Dr. Joshua Bowen

Introduction

Dr. Joshua Bowen is an Assyriologist whose work sits at the crossroads of ancient Near Eastern studies, biblical scholarship, and public education. Known for his clear, evidence-based approach, Bowen has built a reputation for explaining how Mesopotamian cultures, languages, and myths shaped the literary world of the Hebrew Bible. He earned his Ph.D. in Assyriology from Johns Hopkins University in 2017, specializing in Sumerian language and focusing his doctoral research on the lamentational liturgies of the ancient city of Kiš.

Before entering academia, Bowen followed a markedly different path. He studied religion in evangelical institutions, served as a U.S. Air Force chaplain, and identified as a committed Christian. His later academic training, grounded in primary cuneiform sources and historical methodology, led him to reassess those beliefs. Today, he identifies as an atheist and speaks openly about how rigorous scholarship reshaped his worldview. Rather than framing this shift polemically, Bowen uses it to emphasize methodological transparency and the importance of reading ancient texts within their original cultural environments.

To bring this scholarship beyond university classrooms, Bowen co-founded the public education platform Digital Hammurabi with his wife and collaborator, Megan Lewis. Through this project, he has become one of the most recognizable voices explaining ancient Mesopotamia and the Bible to general audiences online.

Area of Expertise

Dr. Joshua Bowen’s expertise lies firmly in Assyriology, the academic discipline dedicated to the languages, history, and literature of ancient Mesopotamia. His core specialization is Sumerian, one of the world’s earliest written languages, alongside Akkadian, the dominant Semitic language of the region for much of the second and first millennia BCE. He also works competently with Hebrew, allowing him to engage directly with biblical texts without reliance on translation alone.

Bowen’s academic training gives him a distinctive perspective. Alongside his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, he holds a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Studies, a Master of Theology in Old Testament from Capital Bible Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University. This combination allows him to analyze biblical literature both as an insider familiar with theological traditions and as a critical scholar trained in ancient Near Eastern philology.

His research emphasizes intertextuality, the way ancient authors reused, adapted, and reimagined older stories. Bowen frequently explains how Mesopotamian myths, prayers, and legal traditions formed a shared cultural backdrop for the authors of biblical texts, particularly during periods such as the Babylonian exile. He also works with early administrative and liturgical texts, showing how practical records from the fourth millennium BCE eventually developed into rich mythological and ritual traditions.

Books & Publications

Dr. Joshua Bowen is widely known for writing books that translate specialist research into accessible language without sacrificing accuracy. One of his most recognized works is The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 1, published in 2021, which examines the Hebrew Bible through the lens of ancient Near Eastern history and literature. Its sequel, Volume 2, followed in 2022, expanding the discussion to later biblical material and broader historical contexts.

In Did the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? published in 2023, Bowen addresses one of the most sensitive topics in biblical studies. Rather than offering theological justification or condemnation, the book situates biblical slavery laws alongside Mesopotamian legal codes, allowing readers to understand them as products of their time.

Bowen has also contributed significantly to language education. Together with Megan Lewis, he authored Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian: An Introduction for Complete Beginners and its second volume, resources designed for readers with no prior background in ancient languages. Another notable work, Learning to Pray in a Dead Language, explores Sumerian prayers and educational practices, highlighting how ritual language was taught and transmitted. These publications are widely available through major booksellers and are frequently recommended in introductory Assyriology circles.

Research & Contributions

The central thread running through Bowen’s research is the careful comparison of biblical texts with earlier Mesopotamian literature. He is particularly known for challenging traditional claims about the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, pointing instead to multiple layers of composition shaped by historical circumstance. By examining myths, flood narratives, legal traditions, and lamentations preserved on clay tablets, Bowen demonstrates how biblical authors participated in a long-standing literary conversation rather than writing in isolation.

A major component of his contribution lies in public scholarship. Digital Hammurabi, launched in 2018, functions as an online classroom where Bowen produces long-form videos, interviews with other scholars, and myth-busting episodes addressing popular misinformation. He has been especially vocal in correcting pseudohistorical claims, including exaggerated interpretations of ancient astronauts and fringe readings of cuneiform texts.

Beyond content creation, Bowen regularly appears on podcasts and interview platforms dedicated to history, religion, and ancient studies. Through these appearances, he has helped normalize the idea that critical scholarship and public curiosity can coexist. He also supports emerging scholars through initiatives connected to Digital Hammurabi, including funding opportunities and public discussions of ongoing academic research.

Awards & Recognitions

While Dr. Joshua Bowen is best known for his teaching and outreach, his academic work has also received formal recognition. During the 2014–2015 academic year, he was awarded both a Fulbright Scholarship and funding from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. These awards supported a year of advanced research in Tübingen, Germany, where he worked under Assyriologist Konrad Volk and refined his dissertation on the Kiš lamentational corpus.

His Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University remains a significant credential within Assyriology, a field known for its linguistic and methodological rigor. Although Bowen does not prominently list major popular awards, his influence is evident in scholarly debates, online academic communities, and the sustained success of Digital Hammurabi as a trusted educational resource.

Social Media Profiles

Dr. Joshua Bowen maintains an active online presence, using social media as an extension of his educational mission. He is particularly active on Twitter, now known as X, under the handle @DJHammurabi1, where he discusses biblical scholarship, shares publication updates, and engages directly with questions from the public. His posts often blend academic commentary with personal reflections, including candid discussions about living with multiple sclerosis.

Digital Hammurabi operates across several platforms, most notably YouTube, where the channel has built a substantial subscriber base interested in Mesopotamian history and biblical studies. Bowen also maintains a professional presence on LinkedIn, highlighting his academic background and publications. Across these platforms, his tone remains consistent: approachable, evidence-driven, and firmly rooted in primary sources.

Sources

Digital Hammurabi. (n.d.). Digital Hammurabi: Mesopotamian civilization facts. https://www.digitalhammurabi.com​

Goodreads. (2024, December 31). Joshua Bowen (Author of The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament). https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5790095.Joshua_Bowen​

Robinson, R. C. (2022, March 19). A debate with Josh Bowen, PhD, regarding the source of the Pentateuch. https://robertcliftonrobinson.com/2022/03/19/debate-with-josh-bowen-phd-regarding-the-source-of-the-pentateuch/​

ThriftBooks. (2021, October 29). List of books by author Joshua Bowen. https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/joshua-bowen/1466507/​

CageClub Podcast Network. (2022, November 7). Hard to Believe #076 – Dr. Joshua Bowen. CageClub.me. https://www.cageclub.me/joshua-bowen/

History Valley. (2021, March 15). Interview with Dr. Joshua Bowen. History Valley. https://historyvalley.com/interview-dr-joshua-bowen

Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.). Assyriology program overview. Johns Hopkins University. https://near-eastern.jhu.edu/graduate/assyriology

ublications. https://ttl.car.chula.ac.th/books/​