Welcome to the Divine Council Worldview Podcast, where hosts Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu honor the legacy of their late friend and colleague Dr. Michael S. Heiser...
EP050: Healing, Faith & The Unseen Realm: A Pastor’s Journey from Trauma to Transformation
In this episode, Rich and Mel sit down with Pastor Jeremy Keys from Calgary, Alberta, to explore his incredible journey from a traumatic childhood and struggles with addiction to a life transformed by faith. Jeremy shares how his experiences shaped his understanding of the gospel and the importance of family and community in healing. The conversation delves into spiritual warfare and the unseen realm, emphasizing how these elements intersect with faith and personal transformation. They discuss the challenges of addressing addiction within a faith-based framework and the necessity of reclaiming spiritual spaces for healing and support. Jeremy also highlights the role of scripture in navigating spiritual battles and the need for believers to embrace the supernatural aspects of their faith. The episode closes with a powerful reflection on connecting with the next generation, fostering community collaboration, and deepening our understanding of the gospel’s transformative power.
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1:37:21
EP049: John 1:1: Is Jesus God?
In this episode, Ronn and Mike begin their study of the Gospel of John, focusing specifically on its opening verse. They explore the Greek concept of logos, the apparent distinction between logos and theos, and the concept of the pre-existence of Jesus. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize the importance of understanding the relationship between Jesus and Yahweh, delving into the complexities of understanding the nature of Jesus, the concept of theos, and the implications of Trinitarianism. The discussion emphasizes the importance of context, narrative, and the evolving nature of language in theological discourse, recommending in the end that a DCW offers a unique perspective on the application of theos to the identity of Jesus.
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1:20:53
EP048: Does Theos mean "God"?
In this episode, Ronn and Mike Chu discuss the meaning of the term “God” in the New Testament, especially noting the lexical movement between the words elohim and theos as Semitic and Greco-Roman languages developed over the centuries. The importance of this study will be reflected in the opening lines of John 1:1 and the identification of Jesus (“the Word with with God, and the Word was God”) as this podcast begins its study in the Gospel of John in following episodes. Using biblical and extra-biblical literature, this discussion comes to the conclusion that elohim and theos did not carry the same meaning between the testaments, and that the Greek theos cannot be equated to the English word “God.”
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1:08:49
EP047: Israel's Story from Genesis to John
In this episode, Ronn and Mike explore the transition from the book of Genesis to the Gospel of John, the next subject of study for this podcast. They recommend that the Bible's authority lies primarily in the overarching story it tells, and that for this reason we must know the background and context of any biblical book before studying it. Their discussion presents a sweeping overview of the major events of biblical history and theological developments, including the calling of Abraham, the significance of loyalty, Israelite rituals of faith, and the model of leadership exemplified by David. It concludes by showing how the consequences of idolatry, the experience of exile, the promise of a new covenant, and the political landscape of Jewish independence gives way to John the Baptist and the story of John’s gospel.
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1:15:22
EP046: Genesis 48-50 & Israel's Arrival in Egypt
In this episode, Ronn and Mike study the concluding chapters of Genesis. They begin by briefly overviewing the concept of biblical inspiration, anticipating that the poem of chapter 49 is likely the work of more than one person or even one era. They note Jacob’s curious mention of an elohim/mal’ak (48:15-16) who was responsible for the protection of the patriarch for many years. At the conclusion of this podcast they pause to review some practical aspects of this book, noticing that there are a fair number of themes found in Genesis that seem to be ignored by the modern church and—just the opposite—there are many ideas Christians talk about today which find no mention in Genesis at all.
Welcome to the Divine Council Worldview Podcast, where hosts Ronn Johnson and Mike Chu honor the legacy of their late friend and colleague Dr. Michael S. Heiser (author of the best-selling book The Unseen Realm). Our interest is the Bible, studying it through the lens of its original authors and audience. We will specifically take notice of created divine beings and the role they play in the physical cosmos through the ultimate authority of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Join the fun conversation!