Podcast Summary: START HERE! Introducing The Bible Dept, Day 000

Podcast Title: The Bible Dept.
Host/Author: ARMA Courses
Episode: START HERE! Introducing The Bible Dept, Day 000
Release Date: December 27, 2024

1. Introduction to The Bible Dept. Podcast

In the inaugural episode of The Bible Dept., Dr. Manny Arango warmly welcomes listeners to embark on a transformative year-long journey through the entire Bible. Designed as both a 365-day Bible reading plan and an accompanying podcast, the program aims to make Scripture accessible, engaging, and impactful for Christians of all stages.

Dr. Manny Arango begins by acknowledging a common challenge faced by many Christians: maintaining the momentum to read the entire Bible within a year. He highlights a striking statistic: “94% of Christians have never read the entire Bible” (00:11). This sets the stage for the podcast's mission to facilitate comprehensive Bible engagement.

2. The Unique Bible Reading Plan

a. Rethinking the Starting Point: Beginning with the New Testament

Contrary to traditional Bible reading plans that commence with the Old Testament books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—The Bible Dept. opts to start with the New Testament. Dr. Arango explains the rationale behind this unconventional approach:

“Instead of starting with the most difficult books of the Bible, we've started with the New Testament. Why? Well, because they're easier.” (02:38)

Drawing an analogy to sports coaching, he likens the strategy to scheduling easier games at the beginning of a season to build confidence and momentum.

b. Structuring the Gospels and Acts

To prevent the common pitfall of feeling repetitious and losing interest, the podcast restructures the reading order of the Gospels and Acts:

• Luke and Acts as a Unified Journey:
  Dr. Arango emphasizes the interconnectedness of Luke and Acts, noting that Luke authored both books as a two-volume work. Starting with Luke provides an introduction to Jesus, seamlessly transitioning into Acts, which chronicles the early church and the apostle Paul's ministry.

  “We are going to start with the New Testament. Also, the reason that we're going to start with the New Testament is because we are New Testament believers.” (04:45)

• Chronological Order of Paul’s Letters:
  Instead of following the traditional order found in most English translations, Paul's letters are read in the order they were written. This chronological approach allows listeners to trace Paul's theological development and maturation throughout his ministry.

  “We're actually going to go through Paul's letters in chronological order because Paul... grows, he matures.” (05:15)

c. Segmentation for Enhanced Understanding

To further aid comprehension and maintain engagement, the New Testament is divided into distinct sections:

1. Mark and Peter:
   Recognizing that Mark's Gospel is derived from Peter's teachings, these writings are studied together to provide a cohesive narrative.

2. Matthew, Hebrews, and James:
   This trio is grouped due to their strong Judaic elements. Matthew, being the most Jewish of the Gospels, is complemented by Hebrews and James, both of which exhibit profound Jewish thought patterns and theology.

3. John’s Writings:
   All of John’s contributions—Gospel, First, Second, Third John, and Revelation—are studied collectively, offering a deep dive into profound theological themes.

“John's Gospel is my favorite gospel. So we have put together John, first, second, third John and Revelation.” (06:00)

d. Transitioning to the Old Testament: Embracing the Tanakh Structure

After navigating the New Testament, the reading plan shifts to the Old Testament, structured according to the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Dr. Arango elaborates on the significance of this structure:

“Tanakh is an acronym. It stands for Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.” (08:15)

• Torah:
  The first five books of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—serve as the foundation.

• Nevi'im:
  Encompassing the former prophets (e.g., First Samuel, Second Samuel, Kings) and the latter prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah), this section bridges historical narratives and prophetic insights.

• Ketuvim:
  Translating to "writings," this diverse collection includes wisdom literature, historical accounts, and other varied texts, akin to the miscellaneous items in a kitchen drawer.

By adopting the Tanakh structure, the podcast aligns its Old Testament study with the original ordering recognized in Jewish tradition, providing listeners with a historically and theologically coherent framework.

“When Jesus picked up the Bible, he actually picked up the Hebrew Bible.” (09:30)

This alignment underscores the podcast's commitment to presenting Scripture as it was historically engaged with during Jesus' time.

3. Introduction to ARMA Platform

Beyond the podcast, The Bible Dept. is powered by the ARMA platform, an online subscription-based community designed to deepen Bible study and theological understanding.

a. Comprehensive Learning Resources

ARMA offers over 60 courses covering individual books of the Bible, theology topics, and contemporary issues such as homosexuality, tithing, and women in ministry. This extensive library ensures that learners can explore Scripture from multiple perspectives and topics.

b. Building a Community

Dr. Arango emphasizes the importance of community in Bible study:

“ARMA is a community. A community of people that I've gotten to know... a community where thousands of people are currently finding family, asking questions, and nerding out on the Bible together.” (06:38)

This communal aspect fosters a supportive environment where individuals can engage, discuss, and grow together in their faith journey.

c. Access and Engagement

Listeners are encouraged to join the ARMA subscription to not only access exclusive courses but also to participate actively within the community. This dual approach of content consumption and community engagement enhances the overall learning experience.

“If you want more exclusive access to me and the entire ARMA team, how about you go to thebibledepartment.com...” (07:43)

4. Encouragement and Call to Action

Dr. Arango concludes the episode with an inspiring message aimed at motivating listeners to commit to the Bible reading plan:

“Buckle up. We're going to be on a year-long journey through the Bible. I think you are going to barely recognize yourself at the end of this year.” (08:00)

He reassures potential participants that the plan is thoughtfully designed to be achievable, alleviating common fears of intimidation or inability to complete the reading.

“This is a Bible reading plan that you can actually complete. Because a lot of thought and a lot of prayer and a lot of intentionality from our team has gone into this Bible reading plan.” (08:00)

Listeners are invited to download the free reading plan in their preferred format—digital or printed—and to join the ARMA community for additional support and resources.

“If you need this Bible reading plan, and you do, you do need this Bible reading plan, you can get it digitally, you can print it out... you can get that @thebibledepartment.com.” (10:00)

The episode wraps up with a heartfelt invitation to make the year one of profound biblical engagement and personal transformation.

5. Notable Quotes

• Starting with the New Testament:

  “Instead of starting with the most difficult books of the Bible, we've started with the New Testament. Why? Well, because they're easier.” (02:38)

• Chronological Order of Paul’s Letters:

  “We're actually going to go through Paul's letters in chronological order because Paul... grows, he matures.” (05:15)

• Emphasizing Community:

  “ARMA is a community. A community of people that I've gotten to know... a community where thousands of people are currently finding family, asking questions, and nerding out on the Bible together.” (06:38)

• Encouragement to Listeners:

  “This is a Bible reading plan that you can actually complete. Because a lot of thought and a lot of prayer and a lot of intentionality from our team has gone into this Bible reading plan.” (08:00)

• Commitment to Transformation:

  “Buckle up. We're going to be on a year-long journey through the Bible. I think you are going to barely recognize yourself at the end of this year.” (08:00)

6. Conclusion

The first episode of The Bible Dept. sets a promising foundation for a year of in-depth Bible study, characterized by a thoughtfully structured reading plan and a supportive community through the ARMA platform. By reimagining the traditional approach to reading Scripture and providing comprehensive resources, Dr. Manny Arango invites listeners to genuinely engage with the Bible, fostering both intellectual understanding and spiritual growth.

Listeners are encouraged to download the free Bible reading plan, join the ARMA community, and commit to the transformative journey that lies ahead. With 365 episodes planned, The Bible Dept. promises a year of discovery, connection, and deeper faith.