This week, Carey continues the Purity Series by digging into Matthew Thiessen’s Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal of Ritual Impurity within First-Century Judaism—and uses it as a springboard to talk about atonement, purification, and why “apocalypse” is not just end-times hype. A core thread: modern readers (and plenty of scholars) often read Jesus as if he’s against Jewish purity, when the Gospels actually portray him as rescuing people from the forces of ritual impurity—with a “contagious holiness” that overwhelms impurity at its source. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why we misread the Gospels when we unconsciously import our modern conceptual world into a first-century purity framework (a frame-semantics problem) The common scholarly false dichotomy: “Jewish holiness vs Jesus’ mercy,” and why it fails A helpful map for thinking clearly: holy/profane (common) and pure/impure as distinct-but-related categories Why “ritual impurity vs moral impurity” can be a useful discussion tool—but isn’t quite a clean biblical taxonomy “Death-logic,” sacred space, and why childbirth (surprisingly) gets pulled into the conversation How this connects to Genesis (childbirth, Eden as sacred space, exile from the presence, Sabbath, and the start of death) Demonic impurity / unclean spirits: why Genesis 6/Nephilim and 1 Enoch matter, but don’t “solve” everything—and why you have to account for broader ancient exorcism Apocalyptic vs prophetic genre: prophecy as covenant lawsuit and warning to rebels; apocalypse as hope for the faithful and God “breaking in” A bridge into the atonement conversation: how “atonement” language can mean purification/purgation of sacred space, and how that differs from broader “at-one-ment” reconciliation talk Referenced Matthew Thiessen, Jesus and the Forces of Death   Andrew Rillera, Lamb of the Free (and the PSA conversation) Jacob Milgrom and “death-logic” Join the study (On This Rock) Carey is formally kicking off a deep-dive study of Lamb of the Free in January 2026, with recorded Zoom discussions and supporting visuals/charts; the study is for paid members (noted as $5/month in the episode) On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Win...

