Essential Bible Studies

Welcome to the start of our eighth season! In this episode, we start off with a little word study into covenants, oaths and promises and how to recognize them when God says, “I will”. From there, we trace the hope of eternal life from Eden’s garden to the flood and God’s everlasting covenant with Noah. Explore the difference between unconditional and conditional covenants and see how God’s ultimate plan is to fill the earth with His glory.

Key Verse:

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” (Titus 1:1-2)

Links to Past Episodes:

 The Memorial Name Yahweh

In the Image and Likeness of God Part1 and Part 2

Outline:

Introduction

The promise of eternal life from the beginning (before the ages began, Titus 1:2). Must come from the Old Testament.

Critical part of the gospel (Acts 26:6-8)

The idea and importance of promises, oaths, testaments and covenants

Covenant

Oath / Swear / “as truly as I live”

Promise / “I will”

Eden

Gen. 1:26-28 God’s original purpose for mankind to have dominion over the earth (cp. Isa. 45:18)

Gen. 3:15 The promise (“I will…”) of a saviour to defeat sin

Noah and the Flood

The corruption of the earth and God’s judgement (Gen. 6:5-8,17-18)

Repeat of creation (Gen. 9:1-3) and echo back to Gen. 1:26-28

The everlasting covenant not to destroy the earth (Gen. 9:9-17). Covenant mentioned seven times.

God’s Eternal Promise

Unconditional (everlasting) vs conditional covenants (the law of Moses Ex. 19:5-6)

God’s ultimate promise to fill the earth with his glory (Num. 14:21)

Conclusion

The importance of understanding the covenants (Eph. 2:12) and what was promised

Episodes to follow on Abraham and David

 

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The Essential Bible Studies podcast season eight premiers on January 19th, 2026!

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George had a good life in Trinidad until one night in a drunken stupor he killed someone. Sentenced to death, he turned to the Bible for answers and God called him from his prison cell. Thirty-two and half years later George joins us to reflect on his life, give thanks and offer advice for young people.

Key Verse:

“Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”” (Luke 18:26-27)

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This is the second part of our study on demons. The Gospel records of Matthew, Mark and Luke are filled with stories of Jesus casting out demons. This is in contrast with the rest of the Bible where it is not mentioned. Richard joins Tim to discuss the history between the Testaments and why this should be. They then turn their attention to the parables of Jesus and show how he made the demon-idol connection in his parables and healings. As an example, we consider the case of the Gadarene demoniac Legion and how he reflected the nation of Israel.

The first part of our demon study is here https://essentialbiblestudies.podbean.com/e/demons-idols-and-superstition/

Key Verse:

“And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” (Mark 5:15)

Outline:

Introduction

Review of last podcast: the idol-demon connection

But why the sudden demonology of the Synoptic Gospels?

A short history of the time between the testaments

Demon miracles as parables

Jesus’ ministry of parables (Matt. 13:34-35; Mark 3:22-23)

The parable of the seven evil spirits (Matt. 12:43-45) is about that “evil generation”

The Gadarene demoniac as a parable of Israel (Mark 5)

Among the tombs eating swine’s flesh (Isa. 65:2-5)

Always in the mountains crying and cutting himself (1 Kings 18:28)

Bound with fetters and chains like Israel’s captivity (e.g. 2 Kings 25:7)

Pigs (unclean animal) drowned in the depths (Micah 7:19) and then sitting in his right mind (the final healing of Israel Zech 13:2)

The language of casting out demons the same used of natural illness (Luke 4:35,38)

Conclusion - God is more powerful than demons

Cover Art:

Old Babylonian plaque showing seven demons and Lamashtu, a feared female demon.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010120468

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We begin a two-part study on demons by making the key discovery of the connection between demons and idols. The Bible frequently states that an idol is  nothing and cannot do either good or bad. Does this mean that demons are nothing, that it is mere superstition, and that God is truly sovereign? Join Richard and Tim as they delve into this essential Bible study.

Key Verse:

“They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.” (Deu 32:16-17)

Outline:

Introduction

Online debate (1997) with Anthony Buzzard / COGAF

Claims of modern-day demon experiences but what does the Bible teach?

Words for demons (Gk. diamonia – Heb. shed meaning destroyer and satyr meaning goat idol)

Demons in the Old Testament

Psalms106:34-38 there is a connection between demons and idols

Idols are nothing (Psa. 135:15-18; 96:4-5; Isa. 65:3 LXX)

Deut. 32:16-17, 39 (Lev. 17:7). God is in charge of everything which they associated with demons (Deut. 28:27-28, 58-61).

Because of this we are not to be afraid, they cannot do evil (Jer. 10:2-6, 14-15)

The Demon Idol Connection in the New Testament

1 Cor. 10:18-22 (cp. 8:4-6) Paul’s association of idols with demons and their being nothing

Acts 17 – Paul’s tour of Athens

V. 18 foreign divinities = daimonion

V. 22 very religious = Deisidaimoni = fear of demons

V. 24-26 God is sovereign

Conclusion on Superstition

Cover Art:

Statue of the demon Pazuzu (about 934-610 B.C.) at the Louvre Museum.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010120489

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