The Biblical Mind

Introducing Dr. Jeremiah Unterman (CHT Fellow)

Dru Johnson and Dr. Jerry Unterman discuss his college years during the war in Israel, studying with Jacob Milgrom for his Ph.D., and his most recent work on the unique ethical contribution of the Bible in the ancient world. Plus, Dr. Unterman recalls his odd sighting while at UC Berkeley in the '70s.

Is the NT Just Stoic Philosophy? [Corrected]

The newest fellow of the CHT, Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington of Southern Seminary, joins Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss how Jesus' views interacted with the intellectual world of his day. This world was populated by both Jewish and Hellenistic ideas, as well as hybrids of the two traditions. In this context, Jesus' teachings, such as those in the Sermon on the Mount, generated sophisticated answers to ancient philosophical questions about, for example, the nature of true happiness and the good life.
Dr. Pennington engages this topic in more detail in his forthcoming book Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life. 

Group Therapy for Anxiety in the Old Testament

Dr. Ben White, Assistant Professor of New Testament at The King's College, discusses with CHT Director Dr. Dru Johnson his article in Christianity Today called "Fighting Anxiety With the Old Testament" — written a year ago but exceptionally applicable in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic. They talk about the honesty across the Bible about the weakness and struggles of the human condition, and how that's helpful for dealing with anxiety today.
 
Read Dr. White's article in Christianity Today here:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/april/fighting-anxiety-with-old-testament.html?share=zTVxeiWXGHWZglBLzyD69K5LJLtiykhY

Economic Thought in the Bible

Dr. Michael Rhodes of Union University speaks about the radical economic principles begun in the Torah and worked out in the prophets and teaching Jesus and Paul. Topics include:
The problem with objectifying "the poor".
How our wealth corrupts our view of economics.
The power of Jubilee.
How the biblical authors use "inclusion" and economic leveling in response to sin.
How Paul's letter to the Corinthians reflects Hebraic economics.
Much of this discussion also references his book written with Brian Fikkert and Robbie Holt: Practicing the King's Economy Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give. 

Is God Perfect? Does that Matter? Peter Leithart Workshop, Part 2

On February 15, Rev. Dr. Peter Leithart joined the Center for Hebraic Thought and a group of about 20 professors, church-goers, and students for an all-day workshop on the Perfection of God.
In the second session, Dr. Leithart discusses the idea of "deflating metaphysics" a bit in order to see how the biblical authors describe God. 

Is God Perfect? Does that Matter? Peter Leithart Workshop, Part 1

On February 15, Rev. Dr. Peter Leithart joined the Center for Hebraic Thought and a group of about 20 professors, church-goers, and students for an all-day workshop on the Perfection of God.
This first session is on the primacy of Scripture in considering God's attributes.

Is God Perfect? Does that Matter? Peter Leithart Lecture

This podcast is taken from the evening lecture of our February 14-15 workshop with the Rev. Dr. Peter Leithart from the Theopolis Institute.If you're interested in the content of the workshop that he refers to multiple times throughout the lecture, stay tuned for the recording of that, coming soon.

The Hebraic Roots of Modern Equality

Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman (Bar-Ilan University, Israel) gave a talk at The King's College on January 31st on our modern notion of equality that was uniquely sculpted in the Hebrew Bible. Politics professors—Dr. Innes, and Dr. Griffin— and Center for Hebraic Thought fellow Dr. Shira Weiss offer responses and questions.

Moral Progress in the Bible?

Rabbi Dr. Jeremiah Unterman delivers a public lecture for the CHT examining moral progress in the Hebrew Bible and more generally in the ancient Near East. 

Hebraic Thought in Christmas, Part 2: Humble Moms and Shepherds