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.

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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

Bible First: The Bible And Politics Go Great Together, But How? (Mike Tolliver) Ep. #246

The Biblical Mind