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Courtney Trotter of Kairos Classroom for a deep-dive into how Scripture portrays God’s appearances—especially the debated “Angel of the LORD,” and the often-overlooked manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Courtney outlines a helpful taxonomy (aural, phenomenological, and embodied theophanies) and explains how these encounters operate across “tiers” of experience—earthly, heavenly vision from earth, and heavenly vision in the heavenly realm. Together, Carey and Courtney explore why this matters for Trinitarian theology (including how Augustine’s approach shifted Western instincts, and how Luther/Calvin helped repopularize a Christophany reading), and why it matters for worship, embodiment, and daily Christian life—especially in an age tempted toward “functional deism.” In this conversation: What a theophany is—and why the “Angel of the LORD” question isn’t a side issue A practical framework for how God appears in Scripture (aural / phenomenological / embodied + where the experiencer is) Spirit theophanies as wind/breath/fire: Genesis 1 and Exodus 14 as “Breath/Wind/Spirit” readings The fire-thread: Sinai fire, temple presence, exile traditions, Hanukkah (2 Maccabees 2), and Pentecost as “fire moving outward” Why John’s Gospel presses the issue (“that was me” logic tied to Abraham/Isaiah/Jacob patterns) and how that connects to the Transfiguration A key scholarly prompt: Benjamin Sommer’s argument that a “God with an earthly body… and a heavenly manifestation” is a perfectly Jewish model (and why that matters for Christian claims) Why this isn’t “too mystical”: seeing creation as an arena for encounter, not mere “resources” Referenced / mentioned in the episode: Courtney Trotter’s Kairos Classroom (Greek & Hebrew instruction): Kairos Classroom  Benjamin Sommer, The Bodies of God in Ancient Israel C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image 2 Maccabees 2 (the preserved fire tradition) On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode we head back into Genesis 6 and ask what it means that Noah was “blameless in his generations.” Is this about genetic purity and Nephilim DNA… or about covenant faithfulness in a violently corrupt world? Working through the structure of Genesis, ancient “ancestor epics,” and the toledoth of Adam and Noah, Carey explores how Genesis 6 sets up a pattern that runs through the prophets and into the New Testament: idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment… with a righteous remnant preserved. Along the way, she interacts with Sandra Richter’s “primeval sons of God” view, nuances Michael Heiser’s “three rebellions” framework, and pushes back against the Christian Supernatural Entertainment Complex’s obsession with hybrid DNA and racialized readings of the Nephilim. You’ll hear how: “Generations” in Genesis 6 uses two different Hebrew words (toledoth vs Noah’s “blamelessness”), and why that matters. Noah’s “without defect” language echoes cultic purity and covenant wholeness, not lab-grade genetics. The flood narrative prototypes the idolatry → corruption → violence → judgment pattern seen in Ezekiel, Amos, Hosea, Habakkuk, and Romans 1. The Nephilim, “men of the name,” and hero cults connect Genesis 6 with Babel, Deuteronomy 32, and Second Temple traditions (apkallu, Enoch, Rephaim). Why over-focusing on supernatural beings can distract from human responsibility, justice, and repentance—and how Noah models a different way of walking with God. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode, Carey continues the fire in Scripture series by following the holy fire of God into the furnace—where His presence purifies without consuming. We trace how Isaiah and Daniel picture God’s burning holiness as both judgment and safety, a place where the faithful can actually live inside the fire without being destroyed. Using frame semantics and the idea of sensus plenior (“fuller sense”), we explore how Scripture’s meaning develops without contradiction, moving from Torah’s guarded nearness to God, through exile and restoration, into the incarnation, resurrection, Pentecost, and the church’s baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” We look at key passages in Isaiah 4, 6, 30, and 63 alongside Daniel 3, 7, and 12 to show how God’s jealous love guards, guides, evaluates, and refines His people. Trials are not signs of abandonment but a refining furnace that exposes and burns away what cannot live in God’s presence—while preserving and beautifying what can. We then bring this all the way to the New Testament: Hebrews, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Peter, and Matthew 3’s promise that Jesus will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” What does it mean to be baptized into the One who dwells in the fire? How can the church live near the consuming fire of Hebrews 12 without being consumed? And how do suffering, repentance, and our everyday choices fit into that larger frame of glory, presence, and purification? If you’ve wrestled with judgment, suffering, or the fear of “not doing enough” in repentance, this episode will help reframe those fears inside the story of God’s refining love—and why baptism belongs inside the fire-and-glory framework rather than outside of it. In this episode, we explore: How frame semantics helps us see “fire” as a family of frames: boundary, guarding, purification/furnace, guidance, glory, and judgment Isaiah 6 as a divine council scene where holy fire purifies Isaiah’s lips and commissions him rather than destroying him Isaiah 4, 30, and 63 as pictures of in-house purification, guidance, and God’s breath/Spirit as burning, judging, and leading presence Daniel 3 and the fiery furnace: why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego can live in the flames with the “one like a son of the gods” Daniel 7 & 12: the Son of Man, rivers of fire, judgment of the beasts, and the shining resurrection hope of the wise How sensus plenior works: later Scripture doesn’t contradict earlier Scripture, but fills out seeds already planted Why trials and suffering in the New Testament function as a refining furnace rather than a sign that God has abandoned us 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 4: judgment beginning with the household of God, and works tested “as through fire” Matthew 3:11–12 and what it means that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire Baptism as participation in Christ’s indwelling fire—where the person is not consumed, but the unfit things are burned away On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s websit...

