotamia/dp/1575063484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BYFYZ7X527M2&keywords=the+image+of+god+in+the+garden+of+eden&qid=1683274768&sprefix=the+image+of+god+in+the%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

Rene Girard, I See Satan Fall Like Lightning: https://www.amazon.com/See-Satan-Fall-Like-Lightning-ebook/dp/B008KO4MGG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1683274831&sr=8-1

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Curses, Foiled Again (Curses, Part 1) - Episode 020

Carey Griffel — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:51:00 +0000

Discussing the concept of curses in the ancient world, exploring some of the ways we see them in the Bible, looking at their impact through the NT, and seeding a few questions along the way for further exploration.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Faith Unaltered: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithUnaltered

Myths, Mysteries, and Majesty: https://www.youtube.com/@3mmm777

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Documentary Hypothesis and JEDP: May the Priest be With You - Episode 019

Carey Griffel — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:12:53 +0000

What is the “documentary hypothesis”? Also known as the four-source hypothesis, or JEDP, is there any good basis for this theory of higher criticism? These are questions we look at, ending up focusing on some of the “priestly” texts of the Bible.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Too Much LDS: My Journey into Biblical Theology - Episode 018

Carey Griffel — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:57:26 +0000

How did I go from strong LDS belief to believing in Christianity as formulated in biblical theology? This is my story and a little bit of exposition as to what I think it all means. Do you know what faith is? What is “believing loyalty,” anyway?

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Embodied Image with Joshua Sherman (Image Series, Part 3) - Episode 017

Carey Griffel — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 17:42:19 +0000

Continuing with the series on the image of God, in this episode I talk to Joshua Sherman about the important aspect of the image being embodied in both Christ as well as in us as individual humans and the church as the body of Christ.

Book recommendations:
Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Imes
https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Gods-Name-Sinai-Matters/dp/0830852697/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1680889175&sr=8-1
Being God’s Image by Carmen Imes
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Gods-Image-Creation-Matters/dp/1514000202/ref=sr_1_2?crid=342N6UTNAJ78&keywords=bearing+god's+name&qid=1680889225&sprefix=bearing+god's+name%2Caps%2C347&sr=8-2

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

A Postoperative Examination of the Cosmic Temple - Episode 016

Carey Griffel — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:40:29 +0000

The theme of the cosmic temple is a popular one in the halls of biblical theology—how solid of an idea is it, though? Here we are going to talk about temples, including touching on the purposes of the temple in LDS theology to compare that with the temple in the Bible, and I’m going to discuss Daniel Block’s pushback on this idea that Eden can be seen as a temple.

Bible Project videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTnq6I3vUbU&ab_channel=BibleProject

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K60TAYja110&ab_channel=BibleProject

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k&ab_channel=BibleProject

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Literature and How to Love and Date Genesis - (Views of Creation, Part 2) - Episode 015

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:22:00 +0000

Exploring two views of creation: the analogical view (the days of creation are analogically similar to the workweek of the Israelite, but the days are not necessarily 24-hour days) and the literary view (Genesis 1 is literarily designed to give us theological truth). Both of these views ask the question, “What is Genesis 1 supposed to teach us?” The episode concludes with the question of how to date Genesis--are there enough literary clues in the text to help us figure that out? (Stay tuned for further episodes exploring this question!)

Livestream mentioned in the intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6BEmtxsomE&t=1963s&ab_channel=FaithUnaltered Regarding the translation of Genesis 1:1:

Deep dive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op4BJmLi3f8&ab_channel=HaibaneXIII
Shorter dive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7looT8fo0gk&ab_channel=BiblicalLanguages%26Literature

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Being Treeish with Jon Dillon - Episode 014

Carey Griffel — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:23:00 +0000

Discussion with Jon Dillon (of the Two Trees Podcast) centered on the theme of trees, fruitfulness, and multiplication. What does it mean to be fruitful? Why trees? Is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil a “bad” tree?

