FAQ: Do We Think Like the Ancient Hebrews Did?

When reading the Bible, studying the art and culture of the Ancient Near East, or even looking at Hellenistic philosophy, we can be startled by the differences between our ideas and theirs. This can lead us to assume that there are fundamental differences between not only the cultures or interests that inform our thoughts, but in the very ways that we engage in thinking itself. One such assumption has emerged in scholarship around the ability of ancient Hebrews to engage in abstract thought.

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson and Abby Smith discuss reasons to trust that we do think similarly to the biblical authors. Although we may not understand every detail of their context, we can work on listening charitably and removing our modern presuppositions, alongside engaging in practices that help us enter into the intellectual world of the Bible. If we do this, we are well on our way to understanding the abstract, even philosophical, ideas of the ancient Hebrews.