What if fire really does fall from heaven…and the nation still doesn’t change? In this episode, Carey walks through Elijah’s showdown with Baal, the prophetic lawsuit pattern, Psalm 82, and how Jesus redirects our zeal so we don’t weaponize “calling down fire” today. In this Fire series episode, we step onto Mount Carmel and into the divine courtroom. Elijah calls down fire, Baal stays silent, the people shout “Yahweh is God!”—and yet the monarchy doesn’t change, Jezebel still hunts Elijah, and injustice continues. We trace how this scene works as a prophetic lawsuit rooted in the covenant of Deuteronomy, how it mirrors Psalm 82’s divine council courtroom, and why public spectacle can expose idols but can’t regenerate hearts. Along the way, we explore the difference between magic and covenant obedience, Baal’s “silence,” and why Carmel doesn’t mean rival powers don’t exist. The episode then jumps forward to 2 Kings 1 and Luke 9, where Elijah’s script is picked up—and corrected—by Jesus. The disciples want to call down fire on a Samaritan village; Jesus rebukes them and re-orders zeal under his timing, his mission, and his authority. If you’ve ever wished God would “just show up” with a big miracle to settle everything—or been tempted to weaponize judgment texts against your enemies—this conversation on holiness, power, and posture is for you. In this episode we: Frame the Fire series in terms of God as consuming, jealous love Unpack Elijah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) as a prophetic lawsuit Connect covenant drought, Baal’s failure, and Yahweh’s fire as legal evidence Read Psalm 82 alongside Carmel as a divine council courtroom scene Explore why spectacle can expose idols but can’t legislate heart change Distinguish magic-technique vs. covenant obedience in Elijah’s actions Clarify idols vs. gods and why Baal’s silence doesn’t equal non-existence Follow Elijah to Horeb (1 Kings 19) and the remnant that didn’t bow to Baal Walk through 2 Kings 1 and the captains of fifty as a case study in posture Watch Jesus reorient Elijah-style fire in Luke 9 and Luke 10 Reflect on James 1 and what meekness, anger, and “strength under authority” look like Consider what it means for us to act as God’s hands and feet without hijacking his judgment On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey continues tracing the theme of fire through Scripture—this time by pairing it with the biblical theme of glory and the language of God as a “consuming fire” and “jealous God.” We explore how glory functions as weight, radiance, presence, boundary, purification, guidance, evaluation, and honor—and how fire shows one way those realities are enacted. Walking through key passages like Deuteronomy 4, Exodus 13–14, Numbers 9, and Hebrews 12, demonstrates how God’s jealous love guards covenant loyalty, guides His people, and exposes what cannot survive His holy presence. Along the way, we situate these texts in a Divine Council framework and wrestle with different readings of the “allotment of the nations.” Finally, we step into the water–fire–Spirit framework of baptism: how the flood, the Red Sea, and Pentecost help us see baptism not just as a declaration of allegiance, but as a boundary marker, a call into sanctification, and an invitation to live near holy love without being consumed. You’ll also hear about a Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire, created to help you visualize the overlapping frames that Carey describes throughout the episode. In this episode, we explore: Why glory is more than “brightness”—it’s God’s gravity, weight, and worth How glory and fire overlap but are not identical (glory answers why, fire answers how) Deuteronomy 4’s “consuming fire and jealous God” in light of the Divine Council Several textually plausible options for what it means that the nations are “allotted” to the heavenly host—and why Carey leans toward a “handing over” reading The pillar of cloud and fire as a moving fence, guide, and protector in Exodus and Numbers Hebrews 12’s contrast between Sinai and Zion, and why “acceptable worship with reverence and awe” still matters for the church How baptism sits inside a broader water–fire–Spirit pattern: flood, Red Sea, Spirit as distributed fire, sanctification as a furnace Why baptism is more than a finish line—it enrolls us into a space where God’s jealous love guards, purifies, and forms us for communion and mission Resources mentioned: Frame Semantics Study Guide on Glory & Fire: God is a Consuming Fire: How “Glory” and “Fire” Frames Help You Read the Bible  Carey’s broader Frame Semantics Study Guide can be found here. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/...

This episode launches a new mini-series on the theme of fire in Scripture and how it works as more than just a judgment or “end times” metaphor. Fire marks boundaries, tests fitness for nearness, guards holy space, and signals God’s own presence with His people. Starting at the flaming sword of Eden, Carey traces how fire shows up as a guardian of sacred space, a refining presence, and a covenant sign—from Noah’s burnt offerings and Abram’s smoking firepot to Moses and the burning bush. Along the way, she draws on frame semantics to help us see fire not as a single symbol, but as a cluster of overlapping frames: guardian, purifier, theophany, judgment, empowerment. We also explore some fascinating scholarly debates about Genesis 3:24: Is the flaming sword just a weapon… or a spiritual being in its own right? How do ancient Near Eastern parallels and Psalm 104 factor in? What do later readings like the Targums suggest about God’s presence “east of Eden”? From Cain and Abel to Noah, Abram’s covenant ceremony, and Moses at the burning bush, this episode asks: What counts as a boundary in these stories? What makes someone fit to draw near? How do judgment and mercy belong together in God’s fiery presence? Finally, these themes connect to the bigger biblical story of glory, conquest, and God’s dangerous-yet-merciful nearness—with an invitation to go hunting for fire imagery in your own studies, using word studies as a launchpad but not the destination. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/ Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website:

