Repentance 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 point of repentance if we focus on contrition to the exclusion of proactive reconciliation.

In this episode, Dr. David Lambert explores the nature of true repentance in the Bible. Dr. Lambert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and specializes in philology and the history of biblical interpretation. He discusses how biblical repentance combines contrition with justice-working that involves the entire political society.

Show notes:

• 0:00 Reading the Bible like an ancient Israelite
• 3:40 Similarities between Jewish and Christian readings of Scripture
• 9:26 Distinguishing terms such as "Jewish," "Israelite," and "Judaism"
• 16:20 Modern notions of repentance and religion as individual and internal
• 22:04 Biblical repentance as communal
• 26:10 Mercy, justice, prayer, and caring for the oppressed

Dr. Lambert's most recent book: How Repentance Became Biblical: Judaism, Christianity, and the Interpretation of Scripture

Show notes by Micah Long.

Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits