Is Love in the (Biblical) Air?

About this episode

Professors Helen Bond and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones explore the concept of love in the biblical context, discussing various relationships and interpretations from the ancient world.

Is love in the biblical air this Valentine's Day? To find out, Professors Helen Bond and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones take a trip back to the biblical world. They discuss... What is ‘love’ in the biblical imagination? Is there romantic love in the ancient world? Is Song of Songs a wedding Song? How are Heriodas and Antipas anticipated by Ahab and Jezebel? How have we misread David and Bathsheba’s relationship? Why is Paul ‘anti-marriage’? Does same-sex love show u...

People in this episode

Hosts: Helen Bond, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

Topics covered

• biblical love
• romantic love
• Song of Songs
• David and Bathsheba
• Paul's views on marriage
• same-sex love
• Ahab and Jezebel

Keywords

• biblical love
• romantic love
• Song of Songs
• David and Bathsheba
• Paul
• Ahab
• Jezebel
• same-sex love

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Song of Songs

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• The Bible in (Ancient) Pop Culture · May 12, 2026 · 40 min
• Erotica... In the Bible? · May 4, 2026 · 39 min