Advertising Creative Director Chas Bayfield takes you on a road trip through the Bible, leaving one significant item of baggage at home- religion. He tells the story from Genesis to Revelation and explains how this more than any other book has impacted western culture. Wholly Buyable is a podcast for people who might never normally pick up a Bible but who feel they should perhaps know a little more about it than they currently do. After all, the Bible is a book for everyone, not just believe ...
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Chas Bayfield Podcasts
In the latest season of the podcast, I am chatting with people who have either directly or indirectly influenced my life and career. I am fascinated by people who are involved in the creative process and want to enact change big and small. If you want to listen to older podcasts about cycling esports or bikepacking adventures, then scroll back to one of the earlier shows.
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"Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." It's no wonder that these words written some 800 years before the birth of Jesus make the prophet Isaiah such a favourite with Christians, especially at Christmas. However, before Jesus arrives to save the day, things are going to get worse for Israel. Much, much worse. Writte…
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162: The Ruined and the Rich (Isaiah 5-8)
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It's easy to see the Bible as fable, a kind of religious fairy tale with a moralistic sting in its tail. Passages like this one show that much of the book is rooted in actual historical events. These chapters are a snapshot of the late eighth century BC Middle East. The prophet Isaiah is begging the king of one of these nations (Ahaz of Judah) not …
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The poetry books are over and now it's time for the prophets to step up. These are the maverick outsiders, the truth tellers who appear able to channel the word of God and to warn their nations of the danger of turning their backs on him. Of all the men who rage through the pages of these books, Isaiah is perhaps the most quintessential, and certai…
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How this book made it into the Bible is a mystery. Why it rarely gets a outing in church services us not surprising.; The Song of Songs is steamy stuff, so much so we've had to put an 'explicit content' warning on this episode. Some see the book as a metaphor for God's love for his church, others see a gentleman delighting in the aromatic fruits of…
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In a book that rarely veers away from blank negativity and abject realism, the Teacher in Ecclesiastes gives readers yet another reality check: The fast don’t always win the race nor are the strong guaranteed to prevail in battle. The wise don’t always have enough to eat, the brilliant aren’t always rich and everyone is subject to the vagaries of t…
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158: The Man with 100 Children (Ecclesiastes 4-8)
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Suffering is part of the human condition. But is it part of God's plan for his people? Why, if he is all powerful, doesn't he stop it? Yes listeners, we go there. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover Art by Lisa GoffBy Chas Bayfield
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Special: The Bible of the Handmaid's Tale
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Gilead. Marthas. Handmaids. Eyes. They sound biblical but if they are, where and what do these references mean? Are actual slave women co-opted as surrogate baby providers in the Bible? Do they truly lie in their mistresses' laps to conceive and give birth? What do the Handmaids mean by "Blessed be the fruit"? And who was the original Jezebel? Fans…
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Meaningless! Meaningless! There aren't many books in the Bible or otherwise that begin as bleakly as this one. And, plot spoiler, the vibe doesn't lift much as Ecclesiastes progresses. There is no point to life it seems than for a person to eat, drink and take what pleasure they can from work, as a human lifespan is as brief as it is pointless. Fur…
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156: The Leech's Daughter (Proverbs 29-31)
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Unexpectedly, given that the only women described in the Book of Proverbs so far have been an adulteress and a quarrelsome wife, the book's finale is a eulogy to a character referred to as "the Wife of Noble Character". This woman is a striking example of smartness, industry, economy, care and moral support, and also provides a fascinating insight …
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Death and Destruction are never satisfied, a fool can be crushed into powder yet still not lose his foolishness, and good friends sharpen each other with honest feedback. The Bible's proverbs are universal and speak to people outside of any religion as well as those who revere the Bible as their holy book. They can be read as advice from a father t…
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154: A Little Sleep, a Little Slumber (Proverbs 24-26)
