Did plague bring an end to the age of Pax Romana? This week, Dr. Colin Elliott joins the podcast to explain the Antonine plague and the influence this wide-reaching plague had on the decline of the Roman Empire. Looking for more from Dr. Elliott? Check out his book Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World. His podcast Or his YouTube channe…

What's the real message of the Tower of Babel? This week, Bob and Jordan walk through four different versions of the Tower of Babel story to see how this story has grown over time and unpack the real meaning of this story. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

This week, we're talking about magic! What is the line between magic and religion? What makes something a miracle instead of magic? Join us for a dive into the text to see if the Bible is actually as opposed to magic as it gets depicted to be. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Bible & Archaeolog…

This week, we're talking with Dr. Briana Jackson about propaganda in ancient Egypt! What counted as propaganda? How was it used? And how different is Egyptian propaganda to what we see today?Interested in more? RSVP for Dr. Jackson's upcoming online class (July 12th) Never Has There Ever: Royal Propaganda in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (it's free…

This week, we're talking with Dr. Paula Fredriksen about her new book: "Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years." We discuss one of the larger questions that runs throughout the book: Christian persecution. When did it happen? How common was it? And why does it become such a dominant part of early Christian identity? Buy "Ancient Chris…

There are a lot of archaeological news stories every month and with every story come questions. This week on the podcast, we wanted to round up four stories from June 2025 that deserve more discussion. Check out our news shorts for weekly archaeology news updates. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cities of the Bible⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a…

This week, we're talking about Augustine's view of slavery with Dr. Toni Alimi. How central to Augustine's thinking and theology was slavery and just how large a shadow did his thinking create? The answer might surprise you.For more, check out Dr. Alimi's new book "Slaves of God: Augustine and Other Romans on Religion and Politics": https://press.p…

This week, we're talking about slavery in the New Testament and Roman world with Javal Coleman. From the Roman context of slavery to how we should be asking questions of instances of slavery in the New Testament, we cover a lot in this conversation.For more, check out their chapter "Enslavement in the Roman World" in the new book "Ancient Slavery a…

This week, we're talking with Dr. Colin Elliott about Julius Caesar! Just how important was Julius Caesar to the history of Rome? Was Caesar's life one of calculated risk or chance events? And how does Caesar compare to everyone who comes after him? Looking for more from Dr. Elliott? Check out his podcast: paxromanapodcast.com Or his YouTube channe…

This week, Dr. Tate Paulette joins Jordan to discuss beer in ancient Mesopotamia! What do we know about the origins of beer? Do we know who drank beer or what it tasted like? Did ancient Mesopotamia have a beer culture? And what's the deal with straws?Looking for more? Check out Dr. Tate Paulette's book "In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in…

Did Ground Penetrating Radar find Noah's Ark? This week, we break down the claims being made by the Noah's Ark Scans about the Durupınar formation. We will get into the "new" pseudo-archaeological evidence, what they are saying it represents, the issues present in their readings, and some questionable things that surround the group and their claims…

This week, Dr. Peter Miller joins Bible & Archaeology to unpack the concept of angels! What are angels? Do angels have a clear role in the Bible? What do angels look like? Do angels have free will? We cover all this and more! Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course Cities of the Bible Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreo…

This week, we're talking with Dr. Brian Doak about Giants! Why are conspiracies about giants so popular? What roots do these theories have in the Bible? And how does any of this connect to American politics? Subscribe to his YouTube channel, where he posts regular reflections on a wide range of biblical studies topics: https://www.youtube.com/@bria…

This week, Jordan and Mary Kate discuss the relationship of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. Is this a story of love at first sight? Who is said to love in this story? What is the role of "love"? Is "love" even the right word? Join us as we discuss some common modern interpretations of Genesis 29 and their problems. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online cour…

This week, we're talking with Dr. Dan McClellan about his new book "The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues." We discuss not just what is in the book but the larger issues that shaped the book.Buy "The Bible Says So" https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Says-So-Scriptures-Controversial/dp/1250347467 Join…

This week, we're talking about the Dead Sea Scrolls with Dr. Andrew Perrin! From the stories of their discovery to the rise of modern forgeries, Bob and Andrew cover it all in this conversation about the history and importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Buy "Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds" https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Words-Forgotten-Worlds-Rediscove…

How many versions of Jesus' last day do we have? This week, Bob and Jordan walk through the events of Good Friday in each of the four gospels to see where they do and don't agree in their descriptions of Jesus' crucifixion. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠Cities of the Bible⁠ Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠…

