We kick off the new year with one of our occasional ‘Meet the Scholar’ episodes, which, this week, features Dr Catherine McDowell, Professor of Old Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University, in conversation with Dr Tony Watkins. In this episode, Catherine talks about her research into the language of ‘image and likeness’ found in the book of Genesis and its links to Mesopotamian culture as well as her forthcoming book on idolatry.
Catherine’s book The Image of God in the Garden of Eden is published by Eisenbrauns and is available from Amazon and other retailers.
Her forthcoming book on idolatry is part of the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series published by IVP which can be found here.
There's a Youtube video here!
I'm fine with Youtube cookies
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Catherine’s current work tracing idolatry through the Bible
1:20 Catherine’s motivations for this work
1:50 Catherine’s research into the terms ‘image’ and ‘likeness’, particularly in Genesis
6:18 ‘Image and likeness’ ideas through the rest of scripture
9:40 Links to Mesopotamian culture
12:55 Links to Egyptian culture
14:00 How this work links with Catherine’s work on idols
15:45 What does it mean for humans to ‘know good and evil’
17:30 The origins of idolatry
21:50 Counters to the theme of idolatry throughout the Bible
24:05 How does this help the church?
27:35 Conclusion
January 8, 2026
