The Two Cities

In this episode we’re joined by Professor Gary Edward Schnittjer, who is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament in the School of Divinity at Cairn University in Pennsylvania, and Dr. Matthew Harmon, who is Professor of New Testament Studies at Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana. Together they are the authors of How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible: Seven Hermeneutical Choices for the Old and New Testaments (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation we talk about this resource that Prof. Schnittjer and Dr. Harmon have developed to help students and pastors study biblical intertextuality. We have fun discussing the book and getting into the weeds a bit on specific textual issues. We are also excited to say that we have a book and DVD giveaway that we’re participating in for this book (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310142458/) and lecture materials associated with it (see https://masterlectures.zondervanacademic.com/products/how-to-study-the-bible-s-use-of-the-bible). If you share our episode on social media, and tag us, you could win free copies! Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Dr. Madison Pierce.

In this episode we talk about the presentations we gave at the 2024 SBL & AAR conferences in San Diego and reflect on some of our highlights. We also took the mic around the book stalls for short interviews with various people, including: Prof. Steve Walton, Dr. Andy Judd, Dr. Holly Beers, Dr. Joshua Mobley, Dr. Jonathan Lett, Hakeem Bradley, Dr. Melissa Tan, Victoria Nay, Michael Thompson, and Dr. Christoph Heilig. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Madison Pierce, the Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Kris Song.

This episode is a Live recording with audience of a discussion about genre with Professor Jeannine Brown and Dr. Andy Judd. The event was sponsored by Bethel Seminary, Ridley College (Melbourne), and The Two Cities podcast. Following up on our episodes on genre with each of them, we answer audience questions and dig deeper into the topic.Professor Jeannine Brown is David Price Professor of Biblical Foundations at Bethel Seminary and the author of Embedded Genres in the New Testament: Understanding Their Impact for Interpretation (published by Baker Academic).Dr. Andrew Judd is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College (Melbourne) and the author of Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies (published by Zondervan).Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne.

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Sydney Tooth, who is Director of Postgraduate Studies & Lecturer in New Testament and Greek at Oak Hill College in the UK, a beloved co-host of this here Two Cities podcast, and the author of the book that we’re excited to discuss in this episode, Suddenness and Signs: The Eschatologies of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (published by Mohr Siebeck). Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Tooth talks with us about whether or not the eschatologies of 1–2 Thessalonians are incompatible with each other, as has often been argued, and how a close reading of both texts supports Pauline authorship for 2 Thessalonians. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, and Dr. Sydney Tooth.

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Jesse Nickel, who is a member of the Faculty of Biblical Studies at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, British Columbia and the author of the new book, A Revolutionary Jesus: Violence and Peacemaking in the Kingdom of God (published by Fortress). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about Jesus’s non-violent kingdom and his call to peacemaking, noting, among other things, how pacifism is not passive-ism. As we reflect on Dr. Nickel’s book we make connections to the post-election climate in the States. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert.

In this episode we react in real time to the results of the US Elections at the end of Election Day on November 5th. We use this time to debrief openly and honestly, as well as pray and read Scripture together as we reflect on what the results mean for us, for America, and for the Church. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and the Rev. Dr. Daniel Parham.

In this episode we’re joined by Professor Sam Perry, who is Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma is the Department of Sociology and the author of several books, including two on the topic of Christian Nationalism, Taking America Back for God (with Andrew Whitehead, published by Oxford University Press), and The Flag and the Cross (with Philip Gorski, published by Oxford University Press). In this episode, Professor Perry talks about Christian Nationalism as an Ideology, identity, and political strategy. He also distinguishes between patriotism (which is about stewardship) and nationalism (which is about exclusion and rivalry). The conversation talks about some recent trends with Christian Nationalism that has developed since Prof. Perry’s books on the topic have appeared. While being informative, Prof. Perry also offers some practical advice for the road ahead after the elections are over. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Logan Williams.

 In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Yii-Jan Lin, who is Associate Professor of New Testament at Yale Divinity School and the author of the forthcoming book,  Immigration and Apocalypse: How the Book of Revelation Shaped American Immigration (with Yale University Press). Over the course of our conversation we discuss the conflation of America with the New Jerusalem in political rhetoric, and the implications that has for how some conservative politicians talk about immigration. We discuss pressing issues with immigration in America, our respective family experiences with immigration, and why we should not read Revelation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: The Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Emmett, and the Rev. Dr. Chris Porter.