OpenTheo

The Wonderful Story of Esther (with Devon Phillips, James Bejon, and Steven Wedgeworth)

Alastair Roberts

The Wonderful Story of Esther (with Devon Phillips, James Bejon, and Steven Wedgeworth)

March 25, 2021
Alastair Roberts
Alastair Roberts

Steven Wedgeworth is currently preaching through the book of Esther and invited me, Devon Phillips, and James Bejon to join him for a discussion of the book, hosted on my podcast.

Within this conversation we reference several treatments of the book. Here are a few:

Steven Wedgeworth

Sermons on Esther: https://faithvan.com/search?q=Esther&f_collectionId=5ace967388251b8279176a98

Devon Phillips

A Meditation on Purim: https://www.faipublishing.org/articles/purim

Twitter thread on Esther: https://twitter.com/devoninmena/status/1364878723888078849?s=21

James Bejon

Esther and Agag: https://www.academia.edu/40042595/Esther_and_Agag

Esther: A Literary Analysis: https://www.academia.edu/40087250/Esther_A_Literary_Analysis

Esther: Mechanics and Messianics: https://www.academia.edu/40114559/Esther_Mechanics_and_Messianics

Alastair Roberts

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Book of Esther: https://audio.alastairadversaria.com/sermons/9696/unravelling-the-mysteries-of-the-book-of-esther/

Other Videos

AlephBeta Purim videos (especially those with Rabbi David Fohrman): https://www.alephbeta.org/purim

Bible Project: Esther Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JydNSlufRIs&ab_channel=BibleProject

Articles

Sandra Teplinsky, Purim 2016 and Easter Week: Prophetic Parallels: https://firm.org.il/learn/purim-2016-and-easter-week-prophetic-parallels/

James Jordan, Biblical Horizons newsletter series on Esther (November 2009 to June 2013)

Audio

James Jordan, Witness or Perish: https://www.wordmp3.com/product-group.aspx?id=21

James Jordan, Themes in Esther: https://www.wordmp3.com/search.aspx?search=esther+jordan

Commentaries

Rabbi David Fohrman, The Queen You Thought You Knew: https://amzn.to/3rlDm62

Jon Levenson, Esther [Old Testament Library]: https://amzn.to/3w1we1U

Adele Berlin, Esther [JPS Bible Commentary]: https://amzn.to/2PpS7rc

Yoram Hazony, God and Politics in Esther: https://amzn.to/39hudVE

Michael V. Fox, Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther: https://amzn.to/3lOszjm

Anthony Tomasino, Esther [Evangelical Exegetical Commentary]: https://amzn.to/2Psemwu

If you have enjoyed my videos and podcasts, please tell your friends. If you are interested in supporting my videos and podcasts and my research more generally, please consider supporting my work on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged), using my PayPal account (https://bit.ly/2RLaUcB), or by buying books for my research on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/36WVSWCK4X33O?ref_=wl_share).

The audio of all of my videos is available on my Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More on OpenTheo

Keri Ingraham: School Choice and Education Reform
Keri Ingraham: School Choice and Education Reform
Knight & Rose Show
January 24, 2026
Wintery Knight and guest host Bonnie welcome Dr. Keri Ingraham to discuss school choice and education reform. They discuss the public school monopoly'
E. Calvin Beisner: Climate and Energy Policy
E. Calvin Beisner: Climate and Energy Policy
Knight & Rose Show
January 4, 2026
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Dr. E. Calvin Beisner to discuss climate and energy policy. They explore Biblical dominion and stewardship, con
Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
#STRask
December 8, 2025
Questions about why any rational person would have to use any religious book, whether apologetics would be redundant if there were actually a good, un
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
#STRask
January 22, 2026
Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intel
How Do You Justify Calling Jesus the Messiah?
How Do You Justify Calling Jesus the Messiah?
#STRask
December 18, 2025
Questions about how one can justify calling Jesus the Messiah when he didn’t fulfill the Hebrew messianic prophecies, and whether the reason for the v
How Do I Determine Which Topics at Work Are Worth Commenting On?
How Do I Determine Which Topics at Work Are Worth Commenting On?
#STRask
January 5, 2026
Questions about how to determine which topics at work are worth commenting on, and a good way to respond when you’re in a group Bible study and hear e
What About Those Who Never Heard the Name of Jesus?
What About Those Who Never Heard the Name of Jesus?
#STRask
December 22, 2025
Questions about what will happen to those who never heard of Jesus or were brought up in a different faith, whether there’s biblical warrant to think
Prove to Me That Jesus Is Not a Created Being
Prove to Me That Jesus Is Not a Created Being
#STRask
January 26, 2026
Questions about why we should think Jesus is not a created being, and what it means to say God became fully human if part of being human means not bei
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
#STRask
November 13, 2025
Question about why it seems like the Bible teaches you how to be a proper slave owner rather than than saying, “Stop it. Give them freedom.”   * It s
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
Life and Books and Everything
February 18, 2026
"I love being a pastor, and I love pastors, which is why I hope you will consider joining us at the Coram Deo Pastors Conference in 2026." —Kevin DeYo
Does God Really Need a “Pound of Flesh” to Forgive Sins?
Does God Really Need a “Pound of Flesh” to Forgive Sins?
#STRask
January 12, 2026
Questions about how to answer the challenge that God doesn’t need a “pound of flesh” to forgive sins but can simply forgive, and whether the claim in
How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
#STRask
November 27, 2025
Questions about how to explain modesty to a nine-year-old in a way that won’t cause shame about her body, and when and how to tell a child about a pre
The Best of Times and the Worst of Times with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
The Best of Times and the Worst of Times with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
March 10, 2026
If you don’t like freewheeling conversation, laughter, and banter among friends, then this may not be the episode for you. But if you are interested i
Christmas Cranks and Christmas Blessings with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Christmas Cranks and Christmas Blessings with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
December 17, 2025
If you are looking for a podcast where three friends talk about whatever they want to talk about and ramble on about sports, books, and grievances, th
Why Is It Necessary to Believe Jesus Is God?
Why Is It Necessary to Believe Jesus Is God?
#STRask
February 19, 2026
Questions about why it’s necessary to believe Jesus is God, whether belief in the Trinity is required for salvation, and why one has to believe in the