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Q&A #1 - Deconstruction, Polytheism, Resources, Eschatology - Episode 013

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:35:00 +0000

Our first Q&A! Timestamps: (1:11) - What do we do when we grew up Christian, or have been in a particular Christian tradition or church for a while, and…we start thinking in terms of biblical theology, of studying the Bible in its ancient context? (18:00) - In college years ago, I heard about the idea that the Israelite’s religion evolved from polytheism to monotheism. It looks to me like you’d disagree with this, but the professor made it seem like such a sensible idea, and when I look at all this parallel literature, I really can see a point there, so maybe could you talk about that? (38:56) - How do I find good resources? And how can I judge a resource well so that I am not wasting my time? (48:48) - Do you reject young earth creationism? (50:30) - If you reject young earth creationism, are you sold on old earth creationism? (51:21) - If the gods of the nations are real, if God gave them authority, and if Christ defeated them, then…why doesn’t it seem like they’re defeated? Why are they still around?

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Image of Christ through Biblical Theology, with Joshua Sherman (Image Series, Part 2) - Episode 012

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 20:17:26 +0000

Joshua Sherman joins the podcast to talk about the image of Christ. We discuss how we can trace the image of God through the Bible forward into its ultimate picture in the incarnation of Jesus and how we ought to think of both the image of God and the image of Christ in relationship to who we are and how we live our lives.

“You are called to this purpose because of who God created you to be. And we're inviting you to live into that through Christ because he is the one that makes it possible.” —Joshua Sherman

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

What is the Image of God? (Image Series, Part 1) - Episode 011

Carey Griffel — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 17:57:00 +0000

This episode takes a bit of a diversion from biblical theology into the question of “What is the image of God?” Does God have a physical aspect that we copy (could the LDS church be right about us becoming gods)? Is the image of God proof against evolution? Is the image of God the soul of man? What about relationality or rationality or consciousness or morality, are any of those the image of God? Is the image of God a status or a function?

Main podcast site with bonus files: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/ Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Lost and Found World of Creation Texts (Views of Creation Series, Part 1) - Episode 010

Carey Griffel — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:46:00 +0000

Several views of creation are introduced and in particular John Walton’s “functional” or “identity” view of creation is discussed. We look at how that fits into the Bible and explore whether or not this is the likeliest way the ancient person would have thought regarding the creation of the cosmos by looking at some ancient Near Eastern creation accounts.

Main podcast site with bonus files: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Fingerprints of the Journalist: Graham Hancock and Ancient Apocalypse - Episode 009

Carey Griffel — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:22:00 +0000

Who is Graham Hancock and is his Netflix show, Ancient Apocalypse supposed to mirror the History Channel show, Ancient Aliens? Do his ideas have any basis in reality or the Bible? What does his work have to do with the study of the ancient Near East? And who are the apkallu and why should we care?

These questions and more will be discussed in this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Piri Reis Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piri_Reis_map#/media/File:Piri_reis_world_map_01.jpg

Piri Reis Map (Fringepop 321, YT): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCoivJ1wOgs&ab_channel=FringePop321

On the Origin of the Watchers: https://www.academia.edu/4570714/On_the_Origin_of_Watchers_A_Comparative_Study_of_the_Antediluvian_Wisdom_in_Mesopotamian_and_Jewish_Traditions

Refuting Hancock with real data: https://drmsh.com/graham-hancock-bad-archaeology/

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Enuma Elish: Babylonian Creation (ANE Literature, Part 1) - Episode 008

Carey Griffel — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:04:00 +0000

Reading ancient literature can help us understand the Bible. Following on from the conversation in episode 7 about how to read myth in relation to the Bible, this episode includes a reading of the Babylonian creation account known as Enuma Elish.

A bonus question at the beginning of the episode: did God really only have 70 “sons of God”?

