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 MindThe Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America (Aaron Griffith)
In the latter half of 20th century, the evangelical community's developing attitudes toward crime and punishment overlapped with the increasingly punitive…
The Biblical MindExtreme Violence, Nahum, and Reconciliation in the Congo (Jacob Onyumbe Wenyi)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been afflicted by war and violence. The people are not always ready for reconciliation, because they are busy seeking…
The Biblical MindWhat Biblical Racial Reconciliation Actually Looks Like (Anthony Bradley)
Reconciliation in practice involves local communities acknowledging the wrongs of their particular pasts and figuring out how to move forward— what the…
The Biblical MindThe Torah Is Not a Law Book (Jerry Unterman)
The nation of Israel was born into a world that was already culturally old and established. When the Torah appeared, the ancient Near East contained several…
The Biblical MindNo One Asks for Forgiveness in the Bible? (Joshua Berman)
People don't ask for or grant forgiveness in the Bible—at least, not in the way modern people are familiar with. Scripture is less focused on whether someone…
The Biblical MindAfrican Americans Understood Paul‘s Words While Slave Owners Twisted Them (Lisa Bowens)
Discussing her book African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation, Dr. Lisa Bowens identifies how people twisted the Scriptures…
The Biblical MindWhat Are Sermons for, and How Can They Be Improved? (Jonathan Pennington)
When it comes to preaching, less is more. If you really understand a complex issue, you should be able to write it down on a postcard. In light of this, how…
The Biblical MindThree Grinches in a Pod: Complicating Christmas
It's that time of year again. It's the time when those who hate eggnog, pretty lights, cheery music, presents, and joy itself crawl out of their dark, barren…
The Biblical MindToward an Integrated Liturgy of Work and Worship (Matthew Kaemingk)
There is a deep division between work and worship in the West. However, the worship of the ancient Israelites integrated the sanctuary into the streets. What…
The Biblical MindCrying for Justice: Why We Should Pray the ‘Angry‘ Psalms (Trevor Laurence)
Pleas for justice in the book of Psalms—the imprecatory psalms—can make some Christians uncomfortable. They're often passed over in the psalter during worship…
The Biblical MindReading the Bible While Black: The Crucial Perspective of the Black Church (Esau McCaulley)
"Blackness is a part of American culture." Too often American Christianity is equated with white Christianity, while expressions of Black Christianity are…
The Biblical MindUnderstanding Supersessionism and the Controversy over a TBM Article (Ari Lamm)
A couple of weeks ago, The Biblical Mind published an article by Michael LeFebvre titled Jesus Restored the Original Purpose of the Law in the New Testament…
The Biblical MindProsperity, Responsibility, and Economics in the Torah (Michael Eisenberg)
Does the Torah mention wealth redistribution? What is the purpose of leaving the corners of your field unharvested? What economic system does the Torah…
The Biblical MindHow the Marginalized Church Reads the Bible, Part 1: Vince Bantu
New CHT fellow Dr. Vince Bantu of Fuller Theological Seminary is back on the podcast, this time to discuss the how historically marginalized and oppressed…
The Biblical MindTwo Upcoming Series, Feat. Esau McCaulley, Rachael Denhollander, Others
Starting 10/22: "By the Oppressed to the Oppressed: How the Marginalized Church Reads the Bible," featuring Vince Bantu, Esau McCaulley, Lisa Bowens, and…
The Biblical MindMaking Leaders Who Can Make Disciples (The Pillar Seminary)
The Pillar Seminary was founded to address persistent problems in churches and their leadership. Its students not only receive a Scripture-first education—as…
The Biblical MindWhy Jesus‘ Judaism Matters (Jen Rosner)
Many Christians know that Jesus was a Jew, but they don't necessarily think much about this fact or grasp its significance. In this episode, Jen Rosner…
The Biblical MindReading Evangelicals: Doctrine, Culture, and Popular Christian Fiction (Daniel Silliman)
Left Behind. This Present Darkness. Love Come Softly. The culture of faith in the West has been greatly shaped by Christian fiction. Many books that are…
The Biblical MindOvercoming Common ‘Mistruths‘ We‘ve Heard in Church (Brent Strawn)
Somewhere along the line, we have inherited many "mistruths" about Scripture, as Dr. Brent Strawn calls them. These are conceptions that aren't completely…
The Biblical MindNarrative of Place: Why Historical and Geographical Context Matters (Cyndi Parker)
