Dr. Helen Bond on Ancient Biographies and the Gospels
Helen Bond
46.33
2 July 2025
27 November 2025
In this episode of The Faith (In)Forming Podcast, we're joined by the brilliant Dr. Helen Bond, New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, and co-host of the Biblical Time Machine podcast. Together, we delve into the fascinating world of ancient biography and examine how this literary form influenced the writing of the Gospel of Mark and other New Testament texts.
We discuss:
π What makes a biography "ancient"?
βοΈ How and why the Gospel writers used biography to tell the story of Jesus
π Similarities and differences between the Gospels and Greco-Roman biographies
π¬ Why early Christian writers turned to storytelling to shape faith
And why understanding ancient biographies can help you more accurately read the Gospels today
Dr. Bond brings decades of scholarship, storytelling, and public engagement to this wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation. Whether you're a Bible nerd, a church leader, or just curious about Christian origins, this is an episode you donβt want to miss.
π Subscribe for more episodes exploring faith, history, and the power of story.
π Learn more about Dr. Bond and the Centre for the Study of Christian Origins at: http://www.christianorigins.div.ed.ac.uk
ποΈ Check out the Biblical Time Machine podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
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