The Biblical Roots Podcast
This is a Bible-based, Christ-focused theology and apologetics podcast hosted by Professor R. L. Solberg. We talk theology and apologetics, test the claims of questionable teachers, and offer a range of Bible teachings, including verse-by-verse Bible studies.
The Biblical Roots Ministries is all about helping believers stay grounded in the truth of Scripture. Founded by Professor R. L. Solberg, our Christ-centered ministry is dedicated to creating faithful, Bible-based content that deepens your understanding of God’s Word and equips you to discern false teachings. We do this in two ways:
1. Dismantling false teachings – We take a systematic approach to breaking down ideas that challenge the sufficiency of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), clearing away myths and misconceptions so believers can stand firm in the truth.
2. Building biblical literacy – Through Bible studies and teachings on biblical theology, interpretation (hermeneutics), and Bible history, we help believers dive deeper into Scripture and better understand it in its proper context.
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The Biblical Roots Podcast
Early Church History (Part 7 of 11)
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We continue our examination of Jewish-Christian relations in the early Church by reviewing one teaching and one writing:
#1: The teaching of Marcion
Marcion of Sinope (AD 85-160) is a historical figure who embodied the sort of potent anti-Jewish sentiment many believe was prevalent in the ante-Nicene era. A great deal is known about Marcion through early writings, making him an excellent case study for us. He taught that the Bible refers to two different gods; the benevolent God of love and mercy proclaimed by Jesus and the “finite, imperfect, angry Jehovah of the Jews.” In his work Antitheses (AD 144), Marcion outlined this contrast, describing the God of the Old Testament as a demiurge—a lesser god who created the physical universe. He considered this deity a harsh Jewish tribal god, as severe and unmerciful as his law. The Old Testament God commanded us to love our neighbor but hate our enemies. He taught vengeance, saying, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” By contrast, Marcion argued, the Supreme God of the New Testament commands us to love our enemy and “turn the other cheek.”
#2: Justin Martyr’s "Dialogue with Trypho"
Born in the Roman colony of Neapolis in Samaria (he was neither a Samaritan nor a Jew), Justin Martyr was arguably the most influential Christian apologist of the second century. Dialogue with Trypho is an intellectually impressive and lengthy document. (The English translation runs more than 69,000 words.) Justin works through various theological issues by way of an ambitious dialogue between himself and a Hellenized rabbi named Trypho, famous as one of the most learned Jews in the East. Whether this work records an actual discussion is a matter of debate. However, Justin’s remarkable knowledge of the Jews, their objections to Christianity, and their Scripture suggest the content of Dialogue is based on actual conversations with Jews.
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