Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
How did people in the Old Testament understand God’s Word, and what can their example teach Christians about interpreting the Bible today? In this third installment of the hermeneutics series, Dr. Peter Goeman examines an often overlooked starting point for biblical interpretation: how Old Testament believers understood and responded to God’s revelation.
From God’s covenant with Noah to Joseph’s confidence in the promises to Abraham, Dr. Goeman explores why the details of God’s words matter. He also examines Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Deuteronomy’s tests for identifying false prophets, and specific prophecies fulfilled within Old Testament history. These examples build a case for interpreting Scripture according to the author’s intended meaning, even when questions remain about how God’s promises fit together. The episode concludes with encouragement for ordinary Christians to study Scripture confidently.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Authorial Intent
08:45 God’s Covenants: Noah, the Flood, and the Rainbow
17:08 The Abrahamic Covenant and Joseph’s Confidence
23:01 Abraham and Isaac: Trusting God amid Tension
28:00 Testing Prophets: Deuteronomy 13 and 18
37:16 Why God Gives Prophecy: Isaiah 45–46
43:03 Prophecy #1: Josiah and the Altar at Bethel
47:29 Prophecy #2: Judgment on Eli’s House and the Rise of Zadok
52:39 Prophecy #3: Joshua’s Curse on Rebuilding Jericho
53:33 Prophecy #4: The Division of Solomon’s Kingdom
55:29 Prophecy #5: The Death of Jeroboam’s Son
58:15 What These Examples Teach about Reading Scripture
Shepherds Theological Seminary (where Peter Goeman teaches): https://shepherds.edu/
The Bible Sojourner Audio podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-bible-sojourner
More About The Bible Sojourner Host, Peter Goeman: petergoeman.com
How did people in the Old Testament understand God’s Word, and what can their example teach Christians about interpreting the Bible today? In this third installment of the hermeneutics series, Dr. Peter Goeman examines an often overlooked starting point for biblical interpretation: how Old Testament believers understood and responded to God’s revelation.
From God’s covenant with Noah to Joseph’s confidence in the promises to Abraham, Dr. Goeman explores why the details of God’s words matter. He also examines Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Deuteronomy’s tests for identifying false prophets, and specific prophecies fulfilled within Old Testament history. These examples build a case for interpreting Scripture according to the author’s intended meaning, even when questions remain about how God’s promises fit together. The episode concludes with encouragement for ordinary Christians to study Scripture confidently.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Authorial Intent
08:45 God’s Covenants: Noah, the Flood, and the Rainbow
17:08 The Abrahamic Covenant and Joseph’s Confidence
23:01 Abraham and Isaac: Trusting God amid Tension
28:00 Testing Prophets: Deuteronomy 13 and 18
37:16 Why God Gives Prophecy: Isaiah 45–46
43:03 Prophecy #1: Josiah and the Altar at Bethel
47:29 Prophecy #2: Judgment on Eli’s House and the Rise of Zadok
52:39 Prophecy #3: Joshua’s Curse on Rebuilding Jericho
53:33 Prophecy #4: The Division of Solomon’s Kingdom
55:29 Prophecy #5: The Death of Jeroboam’s Son
58:15 What These Examples Teach about Reading Scripture
Shepherds Theological Seminary (where Peter Goeman teaches): https://shepherds.edu/
The Bible Sojourner Audio podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-bible-sojourner
More About The Bible Sojourner Host, Peter Goeman: petergoeman.com
