I have a new book out and I’m excited to tell you all about it. In order to do that, Anna Brown is hosting Restitutio today and putting me in the hot seat. In this interview, she asks me about Read the Bible for Yourself, a book I’ve been working on for the last three years.

In our conversation we talk about whom the book is for and how to use it most effectively. I share about the chapter you won’t want to miss, and I reveal a publishing error that inadvertently promoted marijuana. Wait I thought this book was about reading the Bible. Yes, it is. I guess you’ll just have to listen to the interview to find out the details on that one.

Even if you’ve been reading the Bible for years, this book will help you read it better by providing you with key techniques and overviews to make sense of what you read.

Anyhow, if you’d like to get my book, it’s out on Amazon.

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• Get Sean Finnegan’s book, Read the Bible for Yourself
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Jesus said, “Make disciples of all nations” (Mat 28:19). How are you doing on this? Are you currently mentoring someone in the faith? Are you under the impression that this work is only for pastors, those in church leadership, or those with the gift of evangelism? You may say to yourself, “I don’t have a Bible-college degree,” or “I don’t know enough to teach someone else,” or “I don’t even know where to start in discipling someone else.” These are totally understandable concerns and doubts.

Victor Gluckin, lead pastor of Living Faith Christian Church in Rhode Island, has written a book called Follow the Way of Jesus to help you. Not only is this book easy to read (and enjoyable), but it’s also designed to enable you to disciple others. The idea is simple. Get the book and invite a friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member to work through it with you. Each of you take turns reading it aloud and answering the questions. It’s that simple.

In what follows I ask Gluckin about this new practical Christianity book, including who he wrote it for and why he laid it out the way he did.

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—— Links ——

• Get Victor Gluckin’s book, Follow the Way of Jesus
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

To whom was God speaking in Genesis 1.26 when he said, “Let us make humanity in our image”? My guest today, Sam Mansfield of Adelaide, South Australia, has found six different answers to this question. In the following interview, I ask him about his recent presentation at the inaugural Australian Unitarian Christian Alliance conference, called “Wrought with Wisdom: How Solomon Understood Genesis 1:26, 3:22 & 11:7.” Mansfield puts forward the deliberative position with a twist.

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—— Links ——

• Read Mansfield’s paper here.
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Many Bible-believing churches are ridged keepers of tradition. They have a statement of faith, a historic confession, or old creeds that determine what people should and should not believe. There’s very little space for people to genuinely ask questions, investigate competing doctrines, and honestly change their minds over time.

Today I’m speaking with Matt Lovegrove of New Castle, New South Wales. If you listened to the interview from last week with Paul Robson, he talked about Matt a bit, since he was the one that introduced Paul to a biblical unitarian perspective.

Matt is a hardwired restorationist. You’re going to hear about his journey from one exploration to another. Sadly, it seems like each time he shed some falsehood and gained more truth, he ran afoul of church leadership.

I think this episode is going to break your heart and make you angry–not at any one villain in Matt’s story, but at the system that continually crushes restorationists under its weight. Churches need to change. Rather than seeking to preserve the status quo at all costs, we need to seek truth whatever the cost.

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• Support Restitutio by donating here
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• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Paul Robson was an upstanding Christian leader in a Bible-believing church when his friend upended his world by revealing that he no longer believed the Trinity was biblically true. Although Robson initially reacted negatively to such a departure from the norm, he eventually came to change his mind based on a thorough study of Scripture. What happened next was both tragic and all too common–he was asked the church where he was serving. Having left he is developing websites about doctrine and now has new Bible study app that can help you spot bias in translation.

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• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

One of the largest and most intriguing blocks of teaching in the Gospel of John is the upper room discourse in chapter 13-17. This block of time begins with the washing of the disciples’ feet (13) and ends with Jesus’s high-priestly prayer (17). In the middle chapters (14-16), we encounter Jesus preparing his followers for his departure. They still didn’t quite understand what was to happen with his arrest, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Even so, Jesus laid out teaching that would make sense for them after he was gone. Much of that teaching centered on the spirit of truth, which was to come after Jesus ascended to the Father.

In what follows we’ll explore three main theories about the holy spirit in John 14-16: (1) the spirit is a person other than Christ; (2) the spirit is a personification; and (3) the spirit is Christ’s alter ego in his heavenly ministry. After considering the first two options, I’ll explain why the last one–that the spirit is a way of talking about Christ’s activity among us while he is in heaven–fits the best.

I originally presented this content in Australia where I had an unfortunate run in with a leech. I had told this story earlier to this audience and mentioned in the talk. I had gone on a “bush walk” and picked up the blood sucker without realizing it. After it had its fill, it released and I continued to bleed for hours, not realizing that leeches inject and anticoagulant. In this presentation, I refer back to this incident, so now you know what I was talking about.

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This talk was originally presented at a Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) event held at the Tops Conference Centre in Stanwell Tops, Australia on March 28, 2026. Thanks to the Australian UCA planning committee, especially Matt Bradley, for their hard work in putting on this event.

—— Links ——

• Download the slides from this presentation
• Read the article that inspired this presentation
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Have you ever heard the expression “a smoking gun”? It comes from an earlier era of guns when black powder produced a good cloud of smoke each time someone fired the weapon. Originally a smoking gun referred to a situation when someone was caught with the weapon in hand, still emitting smoke. The implication of this is not just that the smoking gun is evidence of the person’s guilt, but that such is conclusive and undeniable evidence.

Today were going to consider the topic of bias in our English Bible translations. I’m going to present to you four independent grammatical smoking guns of Trinitarian mischief in evangelical translations. In each case, rather than rendering the source language into the target language, we’ll see how translators tweak the translation to support the personality of the holy spirit.

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This talk was originally presented at a Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) event held at the Cantebury Christadelphian Ecclesia in Melbourne, Australia on March 21, 2026. Thanks to the Christadelphians for providing a venue and giving me access to the recording.

—— Links ——

• Download the slides from this presentation
• Read the article that inspired this presentation
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Today is our last episode in our Restoration Theology class. Believe it or not, not everyone thinks restorationism is great. In fact, most Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, are against restorationism, preferring the confessional approach.

Have you started to face objections and dismissive language when you talk to others about restoration theology yet? If not, you will. Today, I want to familiarize you with the kinds of criticisms they make against us and give you some thoughts on how to answer them.

Then we’ll transition our focus to consider three advantages of restorationism, including that it provides a stable identity, a way forward for unity, and evangelistic opportunities. In the end, I believe restoration theology is not just an excellent way to evaluate your beliefs; I believe it’s also the key to changing the world!

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Register to attend the Will Barlow vs. Samuel Nessan debate on whether Jesus is Yahweh
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Today is the capstone episode of this entire class on Restoration Theology. We’re going to put together what we’ve learned so far into a twenty-question diagnostic. The purpose of this method is to evaluate any Christian belief or practice. You can use it on your own doctrines to refine what you believe, or you can apply it to others.

In what follows I’m going to run through the method a total of three times. First, I’ll simply list off the twenty questions. Then I’ll take two theological books and run through the method twice more. My hope is that once I’m done with this, you will understand how to use the diagnostic.

Ultimately, my prayer is that this method will provide Christians from all kinds of backgrounds a more systematic and comprehensive approach to figure out what to believe. This method is how we do restoration theology–how we restore authentic Christianity. I hope you will find it helpful.

Here’s a link to the twenty-question diagnostic.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

About a year ago I was listening to a podcast that said black plastic cookware comes from recycled electronics. Such plastics are loaded with chemicals like fire retardants and should not be used in cooking. I was thinking about the black plastic spatula our family used regularly. I imagined how each time it was heating up, bad chemicals were leeching into our food.

This information caused me to doubt something I had never thought of before. I did some looking around online and found that there were other options. There are metal spatulas, silicone spatulas, and even wooden spatulas. I weighed the merits of each and purchased one. When it arrived by mail, I threw out the old black plastic one.

You probably employ this kind of reasoning all the time. However, when it comes to deeply cherished beliefs, we tend to be quite resistant to hearing criticisms or having doubts. We are often unaware of what the other theological options are. Most of us are underexposed to other Christian ways of thinking outside of our group.

Today my goal is to convince you that looking at other options and evaluating your own beliefs over against them is worthwhile for you to do. Furthermore, I want to–as always–share a method that you can use to do this process on your own. I believe that when you have the courage to allow yourself to doubt your beliefs, you will benefit by either discarding falsehood or strengthening those that are true.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

As we continue through our survey of the major branches of theology, we come to the subject of doctrinal precedents. Who has believed a particular idea before? Were there any Christians who held position x in the past? Who were they? If the majority of the church no longer holds to a certain belief, what happened?

When I was in high school, I thought history was terribly boring. Learning the names of dead American presidents or about European wars never appealed to me. You may feel this way too. However, right from my first time encountering Christian history, I felt different. Perhaps that was a gift of God. Or maybe it’s because Christian history is family history. I was learning about my ancestors in the faith–the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Today you’re going to learn a method to do historical theology. This will empower you to test your beliefs in the laboratory of history and see who held them previously. Such an exercise is important in our quest for doctrinal truth. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Restoration Theology is an approach that brings together good hermeneutics and good theology. We’ve talked a great deal about hermeneutics, which how to interpret the Bible well, and now we’re working our way through all the major branches of theology. In previous episodes, we’ve looked at biblical and systematic theologies and now we’re ready to see how analytic theology can help us evaluate our doctrines.

Though analytic theology may seem intimidating at first–what with all the symbols and logical operators–it’s actually quite a commonsensical way to approach doctrine. If we boil it down, analytic theology is merely the application of reason to your belief. We all do this all the time. We look at some weird belief and say, “Well, that doesn’t make sense. I’m not going to believe that.” We come up against a different way of putting together scripture and we scrutinize the reasoning. We say, “Hey that argument doesn’t work because of this problem.” Analytic theology provides the tools to formalize this process. And I’m excited to share with you a method to harness the power of this field without having to do years of schooling or spend hundreds of hours reading dry textbooks.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Whereas last time we focused on differences and development, today our goal is to perceive the final form of a doctrine. Because restorationists believe God inspired scripture, we recognize that amidst the diversity we can also detect coherence. Although there were many authors, there was only one God inspiring each of them.

Today you’re going to learn about how to do systematic theology well. Rather than merely collecting a few texts that support your belief, you’ll also learn what other steps are necessary to put together a robust theological statement. You’ll also learn about the limitations of systematic theology.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books, written by dozens of authors over centuries. It did not drop from heaven, nor did it arrive all in one generation. No, God slowly revealed the Christian scriptures over time. As a result, we find development within them, which is important to understand when building theology. While next time, we’ll focus on the final form of this or that doctrine, today our focus is on how doctrines change over time. This is nothing to worry about. It’s not a bug; it’s a feature! Afterall, our God is not a stone idol, but the dynamic living God who carefully shapes history to his sovereign ends, generation by generation. Today we’ll begin our first episode in a five-part series, covering all the major branches of theology. Enjoy!

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Although one of the most overlooked aspects of hermeneutics, figuring out how to apply scripture to your own context today is extremely important. If you interpret the Bible well, but never ask the question, “How does this affect me?” what good does it do you? Like the scholar of religion who is just curious, you can read the Bible and understand it correctly, but never experience the kind of change God wants for you.

Let’s say you want to apply the Bible to your life today. How do you do it? It won’t do to just pick a verse here and a verse there–taking this one literally and that one metaphorically as you like. No, you need a method to help keep you honest and to make sure you’re not leaving anything critical out. Today’s episode is going to equip you to apply scripture to your life today in a methodical way, not only providing some clear guidelines of what to do, but also some problems to avoid.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

There’s no getting around it. The Bible is a historical book. The events it describes occurred in history. What’s more, biblical history isn’t just limited to a single period of time. No, it stretches over thousands of years. As a result, it’s critical that you always remember that you’re reading something from another time and place. You’re reading about people who lived long ago in a place that is far away–at least for most of us.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you found social studies, global studies, and history classes totally boring in high school. I never cared to learn much about American presidents or European wars. However, when I came to understand that the historical context was a major key for understanding the Bible, I discovered–to my surprise–a passion for history. Suddenly I wanted to learn about ancient empires and literature. I researched archeology, epigraphy, and paleography. I suppose my awakening occurred because I saw there was a payoff. I wasn’t just studying history to learn random facts about long ago. I was studying to learn how to understand the Bible better, and that made all the difference in the world.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

What’s the difference between reading the Bible and studying it? Reading the Bible is like surfing on the waves, following the general flow of thought as you go. Studying the Bible is more like swimming underwater, perhaps with scuba gear to enable you to investigate matters thoroughly. Today we’re doing the second one. You’re going to learn how to interpret a biblical text in its literary context using the grammatical-historical hermeneutic. This includes learning about genre, scriptural additives, context, and intertextuality. Our goal is to understand the authorial intent of a scripture so that you interpret it accurately.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This episode is part of the Restoration Theology class.

Would you agree that every translation of the Bible has some sort of bias in it? Even the most literal translations have a good deal of bias baked into them. What can we do? Well, you could learn Hebrew and Greek so you can read the Bible for yourself instead of depending on a translation. Ok, but if you don’t have the inclination, motivation, or time to do that, what can you do? This episode of Restoration Theology is going to take you step by step through an English-only process of detecting bias in translation. You’ll learn a little about the translation process as well as how to spot bias in translation. This is a necessary component in our quest to evaluate doctrines against the text of Scripture.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is a collection of 39 books written before the time of Christ. Today you’re going to learn about the three major manuscript families of the OT: (1) the Masoretic Text, (2) the Septuagint, and (3) the Samaritan Pentateuch. Like last time, we’ll go through several of the most significant manuscripts while also covering some of the most exciting stories of discovery. My goal here is simply to familiarize you with the texts upon which our Old Testaments are based, so that when you go to build doctrines later, you’ll be able to understand why textual differences matter and how to navigate them effectively.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Last time we covered the importance of using the Bible to build our beliefs. But what is the Bible? Well, it wasn’t written in American English or in the West or in recent history. The Bible is a library of books written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Still, that doesn’t quite answer the question of what the Bible is. Let’s just focus on the New Testament (NT) for a moment. The NT contains twenty-seven books written in Greek. But that still doesn’t tell you the whole picture. In fact, when you pick up a Greek New Testament (GNT), you’re looking at a scholarly reconstruction of what textual specialists think the earliest recoverable form of each word of the original New Testament is. This reconstruction is based on thousands of little decisions of textual critics who have at their disposal thousands of handwritten GNT manuscripts. It’s a little complicated, but you need to know what’s going on.

Eventually in this class we’re going to get around to building and evaluating doctrines based on the Bible. Sometimes manuscript variations have a great bearing on doctrine. So, you need to know this stuff. What I’ve done in this episode is put together a narrative, marching through history to see not only what the most important kinds of manuscripts are, but also their exciting stories of discovery. I hope you will enjoy learning about this important field.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This is part three of the Restoration Theology class.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about communicating with people who don’t come from my background, it’s that assumptions matter. It’s important to know what I’m assuming and what the other is assuming so we can have meaningful dialog. In our episode today, we’re talking about two presuppositions that restorationists bring to theology: primacy and perspicuity. These two are key footings upon which we will build the foundation of restoration theology. For some of you, what I have to say will seem obvious and unnecessary to spell out while others may find themselves disagreeing with the restorationist approach. Whatever the case may be for you, all I ask is that you hear me out.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes of the Restoration Theology class
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This is part two of the Restoration Theology class.

Restorationism–the impulse to restore authentic Christianity–is not new. Before diving in to learn how to build a proper restoration theology, we owe it to those who have come before us, to remember how we got here. Although we generally take for granted our freedom to dissent from the governing authorities and the unprecedented access to information we have today, our advantages are the result of centuries of struggle. Today we’ll contextualize modern restorationism as the climactic end of a chain of events stretching back five centuries, which I hope will give an appreciation for the pedigree of restorationism and inspire you to carry forward that work.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes from Restoration Theology
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
• Get the transcript of this episode
• Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

This is part one of the Restoration Theology class.

How do you know what to believe? Have you ever been frustrated when hearing multiple perspective on a doctrine and weren’t sure which to believe? There are so many denominations out there, each with its own statement of faith and traditions. How can you be sure that the beliefs you inherited are really true? Will you be satisfied if I just say, “Trust me. I’m a pastor. I’ve been to seminary. Don’t trouble yourself with figuring out doctrine. I’m the expert; you’re the layman. Just believe whatever I say.” How would you feel about that? Maybe if you know me and you’ve been a longtime listener to this podcast, you might be fine with that. That is, until someone else, equally intelligent, equally credentialled, and equally as persuasive comes along teaching a contradictory doctrine. Call me a stickler, but topics as important as what to believe about God, yourself, and salvation are way too important to leave to blind faith. I’m not saying you need to become an expert or get a Ph. D., but you do need to know how the process works. Ultimately you are responsible for your beliefs not me or the thousand other podcasters out there. You.

Welcome to Restoration Theology, my brand-new class designed to guide you through a comprehensive and systematic method to evaluate your beliefs. I’ve been working on this class for the last few months, but really, I’ve been preparing for this class for over two decades as I’ve pursued education in biblical studies, biblical languages, church history, and theology. I’m so excited to share with you what I’ve learned and guide you through the process of figuring out what to believe. My focus for this class is not on telling you what to believe, but on teaching you a method to figure out your beliefs for yourself.

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—— Links ——

• Check out the other episodes from Restoration Theology
• Support Restitutio by donating here
• Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
• Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
• Get Finnegan’s book, https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1-1-e1768499479103.jpg 635. Restoration Theology 1: Why Restore Authentic Christianity? false no 00:52:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2026/01/08/634-six-ways-to-kill-your-community-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:48:00 +0000 e6e11eb4-8999-5d04-9e2b-5c740324ed18

  One of the great concerns that many of us pastors have about our churches is the lack of community. So often people come, sit for a while, and leave without making any real connections with others who are present. In other cases, a self-centered, spectator mindset leads to cynicism and misery, which, in turn, degrades or divides the community. I originally delivered this sermon back in January of 2022 at a weekend event called Revive, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided. It was a time of intense partisan politics, accusations of racism, and much civil unrest. Rather than focuses on what to do, I preached on what not to do. Hopefully you find it helpful.

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  —— Links ——

  • More messages from Revive here
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/kill-your-community-e1767907435884.png 634. Six Ways to Kill Your Community (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:00:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2026/01/02/633-baptist-pastor-finds-biblical-god-greg-cheney/ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:20:23 +0000 9fe85fde-4083-5a8e-b26b-b94e532a9d0c

  Greg Cheney grew up in Texas where he joined the Independent Fundamental Baptists. In his twenties, he felt a call to ministry, which resulted in ordination and serving in three Baptist churches. After an unpleasant five years in ministry, Cheney found himself in the corrections industry. At this point, with no remaining institutional ties, he began questioning his beliefs on a variety of subjects. This is his story.

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  —— Links ——

  • Follow Greg Cheney at his Love and Liberty Channel
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Greg-Cheney-e1767317099602.png 633. Baptist Pastor Finds Biblical God (Greg Cheney) false no 00:51:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/12/27/632-new-creation-in-christ-sean-finnegan/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:29:28 +0000 52eed45d-ab43-541c-9e39-5649f1190916 Is new creation here now or must we until Christ’s coming to experience it? If new creation is here now, what does that mean? How can you participate in it? Join me as we consider what it means to be in Christ today. We’ll see that not only has God created a whole new realm through Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, but also that this new creation spans both heaven and earth.

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  —— Links ——

  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/new-creation-in-christ-e1766681750702.png 632. New Creation in Christ (Sean Finnegan) false no 00:46:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/12/19/631-unto-us-a-child-is-born-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:56:51 +0000 f3b3d7ef-f1cf-5e9c-8bf7-fb9a45c72381

  Who is the child Isaiah prophesied about in the famous line, “For unto us a child is born”? Although most Christians see this as a reference to Jesus, we should first ask what this meant to Isaiah and his original audience seven centuries before Christ. When we do, we see that this prophecy was actually about deliverance from the Assyrian Empire and an unprecedented, miraculous military victory. Even so, Jesus also fulfilled aspects of this prophecy in his ministry, and I believe he will fulfill the rest when he comes again.

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  —— Links ——

  • Check out Isaiah 9.6 Explained: A Theophoric Approach, which delves deeply into the Hebrew words to explain what they mean
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Unto-Us-a-Child-Is-Born-e1766073293161.png 631. Unto Us a Child Is Born (Sean Finnegan) false no 00:54:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/12/11/630-australia-to-host-inaugural-uca-conference/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:27:24 +0000 e4ed0056-ef17-51b9-a289-3c8a61c8df95

  Today we’re promoting a couple of upcoming events in 2026. First up is the inaugural conference near Sydney, Australia for the Unitarian Christian Alliance. This will be a weekend of scholarly presentations as well as practical workshops. In what follows I chat with several of the organizers for the event, including Matthew Bradley, Jeff Deuble, Andrew and Vivienne Johnstone, Ali Steer, and Kerry Weinholz. After that we’ll hear some comments on recent episodes and then I’ll give information about our upcoming winter event here in New York, called Revive. I hope I can see you at one of these events, or some other time in 2026.

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  —— Links ——

  • Registration information for the UCA Conference in Australia (March 27-29, 2026)
  • Learn more about Revive held in Greenwich, NY at Christ the King Conference Center (January 9-11, 2026)
  • Get your copy of Jeff Deuble’s Christ before Creeds
  • Troy Salinger’s article about the Angel of the LORD
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Australia-Conference-e1765474576797.png 630. Australia to Host Inaugural UCA Conference false no 38:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/12/05/629-debating-al-garza-on-is-jesus-yahweh-mike-temperato/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:43:35 +0000 82c2b278-bab1-55f9-826b-a3cdbe48cb50  

  Metaphysics Mike talks about his recent debate with Al Garza over the question is Jesus Yahweh. In the four-hour ordeal, two aspects of Garza’s unusual belief system made for a confusing and frustrating discussion: (1) Garza believes that Yahweh is not a name but an attributive title asserting eternality, and (2) he thinks the Syriac Peshitta and Aramaic Targums have primacy over the standard Hebrew and Greek Scriptures that virtually all Christians recognize as the foundation of our faith. In this debate review we talk about Mike’s experience and how he handled these curve balls and I give some suggestions of my own.

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  Here’s the original debate video in all 4 hours of its glory.

  —— Links ——

  • For more about Metaphysics Mike, see my interview with him here
  • Check out Mike Temperato’s linktree here
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mike-Temperato-Debating-Al-Garza-1-e1764950167622.png 629. Debating Al Garza: “Is Jesus Yahweh?” (Mike Temperato) false no 1:16:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/11/29/628-how-will-god-raise-the-dead-scott-sperling/ Sat, 29 Nov 2025 23:18:10 +0000 225b1004-c1f3-5865-9343-381097b92992 After graduating from Caltech with a degree in physics, Scott Sperling pursued computer science and ended up working in rocket science. He’s also been a Christian for decades and has applied his analytical mind to Bible study, especially on his website ScriptureStudies.com. In this interview I ask him about his paper, “A Hypothesis for the Mechanism of Bodily Resurrection” in which he explains how God can raise the dead on the basis of DNA and the neural connectome. He does not see any need for the existence of an immaterial soul or dualism to account for biblical resurrection.

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  —— Links ——

  • See Scott Sperling’s studies at his website where you can also download his paper.
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Scott-Sperling-How-Will-God-Raise-the-Dead-e1764377466307.png 628. How Will God Raise the Dead? (Scott Sperling) false no 1:08:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/11/20/627-heroes-of-faith-ezra-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:56:19 +0000 1ae484f9-3351-5b6c-a397-8de789ac416c Heroes of Faith Series

  Ezra stood at the precipice of history. God’s people had returned to the land after a traumatic seventy years in exile. They had begun rebuilding, but they had already–perhaps unknowingly–taken steps that would land them back into idolatry. Ezra’s stand for God changed the course of history. Not only was he a man of great faith who taught the Bible with clarity, but he also was a revivalist who inspired repentance and fidelity to God. In today’s episode, listen in to consider important lessons from Ezra’s life that can help you in yours today.

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  —— Links ——

  • Get Kingdom Journey at the publisher’s website for half off with code CONFSHIP, available for the next week only
  • Check out these other episodes in the Heroes of Faith series
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Heroes-of-Faith-Ezra-e1763652317505.png 627. Heroes of Faith: Ezra (Sean Finnegan) false no 55:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/11/13/626-heroes-of-faith-esther-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:57:05 +0000 71f426c3-36be-51f3-9315-b27fb2638632 Heroes of Faith Series

  The book of Esther tells the story of a tragedy turned into a miraculous deliverance. But even more than that, it teaches us about courage. There are times in life when remaining faithful to God may cost you everything. What will you do if you find yourself in that kind of situation? I hope you will be like Esther who resolved to do the right thing “And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4.16). In this sermon, we continue our heroes of faith series by considering Esther, a true role model for us today.

    Listen on Spotify

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  —— Links ——

  • Check out these other episodes in the Heroes of Faith series
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Heroes-of-Faith-Esther-e1763060280934.png 626. Heroes of Faith: Esther (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:11:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/11/07/625-heroes-of-faith-daniel-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:16:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9561 Heroes of Faith Series

  How does your faith affect you at work? Of course, there’s the classic verse about working heartily unto the Lord, but beyond working hard, how does your faith affect you at work? Today in part seven of our Heroes of Faith series, we’re going to look at the life of Daniel. Although he was a prophet of great significance, he also worked for the government in an incredibly difficult time. By considering how he navigated the workplace, we can learn much about how to live out our faith at work.

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  —— Links ——

  • Sign up to come to the first UCA conference in Australia
  • More information about the UCA regional conference in New Zealand here
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Heroes-of-Faith-Daniel-e1762462669824.png 625. Heroes of Faith: Daniel (Sean Finnegan) false no 47:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/10/30/624-the-disciple-collective-josiah-cain-and-levi-salyers/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:49:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9547 Have you heard of the Disciple Collective? It’s a new website putting out free Christian courses. In this interview I talk with Pastors Josiah Cain and Levi Salyers about this new project, including whom the Disciple Collective is for, what courses are available, how they’re putting them together, and what motivated them to embark on such an ambitious project. This is something you’ve got to check out. It’s more than just videos–it’s a whole learning environment with quizzes, notes, discussion opportunities, and more.

    Listen on Spotify

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  —— Links ——

  • Visit the disciple collective at disciplecollective.com
  • Check out my Early Church History class
  • More about my book, Kingdom Journey, on Amazon
  • More information about the UCA regional conference in New Zealand here
  • See Pastor Zach Mayo’s Living Hope Christian Church website
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/disciple-collective-e1761836508530.png 624. The Disciple Collective (Josiah Cain and Levi Salyers) false no 52:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/10/24/623-heroes-of-faith-hosea-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:14:47 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9536 Heroes of Faith Series

  Today is part 6 of our “Heroes of Faith” series. I hope you are enjoying it so far. Sometimes it’s good for the soul to be inspired and encouraged by heroic people in the Bible. Now we come to Hosea, one of the least read prophets in the Bible, though he has so much to say to us today. In fact, I would argue that for many of us our economic situation more closely resembles what Israel was like in Hosea’s day than any other in scripture. By listening to his message to the people and the gut-wrenching way he illustrated it, you’ll hear God’s heart through the prophet–and hopefully fall in love with him all over again.

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  —— Links ——

  • Check out the other episodes in the Heroes of Faith series
  • Support Restitutio by donating here
  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan
  • Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air
  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Heroes-of-Faith-Hosea-1-e1761226493168.png 623. Heroes of Faith: Hosea (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:04:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/10/17/622-heroes-of-faith-hagar-abigail-jehoshabeath-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:32:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9525 Heroes of Faith Series

  Today we’re going to consider a triplet of three heroes of faith: Hagar, Abigail, and Jehoshabeath. Originally this sermon was called “Women of Integrity,” but I think it fits our current series on heroes of faith nicely. I find their examples inspiring because they went through serious hardships and yet they chose to do the right thing. Anyone can pursue righteousness when the sky is blue, the birds are singing, and all is right with the world. However, when the wheels fall off, that’s when you find out what you’re made of. Hagar, Abigail, and Jehoshabeath show us that even in the hardest of times you can still serve God with integrity.

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  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Heroes-of-Faith-Hagar-Abigail-Jehoshabeath-e1760628433683.png 622. Heroes of Faith: Hagar, Abigail, Jehoshabeath (Sean Finnegan) false no 48:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/10/13/621-heroes-of-faith-elisha-sean-finnegan-2/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:49:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9519 Heroes of Faith Series

  Are you selling yourself short? Have you settled for the status quo? Is your faith too small? These are important questions to ask yourself from time to time. Is God calling to change something, move somewhere, or do something new? Today in our Heroes of Faith series we’ll look at the example of Elisha. He was a bold prophet who did extraordinary things for God in his lifetime. I find his example inspiring and I hope you will as well.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Heroes-of-Faith-Elisha-1-e1760015172426.png 621. Heroes of Faith: Elisha (Sean Finnegan) false no 45:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/10/03/620-heroes-of-faith-hannah-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:36:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9481 Heroes of Faith Series

  With Hannah, we aren’t told what the cause was of her barrenness. We just know that it was a heavy load to bear in her time. Although in our time, many of us use contraceptives or go through procedures to ensure we don’t keep having children, Hannah’s time was different. Children were understood to be blessings from God that were absolutely essential for carrying on the family into the next generation. Join me as we learn from the life of Hannah to see how she navigated such a difficult situation. I think you’ll come away inspired.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Heroes-of-Faith-Hannah-1-e1759420261138.png 620. Heroes of Faith: Hannah (Sean Finnegan) false no 53:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/09/25/619-heroes-of-faith-ruth-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:03:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9465 Heroes of Faith Series

  Ruth was an extraordinarily courageous and loyal woman of God. In our society of disposable relationships, cancel culture, and cutting off parents, Ruth presents us with a challenge to stick with family even when calamity strikes and hope seems lost. As a Moabite, Ruth was unlikely to be accepted in Israelite society. Even the Torah itself codified exclusion of all Moabites. Even though she was likely to face unfair prejudice and racism, she still chose loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, over her own comfort and security. In the end, she found the love of her life.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Heroes-of-Faith-Ruth-e1758811022474.png 619. Heroes of Faith: Ruth (Sean Finnegan) false no 55:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/09/19/618-heroes-of-faith-noah-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:12:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9457 Heroes of Faith Series

  Today we’re beginning a new series called “Heroes of Faith.” For each of these episodes we’ll focus on someone who stood for God. My aim with this series is to inspire and encourage you in your faith. Today we’re looking at Noah. Although often relegated to children’s stories, his story is rather macabre. Living in a time of spiritual and human rebellion, Noah pursued righteousness. Although he had none of the advantages that Christians enjoy because of the accomplishments of Christ, still, even back then, he could stand for God amidst incredibly strong social pressures.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

   

  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Noah-1-e1758286469659.png 618. Heroes of Faith: Noah (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/09/11/617-focus-on-hope-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:03:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9448 I’d like to dedicate this episode to my mother, Mimi Finnegan who fell asleep in death yesterday. It was such a surreal experience, standing by that hospital bed with my brothers and sisters and dad. We had so much confusion regarding her prognosis, but eventually it became clear that she had very little time left. We prayed for her, read scripture to her, played some of her favorite Christian songs, and said goodbye to her. But what really grabbed my attention was her smile. She kept smiling as she knew she was dying.

  She was quite alert and able to talk. When it came time to take her off the machines that were pumping medication with diminishing returns into her, she joyfully authorized their removal. I’ve never seen someone with such a firm grip on the hope of resurrection in the face of death. Honestly, it was inspiring.

  Christian hope is really important, really transformative, and really crucial during times of suffering. Just knowing that there is a resurrection and that I will be able to see my mom again is a lifeline I’m clinging tightly to right now. Anyhow, this is a sermon I preached about a year ago at our church, which is called Living Hope. I hope it will encourage you to recognize the power of hope in your life.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Focus-on-Hope.jpg 617. Focus on Hope (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/09/05/616-herod-antipas-vs-simon-peter-sean-finnegan-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:42:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9438 Quick question: “If you lived in the Roman Empire who would you want to be?” Most of us answering this question would immediately think, “the emperor” or “a wealthy person of importance.” Herod Antipas was just such a person. A son of Herod the Great and ruler of Galilee and Perea, Antipas was an influential and powerful person in the time of Christ. He was part of the tiny percentage of people with wealth and access to the life of the Roman elite. He was a competent and clever person, but he was also the victim of circumstances. By contrast Simon Peter was a lowly fisherman from an unremarkable place, that is, until Jesus called him to be part of his inner circle. In this imaginative narrative double sermon you’ll see the contrast in perspectives between Herod Antipas (played by yours truly) and Simon Peter (played by Victor Gluckin). I hope you will enjoy our reconstruction and see the value of living for God’s glory instead of your own.

  This dual sermon is from the Royal Family Reunion (now called Kingdom Fest), delivered on August 27, 2011 at Living Hope Community Church in Latham, NY.

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  • If you want to learn more about Herod, check out episode 27: Rulers in Christ’s World
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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sean-Finnegan-and-Victor-Gluckin-Herod-vs-Peter2-e1757079220136.png 616. Herod Antipas vs. Simon Peter (Sean Finnegan, Victor Gluckin) false no 51:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/08/30/615-who-is-the-real-king-of-the-jews-sean-finnegan/ Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:07:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9430 Peering into the very late first century BC we find the briefest overlap of two individuals, both of whom would claim to be the king of the Jews. On the one hand we see Herod the Great, a capable and fierce man, full of ambition and paranoia. On the other hand, we see Jesus of Nazareth, who taught love, sacrifice, and humility. I wonder, which do you consider to be the real king of the Jews? Of course, if you’re a Christian, you’ll say “Jesus,” but do you really believe his approach to life is effective? Let’s take a moment to consider and contrast these two kings of the Jews.

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  • If you want to learn more about Herod, check out episode 27: Rulers in Christ’s World
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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  • Get the transcript of this episode
  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sean-Finnegan-Who-is-the-real-king-of-the-jews.png 615. Who Is the Real King of the Jews? (Sean Finnegan) false no 53:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/08/21/614-god-is-moving-in-our-time-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:41:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9418 Do you ever feel discouraged? Do you ever think, “Why has God allowed so many to get off track?” Has someone challenged you with the question, “If you’re right about Christian theology, then why in the world would God allow the majority of Christians to be deceived for so many centuries?” Join me as we look to Isaiah 41 to see how God worked with ancient Israel to encourage them when they were tiny minority of true worshipers living in a world brimming with idolatry. Even though Israel was an island of truth in a sea of error, God told them he was with them. He was moving and working, even when it seemed like a lost cause. Join me as we learn the lesson from this powerful text for the biblical unitarian movement today. Even just considering the last five or six years, we can see that God is mightily at work among us to publish the truth about him and his exalted son.

  Originally presented at Converge 2025 on August 2, 2025 at Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, USA.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Sean-Finnegan-God-Is-Moving.png 614. God Is Moving in Our Time (Sean Finnegan) false no 48:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/08/15/613-who-is-metaphysics-mike-michael-temperato/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:14:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9391 Michael Temperato (aka Metaphysics Mike) shares about his journey of faith. He tells about his struggles with drug addiction, pornography, broken relationships, and even jail. After hitting rock bottom, he turned to God and has been on a quest to pursue truth wherever it leads. After getting the left foot of fellowship from a church for asking questions, he came to embrace Torah observance and doubt the Trinity doctrine. Over the past few years, his research has culminated in a strong repertoire of facts from the Bible, church history, and logic that he puts to use in debating Trinitarians on YouTube. I got to meet him at Converge 2025 and was impressed by his theological knowledge and social media and video skills. I’m excited to see how God will work with Metaphysics Mike to reach people with the truth about God and Christ.

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  • Check out Metaphysics Mike on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Link Tree
  • To support Mike you can get the “One God.” hat, shirt, and mug at onegodmerch.com or donate to him directly through Venmo or become a channel member on YouTube
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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Who-Is-Metaphysics-Mike.png 613. Who Is Metaphysics Mike? (Michael Temperato) false no 1:12:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/08/08/612-colossians-1-16-old-creation-or-new-creation-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:54:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9371 How should we understand the words, “in him all things were created” in Col 1.16? Although commonly taken to mean Christ created the universe, this view has contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. In what follows I’ll name six problems with old-creation readings before laying out why a new creation approach makes sense. I presented this talk at the 2025 Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) conference in Uxbridge, England. Scroll down to see the full-length paper, audio podcast, and full video.

