This is an interview that I did with the international Messianic Jewish organization, First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ). The interviewer is Ryan Lambert, the Outreach Director of FFOZ. We discuss my academic work in the area of Post-Supersessionism, a theological paradigm that understands the continuing import of Jewish identity and the Jewish people collectively as an integral component of Christian teaching. More specifically, we talk about my 2017 book Reading Philippians After Supersessionism: Jews, Gentiles, and Covenant Identity (Cascade Press), which is part of a larger series of volumes on the New Testament After Supersessionism (NTAS).

“Last week, we looked at the first half of that paradoxical Christian expression: Jesus was ‘fully human and yet fully divine.’ We learned that the people who walked and talked with him found him to be a fully human, Jewish Messiah who would redeem Israel. But the Apostle Paul and the author(s) of the Gospel of John paint a very different portrait. John refers to Jesus as ‘the Logos’ (a universal, impersonal, cosmic force of reason) and as a universal Savior of all mankind (the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world). Likewise, Paul also refers to him as something much more than human. We asked a New Testament scholar — Dr. Christopher Zoccali — to help us reconcile these two different perspectives. . . .”

Join the eggheads this week as they explore the concepts of identity in Christ with Chris Zoccali and what it means for our own backgrounds as we come into the life of being a follower of Jesus.
The Christian² Podcast is sponsored by ⁠New Life CNY⁠, a Christ centered community that Loves God, Love People, and Make Disciples of Jesus Christ. This podcast is produced and published by ⁠Refresh Digital Services⁠.