Shows / The Biblical Mind
The Biblical Mind
The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand how the biblical authors thought, promoting Bible fluency through curious, careful reading of Scripture. It is hosted by Dr. Dru Johnson and published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources on the intellectual world of the Bible.
Episodes
The Biblical MindChurches Using Psychology? Ways to Build Healthier Communities (Erin Smith) Ep. #276
How can psychology help pastors lead more effectively, strengthen Christian communities, and understand human behavior through the lens of Scripture? In this…
The Biblical MindRediscovering the Pentateuch: Reading the Torah as Christian Scripture (Beldman & Rhodes) Ep. #275
In this episode of The Biblical Mind, host Dru Johnson welcomes biblical scholars David Beldman and Michael Rhodes to discuss their introductory textbook on…
The Biblical MindCan Our Prayers Move God to Act? (John Peckham) Ep. #274
What happens when we pray? Does prayer actually move God to action, or does it simply change us? In this episode of The Biblical Mind, host Dru Johnson speaks…
The Biblical MindChristian Zionism: A Perspective from Jerusalem (David Pileggi) Ep. #273
What is Christian Zionism, and how should Christians think about Israel, Palestine, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict? In this episode of The…
The Biblical MindGlobal Bible Translations Now at Our FingerTIPs (Jost Zetzsche) Ep. #272
What can Bible translations from around the world teach us about Scripture that we might miss in English? In this episode of The Biblical Mind, Dru Johnson…
The Biblical MindMichael Heiser, the Divine Council, and the Unseen Realm (Mike Chu) Ep. #271
This episode explores the life, scholarship, and theological legacy of biblical scholar Michael Heiser, best known for his work on the Divine Council worldview…
The Biblical MindCan You Be Responsible for Someone Else’s Sin? Systemic Sin & the Bible (Andy Everhart) Ep. #270
What does the Bible say about individual responsibility, corporate responsibility, and systemic sin? Can someone be responsible for wrongdoing they did not…
The Biblical MindChristians and Global Conflict: Navigating Faith and War (Austin Knuppe) Ep. #269
How should Christians think about war, conflict, justice, and peace in a world filled with competing narratives and seemingly endless complexity? In this…
The Biblical MindIsrael, Palestine, & Christian Responsibility: Part 2 (Bannoura & Fisk) Ep. #268
In this episode, Dru Johnson continues a challenging conversation about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, Zionism, and Christian Zionism with Bruce N. Fisk and…
The Biblical MindMasculine Men as Homemakers: From Andrew Tate to Biblical Manhood (Nancy Pearcey) Ep. #267
What does it mean to be a good man? In this episode, Dru Johnson talks with Professor Nancy Pearcey about masculinity, toxic masculinity, feminism, fatherhood…
The Biblical MindCan You Believe & Doubt at the Same Time? Cognitive Science's Take on Faith (Joshua Mugg) Ep. #266
What does it mean to believe something—and can we genuinely believe while also experiencing doubt? In this episode of the Center for Hebraic Thought and the…
The Biblical MindHealthy Tools: How Our Tech Can Work for Us (Felicia Wu Song) Ep. #265
How is technology shaping the way we live, relate to one another, and understand what it means to be human? In this episode, Dru Johnson talks with sociologist…
The Biblical MindThe Puritans, Mosaic Law, and the Roots of Christian Nationalism (Yisroel Benporat) Ep. #264
What did the Puritans really believe about the Old Testament, Mosaic law, Jews, and Israel? In this episode of the Biblical Mind Podcast, historian Dr. Yisroel…
The Biblical MindHow the Bible Reads the Bible (Gary Edward Schnittjer) Ep. #263
How should Christians study the Bible? Does Scripture itself teach us how it should be read? In this episode of The Biblical Mind, Dru Johnson is joined by Dr…
The Biblical MindCan International Politics Be ‘Biblical’? Laws, Nations, & Ordered Loves (Robert Joustra) Ep. #262
