In episode 131 of the Enter the Bible podcast, co-hosts Kathryn Schifferdecker and Katie Langston discuss the audience-submitted question, “Can you interpret “flesh and spirit” (Apostle Paul) from a pro-body perspective?” with guest Dr. Matt Skinner.
Matthew L. Skinner is Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. His books include Acts: Catching up with the Spirit (Abingdon Press, 2020), A Companion to the New Testament (3 volumes; Baylor University Press, 2017-18), Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts (Brazos Press, 2015) and The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament (WJK Press, 2010).
Motivated by an interest in helping people explore the Bible’s connections to faith and life, he has contributed to several commentaries, encyclopedias, and other resources to assist pastors, teachers, and students in their study of Christian scripture. Every week, he co-hosts the Sermon Brainwave podcast on Working Preacher.
Ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he serves as the Scholar for Adult Education at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. His work can be found online at www.matthewskinner.org.
Show notes
Biblical books and passages mentioned
- Galatians 5:16-17 (Works of the Flesh)
- Galatians 5:22-26 (Fruits of the Spirit)
- Romans 6 (Dying and Rising with Christ)
- Romans 12 (Living Sacrifice)
- 1 Corinthians 6 (Glorify God in Body and Spirit)
- 1 Corinthians 12 (Spiritual Gifts)
- 1 Corinthians 15 (Resurrection)
Topics, themes, and figures mentioned
- Ernst Käsemann’s Commentary on Romans (PDF Link)
- Flesh vs. Spirit
- Biology and Anthropology
- Mystical Escape
- σάρξ/sarx/flesh
- Self-indulgence
- Sin as enslavement
- Modern worldview
- Spiritual worship
