The Biblical Roots Podcast

Prof. R. L. Solberg

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.


Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity is a biblically-based, Christ-centered apologetic and teaching ministry. Our mission is to create God-honoring, biblically sound content that helps believers understand Scripture and address false teachings. We do this in two ways:

1. Promoting biblical literacy and knowledge of Scripture through Bible studies and teaching Biblical Theology—the discipline that looks at the Bible as a whole and tracks God’s grand story of redemption from the OT to the NT.

2. Systematically breaking down teachings that challenge the sufficiency of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Our goal is to clear away myths and misconceptions about Christianity and lift high the beautiful Gospel of Jesus.

If you would like to support our work, you can send a gift here:
https://TheBiblicalRoots.org/#donate


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Episodes

Confronting Modern Torah Movements - A Chat with Andrew Schumacher
Oct 16 2024
Confronting Modern Torah Movements - A Chat with Andrew Schumacher
Send us a textApologist and Christian thinker Andrew Schumacher recently joined me for a wide-ranging conversation. Of course, we discussed the recent controversies over the question "Are animal sacrifices, still required to atone for sin?" But also how to approach our Torah-keeping friends: Is there a path to unity? What makes something a false gospel? What is the theological range of the various strains of Torahism: Hebrew Roots, Pronomian, Torah-observant, Torah keepers, etc. Enjoy!Important Retraction: I have officially and publicly retracted my accusation that the “Torah-keeping” position on future sin sacrifices is a false gospel. I’ve come to realize that most Torah-keeping teachers aren’t claiming that salvation hangs on the end times sin sacrifices, and therefore their position is technically not a false gospel; it’s not an alternate way to be saved. In hindsight, I was wrong and uncharitable in categorizing it that way, and I apologize to anyone who felt maligned. My goal is always to offer an accurate and fair defense of biblical Christianity, and I overreached in my categorization of this issue. I maintain that the idea of future sin sacrifices contradicts the NT (Heb. 10:18) and impugns the sufficiency of Christ’s “once for all” sacrifice (Rom. 6:10, Heb. 7:27, 9:12, 9:26, 10:10), which covered all sin for all time. However, that idea does not rise to the level of a false gospel. I’ve chosen not to take down this video because I still believe it to be a biblical and necessary part of this conversation, and I stand by everything it teaches and exposes, with the sole exception of the “false gospel” classification. Blessings,Prof. SolbergAndrew's LinksYouTube  Beginning of Wisdom BlogAndrew's Caleb Hegg Article Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Introduction: Meet Andrew01:33 The Spectrum of Torah-keeping Beliefs05:29 The Range of Views on the Sacrifices09:54 Where is the line for a False Gospel?21:49 Steelman Arguments25:11 The Hebrew Roots Motivation26:59 Biases and Changing Our Minds32:57 The Faux Simplicity of Torahism34:30 The Good & Bad of Hebrew Roots39:15 The Torah Under Christ 52:35 Mischaracterizations53:59 Is There A Path to Unity?
Sin Sacrifices & Hebrew Roots: A Rebuttal
Sep 25 2024
Sin Sacrifices & Hebrew Roots: A Rebuttal
Send us a textIt's become a big question among Torah-keepers: Are animal sacrifices still required to atone for sin? That is the big question that has kicked up a bit of dust with our Hebrew Roots (aka Torahism, Torah-keeping) friends. In this episode, we move this important conversation forward by looking at a rebuttal video put out by a Hebrew Roots teacher named David Wilber. David promotes Torah-observant (or as he calls it, “Pronomian”) Christianity, which is the fringe theology that believes Christians are required to keep all of the old covenant law including the Yom Kippur atonement sacrifices. David, along with a number of other Hebrew Roots folks, took issue with our big question because it goes right to the heart of their theology. This isn’t just a fun exercise or a "gotcha" question. This is an issue that actually cuts to the heart of the gospel. The stakes are incredibly high. Torah-keepers who preach that every old covenant commandment is still in effect today—including the Yom Kippur sacrifices atoning for sin—are robbing the cross of its power and glory. They are  belittling the glorious, once and for all sacrifice of Jesus and preaching a false gospel. And that is why I continue to press this carefully worded question. I believe it lays bare the critical heresy in the theology of many Torah-keeping Christians. Links Mentioned in EpisodeSin Sacrifices: A Question That “Topples” Torah Observance? (David Wilber's Video)Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Intro03:32 David Invokes John MacArthur06:22 Does it really topple Torahism?09:22 Supersessionism13:27 David Wilber's Case28:55 Ezekiel and the Temple36:28 A Different Type of Atonement44:20 Sin, Sacrifices, and Atonement