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The wisdom of other ancients continues in the second part of the Thirty Sayings of the Wise. A later king of Israel, Hezekiah then adds some more of Solomon's proverbs. Fools, sluggards, neighbours, messengers and wives all come under the spotlight in sayings rich with everyday references: sparrows, honey, donkeys, a thornbush, lions and a golden a…
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153: The Guilty and the Greedy. (Proverbs 21-23)
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Loose tongues cost lives, a bribe pacifies the angry and those with a fondness of wine will never be rich. Many of Solomon's wise sayings are as true today as when they were written three millennia ago. In this episode, the rhythm changes a little as the book segues from Solomon's own wisdom to what he refers to as 'The Thirty Sayings of the Wise',…
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The wealthy person who loses friends when they lose their money. The gossip who betrays a friend's confidence. And the person who is too lazy to lift their spoon to their mouth. The torrent of timeless, poetic and sometimes comical proverbs continues. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover art by Lis…
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151: The Wicked and the Wise (Proverbs 16-18)
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Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Pride comes before a fall. Grey hair is a crown of splendour. Even the fool who keeps silent is seen as wise. The proverbs that populate his book are as honest as they are poetic; much needed truths in a world that is craving authenticity and wisdom. Enjoy the podcast and s…
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Sometimes terse, sometimes poetic, sometimes enigmatic, these often two-line sayings balance the good against the bad, the preferable against the undesirable. Some of these proverbs offer wisdom, others state the blindingly obvious. Either way, readers are left with accurate insights into a world of relationships, work, commerce and politics that a…
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A beautiful woman who shows no discretion is like a pig with a ring in its nose. Morally upstanding people care for their animals. And those who spare the rod ruin their children. The Book of Proverbs is not afraid to pull punches and the aphorisms that flow from Solomon's pen are nothing if not colourful. Enjoy the wisdom! Written and produced by …
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The title of T E Lawrence (of Arabia)'s autobiography, 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' is taken from a verse in the Book of Proverbs. In this episode, we also meet 'Love covers a multitude of sins' and the finger wagging evangelicals' favourite, 'the wages of sin is death'. The Book of Proverbs is not only a treasure trove of wisdom, its beautiful poetic…
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"Come, let us drink deeply of love till morning. Let us enjoy ourselves with love!" Such is the siren call of the adulterous older woman, intent on seducing a foolish yet lustful young man while her husband is away on business. This is a one way street from which there is no return, Solomon advises his son, It is fair to say this is one of the more…
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A new season begins. This is the Book of Proverbs, a monster collection of aphorisms and other gems of knowledge culled by Israel's King Solomon and other wise ancients. Much of the book is aimed at the king's children, but the wisdom is universal. The opening section is a shot across the bows, a signal of what is to come before the floodgates open…
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Finally! We reach the end of the Book of Psalms. The book ends on a high as writers sing unrestrained songs of praise to God. As the Psalms reach their upbeat finale, expect Milton, Mendelssohn and missing verses. And joy, lots of it. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover art by Lisa Goff…
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144. Clear and Present Danger (Psalms 139-144)
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The idea that God knows each person on earth intimately has proven one of the more attractive facets of Christianity, and the concept makes its first biblical landfall in the Book of Psalms. The final short songs of the Psalms are some of the most joyful and poetic as the book crescendoes towards its finale. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Mu…
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Originally sung by reggae band The Melodians, and made internationally famous by Boney M, the lyrics about exiles weeping by Babylon's rivers were written thousands of years earlier by a scribe who remembered the desolation felt by his captive people. Modern day fame has catapulted this psalm into the public consciousness but it conceals horrors th…
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Short but very sweet. The songs sung by ancient pilgrims as they travelled from the far corners of the Jewish world to the Jerusalem temple are immortalised in this section of the Book of Psalms. These are the 'Songs of Ascent' - despite the hill on which the city was built not being the highest in Israel, the journey to Jerusalem was always 'up'. …
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Psalm 119 concludes. The entire poem is a eulogy to God's laws and the psalmist admires, studies, remembers, contemplates, learns and hopes to understand these rules. There is a repetitive, meditative quality to the poem which is followed by a series of songs sung as pilgrims travelled to Zion, the City of God, Jerusalem. These are the Songs of Asc…
