Stand Firm Podcast #261: Trent's Nemesis: A Conversation with Josiah Leinbach
Jun 26, 2025
Josiah Leinbach, a statistician from Northwest Ohio and an alumnus of Hillsdale College, dives into the legacy of William Whitaker, a prominent Reformation figure. The discussion touches on the innovative use of machine learning in biblical scholarship and the intricate issues surrounding the authorship of key biblical texts. Leinbach shares his insights on statistical approaches to theology and the debates following the Council of Trent, as well as the enduring relevance of tradition in shaping Protestant-Catholic discourse.
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Machine Learning Meets Biblical Scholarship
- Josiah Leinbach combined his humanities background with machine learning to analyze Pauline authorship.
- His thesis used a hidden Markov model to argue for the authenticity of the pastoral epistles.
Hebrews and Pauline Authorship
- Machine learning analysis shows Hebrews is not inconsistent with Pauline authorship but cannot definitively confirm it.
- The method rests on rigorous logical premises that skeptical scholars might accept.
Scrutinizing Claims Through Skepticism
- Josiah subjected his biblical authorship claims to rigorous scholarly scrutiny, even from critics like Bart Ehrman.
- His statistical methods confirmed genre influences authorial style, supporting intuitive conclusions through new approaches.