  For those listening to the audio, here’s a quick reference to Colossians 1.15-20

  Strophe 1 (Col 1.15-18a)

  15a      who is (the) image of the invisible God, 15b      firstborn of all creation 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 17a      and he is before all things 17b      and all things hold together in him 18a      and he is the head of the body of the Church,[12]

  Strophe 2 (Col 1.18b-20)

  18b      who is (the) beginning, 18c      firstborn from the dead, 18d                  in order that he may be first in all things, 19        for in him was pleased all the fulness to dwell 20a      and through him to reconcile all things in him, 20b      making peace through the blood of his cross 20c                  whether the things upon the earth 20d                  or the things in the heavens

  Here’s Randy Leedy’s New Testament Diagram

  Here are the slides in the original PowerPoint format

  Download [13.82 MB]

  Here are the slides converted to PDF

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  To read the paper, simply scroll down or read it on Academia.edu.

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  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
  • Get Finnegan’s book, https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Colossians-1.16-Old-Creation-or-New-Creation-UCA-UK-2025.png 612. Colossians 1.16: Old Creation or New Creation? (Sean Finnegan) false no 54:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/07/31/611-the-gospel-of-the-kingdom-cross-and-resurrection-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:00:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9346 Today is part three of our summer mini-series on evangelism. We started two weeks ago with a focus on God’s heart for the lost. Then last week we heard how simple it is to find opportunities to speak to people. Still, we need to cover what the message is that we ultimately want to share with the lost. Today you’ll learn about the rich, threefold message of the kingdom, the cross, and the resurrection. Today’s sermon will equip you with what you need to know to share the full gospel with those you encounter.

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    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Slide3.png 611. The Gospel of the Kingdom, Cross, and Resurrection (Sean Finnegan) false no 53:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/07/24/610-everyday-evangelism-encounters-david-sowers/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:00:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9344 Last week we began our summer mini-series on evangelism with a focus on why we should reach the lost. Today I’ve got a real treat for you. In this powerful message, David Sowers challenges believers to move beyond their comfort zones and share the gospel with the lost. His stories of everyday evangelism encounters will demystify the whole idea of telling people about Jesus. You don’t need to be exceptionally well-studied, full of charisma, or educated in psychology. All you need to do is open your eyes and step out in faith in little ways as God leads you. Get ready to be stirred, equipped, and sent with a fresh sense of purpose.

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    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
    • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Slide2.png 610. Everyday Evangelism Encounters (David Sowers) false no 1:00:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/07/17/609-do-you-care-about-the-lost-vince-finnegan/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 02:40:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9342 Many of us are annoyed by non-Christians. They mock our beliefs, criticize our way of life, and undermine us at every turn. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably would be happy to have a world with only Christians–real Christians–in it, right? However, this is not God’s heart–at least not right now. In today’s episode, my father, Vince Finnegan, reveals God’s deep, active loving compassion for humanity. No better example of God’s heart for the lost can be found than looking to his son. Jesus embodied that compassion, tirelessly ministering to the hurting, the outcast, and the spiritually blind. Rather than seeing the lost as an annoyance to be tolerated or–even worse–enemies to be defeated in a never-ending culture war, it’s time to see unbelievers as precious souls in need of grace. Listen in and be inspired to develop a heart that feels, sees, and acts like God’s.

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    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Slide1.png 609. Do You Care about the Lost? (Vince Finnegan) false no 49:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/07/11/608-six-quick-points-on-the-genuine-jesus-brandon-duke/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:08:04 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9331 This is a follow up to our 5-part response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

    Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with a coworker, acquaintance, or family member trying to explain who Jesus is? Every wish there was a simple acrostic that could guide you through a brief yet thoughtful presentation of who Jesus is? Well, friend, you need look no further. After spending five weeks responding to arguments for the deity of Christ, Brandon Duke and I are going to do an entire episode focused on a positive case for the genuine Jesus of scripture. We’ll use the word GOSPEL to help you remember six main points about Jesus. We’re hopeful that this content will equip you to better share your faith with others.

    G – given life by his Father O – offered his life for us S – subordinate to God P – peccable yet sinless E – empowered by God’s spirit L – limited in knowledge

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    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
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    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/genuine-jesus-podcast.png 608. Six Quick Points on the Genuine Jesus (Brandon Duke) false no 1:06:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/07/04/607-did-jesus-really-sit-on-gods-throne-brandon-duke/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:33:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9321 This is part 5 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

    Today in our fifth episode in this series critiquing the book, The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, we broach the topic of thrones. If Jesus sits on God’s throne, does that make him God too? If so, isn’t that two Gods? We’ll deal with these kinds of questions while examining throne texts, including Daniel 7.13-14; Psalm 110.1; Revelation 3.21; and Hebrews 1.3. In each case we’ll see how incredibly subordinationist the throne texts are.

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    —— Links ——

    • Support Restitutio by donating here
    • Check out Will Barlow’s presentation: The Throne Room Problem
    • Check out Susanne Lakin’s presentation: Biblical Anthropomorphism: Evidence of a Unipersonal God
    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
    • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Slide10.png 607. Did Jesus Really Sit on God’s Throne? (Brandon Duke) false no 1:12:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/06/27/606-did-jesus-really-do-what-only-god-can-do-brandon-duke/ Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:03:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9314 This is part 4 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

    Only God has power over nature. Jesus walked on water. Therefore Jesus must be God. Right? Does that line of reasoning convince you? How about this one. Only God has power over nature. Elijah called down fire from heaven. Therefore Elijah must be God. Or how about this one? Only God has power over nature. Moses split the Red Sea. Therefore Moses must be God. Listen in to today’s episode to find out why this kind of argument doesn’t hold water as well as how the evangelists who wrote the Gospels intended Jesus’s miracles to be interpreted.

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    —— Links ——

    • Support Restitutio by donating here
    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
    • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Slide9.png 606. Did Jesus Really Do What Only God Can Do? (Brandon Duke) false no 1:40:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/06/21/605-does-the-bible-really-give-jesus-divine-titles-brandon-duke/ Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:25:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9302 This is part 3 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

    Today we get to the heart of the case for the deity of Christ to see if it holds up to scrutiny. In addition to considering whether the name “Jesus” and the title “son of God” implies divinity, we look at the 8 major texts in which the New Testament allegedly applies the title “God” to Jesus, including John 1.1, 18; 20.28; Romans 9.5; Hebrews 1.8; Titus 2.13; 2 Peter 1.1; and 1 John 5.20. In each we briefly explain why evangelicals take the passage to teach the deity of Christ and then show what it really means in its context. Over and over we find that these foundation texts are actually built upon the unstable sands of manuscript differences, translation ambiguity, and strained interpretations rather than solid bedrock.

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    —— Links ——

    • On John 1, watch What John 1 Meant by Dale Tuggy on YouTube
    • Check out Jerry Wierwille’s Jesus “God and Savior”? Problematizing the Granville-Sharp Rule
    • See episode 521 The Deity of Christ from a Greco-Roman Perspective (Sean Finnegan) to learn more about how ancient people thought about the word “god”
    • Support Restitutio by donating here
    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
    • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
    • Get the transcript of this episode
    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brandon-Duke-HANDS-3.png 605. Does the Bible Really Give Jesus Divine Titles? (Brandon Duke) false no 1:48:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/06/13/604-did-jesus-really-have-all-the-divine-attributes-brandon-duke/ Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:55:34 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9284 This is part 2 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

    Most of us understand of what deity means. Generally we think to be God is to be eternal, uncaused, and indestructible. This gets at the word aseity, which is a fancy philosophical term for a being that doesn’t depend on anyone or anything else for existence. To be a se (from the Latin a = from, and se = self) is to be uncaused and non-contingent. This cuts to the very essence of what it means to be God in the proper sense of the word. So, if Jesus is God in the same way in which the Father is God, then Jesus, too, must have aseity. Right? We’ll see about that in today’s episode.

    But, here’s the thing. It’s actually even harder than establishing Jesus’s aseity. To claim Christ’s deity, entails claiming he has all the other divine attributes as well. Deity-of-Christ apologists like Bowman and Komoszewski know that this is a problem. In fact, in part two of their book, The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, they outline seven conflicting attributes between Jesus’s alleged divine and human natures. They say he is both eternal and born, immutable and able to grow, impeccable and tempted, omnipresent and able to walk, omniscient and not knowing something, omnipotent and capable of sleep, and lastly, immortal and mortal–all at the same time. Although they revel in such “paradoxes,” this list presents grave difficulties for the classic dual natures view from Chalcedon that we covered last week. In this episode we’ll consider several of these contradictions as part of our second episode on whether or not Jesus had the divine attributes.

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    —— Links ——

    • Check out Andrew Perriman’s book, In the Form of a God for an in-depth explanation of Philippians 2.6-10
    • Read Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John by Dustin Smith for an excellent exploration of the prologue of John
    • Also on John 1, watch What John 1 Meant by Dale Tuggy on YouTube
    • Check out episode 503: The Dual Natures Controversy of the Fifth Century to learn more about the politics behind the development of the Chalcedonian definition of the dual natures of Christ
    • Support Restitutio by donating here
    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
    • Who is ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brandon-Duke-attributes-for-podcast.png 604. Did Jesus Really Have All the Divine Attributes? (Brandon Duke) false no 1:54:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/06/06/603-did-jesus-really-receive-divine-honors-brandon-duke/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:46:22 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9262 This is part 1 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.

      Today we’re shifting gears. We’ve had an eighteen-episode class delving into biblical and contextual study of 1 Corinthians. Then last time we had an interview with someone struggling with mental health. For the next several weeks we’re going deep into Christology. This is going to be a five-part series of interviews with Brandon Duke reviewing an important book that came out last November defending the deity of Christ from a trinitarian perspective. In what follows Brandon and I discuss the arguments they make and respond to them.

      Our hope is that this series will (1) build your confidence in your biblical unitarian faith, (2) train you to see the flaws in their approach, and (3) equip you with responses to these types of arguments. Together Brandon and I offer two complimentary lenses through which to analyze and respond. Whereas Brandon is well versed in analytic theology and the philosophical approach, I’m more specialized in the exegesis of biblical texts in their original languages and historical context. Together I think we make a great team to guide you through this journey.

      Today’s episode is about divine honors. Did Jesus receive honors only appropriate for God? If so, does that imply that he just is God? Listen in to find out.

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      —— Links ——

      • Dale Tuggy’s Stanford Encyclopedia Article on the Trinity. Here’s a link to the subsection on Positive Mysterianism
      • Here’s the link to the Chalcedonian Creed from CARM.
      • Learn more about apophatic theology here
      • Support Restitutio by donating here
      • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
      • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
      • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
      • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
      • Get the https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brandon-Duke-HANDS.png 603. Did Jesus Really Receive Divine Honors? (Brandon Duke) false no 1:36:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/05/30/602-abused-kidnapped-and-suicidal-finding-hope-after-a-lifetime-of-trauma-sheila-kalpakidis/ Fri, 30 May 2025 19:49:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9245 Suicide is such a sad part of our world today. The latest stats from the CDC indicate someone dies of suicide every eleven minutes in the United States. 30 times more people attempt suicide than die from it annually. And a staggering 12.8 million seriously think about it. Sheila is one of these people who has attempted it and seriously thinks about it from time to time. But, here’s the thing, she doesn’t want to. She’s not trying to attract attention or crying for help. She’s broken from an abusive childhood, bad relationships with men, and a conman who kidnapped her.

        Now in her sixties, Sheila continues to attend church regularly and find relief from suicidality through an interconnected network that includes reading the scriptures and prayer, pastoral care, psychiatrists, psychologists, loving family and friends, and occasional trips to the psych ward when nothing is working.

        By hearing her tragic and larger-than-life story, you’ll not only gain important insights into this terrible affliction, but you’ll grow in compassion for those living with suicidality. Sheila is a member of my church and I have worked with her off and on for twenty years and I’m happy to say, she’s a fighter whose tenacity I find inspiring and hope you will too.

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        —— Links ——

        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sheila-Kalpakidis-1.png 602. Abused, Kidnapped, and Suicidal—Finding Hope After a Lifetime of Trauma (Sheila Kalpakidis) false no 1:31:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/05/22/601-1-corinthians-in-context-18-concluding-thoughts/ Thu, 22 May 2025 17:09:19 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9234 We’ll begin by reviewing what we’ve covered in this class before asking the question, “What happened after Paul sent 1 Corinthians?” Did the church receive his instruction? Did they reject it? How does 2 Corinthians fit in? We’ll take a look at the timeline to understand Paul’s three visits to Corinth and the three epistles he wrote them: 1 Corinthians, the severe letter (now lost), and 2 Corinthians. Then we’ll move through time to see how the church at Corinth continued to develop over the next one hundred years. Lastly, I’ll share some insights I’ve gained as I’ve come to appreciate Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians even more after studying this text so diligently. I hope you will enjoy this final episode of 1 Corinthians in Context.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Cor 1:10-11; 5:1, 11; 6:1-2, 12, 18; 7:1, 10-11; 8:1; 10:19-20; 11:4-5, 17, 33-34; 12:1; 14:12; 15:12-13; 16:1-2

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-18.jpg 601. 1 Corinthians in Context 18: Concluding Thoughts false no 1:09:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/05/16/600-1-corinthians-in-context-17-eschatology-and-the-afterlife/ Fri, 16 May 2025 18:51:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9220 We’ll begin by surveying what 1 Corinthians tells us about the end times. Then we’ll consider why Paul spent so much time in chapter fifteen making a case for the resurrection of the saints when Christ returns. By examining tomb inscriptions and literary sources you’ll learn about the four major options for the afterlife in the Greco-Roman world: (1) non-existence, (2) ascension to the stars, (3) the Hades myth, and (4) reincarnation. My hope is you’ll come to see how radical and fresh the Judaeo-Christian idea of resurrection was to the people of Corinth and understand why Paul felt the need to expend so much effort convincing them of it.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Corinthians 1:7-8; 3:12-13; 4:5; 5:5; 6:2-3, 9-10, 14; 11:26; 15:3-8, 12-14, 20-28, 35, 58; 16:22

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-17.jpg 600. 1 Corinthians in Context 17: Eschatology and the Afterlife false no 1:08:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/05/08/599-1-corinthians-in-context-16-love-and-edification-in-the-assembly/ Fri, 09 May 2025 01:36:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9208 Today we’re going to look at chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 1 Corinthians as a unit. We’ll see that the body analogy in 12, the love poem in 13, and the repeated concern for upbuilding in 14 are all slightly different angles of approach to the same goal. When the Corinthian Christians were getting together to worship, it was chaos. People were talking over each other, eager to manifest the holy spirit. Rather than telling them to cease from divine speech in the assembly, Paul instead focused their attention on the priority for being considerate of one another. Actually, he was way more radical than that, but I don’t want to give everything away in this little intro. You’ll just have to keep listening if you want to know more.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Corinthians 12:12-29; 13:1-13; 14:1-40

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Love-and-Edification-1.jpg 599. 1 Corinthians in Context 16: Love and Edification in the Assembly false no 1:03:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/05/02/598-1-corinthians-in-context-15-speaking-in-tongues/ Fri, 02 May 2025 17:11:38 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9196 Last time we looked at how Greco-Roman people talked about inspired speech. Today we turn to 1 Corinthians and the book of Acts to focus on speaking in tongues. We’ll consider the idea that tongues are angelic languages, how tongues relates to prayer, and how tongues differs from ecstatic speech. Lastly, we’ll dip our toes into the debate over whether tongues ceased with the apostles or not. Whether you personally speak in tongues or not, I think you’ll find the information in this episode helpful.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Corinthians 12:7, 10; 13:1, 8-12; 14:2, 4, 6, 11, 13-19, 27-28; Acts 2:1-11; 10:44-46; 11:15-17; 19:6-7

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-14.jpg 598 1 Corinthians in Context 15: Speaking in Tongues false no 1:09:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/04/26/597-1-corinthians-in-context-14-inspiration-and-divine-speech/ Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:20:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9183 This episode is a deep dive into the world of prophetic utterances, frenzied manifestations, divine possession, and all other sorts of inspired speech that I could find in Greco-Roman literature. Honestly, I wasn’t thinking I would find much. I was wrong. This episode is probably the longest of the entire 1 Corinthians in Context class. Still, I wanted to keep it as one episode so you get the full survey of what kinds of divine speech ancient Mediterranean people knew about. Then, after going through all the data, we turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 12-14 to see how Christian spiritual experiences differed. My hope is that this background information will make this section of 1 Corinthians come alive for you.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:1-2; 14:2-4, 27-33

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Inspiration-and-Divine-Speech-1.jpg 597 1 Corinthians in Context 14: Inspiration and Divine Speech false no 1:11:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/04/21/596-1-corinthians-in-context-13-communion/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:03:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9171 So much was going on at the communion meal in Corinth. Some people were overdoing it, even getting drunk, while others went hungry. In order to better understand Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11, we’ll take some time to consider how the Romans did meals. Then we’ll draw on archeological discoveries from Corinth to reconstruct what the meeting space would have been like for Christian gatherings. Lastly, we’ll see how strongly Paul rebuked their lack of unity and concern for those in need and see how he challenged them to think of the meal as a spiritual event with different rules than typical banquets.

        Scriptures covered: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

          Listen on Spotify

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-13.jpg 596 1 Corinthians in Context 13: Communion false no 50:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/04/12/595-1-corinthians-in-context-12-women/ Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:03:07 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9161 What was life like for women in the Roman empire? How did Christianity challenge cultural norms about the role of women? In today’s episode we’ll see what life was like for a range of women from wealthy single benefactors to athletes to freedwomen and slaves. We’ll focus our attention on the head-coverings passage in 1 Corinthians 11 and see why men were covering their heads and women were uncovering them. Lastly, we’ll work through the options for interpreting Paul’s instruction for women to remain silent during church services.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 11:2-6, 10, 14-15; 14:34-36

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-12.jpg 595 1 Corinthians in Context 12: Women false no 55:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/04/07/594-1-corinthians-in-context-11-money-and-benefaction/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 16:30:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9155 1 Corinthians 9 is a fascinating chapter. Paul masterfully lays out five arguments for why ministers should be paid for their work before telling the church of Corinth that he has chosen not to make use of this right and that he never would. Why not? What was it about the situation in Corinth that made Paul leery of taking their money? In order to get at this question we’ll consider how benefaction functioned in Greco-Roman cities. We’ll also consider two significant patronesses: Junia Theodora and Phoebe of Cenchreae. My hope is that this episode will open your eyes to see how Paul deftly negotiated the issue of benefaction in his first-century context.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 8:9-13; 9:1-27

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        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-11.jpg 594 1 Corinthians in Context 11: Money and Benefaction false no 51:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/03/27/593-1-corinthians-in-context-10-christology/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:16:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9144 What does 1 Corinthians tell us about Christ? After a brief survey of the main ideas about Christ in the epistle, we’ll turn our attention to understanding 1 Corinthians 8.6. This verse has been a lightning rod for speculating about Christ’s relationship to God. Scholars like N. T. Wright and Richard Bauckham have asserted that Paul identified Christ with God, whatever that means. Their idea is that Paul reworked the shema, the core creed of Judaism, in order to bring Christ into the “divine identity.” In this episode, I’ll critique that view and offer in its place a contextual reading that interprets 1 Corinthians 8.6 as addressing our Christian relationship to God through Christ. Rather than going to each of the gods for this or that, we go to the Father for everything and we receive everything from him through Christ.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 3:22-23; 8:4-6; 11:3; 15:23-28

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-10.jpg 593 1 Corinthians in Context 10: Christology false no 42:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/03/20/592-1-corinthians-in-context-9-food-sacrificed-to-idols/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:15:07 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9134 Although often overlooked today, whether or not to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols was a major issue in first-century Christianity, especially in urban centers like Corinth. The city was teeming with temples, idols, and smaller shrines. Divinities abounded and devotees made offerings regularly from a little wine poured out at a home shrine to full animal sacrifices amid the pomp and circumstance of a city-funded celebration in the main forum. It’s hard for us to imagine the immense social pressure, especially on elite Christians, to attend state sacrifices, eat meals at temple dining rooms, and accept invitations to banquets at which meats from animals sacrificed to the gods would be served. Join me to see what the idolatry landscape was like in Corinth and how Paul instructed the Christians there to navigate the situation with fidelity and grace.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:14-11:1

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-9.jpg 592 1 Corinthians in Context 9: Food Sacrificed to Idols false no 1:10:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/03/13/591-1-corinthians-in-context-8-marriage-divorce-and-remmarriage/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:09:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9125 The Romans looked at families and marriage very differently than most of us do today. In this session we’ll cover arranged marriages, the double standard for adultery, and the new Roman Women who were breaking all the rules. This will put us in a good place to read chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians and see how Christian marriage, divorce, and remarriage differed from how the world lived. We’ll see that not only was Christian marriage incredibly honoring to wives, it also provided a better foundation on which to build intimacy and mutuality.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Marriage-Divorce-Remarriage.jpg 591 1 Corinthians in Context 8: Marriage, Divorce, and Remmarriage false no 1:02:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/03/07/590-1-corinthians-in-context-7-lawsuits/ Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:53:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9112 How should Christians deal with internal disputes? As with so many other issues, the Christians in Corinth were failing to distinguish between the body of Christ and the world. Today we’ll consider what Paul wrote in the first half of 1 Corinthians chapter six. In order to get a handle on his instructions to the church, we’ll consider the Roman legal system and how litigation worked. We’ll see that Paul wanted them to work out their grievances internally rather than going to court before unbelievers. However, does this mean that Christians should never go to court? Find out in this episode.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

        Correction: in this presentation I said Cicero would put pebbles in his mouth and speak into the crashing waves at the ocean to strengthen his voice and articulation. I had that wrong. It was actually Demosthenes who did that not Cicero. Pace Robert Harris.

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-6.jpg 590 1 Corinthians in Context 7: Lawsuits false no 45:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/02/28/589-1-corinthians-in-context-6-homosexuality-singleness/ Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:02:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9103 So often we default to categories of thought prevalent in our time and without realizing it, read them into the Bible. As it turns out, first-century people living in Corinth did not think about sexuality like we do at all. In today’s episode, I want to begin by focusing rather closely on 1 Corinthians 6.9, which mentions same-sex relationships. This verse has been at the center of major translation disagreements that have sometimes opened the door wide to committed same sex relationships and at other times closed the door so tightly that even celibate men get locked out merely for experiencing attractions to the same sex.

        In what follows we’ll carefully examine not only the Greek underlying the bewildering array of English translations of 1 Corinthians 6.9, but also critical background information from both Greek and Roman cultures. This will put us on solid ground to understand precisely what behavior Paul is forbidding for Christians in Corinth. Next we’ll dip our toes into chapter seven and see how advantageous singleness is for Christians whether same-sex or opposite-sex attracted.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 6.9-11; 7.7-9, 28, 32-40

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-7.jpg 589 1 Corinthians in Context 6: Homosexuality & Singleness false no 43:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/02/21/588-1-corinthians-in-context-5-sexual-immorality/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:05:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9083 Do you know what blows my mind? That with all the permissiveness and sinfulness of the Roman world, what the Corinthian Christians were doing shocked Paul. He said that the sexual immorality of one man among them was so bad that such was not even found among the gentiles. That’s quite an indictment! Today we’re going to cover 1 Corinthians 5 and the second half of chapter 6. Both of these have to do with sexual immorality and, as such, today’s content is not appropriate for children. We’re going to cover the incident where a man was with his father’s wife as well as Paul’s condemnation of those who indulged in the use of prostitutes. It’s going to be a spicy episode.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 5.1-13; 6.12-20

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-5.jpg 588 1 Corinthians in Context 5: Sexual Immorality false no 47:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/02/13/587-1-corinthians-in-context-4-philosophy-wisdom/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:02:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9073 Paul wrote extensively about worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians. Due to the prevalence and esteem of philosophical schools, Paul probably felt a need to explain how Christianity measured up. In this lecture we’ll survey the five main philosophical options available to first-century Corinthians, including Platonism, Cynicism, Skepticism, Epicureanism and Stoicism. Then once we get a cursory grasp of how each of these worldly approaches worked, we’ll contrast them to Paul’s idea of spiritually discerned truths, which are available only to the mature in Christ.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-16; 3:1-4

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Here’s the link for the UCA UK Conference Paper Submission
        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-4.jpg 587 1 Corinthians in Context 4: Philosophy & Wisdom false no 50:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/02/06/586-1-corinthians-in-context-3-factions-status-at-corinth/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:32:16 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=9025 Now that we’ve familiarized ourselves with the city of Corinth and Paul’s missionary activity there, we’re ready to dive into 1 Corinthians. As I mentioned previously, my strategy for this class is to focus on the major themes rather than covering every verse. Our first theme is the issue of divisiveness among the Christians at Corinth, which spans the first four chapters of the letter. In this episode we’ll look at the factions in the church in light of two major contributing background forces: imperial celebrity culture and competition for status among Corinth’s elite. By situating ourselves firmly within the context of first-century Roman Corinth, we’ll see that worldly pride, ambition, and sectarianism infiltrated the church and how Paul inverted their sense of status by pointing to his message about Christ’s crucifixion.

        Scriptures Covered: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, 10-13; 26-29; 3:5-9; 4:1, 7-13; 6:9-11

          Listen on Spotify

          Listen on Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-3.jpg 586 1 Corinthians in Context 3: Factions & Status at Corinth false no 49:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/01/30/585-1-corinthians-in-context-2-paul-founds-the-church-at-corinth/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:29:50 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8997 How did Christianity come to Corinth in the first place? Although many times we are left speculating about how an ancient church got started, we have definitive knowledge about the Corinthian church from Luke, Paul’s traveling companion. In what follows we’ll work through Acts chapter 18 to see how Paul initially founded the church in Corinth. We’ll also take time to consider what life was like for Paul as a tentmaker, how he broke from the synagogue, and how we date Paul’s time there using the Gallio inscription from Delphi.

        Scriptures Covered: Acts 18.1-19; 1 Thessalonians 2.9; 2 Thessalonians 3.7-8

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-2.jpg 585 1 Corinthians in Context 2: Paul Founds the Church at Corinth false no 49:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/01/23/584-1-corinthians-in-context-1-corinth-as-the-context/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:46:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8983 Today we’re beginning something new. I’ve been working on this class on 1 Corinthians for months and months. I had taken classes on 1 Corinthians at Boston University twice. The first time we just read through the entire epistle in Greek. The second time was when we learned about what modern scholars said about Corinth. I’ve taught this epistle in the past both in a home bible study (in Rhode Island) and at the college level (in Georgia). Then, last April I had the opportunity to visit many ancient cities in both Turkey and Greece, including Corinth, which gave me first-hand knowledge and experience with the site and the museum. Then we hiked up the Acrocorinth to get a good view of the ocean and the ancient site. From all of this I’ve put together a class on 1 Corinthians that I hope will make the Bible come alive for you in a new and exciting way.

        Now, when most people pick up their Bibles and read 1 Corinthians, they approach it as if this was a modern document addressing our concerns today. Of course, there is a lot in 1 Corinthians that directly applies to us today, but there’s also a huge potential for misunderstanding when we read today’s issues and categories into Scripture. A better approach, and the approach I’ll be taking in this class, is to do the hard work of adjusting our minds to think like they thought in their time and place. When we do that we can see through their eyes and this will tremendously help us to understand what Paul was doing in the epistle he wrote them. Today is an introduction to the city of Corinth to help you start getting your bearings. Then next week we’ll look at what happened when Paul came there.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • See all the episodes in this class: 1 Corinthians in Context
        • Check out Sean’s other classes here
        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Corinthians-in-Context-1-e1737647328204.jpg 584 1 Corinthians in Context 1: Corinth as the Context false no 46:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/01/16/583-not-alone-anymore-vaughn-madsen/ Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:34:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8974 As we left things last time, Vaughn Madsen of New Zealand had been on a quest for biblical truth that resulted in repeated rejection from churches and Bible studies. Apart from his kids, Vaughn was alone. He met a couple of random people in street evangelism who agreed with him about Jesus, but that was it… for years. Even his wife, Sharon, didn’t agree with him. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t manage to convince her otherwise. He prayed and prayed. He waited. He was patient. Then in the last two years something changed. Today you’ll find out what that was as we listen in to the exciting conclusion of the story.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Vaughn-Madsen-testimony2.png 583 Not Alone Anymore (Vaughn Madsen) false no 48:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/01/10/582-kiwi-farmer-pursues-biblical-truth-vaughn-madsen/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:25:38 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8965 Vaughn Madsen was a simple kiwi farmer who subscribed to evangelical Christianity in New Zealand. No, he wasn’t farming kiwis. A kiwi is what you call someone from New Zealand. Anyhow, like I said, he was a devout member of his local church when he came across a presentation by Warren Prestige about the state of the dead. Although he had always believed his deceased loved ones were in heaven, this presentation provided extensive biblical evidence that the dead–both righteous and unrighteous–are asleep until the resurrection happens at the coming of Christ. Sometime later his brother prompted him to explore the Trinity. After looking through the scriptures on the topic, Vaughn concluded that the Father of Jesus alone was God. Still later, he came across Paul Washer’s preaching on repentance and adopted the view that obedience–not just belief–was necessary. At every stage of his journey he faced resistance, rebuke, and rejection and still, somehow, he kept going. Join me as we listen in to Vaughn’s incredible journey pursuing truth no matter the cost.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Vaughn-Madsen-testimony.png 582 Kiwi Farmer Pursues Biblical Truth (Vaughn Madsen) false no 49:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2025/01/02/581-stand-strong-in-the-lord-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 03 Jan 2025 03:09:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8954 Happy New Year everyone! Have you started to think about what you want to change in this coming year? Today we’re going to listen to a powerful message by Dr. Jerry Wierwille about standing strong in the Lord. The world is always pressing on us, squeezing us into its mold. How can we resist? What can we do? In this sermon Wierwille explains how putting on the armor of God will empower you to withstand the darts that come your way. Turning to God as your protector and refuge will help you stand strong today and throughout the coming year.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jerry-Wierwille-Stand-Strong.png 581 Stand Strong in the Lord (Jerry Wierwille) false no 38:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/12/27/580-an-honest-evaluation-of-the-evidence-for-the-deity-of-christ-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:17:05 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8945 Does the New Testament refer to Jesus as God? Though this is an important question, it’s only a starting point for wrestling with who Jesus is. In what follows we’ll consider the evidence from five scholars on what texts they say attribute deity to Christ. Then we’ll examine the biblical evidence that pulls in the opposite direction, suggesting that Jesus was not God. Lastly, we’ll examine five major possibilities for interpreting this data, including trinitarianism, modalism, Arianism, Greco-Roman polytheism, and biblical unitarianism.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Also see Five Major Problems with the Trinity
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
        • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this precious pearl of great price.
        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sean-Finnegan-Honest-Evaluation-of-Deity-of-Christ.png 580 An Honest Evaluation of the Evidence for the Deity of Christ (Sean Finnegan) false no 58:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/12/19/579-christologies-in-the-2nd-and-3rd-centuries-dale-tuggy/ Fri, 20 Dec 2024 03:39:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8935 Have you heard of Hippolytus’s Refutation of All Heresies? Written not long after 222 A.D. this book works through dozens of heresies–beliefs that the author disagreed with. Some scholars have argued against Hippolytus as the author, preferring to call him pseudo-Hippolytus. But regardless of who wrote the tome, the fact is that this huge book was the mature result of nearly seventy years of Christians cataloging heresies. In each case the next generation typically included much of what had come before and this book is no exception. It’s a massive tome, totaling more than 400 pages long in the most recent translation by David Litwa.

        In this talk, delivered at the 2024 UCA conference held in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Dale Tuggy draws on the Refutation of All Heresies to catalog the major christological options that were known to the author in the third century. Excluding all the gnostic groups, Tuggy identifies three broad groups of Christians who held very different ideas about Christ: the Dynamic Monarchians, the Modalistic Monarchians, and the Logos Incarnationists. Or to use the parlance of today, biblical unitarians, oneness believers, and Arians.

        But, what about the Trinity? Where was it? Why didn’t pseudo-Hippolytus mention three persons in one being? Surely hundreds of millions of Christians who say the Church has always believed in the Trinity from the beginning can’t be wrong, can they? Listen in to this talk to find out.

        Dale Tuggy is an analytic philosopher specializing in Trinity theories. He’s the author of the Trinity article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy as well as the book What Is the Trinity, which gives a brief introduction to the various Trinity models and their problems. A month ago, a new book came out that he contributed to called One God, Three Persons, Four Views, in which he debated various Trinitarian scholars, putting forward his own non-trinitarian view as an alternative. Find out more about Tuggy and his work at his blog: Trinities.org.

        In what follows he lays out the various christologies in the period before Nicea as well as explains quotations by Athenagoras and Mileto that modern trinitarian defenders use to prove that the Trinity was there in the second century. Lastly, he provides evidence for which view he thinks was the majority in the second and third centuries.

        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

        —— Links ——

        • Get the transcript of this episode
        • Check out these other episodes with Dale Tuggy
        • Support Restitutio by donating here
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        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dale-Tuggy-fools-gold.png 579 Christologies in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries (Dale Tuggy) false no 1:01:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/12/12/578-applying-old-testament-yhwh-passages-to-jesus-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:51:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8924 Have you ever noticed that the New Testament authors love to quote the Old Testament? This happens hundreds of times. Sometimes the quotation is direct, other times it is a paraphrase, still others a New Testament author will allude to the Old Testament. In today’s episode, we’re going to hear Dr. Jerry Wierwille explaining what Paul did in Romans 10.13 when he quoted Joel’s prophecy and applied it to Jesus.

          Not only will this presentation help you to understand Romans 10.13 better, it will open your eyes to the various interpretive methods that first-century Jews used when quoting the Old Testament and applying it to various situations.

          Dr. Wierwille has been a frequent guest on Restitutio over the years so many of you will be familiar with him. Nevertheless, let me give you a brief bio. Wierwille’s first love was science and so his Ph. D. is in biodmedical engineering. After that he shifted his interest to NT studies and earned both an MTS and an MDiv with a focus on Pauline literature. Now he’s working on a Ph. D. in NT at Stellenbosch University. He’s also the lead translator for Revised English Version and the director of research at Spirit and Truth. He is a teaching elder at Living Hope Community Church where I serve as the lead pastor.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Check out these other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
          • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this precious pearl of great price.
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jerry-Wierwille-Romans-10.13.png 578 Applying Old Testament YHWH Passages to Jesus (Jerry Wierwille) false no 54:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/12/05/577-nothing-mere-about-a-man-made-in-the-image-of-god-anna-brown/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:56:19 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8914 Has anyone ever said to you, “Oh, you believe Jesus is just a mere man.” How do you respond when someone says that? Do you just go along with it and say, “Yep, that’s what I believe–Jesus is just another guy”? I hope not.

          Jesus is not just another guy. He’s the virginally-conceived son of God who lived righteously without sin, healed dozens (maybe hundreds) of people, preached tirelessly about the kingdom, taught the Bible and how to live, performed many miracles and exorcisms, voluntarily died for our sins as a perfect sacrifice. Then God raised him from the dead and he ascended to God’s right hand from which place he is the head of the church and from which place he will come again on the last day to establish God’s reign upon the earth.

          This doesn’t sound like just another guy to me.

          Even so, Jesus’s unprecedented and magnificent accomplishments don’t make him God either. He is a genuine, authentic, 100% human being. He shows us what God can do with a human being who wholly submits to God in everything. In today’s episode Anna Brown will draw upon the Bible and the ancient Near Eastern background to show that humans can bear God’s image, representing him on earth. Although some allege that Jesus had to be God to succeed, Brown shows in her presentation that it was actually Christ’s humanity that equipped him to stand in for God as his quintessential image.

          Anna Brown grew up in Oregon and graduated from Hillsdale College with a Bachelor’s in Economics. Fluent in Spanish and learning Hebrew, she has traveled in Europe, Australia, and Israel, and lived in Spain. She currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and two children, where she does marketing and publishing for Living Hope International Ministries.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
          • Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this precious pearl of great price.