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A shout of joy that becomes a political hot potato in New Testament times, and the longest chapter in the Bible. If it’s God‘s laws, rules, ways, decrees, precepts, statutes and commands you’re interested, in this is your happy place. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield. Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music. Cover art by Lisa Goff…
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139: The Sea that Fled in Fear (Psalms 112-117)
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We're all familiar with the phrase "Hallelujah". A heartfelt shout of joy uttered by religious and non religious alike. It first makes landfall in a series of Psalms known, unsurprisingly, as the Halel. We run into these songs here and find that they contain the shortest chapter in the entire Bible, a song that punches above its weight. Expect euph…
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Book Five, the final part of the Book of Psalms begins. This is where we meet the most quoted Psalm in the Bible, and one of its most beloved. Psalm 110 sees Israel's great king David referring enigmatically to an even greater king, one who he describes as his Lord, a ruler whose kingdom will reign forever. Christians believe they know who this kin…
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137: The Kings who Killed their Children. (Psalms 104-106)
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Much as the Psalms were songs of praise to God, some were written as a kind of oral history; a retelling of Israel's story set to music. The music and the repeated telling of these stories embedded in Israel's people a sense of where they had come from and how God had rescued them, set them apart and chosen them to be his special people. This podca…
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The Bible (and the Wholly Buyable podcast) reaches its halfway point with songs of such ebullience they have inspired some of the world's greatest musicians. Enjoy the joy. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover Art by Lisa GoffBy Chas Bayfield
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The Book of Psalms is so long that it is split into five separate books. This is where Book Four begins. Some believe that these are some of the oldest psalms and that they were written by the Old Testament ancient, Moses. If that is the case, this would make them some of the oldest writing in the Bible. The transience of life, God's shield of invi…
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The Psalms is not a book you can rush. These poems pack an even greater punch when you stop to inspect them more closely. If you're not religious and just want a better handle on what is in between the leatherette cover of a Bible, you've found your happy place. We're currently sailing through the Book of Psalms, the ancient Jewish songs that not o…
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We're halfway through the Book of Psalms and we're hitting peak poetry. To the psalmist, one day in God's courts is worth a thousand elsewhere. He would sooner work as a humble temple guard than live in luxury with his enemy. Adoration of God is the order of the day, interspersed with the occasional request to God to pour out his fury on any nation…
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Who knew? The title of John Steinbeck's classic has its origins in the Book of Psalms. Join us as the Jews' epic song book passes its midway point. This episode sees the song of a man who seems so broken he cannot speak, and we hear of women who have no more tears left to weep. There is also a history lesson courtesy of the second longest song in t…
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Book Two of the Book of Psalms ends and Book Three begins. David is all but silent and it's the turn of the temple musicians known as the Sons of Korah and another writer called Asaph to have their voices heard. David's son, Solomon, also finds his voice. However, the quintessential themes remain: God is a refuge and a rock and he is called upon to…
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A man looking so hard for God that his eyes fail. Enemies forcing people to pay back what they didn’t steal A man out of his depth as waters continue rising. A king so mocked and shamed that drunks sing about him. These are some of the darker passages in the Bible, but hope remains for the psalmists that God will prevail, and that they will see tri…
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129: What Hath God Wrought? (Psalms 61-67)
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A psalm quoted at the coronation of King Charles III and the first words tapped out by Samuel Morse. The Psalms are a treasure of literary gems while remaining a source of inspiration and encouragement to millions. Expect gratitude and joy as these ancient songwriters continue to use words to give shape to thankfulness.…
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From Bethlehem Shepherd, to all conquering general, to king of Israel. Few people have had a story arc quite as extraordinary as David's. But his journey was not without extreme adversity, and fortunately for readers of the Book of Psalms, he captured his struggle with both enemies and the God who he hoped would protect him in poetry that has endur…
