The Divine Council Worldview Podcast

In this episode, Ronn and Mike explore the biblical and theological insights regarding John 16, the Holy Spirit and the divine council worldview. Join them as they dive deep into biblical analysis, practical theology, and insights into spiritual rebellion and divine authority.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike discuss John 12 as a theological and narrative hinge in the Gospel, situating it within the chronology of Passion Week while exploring its deeper implications for atonement, messianic expectation, and Gentile inclusion. They noted that early church councils never defined a single atonement theory, arguing instead for a flexible, text-driven, and retrospective understanding of Jesus' death that emerges only after the resurrection. Walking through key scenes—the anointing at Bethany, the triumphal entry, the growing threat posed by Lazarus, and Jesus' interaction with Greeks seeking him—they emphasized how John frames Jesus' death as the means by which the Gentile world is drawn in to Abraham's family and the ruler of this world is judged. Along the way, they challenged overly simplistic prophecy-fulfillment models, cautioned against reading the Old Testament too quickly through a New Testament lens.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike enjoy the story of Lazarus' resuscitation in John 11:1-44. For several reasons found within this narrative, Ronn recommended that original readers would have been tempted to regard Lazarus as the "disciple that Jesus loved" referred to in later stories of John. A key element in this story, of course, was Martha's belief that Lazarus would "rise again in the resurrection" (11:24), offering a chance to talk about death and resurrection beliefs within 2nd Temple Judaism. Did the crowd expect Jesus to literally "be the resurrection and the life"? Apparentliy not—until Lazarus heard his name attached to the invitation to come out of the tomb! The conversation closes with personal application of this story to our understanding and hopes for eternal life.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike work their way through John 10, starting with Jesus' self-identification as Israel's "good shepherd." They recommend that Jesus is thuf fulfilling the meaning of Ezekiel 34, which recalls the extended metaphor of Yahweh claiming to be Israel's ultimate shepherd. This leads to a necessary discussion of the issue of "divine agency," and how God could be seen working through figures who receive their authority through God's appointment. Closing discussion attempts explanations of Jesus' curious statement that he and his Father are "one" (v. 30) and Jesus' use of Psalm 82 to extinguish charges of blasphemy.

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer six questions sent in by listeners: 1) What is the best way to study the original authors, recipients, and cultures of the biblical world? 2) Does a DCW have any specific opinion on the issue of human free will? 3) Why didn't Jesus condemn the adulterous woman in John 8? It seems mercy is the exception in how God handles sin in the Bible. 4) Ronn has said that Jesus' death did not accomplish anything which had not already been true before. How does that work with things like death and ritual impurity? 5) Does a Mormon worship the right god? 6) What caused Mary Magdalene to be possessed by seven demons?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) Were the nations that were apportioned to created elohim by Yahweh expected to obey these gods? Did Yahweh hold them accountable if they did? 2) What did Jesus mean in Mark 10:18 when he said "No one is good except God alone"? 3) Why does Ronn disparage Reformed theology so often? 4) Are giants still around? Where may they be today? 5) Could "sin" (Greek, hamartia) be better understood as misalignment of one's loyalty away from God and toward Satan?

In this episode, Ronn and Mike answer five questions sent in by listeners: 1) How is kosmos ("world") used in the NT? 2) How does Jesus use Psalm 82 in John 10:34-36? 3) What does the Bible teach on the state of soul after death? 4) Can Hindu polytheism be interpreted within the framework of DCW monotheism? 5) Why did Jesus use "eating flesh" language which was abhorrent to his Jewis audience?