Understanding the Scriptures

Introduction

The Understanding the Scriptures Podcast is composed of 30 episodes with each episode having a length between 72 and 80 minutes. It is hosted online at Understanding-Scriptures.com, where you may read reviews, comment on an episode, donate to the podcast, and find other quality Catholic Bible study resources. Each episode/class covers one of the 30 chapters in the textbook titled Understanding the Scriptures, by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (this textbook is part of the Didache series and is published by...

Ch. 1 - What Is the Bible?

In this lesson, Carson kicks off this exciting Bible course by describing the sacred, inspired nature of the Bible, which is a quality unique to the 72 books of Sacred Scripture. What do we mean when we say that Scripture is inspired, and where do we go in the Bible itself to find this claim? The answer is to be found in Chapter 3 of St. Paul's Second Epistle to St. Timothy. In the second half of this lesson, Carson examines the golden thread that ties the Biblical narrative together (from th...

Ch. 2 - The Old Testament

In this lesson, Carson speaks on the golden thread that holds the Bible and all of Salvation History together: the covenant. You will learn the different important aspects of a covenant and about oath-swearing, which is the means by which one enters into and renews the covenant. This covenant theology is related to what Scripture says and how an Israelite saw religion. This lesson will help you interpret Scripture not as a 21st century American (or whatever nationality you are), but as an ancien...

Ch. 3 - The Creation of the World

In this lesson, Carson focuses upon the language and structure of the first three chapters of the Book of Genesis. This allows us to discover the interpretive clues that the author of Genesis gives, which in turn serve as the key to unlocking the truths the author means to affirm. You will learn how the cosmos is one large temple in which the Garden of Eden serves as the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. Adam is instructed to keep and guard the sanctuary as its priest, which helps us understand ...

Ch. 4 - The Early World

In this lesson, Carson covers Chapters 4 through 11 in the Book of Genesis. The author of Genesis contrasts the descendants of Cain (the evil seed of the serpent) with the line of Seth (the righteous seed of the woman), and various interpretive clues in the text help us to discern what the original human author intended to affirm. Noah is a New Adam. The Flood and the subsequent repopulation of the earth are presented as a New Creation. God's covenant family is at odds with those who attempt to ...