A Chat with Dr. David Harris - A Jewish Believer in Jesus
Sep 18 2024
A Chat with Dr. David Harris - A Jewish Believer in Jesus
Send us a textMeet Dr. David Harris, an independent Hebrew scholar raised in a Jewish household who became a theologian, author, and Jewish follower of Yeshua (Jesus). He’s also a former pastor at a Messianic Jewish Synagogue in New Mexico and has had personal experience with Torahism (Hebrew Roots, Torah-keepers) and the unique issues they bring to the table. Links Mentioned in EpisodeDr. Harris' Personal BlogThe Sneetches by Dr. Seuss (Read Aloud)Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Intro02:18 Meet Dr. David Harris4:13 Was it difficult to accept Jesus as a Jewish man?05:44 What should we call Jews who believe in Jesus?08:22 How did you Jewish background inform your faith in Jesus?11:36 What was your role at the Messianic Synagogue?12:40 How were you first exposed to Torahism (Hebrew Roots)?13:19 Difference between Messianic Judaism (MJ) and Hebrew Roots17:38 Is the theology of MJ the same as Protestant Christianity?19:09 Are MJs basically Jews who believe in Jesus?20:22 Define Torah (Hebrew Roots)21:47 How were you alerted to their false teachings in your synagogue?24:38 The spectrum of Torahism26:58 How did you handle the conflict?30:43 What's drives Hebrew Roots mentality?33:24 How are people affected by Torahism?37:44 How do you recommend responding to HRM? 42:19 What do you think of Gentiles keeping Jewish customs?45:40 Hebrew Roots and Eschatology48:23 Torahism Foments Division51:51 The Proper Application of Torah Today   56:42 How Do You View The Covenants?
Acts 15 & the Law: An Apologetic Bible Study
Sep 11 2024
Acts 15 & the Law: An Apologetic Bible Study
Send us a textActs 15:1–29 records the Jerusalem Council (50 AD) which is where Paul, Peter, Barnabas, James, and other elders gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the pressing question: Are Gentile believers required to be circumcised and keep the old covenant law? In this episode we walk through this passage verse by verse and discover a whole lot about the relationship between Christians and the old covenant law. Acts 15:1–29 has become a source of great contention among Torah-keepers (Hebrew Roots, Torah-observant Christians, Torahism). They often scramble to re-interpret this passage in a way that allows them to maintain their theology which says that Christians are required to keep the old covenant law with its dietary restrictions, feasts, seventh day Sabbath, circumcision, and so on. As part of our study, we look at an interpretation offered by the influential Hebrew Roots organization 119 Ministries and test their teaching against the text of the Bible to see how it stacks up. Links mentioned in this episodeActs 15 - Obedience or Legalism (119 Ministries)Our Galatians Bible StudyClean & Unclean Foods - Examining Monte Judah's teaching on the kosher food laws: Part 1: Sabbath in the Old Testament Part 2: Sabbath in the New Testament Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Introduction01:55 Preamble to the Debate11:06 Testing 119 Ministries25:31 The Debate Floor 36:33 The Four Prohibitions46:02 The Council's Letter51:16 Two Final Issues 52:24 Are the four restrictions still required today?54:01 Are Jewish believers under the law?
Under the Law of God? Or the Law of Moses?
Aug 21 2024
Under the Law of God? Or the Law of Moses?
Send us a textThere's a passage in 1 Corinthians that offers profound insight into the relationship between Christians and the law. In fact, it addresses three big questions many Christians struggle with today. First, what is our relationship to the OT law? Are Christians required to keep the law of Moses? What about the Ten Commandments? What does the Bible say? (And of course, that’s a topic of great interest for many of our viewers who either subscribe to the theology of Torahism, or Hebrew Roots, and are dealing with that theology in their families, communities or churches.) The second question is this: If Christians are not under the old covenant law, does it mean we’re under no law at all? Are we free to do whatever we want? (Believe it or not, some “Torah-keeping” Christians will actually challenge us by asking, “Of we’re not under the law, is it now okay to murder, steal, commit adultery?”) And we get into that. And the third question is this: Is there a difference between the law of Moses and the law of God? If so, what’s that difference? And all three of these questions are directly addressed in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. To make sure we're interpreting this passage in context, we first spend a few minutes establishing the historical and literary setting of 1 Corinthians as a text, and then we briefly outline the topics and concerns that the apostle Paul lays out which ultimately lead us into our passage in Chapter 9. Then we carefully unpack these five amazing verses and see what they have to tell us about the distinctions in biblical law and those three big questions. And let me tell you, it’s pretty profound.Soli Deo Gloria!Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Introduction02:40 Cultural and Historical Background04:11 Literary Structure of 1 Corinthians05:12 Picking Up The Theme06:31 Permitted But Not Required08:09 Chapter 909:34 1 Corinthians 9:19-2311:52 Verse 1913:33 Verse 20: As a Jew 17:09 Verse 20: As One Under the Law24:18 Verse 21: As One Outside the Law28:20 Sidebar: The Laws of Moses, God, and Christ40:45 Verse 22: As the Weak42:59 Verses 22–2344:36 Wrap it up, Professor.