In this sweeping synthesis episode, Carey zooms out from Mesopotamian exorcism texts to contrast ancient magic/technique with the Bible’s holiness/presence frame. We explore how Scripture attributes sickness and calamity to God’s covenant governance (not a sprawling demonology), why ritual ≠ incantation, and how protection language (Psalm 91) differs when it’s used as prayerful trust rather than magical leverage. We also trace Passover’s blood as sign of covenant loyalty (protection for presence) versus pagan apotropaic rites (protection from volatile powers), and we re-situate baptism as incorporation into a purified people indwelt by the Spirit. Along the way: John Walton on conflict theology, Heiser’s take on Psalm 91 and the “evil eye,” Egypt’s maat, Hittite purity, and the danger of the sacred. We finish by reframing discipleship around holiness first, not death first—so that ethics flow from presence, not technique. Resources & references mentioned Psalm 91 and Jesus’ temptation (Matt 4); Heiser’s Naked Bible episodes on Psalm 91 & “evil eye” (ep. 162 and 321 referenced). Udug-hul Tablet 12; Shurpu confessional series; Egypt’s maat; Hittite rituals and kings. Community note In November 2025 the On This Rock community is discussing the church—join the conversation; link in show notes. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan:

Concluding the mini-series reading from Udug-hul (Udug-hul) Tablet 12, a Mesopotamian exorcism/purification text, and tracing how a single goat in this ritual ends up doing several jobs—substitute, container of breath, apotropaic object, and finally the thing that carries evil away. From there, Carey compares the logic of the text with Leviticus 16 (Day of Atonement) and Numbers 19 (red heifer) and asks the hard question: where’s the line between ritual and magic? The answer is more nuanced than “the Bible isn’t magical.” Sometimes the Bible does very ANE-looking things—but without trying to force the deity. We also see that Mesopotamia loved protective objects (bells, cords, incense, figurines, “good” demons) and how Israel’s Scriptures both fit into and flip that world. What we cover Quick recap of the first two episodes in this series Reading the next section of Tablet 12 (the “one goat doing many jobs” part) Apotropaic magic 101: bells, cords, circles, incantations, and why people felt vulnerable Why Mesopotamia can use the same class of being (storm demon) for harm or healing Parallels and contrasts with Leviticus 16 and Numbers 19 “You don’t do a ritual if you don’t think it does something” — but what kind of “something”? How Israel’s rituals purify space without acting like they’re trapping a stray demon The seven protective figures and divine-council overtones A pastoral-ish landing: how might Christians still hedge their bets with low-key magical thinking? On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://ww...

This episode continues last week’s deep dive (Ep. 149) into Udug-hul Tablet 12, exploring how ancient Mesopotamians understood purity, sacred space, demons, and ritual—and how that compares (and collides) with the Bible’s worldview. Carey walks through Ea (Enki), Marduk, Belet-ili, Eridu, decreed destinies, and a striking black-goat “scapegoat” rite tied to breath, life, and expulsion—then turns to the big question: what’s the difference between magic and ritual for Christians, and how does that shape practices like baptism, exorcism, and embodied worship? 150 TRANSCRIPT In this episode: Why look before Sinai to grasp biblical purity and sacred space Mesopotamian divine council logic: Ea → Marduk → priest as mediator Eridu as a prototype of divine order; destinies and lots language Belet-ili (Mami/Nintu) and “learning the ways of the demons” The black goat rite: breath, life, and removing the ālu/utukku demon Biblical contrasts: Leviticus 16 scapegoat vs. Mesopotamian incantation Magic vs. ritual: mechanistic tech vs. covenantal, participatory practice Embodied sacred space/time: why liturgy, baptism, Eucharist still matter Mentioned texts & themes: Genesis 1–2 (cosmic temple), Deut 32 (lots), Enūma Eliš, Atrahasis, Eridu traditions, Leviticus 16 (scapegoat), Ezekiel 37 (breath & life). 150 TRANSCRIPT Join the community: On This Rock (Carey’s biblical-theology community) and ways to support via Patreon/PayPal. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon:

Today we step before Leviticus into Sumerian and Akkadian worlds to see how ancient people thought about purity, danger, and the sacred—and how Israel both echoes and upends that world. We sample Udug-hul exorcism tablets (incl. Tablet 12), meet storm-like demons, and trace common ancient ritual media (living water, flour circles, fire, incense, bells, tamarisk).  Along the way we test big claims: holiness as a spatial/ritual frame, why “purity precedes holiness,” why Israel’s God doesn’t do “conflict theology” like Mesopotamia, and how not to over-systematize the Divine Council.  If you’ve read Heiser, Walton, or dabbled in 1 Enoch, apkallu lore, or Enuma Elish, this episode gives you a more complex, historically grounded backdrop—without ransacking your faith.  Don’t forget to check out the community at On This Rock for resources for Geller’s Healing Magic and Evil Demons. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

