This week on The Rooted Podcast, we share practical ways to study Scripture with greater understanding. While the Bible was written for us, it wasn’t originally written to us—each book was written to real people living in a particular time, place, and culture. Understanding that background can help us better understand what a passage meant to its original audience and how we can faithfully apply it to our lives today.

Reading Scripture as one interconnected story can change the way we approach individual passages. From seeing God as the main character to reading an entire book in one sitting, tracing themes across Scripture, and exploring historical and cultural context, different approaches can help us notice details and connections we might otherwise miss.

Going deeper doesn’t mean studying alone. Bible dictionaries, commentaries, online tools, and other resources can help us ask better questions and understand the context behind what we’re reading. Community also plays an important role, bringing different experiences and perspectives to the conversation.

Topics we’ll cover:

• Why the Bible was written for us, but not originally to us
• How understanding the original audience can shape the way we read Scripture today
• Seeing the Bible as one larger story with God as the main character
• Questions that can help us better understand God’s character and heart
• Different approaches to Bible study, from close-up details to the bigger biblical story
• Helpful tools and resources for studying Scripture
• Why studying the Bible in community can deepen our understanding

Resources from this episode:

• Bible Gateway
• Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Second Edition
• Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Second Edition
• The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible: One-Volume Edition
• Google Gemini
• How to Read the Bible Book by Book

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Practical Tips for Bible Study
01:03 – The Bible Was Written for You, Not to You
03:06 – Why the Original Audience Matters
05:10 – Seeing the Bible as One Big Story
07:24 – Why God Is the Hero of Every Bible Story
08:28 – What to Do With Difficult or Uncomfortable Stories
09:15 – God Is the Main Character, Not Us
10:34 – Questions to Ask While Reading the Bible
12:08 – What Can Difficult Stories Teach Us About God?
13:33 – King Saul and Letting the Story Play Out
14:50 – David, Bathsheba, and Flawed Biblical Characters
16:13 – Why Biblical Characters Aren’t Always Examples to Imitate
19:04 – Reading the Bible Without Chapters, Verses, and Headings
20:00 – Reading an Entire Book in One Sitting
21:15 – Three Different “Lenses” for Reading the Bible
21:55 – The Reading Glasses: Digging Into Historical and Cultural Context
23:26 – The Big-Picture Glasses: Seeing Where a Book Fits in the Biblical Story
24:48 – The Sunglasses: Reading Scripture Through a Particular Theme
26:00 – Choosing the Right Approach for Your Bible Study
28:02 – Practical Resources for Studying Scripture
28:18 – Bible Dictionaries and the NIV Application Commentary
29:25 – Using AI as a Bible Study Research Tool
30:20 – Using Bible Gateway for Word and Topic Searches
31:06 – Why Community Is One of Your Best Bible Study Resources
32:36 – How to Read the Bible Book by Book
33:52 – Letting Resources Guide You Back to Scripture
34:30 – Closing Thoughts

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In this episode of The Rooted Podcast, we look at what sets different Bible translations apart, how translation choices can shape the way a passage reads, and why there isn’t necessarily one “best” Bible for every reader or purpose. Choosing a translation can feel overwhelming, especially when each version seems to phrase familiar passages a little differently.

This conversation explores the spectrum between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations, including familiar options like the ESV, NASB, NIV, and NLT. By comparing how different translations approach the same passages, we can better understand why wording varies and how reading more than one reliable translation can give us a fuller picture of the original meaning.

Choosing a Bible translation doesn’t have to be about finding one perfect version. Understanding the strengths of different translations, staying curious about the original languages, and using trusted study tools can help us engage with Scripture more thoughtfully and go deeper in our understanding of God’s Word.

Topics we’ll cover:

• How the Bible is translated from Hebrew and Greek into English
• The difference between translations, paraphrases, and other supplemental resources
• How chapters, verses, and section headings became part of the Bibles we read today
• The difference between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations
• Why different Bible translations have different strengths
• How comparing reliable translations can deepen our understanding of Scripture
• Whether you need to know Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible more deeply

Resources from this episode:

• BlueLetterBible.org

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What’s the Best Bible Translation?
01:35 – Single-Scholar Translations vs. Translation Teams
02:22 – The Message and The Passion Translation
04:17 – Why Collaborative Translation Matters
07:31 – Some of the Bible’s More Unusual Translations
08:04 – How Chapters, Verses, and Headings Were Added
09:07 – How Chapter Breaks and Headings Can Shape Interpretation
11:03 – Reading the Bible Without Chapters and Verses
11:55 – Why Translating the Bible Is More Complicated Than Replacing Words
13:01 – Word-for-Word vs. Thought-for-Thought Translations
15:25 – Translating Meaning, Idioms, and Cultural Context
16:05 – Why One English Word Can Miss the Nuance of the Original Language
17:45 – Exploring Word-for-Word Bible Translations
18:36 – Is There a “Best” Bible Translation?
19:48 – NASB, NIV, CSB, and the Common English Bible
21:53 – Exploring Thought-for-Thought Translations
23:27 – Choosing an Accessible Translation for New Readers and Kids
23:57 – Why It Helps to Read More Than One Translation
24:56 – Comparing Jeremiah 29:11 Across Different Translations
26:26 – Different Words, the Same Core Message
27:30 – Do You Need to Know Greek and Hebrew?
28:45 – Learning From Scholars and the Christian Community
30:29 – Following Your Curiosity Into the Original Languages
31:21 – Using Greek and Hebrew Responsibly
31:59 – Blue Letter Bible: A Tool for Going Deeper
33:08 – Final Thoughts on Choosing a Bible Translation

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Biblical authority is about more than treating Scripture as a rulebook of dos and don’ts. In this episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore what it means to trust the Bible as an authoritative source of wisdom that shapes how we understand God, ourselves, and the people we are becoming. Rather than approaching every passage as a direct command, we consider how Scripture can guide us into deeper questions about faith, character, and our relationship with God.

We also wrestle with some of the challenges that come with taking biblical authority seriously. How should we understand Proverbs that seem to offer opposite instructions, the misguided words of Job’s friends, or terms like “God-breathed,” “inerrant,” and “infallible”? By paying attention to context, genre, and the Bible’s human and divine dimensions, we can learn to approach difficult passages with greater patience and humility.

Understanding biblical authority doesn’t require having an easy answer for every passage. Through community, trusted scholarship, and a willingness to sit with mystery, we can move beyond simply asking, “What does the Bible tell me to do?” and begin asking what Scripture reveals about God, who He is forming us to become, and how we can faithfully live within the story He is telling.

Topics we’ll cover:

• What it means to recognize the Bible as an authority in the Christian life
• Moving beyond a rulebook approach to understanding Scripture as a source of wisdom
• Why not every biblical passage is meant to function as a direct command
• How context, genre, and the Bible’s human and divine dimensions shape interpretation
• What Christians mean by terms such as “God-breathed,” “inerrant,” and “infallible”
• The importance of humility, community, and trusted scholarship when reading Scripture
• How biblical authority can lead us into a deeper relationship with God

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Does Biblical Authority Mean?
00:46 – Understanding Authority Through Teachers, Doctors, and Leaders
02:11 – How the Bible Directs the Way We Think and Live
03:00 – When the Bible Feels Like a Rulebook
05:05 – Asking Better Questions of Scripture
06:10 – Seeing the Bible as Wisdom Rather Than a Manual
08:42 – Scripture as a Story We’re Invited to Continue
10:23 – What Does “God-Breathed” Mean?
11:54 – When Proverbs Seem to Contradict Each Other
13:04 – What Do We Do With Job’s Friends?
14:32 – Reading Difficult Passages With Patience and Humility
16:03 – Inerrancy and Infallibility
17:14 – The Human and Divine Dimensions of Scripture
18:57 – Taking the Bible on Its Own Terms
20:40 – Moving From “Tell Me What to Do” to “Show Me Who God Is”
21:30 – Jesus, the Greatest Commandment, and the Heart of the Law
22:50 – How Our Own Lens Shapes the Way We Understand Authority
24:32 – The Bible as a Rulebook and a Playbook
26:08 – Asking God, “What Are You Trying to Show Me?”
27:54 – Does Rethinking Authority Diminish the Bible?
29:05 – Learning to Listen Without Having Every Answer
30:50 – Reading Scripture in Community
33:17 – Going Deeper With God Through the Bible
34:26 – What’s Next in the How to Read Your Bible Series

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The Bible was not assembled all at once. In this episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore how the Old and New Testament writings were gradually recognised as Scripture and the criteria ancient Jewish and Christian communities used to identify authoritative writings. We unpack what “canon” means, the role of prophetic and apostolic authority, and why theological consistency and widespread use mattered.

Understanding how the Bible was formed offers a deeper appreciation for the history behind the Scriptures we read today—and for the generations of believers who carefully recognised, preserved, and passed them on.