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

The Myth of Mythology - Episode 007

Carey Griffel — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 20:31:00 +0000

What is mythology and why should the student of the Bible be interested in it? Isn’t mythology just a bunch of made up stories? Or, can mythology actually relate directly to history? In this episode, the concept of mythology is explored along with the field of form criticism, which is a fancy of way of talking about genre. As life-long listeners of stories, we are all capable of looking at a text and finding cues which tell us what kind of a story we are reading or hearing and we can use this information to study Scripture. However, we need to be aware that genres change over time and what is "history" is not the same from era to era.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Biblical Context: The Divine Council (Spiritual Realm, Part 3) - Episode 006

Carey Griffel — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:22:00 +0000

Did the Bible steal all its ideas from its neighbors? Was Israelite religion merely an off-shoot of Canaanite religion? How do we understand ancient literature that is similar to the Bible? These questions and more are explored, focusing in on how the Bible describes God having a divine council that seems in some respects eerily similar to pagan pantheons. Have a listen to find out how we can read the Bible and pagan literature and reach an even higher understanding of who God is than we might have had previously.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

It is the Trinity: Two Powers in Heaven (Spiritual Realm, Part 2) - Episode 005

Carey Griffel — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:23:00 +0000

As Christians, we may have a difficult time in seeing the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament and early Christian belief, especially when it comes to understanding the divinity of Christ. How would a Jew of the first century understand a man living amongst them as God? Many Christians have understood appearances of YHWH in the Old Testament as Jesus pre-incarnate, but surely Jews would not have understood these in the same way—would they? As a matter of fact, a Jewish belief in a binitarian godhead did exist at the time of Jesus and only later, when Christianity became popular, was this belief labeled a heresy.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

It’s Not the Trinity: Gen 1:26 (Spiritual Realm, Part 1) - Episode 004

Carey Griffel — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 05:39:00 +0000

Most Christians have an image of the heavenly realm that contains more than just God. We believe in angels and we might even have an idea that there are strange creatures with a lot of eyes and wings and heads...well, once we get that far, maybe we get a little freaked out so we stop looking too closely. But the inhabitants of the spiritual realm are no small part of the Bible’s narrative, and once we start looking, we find that there may be more to this than mere abstract knowledge; it may, in fact, teach us much about how God interacts with creation and our role in that.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Did the Gods Return? (A Book Review of "The Return of the Gods" by Jonathan Cahn) - Episode 003

Carey Griffel — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 23:24:00 +0000

Who is Jonathan Cahn and what is the “explosive mystery” that he reveals in his book The Return of the Gods? Though he suggests that you need to read the entire book to uncover the mystery because it can’t be pared down to a short description, I actually found it quite easy to summarize the mystery…and I’m not even going to make you listen to this whole episode to “reveal” it.

(Stop reading here if you like anticipation and want to keep the suspense of my reveal inside the episode!)

Cahn claims that the New Testament describes the demonic possession of civilization just as it describes individual demonic possession... and western civilization—America in particular—is now being “repossessed.” (dramatic music here)

The question now is, does he have a legitimate, scriptural case to make for this claim? Not gonna make you wait for that answer, either. No, he does does not, and you can listen to this episode to find out how he defends his claim and how his claim is not the same as the biblically-defended idea that God allotted the sons of God to be in charge of the nations.

Included in the episode and bonus material on my website are suggestions for further study for those who wish to learn more about the gods of the nations and the cultural context of the Bible.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook (come participate in the poll I mention in the episode!): https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

***
Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Design: It's More than DNA - Episode 002

Carey Griffel — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 22:31:00 +0000

How do we understand the days of creation in Genesis 1? That question can only be answered after exploring what the Bible is and how it is a book written by ancient people in a specific time and place. The Bible, science, cosmic temples, a flat earth, and would an ancient person have used a DeLorean to look back at the creation of the world? All this and more in this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot.

Bonus material: https://genesis-marks-the-spot.castos.com/

Genesis Marks the Spot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesismarksthespot

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/

Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan

Genesis: Raiding the Ivory Tower - Episode 001

Carey Griffel — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 00:36:00 +0000

An introduction to the show, discussing why critical thinking is essential to our pursuit of the study of the Bible and how questioning our assumptions about the text doesn’t need to break our faith. A “scientific” reading of Genesis chapter one is compared and contrasted with a more contextual reading.

Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan

Genesis Marks the Spot Trailer

Carey Griffel — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:52:00 +0000

A brief introduction to the podcast's focus.