Shownotes
Welcome to Day 2511 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Burying Hell – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible.
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2511 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2511 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the thirty-second lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God’s redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it’s also a book that seems strange to us. While God’s Word was written for us, it wasn’t written to us. Today’s lesson is: Burying Hell. “ Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[a] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[b] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[c] will not conquer it.” (Matt 16:17-18). The “powers of hell”? Why did Jesus respond to Peter’s confession, “You are the Messiah,[d] the Son of the living God.” in this way? (16:16) The Powers or Gates of Hell in Cosmic Geography When we read “hell,” we naturally think of the realm of the unbelieving dead. But the Greek word translated “hell” (qôqç, hadës) is also the name for the Underworld—Hades, the realm of all the dead, not just unbelievers. The Hebrew equivalent to Hades is Sheol—the place “under the earth” where all went after this life ended. Sheol had “bars” (Job 17:16) and “cords” to tie down its inhabitants (2 Sam 22:5-6), preventing any escape (Job 7:9). Both the righteous and the unrighteous went to Sheol. The righteous believer, however, could hope for deliverance and eternity with God (Psalm 49:15). While the imagery associated with the Underworld would have unnerved the disciples, Jesus’ reference to the powers or gates of Hades would have jolted them for another reason. If they knew their Old Testament well, they understood that they were standing before those very powers or gates as Jesus spoke. The Gates of Hell in Terrestrial Geography Matthew 16 takes place in Caesarea Philippi, situated near a mountainous region containing Mount Hermon. In the Old Testament, this region was known as Bashan—a place with a sinister reputation. According to the Old Testament, Bashan was controlled by two kings—Sihon and Og—who were associated with the ancient giant clans: the Rephaim and the Anakim (Deut 2:10-12: Josh 12:1-5). The two main cities of their kingdom were Ashtaroth and Edrei, home to the Rephaim (Deut 3:1, 10-11; Josh 12:4-5). These cities and their Rephaim inhabitants are mentioned by name in Canaanite (Ugaritic) cuneiform tablets. The people of Ugarit believed the Rephaim were the spirits of dead warrior-kings. They also believed that the cities of Ashtaroth and Edrei were the entryway to the Underworld—the gates of Sheol. Also, during Israel’s divided kingdom period, Jeroboam built a pagan religious center at Pan—just south of Mount Hermon—where the Israelites worshiped Baal instead of Yahweh. For the disciples, Bashan was an evil, otherworldly domain. But they had two other reasons to feel queasy about where they were standing. According to Jewish tradition, Mount Hermon was the location where the divine sons of God had descended from heaven—ultimately corrupting humankind via their offspring with human women (see Gen 6:1-4). These offspring were known as Nephilim, ancestors of the Anakim and the Rephaim (Num 13:3 0— 33). In Jewish theology, the spirits of these giants were demons (1 Enoch 15:1-12). To make the region even spookier, Caesarea Philippi had been built and dedicated to Zeus. This pagan god was worshiped at a religious center built a short distance from the more ancient one in Dan—at the foot of Mount Hermon. Aside from the brief interlude during the time of Joshua through Solomon, the gates of hell were continually open for business. Jesus Declares War The rock which Jesus referred to in this passage was neither Peter nor Himself; it was the rock on which they were standing—the foot of Mount Hermon; the demonic headquarters of the Old Testament and the Greek world. We often presume that the phrase “the powers of hell[g] will not conquer it” describes a Church taking on the onslaught of evil. It is the Church that Jesus sees as the aggressor. He was declaring war on evil and death. Jesus would build His Church atop the powers or gates of hell—He would bury them. The lessons that make up Theology Thursday on the Wisdom-Trek Podcast for the next couple of years will satisfy the statement, “I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.” I trust you’ll enjoy them—and, of course, not be bored. Reflect… If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this Trek together, let us always:- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
Transcripts
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Burying Hell – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible.
dom-Trek Podcast Script - Day: hamberlain, and we are on Day:Today is the thirty-second lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church.
The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God’s redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it’s also a book that seems strange to us. While God’s Word was written for us, it wasn’t written to us. Today’s lesson is: Burying Hell.
will not conquer it.” (Matt:The Powers or Gates of Hell in Cosmic Geography
When we read “hell,” we naturally think of the realm of the unbelieving dead. But the Greek word translated “hell” (qôqç, hadës) is also the name for the Underworld—Hades, the realm of all the dead, not just unbelievers. The Hebrew equivalent to Hades is Sheol—the place “under the earth” where all went after this life ended.
Sheol had “bars” (Job:While the imagery associated with the Underworld would have unnerved the disciples, Jesus’ reference to the powers or gates of Hades would have jolted them for another reason. If they knew their Old Testament well, they understood that they were standing before those very powers or gates as Jesus spoke.
The Gates of Hell in Terrestrial Geography
Matthew 16 takes place in Caesarea Philippi, situated near a mountainous region containing Mount Hermon. In the Old Testament, this region was known as Bashan—a place with a sinister reputation.
According to the Old Testament, Bashan was controlled by two kings—Sihon and Og—who were associated with the ancient giant clans: the Rephaim and the Anakim (Deut 2:10-12: Josh 12:1-5). The two main cities of their kingdom were Ashtaroth and Edrei, home to the Rephaim (Deut 3:1, 10-11; Josh 12:4-5).
These cities and their Rephaim inhabitants are mentioned by name in Canaanite (Ugaritic) cuneiform tablets. The people of Ugarit believed the Rephaim were the spirits of dead warrior-kings. They also believed that the cities of Ashtaroth and Edrei were the entryway to the Underworld—the gates of Sheol. Also, during Israel’s divided kingdom period, Jeroboam built a pagan religious center at Pan—just south of Mount Hermon—where the Israelites worshiped Baal instead of Yahweh.
For the disciples, Bashan was an evil, otherworldly domain. But they had two other reasons to feel queasy about where they were standing. According to Jewish tradition, Mount Hermon was the location where the divine sons of God had descended from heaven—ultimately corrupting humankind via their offspring with human women (see Gen 6:1-4). These offspring were known as Nephilim, ancestors of the Anakim and the Rephaim (Num 13:3 0— 33). In Jewish theology, the spirits of these giants were demons (1 Enoch 15:1-12).
To make the region even spookier, Caesarea Philippi had been built and dedicated to Zeus. This pagan god was worshiped at a religious center built a short distance from the more ancient one in Dan—at the foot of Mount Hermon. Aside from the brief interlude during the time of Joshua through Solomon, the gates of hell were continually open for business.
Jesus Declares War
The rock which Jesus referred to in this passage was neither Peter nor Himself; it was the rock on which they were standing—the foot of Mount Hermon; the demonic headquarters of the Old Testament and the Greek world.
We often presume that the phrase “the powers of hell[g] will not conquer it” describes a Church taking on the onslaught of evil. It is the Church that Jesus sees as the aggressor. He was declaring war on evil and death. Jesus would build His Church atop the powers or gates of hell—He would bury them.
The lessons that make up Theology Thursday on the Wisdom-Trek Podcast for the next couple of years will satisfy the statement, “I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.” I trust you’ll enjoy them—and, of course, not be bored.
Reflect…
If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.
As we take this Trek together, let us always:
Live Abundantly (Fully)
Love Unconditionally
Listen Intentionally
Learn Continuously
Lend to others Generously
Lead with Integrity
Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to’ Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!