In seminary, Dr. Cyndi Parker of Narrative of Place became frustrated with the lack of focus on understanding the lived experience of ancient people in the…
The Biblical MindGod Wears a Robe? Reading the Psalms as Poetry (Chip Hardy and Matt Mullins)
Why is the Book of Psalms important? How does reading the psalms as poetry help us to understand them? In this conversation, Dru Johnson talks with Chip Hardy…
The Biblical MindProverbs 31 Isn't a Future-Wife Checklist (Dominick Hernandez)
Many Christians have extolled the “Proverbs 31 woman,” but that proverb must be read in the context of the others, or we might miss what it is really about…
The Biblical MindBiblical Artist Series: Seeing Differently through Art (Steve Prince)
Steve Prince knew he wanted to be an artist since he was five years old. Art can be a powerful way to worship, and being a maker of things allows us to reflect…
The Biblical MindIf Christians Read Scripture Like Jews Do, Continued (Ari Lamm)
Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm returns to continue discussing the fascinating and fruitful ways that Jews approach studying Scripture. Dr. Lamm's Orthodox Jewish…
The Biblical MindAncient Jewish Pilgrims and Sacrificial BBQ (Jeffrey Garcia)
When you hear the word "pilgrim," your first thought might be of the pilgrims who arrived in Plymouth Harbor in 1620, or of English medieval pilgrims. You…
The Biblical MindYes, You Can Learn Biblical Hebrew—and Why You Should! (Aleph with Beth)
Due to a technical issue, Dru's audio is of lower quality than usual. There are many factors that hinder people from learning biblical Hebrew––cost, lack of…
The Biblical MindChristians Shouldn't Be Stuck in the Present (David Moore)
David Moore believes the cultural moment in the United States has never before displayed such a dangerous combination of ignorance and arrogance as it does…
The Biblical MindCan You Understand Scripture without Background Knowledge?
The moment you dip your toe into the world of serious biblical interpretation, you might feel overwhelmed by all the literary techniques, historical-cultural…
The Biblical MindThe 'New Christian Zionism' Isn't Dispensationalist (Gerry McDermott)
What is the biblical relationship between Christians and the Jewish community? Dr. Gerry McDermott wades through the tough topics of supersessionism…
The Biblical MindIs God Perfect? Does That Matter? [Revisited] (Peter Leithart)
Note: This episode was originally published February 25, 2020. ICYMI, please enjoy this lecture hosted by the Center for Hebraic Thought on February 15, 2020…
The Biblical MindLament, Moral Injury, and the Dark Parts of Scripture (Dr. Jill Firth)
"Moral injury" has been associated with groups like wounded soldiers and sexually abused women, but it can also affect those who have simply learned about…
The Biblical MindUntil All the Psalms Are Sung Again (Poor Bishop Hooper)
We all need God’s word, and we need it desperately––this is why Jesse and Leah Roberts embarked on EveryPsalm. Jesse and Leah are parents, pastors, and…
- The Biblical Mind
Listen to an Article: Recovering the Political Teachings of the Hebrew Bible
Heather Cate reads "Recovering the Political Teachings of the Hebrew Bible," by Joshua Berman, published March 3, 2020. See Privacy Policy at…
The Biblical MindIf Christians Read Scripture Like Jews Do (Ari Lamm)
Christians who feel uneasy with tricky texts in Scripture have something to learn from Jewish Bible readers. Jews actually seek out challenges in the Bible…
The Biblical MindThe Church's Alarming Neglect of the Old Testament (Brent Strawn)
Is the church gradually abandoning the Old Testament? Surveys of Americans from all walks of life and church backgrounds show that we have grown less and less…
The Biblical MindOn Whether There Is Sacred Music (Delvyn Case)
Why do we think of some music as sacred music and some music as secular? Is it merely a lyrical or a historical distinction, or is there something about the…
The Biblical MindHow to Enjoy Reading the Bible (Matthew Mullins)
Many of us approach Scripture with an "intellectualist" lens: we're seeking clear ideas with straightforward moral application for our lives. Often we do so…
The Biblical MindBehind the Scenes: CHT Staff Tells All! (Dru, Amy, Celina)
Sometimes it's good to take a step back—so this week, the Center for Hebraic Thought staff switched things up. Instead of interviewing a scholar, Dru Johnson…
The Biblical MindThe Biblical Authors vs. Greek Philosophy (Joseph Dodson)
The Bible is full of references to other texts, containing a diverse range of cultural forces and ideas. The biblical authors engaged with Egyptian mythology…
The Biblical MindUnderstanding Slavery in the Old Testament—and Today (Myrto Theocharous)
Critics of Christianity, and even believers, point to the instances of slavery in the Old Testament as evidence of a cruel or careless God. However, a view of…