           

          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Anna-Brown-Nothing-Mere.png 577 Nothing Mere about a Man Made in the Image of God (Anna Brown) false no 1:00:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/11/28/576-thank-god-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:55:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8870 Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Now I realize many of you are listening from other countries outside the USA, so you may not have this holiday where you live. That’s fine. Still, I do appreciate how we set aside a day each year in this country to practice gratitude. In what follows we’ll consider a great biblical example of thankfulness: Hannah. My hope is that by considering her amazing story, you will be inspired to give God thanks for your blessings. And this message about gratitude is relevant any day of the year.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get the transcript of this episode
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean’s bio here

           

          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sean-Finnegan-Thank-God.png 576 Thank God (Sean Finnegan) false no 47:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/11/21/575-a-more-beautiful-life-collective-cayce-fletcher/ Fri, 22 Nov 2024 04:40:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8869 Cayce Fletcher is the host of A More Beautiful Life Collective, a blog, a YouTube channel, and a podcast. She releases a new show each week on making theology practical and developing a more beautiful life. As a wife, mother, and homemaker she appeals more to women than men, but I personally–as a man–have found much of her contact about lifestyle really helpful and I recommend it to you. In this interview, she shares about her journey of faith, why she made the show, systematic theology, and leading a good, true, and beautiful life.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean’s bio here

           

          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cayce-Fletcher-A-More-Beaut.png 575 A More Beautiful Life Collective (Cayce Fletcher) false no 47:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/11/13/574-pursue-your-blessing-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 03:00:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8868 It’s easy for complacency to set in our walk with God. It’s easy to settle into apathy with respect to spiritual growth. It’s easy to stop dreaming about what God can do in our lives. Today we’ll hear another message from Revive earlier this year–this one from yours truly. We’ll consider three examples of people who pursued blessing from God: Jabez, Rahab, and Jacob. This episode should nicely round out our four-part series on walking with God.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get the transcript of this episode
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean’s bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sean-Finnegan-Pursue-Your-Blessing.png 574 Pursue Your Blessing (Sean Finnegan) false no 58:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/11/08/573-prophetic-words-of-encouragement-garrett-bova/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:49:27 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8867 Over our last two episodes we’ve been hearing from Pastor Bob Carden on the topic of healing and walking by the spirit. Today I’d like to play out a sermon by Carden’s successor, Garrett Bova who is the lead pastor now at Align Ministries. Now I realize his message will challenge some of you to consider speaking prophetically in a way that may be foreign to you. All I ask is that you hear him out. He talks about the power of words of encouragement and speaking blessings over people.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Visit the Align Ministries website for more about Garrett Bova
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean’s bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Garrett-Bova-prophetic-words.png 573 Prophetic Words of Encouragement (Garrett Bova) false no 53:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/10/31/572-isaiah-9-6-explained-a-theophoric-approach/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 19:00:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8837 Comparing the Hebrew of Isaiah 9.6 to most popular English translations results in some serious questions. Why have our translations changed the tense of the verbs from past to future? Why is this child called “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father”? In this presentation I work through Isaiah 9.6 line by line to help you understand the Hebrew. Next I look at interpretive options for the child as well as his complicated name. Not only will this presentation strengthen your understanding of Isaiah 9.6, but it will also equip you to explain it to others.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • See my other articles here
          • Check out my class: One God Over All
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean’s bio here

          Below is the paper presented on October 18, 2024 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the 4th annual UCA Conference. Access this paper on Academia.edu to get the pdf. Full text is below, including bibliography and end notes.

          Abstract

          Working through the grammar and syntax, I present the case that Isaiah 9:6 is the birth announcement of a historical child. After carefully analyzing the name given to the child and the major interpretive options, I make a case that the name is theophoric. Like the named children of Isaiah 7 and 8, the sign-child of Isaiah 9 prophecies what God, not the child, will do. Although I argue for Hezekiah as the original fulfillment, I also see Isaiah 9:6 as a messianic prophecy of the true and better Hezekiah through whom God will bring eternal deliverance and peace.

           

          Introduction

          Paul D. Wegner called Isaiah 9:6[1] “one of the most difficult problems in the study of the Old Testament.”[2] To get an initial handle on the complexities of this text, let’s begin briefly by comparing the Hebrew to a typical translation.

          Isaiah 9:6 (BHS[3]) כִּי־יֶ֣לֶד יֻלַּד־לָ֗נוּ בֵּ֚ן נִתַּן־לָ֔נוּ וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה עַל־שִׁכְמ֑וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ פֶּ֠לֶא יוֹעֵץ֙ אֵ֣ל גִּבּ֔וֹר אֲבִיעַ֖ד שַׂר־שָׁלֽוֹם׃

          Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

          Curiosities abound in the differences between these two. The first two clauses in English, “For to us a child is born” and “to us a son is given,” employ the present tense ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Isaiah-9.6-rev.png 572 Isaiah 9.6 Explained: A Theophoric Approach false no 58:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/10/24/571-give-god-a-shot-bob-carden/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:49:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8821 This is part two of my conversation with Bob Carden who served as the lead pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship for decades before retiring. (The church is now called Align Ministries, led by Garrett Bova.) Continuing on the topic of healing and deliverance from last week, we begin by talking about evil spirits and pornography addiction. Next we spend a good deal of time discussing how Align Ministries enables holy spirit activity during their weekly services. Carden ends with a challenge, saying, "Put yourself out there for God. Don't be afraid to attempt something the Bible says you should be able to do."

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

           

          —— Links ——

          • Learn more about Bob Carden at Align Ministries
          • Get Carden's book, One God: The Unfinished Reformation
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Bob-Carden3.png 571 Give God a Shot (Bob Carden) false no 1:07:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/10/16/570-my-journey-into-healing-ministry-bob-carden/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:47:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8811 People need the touch of God in their lives. People are broken, wounded, and sick. Jesus Christ has already come and made available deliverance from sin and its consequences. He did this throughout his ministry and continues to bring healing through his church today. Bob Carden shares about his own journey of faith from Catholicism to the Way Ministry to pastoring a non-denominational church in Naperville, IL. Now retired, he relates his decades-long pursuit of the miraculous, especially deliverance and healing. Now I realize this can be a controversial subject, which is why I'm so thankful for how Carden's kind and compassionate tone comes through in this conversation.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Learn more about Bob Carden at Align Ministries
          • Get Carden's book, One God: The Unfinished Reformation
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Bob-Carden.png 570 My Journey into Healing Ministry (Bob Carden) false no 56:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/10/11/569-the-cost-of-truth-seneca-harbin/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:17:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8800 Seneca Harbin became a Christian later in life through reading the Bible. However, when he was attending a megachurch in Indianapolis, he starting hearing the pastor preach about Christ in a way that seemed bizarre and unbiblical. To his surprise Seneca discovered that the vast majority of Christians held to these extra-biblical speculations about multiple persons in the godhead and dual natures of Christ. This set him on a quest to find others who, like him, preferred to stop where scripture stops and understand Jesus as the Messiah not a God man.

          After relating his own spiritual journey, he talks about his recent book, The Cost of Truth, which adds in the testimonies of several others, including Bill Schlegel, Will Barlow, Johnny Barnes, Seth Ross, Susanne Lakin, Candise Tuggy, and Ryan Russell. I believe this book will fire you up. It's easy to get complacent, but this little book of testimonies shows us that God is not done yet. He's reaching people in our time, calling them out of darkness and confusion into his marvelous light.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Pick up your copy of The Cost of Truth
          • Check out these other podcast interviews about leaving the Trinity.
          • Get the transcript of this episode
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Seneca-Harbin.png 569 The Cost of Truth (Seneca Harbin) false no 1:16:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/10/03/568-the-witch-of-endor-and-the-rich-man-and-lazarus-parable-dustin-smith-sam-tideman/ Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:42:27 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8780 Last week Dustin Smith and Sam Tideman discussed the intermediate state--what happens after death but before resurrection on the last day. Although most Christians affirm the folk idea of going immediately to heaven or hell at death, Smith and Tideman argue that the Bible teaches the dead are in Sheol or Hades. However they disagree on what's happening there. Smith holds to soul-sleep while Tideman believes the dead are conscious. We went through many scriptures last time, but today we'll discuss two critical texts on this subject: the witch of Endor and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/B42ZendSYJU

          —— Links ——

          • More about Dustin Smith here
          • More about Sam Tideman here
          • Check out these other episodes discussing the intermediate state
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
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          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dustin-Smith-and-Sam-Tideman2.png 568 The Witch of Endor and the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman) false no 1:02:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/09/26/567-are-the-dead-conscious-dustin-smith-sam-tideman/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:53:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8761 Dustin Smith and Sam Tideman discuss whether people are conscious in the intermediate state (between death and resurrection). Interestingly, neither of them think the deceased are currently in heaven or hell. Smith affirms the sleep of the dead, seeing all the dead, whether good or bad, as unconscious and unaware of the passage of time. Tideman puts forward the idea that the souls of the dead are in a semi-conscious dreamlike state in a chamber called Sheol or Hades. Today is part one of their discussion in which both lay out their positions and then discuss Ecclesiastes 9.10 and Isaiah 14.9-11. This is part one of their conversation. Stay tuned for part two next week.

          Dr. Dustin Smith currently serves as a New Testament scholar at Spartanburg Methodist College in South Carolina. Smith has authored or edited six books, including the 2024 monograph, Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John. He is also the weekly host of the Biblical Unitarian Podcast.

          Sam Tideman is a Harvard educated data scientist at Google who has keen interests in biblical studies, theology, and especially church history. He hosts the YouTube channel, "Transfigured," which has a total of nearly 250k views with interesting guests like Tim Mackie, Alister McGrath, and John Vervaeke.

          https://youtu.be/v6IBqLHlzQ4

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • More about Dustin Smith here
          • More about Sam Tideman here
          • Check out these other episodes discussing the intermediate state
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
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          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dustin-Smith-and-Sam-Tideman.png 567 Are the Dead Conscious? (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman) false no 1:03:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/09/20/566-kingdom-seminar-5-kingdom-ambassadors/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:17:47 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8750 This is part 5 of the Kingdom Seminar, based on the book Kingdom Journey.

          This episode begins by delving into the history of how the theologians of the third and fourth centuries rejected the kingdom since they thought it was too crude, too hedonic, and too Jewish. Next I briefly cover three rediscovery movements, including the Anabaptists of the 16th century, the Adventists of the 19th century, and the New Testament scholars of the 20th century. Still, the majority of Christendom lies in the shadow of heaven-at-death mythology, hidden from the light of God's grand vision for our world. You and I have work to do. The kingdom of God is not a side doctrine--a footnote in eschatology. It's extremely important. We are kingdom ambassadors. And we have a winning message to tell the world.

          https://youtu.be/QduueQxY-jo

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey here.
          • Check out the full Kingdom Seminar series
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Slide5.png 566 Kingdom Seminar 5: Kingdom Ambassadors false no 1:03:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/09/12/565-kingdom-seminar-4-kingdom-allegiance/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:25:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8741 This is part 4 of the Kingdom Seminar, based on the book Kingdom Journey.

          Jesus didn't just believe in a future kingdom that didn't affect the present. His entire ministry was saturated with kingdom symbology and activity. Wherever he went, he brought a bubble of the kingdom with him. As Christ-followers, we too, are called to prophesy the kingdom in how we live. This should include adopting the kingdom's culture, as well as pledging allegiance to the kingdom.

          https://youtu.be/xsynGDjUjP0

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey here.
          • Check out the full Kingdom Seminar series
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Slide4.png 565 Kingdom Seminar 4: Kingdom Allegiance false no 46:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/09/05/564-kingdom-seminar-3-defining-the-kingdom/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:23:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8717 This is part 3 of the Kingdom Seminar, based on the book Kingdom Journey.

          The kingdom of God is the golden thread running throughout the whole Bible from beginning to end. In this presentation, we'll consider some of the key texts from the Old and New Testaments that define what the kingdom is. In contrast to many who think the goal of Christian salvation is to go home to be with the Lord in heaven, the Bible offers a consistent vision of God's children living forever on a restored world. Rather than leaving the planet or physicality, the kingdom is the idea that God will fix up this place, healing everything in it from national strife to animal violence--and everything between.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l66rBsPzYU&feature=youtu.be

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey here.
          • Check out the full Kingdom Seminar series
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Slide3.png 564 Kingdom Seminar 3: Defining the Kingdom false no 58:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/08/30/563-kingdom-seminar-2-defining-heaven/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:21:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8688 This is part 2 of the Kingdom Seminar, based on the book Kingdom Journey.

          What is heaven? Although it is not the place where the dead go when they die, it is, still, a real place. Today we'll survey different ways in which the Bible talks about heaven, including the sky, God's throne, the storehouse, and the heaven of heavens. Next we'll consider what other religions teach about the afterlife. Finally, we'll conclude by seeing how the Biblical authors courageously took a radically unpopular view about life after death.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fryp8pkMJHA

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey here.
          • Check out the full Kingdom Seminar series
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Slide2.png 563 Kingdom Seminar 2: Defining Heaven false no 45:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/08/22/562-kingdom-seminar-1-why-should-you-care/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:45:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8664 Last December, my first ever published book came out, called Kingdom Journey. Recently I recorded a seminar on the kingdom at a church in South Carolina based on the book that I will be playing out over the next 5 weeks. In this seminar I highlight some of the key points in my book and also add in some new content. Today we're going to start by asking the question, "Why should I care about the kingdom of God?" In what follows I make the case that we should care because Jesus said to prioritize the kingdom and because he preached it as gospel. Whether you've long believed in God's kingdom coming to earth at Christ's return or you're new to it, I hope this message will encourage and inspire you to share the message with others.

          https://youtu.be/_33DdEnbyKE

           Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          —— Links ——

          • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey here.
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Slide1.png 562 Kingdom Seminar 1: Why Should You Care false no 41:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/08/15/561-united-kingdom-uca-conference-review-daisy-jones-mark-cain/ Thu, 15 Aug 2024 19:03:04 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8656 Last month the Unitarian Christian Alliance put on the first conference in Europe. A mixture of British and American speakers presented on various aspects of unitarian Christianity. In today's episode I speak with Daisy Jones, one of the main coordinators of the event as well as Mark Cain who assisted in planning and in recording the presentations. They share some highlights from this year's conference as well as what they are planning for next year.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/bG62n-JyEv8

          —— Links ——

          • Find out more about the Unitarian Christian Alliance as well as about future events
          • Listen to the interview with Josh and Daisy Jones: Walking with God
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/UCA-UK-conference.png 561 United Kingdom UCA Conference Review (Daisy Jones, Mark Cain) false no 36:23 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/08/09/560-pentecost-reversing-babel-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:03:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8646 Pentecost, as described in Acts 2, was a strange event. We read about unusual miraculous signs such as the sound of a great wind and tongues of fire. Still, the most interesting moment is when the apostles of our Lord began speaking in foreign languages that they didn't know. Such divine utterance is called speaking in tongues and everyone, it seems, has an opinion about it. But, have you ever asked yourself why?

          God is launching the church to go into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Christ pours out the spirit to enable them to be his witnesses. OK. But, why have them speak in foreign languages? Now, this can't just be a nifty trick to grab people's attention, though it certainly did that. Join me as we consider the Old Testament background to Pentecost, which I believe goes all the way back to Babel when God originally confused the languages.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/eRgD-t0tskw

          —— Links ——

          • Check out these other episodes about speaking in tongues
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pentecost-Reversing-Babel.jpg 560 Pentecost Reversing Babel (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:00:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/08/02/559-youth-ministry-matters-joshua-michael-smith/ Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:15:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8619 Last week Joshua Michael Smith began sharing his testimony from childhood to his college years when he changed his mind about Jesus's identity. In part two he talks about cage stage unitarianism--where one seeks to confront everyone about this important truth regardless of their interested or antagonism. Smith shares how he matured while continuing to work within Assemblies of God and Baptist churches in Tennessee. Then we broach the topic of youth ministry. Smith explains why it is so important and what he hopes to accomplish as the new youth ministry coordinator at Living Hope.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmk5_q7Lh9w

          —— Links ——

          • Visit Guthrie Grove in Pelzer, SC (Aug 11-14)
          • Sign up to come to Kingdom Fest at Living Hope near Albany, NY (Sep 13-15)
          • Register to attend the UCA conference near Little Rock, AK (Oct 17-19)
          • Check out these other interviews about people leaving the Trinity to embrace a biblical unitarianian understanding of God.
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Joshua-Michael-Smith2.png 559 Youth Ministry Matters (Joshua Michael Smith) false no 41:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/07/26/558-courageous-baptist-seeks-biblical-truth-joshua-michael-smith/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:26:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8610 Joshua Michael Smith grew up in northern Florida in a Baptist church. In this interview he shares his journey of faith, including how came to Christ as well as how he ended up in ministry training at Word of Life before earning a bachelors at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga. While there, he began questioning his received doctrinal package based on the Bible. As a result, he came to discover the human Messiah of scripture and courageously embraced this new understanding despite the consequences. This is part one of his story.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/bMDi7DMGPsE?si=ABYRX2wrLdNbiOFv

          —— Links ——

          • Check out these other interviews about people leaving the Trinity to embrace a biblical unitarianian understanding of God.
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Joshua-Michael-Smith1-1.png 558 Courageous Baptist Seeks Biblical Truth (Joshua Michael Smith) false no 1:06:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/07/18/557-bridging-the-testaments-george-athas/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 01:50:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8592 Many believe there is 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testament. My guest today is Professor George Athas, director of research and senior lecturer in Hebrew, Old Testament, and Early Church History at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. He's the author of Bridging the Testaments, which covers four major periods, including Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Roman. By studying the four centuries before Christ you can gain key insights to help you understand both the Old and New Testaments. You will discover that God was still speaking all the while.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWT83oT2ts

          —— Links ——

          • More about George Athas here
          • Check out his book: Bridging the Testaments
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/George-Athas.png 557 Bridging the Testaments (George Athas) false no 57:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/07/12/556-recruiting-ancients-for-the-creation-debate-andrew-brown/ Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:33:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8589 Christians have approached the first chapter of Genesis differently over the centuries. There are those who hold to young earth creationism, day-age theory, gap theory, and progressive creationism, just to name a few. Oftentimes defenders of a particular view will provide biblical, scientific, and historical evidence for their position. Our focus today is on the use of church history to find witnesses for this or that view.  Rather than cherry picking a quote here and quote there, it's better to read ancient Christians in their own context to be sure we are interpreting them correctly.

          My guest today is Dr. Andrew Brown, a lecturer in OT and Hebrew at Melbourne School of Theology. He did his thesis on the creation week in Genesis 1 and 2 and has written a book called Recruiting the Ancients for the Creation Debate. In today's episode he shares his concerns and recommendations for handling our historical sources wisely.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX2P-ksSIHw

          —— Links ——

          • More about Andrew Brown here
          • Check out his book: Recruiting the Ancients for the Creation Debate
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/andrew-brown.png 556 Recruiting Ancients for the Creation Debate (Andrew Brown) false no 51:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/07/04/555-was-paul-really-subverting-caesar-clint-burnett/ Thu, 04 Jul 2024 19:00:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8565 Scholars and pastors regularly point to specialized "technical" language in Paul's epistles to make the case that Paul was intentionally subverting Roman power by applying to Jesus terms that the ancients commonly applied to the Caesars. My guest today has done the hard work of analyzing the inscriptions, coins, and material remains of several key ancient cities to see how they talked about the Roman emperors in the New Testament period. In our conversation he shares his own journey to become an independent scholar as well as how his research offers a corrective to what many are saying about imperial divine honors.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErL9D90JL7k

          —— Links ——

          • More about Clint Burnett here
          • Check out his book Paul & Imperial Divine Honors
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Clint-Burnett.png 555 Was Paul Really Subverting Caesar? (Clint Burnett) false no 1:09:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/06/28/554-biblical-unitarian-christians-in-new-zealand-zach-mayo/ Fri, 28 Jun 2024 04:22:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8564 Something is going on in New Zealand...and I'm excited to tell you about it. In today's interview I speak with Zach Mayo who along with his wife, Kayla, were serving as youth pastors at an evangelical church when they came to change their minds on the doctrine of the Trinity. Now they're organizing a conference to unite one-God believers in New Zealand and invite folks from Australia and beyond to come.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/U27POf3dKnI

          —— Links ——

          • To register for the upcoming conference, use this link
          • Get in touch with Zach Mayo at zkmayo@outlook.com
          • See other testimonies of people who left the Trinity and came to believe in the biblical unitarian Jesus
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zach-Mayo2.png 554 Biblical Unitarian Christians in New Zealand (Zach Mayo) false no 50:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/06/20/553-pro-golfer-turned-christologist-tells-all-kermit-zarley/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:59:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8552 Kermit Zarley was a professional golfer who had an interest in studying the Bible about the end times when he came across a disturbing verse. Reading Jesus's words in the Olivet Discourse, he noticed that only the Father knew the day and hour of the end. Neither the angels nor the son of God were privy to it. As a good trinitarian evangelical, Zarley was familiar with the dual natures idea, but just couldn't square that with the scripture. If Jesus was God in his being, he knew everything. Why did he say he didn't know the time of the end? Surely, Jesus couldn't be lying! This conundrum set Zarley down a path of research and investigation for many years until he slowly uncovered a different way of understanding Christ. Although he knew going public with his new belief would result in ostracism and rejection, he went ahead with it anyhow. This is his story.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/3bZ7t2Z-ql8

          —— Links ——

          • Take a listen to my previous interview with "Servetus the Evangelical" from 2009
          • Get in touch with Kermit at kermitzarley.com
          • Read his blog at Patheos
          • Check out his books on Amazon
          • See other testimonies of people who left the Trinity and came to believe in the biblical unitarian Jesus
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kermit-Zarley.png 553 Pro Golfer Turned Christologist Tells All (Kermit Zarley) false no 1:16:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/06/14/552-seminary-convinced-me-the-trinity-is-wrong-susanne-lakin/ Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:27:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8537 From her childhood in a Jewish family to a 7-year stint with the Jehovah's Witnesses to attending evangelical churches, Susanne Lakin never felt comfortable with the doctrine of the Trinity. She signed up to attend Phoenix Seminary, a conservative evangelical school, thinking they would help her finally get to the bottom of it. She was willing to agree to the idea, thinking, surely, studying with scholars like Wayne Grudem, the prince of evangelical systematic theology, would answer her questions and settle the issue for her once and for all. Amazingly, the opposite happened. This is her story.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://youtu.be/W35IRYHjfP8

          —— Links ——

          • Get in touch with Susanne at livewritethrive.com
          • Check out her theological book about annihilationism: Hell No
          • Get Leeland Ryken's book, God's Word in English
          • See other testimonies of people who left the Trinity and came to believe in the biblical unitarian Jesus
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read Sean's bio here
          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Susanne-Lakin-2.png 552 Seminary Convinced Me the Trinity Is Wrong (Susanne Lakin) false no 1:06:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/06/07/551-read-the-bible-for-yourself-18-helpful-tools-to-understand-the-bible/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:57:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8529 This is part 18 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

          What tools can help you understand the bible better? Today we'll cover some recommended resources for you to deepen your study of the scriptures, including bible dictionaries, commentaries, bible software, AI, and more. Of course, it's impossible to cover everything in a reasonable time frame, so I'll just recommend two or three of each resource type, focusing primarily on tools that I personally have and use regularly.

          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJOFFIkNdUg&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=18

          —— Links ——

          • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
          • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
          • Get the transcript of this episode
          • Support Restitutio by donating here
          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

          —— Notes ——

          18 Helpful Tools to Understand the Bible

          Why do we need extra-biblical tools to help us understand the Bible?

          • Different geography
          • Different history
          • Different cultures (ancient Near Eastern, first-century Jewish, Greco-Roman)
          • Different economics
          • Different literacy rates
          • Different scientific and philosophical knowledge

          Bible Dictionaries

          • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
          • Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)
          • Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2015)
          • The IVP Bible Dictionary Series
            • Dictionary of OT: Pentateuch (2002)
            • Dictionary of OT: Historical Books (2005)
            • Dictionary of OT: Wisdom, Poetry, & Writings (2008)
            • Dictionary of OT: Prophets (2012)
            • Dictionary of NT Background (2000)
            • Dictionary of Jesus & Gospels (2013)
            • Dictionary of Paul & Letters (2023)
            • Dictionary of the Later NT (1997)

          Commentaries

          • Fee & Stuart: “Jesus says, ‘…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ You will sometimes hear it said that there was a gate in Jerusalem known as the “Needle’s Eye,” which camels could go through only by kneeling, and with great difficulty. The point of this “interpretation” is that a camel could in fact go through the “Needle’s Eye.” The trouble with this “exegesis,” however, is t]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-18-tools.jpg 551 Read the Bible for Yourself 18: Helpful Tools to Understand the Bible false no 39:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/05/31/550-read-the-bible-for-yourself-17-how-to-choose-a-bible-translation/ Fri, 31 May 2024 13:31:23 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8518 This is part 17 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

            After reviewing the resources you can use to learn Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, we delve into the sources that translators use for their work. Next, we'll look at translation philosophies, including formal and dynamic equivalence. Lastly we'll cover the controversial issues of gender accuracy and translation bias. Over all, this episode should give you a nice introduction to a deep answer for what translations you should use and why.

            Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsxuNfkTt-U&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=18

            —— Links ——

            • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
            • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
            • Get the transcript of this episode
            • Support Restitutio by donating here
            • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
            • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
            • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
            • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

            —— Notes ——

            17 How to Choose a Bible Translation

            Translation basics

            • Fee & Stuart: “Your Bible, whatever translation you use, which is your beginning point, is in fact the end result of much scholarly work. Translators are regularly called upon to make choices regarding meanings, and their choices are going to affect how you”[1]
            • “Every translation is a commentary” -Lee Brice

            The Bible is in three languages.

            1. Hebrew: Old Testament except the Aramaic part
               1. Nearly 99% of the OT (22,945 of 23,213 verses)
            2. Aramaic: half of Daniel and two passages in Ezra
               2. Daniel 2.4b-7.28; Ezra 4.8-6.18; 7.12-26
               3. About 1% of the OT (268 of 23,213 verses)
            3. Greek: New Testament (all 7,968 verses)

            How to begin learning Hebrew or Greek

            • Immersion program in Israel or Greece
              • Whole Word Institute offers a 9-month program.
            • In-person college class (usually 2 semesters)
              • Local colleges, RTS offers an 8-week summer program.
            • In-person classes at a Jewish synagogue or Greek church or community center
            • Online program with live instructor
              • Biblical Language Center, Liberty University, etc.
            • Digital program with pre-recordings
              • Aleph with Beth (YouTube), Bill Mounce’s DVD course, etc.

            How to improve your existing knowledge of ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-17-translation.jpg 550 Read the Bible for Yourself 17: How to Choose a Bible Translation false no 59:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/05/23/549-read-the-bible-for-yourself-16-how-to-read-revelation/ Thu, 23 May 2024 17:04:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8510 This is part 16 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

            Revelation is a complicated book of the Bible. It contains some of the most incredible and awe-inspiring descriptions of God's throne room and the final paradise on earth. It also describes sinister mayhem, wanton destruction, and toe-curling persecution. How can we make sense of it? In today's episode we'll go over the basics of authorship, audience, occasion, and purpose. Then we'll explore how Revelation uses visionary symbols to convey truth. Lastly, we'll go over five interpretive lenses through which you can understand the timing of the events in Revelation. We may not settle every issue, but my hope is that this overview will at least prepare you to read Revelation for yourself.

            Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

            https://youtu.be/98OFG5OSjNE?si=jcN6wZnbeqavNFRi

            —— Links ——

            • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
            • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
            • Get the transcript of this episode
            • Support Restitutio by donating here
            • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
            • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
            • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
            • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

            —— Notes ——

            How to Read Revelation

            Authorship

            • John is the author. (Rev 1:1-2)
            • It is hard to say if this was the same John who wrote the Gospel of John and the Epistles.
            • Later Christians generally believed Revelation was by the same John.
            • The style, vocabulary, and themes are completely different.
            • John was exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith. (Rev 1:9)
            • “The Roman government, beginning with the emperor Nero, no longer considered Christianity as a sect of Judaism, which was a legal religion in the empire. Instead, Rome began to view it as an undesirable foreign cult that was a menace to society. John’s testimony about Jesus Christ was viewed as a political crime and hence punishable under Roman law. His suffering was the price paid for obeying a different King and testifying to a different Lord.”[1]

            Audience

            • Rev 1:10 says John wrote to seven churches in the province of Asia Minor (western Turkey).
            • These churches were in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

            Occasion

            • Ephesus: enduring well, not growing weary, having discerned false apostles well, not loving
            • Smy]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-16-Revelation.jpg 549 Read the Bible for Yourself 16: How to Read Revelation false no 58:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/05/17/548-read-the-bible-for-yourself-15-how-to-read-the-general-epistles/ Fri, 17 May 2024 14:26:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8499 This is part 15 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

              In previous episodes, we've looked at Paul's church epistles and pastoral epistles. Today we move into the third section of epistles in the New Testament--the general epistles. Instead of surveying each of the eight general epistles, we'll just focus on two: Hebrews and 1 John. We'll ask about author, audience, occasion, purpose, and mode for each. Going through these two will hopefully provide you with helpful examples to enable you to read these epistles more fruitfully on your own.

              Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

              https://youtu.be/alXkHkkhn_w

              —— Links ——

              • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
              • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
              • Get the transcript of this episode
              • Support Restitutio by donating here
              • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
              • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
              • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
              • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

              —— Notes ——

              The General Epistles

              • Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
              • Some consider Hebrews to be Pauline, but even if Paul wrote it, it’s not to a church or a pastor, so it still fits as a general epistle
              • 2 John and 3 John are technical to specific individuals and thus not general epistles

              Hebrews

              • Authorship
                • Evidence for Paul
                  • Associated with Timothy and Rome (Heb 13:23-24)
                  • Pauline themes
                • Evidence against Paul
                  • Non-Pauline themes
                  • Ancient uncertainty (Origen, Eusebius, etc.)
                  • Non-standard opening
                  • Not an eyewitness (Heb 2:3)
                • Daniel Wallace suggested Barnabas with help from Apollos.
              • Audience
                • As title indicates, the audience was Jewish.
                • Persecuted (Heb 10:32-36)
              • Occasion
                • Became aware of some falling away from faith (Heb 3:6; 4:14; 6:4-6; 10:23, 26-27)
                • Concern that they will return to Judaism
              • Purpose
                • Convince Jewish Christians to endure in the faith instead of falling away (presumably back into Judaism)
              • Mode
                • Show that Jesus is better
                • Ch 1: Jesus as God’s promised Messiah is better than the angels who gave the Law.
                • Ch 2:  Jesus’ salvation is better b/c he is human.
                • Ch 3:  Jesus is better than Moses.
                • Ch 7: Jesus’ priesthood is better than Aaron’s.
                • Ch 8:  Jesus’ covenant is better than the old covenant b/c it has bett]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-15-general-epistles.jpg 548 Read the Bible for Yourself 15: How to Read the General Epistles false no 51:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/05/09/547-read-the-bible-for-yourself-14-how-to-read-the-pastoral-epistles/ Thu, 09 May 2024 23:00:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8369 This is part 14 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                  The Pastoral Epistles are letters to church leaders, instructing them how churches should function. Though they are not well read by most Christians today, they remain authoritative for pastors, elders, and deacons. Today we'll cover 1-2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. We'll explore the major theme of how the church should be a well-run household where godliness prevails. Additionally, we'll consider qualifications for leadership, warnings against false teachers, and the incredible importance of sound teaching.

                  Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-zdww6-Udk&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=14&t=1004s&pp=iAQB

                  —— Links ——

                  • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                  • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                  • Get the transcript of this episode
                  • Support Restitutio by donating here
                  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                  • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                  —— Notes ——

                  The Pastoral Epistles

                  • 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
                  • Philemon is not always included as a pastoral Epistle since it only deals with a specific issue regarding a single person.

                  Household

                  • Paul employs the metaphor of a household in the pastorals to illustrate the order he’d like to see in the churches (1 Tim 3:14-15).
                  • ZIBBC: “In Xenophon’s essay, the husband instructs his fourteen-year-old bride (the average age for marriage among Greek and Roman girls was fourteen to sixteen) on her vital role in managing the household resources, including the care and supervision of household slaves, while he supervised the gathering of produce from the farms. Because of the presence of slaves and freedmen in an average ancient household, management of sometimes large households could be demanding.”[1]
                  • Lynn Cohick: “The family in the Greco-Roman world valued the community over the individual and promoted corporate honor and fortune. Those living in the domus (“home”) included parents and children, and perhaps extended family, such as adult siblings, cousins, and grandparents, as well as slaves, freedmen, and freedwomen. Each individual had a specific status within the home, and each family member deemed the social status of the family, including its wealth and social prestige, as of equal or greater val]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-14-pastoral-epistles.jpg 547 Read the Bible for Yourself 14: How to Read the Pastoral Epistles false no 38:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/05/02/546-read-the-bible-for-yourself-13-how-to-read-the-church-epistles/ Thu, 02 May 2024 23:00:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8367 This is part 13 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                    Before getting to the Church Epistles, we'll begin with an overview of how letters were written, read, and performed. Then we'll see how they are arranged in our Bibles. We'll spend a good deal of time talking about occasion. Why did Paul write each letter? What was going on that prompted him to initiate the expensive and elaborate process of writing to them? Lastly, we'll briefly consider how to apply what we read to our lives.

                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg3tInZU9JY&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=13&pp=iAQB

                    —— Links ——

                    • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                    • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                    • Get the transcript of this episode
                    • Support Restitutio by donating here
                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                    —— Notes ——

                    Letters in the First Century

                    • Letters written on papyrus with ink by a professional scribe (amanuensis)
                    • Though most letters that have survived from the ancient world were short and to the point, Paul’s Epistles are extremely long.
                    • Because there was no postal system, someone had to carry the letter to its destination.
                    • Upon arrival, most people couldn’t read, so a professional would need to read it aloud.
                    • This was difficult because there were no chapters, verses, paragraphs, punctuation, or spaces between words (scriptio continua).

                    Name

                    Greek Words

                    English Words

                    Verses

                    Chapters

                    Romans

                    7113

                    9506

                    432

                    16

                    1 Corinthians

                    6832

                    9532

                    437

                    16

                    2 Corinthians

                    4480

                    6160

                    257

                    13

                    Galatians

                    2232

                    3227

                    149

                    6

                    Ephesians

                    2424

                    3047

                    155

                    6

                    Philippians

                    1631

                    2261

                    104

                    4

                    Colossians

                    1583

                    1993

                    95

                    4

                    1 Thessalonians

                    1484

                    1908

                    89

                    5

                    2 Thessalonians

                    826

                    1065

                    47

                    3

                    Church Epistles in Chronological Order

                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-13-church-epistles.jpg 546 Read the Bible for Yourself 13: How to Read the Church Epistles false no 44:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/04/25/545-read-the-bible-for-yourself-12-how-to-read-acts/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:00:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8365 This is part 12 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                    Acts is an action-packed book full of excitement and wonder. We learn about the early expansion of the Church from a small group of ragged Christ-followers to dozens of house churches throughout major cities in the Mediterranean world. How did Christianity "go public"? The book of Acts tells that story. In this episode you'll learn four major emphases in Acts as well as how to think through application for us today.

                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TIzpc3mfOg&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=12&pp=iAQB

                    —— Links ——

                    • For more about Family Camp visit LHIM
                    • Check out the UCA conferences for USA, UK, and NZ here
                    • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                    • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                    • Get the transcript of this episode
                    • Support Restitutio by donating here
                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                    —— Notes ——

                    Luke wrote Acts.

                    • Acts 1:1-2
                    • Acts is the second volume.
                    • Luke is about the life of Christ.
                    • Acts is about the early expansion of the church.

