The Mountain Q+R (E14) — Could the Tower of Babel be considered a man-made mountain? How does Yahweh asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain fit with his gracious character? And after Elijah’s failure on Mount Sinai, why is he still regarded as a great prophet? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from our series on the theme of the mountain. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!

View all of our resources for The Mountain →

Chapters

1. Intro (0:00-3:52)
2. How can we live out the biblical idea of sacred spaces in the modern world? (3:52-12:38)
3. Could the Tower of Babel be considered a man-made mountain? (12:38-19:22)
4. What do stones and bricks represent in the biblical story? (19:22-28:04)
5. How does Yahweh asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac fit with his gracious character? (28:04-39:45)
6. After Elijah’s failure on Mount Sinai, why is he still regarded as a great prophet? (39:45-48:30)
7. Can Elijah’s Mount Sinai experience help us understand contemplative prayer practices? (48:30-57:16)
8. Conclusion (57:16-1:00:05)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• The New Isaac: Tradition and Intertextuality in the Gospel of Matthew by Leroy Huizenga
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.
• You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, and he edited and mixed today’s episode. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain Hyperlink Episode (E13) — If you’ve been following along in our series on the mountain, you may have had moments where you thought, “I feel like I’ve heard this before.” And that’s because you have—we’ve been on this mountain before! There are so many themes in the Bible, from mountains to tabernacles, to tests and cities. And while we try to isolate and study themes on their own, the Bible intentionally weaves them together. So whenever you encounter one theme in the Bible, it’s always connected to and building on other themes in a beautiful tapestry. Today, we’re trying something new called a hyperlink episode, where we’ll play clips from previous series that interact and overlap with the theme of the mountain.

View all of our resources for The Mountain →

CHAPTERS

1. Apocalypse on the Mountain (0:00-11:28)
2. A Mountain Refuge City (11:28-22:41)
3. Priestly Failures on the Mountain (22:41-49:45)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Clip 1 is from “A Walking, Talking Apocalypse,” episode 5 in our 2020 series, Apocalyptic Literature.
• Clip 2 is from “Jerusalem: A Tale of Two Cities,” episode 9 in our 2023 series The City.
• Clip 3 is from “Doomed to Fail?” episode 3 in our 2021 series, The Royal Priest.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Rest Until Dark” by Sleepy Fish
• “Canary Forest” by Middle School, Aso, & Aviino
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, and he edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host for today is Michelle Jones. Our creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E12 — If Jesus’ role as the promised mountaintop intercessor was unclear from the mountain stories in the Gospels, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wants to make it explicit. Drawing together imagery of Moses on Mount Sinai, the levitical priesthood, and the Old Testament sacrificial system, Hebrews declares that Jesus is the eternal high priest who can ascend to the holy mountain for the people through the blood of his own sacrifice. In this episode, Jon and Tim wrap up our series on The Mountain by exploring Jesus' ascension to the heavenly cosmic mountain, thereby opening the door for humanity.

View all of our resources for The Mountain →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap of the Mountain Theme (0:00-11:31)
• Chapter 2: The Divine Son, Perfect Sacrifice, and Cosmic High Priest (11:31-40:14)
• Chapter 3: Draw Near to the Heavenly Mount Zion (40:14-58:28)
• Chapter 4: Diving Deeper into the Mountain Theme (58:28-1:02:37)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• Rethinking the Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension by David M. Moffitt
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Lozari” by L’indécis
• “The String That Ties Us” by Beautiful Eulogy
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode, and Aaron Olsen also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E11 — We’ve learned that mountains in the Hebrew Bible often become a space where Heaven and Earth overlap and human beings must choose between self-preservation or surrender and trust in God. The story builds our hope and expectation for a faithful intercessor on the mountain who can mediate God’s blessings to the people below. As we turn to the New Testament, gospel writer Matthew is ready to spotlight who that faithful mountaintop intercessor is. In this episode, Jon and Tim walk through seven stories in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus prays, teaches, does miracles, and more—all on mountains.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Theme Recap and Overview of Matthew’s Seven Mountains (0:00-17:42)
• Chapter 2: The Mountains of Testing and Teaching (17:42-29:44)
• Chapter 3: Two Mountains of Prayer and Feeding, Plus One of Transfiguration (29:44-42:15)
• Chapter 4: Mountains of Apocalypse and Commissioning (42:15-55:16)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• Jesus on the Mountain: A Study in Matthean Theology by Terence Donaldson
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Dreams Come True” by Drips Zacheer
• “Moonlite” by Nokiaa & Deauxnuts
• “Go Slow” by little blue
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E10 — The prophet Isaiah depicts Mount Zion as a cosmic mountain where Heaven and Earth overlap and God’s blessings flow down to all of creation. But Isaiah also lived in the real Jerusalem that had Mount Zion at its center, which was filled with corruption, injustice, and idolatry. So in his prophecies, he balances hope in this future new Eden with warnings of judgment on Jerusalem’s proud and corrupt elites. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the many iterations of the mountain theme in Isaiah 2-4, including how Jesus and his disciples embody the imagery of Isaiah’s anointed servant and the remnant community.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: The Ideal and Corrupt Mount Zion, Leading to Judgment (0:00-22:55)
• Chapter 2: A Day of Yahweh Against the Rich, Powerful, and Proud (22:55-32:32)
• Chapter 3: A Holy Remnant on a Renewed Mount Zion (32:32-53:40)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Bimmer M6” by Kreatev
• “Sunlight (feat. Jintonic)” by Kendall Miles
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