Dr. Robert Joustra joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to explore one of the most neglected questions in Christian ethics: What does the Bible have to say about…
The Biblical MindReconstructing Deconstruction: It Doesn't Have to Be This Way (Joel Wentz) Ep. #261
Faith deconstruction has become one of the defining conversations in modern Christianity—but what does it actually mean to deconstruct your faith? In this…
The Biblical MindQAnon, Conspiracy Theories, and the Church (Michael W. Austin)
Dr. Michael W. Austin is a Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University, an author, and a speaker. He has published 12 books; most recently, he…
The Biblical MindIsrael-Palestine Conflict: More Complicated Than You Think (Robert Nicholson) Ep. #260
The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the world's most complex and emotionally charged issues—but how should Christians think about it with both historical…
The Biblical MindIsrael-Palestine Conflict: More Complicated Than You Think (Robert Nicholson) Ep. #260
The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the world's most complex and emotionally charged issues—but how should Christians think about it with both historical…
The Biblical MindShould Christians Watch Horror Movies? Fear as a Spiritual Teacher (Kutter Callaway) Ep. #259
Can Christians watch horror movies? Is horror merely entertainment, or can it reveal profound theological truths? In this episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast…
The Biblical MindShould Christians Watch Horror Movies? Fear as a Spiritual Teacher (Kutter Callaway) Ep. #259
Can Christians watch horror movies? Is horror merely entertainment, or can it reveal profound theological truths? In this episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast…
The Biblical MindWere Ancient Synagogues Town Halls with a Torah? (Jordan Ryan) Ep. #258
What were synagogues actually like in the time of Jesus? Were they places of worship, centers of local government, or something entirely different? In this…
The Biblical MindWere Ancient Synagogues Town Halls with a Torah? (Jordan Ryan) Ep. #258
What were synagogues actually like in the time of Jesus? Were they places of worship, centers of local government, or something entirely different? In this…
The Biblical MindIsrael, Palestine, & Christian Responsibility: A Challenging Conversation (Fisk & Bannoura) Ep #257
In this wide-ranging conversation, Dru Johnson sits down with theologians Daniel Bannoura and Bruce Fisk, contributors to Being Christian After the Desolation…
The Biblical MindIsrael, Palestine, & Christian Responsibility: A Challenging Conversation (Fisk & Bannoura) Ep #257
In this wide-ranging conversation, Dru Johnson sits down with theologians Daniel Bannoura and Bruce Fisk, contributors to Being Christian After the Desolation…
The Biblical MindReimagining Biblical Politics: A New Podcast (Michael Rhodes, Marshall Teague) Ep. #256
What does the Bible actually say about politics, and how should Christians engage public life in an age of division and polarization? In this inaugural episode…
The Biblical MindAre we Doomed to Lonely and Isolated Lives? No. (Alan Noble) Ep. #255
What does it mean to truly live well in an age of loneliness, distraction, and endless self-improvement advice? In this episode, Dru Johnson sits down with…
The Biblical MindWhen Helping Still Hurts (Brian Fikkert) Ep. #254
In this episode, Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Brian Fikkert about poverty, charity, economic development, and the role of the church in helping vulnerable…
The Biblical MindAre There Other Gods in the Bible?: James Duguid on Divine Council (James Duguid) Ep. #253
Did the biblical authors believe in a divine council of heavenly beings surrounding God? In this episode, Dru Johnson sits down with Hebrew Bible scholar Jamie…
The Biblical MindIs Job a Trauma Survivor?: Suffering, PTSD, and Healing in the Bible (Michelle Keener) Ep. #252