This week, Jordan and Mary Kate discuss three items frequently included in lists reporting archaeological evidence for Jesus and Easter: the Alexamenos graffito, the Pilate stone, and the Yehohanan heel bone. We dive into what these objects are, what they can actually tell us, and discuss how they get overused. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online c…

In this Patreon exclusive episode, Jordan and Mary Kate look at the sacrifice of Isaac. This series is our version of an Intro to the Bible class but without the homework! The full podcast is available on ⁠Patreon⁠ to the Expert tier and above. Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.…

This week, Dr. James Barker joins Jordan to discuss what the New Testament has to say about the divinity of Jesus! What is Christology and why does it matter? Was Jesus always God or did Jesus become God? Do all the different New Testament texts agree? And what are we supposed to think if they don't agree? Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course…

This week, Jordan is joined by Chantel Heister, a PhD candidate at Emory University, for a conversation about their research and life as a PhD student. We talk about what life looks like for a PhD student, what they are researching, and what advice they wish they had been given earlier. Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠Cities of the Bibl…

In NT Pod 109, Mark goes to the movies! This is a review of The Last Supper (2025), and it is almost 29 minutes long. NT Pod 109: The Last Supper (mp3) Key texts: Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matt. 14.13-21 // Mark 6.31-44 // Mark 6.31-44 // Luke 9.10-17 // John 6.1-15); Gospel Passion and Resurrection Narratives (Matthew 21-28; Mark 11-16; Luke 1…

This week, Jordan and Mary Kate discuss recent reports of new evidence about the death of King Josiah found during excavations at Tel Megiddo. Join us as we sort through what the headlines are claiming, what the archaeologists actually said, and what if anything this tells us about what we see in the accounts of Kings and Chronicles. Join Dr. Cargi…

This week, Lucy Wadeson joins us again to discuss death, burials, and the afterlife in the Nabatean Empire. What did the Nabateans think happened to you after you died? What can we learn about the connection between the living and the dead through ritual practices like feasting and gift giving? And who were these impressive tombs really for? We cov…

In this Patreon exclusive episode, Jordan and Mary Kate look at the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar! This series is our version of an Intro to the Bible class but without the homework! The full podcast is available on Patreon to the Expert tier and above. Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.…

This week, Bob and Jordan discuss the final days of King David and the events that accompany the end of King David’s reign. How secure is David's kingdom? Does the right person end up on the throne or is this succession actually a coup?Just how much of 1 King’s version of events should we trust? Join Dr. Cargill for his new online course ⁠Cities of…

NT Pod 108 continues the series on Bible translation (see also NT Pod 104: The Synoptic Translation Problem, NT Pod 105: What is Translation Inertia?, and NT Pod 107: Why Do We Translate New Testament Names the Way We Do?) and discusses the different ways we translate Jesus's name depending on whether we are looking at the Old Testament or the New:…

This week, Dr. Peter Miller joins Bible & Archaeology to discuss the origins of Lilith! While Lilith is commonly known as the first wife of Adam, her origins are anything but clear. Peter joins us to explain not only where Lilith comes from, but the different roles she serves over time as well why she continues to remain a well known entity. Send u…

This week, Dr. J.P. Dessel joins Jordan to discuss the emergence of ancient Israel within the Age of Ethnogenesis that follows the Late Bronze Age collapse. Using the Merneptah Stele and the Tel Dan Stele as chronological bookends, J.P. walks us through four common models used by scholars for understanding the process of emergence of ancient Israel…

This week, Dr. J.P. Dessel joins Jordan to discuss a pivotal time in the ancient Mediterranean: the Late Bronze Age. What do we know about the world of the Late Bronze Age? What can we learn from discoveries like the Merneptah Stele and the Amarna Letters? And what exactly does the Merneptah Stele tell us about ancient Israel? Checkout J.P.'s podca…

This week, Dr. Sarah Bond joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about her new book "Strike" which takes a new look at the Roman history we think we know through a focus on work, labor, and collectives. From plebeians refusing to join the Roman army to bakers withholding bread, Dr. Bond explains how Roman workers used strikes, boycotts, riots, …

NT Pod 107 continues the series on Bible translation (see also NT Pod 104: The Synoptic Translation Problem and NT Pod 105: What is Translation Inertia?), focusing on the phenomenon of translating exactly the same name one way if it is an Old Testament character and another way if it is a New Testament character. The examples discussed are Jacob an…

In NT Pod 106, I am in conversation with Dr Hugo Méndez, Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Our primary focus is on John's Gospel, and the "Johannine Community", but we also discuss Dr Méndez's new online course, with Bart Ehrman’s Biblical Studies Academy, The New Testament: Explo…

This week, Dr. Hugo Méndez, Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about authorship in the New Testament. In this conversation we cover it all: How can scholars tell if something was falsely authored? How many texts do we think fall into t…