                    Major events of Acts

                    1. 1:1-11  Jesus commissions and ascends.
                    2. 1:12-27 Peter initiates replacing Judas.
                    3. 2:1-47 Spirit is poured out, and Peter preaches.
                    4. 3:1-26 Peter heals lame man and preaches.
                    5. 4:1-6:7  Communal living in Jerusalem
                    6. 6:8-7:60  Stephen’s martyrdom
                    7. 8:1-40  Philip’s expansion to Samaria, Ethiopia
                    8. 9:1-31  Paul’s conversion, expansion to Damascus
                    9. 9:32-9:43  Peter’s mission to Lydda and Joppa
                    10. 10:1-11:18 Peter converts Cornelius in Caesarea.
                    11. 11:19-30 Barnabas brings Paul to Antioch.
                    12. 12:1-24 Peter’s arrest and miraculous escape
                    13. 12:25-16:5 Paul’s 1st missionary journey
                    14. 16:6-19:20 Paul’s 2nd missionary journey
                    15. 19:21-21:17 Paul’s 3rd missionary journey
                    16. 21:18-28:31 Paul’s arrest and trip to Rome

                    Organization of the book

                    • The first half is about Peter (1-12).
                    • The second half is about Paul (13-28).
                    • Acts 1:8 outlines the book: they expanded from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth.

                    Leading and experience of God’s spirit

                    <]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-12-Acts.jpg 545 Read the Bible for Yourself 12: How to Read Acts false no 49:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/04/18/544-read-the-bible-for-yourself-11-how-to-read-the-gospels/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:58:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8348 This is part 11 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                    The Gospels are evangelistic biographies of Jesus. In today's episode you'll learn the basic storyline of the four biblical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Then we'll go through them from shortest to longest to see how each brings a unique and helpful perspective in telling the life of Christ. We'll also hit some important concepts like the kingdom of God, parables, and the word of God. Lastly, we'll ask about application. How can you figure out which sayings of Christ apply to you today and which ones do not?

                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                    https://youtu.be/0iHhidbL4e8?si=3rs4fGGtQjsJAObB

                    —— Links ——

                    • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                    • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                    • Get the transcript of this episode
                    • Support Restitutio by donating here
                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                    —— Notes ——

                    The Four Gospels

                    • Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
                    • Gospel = good news
                    • The Gospels are biographies about Jesus which seek to convince readers about the good news that he is the Messiah.

                    Basic Storyline of the Gospels

                    1. Birth narratives
                    2. John’s ministry
                    3. John baptizes Jesus.
                    4. Jesus calls the twelve.
                    5. Teachings of Jesus
                    6. Miracles of Jesus
                    7. Conflict with critics
                    8. Triumphal entry
                    9. Intensified conflict
                    10. Last supper
                    11. Arrest, trial, execution
                    12. Resurrection appearances
                    13. Great commission

                    Mark (11,305 words)

                    • Papias: “And the elder used to say this: ‘Mark, having become Peter’s interpreter, wrote down accurately everything he remembered, though not in order, of the things either said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, followed Peter, who adapted his teachings as needed but had no intention of giving an ordered account of the Lord’s sayings. Consequently Mark did nothing wrong in writing down some things as he remembered them, for he made it his one concern not to omit anything that he heard or to make any false statement in them.’”[1]

                    John (15,633 words)

                    • Purpose statement: John 20:30-3130 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-11-Gospels.jpg 544 Read the Bible for Yourself 11: How to Read the Gospels false no 51:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/04/12/543-read-the-bible-for-yourself-10-key-background-for-reading-the-new-testament/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:03:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8335 This is part 10 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                      We've taken our time working through the Old Testament, section by section. Before we tackle the New Testament and look at the Gospels, we need to talk about the time between the Old and New Testaments. In the gap of roughly four hundred years, massive political and cultural changes occurred. Nowhere in the Old Testament do we see anything about the Romans, Pharisees, Sadducees, or the Sanhedrin. In today's episode I'll catch you up on what happened after the OT and before the NT so you can better understand the world in which Jesus functioned.

                      Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3humYIVYho&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=10

                      —— Links ——

                      • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                      • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                      • Get the transcript of this episode
                      • Support Restitutio by donating here
                      • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                      • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                      • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                      —— Notes ——

                      Recent History

                      • Persians: Cyrus the Great
                      • Greeks: Alexander the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes
                      • Hellenization (2 Maccabees 4.7, 10-15; 1 Maccabees 1.41-53)
                      • Maccabean Revolution: Mattathias, Judah the Maccabee, Jonathan Apphus, Simon Thassi, John Hyrcanus, Aristobulus I, Alexander Jannaeus, Salome Alexandra, Hyrcanus II, Aristobulus II
                      • Romans: Pompey the Great annexed Judea in 63bc
                      • Herodian Dynasty: Herod the Great and his descendants

                      Geographical and Political Setting

                      • Roman Empire: Augustus (27bc-ad14), Tiberius (14-37), Caligula (37-41), Claudius (41-54), Nero (54-68)
                      • Provinces: every region outside of Italy
                      • Galilee: Herod the Great (37-4bc), Herod Antipas (4bc-ad39), Herod Agrippa I (37-44)
                      • Judea: Herod the Great (37-4bc), Herod Archelaus (4bc-ad6), Coponius (6-9), Marcus Ambivulus (9-12), Annius Rufus (12-15), Valerius Gratus (15-26), Pontius Pilate (26-36), Marcellus (36-37), Marullus (37-41), Herod Agrippa I (41-44)
                      • Samaria: under Judean jurisdiction; Samaritans and Jews conflicted with each other

                      Jewish Groups

                      • Sadducees
                        • controlled the temple
                        • partners with Roman governors
                        • wealthy aristocrats
                        • chief priests were the leaders
                        • only accepted the Torah as scripture
                        • didn’t believ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-10-NT-background.jpg 543 Read the Bible for Yourself 10: Key Background for Reading the New Testament false no 54:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/04/01/542-read-the-bible-for-yourself-9-how-to-read-the-prophets/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:54:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8321 This is part 9 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                          The 17 books of the prophets comprise 27% of the Old Testament. Although some parts can be difficult to comprehend, they reveal the heart of God with raw pathos and brutal honesty. To read the prophets, then, is to draw near to God. No other section of scripture so beautifully and tragically reveals God's feelings. In this episode you'll learn about the major time periods, how to read the prophets within their context, and some of the major themes. As always, this brief survey should help you read and understand the bible for yourself.

                          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nOkfIUxJJw&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=9

                          —— Links ——

                          • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                          • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                          • Get the transcript of this episode
                          • Support Restitutio by donating here
                          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                          —— Notes ——

                          Canonical Arrangement

                          • 5 Major Prophets
                          1. Isaiah
                          2. Jeremiah
                          3. Lamentations
                          4. Ezekiel
                          5. Daniel
                          • 12 Minor Prophets
                          1. Hosea
                          2. Joel
                          3. Amos
                          4. Obadiah
                          5. Jonah
                          6. Micah
                          7. Nahum
                          8. Habakkuk
                          9. Zephaniah
                          10. Haggai
                          11. Zechariah
                          12. Malachi

                          Chronological Arrangement

                          • early pre-exilic: Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Micah, Isaiah
                          • late pre-exilic: Nahum, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Joel, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
                          • exilic: Ezekiel, Daniel
                          • post-exilic: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

                          Setting

                          • The historical context is helpful
                          • In Jer 1.1-3, Jeremiah prophecies during the last days of the kingdom. He’s the last chance for the people to repent. Since they go into exile anyhow, it’s easy to anticipate that the people will not respond to Jeremiah.

                          The Prophet

                          • God calls prophets into his service (Jer 1.4-6)
                          • oftentimes, the prophet has access to the king and speaks to him
                          • competition with false prophets (Jer 28.1-3, 15-17)

                          Acting out prophecies

                          • Ezekiel
                            • built a model of Jerusalem and acted out a siege against it (Ezek 4.1-3)
                            • lay on his side for 390 days (Ezek 4.4-5) https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-9-prophets.jpg 542 Read the Bible for Yourself 9: How to Read the Prophets false no 34:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/03/29/541-read-the-bible-for-yourself-8-how-to-read-the-psalms/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:02:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8310 This is part 8 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                              The Book of Psalms is an eclectic collection of poetry that you can use to connect to God. In today's episode you'll learn about the different kinds of psalms, who wrote them, and how Hebrew poetry works. The goal, as always, is to equip you to read and understand on your own. Whether you've been reading the Psalms for years or are brand new to them, this episode should empower you to get more out of them than ever before. Also, I conclude by recommending a method of reading, called Lectio Divina, which you can use to meditate on the Psalms.

                              Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2lJMxFR7n4

                              —— Links ——

                              • Check out All 150 Psalms Categorized
                              • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                              • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                              • Get the transcript of this episode
                              • Support Restitutio by donating here
                              • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                              • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                              • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                              • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                              —— Notes ——

                              Basic Facts

                              • Phenomenal for devotional reading, emotional connection
                              • 150 total psalms
                              • Called psalms, not chapters (Psalm 50:4 not Psalms 50:4)
                              • Authors: David (73), Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Heman the Ezrahite (1), Ethan the Ezrahite (1), Moses (1), Solomon (2), Anonymous (49)
                              • Book 1: 1-41
                              • Book 2: 42-72
                              • Book 3: 73-89
                              • Book 4: 90-106
                              • Book 5: 107-150
                              • David reassigned the Levites to develop a music ministry to worship God (1 Chron 16:4-6, 41-42).

                              Chesed

                              • כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ (1 Chron 16:41) for his chesed (is) forever.
                              • הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי־טוּב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ (Ps 118:1) O give thanks to Yahweh for (he is) good for his chesed (is) forever.
                              • chesed is an extremely important word in the Psalms.
                              • “EVV [English versions] translate chesed by expressions such as ‘steadfast love’ and ‘constant love.’  It is sometimes described as covenant love, though in the OT it rarely appears in the company of the word ‘covenant.’  It is used in two connections: when someone makes an act of commitment for which there is no reason in terms of prior relationship, and when someone keeps their commitment when they might be ex]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-8-Psalms.jpg 541 Read the Bible for Yourself 8: How to Read the Psalms false no 48:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/03/22/540-dustin-smiths-take-on-the-tuggy-white-debate/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:31:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8275 As the dust continues to settle from last week's debate between Dale Tuggy and James White, reviewers are coalescing on a rather exciting conclusion. Tuggy handedly won the debate! Rumor has it that James White has even requested a rematch! We'll have to wait and see if anything happens on that front, but requesting a rematch is not something the winner typically does.

                                In today's episode, I bring on Dr. Dustin Smith of the biblical unitarian podcast to respond to James White's arguments, not only in his opening statement, but also in his rebuttal, cross-examination time, and conclusion. Yes, he introduced new arguments in every single phase of the debate. One wonders why he didn't respond to any of Tuggy's arguments. Let's see what Dustin Smith has to say.

                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                —— Links ——

                                • Watch the original debate between Dale Tuggy and James White
                                • Check out Dale Tuggy's review of the debate
                                • See Sean Finnegan's paper and video presentation "The Deity of Christ from a Greco-Roman Perspective"
                                • See the video responses of Dustin Smith on Hebrews 1.10-12, Sean Finnegan on 1 Peter 3.15, Jerry Wierwille on Philippians 2.6-11, and William Barlow on John 12.41
                                • Get the transcript of this episode
                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dustin-Smith-on-Tuggy-White-Debate-1.png 540 Dustin Smith’s Take on the Tuggy-White Debate false no 1:36:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/03/14/539-dale-tuggys-thoughts-on-the-james-white-debate-is-jesus-yahweh/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 21:10:44 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8276 We're taking a break this week from our class on Reading the Bible for Yourself. By the way, did you know that there's a separate podcast just for classes without any interruptions like this? You can find it if you search your podcast app for Restitutio Classes. Anyhow, I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Dale Tuggy about his recent debate with Dr. James White and wanted to share that conversation with you now rather than waiting until the end of this class.

                                On March 9, 2024 in Houston Texas at the First Lutheran Church, Dale Tuggy debated James White on the question, "Is Jesus Yahweh?" White affirmed and Tuggy denied. Just to give you a little background on these two scholars, James White is a professor of Apologetics at Grace Bible Theological Seminary and has a bachelors from Grand Canyon University, a masters from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a doctorate of ministry from Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He has participated in over 180 public moderated debates and has written the book The Forgotten Trinity in which he presented his case that the Trinity is biblical. Dale Tuggy is an Analytic Theologian who has a bachelors from BIOLA, a masters from Claremont School of Theology, and a Ph.D. from Brown University. He's the chair of the Unitarian Christian Alliance and the author of What Is the Trinity?, which explains the major Trinity theories and the problems each faces. In what follows, I ask Tuggy how he thought the debate went.

                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                The debate lasted over two hours and is accessible on YouTube. The format of the debate was as follows:

                                1. Opening Statement (25 min each)
                                2. Rebuttal (10 min each)
                                3. Cross Examination (10 min each)
                                4. Concluding Statement (5 min each)
                                5. Audience Questions (20 min total)

                                Here's the video:

                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky2SaHscSIo

                                —— Links ——

                                • More interviews with Dale Tuggy here
                                • Visit Tuggy's website at trinities.org
                                • Check out his books on Amazon, especially https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/clash-scaled.jpg 539 Dale Tuggy’s Thoughts on the James White Debate: Is Jesus Yahweh? false no 1:05:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/03/08/538-read-the-bible-for-yourself-7-how-to-read-wisdom-literature/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:09:27 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8265 This is part 7 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                  The Bible contains a treasure trove of wisdom literature that can help you navigate the ups and downs of life. Today you'll learn how to read and understand the books of Proverbs, Song of Songs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs and Song of Songs teach us how to handle ourselves when the world is working the way it should while Job and Ecclesiastes address how to think and live when chaos strikes. Taken together these four books offer a full-orbed perspective on practical wisdom that you can incorporate into your life.

                                  Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MZCAxSSNzU

                                  —— Links ——

                                  • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                  • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                                  • Get the transcript of this episode
                                  • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                  • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                  —— Notes ——

                                  Proverbs

                                  • “[Proverbs] should not be read as promises but as guidelines, as principles for living. They show the way life works best 80 to 95 percent of the time. The Bible is clear throughout Scripture: if you live a life oriented to God, you will tend to have a good life.”[1]
                                  • Proverbs 14:7: Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge.

                                  The Fool

                                  • Mouth of a fool brings ruin near (10:14)
                                  • Utters slander (10:18)
                                  • Doing wrong for fun (10:23)
                                  • Broadcasts folly (12:23)
                                  • No restraint, careless (14:16)
                                  • Despises parent's instruction (15:5)
                                  • Does not receive a rebuke (17:10)
                                  • Has plenty of personal opinions (18:2)
                                  • Perverse speech (19:1)
                                  • Quick to quarrel (20:3)
                                  • Devours wealth (21:20)
                                  • Despises wise words (23:9)
                                  • Vents anger (29:11)
                                  • Hasty in speech (29:20)

                                  The Wise

                                  • Honoring your parents (1:8-9; 10:1)
                                  • Handling money well, avoiding debt (3:9-10; 22:7
                                  • Discernment between right and wrong (3:21; 10:9; 28:5)
                                  • Understanding (3:13; 4:7; 18:2)
                                  • Fidelity in marriage (5:15-19; 6:32-35)
                                  • Hard work instead of laziness (6:6-11; 15:19)
                                  • Fearing the LORD (9:10; 24:21; 31:30)
                                  • Teachability, humility (9:9; 11:2)
                                  • Controlling what you say (10:19; 21:23)
                                  • Righ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-7-wisdom-literature.jpg 538 Read the Bible for Yourself 7: How to Read Wisdom Literature false no 37:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/02/29/537-read-the-bible-for-yourself-6-how-to-read-the-law/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:13:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8253 This is part 6 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                    Tragically, many Christians skip over reading the Torah. They focus on the Gospels or Epistles of the New Testament. However, the first five books of the Bible contain many rich insights into God's heart and how he asked Israel to live. In fact, it's impossible to understand the rest of the Bible, or even Jesus, without first becoming familiar with the Law. This episode will provide you an overview of the Torah's instruction about holiness, sacrifice, justice, and sacred time.

                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                    https://youtu.be/a9wxI1TWBlE

                                    —— Links ——

                                    • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                    • Check out the class New Covenant Theology to learn more about biblical covenants as well as this podcast episode on the New Covenant and this one responding to typical arguments for Torah observance today
                                    • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                                    • Get the transcript of this episode
                                    • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                    —— Notes ——

                                    Reading the Law takes work

                                    • Sometimes it’s just weird (Lev 11:20-23)
                                    • Sometimes it’s tedious (Ex 26:7-9)
                                    • Important to focus while reading
                                    • Eliminate distractions
                                    • Read aloud if you can
                                    • Keep track of things (underline, highlight, write notes in the margin)

                                    The books of the Law (Torah)

                                    1. Genesis
                                    2. Exodus
                                    3. Leviticus
                                    4. Numbers
                                    5. Deuteronomy

                                    Four categories of Law

                                    1. Holiness
                                    2. Sacrifice
                                    3. Justice
                                    4. Sacred time

                                    Sinai and the giving of the Law

                                    • God came down on the mountain and spoke audibly (Ex 19:16-21)
                                    • The people agreed to obey and then “stood at a distance” while Moses went up and received the rest of the Law (Ex 20:18-21)

                                    Tabernacle

                                    • The 2nd half of Exodus contains meticulous instructions on how to build the tabernacle and everything that went outside and inside of it.
                                    • The tabernacle is where]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-6-Law.jpg 537 Read the Bible for Yourself 6: How to Read the Law false no 56:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/02/22/536-read-the-bible-for-yourself-5-how-to-read-ot-history/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:16:55 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8213 This is part 5 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                      Now we begin the second main part of this class on reading the Bible for yourself. We'll be breaking the Bible into major sections so I can explain how each works. To start we'll consider the first 17 books of the Bible--the books of Old Testament historical narrative. You'll learn what to look for while reading, the major events covered, the various cultural backgrounds of those periods, God's personal name, and why reading OT history is extremely valuable.

                                      Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtvJv-NfvBU

                                      —— Links ——

                                      • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                      • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                                      • Get the transcript of this episode
                                      • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                      • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                      • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                      • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                      —— Notes ——

                                      Old Testament history includes the following books:

                                      1. Genesis
                                      2. Exodus
                                      3. Leviticus
                                      4. Numbers
                                      5. Deuteronomy
                                      6. Joshua
                                      7. Judges
                                      8. Ruth
                                      9. 1 Samuel
                                      10. 2 Samuel
                                      11. 1 Kings
                                      12. 2 Kings
                                      13. 1 Chronicles
                                      14. 2 Chronicles
                                      15. Ezra
                                      16. Nehemiah
                                      17. Esther

                                      Chronology of major OT events:

                                      1. Creation and Eden
                                      2. Rebellions and Consequences
                                      3. Abraham & Sarah & Descendants
                                      4. Sojourning in Egypt
                                      5. 10 Plagues and Exodus
                                      6. Receiving Torah at Mount Sinai
                                      7. 40 Years of Wandering
                                      8. Entering the Promised Land
                                      9. Judges
                                      10. Samuel (Hinge of History)
                                      11. Kings of the United Kingdom
                                      12. Succession of the Northern Tribes
                                      13. Assyrian Deportation of Israel
                                      14. Babylonian Deportation of Judah
                                      15.  70 Year Exile
                                      16.  Return from Exile

                                      Cultural backgrounds:

                                      • Pre-flood
                                      • Patriarchs
                                      • Egypt
                                      • Tribes (Judges 17:6)
                                      • Monarchy
                                      • Empires

                                      Their History vs. Our History:

                                      • Real Events
                                      • Ancient Historiography
                                      • Biased but Honest
                                      • Genealogies
                                      • Etiologies

                                      The Name of God:

                                      • God’s Name is יְהוָה
                                      • Hebrew Letters: yod hey vav hey (YHVH)
                                      • Pronounced “Yahweh”
                                      • Typically translated “the LORD”
                                      • God’s proper name (Ex 20:2-3) https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-5-OT-history.jpg 536 Read the Bible for Yourself 5: How to Read OT History false no 52:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/02/15/535-kingdom-journey-interview-sam-tideman/ Thu, 15 Feb 2024 17:12:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8222 I've been putting out podcast episodes on Restitutio since 2015. I've interviewed many authors in that time. However, I've never been interviewed as an author. That changed a couple of days ago when Sam Tideman of Transfigured had me on his show to talk about my new book, Kingdom Journey.We discussed the biblical idea of God's kingdom coming to earth for well over an hour. It was an awesome chance to share about the central theme of scripture and the clear emphasis of Jesus's ministry. Although it breaks my heart that so much of Christianity still clings to heaven as their home and destiny, I'm optimistic that the word will get out about the biblical vision of a renewed world with everything wrong with it made right.

                                        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                        https://youtu.be/lsykGsETgNw?si=HAxsK7x4W02aqJNp

                                        —— Links ——

                                        • Get your copy of Kingdom Journey today! It's available as a hardcover, paperback, and e-book.
                                        • See these other episodes with Sam Tideman
                                        • More episodes about the kingdom of God
                                        • Get the transcript of this episode
                                        • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kingdom-Journey.png 535 Kingdom Journey Interview (Sam Tideman) false no 1:29:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/02/08/534-read-the-bible-for-yourself-4-how-to-determine-content-and-application/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 18:34:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8200 This is part 4 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                        Exegesis and application take work. Today you’ll learn how to grasp the content of scripture by asking the question, “What did this text mean to the original audience?” Looking for a book’s author, audience, occasion, and purpose will help you answer that question. Next, we’ll consider application and answering the question, “What does this text mean to me today?” We’ll follow Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s application strategy as well as their four warnings about extended application, particulars that are not comparable, cultural relativity, and task theology.

                                        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                        —— Links ——

                                        • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                        • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                                        • Get the transcript of this episode
                                        • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                        —— Notes ——

                                        “If there was one bit of wisdom, one rule of thumb, one single skill I could impart, one useful tip I could leave that would serve you well the rest of your life, what would it be? What is the single most important practical skill I’ve ever learned as a Christian? Here it is: Never read a Bible verse. That’s right, never read a Bible verse. Instead, always read a paragraph at least.”[1]

                                        What to Look For

                                        • Author
                                        • Audience
                                        • Occasion
                                        • Purpose

                                        Two Tasks

                                        1. Figure out what a text meant to its original audience.
                                        2. Figure out what it means to you today.

                                        Understand Then Apply

                                        • Get the author’s point before asking about application.
                                        • What’s the author’s train of thought?
                                        • Do not ask, “How does this affect my life?”
                                        • Do not ask, “How does this fit into my theology?”
                                        • Just focus on getting what the author is conveying in his own historical context.
                                        • Paragraph style Bibles help with this tremendously, whereas verse paragraphs make it hard to see what is connected to what.
                                        • Look up words and phrases that you don’t understand like a “Sabbath day’s journey”, “high places”, a “talent” or a “mina”.
                                        • In most cases, a simple internet search will provide the answer.
                                        • A paper study Bible or some apps will provide footnotes with helpful information.

                                        Have an O]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-4-content-application.jpg 534 Read the Bible for Yourself 4: How to Determine Content and Application false no 51:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/02/01/533-read-the-bible-for-yourself-3-how-to-read-the-bible-in-context/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:00:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8162 This is part 3 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                        Today is the first of two episodes on how to understand and apply the Bible. One of the greatest problems facing Bible readers today is the lifted verse. It's so common to see a verse or even half a verse posted on social media or on a sign somewhere. When most people read a random verse, they impose their own modern context and background information on it. As a result, it's easy to accidentally give a scripture new meaning that the original author never intended. How can we overcome this problem? Context. Today you'll learn about the 5 major contexts that are important to keep in mind when reading the Bible.

                                        Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2UQeDoPKHA

                                        —— Links ——

                                        • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                        • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible
                                        • Get the transcript of this episode
                                        • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                        • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                        • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                        • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                        —— Notes ——

                                        Exegesis: a careful explanation of a text

                                        • synonyms: explanation, exposition, elucidation
                                        • to exegete a text is to understand it correctly so that you can explain it

                                        Hunger for Scripture

                                        • Ask God to give you a desire to read the Bible

                                        Two Questions

                                        1. What did it mean to the original audience then?
                                        2. What does it mean to you today?

                                        Context, Context, Context

                                        1. Immediate context
                                        2. Canonical context
                                        3. Historical context
                                        4. Geographical context
                                        5. Cultural context

                                        Immediate Context

                                        • Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
                                        • Putting this verse in context:Philippians 4:10-1410   I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

                                        Canonical Context

                                        • L]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-3-context.jpg 533 Read the Bible for Yourself 3: How to Read the Bible in Context false no 38:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/01/25/532-read-the-bible-for-yourself-2-what-you-need-to-know-about-your-bible/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:51:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8146 This is part 2 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                          As I endeavored to show last time, the Bible is one of a kind. It's the result of dozens of authors, working under God's inspiration to produce scrolls of text over centuries. This process resulted in sixty-six books, including histories, legal texts, poetry, prophetic oracles and much more. Today we'll spend some time just getting oriented. We'll cover which books are in the Bible, the various genres, how references work, and ways that you can access the Bible.

                                          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UTTk73BX7E

                                          —— Links ——

                                          • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                          • Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bibe
                                          • Get the transcript of this episode
                                          • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                          —— Notes ——

                                          The Bible is not a single book, but a collection or library of sixty-six books.

                                          1. Genesis
                                          2. Exodus
                                          3. Leviticus
                                          4. Numbers
                                          5. Deuteronomy
                                          6. Joshua
                                          7. Judges
                                          8. Ruth
                                          9. 1 Samuel
                                          10. 2 Samuel
                                          11. 1 Kings
                                          12. 2 Kings
                                          13. 1 Chronicles
                                          14. 2 Chronicles
                                          15. Ezra
                                          16. Nehemiah
                                          17. Esther
                                          18. Job
                                          19. Psalms
                                          20. Proverbs
                                          21. Ecclesiastes
                                          22. Song of Solomon
                                          23. Isaiah
                                          24. Jeremiah
                                          25. Lamentations
                                          26. Ezekiel
                                          27. Daniel
                                          28. Hosea
                                          29. Joel
                                          30. Amos
                                          31. Obadiah
                                          32. Jonah
                                          33. Micah
                                          34. Nahum
                                          35. Habakkuk
                                          36. Zephaniah
                                          37. Haggai
                                          38. Zechariah
                                          39. Malachi
                                          40. Matthew
                                          41. Mark
                                          42. Luke
                                          43. John
                                          44. Acts
                                          45. Romans
                                          46. 1 Corinthians
                                          47. 2 Corinthians
                                          48. Galatians
                                          49. Ephesians
                                          50. Philippians
                                          51. Colossians
                                          52. 1 Thessalonians
                                          53. 2 Thessalonians
                                          54. 1 Timothy
                                          55. 2 Timothy
                                          56. Titus
                                          57. Philemon
                                          58. Hebrews
                                          59. James
                                          60. 1 Peter
                                          61. 2 Peter
                                          62. 1 John
                                          63. 2 John
                                          64. 3 John
                                          65. Jude
                                          66. Revelation

                                          The Old Testament includes 39 books, written in Hebrew and Aramaic.

                                          1. History [Torah, Judges, Kings, Exilic]
                                          2. Poetry [Philosophy, Songs, General Wisdom, Subversive Wisdom, Romance]
                                          3. Prophecy [Pre-Exilic, Exilic, Post-Exilic]

                                          The New Testament includ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-2-what-you-need-to-know.jpg 532 Read the Bible for Yourself 2: What You Need to Know about Your Bible false no 46:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/01/18/531-read-the-bible-for-yourself-1-why-should-you-read-the-bible-for-yourself/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 00:31:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8132 This is part 1 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

                                          Today we are beginning a new class called Read the Bible for Yourself. Whether you are new to scripture, or you’ve been reading it for years, this class will empower you to read and understand the bible like never before. You’ll gain key insights into the context, content, and application of scripture so you can take your reading and understanding to the next level.Today I want to begin with the question, "Why should you read the bible for yourself?" Why is this book even worth your time? For those of you who have been reading it for years, you get it, but how would you inspire a desire in someone else to go through the hard work of learning to read the bible proficiently? In this episode you'll see why everyone, even non-Christians, should put in the effort to read the good book.

                                          Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                          https://youtu.be/wXXnD1LLl-A

                                          —— Links ——

                                          • See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself
                                          • Check out the class How We Got the Bible
                                          • Other classes are available here
                                          • Check out Sean's book, Kingdom Journey 
                                          • Get the transcript of this episode
                                          • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                          • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                          • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                          • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                          Notes

                                          The Bible survives in more manuscripts than other ancient documents.[1]

                                          The Bible is available in more languages than other books.[2]

                                          The Bible sells more copies than other books.[3]

                                          Which two sayings are in the Bible?

                                          1. Cleanliness is next to godliness
                                          2. Am I my brother’s keeper?
                                          3. God helps those who help themselves
                                          4. This too shall pass
                                          5. A living dog is better than a dead lion
                                          6. God works in mysterious ways
                                          7. Moderatio]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RTBFY-1-why.jpg 531 Read the Bible for Yourself 1: Why Should You Read the Bible for Yourself? false no 36:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/01/11/530-gods-heart-for-shalom/ Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:37:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8113 Although most often defined as "peace," the Hebrew word "shalom" is much bigger than that. It refers to not only the absence of war, but also the presence of wholeness and safety. In this sermon you'll gain a better understanding of this important biblical word as well as what God's heart is for shalom in the world and in your life. At times we all go through periods of crisis in which we lose our shalom, but thankfully we can return to God over and over and he can cause his face to shine upon us and give us peace.

                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • See these other posts about shalom and peace
                                             • Check out Sean's brand new book, Kingdom Journey available on Amazon, Walmart, and Wipf and Stock
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/KF-2023-slide-template.png 530 God’s Heart for Shalom false no 42:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2024/01/04/529-remember/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:32:27 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8103 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             In Deuteronomy Moses famously taught the Jewish people the Shema--the heart of Judaism. He told them to repeat those words day in and day out: when they sit, when they walk, whey they lie down, and when they rise. In fact God built many mechanisms to remember him into the scriptures.

                                             What about us Christians? How can we build routines to likewise remember God throughout our day, week, month, and year?

                                             I shared this message at a weekend event, called Revive, last year. You may not recognize some of the references, but most of it should make sense. Also, during the sermon I played two videos I took of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. I've uploaded them to the Restitutio YouTube channel and posted them on Restitutio.org so you can watch them, if you're curious.

                                             https://youtu.be/ZFQFux7-MUo

                                             https://youtu.be/Ddgara8vcIY

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Listen to the other messages from past Revive events
                                             • Information is available about attending Family Camp here or other Living Hope events here.
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                             —— Notes ——

                                             Remember

                                             story of Akiva and the water dripping in a cave

                                             story of Akiva’s supportive wife who married him though he was poor, but made him promise to go away to study

                                             around the time of the 3rd Jewish-Roman War (Bar Kokhba Revolt), Emperor Hadrian outlawed the teaching of Torah in the land on pain of death- Rabbi Akiva kept teachingstory of his arrest and martyrdom [Talmud, Berakhot 61b, cited from Sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.61b.9?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en, accessed Jan 3, 2023.]- Talmud: “The Gemara relates: When they took Rabbi Akiva out to be executed, it was time for the recitation of Shema. And they were raking his flesh with iron combs, and he was reciting Shema, thereby accepting upon himself the yoke of Heaven. His students said to him: Our teacher, even now, as you suffer, you recite Shema? He said to them: All my days I have been troubled by the verse: With all your soul, meaning: Even if God takes your soul. I said to myself: When will the opportunity be afforded me to fulfill this verse? Now that it has been afforded me, shall I not fulfill it? He prolonged his uttering of the word: One, until his soul left his body as he uttered his final word: One.”

                                             דְבָרִים 6.4-5 ‏שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Remember-Revive-2023-1.png 529 Remember! false no 55:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/12/29/528-dynamic-monarchianism-the-earliest-christology-thomas-gaston/ Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:57:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8095 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Today my guest is Thomas Gaston who’s book is called Dynamic Monarchianism: the Earliest Christology? Dr. Gaston earned his Ph. D. from Oxford University and this book one of the fruits of that labor. In this interview we talk about the earliest Dynamic Monarchians, including Ebionites and Theodotus as well as how logos incarnational christology took off under the influence of Middle Platonism in the writings of Justin Martyr and his doctrinal successors. Dynamic Monarchians affirm the supremacy of the Father as the only true God and that Jesus was miraculously conceived, but did not pre-exist. The term more or less refers to what we today call “biblical unitarians,” but typically applies to Christians that held this view in the second, third, and fourth centuries.

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Get Thomas Gaston’s book on Amazon
                                             • Follow Thomas Gaston at his website: Thomas-Gaston.com
                                             • Check out Theophilus Press, the publishing arm of the Unitarian Christian Alliance
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                              

                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Thomas-Gaston-dynamic-monarchians.png 528 Dynamic Monarchianism: The Earliest Christology (Thomas Gaston) false no 1:02:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/12/21/527-should-christians-celebrate-christmas-dale-tuggy/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 18:30:19 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8082 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Should Christians celebrate the birth of Christ? If so, where should we draw the line with respect to ancient pagan customs like bringing an evergreen tree into our houses or  giving presents to each other? How much pagan practice is too much?

                                             My guest today is philosopher Dale Tuggy, the host of the Trinities podcast and the chair of the board of the Unitarian Christian Alliance. However, in this episode we're not talking about analytic theology or Christology. Instead we're discussing Christmas and how Christians should think about it. Tuggy argues that Christians have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate Christmas.

                                             "Cultural appropriation is the birthright of the human race."- Dale Tuggy "How would the medieval pagans be so powerful that they could just eternally corrupt pine trees or wrapping gifts up in pretty paper and exchanging them or having a feast? They just don't have that much power. They're just people like us."- Dale Tuggy

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Follow Dr. Tuggy at his website, Trinities.org
                                             • See Dale Tuggy's "What John 1 Meant"
                                             • See Dustin Smith's "The Incarnation of Wisdom in Pre-Christian Judaism"
                                             • Check out the Restitutio podcast on YouTube
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dale-Tuggy-Christmas.png 527 Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? (Dale Tuggy) false no 52:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/12/14/526-the-role-of-assumptions-in-bible-conversations-jeff-deuble/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 01:48:18 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8006 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             It's the holidays and many of us are seeing family members and coworkers and neighbors at parties. Sometimes the topic of Christianity comes up, and you may be having conversations about your beliefs. You may find yourself defending your belief in Jesus in general or even trying to convince trinitarian loved ones and friends to understand who he really is. In today's episode Jeff Deuble explains how powerful and important presuppositions are in these conversations. Additionally, he recommends the approach of asking good questions to open the door to changing people's minds.

                                             Jeff Deuble is a retired pastor who has served in the Churches of Christ in Australia in various capacities for four decades. He's also the author of the book, Christ before Creeds: Rediscovering the Jesus of History. A book that has a conversational and friendly approach which in my opinion makes it a more effective tool at winning people over.

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Check out these other podcast episodes with Jeff Deuble
                                             • Get Christ before Creeds (English) or Cristos ante los credos (Español)
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                              

                                              

                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jeff-Deuble-Assumptions-e1702586717602.png 526: The Role of Assumptions in Bible Conversations (Jeff Deuble) false no 48:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/11/30/524-kingdom-postponed-troy-sallinger/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 02:30:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8021 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Do the Gospels give you the impression that the kingdom of God is about to arrive? My guest today is Troy Salinger who wrote an interesting article called, "The Postponement of the Kingdom – A Response to Preterists and Anti-Missionary Rabbis." His idea is that the kingdom of God is a political restoration of the kingdom of Israel to one of David's descendants--and that this kingdom could have come during the time of Christ. However, because the Jewish people, especially the leaders, rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God postponed the coming of the kingdom until a later time. Salinger lays out four points:

                                             1. 1. John and Jesus said the kingdom was about to be established
                                                2. The establishment of the kingdom was contingent.
                                                3. The Jewish leaders and most of the people rejected Jesus as their king 
                                                4. After the ascension, Christians are still waiting for the kingdom to come

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • See Troy Salinger's blog here and read his article, "The Postponement Of The Kingdom – A Response To Preterists And Anti-Missionary Rabbis"
                                             • Read Salinger's three-part series of articles on the kingdom of God
                                             • Check out my class on the kingdom of God here
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Slide1-1-e1701391481581.png 524 Kingdom Postponed (Troy Sallinger) false no 1:40:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/11/25/523-rethinking-adoptionism-jeremiah-coogan/ Sat, 25 Nov 2023 18:23:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8019 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             For centuries heresy hunters have labeled those who deny the pre-existence of Jesus "adoptionists." This ancient category was based on the idea some Christian groups denied the virgin birth, thinking instead that Jesus became the son of God at his baptism when God adopted him. Modern scholars such as Bart Ehrman and Michael Bird employ this term to describe several early unitarian Christian groups. My guest today is Dr. Jeremiah Coogan, a scholar of the New Testament and early Christianity. He's written a really helpful journal article analyzing the early so-called adoptionist groups. His conclusion? None of them actually qualifies as adoptionists.

