In this conversation, Alec welcomes Dr. Mark Chavalas, who shares how his journey into ancient history and languages led him to study Mesopotamia and its connection to the Bible. He explains how learning Akkadian and working with cuneiform texts shaped his understanding of Genesis.Dr. Chavalas discusses the difference between material and immaterial creation in Mesopotamian and biblical accounts, the role of cosmic law, and how the power of Mesopotamian gods was limited compared to the God of Israel. He highlights the vast difference in the character and purpose of creation between Mesopotamian myths and the biblical text.The interview closes with reflections on how knowing Mesopotamia helps us read the Bible in its ancient context and see the uniqueness of its worldview.#Mesopotamia #Bible #Genesis #Akkadian #Cuneiform #Creation #AncientNearEast #BiblicalStudies #OldTestament #waterintowine The Buried Bible Podcast on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5rLkGO5dXcVdGVZQSlBoAC?si=0f2aed30d7044e0eDr. Chavalas on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mark+Chavalas&crid=9X7VBTDK65OC&sprefix=mark+chavalas%2Caps%2C106&ref=nb_sb_noss_1