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/

Today I’m joined by Steve Moutria (TorahFamily.org) for a wide-ranging conversation on End Times—with a strong focus on reading prophecy through Torah patterns, Yeshua’s warnings in Matthew 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21, and the need to stay humble as we keep studying.We talk about what Steve considers the key “watch list” signs—Jerusalem being surrounded and the abomination of desolation—and his working framework of how events may unfold (including Ezekiel’s “40 days,” resurrection timing themes, Babylon/Antichrist, and a Sinai “bride” motif). Steve also shares thoughts on the Ark/Tabernacle theme, the two witnesses, the idea that prophecy can be cyclical, and why we need the Spirit and a life of obedience to handle the Scriptures rightly.Guest: Steve Moutria — https://torahfamily.org/Host: Alec (Water into Wine)Teachings Steve mentioned1) The Return of the Tenthttps://torahfamily.org/the-return-of-the-tent/2) What is the Idol of Jealousy?https://torahfamily.org/what-is-the-idol-of-jealousy/3) Beware of the Noahide Lawshttps://torahfamily.org/beware-of-the-noahide-laws/4) The 2nd Exodushttps://torahfamily.org/the-2nd-exodus/5) Armageddon and the Parousia (Updated and Expanded)https://torahfamily.org/armageddon-and-the-parousia-updated-and-expanded/6) Declaring the End from the Beginninghttps://torahfamily.org/declaring-the-end-from-the-beginning/7) Satan’s Little Seasonhttps://torahfamily.org/satans-little-season/8) The Abomination of Desolationhttps://torahfamily.org/the-abomination-of-desolation/9) What is the Gospel?https://torahfamily.org/what-is-the-gospel/

In this Water into Wine conversation, Alec sits down with Dr. John Schwandt (biblical languages scholar and founding president of Redemption Seminary) to explore the Wedding at Cana (John 2)—especially the puzzling line where Jesus says: “What is this to me and to you, woman? My hour has not yet come.”Dr. Schwandt walks through how this Greek idiom gets translated very differently across English versions, why it often sounds negative in English, and why the immediate context (Mary’s response) suggests an affirmative sense instead. From there, the discussion opens into John’s bigger theme of “the hour”—including the idea that, in a wedding context, the “man of the hour” is the bridegroom, and how John may be linking Cana to Jesus' ultimate “hour” in the Passion.We also touch on the symbolic connections of water, wine/blood, and Spirit as “marks of the temple,” and how these themes show up in John and 1 John.Guest resources:Redemption Seminary: https://redemption.edu/Blog/Studies: https://redemption.edu/news (also under “Resources”)

What if the story of the Bible is really the story of sacred space?From Eden to the Tabernacle, from the Temple to the Body of Messiah—Rico Cortes unpacks how the Creator has always desired to dwell among His people.In this conversation, Rico traces the Temple pattern through Scripture, showing how it reveals God’s order, holiness, and covenant relationship. He discusses the centrality of Leviticus as the blueprint for worship, the ancient Near Eastern context of sacred space, and how the priesthood and festivals reflect Yahweh’s divine hospitality. Together, we explore how the Temple is not a relic of the past but a living symbol of the Messiah’s body and of God's presence restored among His people.About Rico CortesRico Cortes is the founder of Wisdom In Torah Ministries, a teacher and researcher specializing in Temple theology, Leviticus, and ancient Near Eastern studies. For over two decades, he’s helped believers recover the biblical patterns of holiness, covenant, and worship.Website: https://wisdomintorah.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJwtL3cb95bZK96oB6eXP2Q About Water into WineWater into Wine brings together scholars, authors, and teachers to uncover the original context of faith and the unity of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Subscribe for more conversations that bridge biblical scholarship and discipleship.

