New Testament scholars have often relied on outdated assumptions for understanding the composition and circulation of the gospels. This scholarship has spread myths or misconceptions about how the ancients read, wrote, and published texts. 

 Nicholas Elder updates our knowledge of the gospels’ media contexts in this myth-busting academic study. Carefully combing through Greco-Roman primary sources, he exposes what we take for granted about ancient reading cultures and offers new and better ways to understand the gospels. These myths include claims that ancients never read silently and that the canonical gospels were all the same type of text. Elder then sheds light on how early Christian communities used the gospels in diverse ways. Scholars of the gospels and classics alike will find Gospel Media an essential companion in understanding ancient media cultures.

Dr. Nick Elder (PhD, Marquette University) is Associate Professor of New Testament at the University of Dubuque, where he teaches undergraduate Bible and Theology courses and New Testament, exegesis, and Greek courses in the theological seminary. He is the author of Gospel Media: Reading, Writing, and Circulating Jesus Traditions (Eerdmans, 2024) and The Media Matrix of Early Jewish and Christian Narrative (Bloomsbury, 2019). He is a father of four, a spouse of one, a home renovator, and a distance runner.

https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Media-Reading-Circulating-Traditions/dp/0802879217

https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Narrative-Library-Testament-Studies/dp/0567688100

Music: Ethereal Vistas by Denis Brodovskyi

Redivivus

Music by Ethereal Vistas by Denis Brodovskyi

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos.

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

1 Peter 2.10-3.7

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

The Apostle Paul - Letters From Prison

Philippians 1.27-30; 2.1-11

Colossians 1.15-20

Philemon

In this special release day episode, Cody Matchett interviews Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer on their new book, Pivot.

After the release of their groundbreaking book, A Church Called Tov, which recorded the stories of abuse and toxic church cultures at some of the most prominent churches in the United States, New Testament scholar and blogger for Christianity Today Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer heard from a flood of people who had experienced similar instances of abuse. After all they’ve seen and heard, they still believe it’s possible for church cultures to be transformed from toxic to tov—from oppressive to good.

In Pivot, Scot and Laura help churches to implement practices,establish priorities, and cultivate the Kingdom Gospel-centered qualities that form goodness cultures. Readers will find answers to the four most common questions people have about culture transformation:

1. How can I transform the culture in my church or organization to make it tov?
2. I believe my workplace has unhealthy values. How do I initiate change?
3. How do I unleash a culture of goodness in my ministry?
4. I’m not in a position of church leadership. What are some red flags that indicate a toxic culture, and what can I do if I see them?

Pivot also includes the following practical features:

• The “Tov tool,” a survey to help you discern your organization’s culture and to promote spiritual conversations
• A “getting to work” section at the end of each chapter with questions and next steps for application

Transformation is never easy. But for the sake of the next generation, we must do it.

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

In particular, they discuss the destabilization and formation of the early Jesus-communities, turning the world upside down, and Paul's Roman citizenship. 

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

Text Discussed:

Mark 12.13-17

Matthew 17.14-27

Luke 13.31-35

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett begin a new series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos.