Hoi Polloi is a podcast channel for the average church goer to gain deeper insight into todays current issues and topics. Pastor Abidan Shah interviews different experts on different topics, bringing questions from common Christians.
Hoi Polloi Episode 1 – Introduction
In this first episode of Hoi Polloi, Pastor Abidan Shah introduces himself and explains what Hoi Polloi is all about. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 2 – Dr. David Alan Black
In this second episode of Hoi Polloi, Pastor Abidan Shah interviews Dr. Alan Black. Dr. Black is a noted Greek scholar and also teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the interview Pastor Shah asks about Dr. Black’s new book entitled, “It’s All Greek to Me”. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 3 – Dr. Maurice A. Robinson
In this third episode of Hoi Polloi, Abidan Shah interviews Dr. Maurice A. Robinson, a noted New Testament textual critic and Research Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Robinson is the co-editor of the “The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform” and many other books and articles. In 2014, he was awarded a Festschrift by his friends and students for all his contributions in the field. In this interview we will chat with him about his reflection over the past four decades in New Testament Textual Criticism. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 4 – Dr. David Alan Black
In this fourth episode of Hoi Polloi, Abidan Shah interviews Dr. David Alan Black, a noted New Testament scholar and the Dr. M. O. Owens Jr., professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest. In this episode we discuss Dr. Black’s book “Why Four Gospels?: The Historical Origins of the Gospels.” Along with a brief intro to the synoptic problem, Black introduces us to the Four-fold Gospel hypothesis. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 5 – Dr. L. Scott Kellum
In this fifth episode of Hoi Polloi, Abidan Shah interviews Dr. L. Scott Kellum, professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest. In this episode we discuss the issue of the New Testament Canon. In recent years the view that has found much publicity is that the NT canon developed much later and after a process of great struggle. Is this historically true? This episode will cover this and related issues. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 6 – Dr. David Alan Black
In this sixth episode of Hoi Polloi, Abidan Shah interviews Dr. David Alan Black, professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest. Te focus of this episode is New Testament textual criticism. Dr. Black studied under text-critic Harry Sturz. The Sturzian approach favors the reading that has the most text-type support. We will discuss 3 examples under this approach. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 7 – Digging Deep 1
In this episode of Hoi Polloi, Pastor Shah introduces a new Bible study available at Clearview Church on Wednesday nights called Digging Deep. The focus of this study is teaching lay people how to study and apply the Word of God. These podcasts are intended as supplemental material for the weekly study. In this first episode Pastor Shah is interviewed by Renee Jackson and explores what it means for the Bible to be God’s inspired, inerrant, revealed Word to us.
For more information on Digging Deep, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 8 – History of Biblical Interpretation 1
In this episode of Hoi Polloi, Pastor Shah tackles the history of biblical interpretation. In this first part, he focuses on early Jewish interpretation and how it was influenced by various traditions and schools of thought.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 9 – History of Biblical Interpretation 2
In this episode, Pastor Abidan Shah focuses on first century techniques for interpreting Scripture. He addresses the three schools of thought related to biblical interpretation and how these are utilized today.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 10 -How I Prepare My Sermons
In this episode, Abidan Shah focuses on his method of sermon preparation. These are questions that people have been asking for a long time. Here are his answers.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 11 -Biblical Words
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah focuses on biblical words and their meanings. Often people do poor word studies and misinterpret passages. This episode will teach you to study words in their proper contexts.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 12 – Visiting Israel!
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be recounting his trips to Israel from 2015 and 2016. The topic is – “Does visiting the land enhance our study of the Bible?”
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 13 – Logical Fallacies (1)
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be discussing the basics of Logic and Logical Fallacies. It is based on D.A. Carson’s seminal work “Exegetical Fallacies.”
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 14 – Logical Fallacies (2)
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be discussing the second half of the basics of Logic and Logical Fallacies. It is based on D.A. Carson’s seminal work “Exegetical Fallacies.”
