Bible Backgrounds

What Does Dr. Keener Think About...? | S2 E13

In this final episode, Dr. Keener works through a variety of questions from Dr. Jaros on the Asbury College revival, Jesus' expectations of the timing of his return in Mark 13, Paul's advice to be single in 1 Corinthians 7, and finally which Church...

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Ministry Application of Transformed Thinking | S2 E12

In this episode, Dr. Keener works through practical applications of transformed thinking in the context of ministry especially when dealing with conflict, counseling, and developing fellow Christian's worldview. Then Dr. Keener takes up THREE...

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Set Your Mind on Heavenly Things | S2 E11

In this episode, Dr. Keener works through Colossians 3 and the ideas of setting our minds on heavenly things, putting to death the old ways, and putting on a new way of life in Christ. Dr. Keener draws on both Jewish and Greco-Roman concepts to give...

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Citizens of Heaven? | S2 E10

In this episode, Dr. Keener works through Philippians addressing the difference between Christian joy and the ancient idea of Eudemonia or the good life. He also addresses the role of prayer in worry and how thinking with the mind of Christ can impact...

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How the Spirit Reveals God's Wisdom | S2 E9

In this episode, Dr. Keener addresses the question: "How do we understand the Spirit's role in revealing the wisdom of the cross?" reflecting on 1 Corinthians 2. Dr. Keener also discusses the different ancient ideas of becoming or participating in the...

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The Spirit Reveals Truth | S2 E8

In this Episode Dr. Keener continues to explore the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. He tackles the subject of the wisdom of the age verses the wisdom "not of this age" which the Spirit offers those of us in Christ. And as always,...

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Living Sacrifices | S2 E7

In this Episode Dr. Keener explores the question of what Paul means when in Romans 12 he says we ought to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and please to God. He addresses some translation issues in this passage, and explores how the cultural...

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The Mind of the Spirit | S2 E6

In this Episode Dr. Keener moves on from Romans 7 to explore what it means for a person to be lead and filled with the Holy Spirit. What is the "mind of the Spirit" and how is it different from the "mind of the flesh?" Drawing from the rest of the...

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Shedding Light on Romans 7 using Bible Backgrounds | S2 E5

In this Episode Dr. Keener explores how understanding Paul's Christian, Greco-Roman, and faithful Jewish background sheds light on how we should think of Romans 7 drawing insights from each historical context. Dr. Keener then takes on a fascinating...

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What Do We Make of Romans 7? | S2 E4

In this Episode Dr. Keener takes on the question of how are we to understand Romans 7? How is Paul speaking about being alive apart from the law? What does this mean? How does the cultural background play into Paul's statements? Dr. Keener also...

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Understanding Union with Christ | S2 E3

In this episode Dr. Keener takes on questions like: What is the mind of faith? What does it mean to have unity or union in Christ? What does it mean to be dead to sin and alive in Christ? And what insights can we gain from the beliefs and practices...

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The Problem: Our Corrupted Mind | S2 E2

In this episode Dr. Keener works through the problem set out in the New Testament. What is wrong with us, what is our corrupted mind and what can be done about it and what can we learn from the background context to Paul's writing on the fallen man?...

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Paul's Approach to Transformed Thinking | S2 E1

Season 2 is HERE! Dr. Craig Keener sits down again with Dr. Kurt Jaros to discuss "The Mind of the Spirit," Dr. Keener's 2016 work on Paul's theme of thinking and the mind - an area underserved by modern scholarship. To purchase Dr. Keener's courses...

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"I Wouldn't Call it Allegorizing" | Bible Backgrounds S1E12

On the final episode of this season of Bible Backgrounds, Dr. Craig Keener goes deep into the context of multiple New Testament passages that "quote" the Old Testament. Dr. Keener brings alive the OT allusions that appear in Matthew, Galatians and...

You Don't Have to Understand the Mechanics of It | S1E11

Dr. Craig Keener answers listener questions in this episode. Dr. Keener offers lots of heartfelt responses to tricky theological passages as well as more personal inquiries. From the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira to the authorship of Hebrews, Dr....

"I'm Not Trying to Avoid It" | S1E10

Host Dr. Kurt Jaros begins today's discussion by asking for Dr. Craig Keener's take on the controversial Christian debate: Calvinism or Arminianism? In analyzing that question, Dr. Keener turns his gaze to the extremes (hyper-Calvinism and...

"It's Not an Easy Situation" | S1E09

Did the New Testament writers think that Jesus was coming back in their generation? If Paul believed that, is that what predominantly influenced his views on singleness and marriage? How should we understand Paul's writing on the topic in our modern...

The Rhetoric of "Be Ready" | S1E08

Dr. Keener explains his rationale for when he believes the Gospels were written. That explanation has much to do with the destruction in 70 AD, and so the conversation naturally flows into a conversation about the significance of the destruction and...

Theological Innovations? | S1E07

In this episode of Bible Backgrounds, Dr. Keener examines the Christological views of the four Gospel writers. He answers specific questions about the language used by John and Mark, and whether or not they put words in Jesus' mouth. Dr. Keener then...

The Jesus of History & The Christ of Faith | S1E06

There are a variety of methodologies and schools of thought for examining history, ancient manuscripts, and the person of Jesus. Dr. Keener outlines many of these views and also dives into development of ancient biography. To purchase Dr. Keener's...