Apologetics Profile

This week is part two of our conversation with Old Testament scholar and theologian Dr. John Oswalt to discuss his 2009 book The Bible Among the Myths - Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? John continues to outline his case that the Bible is utterly unique in ancient literature, despite any alleged similarities in its pages with its surrounding pagan cultures often unnecessarily overemphasized by skeptics and critics of the Bible. 

Dr. John Oswalt Asbury served on the faculty of Asbury Theological seminary from 1970 to 1982 as professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, and again from 1989 to 1999 as Professor of Old Testament. He rejoined Asbury in 2009 as visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament studies. He has also served as research professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Miss., from 1999 to 2009, was president of Asbury College from 1983 to 1986, a member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., from 1986 to 1989, and  Interim President of Wesley Biblical Seminary, Ridgeland, MS from April 2019 through March 2020.

He is the author of 16 books, most notable of which is the two-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah in the New International Commentary of the Old Testament. His most recent book is The Holy One of Israel: Studies in the Book of Isaiah, released in 2014. He has also written numerous articles that have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals and popular religious periodicals. Dr. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He has served as a part-time pastor in congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches. Oswalt received a B.A. from Taylor University; a B.D. and Th.M. from Asbury Seminary; and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University.

The Bible Among the Myths 
Isaiah Commentary

Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship:

 Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman 

Atheism: www.watchman.org/Atheism

Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction 

 Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Divine Hiddenness by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Hiddenness 

Other Resources from Watchman Fellowship

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

A frequent argument leveled against the Bible by skeptics and non-believers is that the Bible is just a collection of borrowed myths from surrounding pagan nations. But is that actually true? Are stories in the Bible just borrowed mythology from other pagan cultures?

The short answer is "Absolutely not." The longer answer can be found in Old Testament scholar and theologian Dr. John Oswalt, in his 2009 book, The Bible Among the Myths - Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? This week and next on Apologetics Profile, Watchman staff apologist Daniel Ray sits down with John for a lively and highly accessible and pastoral conversation about his book.

From Zondervan Academic:
Dr. John N. Oswalt (PhD, Brandeis University) is Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of numerous articles and several books, including the two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series and Called to be Holy: A Biblical Perspective.

The Bible Among the Myths 
Isaiah Commentary

Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship: 

 Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman 

Atheism: www.watchman.org/Atheism

Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction 

 Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Divine Hiddenness by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Hiddenness 

Other Resources from Watchman Fellowship

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

If physical extraterrestrial beings from another region of our galaxy or universe is scientifically impossible, then what other alternatives are there which might reveal the true identity of aliens and extraterrestrial intelligences? Are they all just science fiction, or might there be a deeper, spiritual reality behind their true identity?

On this episode of the Profile, Watchman Fellowship President James K. Walker sits down with Watchman founder David Henke to discuss some biblical possibilities regarding the nature and identity of alleged extraterrestrials. Why would any alien beings from another part of the universe be so focused on correcting our understanding of Jesus and the Gospel message?

The Bible is clear about the identity of anyone who comes preaching a different Gospel or a different Jesus, even if they appear to us as angels of light. 

Other Watchman Fellowship Resources on the Question of Aliens, UFOs, and UAPs:

Free Four-Page Profile Articles
UFOs and UAPs
Raelians
Heaven's Gate
Disclosure Day
The Urantia Book

Podcast Episodes on UFOs, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials
Aliens, Evolution, and Intelligent Design
What is the Message of Spielberg’s Disclosure Day?
UFOS and Aliens
Ufologist Gary Bates Part One
Ufologist Gary Bates Part Two
Ancient Aliens? No.
Daniel’s interview with Sasha Sagan, the daughter of the late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Do intelligent, extraterrestrial aliens exist? How might evolution explain their existence? Or can it? Here on this week's Apologetics Profile, we discuss intelligent design and the evolutionary assumptions behind the possible existence of ETs with Kristin Marais and Casey Luskin of Discovery Institute.

Casey Luskin is a scientist and an attorney with graduate degrees in science and law, giving him expertise in both the scientific and legal dimensions of the debate over evolution. He holds a PhD in Geology from the University of Johannesburg He earned a law degree from the University of San Diego. His B.S. and M.S. degrees in Earth Sciences are from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Luskin has been a California-licensed attorney since 2005, practicing primarily in the area of evolution-education in public schools and defending academic freedom for scientists who face discrimination because of their support for intelligent design (ID). https://www.discovery.org/p/luskin/

Kristin Marais has roughly 15 years of educational experience spanning the traditional building classroom, online classroom, curriculum development, and tutoring. She graduated from the University of California Riverside with a BS in biochemistry and then completed a MS in Teaching through Western Washington University. Kristin is a Washington state certified teacher with endorsements in chemistry, biology, and general science. https://discoveryinstitute.academy/chemistry/

Featured Audio Clips
Carl Sagan
Richard Dawkins
US News Live
Bob Salas
Stephen C. Meyer

Resources on Aliens, UFOs and UAPs from Watchman Fellowship
UFOs and UAPs
Raelians
Heaven's Gate
Disclosure Day
The Urantia Book

Podcast Episodes on UFOs, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials
UFOS and Aliens
Ufologist Gary Bates Part One
Ufologist Gary Bates Part Two
Ancient Aliens? No.
Daniel’s interview with Sasha Sagan, the daughter of the late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What are the messages behind the new Steven Spielberg's new alien film Disclosure Day? Should we pay attention to them? What should we think about them? What exactly are they?

On this episode of the Profile, Watchman Fellowship President James K. Walker sits down with Watchman apologists Brady Blevins and Daniel Ray to analyze and discuss the deeper religious themes in the film and how we might respond to them as believers. Does the film present any new ideas that would be a threat to Christianity? We'll discuss this and several other questions on this episode.

Other Watchman Fellowship Resources on the Question of Aliens, UFOs, and UAPs:

Free Four-Page Profile Articles
UFOs and UAPs
Raelians
Heaven's Gate
Disclosure Day
The Urantia Book

Podcast Episodes on UFOs, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials
UFOS and Aliens
Ufologist Gary Bates Part One
Ufologist Gary Bates Part Two
Ancient Aliens? No.
Daniel’s interview with Sasha Sagan, the daughter of the late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.