Buried Bible Podcast
The Buried Bible Podcast uncovers the rich historical and cultural context behind the Bible, bringing ancient Scripture to life. Join Dr. Mark Chavalas, a renowned scholar, archaeologist and professor with expertise in ancient Near Eastern history, and Keagan Walz, who provides a fresh perspective from the modern listener’s point of view. Together, they explore the stories, cultures, and languages that shaped the biblical world and uncover insights that deepen your understanding of Scripture.
Episodes
Before Israel became a nation, before God made the covenant.....who was Abraham?In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, we return to Genesis to set the stage for one of the strangest covenant rituals in the Bible — Genesis 15:17. But before we dive into the mystery of the smoking firepot and flaming torch, we take a step back to explore the backstory of Abraham himself & Abraham's calling in Genesis 12–15. .Dr. Mark Ch...
Did the Anunnaki Come from Planet Nibiru? Or Is It All a Misreading of Ancient Texts?Welcome to another episode of the Buried Bible Podcast! We’re diving deep into one of the most sensationalized ideas in ancient alien theory: the claim that the Anunnaki are alien beings from a mysterious Planet called Nibiru. But is there any actual evidence for this in the ancient texts—or have modern theorists simply connected dots that aren’t t...
Are the Anunnaki ancient gods, space aliens, or something else entirely? Why are so many Christians talking about them—and what does any of this have to do with the Bible?Dr. Mark Chavalas tackles one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—topics on the internet. We peel back the layers of internet conspiracy, pop theology, and pseudo-scholarship to ask: Who were the Anunnaki? Were they gods, giants, fallen angels… or simply m...
What do the Nephilim have to do with your faith? Are they just ancient footnotes—or a window into a much bigger spiritual reality? What ultimately is the role of giants in the biblical narrative?Welcome to the wrap-up episode on our Nephilim series! In this final episode of our Nephilim series, Keagan Walz and Dr. Mark Chavalas reflect on everything we’ve uncovered: Genesis 6, the “sons of God,” ancient Mesopotamian texts, Jewish t...
Who Were the Apkallu—and What Do They Have to Do with the Bible?In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas explores mysterious figures from ancient Mesopotamian texts known as the Apkallu—seven pre-flood sages often depicted with fish heads—who emerge from the sea to bestow knowledge on humanity. Sound familiar? These ancient beings may hold the key to understanding the biblical Nephilim, the flood narrative, an...
Why Did the Church Stop Talking About Giants? What happened to the Nephilim? Why did early Jewish and Christian writers seem so sure about their existence—only for later theologians to abandon the idea altogether? In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives deeper into Genesis 6 by tracing the story of the Nephilim through ancient Jewish texts like Jubilees, The Testament of Reuben, The Book of Giants, and ...
📜 Nephilim & the Book of Enoch | Buried Bible Podcast 📜What if the Bible isn’t the only ancient source that mentions the Nephilim? What if there was an ancient book that claimed to tell you exactly what Genesis 6 left out? A book that names the angels, exposes their crimes, and traces the origin of demons to the Nephilim? Today, we’re diving into the mysterious and controversial Book of Enoch.In this episode Dr. Mark Chavalas...
Who — or what — were the Nephilim in Genesis 6?Were they fallen angels? Human-angel hybrids? Ancient giants? In this episode of our new Nephilim series, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives deep into one of the most controversial and mysterious passages in the Bible. From Genesis 6 to 1 Enoch, Jude, and 2 Peter, we explore the ancient context, Jewish tradition, and even Mesopotamian legends to uncover who these beings really were — and why it m...
Episode 13 : Genesis 3:20-24What really happened when Adam and Eve were banished from Eden? Who (or what) were the cherubim guarding the Tree of Life? And what does this ancient imagery tell us about divine presence, death, and eternity?In this final episode of our Genesis 1–3 series, Dr. Mark Chavalas unpacks Genesis 3:20–24 and explores Ancient Near Eastern parallels, the symbolism of the east gate, and the mysterious heavenly be...
