The Biblical Mind

Who decides what worship songs we sing in church? It turns out, worship music is a massive industry, and the way songs make it from a Nashville songwriting room to a Sunday morning service might surprise you. In this episode, Marc Jolicoeur joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to break down the business of contemporary worship music (CWM). He explains how four major megachurches dominate the industry,...

Most of us read the Bible with our eyes—but what if we’re missing something essential by not listening to it? In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson challenges the modern tendency to engage Scripture primarily as a written text, arguing that the Bible was designed to be heard. From the Torah readings of Moses to the public proclamation of Paul's letters, Scripture has always been an aural experience—one...

What if much of what we believe about the end times is shaped more by modern speculation than by biblical theology? In this episode, Dr. Matthew L. Halsted joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to debunk common misconceptions about eschatology, including the rapture, the mark of the beast, and the role of the Middle East in biblical prophecy. Halsted and Dru Johnson explore how American Christianity has...

How does the Bible interpret itself? In this episode, Dr. Brent Strawn joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to explore intertextuality—the ways biblical authors intentionally or unconsciously connect their writings to earlier texts. Strawn breaks down different types of intertextuality, from direct citations (like Jesus quoting Psalm 22) to subtle patterns that only emerge when we read scripture holist...

What if Christian nationalism isn’t a head problem but a heart problem? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Dru Johnson speaks with Caleb Campbell, author of Disarming Leviathan, about the rise of Christian nationalism in America and how Christians can engage this movement missionally rather than combatively. Campbell discusses the anxieties that drive people to embrace Christian nationalism, h...

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm about a provocative interpretation of the Joseph narrative: Joseph’s brothers did not sell him into slavery. Rabbi Lamm explains that while the brothers planned to sell Joseph, they never completed the act. Instead, Midianite merchants discovered Joseph in the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites, creating ambiguity in the biblical text. Ra...

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver reflect on the growth and challenges of Hebraic thought over the past year and explore its future trajectory in 2025. They highlight recent scholarly advancements, key publications, and practical tools that are shaping the field. Dr. Johnson discusses notable books, including Human Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures by Beryl Dove Lerner...

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson, president and founder of the Center for Hebraic Thought, explains the concept of Hebraic thought and its enduring relevance. Hosted by Mike Tolliver, the discussion explores how the biblical authors understood and conveyed ideas about freedom, justice, morality, and the nature of reality. Dr. Johnson defines Hebraic thought as the intellectual framework reflected...

This episode was originally published on April 30, 2021. We thought it was worth a reissue for our newer listeners. In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Brent Strawn to discuss his thought-provoking book, The Old Testament is Dying. Dr. Strawn argues that the Old Testament is increasingly neglected in many Christian circles, resulting in a loss of scriptural literacy and depth. Comparin...

This episode was originally published on April 2, 2021. We thought it was worth a reissue for our newer listeners. In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson sits down with Dr. Joseph Dodson to explore the intersection of Greco-Roman philosophy, Stoicism, and Hebraic thought in shaping the New Testament. Dr. Dodson explains how the Bible didn’t emerge in a vacuum but within a dynamic cultural context influe...

In this continuation of their conversation, Dr. Dru Johnson speaks with Rabbi Dr. Shai Held about the themes explored in his book, Judaism is About Love. The discussion delves into the complexities of love, law, and chosenness within Jewish thought, offering a profound perspective on the relationship between particularity and universalism. Rabbi Held addresses the idea of divine chosenness, emphas...

In this special episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Rabbi Dr. Shai Held, president and dean of the Hadar Institute, about his book, Judaism is About Love. The conversation explores the intricate relationship between love and law in Judaism, offering insights for both Jewish and Christian audiences. Rabbi Held emphasizes that, in Judaism, law is not opposed to love but serves as its manifestation,...

Welcome to the final installment of this podcast series on the past, present, and future of the Center for Hebraic Thought! In this episode, hosts Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver turn their attention to you, the audience, asking for your thoughts, questions, and suggestions as the Center grows and evolves. We explore exciting possibilities, including new video content for YouTube, packaged resources...

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson introduces Mike Tolliver, the new Executive Director of the Center for Hebraic Thought (CHT). Together, they discuss exciting developments for the Center following its recent relaunch as an independent 501(c)(3). Mike shares his academic background in theology and philosophy, highlighting his passion for Hebraic thought and its integration into biblical scholarship...

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson, Director of the Center for Hebraic Thought (CHT), shares the journey of the Center, its recent challenges, and its exciting relaunch as an independent 501(c)(3). Dr. Johnson reflects on the CHT’s founding mission: exploring the unique thinking patterns of the biblical authors and their relevance today. He highlights the Center's initial support from the Philos Pro...

Quotes from this episode: "With the Bible in our hands, it's time to improvise church again and to see what the spirit is calling us to and how the spirit is opening wide our imagination for what the church can be today." "We're doing a bit like what jazz musicians do. We immerse in the biblical story and we improvise on that biblical story, the Bible in our hand." "Church is a conversation. Commu...

Byron Borger, owner of Hearts and Minds Bookstore speaks with Dru Johnson about literacy, theology, and the need for bookstores to cultivate the Christian imagination.  AI Generated Takeaways —The decline in reading and literacy rates among Americans is a concern, particularly among younger generations. —Books play a crucial role in personal growth and Christian discipleship, expanding one's under...

Appropriately: An AI generated summary of our conversation: The conversation explores the influence of technology on humanity and the reciprocal relationship between the two. It discusses the impact of smartphones and identifies key technologies that have shaped the world. The balance between screen time and creativity is examined, along with the concerns and benefits of AI. The importance of foun...

In the first half of this episode, Dru Johnson talks with Preston Sprinkle about his journeys into the LGBTQ+ communities, theologies, and conversations and the psychological research in that field. He also discusses his convictions about biblical views on sexuality that emerged from this quest. In the second half of this episode, Preston and Dru talk about the theology (and ecclesiology) of podca...

In this episode, we discuss Stephen T. Pardue's newest book Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church .

Audio editing (and strategic bleeping) by John Viinalass. In the first half of this extra long episode: We discuss the strange biography of Ben "Doc" Askins, from combat medic to seminary student to Army physician's assistant (PA) to Psychiatric PA researching psychedelic medicine and trauma.    In the second half of this extra long episode: We discuss if there is an appropriate roll for various d...

The Biblical Mind and the Center for Hebraic Thought are entering a new phase after ending a formal partnership with The King’s College. Additionally, CHT director of operations and TBM editor Celina Durgin will leave her position at the center on July 28, 2023. In this mini episode, Dru and Celina provide a bit more context, and Celina bids the CHT goodbye and shares a little about where she's go...

Dru enjoys a more casual conversation with Matthew A. LaPine (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), pastor of theological development at Cornerstone Church and lecturer at Salt School of Theology (Ames, Iowa). Their chat covers theological and pastoral education, considering the in-house models of megachurches and the ways in which seminary can be disconnected from the reality of church life.

Terms like "systemic sin" or "structural injustice" immediately make many people think of contemporary ideologies that they either strongly embrace or strongly oppose, such as socialism or the much-discussed (but poorly understood) critical race theory. These charged terms are often employed in vague or unhelpful ways. The Bible has many examples of sin and injustice that are not purely individual...