This week, Dr. Mark Goodacre, Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University, joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about the gospel of John! In this podcast, we take a dive into Mark's forthcoming book about the gospel of John and the possibility that John is more of a synoptic gospel than it gets credit for. Mark's Podcast the NTPod: http…

In this Patreon exclusive episode, Jordan and Mary Kate look at the creation accounts of Gen 1 & 2. This series is our version of an Intro to the Bible class but without the homework! These kinds of bonus podcasts are usually available only to Experts and Apostles on Patreon but this week we wanted to make it open to everyone. If you like this and …

This week, Dr. William Schniedewind, Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages at UCLA, joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about scribes! In this podcast, we take a deep dive into Bill's new book "Who Really Wrote the Bible" for a discussion about the scribal communities responsible for the Bible.Get "Who Really Wrote th…

This week it's a Free-for-All which means this episode is all listener questions, submitted and answered live on the air. Send us your questions: [email protected] Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show. Everywhere you can find us…

Hanukkah is famous as the festival of lights, and most of us know it for the lighting of the menorah and the celebration of the miracle of the oil. But how much do you know about the Hasmoneans and Hanukkah’s early political and religious history? Was Hanukkah always about divine intervention? This week, Dr. Kenneth Atkinson joins Bible & Archaeolo…

This week, Dr. Eric Vanden Eykel, an Associate Professor of Religion at Ferrum College, joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about the Magi! The Magi are one of the most visually recognizable aspects of any Nativity scene, however, Matthew's description of these gift bearing visitors is more vague than you might expect. In this podcast, we ta…

This week, Bible & Archaeology goes to the movies for a review of Netflix's new movie "Mary." We discuss what we think "Mary" wants to do, what it does well, and what it does poorly, and some of what is potentially going on behind the script. We'll break down "Mary" so you can decide if it is one you want to watch, or skip. Send us your questions: …

Are there jokes in the Bible? Why are the Amalekites mentioned in Judges 5? Was David a messiah? This week it's a Free-for-All which means this episode is all listener questions, submitted and answered live on the air. Send us your questions: [email protected] Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to watch the show?…

NT Pod 105, "What is Translation Inertia?" discusses a problem in English translations of the Gospels. The sheer familiarity of famous translations, often dating back to the King James Version of 1611, can prevent us from translating the Bible into accurate contemporary English. There are many examples of this, but this podcast begins with "There i…

This week, Dr. Justin Vorhis, an Assistant Professor in Classics here at the University of Iowa, joins Bible & Archaeology for part two of our discussion about Alexander the Great! How did Alexander die? Why did his empire fall apart? Is Alexander great? We cover all this and more in this second of two episodes on the rise and fall of Alexander the…

This week, Dr. Justin Vorhis, an Assistant Professor in Classics here at the University of Iowa, joins Bible & Archaeology for a discussion about the rise of Alexander the Great! What led to Alexander's rise? Why was he such a successful military leader? What was his relationship to religion and mythology? We cover all this and more in this first t…

NT Pod 104, "The Synoptic Translation Problem," investigates a problem in English translations of the Gospels. The translations frequently mangle the agreements and disagreements between the Synoptic Gospels, and between the Synoptics and John. This podcast attempts to show how pervasive the problem is by drawing attention to conflicting translatio…

This week, Dr. Lucy Wadeson joins Jordan Jones to walk us through the history of one the world's most famous archaeological sites: Petra! Dr. Wadeson is a Classical Archaeologist who specializes in the Greco-Roman Near East, in particular Petra and the Nabataeans. In this episode, Dr. Wadeson answers all the big Petra questions like: who were the N…

This week, Dr. Mark Leuchter joins Jordan Jones to discuss one of the Hebrew Bible's most famous tribes: The Levites. Who were were Levites? Where did they come from? Why were they chosen to be priests? What was the role of the Levites in ancient Israelite society? Join us as we walk through the history, origins, and identity of the Levites. Send u…

This week it's a Free-for-All, which means this episode is all listener questions, submitted and answered live on the air. Send us your questions: [email protected] Become a Bible & Archaeology patron on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠. Want to watch the show? Find us on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ to see a video recording of this show. Everywhere you can find us: ⁠⁠⁠Li…

Just in time for Halloween, this week, Dr. Bob Cargill, Jordan Jones, and Mary Kate Lichty discuss the Hebrew Bible's one and only necromancy story: 1 Samuel 28 and the story of the so-called 'Witch' of Endor! What is this story doing in the Bible? What does this story have to say about necromancy? Why does she get called a 'witch' instead of mediu…