It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life? Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  <a href="https://www.johnabeckauthor.com/ ">HERE</a>Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@johnabeck">HERE</a>Discover Dr. Beck's books <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXRXP8/about">HERE</a>Contact Cyndi Parker through <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com">Narrative of Place</a>.Join Cyndi Parker's  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker">Patreon Team</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  &lt;a href="https://www.johnabeckauthor.com/ "&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/@johnabeck"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Discover Dr. Beck's books &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXRXP8/about"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Contact Cyndi Parker through &lt;a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com"&gt;Narrative of Place&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Cyndi Parker's  &lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker"&gt;Patreon Team&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Dr. Jack Beck talks about literary geography and its importance for understanding Jesus' origin story.

Nazareth's Role in Christmas

Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use? Find out more about Dr. Schaser <a href="https://www.macalester.edu/religious-studies/facultystaff/nicholasschaser/">HERE</a>Explore his book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ransom-Israel-Jewish-Salvation-Matthew/dp/162837666X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28ANFV1L4GXSG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qzc5pXg6qJgz3KKz1365Nw.MCih0hEoIkjglEyGzhAwem7mvPBzEXQJeRwB18mHKEU&dib_tag=se&keywords=nicholas+schaser&qid=1764713018&sprefix=nicholas+schaser%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1">A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthe</a>wRead short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website <a href="https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/author/nicholas-j-schaser">HERE</a>Contact Cyndi Parker through <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com">Narrative of Place</a>.Join Cyndi Parker's  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker">Patreon Team</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Find out more about Dr. Schaser &lt;a href="https://www.macalester.edu/religious-studies/facultystaff/nicholasschaser/"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Explore his book: &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ransom-Israel-Jewish-Salvation-Matthew/dp/162837666X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28ANFV1L4GXSG&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qzc5pXg6qJgz3KKz1365Nw.MCih0hEoIkjglEyGzhAwem7mvPBzEXQJeRwB18mHKEU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=nicholas+schaser&amp;qid=1764713018&amp;sprefix=nicholas+schaser%2Caps%2C111&amp;sr=8-1"&gt;A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthe&lt;/a&gt;w&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Read short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website &lt;a href="https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/author/nicholas-j-schaser"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Contact Cyndi Parker through &lt;a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com"&gt;Narrative of Place&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Cyndi Parker's  &lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker"&gt;Patreon Team&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Dr. Nicholas Schaser is an Assistant professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College. He specializes in Jewish Studies and the New Testament.

Jesus, Hillel, and Shammai

As we set the context for the birth of Jesus, we explore the dominant voices of Jewish thought and practice at the beginning of the 1st Century CE. Dr. Nicolas Schaser from Macalester College introduces us to the sages of Hillel and Shammai - who are they? What were their philosophies? This will lead us into more conversations next week about how these two compare to the teachings of Jesus. Find out more about Dr. Schaser <a href="https://www.macalester.edu/religious-studies/facultystaff/nicholasschaser/">HERE</a>Explore his book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ransom-Israel-Jewish-Salvation-Matthew/dp/162837666X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28ANFV1L4GXSG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qzc5pXg6qJgz3KKz1365Nw.MCih0hEoIkjglEyGzhAwem7mvPBzEXQJeRwB18mHKEU&dib_tag=se&keywords=nicholas+schaser&qid=1764713018&sprefix=nicholas+schaser%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1">A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthe</a>wContact Cyndi Parker through <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com">Narrative of Place</a>.Join Cyndi Parker's  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker">Patreon Team</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;As we set the context for the birth of Jesus, we explore the dominant voices of Jewish thought and practice at the beginning of the 1st Century CE. Dr. Nicolas Schaser from Macalester College introduces us to the sages of Hillel and Shammai - who are they? What were their philosophies? This will lead us into more conversations next week about how these two compare to the teachings of Jesus. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Find out more about Dr. Schaser &lt;a href="https://www.macalester.edu/religious-studies/facultystaff/nicholasschaser/"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Explore his book: &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ransom-Israel-Jewish-Salvation-Matthew/dp/162837666X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28ANFV1L4GXSG&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qzc5pXg6qJgz3KKz1365Nw.MCih0hEoIkjglEyGzhAwem7mvPBzEXQJeRwB18mHKEU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=nicholas+schaser&amp;qid=1764713018&amp;sprefix=nicholas+schaser%2Caps%2C111&amp;sr=8-1"&gt;A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthe&lt;/a&gt;w&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Contact Cyndi Parker through &lt;a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com"&gt;Narrative of Place&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Cyndi Parker's  &lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker"&gt;Patreon Team&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Leading Sages of Jewish Thought

