The Biblical Anarchy Podcast

I’m new to this podcast and learning about libertarianism and I’m finding this podcast to be very helpful in developing my understanding of what it means to be a libertarian. Great podcast and looking forward to future episodes.

I’m almost done with my PhD in biblical interpretation, just to establish my base for saying this: I would not recommend this podcast to anyone who cares about the biblical text. I went to this podcast to see if there was a good example of anarchist biblical interpretation, and wow did I get it. The problem isn’t that the host uses the Bible however he wants, everyone does that occasionally to fit their biases. It is his refusal to do any real research into scholarship or history of interpretation. Or even to make a good argument for his interpretation. For example, early on he uses the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. The master hires people at different times throughout the day and lays them all the same. The first hires get mad. The host talks about this as each person entering a free contract. The master can make contracts with people how he pleases. This is an example of how the labor-value is false and we should follow Austrian economic models. In addition, it is Jesus promoting anarcho-capitalism. However, he misses the long-held reading that the master is God and that people can receive salvation at different times (I think there are better readings, but that’s the traditional one). Instead, it’s all about the market. The rich master can do whatever he wants with his money and value is based on what he wants or needs. The implication, when read alongside the traditional reading, is that the rich man is like God. Of course, the bigger issue is that the workers are not really free agents: they don’t have money and need it, so they are forced to accept the rich man’s contract. If they go back the next day and demand more money (you know, free contract) because their labor is obviously worth more (back to labor value) the rich man might reject them and their families will starve. Again, that’s just the implications of his reading. Ultimately, he doesn’t seem to care at all about biblical scholarship, and only what readings he can use to support his perspective on the world. Which is fine. Just actually put in the work to research and build your argument.