Rephonic
Artwork for The Bible and Beyond

The Bible and Beyond

Early Christian Texts
Christianity
Early Christianity
Nag Hammadi Library
Gnosticism
Paul
Jesus
Ancient Texts
Judaism
The Acts Of Paul and Thecla
Council Of Nicaea
Dead Sea Scrolls
New Testament
Coptic Language
Gender Roles
Gospel Of Philip
Plato
University Of Amsterdam
Ancient Slavery
Patriarchy
Asia Minor

The Bible and Beyond podcast is a series of interviews with scholars who are able to unlock mysteries from extra-canonical books, forgotten scriptures, so-called 'gnostic' gospels, as well as the Bible. Host Shirley Paulson, Ph.D., and her guests explore historical and spiritual questions about Jesus, gender, women, salvation, healing, and the meaning of life. The discoveries these scholars share ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes85Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryChristianityReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Bible and Beyond

Latest Episodes

An Interview with Dr. Tobias Nicklas

Professor Tobias Nicklas explores the surprising world of Christian Apocrypha — stories and traditions that continued shaping faith far beyond the biblical canon. From the Infancy Gospel of Thomas to the Acts of... more

YouTube

Heresies, Power, and the Forgotten Voices of Early Christianity An Interview with Dr. Bart Ehrman

Shirley Paulson talks with Bart Ehrman about his new course on early Christian heresies. Together they explore why "right belief" became a matter of l... more

YouTube

An Interview with The Reverend Benjamin Wyatt

This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a turning point in Christian history. In this episode, Rev. Benjamin Wyatt, Episcopal priest and author of Christ and the Council, joins ... more

YouTube

An Interview with Dr. Nina Livesey

After Livesey demonstrated that authenticity of the Pauline letters was inadequately and uncritically determined, she didn't think it was possible to make a good case that the letters were authentic, even though i... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Biblical Mind
The Biblical MindCenter For Hebraic Thought
OnScript
OnScriptMatthew Bates, Matthew Lynch, Erin Heim, Dru Johnson, Amy Brown Hughes, & Chris Tilling

Recent Guests

Professor Tobias Nicklas
Expert in early Christian writings and author of several academic texts
Episode: Beyond the Canon: Why Apocrypha Matters
Ben Wyatt
Episcopal priest and author
Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis
Episode: The Council of Nicaea at 1700 Years: Why It Still Matters
Dr. Nina Livesey
Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Oklahoma University College of Professional and Continuing Studies
Oklahoma University
Episode: Is It Possible Paul Didn't Write ANY of the New Testament Letters?
Dr. Perry Kea
A long time member and leading scholar of the Westar Institute with 35 years of teaching experience at the University of Indianapolis.
Westar Institute
Episode: Thecla's Challenge to Both Rome and the Early Christian World
Dr. Christy Cobb
Associate Professor of Christianity at the University of Denver, editor of a book on ancient slavery in its New Testament context.
University of Denver
Episode: The Complicated Lives of Enslaved Women of the Bible
Dylan Burns
Assistant Professor of the History of Esotericism in Late Antiquity
University of Amsterdam
Episode: Is There a Connection Between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library?
Matthew Goff
Professor in the Religion Department and author of The Apocrypha, A Guide
Florida State University
Episode: Is There a Connection Between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library?
Dr. Kimberly Fowler
Assistant Professor of New Testament at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
Episode: Introducing the Gospel of Philip from the Nag Hammadi Collection
Dr. Meredith J. C. Warren
Senior Lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies
University of Sheffield
Episode: What Was Jesus's Religious Life Like?

Host

Shirley Paulson
Host and interviewer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Don’t go astray.

    Fails to give justification for why certain texts should be taken seriously. Attempts to cause the listener to doubt the validity of the Bible.

