In this powerful episode, Pastor Johnny Ova sits down with Prof. Steven Mann, chair of the seminary at Azusa Pacific University and a leading expert in speech act theory, Old Testament theology, and biblical narrative. Together, they explore how God’s words throughout Scripture are not just spoken statements but active forces that create, command, bless, warn, and transform.

Prof. Mann explains how the lens of speech act theory helps us understand the Bible on a deeper level. From Genesis 1 to Jonah, from covenant to correction, from prophecy to poetry, this conversation unpacks how divine speech functions across the Old Testament. You will never read “And God said…” the same way again.

We also explore how this theme connects to the New Testament and the identity of Jesus as the Word made flesh, offering a full-picture view of how God's speech is both consistent and redemptive across the entire biblical arc.

📚 Resources by Prof. Steven Mann

• Words Creating Worlds: Old Testament Narratives and Speech Act Theory (Lexington Books, 2025)
• Run, David, Run! (Eisenbrauns, 2013)
• “Let There Be Cain: A Clash of Imaginations in Genesis 4” – JSOT 46.1 (2021): 79–95
• “Ask and You Shall Intercede” – Bulletin for Biblical Research 29.2 (2019): 208–224
• “Performative Prayers of a Prophet” – Catholic Biblical Quarterly 79 (2017): 20–40
• “You're Fired: An Application of Speech Act Theory to 2 Samuel 15.23–16.14” – JSOT 33.3 (2009): 315–334Steve_Mann_Publications…

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In this powerful episode of The Dig In Podcast, Pastor Johnny Ova sits down with Prof. Juliana Claassens, Old Testament scholar and author of Mourner, Mother, Midwife, to explore the rich and often overlooked feminine metaphors for God found in the Hebrew Bible.

Together, they discuss:

• God as mourner, mother, and midwife
• How Scripture speaks to trauma, injustice, and healing
• The impact of patriarchal theology and how to expand our image of God
• Why reframing divine metaphors matters for faith, justice, and human dignity
• What female resistance in the Old Testament reveals about liberation and divine presence

This episode is a deeply moving conversation about lament, hope, and the liberating face of God that has the power to comfort, challenge, and transform.

📘 Learn more about Prof. Claassens and her work:

• Mourner, Mother, Midwife
• Claiming Her Dignity (Liturgical Press)
• Commentary on Jonah (Old Testament Library Series, 2024)

🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations around the Bible, history, and theology. https://linktr.ee/johnnyova

#JulianaClaassens #FeminineDivine #Theology #HebrewBible #MournerMotherMidwife #DigInPodcast #GodAsMother #TraumaHealing #BiblicalJustice #ChristianFeminism #OldTestament #PropheticLament #WomenInTheBible

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What does it really mean to fear God?

In this powerful episode, Johnny Ova sits down with Old Testament scholar Prof. Bradley Cameron to unpack one of the most misunderstood biblical themes, the fear of God. Far from being a message of fear-based control, the Bible presents fear as something emotionally rich, theologically grounded, and deeply transformational.

Together they explore:

• Why the fear of God is more than just respect
• How the Hebrew Bible defines fear across Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Leviticus
• What the tabernacle teaches us about awe, ritual, and reverence
• Why the fear of God can draw us closer, not push us away
• How modern Christians can cultivate a healthy fear that leads to wisdom, joy, and relationship, not shame

Whether you've struggled with fear-based teaching or you're hungry for a deeper understanding of God’s character, this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and context to a vital biblical idea.

📨 Connect with Professor Bradley Cameron:
📧 bradley.cameron@wheaton.edu

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