Episode Introduction

In the first episode of the Holy Wonder Podcast, Neal Mathis and co-host Andy Yant lay out what the show is for: a space where the sacred meets the everyday, where ancient wisdom meets modern questions, and where wonder is the defining characteristic of the world around us. They then turn to the name itself.

In modern English, “I wonder” usually signals doubt. Biblical wonder is the opposite, it’s the overflow of knowing something too big to hold. Neal and Andy trace that idea through the Old Testament, from the Song of Moses in Exodus 15, to the Psalmist’s rememberance in Psalm 77, to Isaiah’s praise of God’s plans “faithful and sure” in Isaiah 25. They then move to the Gospels, where words like thaumazo, thambos, and ekstasis describe crowds, disciples, and parents who are amazed by Jesus. The episode’s central observation is that wonder often comes before full understanding. It is the doorway to understanding, not the reward at the end of it.

Episode Chapters

Our host Castos creates chapters for each of our podcasts. Here’s the list for this episode: