The State of Hebraic Thought In 2026 (Dru Johnson) Ep. #235

20 snips

Jan 15, 2026

Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver dive into the vibrant evolution of the Hebraic Thought community and its growing resources. They announce the exciting Bible First Conference Series, focusing on the intersection of scripture and politics. Recent impactful books are discussed, along with the launch of the Tracing Biblical Thought series designed for accessibility. The hosts highlight the importance of good translations and tools for understanding scripture while addressing modern cultural influences like Stoicism and Neoplatonism on biblical interpretation.

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ANECDOTE

Community Torah Readings Fuel Insight

The Hebraic Thought Facebook community runs weekly Torah readings paired with Psalms and Gospel chapters for group reflection.
Dru Johnson says insights from the group have been "liquid gold" and reshape his reading of Scripture.

ANECDOTE

Polanyi Reading Club Sparks New Questions

Listeners suggested a Michael Polanyi reading club and Dru Johnson started one to tackle Personal Knowledge.
Johnson reports the group asks razor-sharp questions that made him rethink familiar passages.

ADVICE

Attend The Bible First Politics Conference

Register for the free inaugural Bible First Conference Series on politics co-hosted with the American Bible Society.
The conference aims to analyze what Scripture actually does politically before debating policies.

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In this episode, Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver reflect on the Center for Hebraic Thought’s evolving impact and expanding community. They revisit the promise made in 2025 to annually assess their work and celebrate how that commitment has borne fruit: from the flourishing Hebraic Thought Facebook community and its scripture reading groups, to the launch of a Michael Polanyi reading club. They announce the inaugural Bible First Conference Series, co-hosted with the American Bible Society, exploring how various Christian traditions engage politics through a biblical lens.

The conversation highlights recent standout books—many by past podcast guests—including Becoming God’s People by Carmen Imes, Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block by Phil Bray, and Grounded Theology by Cynthia Schaefer-Elliott and Libby Backfish. Dru and Mike also preview the new Tracing Biblical Thought book series, designed to bring scholarly insights to general audiences in accessible 100-page volumes.

The episode closes with a candid discussion about cultural headwinds—from Stoicism to Neoplatonism—and the Center’s commitment to reclaiming biblical categories for the church. They emphasize the need for translations and tools, like the Lexham English Bible and the NET Bible, that bring readers closer to the thought world of Scripture.

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Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Change: New Beginnings in 2026
03:09 The State of Hebraic Thought: Community and Events
05:57 Engaging Conversations: The Bible First Conference
08:58 Exploring New Literature: Book Series and Recent Releases
12:08 Anticipating Future Works: Upcoming Books and Insights
21:45 Exploring Biblical Forgiveness
22:42 Justice and Discipleship in Biblical Politics
23:32 Resources for Studying Scripture
24:43 The Value of Modern Translations
31:42 Challenges of Hebraic Thought in Modern Culture
36:27 Neoplatonism vs. Stoicism: Cultural Influences on Thought