                                             https://youtu.be/zPL25MPwvbM

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Read Jeremiah Coogan's article here
                                             • Visit Professor Coogan's faculty page
                                             • More episodes on adoptionism
                                             • See also my class on early church history
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                             —— Interview Questions ——

                                             - Today I'm interviewing Dr. Jeremiah Coogan. He is the Assistant Professor of NT at the Jesuit School of Theology. He has a PhD from Notre Dame in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity. Welcome to Restitutio, I'm so glad to talk with you today.- Today we're talking about your article "Rethinking Adoptionism: An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category," published in the Scottish Journal of Theology early this year. In this article you argue that the label of adoptionism is a problematic anachronism. To make sure everyone is up to speed on this issue, could you briefly describe what adoptionism is?- Describe the problem with modern scholars retrojecting Nicene controversies into earlier Christian history.- You argue that though there may have existed adoptionists somewhere in the ante-Nicene period, we have no evidence for them. What about Cerinthus?- Let's talk about the Ebionites? Weren't they adoptionists?- Do you think there's a connection between the Christian community of James in Jerusalem and the Ebionites?- What about Theodotus? He and his followers are often cited as adoptionists, but they affirmed the virginal conception of Christ, right? - Let's move on to Paul of Samosata. I see you cited Paul Sample. I got a hold of his dissertation from Northwestern a little while ago and was impressed to see he had collected and translated so many sources about Paul. What do you make of Paul of Samosata's christology?- So your conclusion after analyzing the evidence is that none of these auth]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Slide1-e1700925876851.png 523 Rethinking Adoptionism (Jeremiah Coogan) false no 45:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/11/16/522-problematizing-ignatius-of-antiochs-middle-recension-nathan-massie/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:14:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=8004 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Ignatius of Antioch lived in the first generation of Christians after the apostles died during the late first and early second century. Modern day apologists regularly point to Ignatius' letters to prove the antiquity of the deity of Christ and one-bishop church governance (monarchical episcopate). But did you know that Ignatius' letters have survived in three different versions or recensions? Although most scholars and textbooks recognize the middle recension as authentic Ignatius, rejecting the shorter and longer versions, my guest today, Pastor Nathan Massie, says otherwise. He argues that the shorter recension is the most authentic.

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUUesuqB0pw

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Support Pastor Nathan Massie to go to grad school at GoFundMe
                                             • Check out these other episodes that mention Ignatius of Antioch
                                             • Take our Early Church History class on the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nathan-Massie-1.png 522 Problematizing Ignatius of Antioch’s Middle Recension (Nathan Massie) false no 57:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/11/09/the-deity-of-christ-from-a-greco-roman-perspective/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 17:41:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7937 Let’s face it the New Testament probably calls Jesus God (or god) a couple of times and so do early Christian authors in the second century. However, no one offers much of an explanation for what they mean by the title. Did early Christians think Jesus was God because he represented Yahweh? Did they think he was God because he shared the same eternal being as the Father? Did they think he was a god because that’s just what they would call any immortalized human who lived in heaven? In this presentation I focus on the question from the perspective of Greco-Roman theology. Drawing on the work of David Litwa, Andrew Perriman, Barry Blackburn, and tons of ancient sources I seek to show how Mediterranean converts to Christianity would have perceived Jesus based on their cultural and religious assumptions.

                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • See more scholarly articles by Sean Finnegan
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                             Below is the paper presented on October 20, 2023 in Springfield, Ohio at the 3rd annual Unitarian Christian Alliance Conference. Access this paper on Academia.edu to get the pdf. Full text is below, including bibliography and end notes.

                                             Introduction

                                             When early Christian authors called Jesus “god” (or “God”) what did they mean?[1] Modern apologists routinely point to pre-Nicene quotations in order to prove that early Christians always believed in the deity of Christ, by which they mean that he is of the same substance (homoousios) as the Father. However, most historians agree that Christians before the fourth century simply didn’t have the cognitive categories available yet to think of Christ in Nicene or Chalcedonian ways. If this consensus is correct, it behooves us to consider other options for defining what early Christian authors meant. The obvious place to go to get an answer to our initial question is the New Testament. However, as is well known, the handful of instances in which authors unambiguously applied god (θεός) to Christ are fraught with textual uncertainty, grammatical ambiguity, and hermeneutical elasticity.[2]  What’s more, granting that these contested texts[3] all call Jesus “god” provides little insight into what they might mean by that phrase. Turning to the second century, the earliest handful of texts that say Jesus is god are likewise textually uncertain or terse.[4] We must wait until the second half ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Deity-of-Christ-from-a-Greco-Roman-Perspective-Slide-Show.png 521 The Deity of Christ from a Greco-Roman Perspective (Sean Finnegan) false no 56:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/11/02/520-in-the-form-of-a-god-andrew-perriman/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 20:02:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7950 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Philippians 2.6-11 has generated an immense amount of scholarly literature such as journal articles and monographs not to mention blog posts, video lectures, and podcasts. What does the enigmatic phrase "in the form of God" mean? Did Paul intend us to think Jesus refused to grasp at equality with God or that he refused to exploit the equality he already had? What does it mean that Jesus emptied himself? Today we are getting into the weeds in order to understand what Philippians 2 is all about. I don't want to say too much before you get a chance to listen, but I can at least tell you this: Dr. Perriman does not believe it's about a pre-existent being becoming a human.

                                             "Morphe is never used of the one living God, the one true God, for the simple reason that it always has reference to the external appearance of an object or a person or a god." -Andrew Perriman

                                             My guest today is Andrew Perriman who has a degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford as well as an MPhil and PhD from the London School of Theology where he currently works as an Associate Research Fellow. He teaches New Testament and works with graduate students on biblical interpretation.

                                             See also the previous episode on the other texts in Paul's epistle that traditional Christians think teach Jesus pre-existed.

                                             https://youtu.be/pLBX_DA1acQ

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Follow Andrew Perriman at his postost blog
                                             • Get In the Form of a God from Wipf & Stock or from Amazon
                                             • Check out these previous episodes about pre-existence
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Slide5-e1698347353755.png 520 In the Form of a God (Andrew Perriman) false no 1:00:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/10/26/519-no-pre-existence-in-paul-andrew-perriman/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:24:54 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7948 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             My guest today is Dr. Andrew Perriman of London who will discuss his recent book In the Form of a God, which is part of the Studies in Early Christology series. (Read Perriman's helpful summary of the book here.) The focus for our conversation is looking at the subject of pre-existence in Paul's epistles. The question before us is whether Paul taught or assumed that Christ had a literal prehuman career prior to his birth. In this interview we'll cover five of the six major texts, including Galatians 4.4, 1 Corinthians 8.6, 1 Corinthians 10.4, 2 Corinthians 8.9, and Colossians 1.15-16. Next week we'll tackle Philippians 2.

                                             Andrew Perriman has a degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford and an MPhil and PhD from the London School of Theology where he currently works as an Associate Research Fellow. He teaches New Testament works with graduate students on biblical interpretation.

                                             https://youtu.be/KfuCJCGVY00

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Follow Andrew Perriman at his postost blog
                                             • Get In the Form of a God from Wipf & Stock or from Amazon
                                             • Check out these previous episodes about pre-existence
                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Andrew-Perriman-1-e1698347307492.png 519 No Pre-Existence in Paul? (Andrew Perriman) false no 56:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/10/21/518-tried-to-believe-in-the-trinity-rick-naviello/ Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:16:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7901 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             We've all heard plenty of stories of Trinitarians who begin questioning their received teaching and eventually become Unitarian. However, today, we're bringing you a story that's a little different. My guest is Rick Naviello who held a biblical unitarian view of Jesus for decades before attending evangelical churches and really trying to believe in the Trinity. He did everything he could to convince himself it was true. He thought he had succeeded until... Well, I don't want to give away the punchline, but let's just say he's more convinced of his biblical unitarian faith than ever. (And church history was involved.)

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiKgnzXcOes

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • More testimonies here
                                             • Check out the Early Church History class to learn about the development of the Trinity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Slide2-1.png 518 Tried to Believe in the Trinity (Rick Naviello) false no 40:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/10/13/517-walking-with-god-josh-and-daisy-jones/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 23:52:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7886 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Have you ever read miracle stories in the bible and asked yourself, "I wonder if this happens today?" My guests today are Josh and Daisy Jones of the UK who share their testimonies of God intervening in and through their lives. Hear about Josh's miraculous healing from asthma, Daisy's baptism when a Muslim spoke in tongues, and various adventures walking with God both at home and abroad, especially in Israel. They also talk about their interesting journey to unitarianism as well as their plans to organize the first UCA (Unitarian Christian Alliance) conference in the London area in the summer of 2024.

                                              

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • For more about the Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) see unitarianchristianalliance.org.
                                             • Check out episode 500 The Gifts of the Spirit in Early Christianity
                                             • See also our 7-part series on the Holy Spirit, covering various major views of the manifestations of the spirit, especially speaking in tongues.
                                             • Take a listen to episode 310 Are Gifts of the Spirit Available Today? with Sam Storms
                                             • Lastly, check out these previous episodes on healing
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                              

                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Josh-and-Daisy-Jones-e1697227303223.jpg 517 Walking with God (Josh and Daisy Jones) false no 1:06:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/10/06/516-sean-finnegan-on-restoring-authentic-christianity-tom-huszti/ Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:32:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7867 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             Recently Tom Huszti interviewed me for his YouTube channel, the Unitarian Anabaptist. We talked about the importance of geography, archeology, and Greco-Roman history for interpreting the bible, especially the New Testament. Next we delved into early church history, starting with the earliest forms of Jewish Christianity in the first and second centuries. We talked about the Jerusalem church, the Nazarenes, and the Ebionites. Next we considered the persecution many Christians faced at the hands of the Romans for their unwillingness to give their ultimate allegiance to Caesar. The conversation was wide ranging, but what came through over and over is the importance of studying the bible and history in order to restore authentic Christianity and live it out today.

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KefOimH6ZU

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • For the trip to Greece and Turkey with Jerry Wierwille, see the itinerary here and the map here.
                                             • Follow Huszti's YouTube Channel, the Unitarian Anabaptist
                                             • Check out episode 478 Unitarian Anabaptist (Tom Huszti) 
                                             • Get the free class on Early Church History here.
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/restoring-authentic-christianity-interview-with-Sean-and-Tom.png 516 Sean Finnegan on Restoring Authentic Christianity (Tom Huszti) false no 1:50:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/09/28/515-the-toxic-war-on-masculinity-nancy-pearcey/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:51:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7856 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                             I'm so delighted to present you with an interview I did with Professor Nancy Pearcey, an author whose books have significantly helped me understand and live out my faith better. Today we're talking about masculinity. Have you noticed the critical and uncharitable tone in our culture towards men? Although our society celebrates women and girls who excel at sports, education, and business, men and boys often receive nothing but criticism, even outright hostility. Some even say masculine men are the cause of all the problems with the world. Listen in as I ask Pearcey about her recent book and how Christians should approach the whole issue of masculinity both biblically and historically.

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOmzSm2_4RI

                                             Here are my 8 myths about masculinity that Pearcey responded to in this episode:

                                             1. Bible-believing Christians are slightly more likely to divorce than non-Christians or liberal Christians.
                                             2. Bible-believing Christian men are more likely to be harsh and abusive to their wives and children
                                             3. The Bible's endorsement of male patriarchy causes toxic masculine behaviors.
                                             4. Women initiated the suffragette movement in America because they wanted to be treated as individuals of equal value.
                                             5. Our time is the first when women in America have publicly accused men of toxic behavior.
                                             6. Men have traditionally worked outside of the home and have been the breadwinners.
                                             7. Traditionally women focused on keeping the home and raising the children rather than contributing economically.
                                             8. Blocking or limiting men's testosterone will solve the problems our society has with badly behaved men.

                                             Professor Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes,as well as Love Thy Body,The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She's been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

                                             —— Links ——

                                             • Get the transcript of this episode
                                             • Get The Toxic War on Masculinity here
                                             • More about Pearcey at NancyPearcey.com
                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slide2-2.png 515 The Toxic War on Masculinity (Nancy Pearcey) false no 49:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/09/21/514-aphrahat-and-early-persian-christianity-sam-tideman/ Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:12:16 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7844 Although he's one of the lesser known Christian authors of the fourth century, Aphrahat is extremely important for our understanding of early Persian Christianity prior to the advent of Islam in the region. Amazingly a full-length book of his survives, called The Demonstrations. In today's interview I ask about Aphrahat's beliefs in general and his christology in particular. My guest today is Sam Tideman. Other than a master's degree from Harvard and working full time for Google as a data scientist, Tideman is also the host of Transfigured, a Youtube channel and podcast that covers a wide range of Christian topics, including church history our topic for today. He's had all kinds of guests on his show, including many notable scholars. Jordan Peterson even shared a clip of Tideman's conversation with John Vervaeke on social media a while back. But, today our focus is on the research Tideman has done on Aphrahat.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://youtu.be/8QpqvZYkI4E

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • Get the transcript of this episode
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slide2.png 514 Aphrahat and Early Persian Christianity (Sam Tideman) false no 1:20:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/09/15/513-the-historical-jesus-and-the-gospel-of-john-craig-blomberg/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:32:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7836 Have you heard of the quests for the historical Jesus? This has been going on for two and a half centuries. It has produced a massive amount of literature and occupied the minds of some of the most impressive biblical scholars over the years. What's all this about? Why do we need to search for the historical Jesus? Isn't he right there in the Gospels that we find in the New Testament? My guest today is Craig Blomberg whose new book, Jesus the Purifier lays out a thorough yet accessible survey of the four quests for the historical Jesus. He also explains why bible-believing Christians should care about critical scholarship. Lastly, he describes how his own work on the Gospel of John has revealed some exciting insights that challenge the Church today.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://youtu.be/gJtEbv56xNg

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • Get the transcript of this episode
                                               • Check out Craig Blomberg's books on Amazon
                                               • Listen to Blomberg's presentation on handling money in 4: A Biblical Theology of Finance
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Craig-Blomberg-Historical-Jesus-Restitutio-1.png 513 The Historical Jesus and the Gospel of John (Craig Blomberg) false no 59:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/09/08/512-healing-from-bullying-2-jon-nessle/ Fri, 08 Sep 2023 19:24:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7834 We continue in our conversation on the topic of healing from bullying. This episode applies not only to those who suffered in school, but also should prove helpful to any who have suffered abuse later in life as well. Jon Nessle taps into Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to gain practical advice on what to do to find wholeness. In particular, he went into much greater detail about forgiveness and praying for one's abuser. Once again, Nessle's example and personal testimony help illustrate how these principles work in real life.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://youtu.be/QwLAXO_T_B8

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slide2-2.png 512 Healing from Bullying – 2 (Jon Nessle) false no 56:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/08/31/511-healing-from-bullying-1-jon-nessle/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 17:31:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7760 Were you bullied in school? How did you deal with it? Do you still harbor feelings of bitterness and vengefulness in your heart towards those who mistreated and abused you? Today my guest is Jon Nessle who faced ruthless ridicule and physical abuse from kindergarten to the tenth grade. He shares seven points to help you get the healing you need to let go of past trauma and experience God's healing.
                                               1. You have value; you are special. Find something you're good at and invest in that, especially education.
                                               2. Sublimate your emotional urges into good outlets. Don't allow rage to build and blow.
                                               3. Get help. Tell you guidance counselor or pastor.
                                               4. Cast your cares upon God. Pray.
                                               5. Forgive the bully.
                                               6. Refuse to seek vengeance for yourself.
                                               7. Pray for your enemies.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-VuEBrWPTE

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slide1-2.png 511 Healing from Bullying – 1 (Jon Nessle) false no 52:23 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/08/24/510-hospitality-evangelism-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:00:03 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7748 Do you struggle with evangelism? Do you feel like you should tell others about the gospel and yet, you can't seem to find a way to do that? If so, then this episode is for you. Part of our aim here at Restitutio is not just exploring the bible and church history to recover authentic Christianity, but also figuring out how to live your faith today. This means we sometimes have practical episodes. In this presentation, you'll learn about hospitality evangelism. The idea is simple: invite neighbors or coworkers over for dinner. Rosaria Butterfield put it this way: make strangers neighbors and neighbors family. This presentation will not only give you some useful advice on how to be faithful to the Great Commission, but will also provide you with some comedic examples of what not to do.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLyvaJoK2OQ

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • See other episodes about evangelism
                                               • Check out the evangelism seminar of Josh Anderson
                                               • Get Rosaria Butterfield's book: The Gospel Comes with a House Key
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hospitality-Evangelism-2.png 510 Hospitality Evangelism (Sean Finnegan) false no 50:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/08/17/509-theological-options-for-understanding-non-human-intelligence-kegan-chandler/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 17:20:27 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7776 Today we are continuing where we left off with part 2 of my interview with Kegan Chandler. In our last episode we spent most of our time talking about UAPs and the evidence that has come to light for their existence as well as non-human origin. Today, we are shifting gears to focus on the faith question. If aliens exist, what would that mean for Christian theology? What biblical categories exist to think about non-human intelligences (NHIs)? The answers Chandler provides may surprise you.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • See other episodes with Kegan Chandler
                                               • Follow Chandler on Adademia.edu
                                               • Check out his books on Amazon
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               —— Notes —— 5. You seem to be pointing to a potential overlap between science and what religions have been saying. How do you see this information impacting the ongoing discussion about “faith” versus “science”?  –    History of separation of methodological categories –    a convergence of discussion with scientific or non-religious institutions –    example of Bohr, etc. (short answer) 6. Do you think this is a difficult topic for Christians in particular to investigate?  –    Explain (long answer)  7. Are Christian theological discussions about the existence of NHIs something new, or something that’s been motivated only by recent events in the news? Have Christian theologians been interested in this topic before?  –    Brief history of this discussion in Western thought – Greek philosophers – anthroposolism vs. cosmic pluralism –    The Church Fathers –    Modern “exotheology” (CS Lewis, etc) –    Contemporary Evangelical UFO/Alien demonological and eschatological literature (short answer)  8. In what ways have theologians imagined that the existence of extraterrestrial life or NHIs could affect Christian theology? – soteriology – Christology/The Incarnation – doctrine of creation; evolution (medium answer) 9. What are some interpretive options for UAPs/NHI from a Christian theological perspective? Most important: a realization of our current category problem.  “Aliens” vs. “angels.”<– explain in detail >>>>Christians already believe in NHIs.<<<<< (!) From here, the options: –    “Demons” or “fallen angels” (negative) –    “good angels” (positive) –           Or a mixture of the above –    The “gods” as referred to in the OT and in ANE literature; or the “divine council” –    Simply other creatures of god who aren’t referenced in the Bible (long answer) ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slide2.png 509 Theological Options for Understanding Non-Human Intelligence (Kegan Chandler) false no 58:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/08/10/508-are-ufos-real-kegan-chandler/ Thu, 10 Aug 2023 23:30:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7770 Kegan Chandler is a historian of religion currently working on his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town where he is researching monotheism in Japanese religions. He also holds a Master of Theology degree from Campbellsville University. He is the author of several books and articles and currently writes for his blog, Exploring Religion.
                                               Now, I know this is a Christian theology podcast, but we need to talk about this subject, and Chandler is the guy to guide us. He’s intimately familiar with the evidence and has thought this topic through. I think you’ll agree that there are significant theological implications if it turns out non-human intelligence is behind these unexplained flying objects. But, before we get to that, we need to first talk about the evidence and different theories for what these objects are.

                                                

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • See other episodes with Kegan Chandler
                                               • Check out his books on Amazon
                                               • Follow Chandler on Adademia.edu
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               —— Notes —— 1. What are UAPs and NHIs (non human intelligences)? Where did these terms come from and why are people using them now? 2. What are the possible explanations of UAPs?  –    Prosaic hypotheses (incl. advanced human technology) –    Extra-terrestrial hypothesis –    Crypto-terrestrial hypothesis –    Ultra-terrestrial / Inter-dimensional –    Time-traveling humans hypothesis –    Jacque Valle’s Control System hypothesis –    Reverse Engineered technology hypothesis –    Warning: fallacy of oversimplification 3. Why is the mundane explanation that these are experimental craft of terrestrial origin problematic? Explain. –    Government studies – some still “unexplained” –    Reported flight capabilities/characteristics –    Near-peer adversaries? –    Older reports –    Credible sources’ testimony 4. We sometimes hear that news of “aliens” would somehow negatively affect religion on planet earth. What impact do you think widespread acknowledgemen]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slide1.png 508 Are UFOs Real? (Kegan Chandler) false no 48:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/08/03/507-eating-christs-flesh-2-steven-nemes/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 23:31:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7746 Today we are picking up where we left off with Dr. Steven Nemes. We've been talking about communion (also called the eucharist or the Lord's supper). He's been presenting a case for memorialism. Today we begin with the words of institution, which Jesus gave at the last supper. What did he mean when he said, "This is my body?" Next I ask Nemes about church history and what he's learned there. He talks about the Didache, Ignatius of Antioch, and Cyril of Jerusalem. Then I ask him how we should engage with the eucharist today. His answer may surprise you.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • See other episodes with Steven Nemes
                                               • Check out Nemes’ personal website, blog on substack, and YouTube channel
                                               • Follow Nemes on Twitter @snemes2
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slide4.png 507 Eating Christ’s Flesh – 2 (Steven Nemes) false no 41:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/07/27/506-eating-christs-flesh-1-steven-nemes/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 23:31:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7741 What do you think happens during communion? In my interview today, Dr. Steven Nemes provides a biblical, historical, and theological defense for memorialism--the idea that the eucharist memorializes what Christ has done (and will do) for us rather than actually becoming Christ in some metaphysical sense. Thus, the bread and wine signify or represent Christ's body and blood without mystically becoming them. I think you'll appreciate not only Nemes' argument, but also his clear and logical approach.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oCivff4ujQ

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • See other episodes with Steven Nemes
                                               • Check out Nemes’ personal website, blog on substack, and YouTube channel
                                               • Follow Nemes on Twitter @snemes2
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Slide3.png 506 Eating Christ’s Flesh – 1 (Steven Nemes) false no 32:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/07/20/505-the-key-of-truth-a-monument-of-armenian-unitarianism/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:40:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7729 The Key of Truth is a fascinating book, written by a sect of Armenian Unitarian Christians in the 1700s. Originally under Muslim rule, this group of Christians migrated to Russian-controlled Armenia in the nineteenth century. Sadly, they faced investigation, persecution, fines, and probably exile at the hands of the Armenian Church authorities. Although lost to history, this group of twenty-five families lives on in their intriguing and bold surviving text--the Key of Truth. Translated into English by Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare, this book testifies to a biblical unitarian community trying to survive in a hostile environment.

                                               Here's the original paper (available to read online or to download as a pdf) that accompanied this presentation. It delves into the proposal that the Key of Truth was actually a medieval Paulician document. I conclude that the arguments of Conybeare (19th c.) and Garsoïan (20th c.) fail to stand up to scrutiny, especially in light of the work of Hamilton (20th c.) and Ohanjanyan (21st c.).

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4hQa-3g_YE

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • Read the Key of Truth for yourself (Conybeare translation)
                                               • See my original paper (available to read online or to download as a pdf) 
                                               • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Key-of-Truth-Conference-Prez.png 505 The Key of Truth: A Monument of Armenian Unitarianism false no 1:06:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/07/14/504-early-church-history-22-byzantine-empire-from-constantine-to-justinian/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:31:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7722 This is part 22 of the Early Church History class.

                                               This episode aims to wrap up our early church history class. We'll cover relics and pilgrimage, emperors Zeno and Justinian, as well as the theological battles that continued to rage in the 5th and 6th centuries. Unsurprisingly the christological controversy of the 5th century did not come to an end when the emperor endorsed the Council of Chalcedon of 451 that declared Jesus to have two natures "unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, and inseparably." In addition to covering the Second Council of Constantinople of 553, we'll also briefly consider how the dual natures doctrine continued to foment division resulting in the Third Council of Constantinople in 681 and the Second Council of Nicea in 787.

                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59zyj9dMH4k&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=22

                                               —— Links ——

                                               • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                               • See other classes here
                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                               —— Notes ——

                                               Byzantine Beginnings

                                               • 293 Diocletian initiated the division between east and west with his tetrarchy.
                                               • 330 Constantine built a “New Rome” on the cite of old Byzantium, naming it Constantinople.
                                               • Constantine’s mother, Helena, initiated the pilgrimage movement.
                                               • 381 Egeria wrote a travelogue to her friends that influenced later pilgrimages.
                                               • Helena also sent Constantine relics of the true cross.
                                               • 397 Martin of Tours died, leaving behind his cloak, which became a famous relic.

                                               Fifth Century Developments

                                               • Theodosius I (r. 379-392) had outlawed pagan sacrifices and endorsed Trinitarian Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.
                                               • Arian Germanic tribes moved into the western Roman Empire and began taking territory.
                                               • 378 Visigoths win at Adrianople.
                                               • 410 Alaric sacked Rome.
                                               • 455 Vandals sacked Rome.
                                               • 476 Odoacer deposes the last Roman Augustus.
                                               • 493 Theodoric and the Ostrogoths took Italy.

                                               Zeno’s Henotikon

                                               • 451 Chalcedon affirmed the dyophysite position (two natures in one person).
                                               • 488 Byzantine Emperor Zeno attempted to reconcile monophysites and dyophysites by condemning Eutyches and Nestorius and approving Cyril’s 12 anathemas (Henotikon).
                                               • Chalcedon remained controversial with Christianity now split into several groups: Arian Germanic kingdoms, monophysites (Egypt and Ethiopia), Chalcedonian dyophysites (Rome & Constantinople), and Nestorian dyophysites (Syria and Persia).

                                               Justinian (482-565)

                                               • 525 Justinian]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Slide22.png 504 Early Church History 22: Byzantine Empire from Constantine to Justinian false no 59:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/07/06/503-early-church-history-21-the-dual-natures-controversy-of-the-fifth-century/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:54:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7720 This is part 21 of the Early Church History class.

                                                 In the fifth century Christians waged a theological civil war that ended in a massive church split. The issue was over the dual natures of Christ. How was he both divine and human? Did he have a human soul and a divine soul? Did his two natures fuse into one new nature? Although such abstruse distinctions would hardly get anyone’s blood boiling today, these doctrinal distinctives resulted in a zero sum war for supremacy involving not only theological argumentation, but also political conniving and outright gangster tactics in the battles that led to the famous Council of Chalcedon in 451. Though church history textbooks often whitewash this period of theological creativity, this episode will give you a brief but unapologetic overview of the major players and their deeds in the dual natures controversy.

                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                 —— Links ——

                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                 • See other classes here
                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                 Options for Two Natures

                                                 • Athanasius (c. 357) affirmed Jesus as God and man but did not explain how the natures united. He called Mary Theotokos (God-bearer).
                                                 • Apollinarius of Laodicea (d. 382) said the Word became flesh without assuming a human mind (Apollinarianism).
                                                 • Gregory of Nazianzus (d. 390) condemned Apollinarius and said that what God has not assumed, he has not healed.
                                                 • Eutyches of Constantinople (380-456) said the divine and human natures combined to form one new nature (Eutychianism/Monophysitism)
                                                 • Nestorius (c. 429) denied Mary as Theotokos, calling her instead Christotokos, and allegedly taught that Christ had two distinct natures in two persons (Nestorianism/dyophysitism).
                                                 • Leo I said Christ had two natures united in person, though the two natures remained distinct (Chalcedonian dyophysitism).

                                                 Condemning John Chrysostom

                                                 • John Chrysostom represented the Antiochene school of thought (as opposed to the Alexandrian).
                                                 • 397 Chrysostom became bishop of Constantinople.
                                                 • Eudoxia, wife of the emperor Arcadius, worked with Theophilus of Alexandria to depose Chrysostom.
                                                 • 403 Synod of the Oak deposed Chrysostom.
                                                 • 404 Chrysostom exiled.
                                                 • 407 Chrysostom marched to death

                                                 Condemning Nestorius

                                                 • 428 Nestorius became bishop of Constantinople.
                                                 • He immediately began persecuting “heretics” as a defender of orthodoxy.
                                                 • 429 Anastasius of Antioch preached in Constantinople that no one should call Mary
                                                 • Pu]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Slide21.png 503 Early Church History 21: The Dual Natures Controversy of the Fifth Century false no 1:02:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/06/29/502-early-church-history-20-early-african-armenian-and-asian-christianity/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 23:31:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7690 This is part 20 of the Early Church History class.

                                                   So far we've been focusing primarily on Christianity within the Roman Empire in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East--the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, Christianity also spread south to Africa, north to Armenia, and east to Asia where it reached Persia, India, and China. Hopefully this session will counterbalance the Mediterranean focus we've had so far, expanding your perspective to be a little more global.

                                                   Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_EnPzxJ4k&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=20&t=2890s&pp=iAQB

                                                   —— Links ——

                                                   • See my lecture on YouTube: History of Christianity in Africa
                                                   • For more on Armenian Christianity, see The Key of Truth: A Monument of Armenian Unitarianism
                                                   • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                   • See other classes here
                                                   • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                   • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                   • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                   • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                   • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                   Africa

                                                   First Century

                                                   • Jesus took refuge in Africa as a baby (Matthew 2:13-15)
                                                   • An African from Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross (Mark 15:21).
                                                   • At Pentecost, Jews from Egypt and Libya were present (Acts 2:10).
                                                   • At Antioch, Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene were part of the Jew-Gentile mixed church (Acts 13:1).
                                                   • Egypt
                                                     • By the 2nd c., New Testament scriptures were translated into Coptic.
                                                     • Alexandria was a center for Christianity (Clement, Origen, Arius, Alexander, Athanasius).
                                                   • Maghreb (North Africa)
                                                     • Christianity attested from at least the second century through martyrs of Scilla in Numidia and Perpetua and Felicitas in Carthage.
                                                     • Tertullian, Cyprian, Novatian, Donatus, and Augustine
                                                   • Ethiopia
                                                     • Frumentius and Edesius became slaves to the King of Axum.
                                                     • Athanasius of Alexandria ordained Frumentius a bishop.
                                                     • King Ezana became a Christian between 330 and 350.
                                                     • In the late 5th c., the nine saints came and founded monasteries, including at Debre Damo.
                                                     • In the 6th c., King Kaleb crossed the Red Sea to defeat Du Nawas, king of Himyar (Yemen). He then rebuilt the churches there and spread Christianity in the region.
                                                   • Nubia
                                                     • In the second half of the 6th c., Christian missionaries began converting key people in Makuria.
                                                     • Makuria became a mighty kingdo]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Slide20.png 502 Early Church History 20: Early African, Armenian, and Asian Christianity false no 1:02:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/06/22/501-early-church-history-19-arian-kingdoms-from-ulfilas-to-clovis/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:46:09 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7682 This is part 19 of the Early Church History class.

                                                       Even though the Roman Empire chose Nicene Christianity as it's "orthodoxy," subordinationist Christianity continued to exist, especially outside among the Germanic tribes. In this episode, you'll learn about Ulfilas the Missionary to the Goths who not only brought Christianity to these "barbarians," but also made them an alphabet and translated most of the bible into Gothic. Next, we'll briefly survey the major Germanic tribes, including the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Burgundians, Lombards, and finally the Franks. This little known chapter of history when the Arian kingdoms took over the Roman Empire had a massive effects on Europe and North Africa for centuries to come.

                                                       Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9T3V1AWIs&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=19&t=27s&pp=iAQB

                                                       —— Links ——

                                                       • See also 494 Early Church History 12: Arius and Alexander of Alexandria and 423 One God 13: The Fourth Century
                                                       • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                       • See other classes here
                                                       • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                       • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                       • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                       • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                       • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                       Ulfilas, Missionary to the Goths

                                                       • 340 Subordinationist bishops ordained Ulfilas bishop to the Visigoths
                                                       • 341-347 lived with the Goths and preached to them
                                                       • Ulfilas translated the Bible into Gothic.
                                                       • Rule of Faith: “I believe in one God the Father, alone ingenerate and invisible, and in his only-begotten Son, our Lord and God, artificer and maker of the whole creation, who has nobody like him–therefore there is one God the Father of all who is also God of our God–and in one Holy Spirit, the power which illuminates and sanctifies, as Christ said after the resurrection to his apostles, and he (i.e. the Spirit) is not God nor our God, but the minister of Christ ... subordinate and obedient in all things to the Son, and the Son subordinate and obedient in all things to his God and Father…”[1]

                                                       Huns

                                                       • The Huns were a nomadic confederation of Mongolian tribes who began entering Europe in the fourth century.
                                                       • Ammianus Marcellinus described them as utter savages who never bathed or changed their clothes and lived on their horses.
                                                       • Atilla the Hun (r. 434-453) attacked Persia, the Balkans, Constantinople, Gaul, and Italy, terrifying many within the Roman Empire (both East and West).

                                                       Visigoths]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Slide19.png 501 Early Church History 19: Arian Kingdoms from Ulfilas to Clovis false no 42:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/06/16/500-early-church-history-18-the-gifts-of-the-spirit-in-early-christianity/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 19:23:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7672 This is part 18 of the Early Church History class.

                                                       I wonder how many Christians in the world today believe the gifts of the spirit ceased in the time of the apostles? I know there are quite a few. Many others, however, believe they are available today and make time for them in their worship services. This is one of those topics about which we don’t need to guess. We have the historical record and can just look and see if generations after the apostles continue to speak in tongues, prophecy, cast out demons, or perform miraculous healing. In today’s episode we’ll survey what the data say about the first five hundred of Christian history. We’ll also cover the Montanists, a lesser-known movement centered on prophecy, tongues, and asceticism.

                                                       Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                       —— Links ——

                                                       • Check out our series on gifts of the spirit with interviews from different perspectives here.
                                                       • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                       • See other classes here
                                                       • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                       • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                       • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                       • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                       • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                       Gifts of the Spirit in General

                                                       • Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 82.1; 88.1
                                                       • Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 2.32.4
                                                       • Tertullian of Carthage, On Baptism 20
                                                       • Novatian of Rome, On the Trinity 29
                                                       • Apostolic Constitutions 8.1-2

                                                       Speaking in Tongues and Prophecy

                                                       • Didache 11.7-12
                                                       • Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.6.1
                                                       • Tertullian of Carthage, Against Marcion 5.8; On the Soul 9
                                                       • Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity 8.33

                                                       Montanism (Excursus)

                                                       • 165 – Montanus began speaking in tongues and prophesying, initiating a movement called the New Prophecy[1]
                                                       • Sayings of Montanus
                                                         • “Behold, man is like a lyre and I fly to him like a plectrum. Man sleeps and I stay awake. Behold, the Lord is the one who throws human hearts into ecstasy and gives a heart to men.” (Panarion 48.5.1)[2]
                                                         • “I am the Lord God, the Almighty, who abide in man.” (Panarion 48.11.1)
                                                         • “Neither angel nor envoy, but I the Lord God, the Father, have come.” (Panarion 48.11.9)
                                                       • Maximilla and Priscilla became prophetesses.
                                                       • The New Prophecy people emphasized obedience to God, asceticism, fasting, celibacy, and spiritual experiences.
                                                       • They rejected remarriage and any serious sin after baptism.
                                                       • They survived until the mid-sixth century when Justinian initiated a persecution in Pepuza.]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/18-Gifts-of-the-Spirit-in-Early-Christianity-1.png 500 Early Church History 18: The Gifts of the Spirit in Early Christianity false no 59:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/06/10/499-early-church-history-17-the-kingdom-of-god-in-early-christianity/ Sat, 10 Jun 2023 14:46:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7663 This is part 17 of the Early Church History class.