Genesis 3:1-19 | Were Adam & Eve cursed? Why did they hide from God? What all happened during the fall of all mankind?In this episode of The Buried Bible Podcast, scholar Dr. Mark Chavalas takes you beneath the surface of Genesis 3 to uncover the ancient meaning of the Fall. From the serpent's deception to Adam and Eve's shame, we explore the cultural, poetic, and theological layers of this pivotal passage. Join us as we unpack...
Is Genesis 3 really about a talking snake? Or is something deeper hiding behind the ancient word serpent?In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, Keagan Walz (the layman) and Dr. Mark Chavalas (the scholar) explore one of the most misunderstood and theologically loaded characters in Scripture: the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Is it just a snake? A symbol of evil? A divine being in disguise?We break down how ancient Near Easte...
Why did God place a forbidden tree in Eden — and was it really just about knowing right from wrong?
In this episode, Dr. Mark Chavalas as he examines Genesis 2:16–25 through the lens of the ancient Near East. You’ll discover how the phrase “good and evil” may have carried legal and judicial implications, and why the true issue at the heart of Eden may not have been just moral naivety—but moral autonomy and rebellion against God’s au...
Why would God create humans from dust — the lowliest material imaginable — and yet call us His image-bearers?
In this episode of The Buried Bible Podcast, Dr. Mark Chavalas dives deep into the ancient Near Eastern background behind Genesis 2. Discover how the ancient world viewed dust, how Mesopotamian gods "created" divine statues, and why the biblical creation story stands radically apart.
🔥 In This Episode:
➡️ What "made from dust...
What does it really mean to be made in God’s image?
Is it about how we look, how we act… or something far more profound that we’ve missed for centuries?
In this eye-opening episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, ancient Near Eastern scholar Dr. Mark Chavalas takes a deep look into the cultural and historical context behind Genesis 1:26–2:3, exploring what it meant to be made in the "image and likeness" of God—not just to modern Christi...
In this episode of the Buried Bible Podcast, hosts Keagan Walz and ancient Near Eastern scholar Dr. Mark Chavalas explore the historical context behind Genesis 1 and what the original audience would have understood about creation, time, and order. Discover the secrets of creation and some of the 'hidden meanings' behind the book of Genesis.We’ll unpack what “day” meant in the ancient world, how creation stories functioned in Mesopo...
Was Genesis 1 written as a scientific explanation—or something far deeper?
Welcome to Part 1 of our Genesis series, where we explore the opening verse of the Bible through the lens of ancient Near Eastern history, literature, and theology. Join Dr. Mark Chavalas, a renowned scholar and historian, as we uncover what Genesis 1 truly meant to its original audience and why it was never intended to be a science textbook.
Instead, Genesis ...
📜 Wrapping Up the Ancient Near East & the Context Behind the Bible 📜
In the final installment of our Ancient Near East deep dive, we uncover how understanding the historical and cultural world of the Bible transforms the way we read Scripture. Dr. Mark Chavalas, a leading expert in ancient history and biblical studies, returns to revisit key themes, explore listener questions, and reveal how deeply connected Israel was to the...
📜 The Ancient Near East Part 3! 📜
In Part 3 of our journey through the Ancient Near East, we continue our deep dive into the historical and cultural context behind the Bible. We explore the rise and fall of the great empires that shaped the biblical world—Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. These civilizations weren’t just historical footnotes—they played major roles in the spiritual, political, and prophetic landscape of the Bible.
Lear...
📜 Episode 3 | Mysteries of Mesopotamia: The Ancient Near East (Part 2)
Welcome back to Part 2 of our journey through the Ancient Near East! In this episode, we explore the civilizations that shaped the biblical world—from Sumer to Babylon—and how their culture, language, and beliefs influenced Scripture.
Dr. Mark Chavalas, an esteemed historian and archaeologist, takes us beyond the surface of scripture to reveal the hidden connect...
📜 Episode 2 | The Ancient Near East: Reading the Bible in Context
The Bible is more than an ancient book—it's the inspired and authoritative Word of God. But it was written to real people, in real places, shaped by real cultures. To fully grasp Scripture, we must read it through the lens of the Ancient Near East, the world in which it was born.
This episode lays the foundation for understanding the context behind Genesis, Abraham, M...
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