The Biblical Mind

American 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 other peculiarities of some American Christianity in light of Scripture and other traditions.
In this episode, Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Bird about American theology and the different meanings of biblical inerrancy. They discuss the distinction between questioning the authority of the Bible and questioning a particular tradition's interpretation or doctrine. They also talk about the importance of the Hebrew Bible and Dr. Bird's work with N.T. Wright.
Show notes:
0:00 America's concern with biblical inerrancy
3:15 What does it mean to say that the Bible is true?
9:56 Interpretative issues versus authoritative issues
13:07 American eschatology
17:03 Ignorance of the Hebrew Bible
25:45 N.T. Wright
27:45 American politics and Christian obligation
Learn more about Mike Bird and his work.
Dr. Bird's book with N.T. Wright: The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians
Show notes by Micah Long.

Listen 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.

Ancient 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. At first glance, these philosophers seem like they couldn't be more different from the premodern Hebrews. What does social contract theory and the idea of the consent of the governed have to do with the story of God and His people in the Torah?
In this episode, Dr. Kyle Swan talks with Dru Johnson about the similarities between ancient Israel and republican forms of government. They begin by examining the narrative at Sinai, where a loving God establishes an agreement with the Hebrew people. The law given to the Israelites was not merely a series of divine decrees that people had to obey; their obligation to follow the law emerges from their commitment to follow it. They then discuss the difference between a biblical covenant and the "founding myths" of social contract theory, and consider how consent of the governed can continue through multiple generations. In the end, we can see deep similarities between the way a polity flourishes and the way God establishes a relationship with His people.
Show notes:
0:00 The authority of God
2:53 Commitment and obligation in political philosophy
6:33 The Israelite covenant with God
10:58 How Dr. Swan got started in biblical political philosophy
14:10 Early biblical laws and covenants
17:10 Social contract theory and consent
24:40 Covenant renewal
29:05 Consent of the governed through generations
34:12 The Hebrew Scriptures as a source for our political philosophy
Learn more about Dr. Kyle Swan and his work.
Kyle Swan's journal article on the political philosophy of the ancient Hebrews: "The Hebrew Republic? Divine Authority and Self-Governance"
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.

Don'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 celebrated differently by different traditions, from sharing loaves of bread and a common cup to distributing oyster crackers and little plastic cups of grape juice, the practice is meant to remind us of and transform us into the body of Christ. We might wonder what the earliest Christians did to celebrate communion, and what the boundaries are within which we might improvise this ritual in various times and places.
In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson talks to Dr. Janelle Peters, author of the forthcoming Paul and the Citizen Body, about communion, Paul's intellectual influences, and Bible literacy. They examine the traditions associated with communion and its connection to the rituals of the ancient Hebrews. From there, they consider Paul's usage of the Torah in his letters and his appropriation of Greco-Roman literary tropes and ideas. They conclude with a discussion of Paul's views on rituals and practices such as communion and wearing head coverings, and the state of Bible literacy in the rising generations.
Show notes:
0:00 What elements can we use for the blood and body of Christ?
4:56 Participating in the body of Christ
7:41 Communion and Israelite rituals
11:40 Paul, 1 Clement, and the Hebrew Bible
14:38 How Paul adapts the Torah into the Greco-Roman world
18:35 Embodying the words of Jesus in communion
25:42 Head coverings in church
29:14 Teaching biblical literacy
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.

Why 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 been made irrelevant by the New Covenant. Second, we "spiritualize" the idea of sabbath and downplay the importance of formative rituals for our bodies, not just our souls. However, a closer investigation of sabbath in Scripture reveals its importance, not only as a command of God but as a necessary counterweight to our digitally saturated and busy lives.
In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Mark Scarlata about sabbath as a gift for all creation. Dr. Scarlata is a Tutor and Lecturer in Old Testament Studies at Saint Mellitus College in London, an Anglican priest, and the author of the recent book Sabbath Rest: The Beauty of God's Rhythm for a Digital Age. They discuss rest as it is portrayed in Scripture, from Genesis's creation narrative to God's provision in Exodus. Dr. Scarlata explains how to celebrate the sabbath well, in a way that promotes community and present-ness. We can truly enjoy a break from work and participate in the great rest that God offers His people.
Show notes:
0:00 Supersessionism and the sabbath
2:43 Sabbath in the Hebrew Bible
8:34 A gift for all creation
15:07 The weirdness of rest
23:06 The importance of our bodies and rituals
26:49 When we should celebrate the sabbath
34:38 Resting successfully
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.

