Religion & SpiritualityChristianityJudaism

History in the Bible

Garry Stevens

A guide to the history presented in the Bible, for people of all faiths and backgrounds, presented by an independent podcaster, and biblical studies buff. I explore the religion of ancient Israel, the beginnings of Christianity, then finally the evolution of the heirs of Abraham to the year 200. I discuss every single book in every Bible (there are more than you think!). Lightly garnished with a dash of drollery, a soupçon of scrutiny, and not one ounce of objectivity. Not one ounce! The main narrative concluded in January 2024. But I continue to publish Afterlife shows.

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22 episodes
Avg 33 min
English

Episodes 22

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S4 · E23
September 6 · 36 min
Afterlife 23: Sayings from the Bible 1
The English language is littered with sayings and expressions from the Bible. You use many of them every day, although you may be unaware that their origins are Biblical. In the first of a miniseries of episodes, Gil Kidron of a Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I will discuss some of these sayings. Gil has the advantage of speaking Hebrew and French as well as English. We are about to discover that his common Hebrew sayings simply do not exist in English, nor many English sayings in Hebrew.
S4 · E22
August 23 · 31 min
Afterlife 22: End of Times 1- Origins
I introduce a new miniseries, about the story of Christian thinking of the end of times. I am joined by my old mate Steve Guerra, of the History of the Papacy podcast. From the time of Jesus, Christianity has looked forward to the end of the world, the end of times, the apocalypse. In this cosmic cataclysm, the sinners will be destroyed, and the righteous will spend eternity living under God's kingly rule. In this first episode of the miniseries, Steve and I present the origins of these ideas.
S4 · E21
August 9 · 31 min
Afterlife 21: Deuteronomy to Revelation
I return with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In this Afterlife episode, we explore the connections between the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation in the New.
S4 · E20
June 28 · 42 min
Afterlife 20: The Hand of God in Chronicles and Maccabees
Another episode with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In this show, Gil and explore common themes in the books of Chronicles and Maccabees. Chronicles is two books in the Christian tradition, and one in the Jewish. Chronicles must be the least read book in the Bible, save perhaps for Obadiah. At first sight it is a redundant and profoundly unimpressive re-telling of the history already told in Samuel and Kings. Chronicles does not appear once in the annual cycle of Jewish biblical readings. The medieval rabbis held it in such little regard that they never bothered to produce a commentary on the book. But Gil and I have found hidden treasures in this work, which shows the hand of God behind everything. We also find the hand of God in the second book of Maccabees. If you are a Protestant, you will search in vein for that book in your bible. Martin Luither threw it out. Perhaps ask a friendly Catholic or Orthodox for a copy.
S4 · E19
May 27 · 39 min
Afterlife 19: Moses Leads a Putsch
I have a special treat for you, courtesy of the hosts of the Putchcast show. This is a podcast by Oliver Heuthe and James Bennet about riots, rebellions, revolutions, and the intoxication of power. They were kind enough to invite me on to talk about Moses as a revolutionary leader. This episode is the result. Their show is also available from their website, https://putschcast.com/.
S4 · E18
March 19 · 25 min
Afterlife 18: King David and the Two Traditions
A few episodes ago, I mentioned the two distinct literary traditions behind the OT or Tanakh). Most important is the rabbinic Hebrew language tradition, known as the Masoretic tradition. The other tradition is the Greek language bible, known as the Septuagint. This was translated from some unknown Hebrew original. In many instances, the Septuagint draws upon ancient Hebrew documents that differ from those used by the rabbis. While the two traditions are in broad agreement, sometimes they diverge quite significantly. One of those places is in the origin story of King David. In this episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I explore these differences.
February 8 · 23 min
Afterlife Detour 6: Surviving Vesuvius
I always thought that the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in Roman imperial times not only destroyed the city of Pompeii, but all its inhabitants. Turns out that quite a lot of people escaped. In this detour episode join Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast and I, as we find out who died and who escaped. You can find Bernie's show at https://shows.acast.com/history. And be sure to check out Bernie's new youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@fanofhistory4701
S4 · E17
January 4 · 44 min
Afterlife 17: Reprise of We Three Kings Epiphany Special
This is a reprise of my Epiphany 2019 show (2-33), just in time for Epiphany 2026. It relates the story of Christmas as told by the gospel of Matthew. In Matthew, the story is told from Joseph's point of view, not Mary's. Matthew has wise men, the infamous massacre of the innocents, and the flight to Egypt. No angels and no shepherds. He does not mention Mary's relative Elizabeth, and her son John the Baptist. If you read Matthew carefully, he says nothing of the day of Christmas, but he has a lot to say about the day of Epiphany, 6th January, the day the magi paid homage. I also introduce the Gospel of James, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas.
