Unashamed with the Robertson Family
Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1423 | ‘The Odyssey’ & the Bible Tell Two Very Different Stories About Coming Home

September 18, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the opening lines of The Odyssey, Homer sings of “the man of twists and turns”—a phrase that captures something essential about the human condition. The Robertson family, in their new Hillsdale College course on the epic, keep returning to that phrase because it points to a deeper question: are we complicated because of what we face, or because of what is inside us? The answer, they conclude, is probably both. And that tension—between inner character and outer obstacle—is what makes The Odyssey not just an ancient poem but a mirror for every person trying to get home.

The Central Contrast: Two Stories of Coming Home

The episode’s organizing argument is that The Odyssey and the Bible tell two very different stories about what it means to come home—and that the difference reveals something essential about each worldview. In Homer’s epic, the hero Odysseus gets home through his own cunning, grit, and ability to adapt. He is, as one of the Robertsons puts it, “the cockroach—he just doesn’t die.” He manipulates gods and men alike, survives storm and monster, and eventually reclaims his household through force and strategy. It is a story of human resourcefulness overcoming every obstacle.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 Timestamped Outline
  • 2 (00:01) **Opening & Hillsdale Course Introduction** - The Robertson family kicks off the episode announcing they're taking the Odyssey course from Hillsdale College
  • 3 (06:30) **Why Christians Should Care About the Odyssey** - The hosts establish the episode's central thesis: the Odyssey addresses universal human questions that resonate with biblical themes
  • 4 (10:36) **Nostos vs. Kleos: The Core Contrast** - The fundamental choice between homecoming and glory is explained as the driving tension of the epic
  • 5 (11:53) **Historical Context: Judges Era & Greek Archaic Period** - The timeline of the Odyssey is placed alongside biblical history for comparison
  • 6 (13:08) **The Odyssey's Enduring Power as Poetry** - The nature of Homeric poetry is explained as intentionally different from modern reading expectations
  • 7 (19:38) **Xenia: The Greek Concept of Hospitality** - The central social, political, and spiritual value of hospitality in the Greek world is explored

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Al, Zach, Christian, and John Luke dig into The Odyssey, comparing Christopher Nolan’s interpretation with Homer’s original, from the diminished role of the Greek gods to Penelope’s complicated fight to preserve her family and kingdom. They explore Telemachus’ struggle to grow up without his father and the stark contrast between men who build and protect and those who simply live off what others have built. The guys ultimately contrast Odysseus’ long journey home with Christianity’s radically different picture of God bringing his people home.


In this episode: Judges; 1 Samuel; Job; Daniel 2; Daniel 7; John 9; Hebrews 13:2; Hebrews 13:4; Ecclesiastes; Revelation 21-22


Today’s conversation is about Lesson 1 & 2 of The Odyssey taught by Hillsdale Professor Dr. Benedict Whalen. Take the course with us at no cost to you! 


More about The Odyssey:


The Odyssey tells the tale of the cunning and crafty hero of the Trojan War on his journey home. After ten years of war, Odysseus faces another ten years of fantastic temptations, deadly monsters, treacherous seas, and impious men. Meanwhile, Ithaca is threatened by suitors who plague his wife and plunder his wealth. When Odysseus reaches home, he must slay the suitors, test the loyalty of his friends and family, and restore order to his marriage and his kingdom.


Join Dr. Benedict Whalen as he explores themes of love, marriage, kingship, duty, and piety. Encounter Homer's epic, which displays the full human experience. In a world of uncertainty, Odysseus charts a path towards peace through perseverance, prudence, and justice. 


Join Odysseus on his fantastic journey home from Troy in Homer’s unrivaled story.


Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/


Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621


Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts.


Chapters

00:00 ‘The Odyssey’ Adventure Begins

06:15 Why Christians Should Care About Homer

09:58 Odysseus Chooses Home Over Glory

12:22 Why This Story Still Connects 3,000 Years Later

19:31 What Ancient Hospitality Reveals About Culture

23:47 Greek Gods vs. the God of Christianity

27:36 The Question Humanity Has Always Asked

33:07 Penelope, the Suitors & the Politics of Marriage

42:26 What

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