In our final episode of 2024, Tim, Jon, and BibleProject CEO, Steve Atkinson, reflect on ten years of the project, all the resources we got to make and share this year, and the patrons who made it possible. The guys then give a sneak peek of what’s coming up next for BibleProject in 2025.

Timestamps

1. Ten Year Anniversary and Our Patron Community (0:00-9:25)
2. Strategic Relationships (9:25-19:49)
3. 2024 Engagement With Our Resources (19:49-30:51)
4. Looking Back at a Year in the Sermon on the Mount (30:51-35:41)
5. 2025 Podcast Themes (35:41-37:43)
6. Reading the Bible in Community (37:43-41:54)
7. In Space With Astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson (41:54-44:29)
8. Gratitude (44:29-47:39)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• Watch our 2024 end of year video, where Jon and Tim explore “purple dot moments”—experiences of God’s Kingdom here on Earth. Plus, catch a glimpse of what’s coming in 2025.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Special thanks to our guest, Steve Atkinson.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E9 — The mountain theme shows up again and again in biblical narrative, but it’s also prominent in the Psalms. Particularly in Psalms 15-24, the biblical authors reflect on the traits of the one who can ascend and dwell on God’s holy mountain. At first, this question focuses on King David and his royal successors as they endure suffering, despair, and ultimately vindication, which leads to blessing for Israel and the nations. But eventually, it’s not just the Davidic king but a whole community of the faithful ascending the mountain! In this episode, Jon and Tim survey the mountain theme through the Psalms scroll and reflect on what it takes to be with God there.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap of Where We’ve Been (0:00-10:21)
• Chapter 2: Psalm 2: God’s Anointed One on a Mountain (10:21-19:34)
• Chapter 3: Psalms 15-24: The King and His Crew Ascend the Mountain (19:34-51:05)
• Chapter 4: A Hyperlink in Revelation 2 to Psalm 2 (51:05-1:02:39)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• The Arrival of the King: The Shape and Story of Psalms 15-24 by Carissa Quinn
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Sum Sum” by Ben Bada Boom
• “Sunkissed Cycles” by lloom
• “Astér” by Kissamilé
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E8 — On two different mountains, we witness mountain tests with two very different Elijahs. On Mount Carmel, he partners with God in challenging the false prophets of Baal, leading to the people’s repentance and renewal of trust in God. But then only a chapter later, Elijah is on Mount Sinai accusing the people and loathing his prophetic calling. Why the sudden shift? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the contrasting mountain test stories of 1 Kings 18-19, reflecting on the human tendency toward fear, condemnation, and false narratives—even after great success.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap of the Series So Far (0:00-9:53)
• Chapter 2: Elijah Tests the People on Mount Carmel (9:53-32:36)
• Chapter 3: Elijah Fails the Test on Mount Sinai (32:36-53:06)

Official Episode Transcript

View this episode’s official transcript.

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Surrender (Instrumental)” by Beautiful Eulogy
• “Movement” (artist unknown)
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode, and Aaron Olsen also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.