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 15 – Reasons to Study the Bible
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be discussing the reasons for studying the Bible. Many people don’t study the Bible or stay consistent in their bible study is because they don’t take the time to consider the marvelous benefits found in digging deep in God’s Word.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 16 – Old Testament Biblical Theology
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be discussing the importance of the Biblical Theology of the Old Testament. You will learn how biblical theology keeps the study of the OT from being fragmented by biblical exegesis and even discover the key to the OT.
For more information on Digging Deep, Clearview Church’s summer Bible study, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/ClearviewDiggingDeep. You can also find the notes from each week on Pastor Shah’s blog.
Hoi Polloi Episode 17 – Dr. David Alan Black
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be talking with Dr. David Alan Black about his newest book “Running My Race: Reflections on Life, Loss, Aging, and Forty Years of Teaching.” It’s about learning to deal with the pains of life in a way that draws us closer to the heart of God. Both laypeople and scholars will benefit from this book.
If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 18 – Authorship of Hebrews – Dr. David Alan Black
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be talking with Dr. David Alan Black about his book on the Authorship of Hebrews. This is a subject that has divided scholars for many years.
If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 19 – New Testament Biblical Theology
In this episode, Abidan Paul Shah will be discussing the subject of New Testament Biblical Theology. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 20 – Dr. John Meade
In this episode Dr. Abidan Shah will be discussing the topic of the Old Testament and why we should study it with Dr. John Meade. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 21 – Dr. Peter Gurry
In this episode Dr. Abidan Shah will be discussing the topic of the New Testament and why we should study it with Dr. Peter Gurry. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
Hoi Polloi Episode 22 – Christian-Archy (ft. Dr. David Alan Black)
In this episode, Dr. Abidan Shah will be discussing “Christian-Archy” by Dr. David Alan Black. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be discussed, please tweet them to @hoipolloiradio.
I highly recommend these podcasts to anyone interested in understanding more about New Testament text or canon.
Abidan, regarding the NT canon, it seems to me that the ancient church, in handing down to the us the NT, was, in effect, saying “Here is what we have received as the extant apostolic corpus.” That is, they put into the New Testament the 27 writings that they considered to be genuinely from the apostles (i.e. written by an apostle or close working associate of an apostle, as in the case of Mark and Luke). In other words, they didn’t put anything non-apostolic in the NT; neither did they leave anything apostolic out of it (e.g. they must have ultimately decided that the Letter of Barnabas was not actually from Barnabas).
Do your studies lead you to agree with this view? If not, at what points do you think I have it wrong?
Hi Mike – So sorry this message slipped by me. I agree with you completely. The idea that the NT corpus was recognized over a long period of time is contrary to what we find in history. While it’s true that the official designation of “canon” came later through the Nicene fathers and the councils, the idea of a set of authoritative books was there right from the beginning. By the way, getting ready to a couple more podcasts that may interest you!
I enjoyed listening to a number of these podcasts this week, including the interviews with Dr. Robinson and Dr. Black. Thanks for providing this.
Thanks Jeff! Lately, you’ve been discussed on a blog! 😉
I am not sure where to go with this, so here it will go! I just saw your interview with Dr Gurry and his class regarding your book (which I have but is yet unread). You mentioned inerrancy as a weak argument and I immediately thought of the TR only position which disregards empirical evidence and holds to a theological position on the matter and yet they settle on the TR as the Greek text. Dr Riddle is known for TR only yet he engages in empirical debate against the critical text position which seems contradictory. I have discussed it with another adherent but the gentleman is not really up on textual critical matters to discuss the empirical facts. Yet he is tight on his theological position of inerrancy. It seems they are talking past anyone as a result when discussing textual criticism since they are really only engaging from a theological position and the other side is coming from an empirical position. Perhaps you could do a podcast to elucidate the situation and educate as opposed to promoting one position over another. Then maybe better discussions could be had. But how inerrancy effects textual criticism, or should not, would be a point of interest Perhaps you could interview Dr.Riddle (and ask him how close his position is to Dr Van Kleek’s.