Reading 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. Kass is the Professor Emeritus in the Committee on Social Thought and the College at the University of Chicago, and formerly served as the Chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics under George W. Bush. He has published a host of works in medicine, bioethics, and most recently, biblical studies.
Dr. Kass believes that reading Exodus should start with humility and curiosity—perhaps the author of Exodus knows something we don't. From there, we can begin to see Exodus for what it is: a book that not only recounts the story of Israel, but also reveals themes and principles that apply to any person or nation. Specifically, he describes the difference between a multitude and a people, what Exodus has to say about technology, and why God chose a lowly slave people to be His covenantal servants.
Show notes:
0:00 Reading with open eyes
4:20 Learning from the great texts
6:55 Genesis, Exodus, technology, and bioethics
13:28 The three things a people needs
19:50 The covenantal foundation of Israel
24:49 Why God started with a lowly people
30:10 Slavery in ancient Israel
35:19 Epistemology in Exodus
Learn more about Dr. Kass and his work.
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.

Listen 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. In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Michael Thomson, Acquisitions Editor at Wipf and Stock Publishers, which publishes books on theology and biblical studies, among other topics. They discuss the joys and struggles of the writing, editing, and publishing process.
Authors need to identify what kind of book they're writing and who their audience is. They need to learn when to use more or fewer stories and examples. And good authors listen to the people around them for critical feedback. After a publisher accepts the manuscript, preparing the book for publication can take around a year.
Michael also shares the difficulties of being an editor. Often, editing requires a careful balance between preserving the author's original work (and feelings) and developing the book's marketability. He reveals some of the secrets of book publishing, such as whether authors get to pick their own titles and covers (they don't) or how much money they make (not that much). However, for those who are ready and willing, the process can be rewarding and beneficial.
Show notes:
0:00 The difficulty of writing books
5:39 Unexpectedly good writing
8:15 Figuring out what kind of book you're writing
12:55 Transitioning from academic to popular writing
17:44 Writing as a community enterprise
24:10 The subtle art of editing
28:51 Why authors don't pick titles and covers
33:16 Authors don't get paid that much
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.

But 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 verses long, it gives few details and even fewer explanations. Questions that we might naturally ask about this passage are not always the questions the author actually answers.
Dr. Aaron Koller, Professor of Near Eastern and Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University, tackles this story in his recent book Unbinding Isaac. In this episode, he walks Dr. Dru Johnson through a close reading of the text and some of its historical context, asking how it might be viewed in the ancient Near East, medieval Jewish thought, and following the Holocaust. Additionally, he discusses Kierkegaard's interpretation of the story and why he finds its monopoly on modern Jewish thought to be harmful. He concludes by presenting his own interpretation of the story, continuing the tradition of wrestling with this text.
Show notes:
0:00 The sacrifice of Isaac
5:17 Child sacrifice in the ancient Near East
9:33 A close reading of the Akedah
15:53 The binding of Isaac
20:52 Jewish martyrdom
28:00 Kierkegaard, ethics, and faith
34:06 The influence of the Holocaust on interpreting the story
36:36 The value of children
Learn more about Dr. Aaron Koller and his work.
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found here: hebraicthought.org/credits.

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

Rethinking '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 many Bible studies—challenges this practice. She believes that, rather than instilling deep Bible literacy, the typical "quiet time" encourages shallow reading and pursuit of instant gratification in the form of cheap satisfaction or vague encouragement at the expense of comprehension.
Reading any book this way would not yield a thorough grasp of its themes, narrative, characters, and worldview, Jen says, so why read the Bible this way? While affirming its inerrancy, Jen cautions against treating Scripture like a magic 8-ball. The practice of quiet time is indeed formative, but not necessarily for the better. She proposes an alternative method of Bible study involving, among other things, extended (if not daily) reading and regular input from other careful Scripture-readers.
Show notes:
0:25 The problem with "quiet time"
8:06 English literature and magic 8-balls
18:56 Setting low expectations for Bible literacy in the church
23:17 The effectiveness of raising the bar
31:21 Why Jen Wilkin focuses on an audience of women
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.