Did Genesis copy the Epic of Gilgamesh?In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined again by Dr. Mark Chavalas, scholar of Mesopotamian history and ancient Near Eastern literature, to explore the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Atrahasis flood tradition, and how these Mesopotamian accounts compare with the biblical flood narrative in Genesis.We discuss:• What the Epic of Gilgamesh actually is• When the flood tablets were discovered• The Atrahasis epic and the fuller Mesopotamian flood story• Similarities and differences between the Mesopotamian flood and Genesis• Whether Genesis “borrowed” from Babylon• How ancient Near Eastern context helps us read Scripture more clearly• Why Genesis–Kings may reflect an exile lensRather than being intimidated by parallels between ancient texts, we explore how understanding Mesopotamian literature can sharpen our reading of Scripture and deepen our appreciation for the theological message of Genesis.Books Mentioned• Nathan Wasserman — The Flood: The Akkadian Sources• W. G. Lambert & A. R. Millard — Atra-Ḫasīs: The Babylonian Story of the Flood• Stephanie Dalley — Myths from Mesopotamia• Adam Miglio — The Gilgamesh Epic and Genesis 1–11: Peering into the Deep• Andrew George — The Epic of Gilgamesh• Benjamin Foster — The Epic of GilgameshFollow Dr. Mark ChavalasPodcast: The Buried Biblehttps://www.youtube.com/@UCvlSazBr6-ME5x2KsbsnPlQ About Water into WineWater into Wine studies Scripture in its original context through conversations with scholars, authors, and Bible teachers, with the hope of edifying the whole body of Messiah.If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and follow for future interviews and discussions.#Genesis #EpicOfGilgamesh #BibleAndAncientNearEast #Mesopotamia #Atrahasis #BiblicalStudies #AncientNearEast #ChristianApologetics #waterintowine

Dr. Doug Hamp joins Water into Wine to discuss his upcoming book, The Relational Universe, which will be released in September.In this conversation, Doug explores the idea that reality is not fundamentally made of “stuff,” but of relationship. Drawing from architecture, quantum physics, cosmology, and Scripture, he introduces three structural requirements that hold any system together: alignment, intent, and repair.We talk about:Why relationship may be more fundamental than matterThe observer effect and the “participatory universe”Genesis, tohu vavohu, and creation as potentialityLove, freedom, entropy, and the cost of real choiceSin, forgiveness, and commandments as structural realitiesWhy forgiveness can be understood as “letting go of stored misalignment”This episode is designed for believers, skeptics, and curious thinkers alike — an invitation into wonder rather than argument.Pre-order Doug Hamp’s book The Relational Universehttps://a.co/d/08DTFpfCIf you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing for more long-form discussions on Scripture, theology, history, and the biblical world.

Jesus and the Torah: Eye for an Eye… or Turn the Other Cheek?In this episode of Water into Wine, I’m joined by Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss how Yeshua/Jesus understood Torah—not as a flat list of rules, but as divine instruction meant to shape wisdom, character, and justice.We explore why modern Christians often misread “biblical law,” how Torah functioned in its ancient context, and how Yeshua’s teaching (“turn the other cheek”) actually connects back to Torah’s original intent—especially in the famous “eye for an eye” passage.We also dig into Torah meditation (Psalm 1), the relationship between law and narrative, how moral imagination is trained through Scripture, and why the Torah’s concern for the vulnerable is central to understanding biblical justice.📌 Learn more from Dr. Johnson’s work:• Center for Hebraic Thought: https://hebraicthought.org/• The Biblical Mind: https://thebiblicalmind.org/