Carey sits down with Mike Chu to talk through the new Unseen Realm - Expanded Edition, how Heiser clarified his stance on creeds, why frame semantics and ancient contexts matter, and why a Christotelic reading (aimed at the eschaton) can keep Scripture’s big story intact. Along the way: pastoral cautions about celebrity culture, the value of scholarship and seminary, and a practical reframing of Imago Dei as being made as God's image (not merely "in" it). Highlights include: Heiser’s "non-credal" (not anti-credal) posture, Genesis 6 in an exilic frame, and how holiness as "other" reshapes baptism, worship, and daily vocation. What's actually new in Unseen Realm (Expanded Edition) and why it matters for teachers and small-group leaders Heiser on creeds: non-credal vs anti-credal, and using creeds as boundaries, not as an interpretive lens Christocentric vs Christotelic: aiming at the end goal of Christ (including the Spirit and the Eschaton) Reading Genesis 6 with an exilic Mesopotamian frame vs a Mosaic/Egyptian frame Imago Dei as vocation: "made as God's image," and why that lands pastorally The completion of AWKNG School of Theology's "Seminary on a Thumb Drive" initiative On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/  Website: genesismarksthespot.com   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot   Music credit: "Marble Machine" by WintergatanLink to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/  Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

Continuing the water series by framing purification and holiness through an ancient Near Eastern lens and a Christotelic (telos-aimed) reading of Scripture. We contrast Christocentric “reading back” with Christotelic “reading forward,” explore holy/common vs clean/unclean as two distinct axes, and ask whether Leviticus was ever meant to be a sin-management system—or a way to host a holy God in sacred space. Along the way: covenant at Sinai, ritual logic, righteousness in OT vs NT, and why Jesus as incarnate Holy One unites holy and common in himself. Bonus at the end: Carey’s first look at The Unseen Realm: Expanded Edition and its nods to frame semantics and christological lenses. In this episode Editing experiment: does lighter editing serve the mission better? Why hermeneutics matters: Christocentric vs Christotelic readings Purity → Holiness: which comes first in human religious imagination? Two spectra, not one: holy/common and clean/unclean Leviticus beyond “sin management”: making space for divine presence Covenant first, cult second; why Israel is unique amid the ANE Righteousness reconsidered across Testaments Word-study pointers: “pure/purge/refine” (gold, oil, incense), ritual vs ethical usage Teaser: upcoming episodes on atonement frames, water vs fire, and Divine Council themes Resources mentioned Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm — Expanded Edition (new front-matter on frames & christological lenses) John Walton on Christotelic reading (telos-oriented Scripture) Carey’s On This Rock community (October theme: Unseen Realm) Support / connect Join the convers...

This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot explores the meaning and function of ritual with a special focus on baptism. From Jewish mikvahs and Qumran practices to Greco-Roman mystery rites and John the Baptist’s wilderness call, baptism emerges as more than a symbol—it’s participation in a story of death, resurrection, and new creation. We’ll look at biblical passages (Romans 6, Galatians 3, Colossians 2, and more), denominational perspectives, and how ritual frames help us move beyond false binaries of “just symbolic” versus “mechanistic.” Topics include: What ritual is and why it matters Rituals as communal participation and transformation Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts for baptism Jesus’ baptism as a Trinitarian theophany Baptism in Acts and the Pauline letters Denominational views on baptism How rituals shape identity, allegiance, and belonging On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

This episode continues our deep dive into the biblical theme of water. From Genesis to the prophets, from Eden’s rivers to Israel’s covenant rain, water frames the story of God’s presence, judgment, and renewal. Along the way we’ll explore: How waters above (rain) and waters below (springs, rivers) carry distinct theological meanings Why the flood brings both destruction and recreation Ancient Near Eastern cosmology of water and how the Bible reframes it The difference between living water, rainwater, and cisterns—and how they connect to Spirit and baptism Stories like Hagar in the wilderness and Rebekah at the well as pictures of God’s provision and promise What does all of this mean for baptism, covenant, and discipleship today? Join me as we trace the living streams back to their source. On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey sits down with Phil Bray—author of Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block and creator of the YouTube channel Leviticus is Fun—for a wide-ranging conversation on sacrifice, atonement, and the surprising beauty of Leviticus. They explore: How Leviticus reframes atonement away from wrath and toward restoration Why sacrifice isn’t about death, but about life and communion What Phil learned from being both a butcher and a Bible nerd How Leviticus helps us understand Hebrews, Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper Whether the sacrificial system was an accommodation… and if so, what kind Why blood and water both purify—and how Jesus’ life transforms both Why Passover and atonement aren't the same, and why that matters for communion The deeper frames behind the word “substitution” Carey and Phil also dive into the contagious holiness of Jesus, purification rituals, and why Christians must learn to disambiguate muddy theological terms like “atonement” and “substitution.” This episode is part of our Atonement monthly theme over at the On This Rock biblical theology community. Join us to discuss the many frames of substitution, atonement, and covenant—and be sure to check out Phil’s channel and book!   Links & Resources: Phil’s YouTube: Leviticus Is Fun Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block   On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot

