Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation · Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw

109 The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing (with Jonathan Pennington)

·45 min

Dr. Jonathan Pennington discusses the Sermon on the Mount through the lens of wisdom literature and human flourishing. After 25 years studying Matthew and 15 years teaching an intensive course on the Sermon, Pennington discovered that ancient Greek and Roman philosophy shared the Bible's concern with eudaimonia—how to live the good life. He reframes key biblical terms: Makarios means flourishing, not blessedness; Teleos means wholeness, not perfection. The Beatitudes are not promises of blessing but descriptions of what true human flourishing looks like. Pennington argues Jesus is offering the same philosophical training in virtue that Stoics like Epictetus offered—a way to align heart and action for complete human development.

As heard by us

A thoughtful look at the Sermon on the Mount as a path to human flourishing.

The episode treats the Sermon on the Mount as more than a slogan or a tidy self help list. Jonathan Pennington and Jeff Holzclaw start from a Bible vision of humanity that includes image bearing goodness, beauty, and Tov, which gives the discussion a calm, humane center.

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Why you'd press play

If you want the Sermon on the Mount explored through human flourishing, start here.

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