                                                         Throughout the first five hundred years of Christian history, a significant shift occurred in what we believed about our ultimate destiny. The New Testament and the early church fathers repeatedly expressed belief in God’s kingdom coming to earth. Over time, however, this idea gave way to the more recognizable medieval dichotomy of heaven or hell immediately at death. In this episode you’ll learn who the major players were on both sides of this struggle as well as the main reasons why Christianity ultimately rejected the kingdom.

                                                         Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                         —— Links ——

                                                         • Check out our entire class on the Kingdom of God available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This class includes the four original lectures on which this single one was based.
                                                         • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                         • See other classes here
                                                         • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                         • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                         • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                         • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                         • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                         The Kingdom of God is the idea that the Messiah Jesus will come back to earth, resurrect the saved, and initiate an age of restoration, eventually making everything wrong with the world right. We find robust belief in this idea in the New Testament; however, by the Middle Ages, heaven or hell at death had entirely replaced the Kingdom idea.

                                                         Kingdom Believers

                                                         • First Century
                                                           • Didache 8.2; 9.4; 10.5; 16.7-8
                                                           • Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 42.3; 50.3
                                                           • Psuedo-Barnabas, Epistle of Barnabas 1.7; 6.13; 10.11; 15.4-5
                                                         • Second Century
                                                           • Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians 16.1
                                                           • Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians 5.2; 11.2
                                                           • Hermas, Similitude 9.15.2-3; 9.20.2-3
                                                           • Pseudo-Clement; 2 Clement 5.5; 9.6; 11.7; 12.1, 6; 17.4-5
                                                           • Papias of Hierapolis, cited in Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.33.3-4; see also Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men 18
                                                           • Justine Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 80
                                                           • Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.32-5.36
                                                         • Third Century
                                                           • Hippolytus, On Genesis Fragment 3; On Daniel 2.4; Scholia of Daniel 7.22; Treatise on Christ and Antichrist 65
                                                           • Commodian, Instructions 29; 33; 34; 35; 44
                                                           • Nepos of Egypt, cited in Eusebius, The Church History 7.24.1
                                                           • Victorinus, Commentary on Revelation 1.5, 15; 14.15; 20.2, 5, 6 (Greek version https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/17-The-Kingdom-of-God-in-Early-Christianity-1.png 499 Early Church History 17: The Kingdom of God in Early Christianity false no 49:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/06/02/498-early-church-history-16-jerome-and-augustine/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 19:46:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7654 This is part 16 of the Early Church History class.

                                                             Jerome and Augustine are two of the most influential Latin Christians of the first millennium of Christianity. This episode will introduce you to their lives, personalities, and some of their most important ideas. You'll see how significantly asceticism affected their lifestyles as well as how their particular take on Christianity came to set the norm for Roman Catholic Christianity.

                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtNF5-rvmwU&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=16&pp=iAQB

                                                             —— Links ——

                                                             • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                             • See other classes here
                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                             Jerome’s Life (347-419)

                                                             • Actual name: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus
                                                             • Excellent Latin education, highly intelligent
                                                             • Learned Greek and Hebrew
                                                             • Lived as a hermit in the Syrian desert
                                                             • 382-385 - served as secretary to Pope Damasus I, bishop of Rome

                                                             Jerome’s Asceticism

                                                             • Believed everyone should be celibate
                                                             • Worked a lot with wealthy widows from the senatorial class and their daughters
                                                             • Thought the only benefit from marriage was the production of more virgins
                                                             • After Paula’s daughter Blaesilla died, he moved to Bethlehem.
                                                             • Spent his time engaging in controversies by letter, translating the Bible and other literature into Latin, and writing commentaries on scripture

                                                             Jerome’s Writings

                                                             • Though deeply influenced by classical literature, especially Cicero, he advocated reading only the Bible and Christian literature.
                                                             • Worked on the Vulgate (382-405)
                                                               • Became the dominant Latin Bible for the Roman Catholic Church from 600 onwards; though in Jerome’s day, many still preferred a translation of the Septuagint (including Augustine)
                                                             • Translated Origen’s On First Principles, Pachomius’ Rule, and Eusebius’ Historical Chronicle into Latin
                                                             • Lives of Illustrious Men provides short biographies of many early Christians.
                                                             • Commentaries on many books of the Bible

                                                             Augustine’s Early Life (354-430)

                                                             • Grew up in North Africa with a Christian mother, Monica, and a pagan father, Patrick
                                                             • Had an excellent education in Carthage
                                                             • Particularly influenced by Cicero’s dialogues, especially his Hortensius
                                                             • Became a teacher of rhetoric in Rome, then Milan

                                                             Augustine’s Sexual Life

                                                             • Stealing pears as a teenager]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/16-Jerome-and-Augustine-1.png 498 Early Church History 16: Jerome and Augustine false no 1:06:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/05/25/497-early-church-history-15-monasticism-from-anthony-to-benedict/ Thu, 25 May 2023 16:51:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7652 This is part 15 of the Early Church History class.

                                                               We are shifting gears away from Christology to talk about the desert fathers and mothers. These were people that decided to leave the city and go off alone or in communes to practice spiritual disciplines and asceticism. They denied themselves pleasure in their pursuit of sanctification and spiritual warfare. Today we'll go over four early founders, including Anthony, Pachomius, Basil, and Benedict. Although this subject may seem somewhat tangential to the main arc of early church history, as it turns out, these monks exercised a huge influence on Christianity at large.

                                                               Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEUeiVsNeo0&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=15

                                                               —— Links ——

                                                               • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                               • See other classes here
                                                               • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                               • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                               • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                               • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                               • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                               —— Notes ——

                                                               Anthony the Great (251-356)

                                                               • One of the earliest hermits
                                                               • Athanasius of Alexandria wrote the Life of Anthony, which became an extremely popular hagiography.
                                                               • Heard what Jesus said to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19.21 and sold his possessions to give to the poor
                                                               • Trained under an old hermit (a.k.a eremite or anchorite) before going off alone
                                                               • Practiced extreme asceticism and isolation
                                                               • Repeatedly tempted and beaten by demons
                                                               • Lived in a tomb, then an abandoned Roman fort, then on a mountain
                                                               • Athanasius had Anthony come to Alexandria to endorse the eternality of the Son over against the subordinationists.

                                                               Pachomius (292-348)

                                                               • Studied 7 years under a hermit named Palaemon near Anthony in the Egyptian desert
                                                               • Went off on his own and lived as an anchorite
                                                               • Started a XXfor hermits unable physically or mentally to live alone
                                                               • Known as founder of cenobitic monasticism
                                                               • Developed a rule to govern monastery life
                                                               • Monasteries dotted the desert in Egypt, Judea, and Syria

                                                               Basil Caesarea (329-379)

                                                               • Grew up wealthy and well-educated
                                                               • Became a Christian and donated his fortune to the poor
                                                               • Studied with monks in Egypt and influenced by Pachomius
                                                               • Returned to Caesarea and began founding monasteries
                                                               • Diminished the austerity of Pachomian monasteries and adapted to life in the city where monks ran orphanages, hospices, and hospitals
                                                               • Designed a rule for monasteries, incorporating interspersed periods of worship and manual or scholarly labor
                                                               • Adapted and popularized monastery life in the Greek-sp]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15-Monasticism-from-Anthony-to-Benedict-1.png 497 Early Church History 15: Monasticism from Anthony to Benedict false no 56:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/05/19/496-early-church-history-14-paul-of-samosata-and-photinus-of-sirmium/ Fri, 19 May 2023 15:34:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7630 This is part 14 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                 We've been learning about the controversy over Christ's origins in the last couple of episodes. This battle raged between groups of Christians who agreed that Jesus pre-existed for sixty years. But today we are taking a break from that and looking instead at the early Christians who held to a dynamic monarchian Christology. Specifically, we'll consider two influential bishops: Paul of Samosata and Photinus of Sirmium. Although sometimes mislabeled as adoptionists, these two believed in the virgin birth but did not think Christ existed before then. Although what we know about these two survives in the writings of their enemies, we can reconstruct sketches of their beliefs and influence.

                                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFKAwd6Cqzc&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=14

                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                 • See other episodes featuring famous biblical unitarians: Thomas Emlyn, Michael Servetus, Adam Pastor, Claude of Savoy, Armenian Unitarians, Socinian Movement in Poland and Transylvania, British Unitarians
                                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                 • For the postscript discussion about the Constantinian Shift, see Preston Sprinkle's book, Nonviolence (previously called Fight), and his interview with George Kalantzis as well as his book Caesar and the Lamb
                                                                 • See other classes here
                                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                 Over the last couple of sessions, we’ve looked at the shameful battle between egalitarians and subordinationists. Both parties believed Jesus]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/14-Paul-of-Samosata-and-Photinus-of-Sirmium-1.png 496 Early Church History 14: Paul of Samosata and Photinus of Sirmium false no 1:06:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/05/11/495-early-church-history-13-trinity-controversy-in-the-fourth-century/ Thu, 11 May 2023 16:38:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7616 This is part 13 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                 Between the year 325 and 381 titanic shifts occurred that changed Christianity forever. Rather than ending conflict and ushering in a golden era of lasting peace, Constantine's Council of Nicea ignited a theological civil war within Christianity that raged for six more decades. In today's episode you'll learn about the struggle over Christology that eventually ended with the emperor Theodosius endorsing the trinitarian creed of Constantinople in 381. Rather than sugarcoating this tumultuous period, my hope is to relentlessly tell the truth in hopes that you can draw your own conclusions.

                                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZXXcufcuis

                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                 • See other episodes and posts about the Trinity here
                                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                 • See other classes here
                                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                 325 Council of Nicaea

                                                                 • Constantine invited many bishops to his lake summer palace at Nicaea.
                                                                 • Between 250 and 300 bishops attended, but only 5 from the West.
                                                                 • Constantine suggested adding the word homoousios to the creed that Eusebius of Caesarea presented.
                                                                 • The Creed of Nicaea declares the Son to be “begotten of the Father…that is, from the essence (ousia) of the Father…begotten not made, one in essence (homoousia) with the Father”.

                                                                 Decades of Controversy

                                                                 • The Council of Nicaea did not pacify the controversy but instead fueled it.
                                                                 • Everyday people were informed and argued about the various positions in the streets, baths, and marketplaces.

                                                                 Three Main Parties

                                                                 • Homoousions (Athanasius)
                                                                 • Anomoeans (Eunomius)
                                                                 • Homoians (Acacius)

                                                                 Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)

                                                                 • 326 - Became bishop of Alexandria
                                                                 • Took up mantle of Alexander and fought tirelessly for the eternal Son position and homoousios
                                                                 • Repeatedly deposed and exiled from Alexandria
                                                                 • Spent at least 15 years in exile of his 45 year bishopric
                                                                 • Used violent speech and physical violence to defeat his enemies

                                                                 Anomoeans

                                                                 • Believed the Son was not like the Father
                                                                 • Most famous representative was Eunomius.
                                                                 • Strong subordinationists
                                                                 • 357 - Second Creed of Sirmium

                                                                 Homoians

                                                                 • Believed the Son was like the Father but not the same substance
                                                                 • Constantinople was a homoian stronghold for d]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/13-Trinity-Controversy-in-the-Fourth-Century-1.png 495 Early Church History 13: Trinity Controversy in the Fourth Century false no 55:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/05/06/494-early-church-history-12-arius-and-alexander-of-alexandria/ Sat, 06 May 2023 19:18:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7604 This is part 12 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                   Today we begin a two part series on the Christological controversies of the fourth century. Our focus for this episode is the conflict between Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and his presbyter, Arius. You may be surprised to learn that Arius was not some youthful outsider spouting off obvious heresy. Rather than depending on what modern historians and biased apologists say, we'll depend on ancient historians and the surviving letters from Arius, Alexander, and Constantine to reconstruct what really happened. You may be surprised what we find.

                                                                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BFihtpvP2o&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=12

                                                                   Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                   • See other episodes and posts about Arius
                                                                   • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                   • See other classes here
                                                                   • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                   • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                   • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                   • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                   • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                   Bishop Alexander of Alexandria (bishop from 313-326)

                                                                   • Authoritarian bishop (in the steps of Demetrius 80 years prior)
                                                                   • Called together a meeting of clergy wherein “with perhaps too philosophical minuteness”[1], he explained the unity of the Father and the Son.

                                                                   Arius of Libya (260-336)

                                                                   • Presbyter of ancient Baucalis Church in Alexandria
                                                                   • Austere, ascetic, older man
                                                                   • Highly intelligent and an expert logician
                                                                   • Objected to Alexander’s teaching about the unity of the Father and the Son, thinking it sounded like Sabellianism

                                                                   Investigation

                                                                   • Alexander held two rounds of debates among clergy in which Arius participated.
                                                                   • Alexander found both sides convincing but ended up siding with the eternal Son position.
                                                                   • Alexander held a council of bishops and requested Arius to sign a confession of faith.
                                                                   • Arius denied; Alexander excommunicated him
                                                                   • 89 others left with Arius.

                                                                   Letter Wars

                                                                   • Alexander wrote letters to other bishops against Arius.
                                                                   • Alexander wrote an encyclical against Arius.
                                                                   • Arius wrote letters looking for support.
                                                                   • Eusebius of Nicomedia and Eusebius of Caesarea had Arius write a conciliatory letter to Alexander.
                                                                   • Constantine wrote Alexander a letter which requested him to make peace with Arius.

                                                                   Arius’ Theology

                                                                   • Word/Son is first created being (before the ages)
                                                                   • He is superior to all other created beings and objects.
                                                                   • “There was when he was not.”
                                                                   • God begat/c]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/12-Arius-and-Alexander-of-Alexandria.png 494 Early Church History 12: Arius and Alexander of Alexandria false no 49:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/04/28/493-early-church-history-11-the-constantinian-shift/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 22:11:13 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7602 This is part 11 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                     Have you heard of the Roman emperor Constantine? He had a massive impact on Christianity. Not only did he end the brutal persecutions of his predecessors, but he also used the Roman government to actively support the Church. However, his involvement also resulted in significant changes that eventually led to the merger between Church and State called Christendom. In this episode you'll learn about the good and the bad effects of Constantine's involvement in Christianity.

                                                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQDFaIh2SsY&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=11

                                                                     Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                     • More podcasts about Constantine
                                                                     • Get Kegan Chandler's book, Constantine and the Divine Mind
                                                                     • Find out more about this summer's Family Camp here.
                                                                     • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                     • See other classes here
                                                                     • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                     • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                     • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                     • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                     • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                     Today, we’re looking at one of the most influential people in church history: Constantine (272-337).

                                                                     • Also called Constantine the Great or Constantine I
                                                                     • There would be 10 more emperors named Constantine.
                                                                     • Constantine 11th was the last Roman emperor who died when the Muslims conquered Constantinople in 1453.

                                                                     Constantine’s “Edict of Milan”[1]

                                                                     • 303-313 - The Great Persecution
                                                                     • 313 - Toleration granted to Christians and all religions
                                                                       • Restore confiscated property

                                                                     Constantine’s Favoring of Christianity

                                                                     • Exemption from public office
                                                                     • Tax exemption
                                                                     • Use of cursus publicus
                                                                     • Printing of Christian scriptures
                                                                     • Closing of law courts on Sundays
                                                                     • Abolition of face-branding as a punishment

                                                                     Constantine and Churches

                                                                     • Donated 3,000 bags of money to church in African provinces
                                                                     • Rebuilt and enlarged damaged churches
                                                                     • Built new churches, especially through his mother, Helena
                                                                       • Helena also allegedly finds the true cross (relic).

                                                                     Constantine’s Government

                                                                     • Appointed government officials that were Christians
                                                                     • Sought advice from Christian bishops on decisions
                                                                     • Shared his table with Christians
                                                                     • Had bishops acc]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/11-The-Constantinian-Shift-1.png 493 Early Church History 11: The Constantinian Shift false no 46:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/04/21/492-refuting-samuel-nesans-case-that-jesus-is-yahweh/ Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:44:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7584 This is part two of a two part series refuting the opening statement of a debate on the question "Is Jesus Yahweh?"

                                                                       This week Brand Duke and I are going to critique Samuel Nesan's opening statement in his recent debate over the question, "Is Jesus Yahweh?" Nesan has a Master of Christian Studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and another Masters of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Southwestern. He's served as a pastor, speaker, and apologist. He's the co-founder of Explain International, a ministry seeking to equip the church to accurately articulate and defend the Christian faith. In our episode today, we'll play out sections of Nesan's opening statement and respond.

                                                                       Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSPU45IWErA

                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                       • Read Troy Salinger's article on the Aramaic word pelach in Daniel 7.14
                                                                       • Check out these other debates and this multi-part refutation of Michael Brown's case for the deity of Christ
                                                                       • More about Brandon Duke at TruthBorn.org and on his YouTube channel
                                                                       • For an entire class on the biblical unitarian understanding of God, see One God Over All on the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube
                                                                       • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                       • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                       • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                       • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                       • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here  
                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Samuel-Nesan.png 492 Refuting Samuel Nesan’s Case That Jesus Is Yahweh false no 1:01:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/04/13/491-refuting-kyle-essarys-case-that-jesus-is-yahweh/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 23:13:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7563 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                       This is part one of a two part series refuting the opening statement of a debate on the question “Is Jesus Yahweh?”

                                                                       This week and next week we are taking a little break from our Early Church History class to do discuss a recent debate about Christ’s identity. So, if you’re not interested in that, just skip ahead two episodes and you can pick up on the class. But, since this debate just happened, I wanted to take a couple of episodes to respond while it’s still fresh in people’s memories.

                                                                       If you haven’t listened it yet, you can watch it on YouTube or listen on Spotify. Just search “Is Jesus Yahweh debate.” You’ll find the Gospel Truth channel on YouTube or the Biblical Unitarian podcast episode 271 in your podcast app. But, even if you haven’t yet listened to this debate, we are going to play out the audio and respond, so you should be able to follow along fine.

                                                                       Now this was a two on two debate between Dr. Dustin Smith and Pastor William Barlow who took the negative position “Jesus is not Yahweh” vs. Dr. Kyle Essary and Apologist Samuel Nesan who took the affirmative position that “Jesus is Yahweh.” In this episode Brandon Duke of TruthBorn and I are going to perform a postmortem critique of the debate. We’ll play out Dr. Essary’s opening statement and respond to it. Of course Dr. Smith and Pastor Will responded to several of these points in the debate, but I thought it would be helpful to take a little more time with them. Then in our next episode we’ll take on Samuel Nesan’s opening statement.

                                                                       Before jumping into my conversation with Brandon Duke, I first want to formally introduce Kyle Essary. He’s a scholar of the Old Testament with a PhD in biblical studies. He is currently a lecturer at the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as the interim dean. He is originally from Dallas, USA, but has lived in China, the Middle East, and Malaysia for most of the past decade. And I hasten to add to this little bio, that he also seems like a genuinely kind man. Maybe that’s just his southern accent, but he came across as fair minded and respectful.

                                                                       Well, that’s enough of an introduction. Here now is episode 491 Refuting Kyle Essary’s case that Jesus is Yahweh with Brandon Duke.

                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                       • Check out these other debates and this multi-part refutation of Michael Brown’s case for the deity of Christ
                                                                       • More about Brandon Duke at TruthBorn.org and on his YouTube channel
                                                                       • For an entire class on the biblical unitarian understanding of God, see One God Over All on the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube
                                                                       • Support Restitutio ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kyle-Essary.png 491 Refuting Kyle Essary’s Case That Jesus Is Yahweh false no 57:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/04/08/490-early-church-history-10-persecution-of-early-christians/ Sat, 08 Apr 2023 15:59:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7561 This is part 10 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                         The Roman government persecuted Christians for the first three centuries. In this episode, you'll learn about various persecutions that flared up during the reigns of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian. We'll also cover why Romans both despised and feared Christianity. Learning about the martyrs among our spiritual ancestors helps us to put in perspective our own situation as well as provide us with inspiring examples of how to face dire situations courageously.

                                                                         Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl4dHYePy8g&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=10

                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                         • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                         • See other classes here
                                                                         • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                         • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                         • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                         • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                         • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                         Disclaimer: In order to do this subject justice, I need to describe some actions that are inappropriate for children. So, if there are little ones in ear shot, you should probably wait until later. To be honest, this material is traumatizing for all ages. Still, I think we need to know our own history.

                                                                         Pliny the Younger (61-113)

                                                                         • governor of Bithynia
                                                                         • wrote and received letters from emperor Trajan
                                                                         • Trajan forbade an assembly of firemen
                                                                         • Pliny had heard Christians would not worship statues
                                                                         • Christian lifestyle was morally upright, thought their refusal to comply with the government infuriated Pliny
                                                                         • Pliny was worried about diminishment of worship at the temples

                                                                         Criticisms of Christianity

                                                                         • lump us in w/ Epicureans (atheists)
                                                                         • stubborn and oppositional
                                                                         • miracles were falsely reported or tricks
                                                                         • gullible, easily deceived by charlatans
                                                                         • anti-reason (blind faith)

                                                                         Rumors

                                                                         • Christians ate babies
                                                                         • Christians participated in incestuous orgies

                                                                         Persecutions

                                                                         • (155) Polycarp of Smyrna, Asia Minor
                                                                         • (177) Blandina and Sanctus in Lyons, Gaul
                                                                         • (203) Perpetua and Felicitas in Carthage
                                                                         • (249-251) Decian Persecution
                                                                         • (257-260) Valerian Persecution
                                                                         • (303-313) The Great Persecution (Diocletian)

                                                                         We Survived

                                                                         • Jesus said to Peter after he confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it” (Mat 16.18)
                                                                         • death did not prevail against us
                                                                         • not only did we survive, we also grew from 100s of thousands in the 3rd c. to millions in the 4th c.
                                                                         • Jesus said, “They will del]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/10-Persecution-of-Early-Christians-1.png 490 Early Church History 10: Persecution of Early Christians false no 53:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/03/30/489-early-church-history-9-early-church-orders/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:43:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7543 This is part 9 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                           How did Christians organize themselves in the first few centuries? We're taking a break from theology and switching to focus on practical matters of church offices, church governance, church discipline, conversion, and charity. As it turns out we have a surprising amount of information about how early Christians did church not only from scattered quotes, but from a series of church manuals that have survived. In some ways these church orders sound eerily familiar to modern ears and in other ways, utterly foreign. See what you think.

                                                                           Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7tCjuTbHx8&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=9&t=1892s

                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                           • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                           • See other classes here
                                                                           • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                           • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                           • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                           • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                           • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                           —— Notes ——

                                                                           Sources

                                                                           • The Didache (100)[1]
                                                                           • Apostolic Tradition (215) (Hippolytus?)[2]
                                                                           • Didascalia Apostolorum (230)[3]
                                                                           • Apostolic Church Order (300)[4]
                                                                           • Apostolic Constitutions (380)[5]
                                                                           • quotes from others like Justin, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, etc.

                                                                           Church Orders are notoriously hard to date (composite documents). They don’t necessarily reflect the whole church and sometimes disagree with each other. They simply represent a snapshot of what Christians were doing in a particular time and place.

                                                                           Joseph Lynch: “In the innermost circle were the people who were full members, the baptized faithful. Two groups were in the second circle: the unbaptized catechumens (“those under instruction”) who were seeking entry to the inner circle and the baptized penitents who had been expelled from the inner circle and were trying to get back in. The huge third circle held the non-believers (pagans and Jews), the former Christians (apostates), and the unacceptable Christians (heretics).”[6]

                                                                           Bishops (Overseers)

                                                                           • qualifications in 1 Timothy 3.1-7; Titus 1.7-9
                                                                           • extraordinary honor as God’s representative
                                                                           • 50 years old (if possible)
                                                                           • learned (if possible) and skillful with words
                                                                           • preach, administer communion, baptize, rebuke sin, restore repentant, visit the sick
                                                                           • supported financially, but live moderately
                                                                           • coordinate burying believers

                                                                           Presbyters (Elders)

                                                                           • qualifications in Titu]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/9-Early-Church-Orders-1.png 489 Early Church History 9: Early Church Orders false no 1:06:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/03/23/488-early-church-history-8-origen-of-alexandria/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:55:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7525 This is part 8 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                             Origen of Alexandria is the man behind the curtain. Although few Christians today would recognize his name, most denominations are still on a trajectory he initiated eighteen hundred years ago. His influences in theology, christology, eschatology, apologetics, textual criticism, asceticism, hermeneutics, and Christian philosophy are astonishing. Understanding Origen's life and ideas is a major key to comprehending the history of ideas within Christianity's most creative and speculative period. With the knowledge you've gained from our previous two episodes, you'll be able to see how Origen drew on Philo and Clement and also moved beyond them to synthesize a doctrinal package in response to pressures and criticisms from the Gnostics, Valentinians, pagans, philosophers, and Jews.

                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg_Hz1TDjg0&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=8

                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                             • Additional podcasts and articles on Origen of Alexandria
                                                                             • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                             • See other classes here
                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                             “Origen was the most important Christian thinker between Paul in the first century and Augustine in the fifth century.” –Joseph Lynch

                                                                             Life (186 - 253)

                                                                             • grew up in a Christian home
                                                                             • a committed ascetic

                                                                             Scripture

                                                                             • strong commitment to the inspiration of Scripture
                                                                             • an early textual critic: one who compares manuscripts to figure out the original reading
                                                                             • Hexapla
                                                                               1. Hebrew (had learned from a Jew)
                                                                               2. Secunda (transliteration of Hebrew into Greek letters)
                                                                               3. Aquila of Sinope (2nd c., ad 130) very literal translation
                                                                               4. Symmachus the Ebionite (late 2nd c.)
                                                                               5. Septuagint with textual critical notes to mark where it differs from the Hebrew
                                                                               6. Theodotion (late 2nd c.) (Jewish Christian?)
                                                                             • interpreted Scripture
                                                                               1. looking for hidden treasures
                                                                               2. preferred “spiritual” readings rather than reading according to “the letter” (2 Corinthians 3.6, 14-16)
                                                                               3. esoteric interpretation for elite, educated Christians (2 Corinthians 2.6-7)

                                                                             Books

                                                                             • Commentaries
                                                                               1. Commentary on Matthew, John, Song of Songs, etc.
                                                                             • Sermons (Homilies)
                                                                               1. approximately 280 survive
                                                                             • Treatises on Subjects
                                                                               1. On Prayer, Exhortation to Martyrdom, On Passover
                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/8-Origen-of-Alexandria-1.png 488 Early Church History 8: Origen of Alexandria false no 1:00:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/03/16/487-early-church-history-7-philo-and-clement-of-alexandria/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:18:03 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7523 This is part 7 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                             Philo of Alexandria was the most well-known representative of Hellenistic Judaism in the first century. His many books combine Platonism with scripture via allegory--a daring project that had a massive influence on Christian thinkers. Clement of Alexandria followed in Philo's footsteps a century later, doing for the Christian scriptures what Philo had done for the Jewish bible. In addition to covering these two we'll take a couple of detours to learn about the city of Alexandria as well as a few of Plato's important ideas. Although overlooked today in most discussions of the history of Christology, Philo and Clement lay the foundations upon which Origen, the Cappodocians, and Augustine would build generations later.

                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WijYP1cGJlI&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=7

                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                             • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                             • More classes here
                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                             Alexandria (founded 331BC)

                                                                             • named after Alexander the Great
                                                                             • capital of Egypt for a millennium (until the Muslims came in 641)
                                                                             • still the largest city on the Mediterranean
                                                                             • had the Pharos light house (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world)
                                                                             • had a massive world-famous library
                                                                             • port city providing grain to Rome
                                                                             • center of philosophical learning
                                                                             • diverse and populous metropolis

                                                                             Philo of Alexandria (20 BC – AD 50)

                                                                             • Jewish Platonist philosopher
                                                                             • heavily influenced by Plato
                                                                               • The true realm is the upper, spiritual, invisible world. (Allegory of the Cave)
                                                                               • A craftsman created our world based on the pattern of the eternal realm. (Timaeus)
                                                                               • Our souls are immortal and will escape our bodies at death, enabling us to perceive the eternal, unchanging realm. (Phaedo)
                                                                             • applied allegorical interpretation method to the Old Testament (LXX)
                                                                             • Logos
                                                                               • God’s organ to create and govern universe
                                                                               • second place next to God
                                                                               • God is the Father and wisdom [Sophia] is the mother of the Word [Logos]

                                                                             Clement of Alexandria (AD 150 – 215)

                                                                             • grew up non-Christians
                                                                               • traditional religion
                                                                               • mystery religion
                                                                               • schools of philosophy
                                                                             • found Pantaenus to teach him
                                                                             • books
                                                                               • Protrepticus (Exhortation to Greeks) c. 195
                                                                               • Paedagogus (Tutor or Educator) c. 198
                                                                               • Stromata https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/7-Philo-and-Clement-of-Alexandria-1.png 487 Early Church History 7: Philo and Clement of Alexandria false no 48:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/03/12/486-early-church-history-6-apologists-heresy-hunters/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:08:22 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7490 This is part 6 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                 In the latter half of the second century, two kinds of Christians arose to defend the faith. On the one hand, apologists wrote defenses of Christianity directed at the Roman government. They responded to rumors, arguing that Christians were decent people who should be shown toleration. On the other hand, heresy hunters (or heresiologists) began to combat Christian groups that diverged significantly from apostolic Christianity, such as the Gnostics, Valentinians, and Marcionites. Today we'll briefly overview this fascinating period of Christianity when persuasion not coercion was the means to defeat one's opponents.

                                                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mIuUVqCK0&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=6

                                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                                 • More classes here
                                                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                                 Apologists (Defenders) of the 2nd C.

                                                                                 - Quadratus (130?)- Aristo of Pella (c. 140?)- Aristides (c. 145)- Miltiades (c. 160-180?)- Justin Martyr (d. 165)- Athenagoras (c. 170-180)- Melito of Sardis (c. 170-180?)- Appolinaris of Hierapolis (170-180)- Tatian (d. 180?)- Theophilus of Antioch (c. 180-185)- Epistle of Diognetus (150-225)

                                                                                 Quadratus of Athens (130)

                                                                                 - addressed book to Hadrian (r. 117-138)- claimed to know people healed by Jesus

                                                                                 Epistle of Diognetus (150-225)

                                                                                 - author ideas: Hippolytus, Aristides, Pantaenus- common criticisms are that Christians are incestuous b/c we call each other brother and sister, cannibals b/c we eat body and blood of Jesus, atheists b/c we didn’t believe in the gods, politically subversive b/c we didn’t honor the emperor by offering incense to his statue- Diog. 5.1-17 provides an excellent example of an effective apologist

                                                                                 Justin Martyr (100-165)

                                                                                 - Stoic -> Peripatetic -> Pythagorean -> Platonist -> Christian- founded a school in Rome- claimed Greek philosophers accessed truth of the Logos, thus Christianity is not a novel religion- Justin addressed his case to the Roman emperor and his sons and the senate and the Roman people (First Apology 1.1-2)- Dialogue with Trypho employed the idea of heresy as defined by a key belief—resurrection (see chapter 80)

                                                                                 Heresy Hunters

                                                                                 - Justin (140-160)- Irenaeus (180-199)- Tertullian (200-213)- Hippolytus (200-230)- Eusebius (324)- Epiphanius (374-377)- Theodoret (452-453)

                                                                                 Standard Arguments

                                                                                 - too complicated- trace beliefs to heresiarch- unnatural interpretation of scripture- can’t trace beliefs back to the apostles- ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/6-Apologists-Heresy-Hunters-1.png 486 Early Church History 6: Apologists & Heresy Hunters false no 41:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/03/03/485-early-church-history-5-gnostics-and-valentinians/ Fri, 03 Mar 2023 15:59:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7467 This is part 5 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                 Have you heard of the Gnostics before? Gnostics of different types claimed to have secret knowledge of humanity's true origins and destiny. They were intellectuals who combined the philosophical thinking of their day with Jewish and Christian scripture to produce a compelling alternative to biblical Christianity in the second century. In today's episode you'll learn what the Gnostics believed, mostly from their book, The Secret Revelation of John. Next we'll see briefly how Valentinus adapted the Gnostic myth and recruited Christians to join his secret meetings. Although this material is esoteric and somewhat difficult to grasp, I'm convinced a working knowledge of Gnosticism is necessary to understand theological and christological development in the third and fourth centuries (especially in Alexandria).

                                                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxGsWx7OfKE&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=5

                                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                                 • More classes here
                                                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                                 The Gnostic Myth According to The Secret Revelation of John1

                                                                                 – the Monad (SRevJohn 4.1-4, 10-11, 28, 30, 34)– initial emanations of aeons in the pleroma (5.13-17, 20, 23; 6.1-3, 7- 10, 12-14, 18-20, 23, 25)– Christ’s unique origin and creation of the All (7.1-6, 8-10, 19, 22, 29-30; see also John 1.1-5 in the Bible)– Sophia’s rogue reproduction (10.1) and repentance (14.22)– Yaldabaoth generates his own aeons (12.11-12; 14.2)– Yaldabaoth and his aeons create Adam (15.12-15, 19; 17.64; 18.7, 18; 19.12-13)– paradise as a prison and the trees of life and knowledge (20.1, 6, 22; 21.16, 20, 26-31)– Cain, Abel, and Seth (22.16-21, 32-33)

                                                                                 Afterlife Possibilities

                                                                                 – souls who flees from evil “will be admitted into the repose of the aeons” (SRevJohn 23.24)– souls who are ignorant goes to Yaldabaoth’s authorities who “cast it into prison and they consort with it until it awakens from the forgetfulness and receives knowledge” (SRevJohn 23.29-30)– souls who understood but turned away will be tortured “and they will be punished with an eternal punishment” (SRevJohn 23.40)

                                                                                 David Brakke: “David Brakke “The myth, then, emphasizes the transcendence of the ultimate God and the corresponding unfolding of God into lower, mediating divine princ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/5-Gnostics-and-Valentinians-1.png 485 Early Church History 5: Gnostics and Valentinians false no 52:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/02/23/484-early-church-history-4-the-apostolic-fathers/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:58:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7459 This is part 4 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                 Our focus for this episode is the collection of second-century Christian literature known as the Apostolic Fathers. In total, there are 11 authors in this collection, 9 of whom we will briefly cover today. You'll learn about the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament, two of  which were possibly written even before the last book of the New Testament. What did Christians write about? Although the Apostolic Fathers is far from cohesive, they do give us a great window into some of the dominant threads of Christian thought in the generation after the apostles died.

                                                                                 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyJwqv-Y87M&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=4

                                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                                 • More Restitutio resources on Christian history
                                                                                 • More classes here
                                                                                 • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                 • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                 • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                 • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                 • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                                 The Apostolic Fathers is a collection of Christian writings primarily from the second century.

                                                                                 1. The Didache
                                                                                 2. Epistle of Barnabas
                                                                                 3. 1 Clement
                                                                                 4. Shepherd of Hermas
                                                                                 5. Epistles of Ignatius
                                                                                 6. Fragments of Papias
                                                                                 7. 2 Clement
                                                                                 8. Epistle of Polycarp
                                                                                 9. Martyrdom of Polycarp
                                                                                 10. Fragment of Quadratus
                                                                                 11. Epistle to Diognetus

                                                                                 Sources for APF (Apostolic Fathers)

                                                                                 • Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org)
                                                                                 • Michael Holmes’ translation (available in English or English in parallel with Greek)

                                                                                 Didache (60-150)

                                                                                 • Jewish-Christian document
                                                                                 • partly focused on righteous living and partly on church order (baptism, communion, fasting, hospitality, etc.)
                                                                                 • citations: Didache 9.1-3; 8.1; 2.1-2

                                                                                 Research Recommendation

                                                                                 • David Bercot’s A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs

                                                                                 Epistle of Barnabas (70-132)

                                                                                 • author referred to as Psuedo-Barnabas
                                                                                 • allegorizing method of interpreting scripture, especially the Old Testament
                                                                                 • citation: Barnabas 10.11-12;

                                                                                 1 Clement (80-100)

                                                                                 • letter written from Roman leader to help church of Corinth resolve a dispute
                                                                                 • citations 1 Clement 59.4

                                                                                 Shepherd of Hermas (100-150)

                                                                                 • freed slave writing on holiness and repentance
                                                                                 • citation: Shepherd 59.5-7

                                                                                 Epistles of Ignatius (108-160)

                                                                                 • bishop in Antioch
                                                                                 • arrested and brought to Rome where he faced martyrdom
                                                                                 • three recensions survive: long, middle, and short
                                                                                 • Long Recension
                                                                                   • To the E]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/4-The-Apostolic-Fathers-1.png 484 Early Church History 4: The Apostolic Fathers false no 49:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/02/17/483-early-church-history-3-christianity-in-the-second-century/ Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:15:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7408 This is part 3 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                     Today we begin to look at the second century. We’ll start by considering Jewish Christian movements, including the Nazarenes and the Ebionites. Next we’ll shift gears and explore the cultural pressure of asceticism and how it began infiltrating Christianity. We’ll briefly survey the influence of Marcion and his followers before sketching out the various christologies of second century. This episode is a hodgepodge of unrelated topics that overlap in the same time period. This will serve as a good introduction before we get into other topics in the second century.

