Is Nationalism Biblical? Yoram Hazony on Nations, Empires, and Justice (Yoram Hazony) Ep. #205

Is nationalism always bad—or does the Bible have a more nuanced view of nations, borders, and political life? In this fascinating episode, Israeli philosopher Yoram Hazony joins Dru Johnson to explore the political vision of the Old Testament, from the Table of Nations in Genesis to the prophetic hope of nations learning from Israel in peace.

Hazony explains how the Bible’s anti-empire stance emerges from the stories of Babel, Assyria, and Babylon—and why God’s vision for humanity includes independent nations with borders, traditions, and space to seek Him freely. Together they unpack how Israel’s kingship, laws, and tribal structure offer a model of checks, balances, and moral limits on power.

The conversation also tackles modern questions: What can Christians today learn from biblical nationalism? How does this compare with movements like Christian nationalism in the U.S.? And why does Hazony see so many modern Christian intellectuals missing the Old Testament’s political teachings?

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Nationalism and the Bible 00:56 Biblical Foundations of National Identity 09:32 Political Philosophy in the Old Testament 12:43 Critiques of Nationalism in the Hebrew Bible 20:42 The Nature of Sin and Human Corruption 22:40 Nationalism and the Biblical Perspective 26:08 Borders and National Independence 40:01 Governance and the Role of Law 45:28 Christian Nationalism: Perspectives and Concerns