Dr. John L. Ronning joins Water into Wine for a conversation on the Jewish Targums and their importance for understanding John’s Gospel. We discuss what the Targums are, how they functioned in synagogue life, and why Ronning believes they provide the strongest background for John’s presentation of Jesus as the Logos, the Word. Along the way, we explore Memra, Shekinah, divine descent language, Sinai, covenant, and why John’s Gospel presents Jesus as active before the incarnation and deeply bound up with the identity of the God of Israel.Find Dr. Ronning’s book here:https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Targums-Johns-Logos-Theology/dp/0801047595Find Dr. Ronning’s papers here:https://faiththeological.academia.edu/JohnRonningIf this conversation was helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone interested in John’s Gospel, the Jewish background of the New Testament, and the identity of Jesus.

In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined by Ryan Lambert of Bridge Builders Forum to discuss Paul, Jewish-Christian relations, and the major shifts in Pauline scholarship over the past several decades.We talk about the traditional reading of Paul, the New Perspective on Paul, Paul within Judaism, Paul’s identity as a Pharisee, and why both Jews and Christians have so often misunderstood Paul. Ryan also explains why he believes Paul’s mission was tied to the prophetic hope of the nations turning to worship the God of Israel, and why recovering Paul in his Jewish context can help build a better understanding between Jews and Christians today. LinksBridge Builders Forum: https://www.bridgebuildersforum.comThe Weird Apostle: https://ryanlambertforum.com/books

How does the Bible interpret itself?In this episode of Water into Wine, I sit down with Dr. Matthew Halsted to explore how Scripture is read within its original context—looking at how the New Testament uses the Old Testament, and how Second Temple literature like the Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Enoch help us better understand that world.We discuss:What hermeneutics really is (and why you can’t avoid it)How Scripture interprets Scripture (OT → OT, NT → OT)The difference between quotations, allusions, and echoesHow groups like the Dead Sea Scrolls community read the BibleHow Paul and Second Temple Jews interpret the same passages differentlyWhat 1 Enoch reveals about ancient biblical interpretationThis conversation is all about returning to the original context of Scripture—so we can understand it more clearly today.Guest: Dr. Matthew HalstedWebsite: https://matthewhalsted.com/Dr. Matthew Halsted is a biblical scholar, professor, and Anglican priest who teaches at Eternity Bible College. He holds a PhD in philosophical hermeneutics and biblical studies and specializes in how the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.Books:Paul and the Meaning of ScriptureThe End of the World as You Know It0:09 Welcome to Water into Wine (Intro)2:30 What is Hermeneutics? (How to Interpret the Bible)10:16 Why We All Interpret the Bible Differently12:20 Two Keys to Interpreting Scripture Correctly20:13 Is Reading the Bible Alone Enough?23:30 Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Jeremiah 25 & Daniel 9)30:16 Quotations, Allusions & Echoes (NT Use of OT)35:30 How Second Temple Jews Interpreted the Bible37:30 Dead Sea Scrolls Explained (Pesharim & Interpretation)41:00 Dead Sea Scrolls & John the Baptist Parallels45:00 What is the Apocrypha? Why It Matters47:30 What is 1 Enoch? (Second Temple Context)50:46 Why Does Jude Quote 1 Enoch?57:00 New Testament Use of Enoch & Jewish Tradition59:10 The Shema Explained (To Hear is to Obey)1:02:00 Final Thoughts on Interpreting Scripture

In this episode of Water Into Wine, Alec Dunlop sits down with Bible teacher Rico Cortes to explore the meaning and purpose of the sacrificial system in the book of Leviticus.Many believers struggle when they reach Leviticus while reading the Bible. Why were sacrifices required? What were the offerings meant to accomplish? And how did the temple service function within the life of ancient Israel?In this conversation, we explore:The meaning of korban (offering)The difference between sin, iniquity, and rebellionWhy did some transgressions have no sacrificial remedyThe role of repentance in Psalm 51The logic of the burnt offering and grain offeringThe connection between daily offerings and the hours of prayerRico brings decades of study in the temple service, Second Temple Judaism, and the ancient Near Eastern context of Scripture to help illuminate one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible.If Leviticus has ever felt confusing or difficult, this discussion will help provide a framework for understanding how the sacrificial system functioned within Israel’s worship and covenant life.