    I looked up host Shirley Paulson, and she has held leading roles in the Church of Science and the ecumenical movement. Beware of wolves in shepherds clothing. Jesus didn’t say all religions should come together. He said, “I am the way…” Stick to the Bible. God bless.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Evrowbri 951
    United States3 years ago
  • Wonderful series of discussions

    I have found these talks so engaging. Contemporary scholars give us a fresh understanding of ancient Christian texts that certainly had me scurrying off to read and discover more. Thank you so much to Shirley Paulson for her sympathetic & careful analysis of her wonderful guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blackbirdash
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Paul

    I’ve just listened to Dr Livesay on Paulinian influence. Excellent not only for the academic but the lay listener. Thank you so very much for this as I plan to listen to other broadcasts

    P Wallace PhD

    Cultural Anthropologist

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cultural anthro
    United States5 years ago
  • Getting a handle on early Christian texts

    This is the perfect entree for me to start getting a grasp on the new books that were squirreled away for centuries & only dug up in the past century +. How do we work these into our lives? I just listened to Shirley Paul/on interview Hal Taussig & they have some ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KarlaV98
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques focus on perceived biases against established beliefs or interpretations.
Listeners express appreciation for the depth and scholarly rigor presented, alongside accessibility for lay audiences.
Engaging interviews with contemporary scholars providing fresh insights into ancient texts.
Encourages critical reflection on traditional interpretations of the Bible.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Beyond the Canon: Why Apocrypha Matters
Q: What is the significance of Thecla in the context of Christian literature?
Thecla represents a powerful female figure whose story challenges traditional gender roles and demonstrates women's contributions to early Christianity.
Beyond the Canon: Why Apocrypha Matters
Q: What are the implications of apocryphal writings for understanding the nature of Jesus?
Apocryphal writings provide unique perspectives on Jesus' early life and challenges traditional narratives, raising questions about humanity and divinity.
The Council of Nicaea at 1700 Years: Why It Still Matters
Q: What was the basic disagreement really?
At its core, it revolved around the conception of God and Jesus's nature—whether Jesus was of the same essence as the Father or a lesser being.
The Council of Nicaea at 1700 Years: Why It Still Matters
Q: Why after more than three centuries of legitimate open discussions and disagreements did these Christian leaders suddenly think that they needed to enforce only one way of defining and doing things?
The rise of a reliable enforcement mechanism with Constantine's ascension and the awareness that the controversy impacted the heart of the faith led to a push for unity.
Heresies, Power, and the Forgotten Voices of Early Christianity
Q: Do other faith traditions have such a history of heresies?
Christianity uniquely emphasized right belief and heresy, whereas other traditions, like Judaism and Greek or Roman religions, did not have such strict formulations of belief.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Bible and Beyond

What is The Bible and Beyond about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations focus on exploring lesser-known texts and narratives related to Christianity, particularly those outside of canonical sources. The series features discussions with scholars who provide insights into extra-canonical works, historical interpretations, and spiritual implications of biblical texts, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of early Christianity. Topics often include the life of Jesus, gender dynamics within religious contexts, and the implications of ancient writings on contemporary spirituality. This podcast is notable for its engagement with academic perspectives, making complex theological discussions accessible to a broader audience while challenging traditional interpretations.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Bible and Beyond?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Bible and Beyond. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Bible and Beyond and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Bible and Beyond get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Bible and Beyond, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Bible and Beyond?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Bible and Beyond, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Bible and Beyond have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Bible and Beyond has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Bible and Beyond?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bible and Beyond:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
4. The Biblical Mind
5. OnScript

How many episodes of The Bible and Beyond are there?

The Bible and Beyond launched 7 years ago and published 85 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Bible and Beyond?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Bible and Beyond?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Bible and Beyond from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Bible and Beyond?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Bible and Beyond. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Bible and Beyond?

Recent guests on The Bible and Beyond include:

1. Professor Tobias Nicklas
2. Ben Wyatt
3. Dr. Nina Livesey
4. Dr. Perry Kea
5. Dr. Christy Cobb
6. Dylan Burns
7. Matthew Goff
8. Dr. Kimberly Fowler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days