We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and we have arrived at the time of the rise of Octavian. He will lead the Roman Republic into its Empire stage. But how does he do that and how does this change the Judean context of Bethlehem where Jesus is born? Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:<a href="https://www.gcbi.net">Great Commission Bible Institute</a><a href="https://christiantravelstudyprograms.net">Christian Travel Study Programs</a>Outreach Ministry: <a href="http://www.globalvisionoutreach.org/">www.globalvisionoutreach.org</a>Through the Bible: <a href="http://1hour1book.com/">1hour1book.com</a>Contact Cyndi Parker through <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com">Narrative of Place</a>.Join Cyndi Parker's  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker">Patreon Team</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and we have arrived at the time of the rise of Octavian. He will lead the Roman Republic into its Empire stage. But how does he do that and how does this change the Judean context of Bethlehem where Jesus is born? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gcbi.net"&gt;Great Commission Bible Institute&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://christiantravelstudyprograms.net"&gt;Christian Travel Study Programs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Outreach Ministry: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.globalvisionoutreach.org/"&gt;www.globalvisionoutreach.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Through the Bible: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://1hour1book.com/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1hour1book.com&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Contact Cyndi Parker through &lt;a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com"&gt;Narrative of Place&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Cyndi Parker's  &lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker"&gt;Patreon Team&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Dr. Randal Smith is the Director of Christian Travel Study Program and joins me today to discuss the rise of the Roman Republic.

Roman Republic to Empire

Dr. Randal Smith is the Director of Christian Travel Study Program and a virtual encyclopedia about biblical context. We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and while we assume Roman domination, it wasn't always that way! Today we discuss how Rome emerged from squalor to an empire that dominated the Mediterranean, outmaneuvering the Greeks and innovating military, economic, and political systems.Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:<a href="https://www.gcbi.net">Great Commission Bible Institute</a><a href="https://christiantravelstudyprograms.net">Christian Travel Study Programs</a>Outreach Ministry: <a href="http://www.globalvisionoutreach.org/">www.globalvisionoutreach.org</a>Through the Bible: <a href="http://1hour1book.com/">1hour1book.com</a>Contact Cyndi Parker through <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com">Narrative of Place</a>.Join Cyndi Parker's  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker">Patreon Team</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;Dr. Randal Smith is the Director of Christian Travel Study Program and a virtual encyclopedia about biblical context. We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and while we assume Roman domination, it wasn't always that way! Today we discuss how Rome emerged from squalor to an empire that dominated the Mediterranean, outmaneuvering the Greeks and innovating military, economic, and political systems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.gcbi.net"&gt;Great Commission Bible Institute&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://christiantravelstudyprograms.net"&gt;Christian Travel Study Programs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Outreach Ministry: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.globalvisionoutreach.org/"&gt;www.globalvisionoutreach.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Through the Bible: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://1hour1book.com/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1hour1book.com&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Contact Cyndi Parker through &lt;a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com"&gt;Narrative of Place&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Cyndi Parker's  &lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cyndiparker"&gt;Patreon Team&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Rome Appears on the Horizon

This podcast is for people who are curious about the ancient context that influenced the final shape of the Bible…AND ALSO…how our modern context influences the way we understand the Bible and God and all things spiritual.

Context Matters

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