S4 · E16
Dec 21, 2025 · 44 min
Afterlife 16: Reprise of Hark the Herald! the Christmas 2018 show
This is a reprise of my Christmas 2018 show, just in time for Christmas 2025. It relates the story of Christmas as told by the gospel of Luke. With lots of canticles: the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Nunc Dimmitis. Luke has many unique stories. He concentrates on Jesus' mother Mary and her relative Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel makes two cameo appearances.
Dec 14, 2025 · 34 min
Afterlife Detour 5: Chasing Proto-Indo-European
In this detour episode we go way, way back. Six thousand years ago, a language was forming that would spawn dozens of descendants, who came to occupy most of Europe and much of Anatolia, India and Iran. This ancient tongue is Proto-Indo-European. Join Bernie Maoplski of the Fan of History podcast and I, as we chase down the latest theories on the origins of this ancestral language. You can find Bernie's show at https://shows.acast.com/history.
Dec 7, 2025 · 20 min
Afterlife Detour 4: Follow-up on Egyptian Hydraulics
A little while back, Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast and I discussed some recent research into the use of hydraulics at the step pyramid of Pharoah Djoser. Well, lordy lordy, we received an email from a hydraulic engineer who said that the original researchers were barking up the wrong tree. Let's see what he had to say. You can find Bernie's show at https://shows.acast.com/history.
S4 · E15
Nov 23, 2025 · 25 min
Afterlife 15: The Letter of Jeremiah
I'm back with Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. In its 29th chapter, the book of Jeremiah contains a letter that the prophet wrote to the exiles in Babylonia. There is another letter of Jeremiah to the exiles, a very short work. In the Orthodox tradition, this is a separate book all to itself. In the Catholic canon, it is a chapter in the book of Baruch. Thanks to Martin Luther, the Protestants don't have it in any form. In this episode, Gil and I investigate the letter. Who wrote it, when, and why.
S4 · E14
Nov 16, 2025 · 44 min
Afterlife 14: Jeremiah and the Two Traditions
There are two distinct literary traditions behind the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). Most important is the Masoretic Hebrew tradition. The other tradition is the Greek bible, known as the Septuagint. While the two traditions are in broad agreement, sometimes they diverge quite significantly. One of those places is in the book of Jeremiah. In this episode, Gil and I explore these differences.
Aug 31, 2025 · 17 min
Afterlife Detour 3: Ancient Egyptian Hydraulics
Another detour episode. In this episode, Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast invited me onto his show to discuss new research into the step pyramid of Pharoah Djoser.
Aug 17, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Afterlife Detour 2: Conclave
Another detour episode. This time I am with Gregg Gassmann of many podcasts: Popeular History (that's Popular with an "e"), Pontifacts, and Cardinal Numbers. You won't find a bigger Pope aficionado than Gregg. Gregg and I discuss the papal conclave of May 2025. You can find Gregg's podcasts at https://www.popeularhistory.com/ and https://pontifacts.podbean.com/. Yes, we are rather late in getting this show out, but sometimes life gets in the way.
S4 · E13
Aug 3, 2025 · 57 min
Afterlife 13: 50 Years of Biblical Archaeology Review
The year 2025 marks fifty years of publication by Biblical Archaeology Review, often known as BAR. This is halfway between a journal and a magazine, rather like National Geographic. It has worked as a bridge between professional archaeologists and historians, and the general public. In this show I am joined by my old mate Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy podcast. We discuss BAR's history, and present some of its articles.
Jul 20, 2025 · 26 min
Afterlife Detour 1: A Roman Mystery
On this first detour show, I am joined by Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast. We investigate the most mysterious objects ever produced in the Roman empire.
S4 · E12
Jun 29, 2025 · 25 min
Afterlife 12: Shavuot and Pentecost
In the last Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions and I explored the relationship between the Jewish festival of Passover, and Christian Easter. This time, we explore two more parallels. This time, we explore the Jewish festival of Shavuot or Weeks, and its significance to the Christian celebration of Pentecost.
S4 · E11
Apr 13, 2025 · 29 min
Afterlife 11: Passover and Easter
In this Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com) explains to me the origins and customs of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Then I explain what Easter is about, and how it is intimately connected to Passover.
S4 · E10
Feb 16, 2025 · 36 min
Afterlife 10: Rabbis, Arise!
In this Afterlife episode, Gil Kidron of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions (https://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com), and I try to figure out where the rabbis came from.

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