Rico CortesWisdom in Torah Ministrieshttps://wisdomintorah.comYouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@UCJwtL3cb95bZK96oB6eXP2Q

Did Genesis copy the Epic of Gilgamesh?In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined again by Dr. Mark Chavalas, scholar of Mesopotamian history and ancient Near Eastern literature, to explore the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Atrahasis flood tradition, and how these Mesopotamian accounts compare with the biblical flood narrative in Genesis.We discuss:• What the Epic of Gilgamesh actually is• When the flood tablets were discovered• The Atrahasis epic and the fuller Mesopotamian flood story• Similarities and differences between the Mesopotamian flood and Genesis• Whether Genesis “borrowed” from Babylon• How ancient Near Eastern context helps us read Scripture more clearly• Why Genesis–Kings may reflect an exile lensRather than being intimidated by parallels between ancient texts, we explore how understanding Mesopotamian literature can sharpen our reading of Scripture and deepen our appreciation for the theological message of Genesis.Books Mentioned• Nathan Wasserman — The Flood: The Akkadian Sources• W. G. Lambert & A. R. Millard — Atra-Ḫasīs: The Babylonian Story of the Flood• Stephanie Dalley — Myths from Mesopotamia• Adam Miglio — The Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis 1–11: Peering into the Deep• Andrew George — The Epic of Gilgamesh• Benjamin Foster — The Epic of GilgameshFollow Dr. Mark ChavalasPodcast: The Buried Biblehttps://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ About Water into WineWater into Wine studies Scripture in its original context through conversations with scholars, authors, and Bible teachers, with the hope of edifying the whole body of Messiah.If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and follow for future interviews and discussions.#Genesis #EpicOfGilgamesh #BibleAndAncientNearEast #Mesopotamia #Atrahasis #BiblicalStudies #AncientNearEast #ChristianApologetics #waterintowine

Dr. Doug Hamp joins Water into Wine to discuss his upcoming book, The Relational Universe, which will be released in September.In this conversation, Doug explores the idea that reality is not fundamentally made of “stuff,” but of relationship. Drawing from architecture, quantum physics, cosmology, and Scripture, he introduces three structural requirements that hold any system together: alignment, intent, and repair.We talk about:Why relationship may be more fundamental than matterThe observer effect and the “participatory universe”Genesis, tohu vavohu, and creation as potentialityLove, freedom, entropy, and the cost of real choiceSin, forgiveness, and commandments as structural realitiesWhy forgiveness can be understood as “letting go of stored misalignment”This episode is designed for believers, skeptics, and curious thinkers alike — an invitation into wonder rather than argument.Pre-order Doug Hamp’s book The Relational Universehttps://a.co/d/08DTFpfCIf you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing for more long-form discussions on Scripture, theology, history, and the biblical world.

Jesus and the Torah: Eye for an Eye… or Turn the Other Cheek?In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined by Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss how Yeshua/Jesus understood Torah—not as a flat list of rules, but as divine instruction meant to shape wisdom, character, and justice.We explore why modern Christians often misread “biblical law,” how Torah functioned in its ancient context, and how Yeshua’s teaching (“turn the other cheek”) actually connects back to Torah’s original intent—especially in the famous “eye for an eye” passage.We also dig into Torah meditation (Psalm 1), the relationship between law and narrative, how moral imagination is trained through Scripture, and why the Torah’s concern for the vulnerable is central to understanding biblical justice.📌 Learn more from Dr. Johnson’s work:• Center for Hebraic Thought: https://hebraicthought.org/• The Biblical Mind: https://thebiblicalmind.org/

Today I’m joined by Steve Moutria (TorahFamily.org) for a wide-ranging conversation on End Times—with a strong focus on reading prophecy through Torah patterns, Yeshua’s warnings in Matthew 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21, and the need to stay humble as we keep studying.We talk about what Steve considers the key “watch list” signs—Jerusalem being surrounded and the abomination of desolation—and his working framework of how events may unfold (including Ezekiel’s “40 days,” resurrection timing themes, Babylon/Antichrist, and a Sinai “bride” motif). Steve also shares thoughts on the Ark/Tabernacle theme, the two witnesses, the idea that prophecy can be cyclical, and why we need the Spirit and a life of obedience to handle the Scriptures rightly.Guest: Steve Moutria — https://torahfamily.org/Host: Alec (Water into Wine)Teachings Steve mentioned1) The Return of the Tenthttps://torahfamily.org/the-return-of-the-tent/2) What is the Idol of Jealousy?https://torahfamily.org/what-is-the-idol-of-jealousy/3) Beware of the Noahide Lawshttps://torahfamily.org/beware-of-the-noahide-laws/4) The 2nd Exodushttps://torahfamily.org/the-2nd-exodus/5) Armageddon and the Parousia (Updated and Expanded)https://torahfamily.org/armageddon-and-the-parousia-updated-and-expanded/6) Declaring the End from the Beginninghttps://torahfamily.org/declaring-the-end-from-the-beginning/7) Satan’s Little Seasonhttps://torahfamily.org/satans-little-season/8) The Abomination of Desolationhttps://torahfamily.org/the-abomination-of-desolation/9) What is the Gospel?https://torahfamily.org/what-is-the-gospel/