Why all this history?
February 1, 2021
Delving Into The New Testament In Its WorldMichael Bird
Welcome to the first in a six part series delving into the benchmark book The New Testament In Its World.
Co-author Michael Bird takes us through the text he wrote with N.T. Wright, this episode examining the importance of an historical approach to the New Testament.
On the chopping block are important questions like,
* How does Christianity differ from most other religions when it comes to history?
* Is there a difference between Christian history and 'real' history?
* In a post-modern world, it is even possible to understand what the authors were trying to say?
You can buy a copy of The New Testament In Its World here.
If you're following along with The New Testament In Its World, this episode covers key issues in Part I: Reading The New Testament:
1. Beginning Study of the New Testament
2. The New Testament as History
3. The New Testament as Literature
More From Delving Into The New Testament In Its World
Who is Jesus?
Delving Into The New Testament In Its World
February 23, 2021
Welcome to the second episode in a six part series delving into the benchmark book The New Testament In Its World.
Co-author Michael Bird takes us thr
Why was Paul so controversial?
Delving Into The New Testament In Its World
March 2, 2021
Welcome to the third in a six-part series delving into the benchmark book The New Testament In Its World.
Co-author Michael Bird takes us through the
Where did the Gospels come from?
Delving Into The New Testament In Its World
March 9, 2021
Welcome to the fourth in a six-part series delving into the benchmark book The New Testament In Its World.
Co-author Michael Bird takes us through the
More on OpenTheo
After the Crucifixion, was Jesus Resurrected or Rescued? Licona vs. Ally
Risen Jesus
October 8, 2025
This episode is a 2016 debate held at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Shabir Ally, president of the Islam
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
What Are Some Good Ways to Start a Conversation About God with Family Members?
#STRask
October 30, 2025
Questions about how to start a conversation about God with non-Christian family members, how to keep from becoming emotional when discussing faith iss
How Did a Fisherman Write the Book of Peter?
#STRask
September 18, 2025
Questions about how a fisherman could have written the book of Peter, why people say that not mentioning the destruction of the temple indicates an ea
If We Don’t Need to Learn to Hear God’s Voice, How Do You Explain These Verses?
#STRask
September 11, 2025
Questions about why, if we don’t need to learn to hear God’s voice, there’s a command to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy, why we would need to l
Can You Provide Verifiable, Non-Religious Evidence That a Supernatural Jesus Existed?
#STRask
November 10, 2025
Question about providing verifiable, non-religious evidence that a supernatural Jesus existed.
* I am an atheist and militantly anti-god-belief. Ho
When Is It Time to Walk Away from a Conversation?
#STRask
September 1, 2025
Questions about how to discern when it’s time to walk away from a conversation, and how to cope with people charging you with being prideful and legal
Do Christian Business Owners Have a Moral Responsibility to Provide a Livable Wage?
#STRask
August 25, 2025
Questions about whether Christian business owners should provide a livable wage, whether doing a corporate sponsorship that promotes one’s business co
How Would You Convince Someone That Evil Exists?
#STRask
November 17, 2025
Questions about how to convince someone that evil exists, whether Charlie Kirk’s murder was part of God’s plan, whether that would mean the murderer d
What Tools of Reasoning Help You Know What’s True, Right, and Good?
#STRask
December 4, 2025
Question about what tools of reasoning help us determine whether something is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad before bringing Scripture int
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Life and Books and Everything
October 27, 2025
What is conservatism? And why does it go hand in hand with religious freedom? How should we think about the American experiment of ordered liberty? Ha
Should You Believe Things You Can’t Fully Comprehend?
#STRask
September 25, 2025
Questions about whether you should believe things you can’t fully comprehend, whether it’s just an arbitrary escape hatch to say God doesn’t require a
How Do I Reconcile the Image of God as Judge with His Love, Grace, and Kindness?
#STRask
October 20, 2025
Questions about how to reconcile the image of God as a judge with his love, grace, and kindness, why our sins are considered to be sins against God, a
How Do These Passages Fit with Your View on How God Speaks?
#STRask
September 15, 2025
Questions about why, if it’s impossible to miss God’s voice, the disciples incorrectly told Paul “through the Spirit” not to go to Jerusalem, people m
Is 1 Corinthians 12:3 a Black-and-White Tool for Discernment?
#STRask
October 27, 2025
Questions about whether the claim in 1 Corinthians that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” is a black-and-white tool for disce