The Biblical Mind

In this episode, Mike Tolliver and Dru Johnson reflect on the inaugural Bible First conference on politics, assessing both its successes and its limitations. Designed to “cut through the noise” of contemporary political commentary, the conference aimed to resource Christians with biblically grounded thinking rather than culturally inherited assumptions.  The conversation highlights a central tension: while many speakers engaged important historical and theological insights, fewer fully embodied the “Bible First” methodology by tracing political concepts directly through Scripture. This revealed a broader challenge within the church—namely, the difficulty of grounding political theology in the narrative and legal frameworks of the Bible, especially the Torah. Key takeaways include the importance of defining contested terms like “Christian nationalism,” the need to examine how cultural assumptions shape biblical interpretation, and the value of recovering categories such as nationhood, law, and kingship from within Scripture itself. The hosts also reflect on memorable contributions from the conference, including themes of dual citizenship in the kingdom of God and fresh biblical frameworks for understanding the nations. Ultimately, the episode frames the conference as a successful first step—one that raised better questions, exposed gaps, and set the stage for more focused, Scripture-driven conversations in the future. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Conference on Politics in the Bible 03:30 Defining Christian Nationalism and Its Implications 05:19 The Concept of 'Bible First' in Political Theology 09:42 Key Takeaways from the Conference Papers 15:49 The Role of Torah in Understanding Political Ethics 21:15 Coercive Power and Its Biblical Context 23:37 Understanding Nationhood and Identity 30:09 The Role of Law in Ancient Israel 31:27 Natural Law vs. Revealed Law 33:17 Expectations of Kingship and Governance 36:48 Future Topics for Discussion

Dr. Farhad Rezaei, political scientist and Iranian Christian commentator, offers an insider view of religion and power in modern Iran. He discusses surprising survey findings on secular identity. He describes the dramatic rise of Christian conversions and the spread of secret house churches. He explains how state-enforced Islam has fueled cultural pushback and political consequences.

Dr. Chris McKinny, archaeologist and filmmaker behind Legends of the Lost Ark, explores the mystery of Israel’s sacred chest. He contrasts serious study with religious pseudo-archaeology and popular myths. Conversation covers legendary claims, possible fates of the Ark, linguistic links to Noah’s Ark, and how its absence shaped Israel’s theology and ritual life.

They explore Michael Polanyi’s idea that knowing is embodied, communal, and shaped by tradition. Conversation shows how ritual, apprenticeship, and practice train perception and reveal meaning. Biblical passages and practices are linked to epistemic formation. They discuss implications for discipleship, evangelism, and how communities teach people to see.

David Pileggi, an Anglican rector in Jerusalem who leads Holocaust study tours, offers a tight, provocative conversation about memory and moral danger. He traces how ordinary people became killers through conformity, fear, and propaganda. He connects antisemitic conspiracies and dehumanizing rhetoric to modern political scapegoating. He urges remembering history to resist repeating it.

K Lawson Younger, emeritus Old Testament professor and Assyriologist, offers concise expertise on ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies. Short takes cover how Genesis 1 compares with Egyptian and Mesopotamian creation stories. They discuss divine speech as creative power. They trace links like Tiamat and tehom and explore the image of God and humanity’s royal role.

Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, a Hebrew Bible scholar and Bar‑Ilan professor, explores how ancient Israel handled offenses without a word for apology. He explains forgiveness as public status repair within honor cultures. Short, vivid stories—from Jacob and Esau to duels and military life—show reconciliation as restoration of order rather than private remorse.

Abigail Pasiuk, PhD researcher at Oxford who studies mass incarceration through the Hebrew Bible and personal experience. She discusses how biblical themes like the Shema and imago Dei call for dignity and restoration. She shares interviews revealing dehumanizing prison conditions. She contrasts U.S. retributive models with restorative approaches like Norway’s.

Dr. Libby Backfish, theologian who connects history to faith, and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, archaeologist of Israelite household life, explore how daily life shapes theology. They discuss household archaeology, the role of land and farming in belief, domestic worship practices, regional hardships that spur religious change, and why theology should be rooted in embodied, communal experience.

Ingrid Faro, Old Testament scholar and interim president of Northern Seminary, reframes Genesis and the Bible’s women as strategic movers in salvation history. Short takes: she reinterprets ezer and tzelah, redeems Eve’s role and Genesis 3, and traces patterns of dysfunction, healing, and the nature of evil across Scripture.