The Biblical MindYou Mean Jesus Isn't Literally a Vine? (Beth Stovell)
What does it mean to say that Jesus is the vine? Does He have roots or produce grapes? What is the connection between giving birth and fighting a war? Why does…
The Biblical MindAmerican Christians' Peculiar View of Inerrancy—and Other Oddities (Mike Bird)
There is a view of biblical inerrancy that is actually particular to some American Christians—and peculiar to outsiders. Dr. Michael Bird examines this and…
The Biblical MindListen to an Article: Neither Work nor Leisure Provides 'Our Daily Bread'
Heather Cate reads "Neither Work nor Leisure Provides 'Our Daily Bread,'" by Dru Johnson, published July 16, 2020. See Privacy Policy at…
The Biblical MindAncient Israelite Government in Modern Republics (Kyle Swan)
The foundations of our modern liberal democracies are found in the ideas of Enlightenment-era political philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, Hume, and Rousseau…
The Biblical MindDon't Drop the Body of Christ (Janelle Peters)
Can we use Mountain Dew and Doritos for communion, or must the elements be bread and wine? Communion is one of the most prominent Christian rituals. Although…
The Biblical MindWhy We Should Still Keep the Sabbath (Mark Scarlata)
American Christians often make two key mistakes when approaching the idea of sabbath in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. First, we assume that the command has…
The Biblical MindReading Exodus: When Does a Multitude Become a People? (Leon Kass)
How should we read the book of Exodus? Dr. Leon R. Kass discusses his answer to this question from his recent book, Founding God's Nation: Reading Exodus. Dr…
The Biblical MindListen to This before Writing That Book (Michael Thomson)
Many first-time authors, whether accomplished academics or passionate amateurs, underestimate the time and revision involved in working with a book publisher…
The Biblical MindBut Really, What's Up with Abraham Almost Sacrificing Isaac? (Aaron Koller)
The story of God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (also known as the Akedah) in Genesis 22 is one of the most challenging passages in Scripture. Only 19…
The Biblical MindRepentance as a Group Activity (David Lambert)
Biblical repentance isn't just about having a contrite heart (i.e., "feeling bad"). That doesn't mean contrition isn't important! But it does mean that we miss…
The Biblical MindRethinking 'Quiet Time' with Scripture (Jen Wilkin)
Why do many Christians elevate the practice of "quiet time": isolated, often hurried and brief daily Bible-reading? Jen Wilkin—author, speaker, and leader of…
The Biblical MindListen to an Article: Scott Harrower on Coping with Trauma through Scripture
Heather Cate reads "Living Well and Wisely with God and His People While Coping with Trauma," by Scott Harrower, published July 10, 2020. See Privacy Policy at…
The Biblical MindExcavating the Biblical World (Cynthia Shafer-Elliott)
A surefire way to make a biblical scholar groan is to use the phrase "back in Bible times." Of course, there is no "Bible times"; the events and writing of the…
The Biblical MindChristmas Special: Esau McCaulley on Reading While Black (OnScript)
This episode is reproduced from a November interview on the OnScript podcast, courtesy of OnScript. Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Esau McCaulley about his…
The Biblical MindWhat Is Civility and How Do We Practice It? A Panel Discussion
Note: This special episode is of lower audio quality than usual. It is a live recording of an event. Those spending the holidays with their families may be…
The Biblical MindBiblical Artist Series: Sandra Bowden Literally Makes the Bible into Art
Sandra Bowden is a mixed-media artist with pieces displayed everywhere from small rural churches to the Vatican. A self-described "visual theologian," Sandra…
The Biblical MindHow Brazilians Understand the Bible Differently (Caio Peres)
How does our social location affect the way we read the Bible and worship? For the ancient Israelites, who lived in a subsistence-level agrarian society, the…
The Biblical MindBiblical Artist Series: Why John Hendrix Draws in Church
Could drawing in church actually be a good thing? John Hendrix thinks so. John is a New York Times bestselling author, widely published illustrator, and…
The Biblical MindWandering in the Wilderness: COVID-19 and the Book of Numbers (Dave Beldman)
Professors and pastors alike often hear groans when they begin to teach the book of Numbers—and who can blame them? The title makes it sound like the records…
The Biblical MindNot a "White Man's Religion": Church History and Biblical Thought (Vince Bantu)
Western Christians tend to emphasize Western church history and culture at the expense of the global church. Many have cursory understanding of the Greek…