Topics we’ll cover:

• What “canon” means and how ancient communities recognised authoritative Scripture
• How the Old Testament was gradually recognised as Scripture
• The role of prophetic and apostolic authority in recognising biblical books
• Why theological consistency and widespread use mattered
• The difference between Scripture, the Apocrypha, and the Pseudepigrapha
• How the early Christian community recognised and circulated New Testament writings
• Why understanding the formation of Scripture can deepen our appreciation for the Bible

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: How Did We Get the Bible?
01:38 – Prophets, Eyewitnesses, and the Word of God
01:56 – The Human and Divine Nature of Scripture
03:15 – What Does “Canon” Mean?
04:17 – How the Old Testament Canon Came Together
05:10 – The Torah: The Foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures
06:23 – When Were the Books of Moses Recognised?
06:53 – Why Scripture Needed to Be Recognised
07:18 – The Prophets and the Writings
07:56 – The Septuagint and the Hebrew Scriptures
09:24 – Why the New Testament Quotes the Septuagint
10:19 – How Were Books Recognised as Scripture?
11:36 – Prophetic Authorship and the Story of Jeremiah
12:55 – The Importance of Theological Consistency
13:44 – Widespread Use and Recognition
14:58 – The Books That Didn’t Make the Canon
15:17 – The Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha
17:51 – How the New Testament Canon Came Together
19:08 – Manuscripts, Copies, and the Early Church
20:04 – Eyewitnesses and the Reliability of the New Testament
20:54 – When New Testament Writers Recognised Other Scripture
21:35 – The Three Criteria for New Testament Books
22:47 – Luke, Acts, and Eyewitness Accounts
24:02 – Apostolic Authority
24:34 – Orthodoxy and the Early Church
25:49 – Acceptance Among the Body of Christ
26:52 – The 27 Books of the New Testament
28:11 – Scrolls, Codices, and the Technology of the Ancient World
29:20 – Why the Process Took Time
30:51 – Preserving the Word of God
31:20 – The Care of the Scribes
32:29 – Why the Story of Canonization Matters
32:54 – What’s Next: The Authority of Scripture

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The Bible is more than a single book or a collection of instructions. It’s a library of 66 books written across different cultures, languages, time periods, and literary genres, all contributing to a larger story about God, humanity, and His work of redemption and restoration.

In the first episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore how understanding that bigger story can change the way you approach Scripture. By paying attention to context, culture, genre, and the connections between the Old and New Testaments, you can move beyond simply asking, “What does this passage tell me to do?” and begin asking, “What is this telling me about God, His people, and the bigger story I’m part of?”

Topics we’ll cover:

• Why the Bible is better understood as a library of 66 books than as a single book
• How cultural assumptions can shape the way we read and interpret Scripture
• Why understanding the Old Testament is essential to understanding the New Testament
• How different literary genres help us understand what biblical passages are communicating
• The major themes that connect the Bible’s many books into one larger story
• How going deeper into Scripture can lead to a deeper relationship with God

Resources from this episode:

• The Bible Project - How the Bible Was Formed
• The Bible Project - Learn How to Read the Bible
• “How We Got the Bible” by Neil R. Lightfoot

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is the Bible?

00:50 – The Bible as a Library of 66 Books

02:13 – Understanding the Old Testament

03:26 – Oral Tradition and the Eastern Perspective

06:59 – Eastern and Western Ways of Reading the Bible

08:58 – The Original Languages of the Old Testament

09:54 – How the Old Testament Came Together

10:43 – Understanding the New Testament in Context

13:08 – The Lord of the Rings and the Importance of Backstory

15:15 – Why the Old Testament Matters

16:58 – How the New Testament Was Written and Preserved

18:55 – The Bible’s Different Literary Genres

20:15 – How the Bible Was Written: Divine and Human Partnership

21:42 – The New Testament: Authors, Languages, and Canon

22:55 – Why Literary Genre Matters

24:21 – The Bible Is More Than a Rulebook

25:50 – Understanding Apocalyptic Literature

27:39 – Exploring the Bible’s Major Literary Genres

30:22 – The Major Themes of the Bible

31:24 – Creation, Humanity, and the Image of God

32:34 – Sin, Redemption, and Restoration

34:59 – The Kingdom of God

37:05 – Image-Bearing and Covenant

39:23 – God’s Faithfulness and the Theme of Redemption

40:14 – Going Deeper with God Through Scripture

42:03 – Discovering the Bible’s Cross-References

44:08 – Seeing Scripture as a Connected Story

45:15 – Recommended Resources for Going Deeper

46:32 – How We Got the Bible and The Bible Project

46:59 – What’s Next: How the Bible Was Written and Canonized

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The Rooted Podcast is a new weekly podcast from the Jax Church designed to help you grow deeper in your understanding of the Bible, your relationship with God, and your everyday walk with Jesus. Each episode explores Scripture while offering practical tools and resources to help you continue growing and maturing in Christ throughout the week.

Our first series, How to Read the Bible, starts with foundational questions about what the Bible is, how it came together, and how we can faithfully understand and use Scripture today. We’ll also put these ideas into practice, exploring how context and the right tools can help us engage with the Bible on a deeper level.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore Scripture or have been reading the Bible for years, the Rooted Podcast is an invitation to keep learning, asking questions, and going deeper with God.

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