Stunned by Scripture

Is Hebrew the definitive language of Scripture?
Not according to Jesus and other first-century Jews.
In this episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma uncovers the story of the Septuagint. Translated by Jewish scholars in the third century B.C., the Septuagint is the ancient Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament. It is also the version of Scripture quoted by Jesus throughout the New Testament.
Dr. Bergsma explains why it’s called the “Septuagint” and shares the fascinating tradition behind that title. Even today, the Septuagint remains important. As a careful translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, it reveals how the Greek-speaking Jews of Jesus's day understood God’s Word.
Watch this installment of Stunned by Scripture to discover the version of Scripture that, more than any other, formed the early Church.
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In this new episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma is joined by fellow theologian Dr. Mary Healy.
Dr. Healy shares her spiritual journey and profound encounter with the Holy Spirit that led her into an extensive study of Sacred Scripture. She reflects on her academic pursuits and how her studies deepened her relationship with the Lord, ultimately guiding her into ecclesial commission, celibate consecration, and biblical scholarship.
Following this conversation, Dr. Bergsma and Dr. Healy turn their attention to the Holy Spirit and Scripture. They explore the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and discuss how the Spirit truly inspired the Bible. The discussion then turns to discernment of the Holy Spirit in one's daily life. Finally, they reflelct on the importance of Scripture for practicing Catholics and the role of the Blessed Mother within Sacred Scripture.
Join Dr. Bergsma and Dr. Mary Healy to encounter the Holy Spirt like never before and be sure to check out Dr Healy's books in the link below:
https://www.drmaryhealy.com/
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In this new episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma is joined by Dr. Gary Rendsburg.
Dr. Rendsburg is the Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University—renowned in Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish circles for his work in Old Testament linguistics and literary studies.
In their conversation, you’ll discover:
-The value of studying the Bible today, even if you’re not a believer
-Why Judaism was able to survive the destruction of the Temple
-What Catholics should know about Judaism when studying the Bible
-And so much more!
This episode is an excellent overview of the state of academic biblical studies with two of today’s most highly respected Old Testament scholars. Even if you aren’t an academic, you’ll find much to fuel your own biblical studies here.
Check out Dr. Rendsburg's books:
How the Bible Is Written https://www.hendricksonpublishers.com/p/how-the-bible-is-written/9781683071976
ANCIENT ISRAEL From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple https://www.amazon.com/ANCIENT-ISRAEL-Abraham-Destruction-Temple/dp/1880317273
The JPS Bible Commentary: 1 Samuel https://jps.org/books/the-jps-bible-commentary-1-samuel/
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Dr. Bergsma discusses the origins of life, aliens, and proof of God. 
To watch Drew Berry's full video, click here: https://www.ted.com/talks/drew_berry_animations_of_unseeable_biology

Dr. Bergsma sits down with Fr. Pablo Gadenz to discuss who St. Luke really was, and how Fr. Gadenz shaped Dr. Bergsma's view on the matter. 

The so-called “deuterocanonical” books of the Catholic Old Testament include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. But what makes a book deuterocanonical? How did these books become part of the Scriptural canon in the first place?
In this short-form episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma addresses three common misconceptions about the Deuterocanonical books and the Old Testament Biblical canon.
If you’ve ever heard of the “Alexandrian canon,” wanted to learn more about the Septuagint, or wondered why Catholic Bibles are bigger, this episode of Stunned by Scripture is for you.

In this new episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma sits down with friend, confirmation sponsor, and fellow theologian Dr. Michael Dauphinais. From a range of emotions to serious and sincere conversation, the two discuss the pursuit of truth as it relates to both Thomas Aquinas and Sacred Scripture.
Dauphinais shares the powerful story of his journey home to the Catholic Church and what led him to the study of theology.
Further, through a guided conversation, Bergsma and Dauphinais also explore the place of Sacred Scripture in the Church, Aquinas' Summa Theologica, and the role of the theologian in our modern age.
Join us for an intense and unforgettable conversation you won't want to miss.
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Many people today speak of the "Big Bang Theory" as being opposed to belief in God. However, they this is an uninformed thing to say. Ironically, the theory was opposed for decades by scientists because of its theistic implications.
If the universe had a beginning, this implies that the universe has a creator.
In this episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma examines the origin of the “big bang theory” and the shocking reason that atheist and agnostic scientists—including Albert Einstein—vehemently opposed it.
From its development and early opposition to the philosophical and logical arguments that support it, you’ll come away with a better understanding of the origins of the “big bang” and its impact on science and theology.
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In this episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma is joined by his good friend Joan Watson to talk about pilgrimages, prayer, and the impact of women in the Bible.
Joan talks about her new book, Making a Pilgrimage, exploring the biblical roots of pilgrimages, what makes a pilgrimage, and why it matters to go on one—especially during this year of Jubilee.
Get your copy at the link below: https://stpaulcenter.com/watson
From saving Israel to being part of the genealogy of Christ, Dr. Bergsma and Joan explore the various heroines of the Bible and how we can follow their example today.
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The terms “deuterocanonical,” “apocryphal,” and “pseudepigraphal” get thrown around frequently in theological debates—especially amongst Catholics and Protestants. So what do they actually mean?
In this seventh episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma unpacks the significance of these terms and lays out the key distinctions between them. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture. 
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