                                                                                     Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                                     • More Restitutio resources on history
                                                                                     • More classes here
                                                                                     • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                     • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                     • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                     • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                     • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                     Outline

                                                                                     1. Jewish Christianity
                                                                                     2. Asceticism
                                                                                     3. Marcion
                                                                                     4. Gnostics
                                                                                     5. Christologies in the 2nd c.

                                                                                     Jewish Christianity

                                                                                     Patricia Crone: “Originally, the bastion of law-observing Christianity was the Jerusalem church, the undisputed center of Christianity until the first Jewish war with Rome (AD 66–70). When this war broke out, the Jerusalem Christians reportedly fled to Pella (Ar. Fiḥl) in the Decapolis in Transjordan, and though some returned to the devastated city in 70, they were expelled again after the suppression of Bar Kokhba’s revolt in 135, when Hadrian forbade Jews to reside in Jerusalem. Thereafter, Jewish Christians were concentrated in the Aleppo region in northern Syria, in the Decapolis around Pella…and in the Dead Sea region, as we know from Epiphanius (d. 403) and Jerome (d. 420). They would seem also to have been present in the Golan, where excavators of an abandoned village have found lintels decorated with a combination of crosses, menorahs, and other mixed Jewish and Christian symbols, probably indicating that the building was a Jewish Christian synagogue. After Epiphanius and Jerome, however, we have no certain evidence for the existence of Jewish Christians in Greek, Latin, or Syriac sources written before the rise of Islam.”[1]

                                                                                     For Nazarenes see Epiphanius, Panarion 29.7.1-6; 29.9.2-4

                                                                                     For Ebionites see Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.27.1-6

                                                                                     Asceticism

                                                                                     • ἄσκησις, askesis = exercise, training
                                                                                     • asceticism is the rigorous pursuit of discipline in avoiding bodily pleasures
                                                                                     • Examples
                                                                                       • Acts of Paul and Thecla
                                                                                       • Proto-Gospel of James
                                                                                       • Acts of John

                                                                                     Marcion of Sinope

                                                                                     • Lived from 8]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/3-Christianity-in-the-Second-Century-2.png 483 Early Church History 3: Christianity in the Second Century false no 50:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/02/10/482-early-church-history-2-the-jewish-roman-war-and-jewish-christian-relations/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:14:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7370 This is part 2 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                       Before the great revolution of 66 in which the Jewish nation declared independence from the Roman empire, no fewer than five micro-revolution occurred between 4 BC and 58 AD. In the years that led up to the first Jewish-Roman war (66-73), incompetent Roman governors repeatedly and egregiously antagonized the Jewish populous until there was no turning back. After the war that destroyed the temple that Herod had renovated, Christians and Jews began parting ways. This episode will briefly cover the three Jewish-Roman wars and how Christians and Jews gradually began to separate.

                                                                                       Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ9ExalbABs&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=2

                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                       • More Restitutio resources on history
                                                                                       • More classes here
                                                                                       • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                       • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                       • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                       • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                       • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                       Flavius Josephus (AD 37-100)

                                                                                       • primary source for first-century Jewish history
                                                                                       • Antiquities of the Jews
                                                                                       • The Jewish War

                                                                                       Revolutionary Movements

                                                                                       • Athronges (4 BC)
                                                                                       • Judah the Galilean (AD 6)
                                                                                       • The Samaritan Prophet (AD 36)
                                                                                       • Theudas (AD 45)
                                                                                       • The Egyptian Prophet (AD 58).

                                                                                       Four Types of Judaism

                                                                                       • Pharisees
                                                                                       • Sadducees
                                                                                       • Essenes
                                                                                       • Fourth Philosophy
                                                                                       • Sicarii

                                                                                       The First Jewish-Roman War (66-73)

                                                                                       • Began in 12th year of Nero’s rule
                                                                                       • anti-taxation protests
                                                                                       • Roman governor, Gessius Florus, plundered the temple
                                                                                       • rebellion took Antonia fortress, forcing King Agrippa II and his government to retreat from the city
                                                                                       • Nero sent Vespasian with four legions
                                                                                       • In 69 Vespasian went to Rome to become emperor, leaving his son, Titus, to conquer Jerusalem
                                                                                       • Titus breached the city in 70
                                                                                       • He plundered and burned the temple, leaving for Rome in 71 at the head of a Roman triumph
                                                                                       • The last holdouts fell at Masada in 73

                                                                                       Christians Fled from Jerusalem

                                                                                       • Jesus warned his followers to flee “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies” (Luke 21.2-24)
                                                                                       • Eusebius (AD 324) and Epiphanius (AD 375) both mention the desertion of Christians from Jerusalem

                                                                                       Exclusion of Christians from Synagogue

                                                                                       • Berkat haMinim = blessing the heretics
                                                                                       • actually a curse upon Christians whom the Jews called “Nazarenes”
                                                                                       • late first century or early second century
                                                                                       • In AD 160, Justin Martyr mentions the curse in the synagogues
                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2-The-Jewish-Roman-War-and-Jewish-Christian-Relations-1.png 482 Early Church History 2: The Jewish-Roman War and Jewish-Christian Relations false no 41:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/02/03/481-early-church-history-1-christianity-in-the-first-century/ Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:57:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7367 This is part 1 of the Early Church History class.

                                                                                       Introducing Early Church History

                                                                                       Get answers to questions, like: Did early Christians prophecy and perform miracles? How do I research church history for myself? How did heaven replace paradise on earth? What happened to the Jewish Christians? How did the Trinity become mainstream? How did Constantine affect Christianity? Who were Dynamic Monarchians? Who were the Gnostics? And so much more...

                                                                                       Some people believe the strand of Christianity that eventually merged with the government and became dominant is the authentic original form. Others believe Christianity got off track immediately after the first century and has not been restored until recent times. This class will put you in touch with what really happened. As it turns out, there were quite a few Christian groups that competed for adherents in the first few centuries. Some of these groups maintained key New Testament beliefs and practices while others mutated under pressure from philosophy, society, and the government. This class will cover what happened in the main Christian groups in the first five centuries of our history in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

                                                                                       Part 1: Christianity in the First Century

                                                                                       In this episode you'll learn why Church history matters, why primary sources are king, and how historical dating systems work. In addition to introducing this class, we'll also briefly cover the life of Christ and the early growth of the church in the Greco-Roman world. Lastly, we'll look at early persecution, including the fire that decimated Rome and the emperor Nero's viscous pogrom of the Christians in that city.

                                                                                       Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUHkoDdevU&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=1&

                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                       • Access the class on the historical Jesus on the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
                                                                                       • Check out the church history class on the last 500 years (from Martin Luther to Joel Osteen) on the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube
                                                                                       • More Restitutio resources on history
                                                                                       • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                       • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                       • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                       • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unport]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1-Christianity-in-the-First-Century-2.png 481 Early Church History 1: Christianity in the First Century false no 48:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/01/26/480-interpreting-your-world-justin-bailey/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:07:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7167 How do you engage with culture? Are you aware of how culture is shaping your sensibilities about meaning, power, morality, religion, and aesthetics? Do you blindly reject everything in the culture so that you can remain separate from the world or do you blindly accept everything so that you remain relevant? My guest today is Dr. Justin Bailey of Dordt University in Iowa. Today we’re talking about his book Interpreting Your World. Rather than accepting or rejecting culture, professor Bailey advocates exegeting the culture and evaluating it in light of the gospel and the Christian worldview. Then we can better understand our own hearts as well as reach unbelievers with the gospel.

                                                                                         Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                         • More about Dr. Justin Bailey on his website pjustin.com
                                                                                         • See these posts about culture or apologetics
                                                                                         • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                         • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                         • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                         • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                         • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                         —— Questions——

                                                                                         1. To begin, could you tell us a little about yourself and your work? You seem like the kind of person who straddles the fence between theology and praxis. Is that a fair characterization?
                                                                                         2. You’ve written a book about culture. It’s called Interpreting Your World: Five Lenses for Engaging Theology and Culture, published by Baker Academic. Why did you write this book?
                                                                                         3. I’ve been in pastoral ministry for 17 years so far. During that time, I’ve seen two extremes. On the one hand, you’ve got the people who fully embrace separation from the world and for the sake of holiness, disengage from the culture as much as possible. On the other hand, you’ve got the people who so inhabit the culture that they are super relatable to unbelievers, but they also indulge in the sinful behaviors of the world to such a degree that they lose their witness. Have you seen that too? (How can your book help people figure out a good balance on this?)
                                                                                         4. Let’s talk about your concept of Christianity as a virus. What do want to get across with that analogy? (Little awkward writing this during COVID, eh?)
                                                                                         5. You structure the book around five main dimensions of culture. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to go through each–if time permits.
                                                                                         6. Let’s begin with meaning. What does our culture say about meaning?
                                                                                         7. What does the bible say about meaning?
                                                                                         8. What about power? It seems like we’ve fully entered the Nietzschean age when everyone is obsessed with power. It’s the lens through which we judge each other. What’s going on?
                                                                                         9. What does the bible say about power?
                                                                                         10. Can you briefly explain the other three lenses? morality, religion, aesthetics
                                                                                         11. Dr. Justin Bailey, thanks for joining me today. Once again the book is called, Interpreting Your World. How can people learn more]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Justin-Bailey3.png 480 Interpreting Your World (Justin Bailey) false no 48:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/01/20/479-scripture-science-16-science-in-the-bible-will-barlow/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:22:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7330 What do we do when the science in the bible seems wrong by today's standards, but typical for their world? For example, those who believe in a flat earth often point to scripture as evidence for their belief. Indeed the bible arguably does contain some texts that imply a flat earth. But, if the Hebrew people believed in a flat earth, does that mean we should today? Should we posit an elaborate conspiracy that Google, SpaceX, and NASA are trying to hide the truth of a flat earth? In addition to tackling scientific inaccuracies, Will Barlow will also cover many scientific accuracies that point to divine inspiration in scripture.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBPmdNyROgQ&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=16

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Science in the Bible

                                                                                             • Cases when the science is “wrong”• Cases when the science is “right”• Overview and concluding thoughts

                                                                                             Cases when the science is “wrong”

                                                                                             • Flat Earth• Dome over the Earth• Unmovable Earth• Foundations of the Earth• Thinking with your intestines

                                                                                             Flat Earth

                                                                                             Isaiah 40:22   It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

                                                                                             Daniel 4:10-11   The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

                                                                                             Matthew 4:8   Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

                                                                                             Dome over the Earth

                                                                                             Job 37:18   Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?

                                                                                             This question by El]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Scripture-and-Science-16-e1674138485737.png 479 Scripture & Science 16: Science in the Bible (Will Barlow) false no 36:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/01/13/478-unitarian-anabaptist-tom-huszti/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 21:05:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7299 When COVID first broke out many endeavored to put their extra time to good use. Tom Huszti began listening to podcasts. He was intensely curious about theology. Huszti came to question several key beliefs he had imbibed as a lifelong Anabaptist, living in rural Ohio. Eventually he saw that the church's God and the bible's God were at odds with each other. Huszti embraced unitarianism and faced significant troubles because of this change. He is now launching a new ministry on YouTube called "The Unitarian Anabaptist" in which he intends to share his insights about Christ's identity with others.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vKDRJOklzU

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • Check out Tom Huszti's website unitariananabaptist.com as well as his YouTube channel
                                                                                             • Listen to Mark Cain's interview with Huszti on the UCA Podcast
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Tom-Huszti-interview-for-podcast.png 478 Unitarian Anabaptist (Tom Huszti) false no 58:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2023/01/05/477-questioning-the-trinity-steven-nemes-2/ Thu, 05 Jan 2023 22:02:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7306 Dr. Steven Nemes is an analytic philosopher and theologian who uses a phenomenological approach to reading scripture and constructing theology. In this interview I ask him about his unique approach to evaluating doctrine, especially the Trinity, from a phenomenological perspective. We also discuss restorationism as a common ground and delve into Church history extensively. In the end Nemes argues for freedom rather than dogma when evaluating various doctrines related to the Trinity.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • Check out Nemes’ personal website, blog on substack, and YouTube channel
                                                                                             • Here is his interview with Dale Tuggy from three months ago
                                                                                             • Follow Nemes on Twitter @snemes2
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Questions for Interview ——

                                                                                             1. Most people know what systematic theology is–simply the categorizing of doctrines or beliefs–but most don’t know what phenomenology is. Can you offer a brief explanation? 2. A lot of your work focuses on reading scripture. Why did you decide to focus on the phenomenology of reading the bible? 3. Let’s talk about the Trinity. When I listened to your interview with Dale Tuggy in September you listed off a whole series of problems with the Trinity. Then he asked you, “Well, why do you still believe in it?” You replied because it’s hard to disprove one ousia in 3 subsistences. Now, however, you no longer identify as a trinitarian. What changed? 4. You mentioned Mark Edwards’ book, Catholicity and Heresy that what the Gnostics did–hypostatizing attributes of God like wisdom, spirit, mind, etc.–influenced Nicene reasoning. Could you talk more about that? 5. You’ve recently been making a public case for unitarian theology and christology, what has prompted that? 6. It seems like you’re a fan of the Polish Brethren and specifically, their book The Racovian Catechism. What drew you to this work? Would you identify as a Socinian? 7. Tell me about your book, Orthodoxy and Heresy. What’s the main idea. 8. As you probably know unitarians have been excluded, deplatformed, persecuted, and even martyred for centuries. Have you faced any opposition? 9. What advice would you give to unitarian Christians to help us grow as a movement?

                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Steven-Nemes-questioning-the-trinity2.png 477 Questioning the Trinity (Steven Nemes) false no 1:03:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/12/29/476-scripture-science-15-what-happened-in-the-exodus-will-barlow/ Thu, 29 Dec 2022 21:21:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7278 What happened in Egypt during the ten plagues? Approaching the matter from a scientific perspective, our teacher, Will Barlow, brings to light some interesting connections. Probably most of us think God's miracles are akin to magical interventions where he breaks the laws of nature to perform a supernatural feat. As we saw last time, the bible doesn't require that view nor does it shy away from offering details occasionally about how God achieved the miraculous. Drawing on the work of Colin Humphreys, Barlow takes a close look at the events surrounding Israel's exit from Egypt, including the timing of the event, the number of people involved, the ten plagues, and the location of Mount Sinai.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7QRFotwkkw

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             The Miracles of Exodus

                                                                                             • Background• The Ten Plagues of Egypt• A Possible Route

                                                                                             Background

                                                                                             Colin Humphreys received a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge University. He is also an expert in chemistry, astronomy, and geology. He has spent a great deal of time and effort researching ways to reconcile Scripture and science.

                                                                                             Dating the Exodus

                                                                                             • If we take the evidence from Exodus 1:11, the Hebrews built the city of Rameses (1300 BC)• But 1 Kings 6:1 seems to indicate that the Exodus occurred 480 years before the Temple (1446 BC)

                                                                                             Humphreys prefers the later date because it is easier to reconcile historically.

                                                                                             How then can we understand the 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1?

                                                                                             The Septuagint says 440 years, and this is a great clue. Really, 480 years could be an approximation based on the numbers of generations since the prior events.

                                                                                             Humphreys actually goes much further than this. He demonstrates that there are 14 high priests starting from Aaron and ending at Azariah, the high priest at the time of the construction of the Temple of Solomon.

                                                                                             But Aaro]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Scripture-and-Science-15-e1672348839675.png 476 Scripture & Science 15: What Happened in the Exodus? (Will Barlow) false no 35:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/12/24/475-scripture-science-14-what-are-miracles-will-barlow/ Sat, 24 Dec 2022 17:43:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7272 What is a miracle? Does it mean God breaks the laws of physics or merely that he intervenes within the system? After considering several definitions of miracles from Christian thinkers, Will Barlow interacts with a number of biblical incidents to explain what a miracle is and is not. He examines the parting of the Red Sea, Moses getting water from the rock, the collapse of Jericho’s walls, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire, and Daniel in the lions’ den. For each Barlow looks at how God performed the miracle, shedding light on how science and scripture interact.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Miracles

                                                                                             • Defining a Miracle • Archetypal Example • Other Examples

                                                                                             What is the big deal with miracles? Why are miracles important?

                                                                                             • Thomas Jefferson famously refused to believe in miracles – his edited version of the NT had all of the miracles removed • In modern times, miracles are still controversial

                                                                                             Richard Swinburne on miracles:

                                                                                             “What the theist claims about God is that he does have a power to create, conserve, or annihilate anything, big or small. And he can also make objects move or do anything else…He can make the planets move in the way that Kepler discovered that they move, or make gunpowder explode when we set a match to it…”

                                                                                             “or he can make planets move in quite different ways, and chemical substances explode or not explode under quite different conditions from those which now govern their behavior. God is not limited by the laws of nature; he makes them and he can change or suspend them – if he chooses.”

                                                                                             Francis Collins on miracles:

                                                                                             A miracle is “an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin.” —The Language of God, page 48.

                                                                                             William Lane Craig on miracles:

                                                                                             “You see, natural laws have implicit ceteris paribus conditions—that’s Latin meaning, ‘all other]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Scripture-and-Science-14-1-e1671725957183.png 475 Scripture & Science 14: What Are Miracles? (Will Barlow) false no 44:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/12/16/474-noahs-flood-will-barlow/ Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:10:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7259 Having looked at the basics of earth science last time, we are now ready to consider Noah's Flood. As always you'll learn the major options for interpreting this biblical event. Some Christians understand the flood to have been a local event, largely limited to the region of Mesopotamia. Others hold to the notion that this flood covered the entire planet, rising above even the highest mountains. No matter which position you take, you'll have to answer key biblical and scientific questions. 

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0xPsa6WrPE&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=13&t=4s

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Noah’s Flood

                                                                                             • Considerations• Global or local?• Evidence for Noah’s Flood• Implications of Noah’s Flood

                                                                                             Considerations

                                                                                             • Rain before the flood?• Plate tectonics and evolution• Scope and evolution• How big was the ark?

                                                                                             Rain before Noah’s flood?

                                                                                             Many have taught that, before Noah’s flood, there was no rain:

                                                                                             Genesis 2:5-6   When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground--

                                                                                             Scholar Mark Futato suggests that “mist” should be translated as “rain.”

                                                                                             • In the context, there are two “problems”

                                                                                             • No rain• No man to till the ground

                                                                                             • Thus, “mist” could equal “rain”

                                                                                             Reasons why “mist” could be better:

                                                                                             • If you hold late tectonic shift, mist would be required (“land” singular in Genesis 1:10)• The sign of the rainbow — the rainbow is only physically possible with rain• Possibly rain kicked off the modern water cycle - this answers the objection “where did the water go?”

                                                                                             Plate Tectonics and evolution

                                                                                             What we believe about plate tec]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Scripture-and-Science-13-e1671134575518.png 474 Scripture & Science 13: Noah’s Flood (Will Barlow) false no 42:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/12/08/473-what-is-earth-science-will-barlow/ Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:37:41 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7230 So far we've considered physics and biology in our exploration of scripture and science. Today we begin to consider how earth science and the bible fit together. This becomes particularly significant when considering interpretations for Noah's flood. We'll get to that next time. But, for today, our teacher will lay out the basics of geology and earth science to give us a good overview. He'll also cover radiometric dating, which has a bearing on how scientists determine the age of the earth.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VzgrLAFXfg&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Flhim.org%2F&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Geology, Earth Science, and Atmospheric Science

                                                                                             • Geology• Important cycles• Plate tectonics

                                                                                             Geology

                                                                                             • Types of rocks/rock cycle• Geological principles• Dating methods• Structure of the Earth

                                                                                             What is Geology?

                                                                                             Geology is the study of the Earth and the processes related to the Earth.

                                                                                             • Geologists study rocks (and the rock cycle)• Subfields include atmospheric studies (meteorology), volcanology (studying volcanos), and mineralogy (study of minerals)

                                                                                             Types of Rocks

                                                                                             There are three major categories of rocks:

                                                                                             • Sedimentary - formed by pressure acting on sediment• Igneous - formed by lava• Metamorphic - formed by extreme pressure and heat

                                                                                             The Rock Cycle

                                                                                             Since wind and water are constantly affecting change, there is a rock cycle.

                                                                                             Geological Principles

                                                                                             There are several main principles of geology:

                                                                                             • Superposition• Cross-cutting relationships• Uniformitarianism

                                                                                             Dating Methods

                                                                                             There are major types of dating:

                                                                                             • Absolute dating• Relative dating

                                                                                             Absolute Dating

                                                                                             Absolute dating is based on radioactive decay. What is radioactive decay?

                                                                                             • Some forms of certain elements are (by nature) unstable• Over time, these elemen]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Scripture-and-Science-12-e1670517726794.png 473 Scripture & Science 12: What Is Earth Science? (Will Barlow) false no 49:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/12/02/472-why-i-still-dont-believe-in-evolution-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 06:52:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7224 I’d like to take an opportunity to interrupt this Scripture and Science class. We’ve just done three episodes on evolution. The first one covered the basics of what evolution is. Our second teaching evolution covered biblical problems and the third surveyed some scientific problems. Then Will interviewed Sam about his beliefs in both Christianity and evolution. I figured we’d just leave it there and move on to hear what Will had to say about geology. But after seeing various comments coming in, I decided it would be good to interject some of my own thoughts both defending my reasons for honestly engaging with evolution as well as my reasons for still not believing in it.

                                                                                             My reasons:

                                                                                             1. Lack of evidence for evolution
                                                                                             2. Problem of first life
                                                                                             3. Mutations as an inadequate mechanism
                                                                                             4. Humans ill-adapted for survival
                                                                                             5. Allegorical readings of Genesis are ad hoc
                                                                                             6. Evolution undermines the Fall

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Scripture-and-Science-special-e1669959776285.png 472 Why I (Still) Don’t Believe in Evolution (Sean Finnegan) false no 37:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/11/23/471-scripture-science-11-scientific-objections-to-evolution-will-barlow/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 20:18:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7192 Since it's inception, evolutionary theory has remained controversial for many. Although one might think only uneducated laypeople find the idea unpalatable, quite a sizeable minority of scientists too struggle to come to terms with Darwinism. In today's episode, Will Barlow explores a number of major scientific objections to evolution, including the Cambrian explosion, mutations as an insufficient mechanism, irreducible complexity, and the fossil record itself. Additionally, he briefly explores the issue of abiogenesis--the presumed starting point for any evolutionary development.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdx6kuhRqQY&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Scientific Objections to Evolution

                                                                                             • Evidence problems (open scientific questions)• Methodological problems• Evolution or design?

                                                                                             Evidence Problems

                                                                                             The theory of evolution has several major open problems that are yet to be solved:

                                                                                             • The Cambrian Explosion• Mutations

                                                                                             The Cambrian Explosion

                                                                                             Much of the fossil record could be viewed in a light to support evolution, but the Cambrian Explosion poses a big problem:

                                                                                             • The theory of evolution requires slow changes over a long time• Cambrian explosion was a big change in a short period of time

                                                                                             Simply put, what is the Cambrian explosion?

                                                                                             • Evolution would predict species would diverge and lead to new genera, families, orders, classes, and then phyla• Most animal phyla (and many major classes within them) appear fully formed in the Cambrian period

                                                                                             “According to modern paleontologists James Valentine, Stanley Awramik, Philip Signor, and Peter Sadler, the appearance of the major animal phyla near the beginning of the Cambrian is ‘the single most spectacular phenomenon evident in the fossil record.’”— Jonathan Wells, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Inte]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Scripture-and-Science-11-e1669046693652.png 471 Scripture & Science 11: Scientific Objections to Evolution (Will Barlow) false no 37:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/11/18/470-scripture-science-10-biblical-objections-to-evolution-will-barlow/ Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:40:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7190 Having looked at what the theory of evolution teaches last time, today we're going to think through how well evolution fits with the bible. Will Barlow covers two main scriptural objections that young earth creationists bring against evolution before exploring three more issues that arise from the perspective of old earth creationism. How does Genesis 1 fit with evolution?

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZysp0JF3CA&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Genesis 1 and Evolution

                                                                                             • Review of evolution• YEC and evolution• OEC and evolution• Non-literal views and evolution

                                                                                             Review of evolution

                                                                                             Misconception #1: “It’s just a theory!”Misconception #2: It means to explain how life beganMisconception #3: Evolution says that humans evolved from apesMisconception #4: Evolution is a progression from simpler organisms to more complex organisms

                                                                                             YEC and Evolution

                                                                                             How does YEC view evolution?

                                                                                             • In short, YEC reject the theory of evolution• YEC make both Scriptural and scientific arguments to defend their position - we will focus on the Scriptural arguments for now

                                                                                             Scriptural Objection #1

                                                                                             “Adam and Eve are no longer the first humans, and original sin goes out the window. This does irreparable damage to the biblical redemption narrative. The Bible says that death came into the world because of man’s sin (Romans 5:12) and that all of creation labors under a curse because of sin (Romans 8:22). Scripture also says that Christ is the last Adam, come to redeem us from the sin brought into the world through the first man, Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45).”

                                                                                             “If Adam were a mythical figure, which is what evolution demands, even in a Christianized form, the entire parallel between the two Adams and the kinsman redeemer concept is destroyed. By advocating evolution, theistic evolutionists are undermining th]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Scripture-and-Science-10-1.png 470 Scripture & Science 10: Biblical Objections to Evolution (Will Barlow) false no 39:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/11/10/469-scripture-science-9-what-is-evolution-will-barlow/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 02:21:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7177 Having taken a short break from our Scripture & Science series, we are back. Today begins a series of three episodes exploring evolution. Whether you believe in evolution or not, it's important to understand what the theory claims and how evolutionists reason. In this episode, Will Barlow briefly explains how evolutionists explain the gradual change from one species to another. He dispels four common misconceptions and delves into the genetic insights popularized by Francis Collins who is both an evolutionist and a Christian.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDi6QRlyfSE&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                             See below for notes.

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                             • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                             • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                             • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                             • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                             Biochemistry and Evolution

                                                                                             • Common misconceptions with evolution• General framework of evolution• Modern evolutionary theory

                                                                                             Common misconceptions with evolution

                                                                                             Misconception #1: “It’s just a theory!”

                                                                                             • Often, opponents of evolution will state that it is a theory (and use that term pejoratively)• However, evolution does account for much of the scientific evidence and has made many successful predictions

                                                                                             Definition of “theory”“A scheme or system of ideas or statements held as an explanation or account of a group of facts or phenomena; a hypothesis that has been confirmed or established by observation or experiment, and is propounded or accepted as accounting for the known facts; a statement of what are held to be the general laws, principles, or causes of something known or observed.”-Richard Dawkins, The Greatest Show of Earth, pg. 9

                                                                                             Common misconceptions with evolution

                                                                                             Misconception #2: It means to explain how life began

                                                                                             • Often, opponents of evolution attack the beginning of life problem• However, evolution does not attempt to account for the beginning of life; this is the theory of abiogenesis

                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Scripture-and-Science-9-e1668132929155.png 469 Scripture & Science 9: What Is Evolution? (Will Barlow) false no 35:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/11/03/468-touching-the-supernatural-dale-allison/ Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:15:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7087 Renowned Historical Jesus Scholar and Princeton Theological Seminary Professor, Dale Allison's life changed forever when he was just sixteen years old. In fact, he has chronicled nine profound spiritual experiences throughout his life. These extraordinary moments of transcendence led him to a comparative study to learn more about what is happening to people all around the world in our time. The result? A book that catalogues and describes weird encounters with angels in white, sudden terminal lucidity, near death experiences, and even encounters with evil spiritual entities. This is not the typical sort of book written by someone who has made a career of scholarship within a guild that generally prefers naturalism and reductionism to the miraculous or inexplicable. Nonetheless, now tenured and sitting atop a mountain of published successes--and without concern about his career--Professor Allison feels free to explore his own numinal episodes as well as those of a staggering number of others--most of whom keep such experiences to themselves.

                                                                                             Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                             https://youtu.be/H4_ZSJH6SRs

                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                             • Get the book we discussed, Encountering Mystery
                                                                                             • For more about Dale Allison, see his books on Amazon
                                                                                             • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                             • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                             • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                             • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                             • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                             • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                             —— Questions ——

                                                                                             1. You begin your book by telling three personal experiences of the transcendent. Were you worried what people would think about you as a distinguished scholar of Jesus and the New Testament, especially among the more secular-minded elements in the academy?
                                                                                             2. You remark on the difficulty of acquiring accurate statistics on mystical experiences because people tend to keep their encounters private. Why is that?
                                                                                             3. And yet, they seem to be increasing, or at least reported more (see p. 21)
                                                                                             4. You talk about a small piece of paper that you keep in your desk draw that chronicles nine experiences you've had between 1979 and 1999. Do you think it's important for people to maintain their memories of extraordinary events?
                                                                                             5. Honestly, your little piece of paper reminded me of Blaise Pascal's night of fire. He sowed it into his house jacket and it was only discovered after he died.
                                                                                             6. Why do you th]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/dale-allison-touching-supernatural-2-e1667498262462.png 468 Touching the Supernatural (Dale Allison) false no 1:00:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/10/28/467-parenting-wayward-adult-children-mary-demuth/ Fri, 28 Oct 2022 19:23:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7077 Today we’re taking a little break from our Scripture and Science class for an author interview. I’m talking with Mary DeMuth who wrote, Love, Pray, Listen, which is about parenting wayward adult kids with joy. Because faith is not genetic, our children get to decide for themselves whether or not they will follow Jesus. Some believe in the home and then stand strong a lifetime. Others, have to go over fool’s hill and after a period of rebellion, come back to the faith with a powerful testimony. Still others, leave and never come back. What’s more, you have no idea what’s going to be the case with your kids. We parent, we teach, we pray, we love, but God has not given us the right to force our adult kids to believe. How do we deal with this? Well, Mary DeMuth has some answers to encourage you and help you maximize the possibility of them coming back to the faith.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • For more about Mary DeMuth, see her website at marydemuth.com
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Questions ——

                                                                                                1. Your book is for the parents of adult wayward children. What made you want to write about this? 2. Share a little about your own story. 3. A lot of Christ-followers with wayward adult children probably blame themselves. What would you say to them? 4. You talk about joy throughout the struggle. How can parents possibly have joy while their children are rejecting God and embracing our culture’s hostile attitude toward the bible and biblical Christianity? 5. Let’s talk about love. Tell us some ways we can love wayward adult children biblically and effectively. 6. What else. Anything else on this? Politics? other secondary issues that parents get fixated on 7. What about prayer? How can we pray for our adult children biblically and effectively? 8. What about listening? How can we listen to our adult children biblically and effectively? 9. <if time> Let’s talk about LGBT issues. How can parents both express love and retain their biblical ethics when their child says, “I’m gay” or “I’m trans”? 10. For those of us who still have our children in the home (like me). What would you say we can do to avoid losing them once they move out? 11. How can people learn more about you?

                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Parenting-Wayward-Adult-Children.png 467 Parenting Wayward Adult Children (Mary DeMuth) false no 43:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/10/21/466-scripture-science-8-fine-tuning-will-barlow/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 19:08:02 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7116 This episode rounds out three sessions focused on physics. Today we're learning about the incredibly precise conditions required for life to exist in our universe. From the strength of gravity to the properties of carbon or water to the beauty of math and the stars, Pastor Will Barlow enumerates several key ways in which the cosmos is finely-tuned to support life. Next he covers several of the common responses atheists put forward to explain this incredible precision. Barlow briefly responds to each before concluding that the God hypothesis fits the best.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYtxleTue0

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                What is fine-tuning?

                                                                                                Fine-tuning is the idea that the existence of life on Earth is due to remarkably precise “settings” in the natural world.

                                                                                                • Example: baking a cake vs. baking a “fine-tuned” cake• Example: Finding a watch in a forest

                                                                                                Fine-tuning in Scripture

                                                                                                Romans 1:20   For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

                                                                                                Categories of fine-tuning

                                                                                                • Cosmological• Properties of carbon and water• Beauty in math, physics, and nature

                                                                                                Cosmological fine-tuning

                                                                                                Example One: The Balance between forces

                                                                                                • A 1% change in the strong nuclear force would have a 30-1,000 fold impact on oxygen and carbon production in stars• Small changes to gravity would make large life impossible• The balance between gravity and electromagnetism allows for gentler yellow stars like our Sun

                                                                                                “The expansion speed, the material content of the universe, and the strengths of the basic forces, seem to have been a prerequisite for the emergence of the hospitable cosmic habitat in which we live.”-Martin Rees, physicist and skeptic

                                                                                                E]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Scripture-and-Science-8-e1666375886241.png 466 Scripture & Science 8: Fine-Tuning (Will Barlow) false no 43:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/10/13/465-scripture-science-7-genesis-and-the-big-bang/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 15:01:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7094 Building on last week, Will Barlow continues to describe and analyze issues with the Big Bang Theory. He considers standard biblical and scientific objections brought forward by young earth creationists. After responding to these objections, he shows how each of the main Christian views of origins deals with the Big Bang.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yonfcv5mf6I&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                The Big Bang

                                                                                                In basic terms, what does the Big Bang theory say?

                                                                                                • The Universe began approximately 13.7 billion years ago• Space and matter have been expanding and cooling since then

                                                                                                What is the current state of the Big Bang?

                                                                                                • We will never be able to travel back in time to observe the beginning• Physicists used high-energy collisions to test hypotheses related to the Big Bang• There is a physical restriction on understanding the first moment of the Big Bang

                                                                                                Are there viable alternatives to the Big Bang?

                                                                                                • Oscillating universe — Universes expand and contract until the right one pops out• Multiple Universes — Infinite number of Universes exist beyond our ability to observe them• Inflationary models• Hawking’s theory

                                                                                                YEC and the Big Bang

                                                                                                How does YEC view the Big Bang?

                                                                                                • In short, YEC reject several aspects of the Big Bang• YEC make both Scriptural and scientific arguments to defend their positionScriptural Objections

                                                                                                What objections do YEC make about the Big Bang from Scripture?“The Bible tells us that God created heaven, earth, and everything within them in the span of six days (Exodus 20:11) and rested on the seventh day. This is the basis for our work week (Exodus 20:8). In contrast, the big bang model claims that the universe and earth formed over billions of years.”

                                                                                                “Genesis tells us that God created the stars on the fourth day—three days after the earth was created.]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Scripture-and-Science-7-e1665660922471.png 465 Scripture & Science 7: Genesis and the Big Bang false no 37:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/10/07/464-scripture-science-6-physics-and-astronomy-will-barlow/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:23:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7091 Now that we've considered a bunch of the options for interpreting creation in Genesis, we are moving to look at astronomy. In today's episode Will Barlow moves into his home territory--physics. You'll learn about the weird nature of light, how particles do strange things at the quantum scale, and how the big bang model actually leads to belief in God. If you've ever been curious how to talk to science-minded friends and relatives about belief in God, today's episode should help!