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In this sequence of Psalms, Israel's king, David suffers a long dark night of the soul after sending a man to his death, he berates an evil shepherd who massacred a community of Israel's priests and is betrayed by a close friend. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover art by Lisa Goff…
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The temple musicians known as the Sons of Korah are in full song. A psalm about a glorious king and his bride, three songs eulogising God's earthly capital, Zion, and a song that promises death to those who trust in their own wisdom. \Join us as we jump back into the Jews' ancient song book Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Aul…
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125: The Diseased and the Desolate (Psalms 39-44)
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The Book of Psalms is so long that it is divided up into five smaller books. This is where Book One ends and Book Two begins. However, the familiar themes of God as a rock and refuge continue, and the spirit of David looms large as both author and inspirer of many of the songs. However, the tone is notably darker and gloomier in Book Two, as praise…
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A betrayal: ruthless witnesses coming forward; accusations, people repaying good deeds with evil ones. Prayers unanswered, enemies laughing, and slander that appeared never to end. At what point will God intervene? David asks. These are some of the darkest verses in the Book of Psalms, and some of the most beautiful. Written and produced by Chas Ba…
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Hate one another is not a verse you'll find in the Bible but this particular four letter word raises its head in the Book of Psalms. Join us as we navigate our slow moving tourbus through the Bible's longest book and into what seem like stormy waters. Written and produced by Chas Bayfield Music by Michael Auld and Jon Hawkins Music Cover art by Lis…
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122: The Bloodthirsty and the Blameless (Psalms 25-30)
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The Jews' songbook continues. Join us as we travel through this richly poetic literature, much of it believed to be written by Israel's king David - or his more than able ghostwriter. What we lose in story or plot twists, we gain in deeply felt emotion as a man bares his heart before God. These are songs that sing to their own tune. Written and pro…
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By far the most famous Psalm and one of the standout passages in the Bible, the shepherd who leads his sheep into green pastures has inspired writers, artists and musicians throughout the ages. It is just one of the beautiful poems you'll encounter in this podcast. Travel with us as we continue our journey through the Jews' epic songbook. Written a…
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Join me on my audacious attempt to narrate the entirety of the Bible, roughly 20 minutes at a time. I do my best to keep it secular; this podcast is aimed at people who might never open a Bible, but who feel that it is too important book not to have a working knowledge of. We're making headway into the Bible's longest book, the Book of Psalms, whic…
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119: The Violent and the Ravenous. (Psalms 12-17)
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The fearless bravado of the young Bethlehem shepherd has long gone. Now he is Israel's king, David has to face threats far more personally draining that that of either the giant Philistine, Goliath or the lions who preyed on his father's sheep. In these songs, David seems worn down by the stress of being Israel's king, and feels threatened from eve…
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Adoration, schadenfreude, vindication and hate take centre stage in these songs purported to have been written by shepherd turned giant killer turned king of Israel, David. The king remained close to God for his entire life, and his devout petitions have helped shape how countess Christians and Jews still view God today.…
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Cancelled. It's easy to think of this as a 21st century phenomenon, but three millennia ago, David is deeply concerned about reputational damage. These songs speak of the king's desire for peace, his distress and his need for healing, but most of all they demonstrate his deep need for - and love of God. What's more, these psalms demonstrate remarka…
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The poetry continues as we embark on a journey through the Bible's songbook. The Book of Psalms is an epic collection of ancient, beautiful poems in which the writers cry out to God for help, profess their love for God, marvel at his creative power and generally eulogise about him, his temple, his kings and his sheer awe-inspiring majesty. Its 150 …
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Once Job's friend Elihu has wrapped up, it's time for one of the only two people who actually know the truth behind Job's suffering to step up. Having begged for an audience with God and having been ridiculed for seeing himself as worthy of a tribunal with God, God himself joins in the conversation. Prepare to meet two of the Bible's most fearsome …
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