35 - Renewing - Chris Barras

35 - Renewing - Chris Barras

Author: Exploring Bible Words in Greek and Hebrew September 23, 2025 Duration: 38:44

We all want to be new. We all want the world to be new. But we take many radically different paths toward that renewal.

Yet, Paul says Jesus is the only path for real personal renewal. But when Paul speaks of renewal, he’s not saying to revert back to what your mind was like as a kid when it was young and new. He’s saying you’re gonna get a whole new different kind of thinking, a peace that’s new, a worldview that is new. A relationship with God that is new. An imagination that is new, and different.

Another word for this is transformation, which Paul employs just before renewal (anakainōsei). Often transformation comes only through “chaos, chrysalises and caves” so to speak.

But transformation is the main theme of Chris Barras’ ministry. He’s taught dozens of classes precisely on this theme. I attended one as he’s my pastor here in Richmond.

To dig deeper, I interview writer pastor Chris Barras who has made transformation the focus of his ministry work. He’s taught dozens of classes precisely on this theme. I have attended several as he’s my pastor here in Richmond.

Chris Barras - www.secondstorypartnership.com

Area 10 Faith Community - www.area10church.com

This episode digs deeper into “anakainōsei” (ἀνακαινώσει meaning ‘renewing’) in Romans 12:2.

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

The Byrd Theatre - Richmond, VA - byrdtheatre.org

Kevin Queen - “Cave for a King” - youtube.com/watch?v=R78ePdqwSSs

Ben Palpant - www.benpalpant.com

Dallas Willard - “The Divine Conspiracy” - dwillard.org/resources/books/divine-conspiracy

GK Chesterton - “Ball and Cross” - www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ball_and_the_Cross

GK Chesterton - “Orthodoxy” - www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy_(book)

CS Lewis - “Learning in Wartime”

My Links:

Bammerhab Site: www.bammerhab.com

Bammerhab Substack: bammerhab.substack.com

SDG Morgan’s Substack: sdgmorgan.substack.com

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

• Dave Allam of Allam House for advanced audio techniques: sound.allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew hypertext links



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bammerhab.substack.com

The journey through ancient texts often hinges on a single, potent term, a concept that loses dimension in translation. Bammerhab-Words from the Word is a quiet, focused excavation of those foundational terms. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific Greek or Hebrew word from scripture, peeling back layers of historical context, cultural nuance, and original meaning. This isn't about rushed readings or surface-level commentary; it's a deliberate unpacking, led by a writer with a scholar's curiosity and a storyteller's touch. You'll hear how a word's usage in everyday ancient life informs its theological weight, discovering connections and insights that typically remain hidden in plain sight. The aim is to enrich personal study and reflection by returning to the source material, offering listeners a more textured, grounded understanding of familiar passages. This podcast lives in the details, believing that a closer look at the building blocks of language can lead to a fuller appreciation of the text itself. For anyone interested in the intersection of faith, language, and history, these explorations provide substantive, contemplative material. Find more from this exploration of Bible words in Greek and Hebrew on the associated Substack page.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Bammerhab: Bible Explainer
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