Does the Law Pre-date Sinai? Testing 12 Claims
Aug 7 2024
Does the Law Pre-date Sinai? Testing 12 Claims
Send us a textIn this episode we look at another "shotgun argument" from a Torah-keeper. This time it’s a cut-and-paste list of 12 OT verses intended to show that the old covenant law pre-dates Sinai. The thesis we put to the test is this: “The giving of the law at Sinai is the complete revelation of the old covenant law which was introduced at various levels of detail in Genesis 1 forward.” Why does it matter? Those who hold to the theology of Torahism, and consider themselves a Torah-keeping follower of Jesus (aka Torah-observant, Hebrew Roots, Pronomian) are interested in finding a way to show that the old covenant law applies to everyone, not just Israel. And some believe the best way to do that is to try to show that the law has always applied to everyone, not just Israel. Mainstream Christianity, on the other hand (and for that matter, mainstream Judaism as well) teaches that those old covenant commands were never given to anyone other than the nation of Israel. Gentiles were never expected to keep those laws. And further, followers of Jesus today, whether they’re Jewish or Gentiles, aren’t bound by them either. For Christians keeping those things is permitted, but it’s not required. Soli Deo Gloria!Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAddressing 17 Hebrew Roots QuestionsA Case for Sabbath-keeping Part 1 (OT)A Case for Sabbath-keeping Part 2 (NT)Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Introduction03:21 Establishing Context18:01 Examining the Claims18:27 The Feasts introduced in Gen. 120:29 Sabbath introduced in Gen. 222:07 Animal sacrifices in Gen. 4.25:27 Clean/unclean animals known by Noah29:30 Abraham tithed to Melchizedek31:17 Abraham kept God's laws 33:46 Levirate Marriage in Gen. 3835:12 Moses judged by God's laws before Sinai37:47 Garden blessings and curses 39:11 Don't intermarry with animals/nations 40:41 Don't touch what you don't eat 42:46 Wrap it up, Solberg.
Addressing 17 Hebrew Roots Questions
Jul 24 2024
Addressing 17 Hebrew Roots Questions
Send us a textA few years back, a Hebrew Roots documentary was released called "The Way," in which they interview all sorts of Torah-keepers and really make a case for why people should be keeping the Torah feasts, avoiding Christmas and Easter, eating biblically clean (kosher), keeping the seventh day Shabbat, and so on. (And for the record, I see no problem with anyone choosing to do any of those things. If that’s the way you feel led to live out your faith, go for it!) But most Torah keepers don’t view it as an optional way of life. No, they preach it as the only correct way to follow Jesus. And once they cross the line from optional to required, they’ve entered the unbiblical and dangerous waters of Torahism, which champions a false gospel that requires more than faith in Jesus to be righteous. In that the trailer for that documentary. they pose 17 common Hebrew Roots questions designed to challenge mainstream Christianity. And in this video we answer them all. We also respond to 10 "contradictions" leveled at the Church.Soli Deo Gloria!Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Links Mentioned in this EpisodeGrafted Into What? Jews, Gentiles & Israel5 Reasons we can't follow the Gospel and the Law at the same timeTorah Shadows of Christ (Col. 2:16-17)One Law for the Native and the StrangerA Case for Sabbath-keeping: Part 1 (OT) | Part 2 (NT)Clean & Unclean Foods - Examining Monte Judah's teaching on the kosher food laws: Part 1 | Part 2Chapters00:00 Introduction03:08 Fielding the questions05:13 #1 If Yeshua kept the law why don't we?06:03 #2 Why did the apostles keep the feasts?06:39 #3 Why does the Church claim Israel's blessings?07:39 #4 How can something everlasting come to an end?08:34 #5 How could the definition of sin change?10:38 #6 Why did Paul celebrate Passover?10:57 #7 How is Jesus sinless if He broke the Sabbath?11:08 #8 Why did Peter still not eat unclean food?14:10 #9 Why did Paul say he keeps the law? 15:00 #10 Why do we act like some Torah laws are silly?16:54 #11 How can the Church change the Sabbath?17:47 #12 Isn't disobeying the law offensive to Jesus?18:44 #13 Why did Paul say the law is spiritual? 19:13 #14 Can Christians celebrate Wiccan holidays?20:28 #15 Why do you say the law is too difficult?23:54 #16 Why don't we keep Passover?25:41 #17 Why don't we keep Saturday Sabbath?26:04 Addressing Ten "Contradictions"