What if the Book of Job is not primarily about explaining suffering—but about surviving trauma? In this episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast, Dru Johnson sits…
The Biblical MindWhat Hegseth Gets Wrong About Pharisees (Jeffrey Garcia) Bonus Episode
In this episode, biblical scholar Jeffrey Garcia joins Dru Johnson to unpack one of the most misunderstood groups in the New Testament: the Pharisees. Prompted…
The Biblical MindVocation vs. Career vs. Calling (Steven Garber) Ep. #251
What does it truly mean to have a vocation—and how is it different from a career? In this thought-provoking conversation, Steven Garber and Dru Johnson explore…
The Biblical MindC.S. Lewis Under the Microscope: Biblical Accuracy, Errors, and Influence (Leslie Baynes) Ep. #250
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Leslie Baynes explores the complex relationship between C.S. Lewis and the Bible. While Lewis is widely celebrated for…
The Biblical MindRethinking Women in Ministry: From Genesis to Paul (Preston Sprinkle) Ep. #249
What does the Bible actually say about women in church leadership—and are we asking the wrong questions? In this episode, Dru Johnson sits down with biblical…
The Biblical MindInside the Bible Business: The Story behind Publishing the NIV (Paul Caminiti) Ep. #248
In this episode, former Bible publisher Paul Caminiti shares an insider look at the global Bible industry, revealing surprising truths about how Scripture is…
The Biblical MindWas Paul a Philosopher? Rethinking the Apostle as Rabbi and Thinker (Joseph Dodson) Ep. #247
How should we understand Paul—as a rabbi, a philosopher, or something else entirely? In this episode, Dr. Joseph Dodson explores Paul as a figure who operates…
The Biblical MindBible First: The Bible And Politics Go Great Together, But How? (Mike Tolliver) Ep. #246
In this episode, Mike Tolliver and Dru Johnson reflect on the inaugural Bible First conference on politics, assessing both its successes and its limitations…
The Biblical MindThe Truth About Iran: Religion, Power, & the Rise of Underground Churches (Farhad Rezaei) Ep. #245
Is Iran truly an Islamic nation—or is that a misconception shaped by politics and media? In this episode, Dru Johnson speaks with political scientist Dr…
The Biblical MindWhere Is the Ark of the Covenant? Legends, Evidence, & Real Possibilities (Chris McKinny) Ep. #244
What happened to the Ark of the Covenant—and why does it still capture the imagination of both scholars and the public? In this episode, Dru Johnson speaks…
The Biblical MindEmbodied Knowing: Polanyi, Scripture, and the End of the Mind-Body Divide (Dru Johnson) Ep. #243
Why does Michael Polanyi matter—and why should Christians care? In this episode, Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver reflect on the Hebraic Thought Community’s…
The Biblical MindAntisemitism and the Holocaust: Or, How Normal People Become Killers (David Pileggi) Ep. #242
Is the Holocaust fading from living memory—and if so, what are the consequences? In this sobering and historically grounded conversation, Dru Johnson speaks…
The Biblical MindSyndicated: The Bible Bar - Genesis 1 (Joshua Berman & K Lawson Younger) Ep. #241
In this syndicated episode, The Biblical Mind features the inaugural release of The Bible Bar, a new podcast from Bar-Ilan University hosted by Dr. Joshua…
The Biblical MindIs “I’m Sorry” Biblical? Honor, Social Order, and Forgiveness in Scripture (Joshua Berman) Ep.#240
Does it matter whether we feel sorry when we ask for forgiveness? In this conversation, Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman returns to discuss the surprising findings of…
The Biblical MindLove, Justice, and the American Prison System: A Biblical Rethink (Abigail Pasiuk) Ep. #239
In this eye-opening conversation, PhD researcher Abigail Pasiuk joins Dr. Dru Johnson to explore how the Hebrew Bible can inform modern conversations about…
The Biblical MindArchaeology of the Everyday: Grounded Theology in Ancient Israel (Backfish & Shafer-Elliott) Ep. #238
