Two Texts
A Podcast about the Bible Every two weeks, from two different countries, the two hosts of the Two Texts podcast pick two biblical texts to talk about. Each episode we pick one text to talk about, which invariably leads to us talking about two texts and often many more. Dr John Andrews and Dr David Harvey share a mutual fascination with the Bible. Simple yet complex; ancient yet relevant; challenging yet comforting. But one thing that fascinates them consistently is that, like a kaleidoscope, no matter how many times they look at it there is something new, fresh and exciting to talk about. This podcast is designed for you regardless of how much or how little you've read the Bible. Grab a hot beverage, a notepad (or app), and a Bible, sit back, listen, enjoy, and learn to also become fascinated (or grow your fascination) with this exciting, compelling and mysterious book. John and David are two friends who love teaching the Bible and have both been privileged enough to be able to spend their careers doing this - in colleges, universities, churches, homes and coffee shops. The two of them have spent extended periods of time as teaching staff and leadership in seminary and church contexts. John has regularly taught at David's church, and there was even a point where John was David's boss! Nowadays David is a Priest and Pastor in Calgary, Canada, and John teaches and consults for churches in the UK and around the world. They're both married with children (John 3, David 1) and in John's case even grandchildren. In their down time you'll find them cooking, reading, running or watching football (but the one thing they don't agree on is which team to support). If you want to get in touch with either of them about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?
Episodes
In which John and David reflect some more on Jonah’s bewildering sermon, its response, and the mysterious work of the Spirit in both preaching and hearing. We explore humility in proclamation, the difference between talking and true preaching, sackcloth and repentance, memory as yearning, and why Nineveh’s resp...
In which John and David explore the startling response to Jonah’s five-word sermon and consider how belief arises in surprising places. We ponder the mystery at the heart of Jonah 3, the unseen work of God, Tolkien’s tower, frogs in biology class, and why faith often exceeds the logic of its parts.
Episode 224 o...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s five-word sermon, noticing how its brevity holds layers of meaning and ambiguity. We reflect on the tension between judgment and invitation, the dual possibilities within the word “overturned,” and the surprising breadth of compassion revealed in God’s dealings with Ninev...
In which John and David reflect on Jonah’s five-word sermon, the prophet’s half-hearted obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. We explore how the narrative exposes Israel’s own reluctance to hear God, and how—even through flawed preaching—God’s word still brings life. Along the way we draw Bonhoef...
In which John and David trace the divine symmetry between the great fish and the great city of Nineveh. Together they uncover how Jonah’s story reveals a God both cosmic and near — one who commands creation yet longs for relationship. They reflect on the city “great to God,” the paradox of divine judgement and ...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s second calling and the grace woven into the story’s repetition. They reflect on Buechner’s and Tolkien’s ideas of myth, Hebrew wordplay that shifts God’s tone from 'against' to 'toward', and the layered symbolism of Nineveh’s name—revealing a God who c...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s cry from the “belly of Sheol” and ask whether the prophet’s prayer describes death, near-death, or resurrection itself. We trace echoes of Psalms 16 and 139, connect Jonah’s deliverance to Jesus’ “sign of Jonah,” and marvel at the irony that salvation—still—belongs to the...
In which John and David reflect on Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish, exploring how it echoes the Psalms and reveals a God who always calls us home. We discuss honesty, faithfulness, and what it means to return to God even in darkness—remembering that salvation belongs to the Lord.
Episode 217 of the Two...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the great fish. We explore its Psalm-like poetry, Jonah’s descent into death, and the layers of creation, flood, and exodus woven through his cry. Along the way, we ask what kind of repentance this really is—and discover that even in Jonah’s incon...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s descent into the deep and God’s appointment of the great fish. We trace the Hebrew term manah—God’s “ordination” of creation—to reveal divine order emerging from chaos. Along the way, we uncover echoes of Genesis, the three-day pattern of transformation, and Jesus’ sign o...
In which John and David reflect on Jonah 1:7–17, exploring Jonah’s confession of faith and its irony against his rebellion. We trace echoes from Psalm 95, Genesis, and Exodus, uncovering how the sailors sound more righteous than the prophet. The conversation uncovers themes of evil and creation, as Jonah is cas...
In which John and David explore Jonah 1:4–16, tracing how fear moves from terror to worship as the sailors cry out, sacrifice, and make vows to the Lord. Along the way, we follow echoes across scripture—from Isaiah and Samuel to Acts and Hebrews—discovering how Jonah’s reluctant scapegoat role points toward Jes...
In which John and David begin their close reading of Jonah 1:4–16, exploring the storm at sea, the irony of the prophet asleep while Gentile sailors pray, and the echoes of God’s call in the captain’s words. Along the way, they notice how Jonah inverts expectations, draws on the Psalms, and anticipates later mo...
In which John and David explore Jonah’s selective quotation of Exodus 34 and what it reveals about God’s faithfulness and Jonah’s resistance. We reflect on how God’s steadfast love endures for a thousand generations, the significance of Nineveh as a “great city,” and how Jonah’s story presses us to confront the...
In which John and David linger over Exodus 34 and Jonah’s audacious quotation of God’s own words back to Him. We explore how God’s self-description—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and faithfulness—shapes both Jonah’s story and ours. Along the way, we wrestle with “stiff-neck...
In which John and David turn to Jonah chapter 4 and uncover the prophet’s real reason for running. We explore Jonah’s audacious confrontation with God, his quoting of Exodus 34 back to the Lord, and the clash between Jonah’s word and God’s word. Along the way we consider how the book reveals not only Jonah’s he...
In which John and David trace Jonah’s desperate flight to Tarshish and the irony that everything in creation obeys God—except the prophet. We explore themes of Eden and Babylon, the reach of God’s presence in Psalm 139, and how Jonah’s story is as much about his salvation as Nineveh’s.
Episode 208 of the Two Tex...
In which John and David reflect on the contrast between Jonah and the other prophets of scripture. We explore the literary and theological weight of Jonah 1:2–3, where the familiar prophetic pattern is disrupted by Jonah’s defiance. From “rising and going” to “rising and fleeing,” we trace the movement down int...
In which John and David reflect on Jonah's political backstory, the uncomfortable tensions between prosperity and justice, and the God who refuses to give up. We explore Jonah's earlier prophetic role in 2 Kings, the contradictions between Jonah and Amos, and the troubling question of why Jonah speaks...
In which John and David explore Jesus’ own references to Jonah in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. We reflect on Jonah’s ironic preaching, his begrudging obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. Jesus knew Jonah’s story intimately—and expected us to know it too. So we ask: What if Jonah isn’t just about the ...
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