In this Water into Wine episode, Alec sits down with Dr. Sandra Glahn, professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and author of Nobody’s Mother, to explore women, Scripture, and cultural context.Dr. Glahn shares her personal journey through infertility, identity, and calling and how her study of 1 Timothy, Ephesus, and the cult of Artemis reshaped her understanding of what the Bible really says about women, teaching, and ministry.Together, they uncover how archaeology, linguistics, and first-century culture illuminate Paul’s letters, the story of Artemis/Diana, and why context matters for interpreting passages about women and leadership.Guest: Dr. Sandra Glahn — Professor, Dallas Theological SeminaryFeatured Book: Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament.Learn more about Dr. Sandra Glahn at: https://sandraglahn.com/Topics discussed:Dr. Glahn’s story of loss and callingCultural baggage vs. biblical truthPaul’s letters to Timothy in the shadow of Artemis of EphesusHow Acts 19 clarifies 1 Timothy 2Early church women: widows, deaconesses, and the roots of monastic serviceWhy the gospel flourished among women and slaves in the first centuriesSubscribe for more interviews exploring Scripture, archaeology, and early Christian faith:@WaterIntoWine#WaterIntoWine #SandraGlahn #WomenInMinistry #Ephesus #Artemis #BiblicalContext #EarlyChristianity #PaulineLetters #1Timothy #BibleStudy #ChristianHistory #DallasTheologicalSeminary #ArchaeologyAndTheBible #BiblicalScholarship #Theology #WomenInTheBible #FaithAndCulture #AlecDunlop #Nobody’sMother #NewTestamentContext

What did the apostle Paul really believe about Jesus?In this episode of Water into Wine, Alec Dunlop talks with Dr. David Capes, Director of the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, TX and author of The Divine Christ: Paul, the Lord Jesus, and the Scriptures of Israel.Together they explore how Paul—rooted in Jewish monotheism and the Scriptures of Israel—came to see Yeshua sharing in the divine identity of YHWH, and how that realization reshaped his gospel, worship, and mission.Dr. Capes' website: https://davidbcapes.com/publications/Books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/David-B.-Capes/author/B001JPAIV6?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueAWKNG Course on the Divine Christ: https://catalog.awkngschooloftheology.com/courses/the-divine-christ/

In this conversation, Alec welcomes Dr. Mark Chavalas, who shares how his journey into ancient history and languages led him to study Mesopotamia and its connection to the Bible. He explains how learning Akkadian and working with cuneiform texts shaped his understanding of Genesis.Dr. Chavalas discusses the difference between material and immaterial creation in Mesopotamian and biblical accounts, the role of cosmic law, and how the power of Mesopotamian gods was limited compared to the God of Israel. He highlights the vast difference in the character and purpose of creation between Mesopotamian myths and the biblical text.The interview closes with reflections on how knowing Mesopotamia helps us read the Bible in its ancient context and see the uniqueness of its worldview.#Mesopotamia #Bible #Genesis #Akkadian #Cuneiform #Creation #AncientNearEast #BiblicalStudies #OldTestament #waterintowine The Buried Bible Podcast on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5rLkGO5dXcVdGVZQSlBoAC?si=0f2aed30d7044e0eDr. Chavalas on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mark+Chavalas&crid=9X7VBTDK65OC&sprefix=mark+chavalas%2Caps%2C106&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

In this conversation with Dr. Douglas Hamp, we dig deep into the original languages of Scripture and uncover how Hebrew opens up a fresh understanding of God’s Word.Dr. Hamp explains why studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shaped his approach to the Bible, how concepts like “free will” are woven into the very fabric of creation, and why obedience is at the heart of faith. We discuss:How biblical languages deepen our understanding of scripture.Why God “wrote into the code” the possibility of failure.The story of Nadav and Abihu and lessons in obedience.The “Tablet of Destiny” and Christ’s ultimate victory.Strong delusion and end-time deceptionWhether you’re interested in biblical languages, theology, or how faith meets everyday life, this interview will take you deeper into the roots of Scripture.#BiblicalHebrew #FreeWill #EndTimes #DouglasHamp #BiblicalLanguages #ProblemOfEvil #TabletOfDestiny #Obedience #faithandworks Check out Dr. Hamp's books:https://www.amazon.com/Books-Douglas-Hamp/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ADouglas%2BHamp

Dr. Hamp's YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/doughamp