Water flows through Scripture as far more than a backdrop — it carries covenant, hospitality, conflict, and even divine judgment. This episode of Genesis Marks the Spot traces how the Bible uses water as a sign of both intimacy and power. We begin at the wells of Genesis, where stories like Rebekah’s hospitality and the Samaritan woman in John 4 tie water to covenant, marriage, and the faithful love of God. These encounters at the well aren’t just about refreshment — they become turning points where covenant identity is revealed and extended. From there, the theme widens: Isaac’s struggle over wells in Genesis 26, Hezekiah’s tunnel in 2 Chronicles 32, and the strange, unsettling story of 2 Kings 3 where water looks like blood and wrath erupts on the battlefield. In each case, water symbolizes more than survival — it becomes a stage where covenant promises, human conflict, and divine purposes collide. Through these narratives, we see how living water ultimately finds fulfillment in Christ, the true Bridegroom, who offers hospitality at the well and baptismal union in the Spirit. Water can be a gift of life, a sign of covenant marriage, or even a weapon of war — but all of these streams converge in Jesus, the one who brings both judgment and renewal. Wade into the deep waters — from covenant hospitality to power struggles — and uncover how Scripture’s water stories prepare us to understand baptism in all its richness. Explore more and join the conversation at On-This-Rock.com On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey Griffel sits down with Dr. Matthew Bates—New Testament scholar and author of Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Gospel Allegiance, and Beyond the Salvation Wars. Together, they explore what it really means to proclaim Jesus as King, how allegiance reframes faith, and why justification should be seen as a benefit of the gospel rather than the gospel itself. The conversation touches on: The difference between biblical theology and systematic theology How gospel allegiance compares with “lordship salvation” and “believing loyalty” Substitution, atonement, and representation in Paul’s letters Baptism, corporate identity, and the role of children in the believing community How Catholics and Protestants might find common ground This dialogue bridges scholarship and discipleship, inviting us to think deeply about what the gospel is, what it isn’t, and how it calls us to live together as the people of God. Links mentioned in the show: Dr. Matthew Bates’ website:  Matthew W. Bates   On Script Podcast:  OnScript    On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/   Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Win...

In this follow-up to the discussion of J. Harvey Walton’s dissertation, let’s look closer into his reframing of Eden—not as a perfect paradise but as fragile divine order. Carey pushes back on Walton’s rejection of covenant in Genesis 2–3 and explores how his ideas intersect with Paul’s Adam–Christ typology in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15. Along the way, we’ll examine: The tension between fragile order, chaos, and evil in Genesis Whether Eden was covenantal “proto-temple” space Adam’s act as covenantal headship rather than simple rebellion How covenant strengthens Paul’s Adam–Christ parallel without collapsing it into a theodicy What Christ’s resurrection means as “secured divine order” If Eden sets the stage for fragile human order, then Christ secures incorruptible life. This episode explores how covenant, resurrection, and divine order fit together in the big story of Scripture.      On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/    Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan 

Was Eden ever the perfect paradise we imagine? Exploring J. Harvey Walton’s groundbreaking dissertation on Genesis 2–4. Walton challenges the familiar Eden–Fall–Redemption narrative, arguing that the text’s original audience didn’t see a perfect paradise shattered by sin, but a fragile, unfinished order constantly threatened by chaos and evil. We unpack: Walton’s tri-fold framework of order, chaos, and evil; Genesis’s critique of Babylonian cultural ideals; and the surprising role of Eden as divine—but uncomfortable—space which leads to the choice between two trees: stay eternally in discomfort or enter the realm of human-ordered existence. Along the way, Carey offers her own insights, engages early church perspectives, and asks what this reframing means for our understanding of the gospel.      On This Rock Biblical Theology Community:  https://on-this-rock.com/    Website: genesismarksthespot.com    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot    Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/   Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan