Two Texts
A Podcast about the Bible
Every two weeks, from two different countries, the two hosts of the Two Texts podcast pick two biblical texts to talk about. Each episode we pick one text to talk about, which invariably leads to us talking about two texts and often many more.
Dr John Andrews and Dr David Harvey share a mutual fascination with the Bible. Simple yet complex; ancient yet relevant; challenging yet comforting. But one thing that fascinates them consistently is that, like a kaleidoscope, no matter how many times they look at it there is something new, fresh and exciting to talk about.
This podcast is designed for you regardless of how much or how little you've read the Bible. Grab a hot beverage, a notepad (or app), and a Bible, sit back, listen, enjoy, and learn to also become fascinated (or grow your fascination) with this exciting, compelling and mysterious book.
John and David are two friends who love teaching the Bible and have both been privileged enough to be able to spend their careers doing this - in colleges, universities, churches, homes and coffee shops. The two of them have spent extended periods of time as teaching staff and leadership in seminary and church contexts. John has regularly taught at David's church, and there was even a point where John was David's boss!
Nowadays David is a Priest and Pastor in Calgary, Canada, and John teaches and consults for churches in the UK and around the world. They're both married with children (John 3, David 1) and in John's case even grandchildren. In their down time you'll find them cooking, reading, running or watching football (but the one thing they don't agree on is which team to support).
If you want to get in touch with either of them about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?
Episodes
229 episodes
The Spirit Makes The Sermon | Jonah Beyond the Whale 21
In which John and David reflect some more on Jonah’s bewildering sermon, its response, and the mysterious work of the Spirit in both preaching and hearing. We explore humility in proclamation, the difference between talking and true preaching, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 21
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33:40
Frogs, Towers, and a Grumpy Prophet | Jonah Beyond the Whale 20
In which John and David explore the startling response to Jonah’s five-word sermon and consider how belief arises in surprising places. We ponder the mystery at the heart of Jonah 3, the unseen work of God, Tolkien’s tower, frogs in biology cla...
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Season 5
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Episode 20
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36:14
Jonah’s Unclear Sermon | Jonah Beyond the Whale 19
In which John and David explore Jonah’s five-word sermon, noticing how its brevity holds layers of meaning and ambiguity. We reflect on the tension between judgment and invitation, the dual possibilities within the word “overturned,” and...
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Season 5
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Episode 19
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36:47
A Sermon of Five Words | Jonah Beyond the Whale 18
In which John and David reflect on Jonah’s five-word sermon, the prophet’s half-hearted obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. We explore how the narrative exposes Israel’s own reluctance to hear God, and how—even through flawed p...
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Season 5
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Episode 18
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40:28
Nineveh and the God Who Comes Near | Jonah Beyond the Whale 17
In which John and David trace the divine symmetry between the great fish and the great city of Nineveh. Together they uncover how Jonah’s story reveals a God both cosmic and near — one who commands creation yet longs for relationship. They refl...
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Season 5
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Episode 17
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30:31
A Story Truer than it Seems | Jonah Beyond the Whale 16
In which John and David explore Jonah’s second calling and the grace woven into the story’s repetition. They reflect on Buechner’s and Tolkien’s ideas of myth, Hebrew wordplay that shifts God’s tone from 'against' to 'toward', and the layered s...
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Season 5
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Episode 16
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32:11
Prayer from the Depths | Jonah Beyond the Whale 15
In which John and David explore Jonah’s cry from the “belly of Sheol” and ask whether the prophet’s prayer describes death, near-death, or resurrection itself. We trace echoes of Psalms 16 and 139, connect Jonah’s deliverance to Jesus’ “sign of...
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Season 5
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Episode 15
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35:06
Not Faithless, Just Forgetful | Jonah Beyond the Whale 14
In which John and David reflect on Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish, exploring how it echoes the Psalms and reveals a God who always calls us home. We discuss honesty, faithfulness, and what it means to return to God even in darkness—r...
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Season 5
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Episode 14
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39:08
A Psalm from the Belly | Jonah Beyond the Whale 13
In which John and David explore Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the great fish. We explore its Psalm-like poetry, Jonah’s descent into death, and the layers of creation, flood, and exodus woven through his cry. Along the way, we ask what kind ...
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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40:55
Jonah’s Descent and God’s Design | Jonah Beyond the Whale 12
In which John and David explore Jonah’s descent into the deep and God’s appointment of the great fish. We trace the Hebrew term manah—God’s “ordination” of creation—to reveal divine order emerging from chaos. Along the way, we uncover ...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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42:37
What Have You Done? | Jonah Beyond the Whale 11
In which John and David reflect on Jonah 1:7–17, exploring Jonah’s confession of faith and its irony against his rebellion. We trace echoes from Psalm 95, Genesis, and Exodus, uncovering how the sailors sound more righteous than the prophet. Th...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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39:47
Casting Lots and Calming Storms | Jonah Beyond the Whale 10
In which John and David explore Jonah 1:4–16, tracing how fear moves from terror to worship as the sailors cry out, sacrifice, and make vows to the Lord. Along the way, we follow echoes across scripture—from Isaiah and Samuel to Acts and Hebrew...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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33:05
When Sailors Pray and Prophets Sleep | Jonah Beyond the Whale 9
In which John and David begin their close reading of Jonah 1:4–16, exploring the storm at sea, the irony of the prophet asleep while Gentile sailors pray, and the echoes of God’s call in the captain’s words. Along the way, they notice how Jonah...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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35:37
Great God, Great City (& Great Fish) | Jonah Beyond the Whale 8
In which John and David explore Jonah’s selective quotation of Exodus 34 and what it reveals about God’s faithfulness and Jonah’s resistance. We reflect on how God’s steadfast love endures for a thousand generations, the significance of Nineveh...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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31:17
Quoting God to Himself | Jonah Beyond the Whale 7
In which John and David linger over Exodus 34 and Jonah’s audacious quotation of God’s own words back to Him. We explore how God’s self-description—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and faithfulness—shapes bot...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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34:57
The Disappointed Prophet | Jonah Beyond the Whale 6
In which John and David turn to Jonah chapter 4 and uncover the prophet’s real reason for running. We explore Jonah’s audacious confrontation with God, his quoting of Exodus 34 back to the Lord, and the clash between Jonah’s word and God’s word...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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32:24
Everything Obeys, Except Jonah | Jonah Beyond the Whale 5
In which John and David trace Jonah’s desperate flight to Tarshish and the irony that everything in creation obeys God—except the prophet. We explore themes of Eden and Babylon, the reach of God’s presence in Psalm 139, and how Jonah’s story is...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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33:56
Get up and...Flee? | Jonah Beyond the Whale 4
In which John and David reflect on the contrast between Jonah and the other prophets of scripture. We explore the literary and theological weight of Jonah 1:2–3, where the familiar prophetic pattern is disrupted by Jonah’s defiance. From “risin...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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30:32
At Odds with a Consistent God | Jonah Beyond the Whale 3
In which John and David reflect on Jonah's political backstory, the uncomfortable tensions between prosperity and justice, and the God who refuses to give up. We explore Jonah's earlier prophetic role in 2 Kings, the contradictions between Jona...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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36:59
Jesus and Jonah | Jonah Beyond the Whale 2
In which John and David explore Jesus’ own references to Jonah in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. We reflect on Jonah’s ironic preaching, his begrudging obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. Jesus knew Jonah’s story intimately—and expect...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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39:21
Introducing Jonah | Jonah Beyond the Whale 1
In which John and David begin season 5 about Jonah by looking past the great fish and into the depths of this brief but bold prophetic book. We explore how Jonah invites readers to ask better questions, pay attention to the text, and discover h...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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44:25
Final Thoughts on Acts (for now) | Disruptive Presence 146
In which John and David wrap up the 144 episodes of the Acts series. Thanks for listening with us. We're excited about our next series which is coming soon.Episode 203 of the Two Texts Podcast | Disruptive Presence 146I...
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Season 4
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Episode 146
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32:49
Looking Back on Three Years of Acts | Disruptive Presence 145
In which John and David reflect upon the three year journey through the book of Acts (as we prepare behind the scenes for the next series.Episode 202 of the Two Texts Podcast | Disruptive Presence 145If you want to get ...
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Season 4
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Episode 145
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32:17
Acts Ends. The Story Doesn’t. (& Neither Does Two Texts) | Disruptive Presence 144
In which John and David, after 144 episodes, reach the final words of Acts and reflect on boldness, hospitality, and the Spirit’s unhindered work in ordinary life. We talk about the end without an amen, the welcome of Paul’s rented house, and t...
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Season 4
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Episode 144
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32:45
From Isaiah to Rome | Disruptive Presence 142 (Two Texts Episode 200!!!)
In which John and David close in on the final sentences of Acts, tracing Paul’s faithful witness in Rome. We reflect on the recurring themes of hearing and not hearing, of scripture and Spirit, and of the Church’s ongoing vocation to be faithfu...
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Season 4
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Episode 143
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36:45