What if theology isn’t something abstract but grows directly from the soil beneath our feet? In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott and Dr. Libby Backfish…
The Biblical MindRedeeming Eden & Eve: How the Bible Strategically Uplifts Women (Ingrid Faro) Ep. #237
Why does Scripture so often portray women as central to God’s work of redemption—even in stories of deep dysfunction and failure? In this episode, Dr. Ingrid…
The Biblical MindSeeing What’s Really There: A Guide to Biblical Allusions (Matt Swale) Ep. #236
Can you trust that viral “Bible connection” you just saw on TikTok? In this episode, Matt Swale, author of "Scripture’s Use of Scripture in the Old Testament,"…
The Biblical MindThe State of Hebraic Thought In 2026 (Dru Johnson) Ep. #235
In this episode, Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver reflect on the Center for Hebraic Thought’s evolving impact and expanding community. They revisit the promise…
The Biblical MindSacrifice, Atonement, and Presence: Maybe Leviticus Doesn't Mean What We Think? (Phil Bray) Ep #234
What happens when an Australian butcher starts reading Leviticus—and finds it fun? In this unique episode, Dru Johnson speaks with Phil Bray, author of…
The Biblical MindICYMI: How Old Testament Laws Can Shape Christians Today (Carmen Imes) Ep. #233
In this episode, Old Testament scholar Dr. Carmen Imes unpacks widespread Christian misunderstandings of Torah and shows how the laws of the Old Testament were…
The Biblical MindICYMI: Is the NT Just Stoic Philosophy? (Jonathan Pennington) Ep. #232
ICYMI: This episode is one of our earliest episodes, and originally aired on 5/14/2020 In this introductory conversation, Dr. Jonathan Pennington joins the…
The Biblical MindFaith, Innovation, and the Church's Future: Rethinking Tech and Ministry (Kevin Kim) Ep. #231
What happens when the tech elite of Silicon Valley use their skills to serve the church? In this episode, Kevin Kim, executive director of Crazy Love…
The Biblical MindGetting Egypt Out of Israel: The Exodus Plagues as Spiritual Formation (Avery & Wadholm) Ep. #230
Are the ten plagues just divine punishment? Or are they intended to form a people? In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson sits down with Dr. Rick Wadholm and Pastor…
The Biblical MindHebraic Thought On The Big Screen? Biblical Themes in Non-Biblical Movies (Dru Johnson) Ep. #229
What makes a movie biblical—even if it’s not about the Bible? In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson explores that question with a curated list of films that reflect…
The Biblical MindEquip the Church to Think Biblically: How Your Church Can Fuel This Work
In this special message to church leaders, Dr. Dru Johnson speaks directly to pastors, elders, and ministry teams preparing next year’s budget. As someone who…
- The Biblical Mind
Fueling Hebraic Thought: How You Can Help
In this candid and heartfelt message, Dr. Dru Johnson steps out from behind the mic to speak directly to you—the listener, the learner, the potential donor…
The Biblical MindWhy Scholars Gather: A Tour Through the Wild World of Biblical Academia (Dru Johnson) Ep. #228
What actually happens when thousands of biblical scholars descend on a single convention center? In this unusual and behind-the-scenes episode, Dru Johnson…
The Biblical MindWhere Is God? Eucharist, Trauma, and Divine Presence in Poland (Ela Wyrzykowska) Ep. #227
Where is God present—and how do believers describe it? In this thoughtful and poetic episode, Polish theologian Dr. Elżbieta Łazarewicz-Wyrzykowska joins Dru…
The Biblical MindOn Biblical Masculinity, The Boy Crisis, And The Church's Missed Mission (Anthony Bradley) Ep. #226
For decades, churches have built youth ministries around entertainment and behavior management. But what if all the data says that’s the wrong approach? In…
The Biblical MindWhat The Chosen Gets Right (And Wrong): Archaeology, Pharisees, and Color (Jeffrey Garcia) Ep. #225
Was Peter’s hometown ever really lost—and have we just found it? In this episode, archaeologist and scholar Dr. Jeffrey Arroyo García joins Dru Johnson to…