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiRc2q_RFX4&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=6

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                Overview of Modern Physics

                                                                                                • Light• General Relativity• Quantum Mechanics• The Big Bang

                                                                                                Light

                                                                                                • Perhaps the most interesting and necessary to support life• Comes in many forms• Can act as a wave or a particle (unique!)• Light can act like a wave (ex: sound or water)• Light can act like a particle (ex: basketball)• Light seems to know the fastest path through a material• The speed of light is a well-known quantity and is considered the “speed limit of the Universe”

                                                                                                General Relativity

                                                                                                • Has been verified enough to use in everyday items like GPS• Gravity can bend light and make “impressions” in space-time

                                                                                                Quantum Mechanics

                                                                                                • Useful when talking about microscopic things• Shows that electrons do not orbit a nucleus like a planet around the Sun• Gives probabilities for direction and location at any given time

                                                                                                Imagine that you reach your hand out to touch a table:

                                                                                                • On a microscopic level, what you feel as “solid” is actually the electrons in your hand repelling the electrons in the table• Theoretically, your hand could pass through the table if you could line up the electrons in your hand with the electrons in the table (quantum tunneling)

                                                                                                The Big Bang

                                                                                                • Some ancient pagans (like A]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Scripture-and-Science-6-e1665159840180.png 464 Scripture & Science 6: Physics and Astronomy (Will Barlow) false no 36:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/09/30/463-scripture-science-5-reading-genesis-one-part-3-will-barlow/ Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:55:05 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7070 Today we are going to cover gap theories and John Walton’s temple idea. Will Barlow explains how gap theories work, including the classic idea that there’s a gap of billions of years between Genesis 1.1 and 1.2 as well as the modified version. After explaining the pros and cons for these views, he briefly explains John Walton’s theory that Genesis 1 solely focuses on function not physical creation.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Check out the early Christian quotes about the Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew here
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                Gap Theory

                                                                                                There are various versions of Gap Theory:

                                                                                                • Standard – multiple options here • Modified (“Preparing the Garden”)

                                                                                                Pros of Standard Gap Theory

                                                                                                Here are some pros with the standard formulation of Gap Theory:

                                                                                                • It takes the word “day” literally as a 24-hour period • It fits directly with scientific evidence for an old Earth • It looks to the text (both in Genesis 1 and remote texts) to reach conclusions

                                                                                                Internal Evidence

                                                                                                Genesis 1:2   The earth was [or became] without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

                                                                                                “Was” or “became”?

                                                                                                • Generally, in Hebrew, the verb “was” is unnecessary when talking about simple existence

                                                                                                Genesis 23:17   So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over

                                                                                                “Was” or “became”?

                                                                                                • Some scholars suggest that the verb is needed for]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Scripture-and-Science-5-e1663293771212.png 463 Scripture & Science 5: Reading Genesis One, Part 3 (Will Barlow) false no 39:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/09/23/462-scripture-science-4-reading-genesis-one-part-2-will-barlow/ Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:03:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7034 We've been considering the various options for interpreting the creation account in Genesis. Last time we looked at two young earth theories and today we'll survey three old earth perspectives, including the day age theory, modified day-age theory, and a non-literal approach. For each Will Barlow explains the basics and offers a gentle critique.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2y2H1PrJ34&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=4&t=180s

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Check out the early Christian quotes about the Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew here
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                What have we seen so far?

                                                                                                • Genesis was written to a group of ancient people coming out of slavery• The questions that they were asking of the text are different than the questions that we ask

                                                                                                Many views of Genesis 1Perhaps the easiest way to divide them is:

                                                                                                • Young-earth views• Old-earth views• Views compatible with either

                                                                                                Old-Earth Views

                                                                                                • “Day-Age” and modified “Day-Age”— Hugh Ross, Gerald Schroeder• “Theistic Evolution” — Francis Collins• Gap and modified gap — Scofield Bible• “Day-Age” and modified “Day-Age”— Hugh Ross, Gerald Schroeder• “Theistic Evolution” — Francis Collins• Gap and modified gap — Scofield Bible

                                                                                                Day-AgeThere are various versions of Day-Age:

                                                                                                • Standard• Earth-bound perspective (Hugh Ross)

                                                                                                Pros of Standard Day-AgeHere are some pros with the standard formulation of Day-Age:

                                                                                                • Generally, the sequence of events seems like it could be a plausible representation from an ancient person’s perspective of the scientific order of events• In the Bible, “day” can mean more than one 24-hour pe]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Scripture-and-Science-4-e1663293732713.png 462 Scripture & Science 4: Reading Genesis One, Part 2 (Will Barlow) false no 44:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/09/16/461-the-gospel-and-the-gospels-simon-gathercole/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:48:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7030 Have you heard of the Gospel of Thomas? What about the Gospel of Philip or Judas? Although most Christians are only familiar with the four Gospels contained in the Bible, ancient Christians wrote quite a few other Gospels as well. How do we know which Gospels are to be trusted? My guest today is Dr. Simon Gathercole, professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of Cambridge. His new book, The Gospel and the Gospels, puts forward a commonsense historical methodology to determine which Gospels are most reliable.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsGhQVsPdvs

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Get your copy of The Gospel and the Gospels from Eerdmans or on Amazon
                                                                                                • More about Simon Gathercole here.
                                                                                                • See also my interview with Aaron Shelenberger: Episode 444 Resurrection Objection 1: Unreliable Gospels?
                                                                                                • More podcasts on apologetics here
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Interview Questions ——

                                                                                                Dr. Gathercole is professor of NT and early Christianity at the University of Cambridge. He's got degrees from Cambridge and Durham university, where he studied under James Dunn. Before we jump into the book, what was that like studying under Dunn?Well, today, we're talking about your book The Gospel in the Gospels. Writing this book must have been a monumental task. It's 576 pages, hundreds of footnotes, published by Eerdmans, how long were you working on this project? Share a little about the process.Many don't know there were other Gospels that didn't make it into the New Testament. Outside of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, what other Gospels are there? What are they like?How can someone access these other Gospels? Would you recommend the Lost Scriptures by Bart Ehrman or The Complete Gospels by Robert Miller? or your own volume?You've done a lot of work on non-canonical Gospels over the years. What drew you to them? What about them makes them worth studying?Some say the four canonical Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--are not special or authoritative, but merely the ones favored by one group of Christians who managed to seize power and suppress all others. How com]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gospel-and-the-Gospels-Simon-Gathercole.png 461 The Gospel and the Gospels (Simon Gathercole) false no 50:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/09/09/460-scripture-science-3-reading-genesis-one-part-1-will-barlow/ Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:58:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=7015 Today we'll begin to consider interpretive options for the first chapter of Genesis. We'll see three main groupings of theories, including those that propose a young earth of only thousands of years, those that see the earth as old (billions of years), and those that are compatible with either. After introducing the main options, Will Barlow goes on to explore young-earth creationism. He presents the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Lastly, he shows why the "appearance of age" hypothesis fails to convince him.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9xyFXqh5xw&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                What have we seen so far?

                                                                                                Genesis was written to a group of ancient people coming out of slavery

                                                                                                The questions that they were asking of the text are different than the questions that we ask

                                                                                                How can we read Genesis 1?

                                                                                                Does Genesis 1 begin with a continuous narrative or is there an initial creation in verse 1 followed by a “re-creation” or “reconstitution”?

                                                                                                • “Gap” theory says the latter
                                                                                                • Most other views take the former

                                                                                                How can we read Genesis 1?

                                                                                                How do we read the word day? Is a day a literal 24-hour period of time? Or is it something else?

                                                                                                • YEC and “gap” theory view the word “day” as a literal 24 hour period
                                                                                                • Most other views either don’t require a day to be a specific length of time or say it is a longer period of time

                                                                                                How can we read Genesis 1?

                                                                                                Is Genesis 1 meant to be a description of creation itself? Or is it meant to describe how God ascribed function to already existing systems?

                                                                                                • “Modified gap” theory and Walton’s “Temple” theory both focus on Genesis 1 describing function, not creation
                                                                                                • Most other views take Genesis 1 to be describing creation

                                                                                                How can we read Genesis 1?

                                                                                                How impo]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Scripture-and-Science-3-e1662648263981.png 460 Scripture & Science 3: Reading Genesis One, Part 1 (Will Barlow) false no 34:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/09/03/459-scripture-science-2-background-on-genesis-1-will-barlow/ Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:43:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6998 Who was the original audience for the book of Genesis? Although we might be tempted to think we are, Genesis was written a long time ago in a different language and culture. Thinking through who the audience was, will help us approach the first chapter of Genesis on its own terms. In this episode, Will Barlow labors to put Genesis in its own context. He reminds us of what Israel had just been through in Egypt as well as other creation accounts from the ancient Near East. His goal is simply to contextualize Genesis within it's own time and place in order to help us avoid anachronism.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6BJBuavTnE&feature=emb_imp_woyt

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
                                                                                                • See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
                                                                                                • Check out Barlow's previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                What is our assumption about the Bible?

                                                                                                Background to Genesis

                                                                                                • Who wrote Genesis?
                                                                                                  • Some say that it was a mixture of writers over a longer span of time
                                                                                                  • I believe that Moses wrote Genesis (with the spirit of God guiding him)

                                                                                                How does this affect our reading of Genesis?

                                                                                                What was going on:

                                                                                                Exodus 1:8-10   Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."

                                                                                                Exodus 3:1-2   Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

                                                                                                Exodus 3:3-4   And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the b]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Scripture-and-Science-2-e1662134103998.png 459 Scripture & Science 2: Background on Genesis 1 (Will Barlow) false no 31:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/08/26/458-scripture-science-1-what-is-a-belief-system-will-barlow/ Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:52:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6979 Today we're starting a new class called Scripture & Science. As a college student, studying engineering, I remember a particular day at the school library when I had the thought: "Well, I guess I'm going to have to look into scientific objections to the bible." I had been raised a Christian and believed the bible was God-inspired and infallible. However, I was now taking lots of science and engineering courses and it seemed like all my professors were atheists. (I learned later that the smartest physics professor was actually a devout Christian.)

                                                                                                I was faced with a dilemma. Do I go with scripture or science? I began an investigation, purchasing and devouring several apologetics books designed to undercut evolution and the old age of the earth. I found the arguments convincing and moved on. That worked out fine for me, but plenty of others came to the opposite conclusion, choosing science over scripture.

                                                                                                This is a crisis young college students face over and over in the West. They ask themselves, "Do I go with God and the bible or science and reason?" If this is your situation or if you know someone who is wrestling with questions like these, this class is for you!

                                                                                                Our teacher is Will Barlow who double majored in Physics and Math at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN before going on to do graduate work. Later he pursued biblical studies and is now going into ministry full-time. His aim in this class is to survey the most common ways Christians have worked scripture and science together. His non-dogmatic approach will inform you so you can make up your own mind about what is best.

                                                                                                In today's episode, Barlow explains the goals for this class and introduces a few belief systems and his general approach. Instead of seeing scripture and science as enemies locked in a battle, he thinks we should learn from both the book of the bible and the book of nature.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwypAP39Hw&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=1&t=369s

                                                                                                See below for notes.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out Barlow's previous podcast episodes
                                                                                                • Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
                                                                                                • Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                About Will Barlow:Interested in faith/science discourse since childhoodBachelor’s degree in Physics/MathematicsMaster’s degree in Secondary Education (S]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Scripture-and-Science-1-e1661528206341.png 458 Scripture & Science 1: What Is a Belief System? (Will Barlow) false no 34:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/08/21/457-from-oneness-to-one-j-dan-gill/ Sun, 21 Aug 2022 12:56:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6977 Have you heard of oneness theology? Also called "Jesus only," this is the idea that Jesus is all there is. Jesus is the Father; Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Jesus has manifested himself in many ways over the years, but there is only one individual or self who is God. Although not exclusive to the Pentecostal movement, most oneness believers belong to charismatic (or apostolic) groups today. This is a classic message given by Pastor J. Dan Gill in the early 2000s. I remember sitting there in the audience listening to him share about his community's journey of faith and thinking to myself, "Wow, he's my people!" Whether you currently hold oneness theology or not, take a listen to Brother Gill's testimony and see you what you think.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes on oneness, including an interview with J. Dan and Sharon Gill as well as the testimony of famed gospel singer, Joel Hemphill.
                                                                                                • Also you may want to watch his YouTube presentation: "Acts 2-Listen Pentecostals"
                                                                                                • See his website and see many more of his videos and articles at The 21st Century Reformation
                                                                                                • If you live near Nashville, TN, visit the Gills at Higher Ground Church in Whitehouse.
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Dan-Gill-from-oneness-to-one-2-e1661083753461.png 457 From Oneness to One (J. Dan Gill) false no 45:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/08/12/456-why-christianity-is-awesome-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:15:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6967 Why is Christianity awesome? Answering this question is a good exercise for us. So often we hear about why Christianity is terrible, especially in the eyes of the world. Many of these critiques are important and we should be humble enough to listen to problems, both real and perceived. However, my goal today is to focus on the positive. I'd like to spend some time just thinking about the goodness of our faith. I hope you will find it encouraging.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                Christianity makes sense of reality1. explains why anything exists2. explains why there is a beginning3. explains why creation is so good and beautiful4. explains why our world is so bad and ugly5. explains why laws of nature exist6. explains our desire for inclusiveness and fairness

                                                                                                Christianity makes you a better person1. salvation from sin2. durable value3. ethical boundaries, duties, motives4. living hope

                                                                                                Christianity makes society better1. salvation from sin2. durable value3. ethical boundaries, duties, motives4. living hope5. robust identity

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/awesome.jpg 456 Why Christianity Is Awesome (Sean Finnegan) false no 43:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/08/04/455-is-god-on-the-throne-in-your-heart-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 22:00:22 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6948 A couple of weeks ago I got to speak at the Church of God's annual youth camp at Manchester University in rural Indiana. The week focused on all the different passions that we too easily allow to take God's spot in our hearts. Timypaul Lupe gave the message before mine in which he urged the listeners to smash their idols, demonstrating this by taking out a sledge hammer and breaking a jar on stage. My goal for this sermon was to encourage the audience to put God on the throne in their hearts. This is not something done once, but each and every day. Although my message was brief, especially by Restitutio standards, I figured I'd share it here.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/God-King-of-Our-Heart-and-Future-FUEL-2022.png 455 Is God on the Throne in Your Heart? (Sean Finnegan) false no 28:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/07/28/454-amazing-grace-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 28 Jul 2022 22:02:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6942 Last Sunday, I shared this message about God's amazing grace. Instead of focusing on how gracious, merciful, and forgiving God is, I labored to explain why we don't deserve God's grace. I've observed this not only in my own journey, but also with many others who grow up in the church. We hear a thousand times how much God loves us and forgives us, but we easily overlook his wrath and holiness. God's grace is not amazing at all but an entitlement if you don't know in your bones that you deserve his wrath. In what follows I draw upon the first chapter of Isaiah to see God's heart towards his people, especially when we are enmeshed in sinful behaviors. Although difficult to preach, I believe this message is an important wake up call.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other podcasts and posts about God's holiness as a call to revival
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Amazing-Grace.png 454 Amazing Grace (Sean Finnegan) false no 47:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/07/21/453-dale-tuggy-comments-on-debate-with-william-lane-craig/ Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:49:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6940 Last week Dale Tuggy discussed William Lane Craig's theory about the Trinity for an hour. In one sense this was a momentous occasion when two heavy-hitting philosophers got into the ring to duke it out. In another sense, the limited constraint of one hour barely gave either much time to warm up or process the other's position, much less land any serious blows. Still, it was a worthwhile exchange and it has already received over 5,000 views in its first week on YouTube. In this followup interview, I ask Dr. Tuggy about his impression of the exchange, his further thoughts on Craig's somewhat controversial Trinity theory, and how he would reply if given more time to engage with the "deity of Christ" texts. If you haven't yet listened to the debate, you can get it on YouTube or if you prefer audio, listen to Tuggy's Trinities podcast, episode 349.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj_WLXoL90I

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Here's the original debate between Dale Tuggy and William Lane Craig on YouTube, on the Trinities podcast
                                                                                                • Check out these other interviews with Dr. Tuggy
                                                                                                • More debates here
                                                                                                • Check out the One God Over All class, which provides you with an introduction to unitarian theology as well as explanations to commonly misunderstood texts.
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dale-Tuggy-on-Debate-with-William-Lane-Criag.png 453 Dale Tuggy Comments on Debate with William Lane Craig false no 40:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/07/15/452-what-is-the-gospel-we-preach-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 14:53:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6935 What is the gospel? No, I’m not talking about the biographies of Jesus or catchy music. I mean, what is the message of salvation that Jesus commissioned us to preach? Pastor Victor Gluckin of Living Faith Christian Church in Rhode Island masterfully explains what the gospel is and does. The gospel is not good advice but good news that something has changed, is changing, and will change. The gospel is that Christ died, Christ rose, and Christ is coming again. Although most gospel presentations today only focus on the first component, Gluckin is careful to present a full gospel with all three critical elements: the cross, resurrection, and kingdom.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                As Christians we need to spend the rest of our lives mastering this message. -Victor Gluckin

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Videos of Pastor Victor available at his church website and their YouTube channel.
                                                                                                • More Restitutio episodes with Gluckin
                                                                                                • Find out more about KingdomFest (September 23-25)
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Victor-Gluckin-The-Gospel-We-Preach.jpg 452 What Is the Gospel We Preach? (Victor Gluckin) false no 46:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/07/08/wisdom-christology-in-hebrews-1-10-12-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 08 Jul 2022 14:08:50 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6869 Whereas last time we examined 6 interpretations people hold for Hebrews 1.10-12, today we look at just one--the 7th. Jerry Wierwille is my guest again and in this episode he explains his take on Hebrews 1.10-12. He delves into wisdom christology to show how these verses speak of Jesus protologically as wisdom that created the heavens and the earth.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Recommended Reading ——

                                                                                                • "Intertextuality and Interpretation of Hebrews 1:10-12" by Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                • Jesus the Sage by Ben Witherington III
                                                                                                • The New Testament Age, Vol 1

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes in this series on Hebrews 1
                                                                                                • See more episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                • More resources on Hebrews 1.10
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Slide3-e1656000625162.png 451 Wisdom Christology in Hebrews 1.10-12 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 54:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/06/30/450-seven-interpretive-options-for-hebrews-1-10-12-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 30 Jun 2022 22:29:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6899 In our last episode, Dr. Jerry Wierwille led us through a contextual overview of Hebrews 1 and 2 in order to situate Hebrews 1.10-12. Today, we’ll consider seven interpretations of Hebrews 1.10-12, including:
                                                                                                1. Father as referent, doxology
                                                                                                2. Jesus as creator of Genesis creation
                                                                                                3. Jesus as creator of figurative heaven and earth (referring to people and political institutions)
                                                                                                4. Jesus as creator of figurative heaven and earth (referring to Mosaic order)
                                                                                                5. Jesus as creator of heaven and earth for millennial kingdom
                                                                                                6. Jesus as creator of new creation
                                                                                                7. Jesus as the embodiment of God’s wisdom

                                                                                                This survey should help shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of these views. We won’t get into the seventh position much in this episode, but we will cover it in detail in the next one.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes in this series on Hebrews 1
                                                                                                • See more episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                • More resources on Hebrews 1.10
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Slide2-e1656000597546.png 450 Seven Interpretive Options for Hebrews 1.10-12 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 46:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/06/23/449-intertextuality-and-interpretation-of-hebrews-1-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 22:00:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6885

                                                                                                Hebrews 1.10-12 is a confusing passage for many of us. It seems to say that Jesus created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. Today we are beginning a three part series in which Dr. Jerry Wierwille will address this important passage in context. Our first part is Wierwille's presentation from last year's UCA conference. In this overview, he reviews the context, extending from chapter 1 all the way to 2.8. Next he presents lexical connections between Hebrews 1 and wisdom literature. He concludes that Hebrews 1.10-12 is a wisdom christology text, attributing to Jesus what wisdom had accomplished prior to his birth.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_F_T2o3WWo

                                                                                                Here is the paper that accompanies this talk.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes in this series on Hebrews 1
                                                                                                • See more episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                • More resources on Hebrews 1.10
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Slide1-e1656000557929.png 449 Intertextuality and Interpretation of Hebrews 1 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 43:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/06/17/448-whats-wrong-with-progressive-christianity-mike-winger/ Fri, 17 Jun 2022 22:39:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6883 Today we are addressing Progressive Christianity. To be clear, we are not talking about politics, though they often go hand in hand. Progressive Christianity is an outgrowth of liberal Christianity, which accepted the modernist ethos of the Enlightenment and merged it with Christianity. Likewise Progressive Christianity brings the assumptions and moral commitments of postmodernism to Christianity. Thus, individual experiences and stories, especially from minorities, victims, and the disenfranchised have higher authority than scripture, history, or logic. As a result, Progressive Christians feel free to disagree with scripture if it seems to cause distress or difficulty for people. Our inner sense of goodness and personal purpose are the spiritual authorities that should guide us, not what Jesus said, not what the church says, not what the bible says.

                                                                                                Today I'm playing out a teaching by Mike Winger of Bible Thinker. He had served as a youth pastor and worship leader at a Calvary Chapel church in California before YouTube ministry became his full time focus. His YouTube channel currently has nearly half a million subscribers and his focus is on thinking biblically about life. I thought he made some great points in this presentation that will sensitize you to the cultural creep that is slowly adjusting all of our moral compasses.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYuWlxnqa4o

                                                                                                "Progressive Christianity is not a sustainable community, but it's a door out of Christianity" -Mike Winger"Can God tell you that your heart is mistaken? Even about your deepest longings and morality?" -Mike Winger

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes related to compassion
                                                                                                • For outro comments, see Looking for the Historical Jesus between Evangelical and Liberal Scholarship
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mike-Winger-Progressive-Christianity3-e1655472600840.png 448 What’s Wrong with Progressive Christianity? (Mike Winger) false no 1:00:52 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/06/10/447-god-is-compassionate-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 10 Jun 2022 22:00:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6871 Power and kindness rarely go together. I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful the most powerful being in the universe is also exceedingly compassionate! In fact, when he revealed himself to Moses, compassion was the first attribute he declared about himself. We see the outworking of God's compassion in the laws he provided Israel in the Torah, especially the provisions he made for those who were vulnerable or suffering. These serve as examples for how we should think about those in difficult life circumstances. Scripture calls us to imitate our Father as dear children. Let's be a compassionate people who genuinely feel for those in dire straits and who seek to do our part to alleviate their suffering.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://youtu.be/iMOptuZptDI

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                Exodus 34:6-7 Compassion/mercy is the first of God’s attributes that He listed out when He revealed His glory to Moses.

                                                                                                Exodus 22:21-27 God cares about the sojourners, widows, and orphans. He hears their prayers and takes up their cause because He is compassionate.

                                                                                                Deuteronomy 24:10-22 God wanted His people never to forget that they were once slaves in Egypt. The benefit of that corporate memory was that they would have compassion on others in need like the poor, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow.

                                                                                                Deuteronomy 25:5-10 God installed an automatic system to ensure that widows would have the chance to get remarried quickly.

                                                                                                Deuteronomy 26:12-13 The people’s tithes went to provide for the Levites, sojourners, orphans, and widows. It was important to God that His people not forget these categories of people.

                                                                                                Psalm 68:4-5 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

                                                                                                Zechariah 7:9-14 Sadly, God’s people did not act in compassion to the vulnerable members of their society. They took advantage of the weak and closed their ears to hear their cry. Other than idolatry, their lack of compassion was the chief reason God exiled them from their land.

                                                                                                Luke 6:30-36 Our Lord taught us that we too should be merciful just as God is. We too should be generous to the poor and kind to the undeserving.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes related to compassion
                                                                                                • For outro comments, see Looking for the Historical Jesus between Evangelical and Liberal Scholarship
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/God-is-compassionate.jpg 447 God Is Compassionate (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:04:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/06/03/446-resurrection-objection-3-supernatural-inaccessible-aaron-shelenberger/ Fri, 03 Jun 2022 15:52:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6834 Have you heard of historiography? Your historiography is the method you employ in doing history. This is especially relevant when the scholars who make the rules for doing history decide to exclude any supernatural events from their historiography. Today, my guest, Aaron Shelenberger, continues his rebuttal to Ehrman’s three main objections to the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus. We discuss Ehrman’s contentions that supernatural events are inaccessible to historians and the prevalence of methodological naturalism. Also, Shelenberger briefly reviews the recent debate between Mike Licona and Bart Ehrman.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • For Shelenberger’s thesis, see part 1: 444 Resurrection Objection 1: Unreliable Gospels?
                                                                                                • See also part 2: 445 Resurrection Objection 2: Improbable Miracles?
                                                                                                • Follow Aaron Shelenberger on his YouTube channel: Life and Beyond and on his blog: Abandoning the Trinity
                                                                                                • See Mike Licona’s Why Are There Differences Between the Gospels?
                                                                                                • Check out Shelenberger’s interview on the Trinities podcast (part 2 here)
                                                                                                • Other episodes referenced include 390 God Is Real (Why Christianity 3), 53 Does God Exist?, 54 Four More Reasons God Exists
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Aaron-Shelenberger-on-Resurrection-4x3-1.png 446 Resurrection Objection 3: Supernatural Inaccessible? (Aaron Shelenberger) false no 1:04:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/05/29/445-resurrection-objection-2-improbable-miracles-aaron-shelenberger/ Sun, 29 May 2022 21:12:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6758 Today my guest, Aaron Shelenberger, and I are tackling a second scholarly objection of Bart Ehrman against the resurrection of Jesus. We're taking a deep dive into the historian's use of probability to establish whether a particular event happened. Are miracles by definition improbable? Does the rarity of miracles preclude the historian from talking about them? Like last week, Shelenberger will guide us through his master's thesis to deal with this issue.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://youtu.be/swvCj4uVeJU

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • For Shelenberger's thesis, see part 1: 444 Resurrection Objection 1: Unreliable Gospels?
                                                                                                • Follow Aaron Shelenberger on his YouTube channel: Life and Beyond and on his blog: Abandoning the Trinity
                                                                                                • See Mike Licona's Why Are There Differences Between the Gospels?
                                                                                                • Check out Shelenberger's interview on the Trinities podcast (part 2 here)
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Slide2-1.png 445 Resurrection Objection 2: Improbable Miracles? (Aaron Shelenberger) false no 57:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/05/20/444-resurrection-objection-1-unreliable-gospels-aaron-shelenberger/ Fri, 20 May 2022 18:00:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6741 Aaron Shelenberger who studied under Mike Licona at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, shares about his research on the historicity of the resurrection. In particular, his thesis tackled three main objections brought forth by popular author and anti-Christian Bart Ehrman. Now, I realize this episode and the next two that follow are a tad technical, so if that's not your jam, then you may want to skip them. However, what I've noticed in the past is that our most technical episodes tend to get lots of downloads. In our conversation today we discuss the importance of resurrection and how Ehrman's attack on the reliability of the Gospels fails to undermine the case for the resurrection. Also, I bring up Licona's somewhat controversial book, Why Are There Differences in the Gospels and get Shelenberger's take on it.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9xpP2c89E

                                                                                                Here is Shelenberger's thesis for your consideration.

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Follow Aaron Shelenberger on his YouTube channel: Life and Beyond and on his blog: Abandoning the Trinity
                                                                                                • See Mike Licona's Why Are There Differences Between the Gospels?
                                                                                                • Check out Shelenberger's interview on the Trinities podcast (part 2 here)
                                                                                                • More information about Family Camp here.
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Slide1-1.png 444 Resurrection Objection 1: Unreliable Gospels? (Aaron Shelenberger) false no 52:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/05/13/443-generational-differences-2-daniel-calcagno/ Fri, 13 May 2022 15:06:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6819 Last time Pastor Daniel Calcagno spoke to us about the older generations. Today we'll get into discussing Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. We explore pivotal events in each of these younger generations as well as how Christianity uniquely appeals to them. Hopefully this conversation will spur some thoughts for you, regardless of your age, and how you can reach people for Christ in your own world.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHTrMvzYyY

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Listen to "Generational Differences, Part 1"
                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes with Daniel Calcagno, including “From Pentecostal to Messianic Unitarian“
                                                                                                • Check out his church: Glad Tidings Church of God in Fonthill, Ontario
                                                                                                • Follow his YouTube channel and his website MessianicNiagra.com
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Slide5-1-e1652385984383.png 443 Generational Differences 2 (Daniel Calcagno) false no 1:15:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/05/06/442-generational-differences-1-daniel-calcagno/ Fri, 06 May 2022 14:34:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6762 Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other episodes with Daniel Calcagno, including “From Pentecostal to Messianic Unitarian“
                                                                                                • Check out his church: Glad Tidings Church of God in Fonthill, Ontario
                                                                                                • Follow his YouTube channel and his website MessianicNiagra.com
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Slide4-1-e1652454607235.png 442 Generational Differences 1 (Daniel Calcagno) false no 55:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/04/29/441-tribalism-in-times-like-these/ Fri, 29 Apr 2022 16:08:54 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6793 Tribalism is a major problem in our society today. If we're honest, tribalism is a major problem in Christianity today. If I'm really honest, I have to admit that tribalism is a major problem in me today. Do you feel it too? Are you tempted to blow your ideological, theological, or political enemies out of the water when they say something ignorant or obviously wrong? Are you tempted to lump people into a group, label them, and stereotype them? As our society has increasingly become polarized on issues from the environment to immigrants to sexuality to wearing masks we must resist the temptation to get sucked into tribal thinking. In the end, we are the Church with a commission to reach outsiders with God's love. How can we do that if we circle the wagons, or worse, cast stones?

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYlCo9SEMfg

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out these other podcast episodes about culture and polarization
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/tribalism-in-times-like-these.png 441 Tribalism in Times Like These false no 50:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/04/21/440-non-trinitarian-history-in-the-stone-campbell-movement-eric-miller/ Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:00:19 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6773 Eric Miller begins by covering Alexander and Thomas Campbell's beliefs about the Trinity. Then he talks about his own experience as a non-Trinitarian in the Independent Christian Churches community. He explains how the Christian Churches have become stricter on this issue in recent years. We discuss the possibility of reforming his church to be more in line with the tolerance expressed by Campbell and Stone in the early years.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out Eric Miller's YouTube channel here
                                                                                                • See more episodes about the Trinity
                                                                                                • More about Jeff Deuble and his book Christ before Creeds here
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/242272333_4425995734163727_3786299056882126388_n.jpg 440 Non-Trinitarian History in the Stone-Campbell Movement (Eric Miller) false no 31:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/04/15/439-the-stone-campbell-restoration-movement-eric-miller/ Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:10:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6770 Have you heard of the Restoration Movement? In today’s interview Eric Miller recounts the history of Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell as they initiated the movement to get back to the Bible over against denominational divisions. He explains the differences between the Disciples of Christ, the A Capella Churches of Christ, and the Independent Christian Churches. He also explores why the Independent Christian Churches is growing today.

                                                                                                Eric Miller is a Bible college student with the Independent Christian Churches in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s passionate about evangelism and Spanish ministry.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • Check out Eric Miller’s YouTube channel here
                                                                                                • See more episodes about the Trinity
                                                                                                • Support Restitutio by donating here
                                                                                                • Designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/212951768_4069327129830591_2237313406660002512_n.jpg 439 The Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement (Eric Miller) false no 35:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/04/08/438-is-god-a-trinity-of-persons-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:38:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6760 The Trinity remains a massively popular theory to understand God in Christianity today as it has since the fourth century. Some go so far as to condemn any attempt to understand the concept while others are content to allow their faith to seek understanding (fides quarens intelectum). Nevertheless, most Christians have never honestly assessed this doctrine in light of scripture, reason, and history.

                                                                                                In what follows, we'll begin by taking systematic theologian Wayne Grudem's definition of the Trinity to build an understanding of this model of God (social Trinity). Next we'll take a brief survey of the history of the idea from it's antecedents in the second and third centuries to the full-blown understanding in the sixth century. Lastly, we'll evaluate the concept based on scripture and reason.

                                                                                                Whether you believe in a Trinity theory or not, I hope this presentation will help you understand it better and see why an increasing number of people are questioning the idea.

                                                                                                Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDGNGWf2buM

                                                                                                —— Notes ——

                                                                                                Definition

                                                                                                1. God is three persons
                                                                                                2. Each person is fully God
                                                                                                3. There is one God

                                                                                                History

                                                                                                1. Theophilus (184)
                                                                                                2. Tertullian (208)
                                                                                                3. Alexander (313)
                                                                                                4. Nicaea (325)
                                                                                                5. Constantinople (381)
                                                                                                6. Ephesus (431)
                                                                                                7. Chalcedon (451)
                                                                                                8. Athanasian Creed (500s?)

                                                                                                Bible

                                                                                                God is one person (Deuteronomy 4.35, 39; 6.4-5; Mark 12.28-34; John 17.3; 2 Kings 19.19), routinely referred to as “he” rather than “they.”  Since every time people in Scripture speak to or about God, they always use singular pronouns, we should be suspicious of affirming plural persons within God.

                                                                                                The Holy Spirit is not a different person from the Father or Son since it lacks a name, never sends greetings (Romans 1.7), is left out of fellowship (1 John 1.3), is intrinsic to the Father’s mind (1 Corinthians 2.11), is never prayed to, is left out of key Christian creedal statements (1 Corinthians 8.6; 1 Timothy 2.5-6; 2 Timothy 2.11-13), is left out of end times knowledge (Mark 13.32), and is never given a throne like the Father and Son (Revelation 3.21).

                                                                                                Jesus is not fully God because he is not the same substance (1 Timothy 2.5), not eternal (Matthew 1.18; Hebrews 1.5), not a se (John 6.57; Mark 10.18), not omnipotent (John 5.19, 30), not equal to God (John 14.28; 1 Corinthians 15.28), not omniscient (Mark 13.32), not immortal (1 Corinthians 15.3), not invisible (1 Timothy 1.17; 6.16), and temptable (Hebrews 4.15) unlike God (James 1.13).

                                                                                                Not only do the words “Trinity,” “same substance,” “eternal generation,” “three persons,” etc., fail to occur in the Bible, but Scripture likewise lacks any explanation of the concept of the Trinity.  Furthermore, if the apostles were teaching about the Trinity, why is it missing from their recorded sermons in Acts?  If the Apostle Paul taught the Trinity, why didn’t any of his opponents bring up that issue either during his missionary journeys or among the many issues he dealt with in his letters?  Furthermore, if Jesus were merely playing the role of a lowly human in his “incarnation,” why does the resurrected, ascended, and exalted Christ still refer to the Father as “my God” (Revelation 3.12) and remain in subjection to God for all of eternity (1 Corinthians 15.28)?

                                                                                                —— Links ——

                                                                                                • See Five Major Problems with the Trinity
                                                                                                • See https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Is-God-a-Trinity.png 438 Is God a Trinity of Persons? (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:08:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/04/01/437-high-control-groups-and-judging-other-christians-lori-jane/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:25:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6597 Are you in a high control group? How would you even know? Lori Jane shares her story of waking up after attending Kingdom Halls for thirty years as a Jehovah's Witness (JW). Although the Watch Tower organization claimed they were the one true church, Lori discovered in Pioneer School the many "corrections" that had been handed down, which indicated they didn't have a monopoly on truth.

                                                                                                  In today's conversation, we talk about how to recognize if you are in a high control group. Still, even if you aren't in a high control group, you might have their exclusive mentality that looks at all outsiders as beyond salvation. Lori explains why humility is important as an antidote to the arrogance that can accompany doctrinal pride, leading to sweeping statements about who is saved or not in other Christian groups.

                                                                                                  Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swvBx8_A6S8

                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                  • Follow Lori Jane on Youtube at her channel: Finding Lori Jane and check out her popular video "Waking up in Pioneer School"
                                                                                                  • Email her at lorijaneusa@gmail.com
                                                                                                  • Visit her website SimplyChristian.faith
                                                                                                  • Support Restitutio by donating here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                  • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                  • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lori-Jane-on-Restitutio-2.png 437 High Control Groups and Judging Other Christians (Lori Jane) false no 1:13:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/03/24/436-salt-and-light-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:34:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6671 In a world where self-identifying as a Christ-follower draws criticism, exclusion, and persecution, it's important for us to remember the words of our Lord. He said we are salt and we are light. But, what does it mean to be salty and shining? In this message, my hope is that you'll be challenged to stick with Jesus even when others pressure you to conform to new ways of thinking and living. Today is your day. You are who God has in your home, your neighborhood, and your workplace. Be salt. Be light.

                                                                                                  Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                  https://youtu.be/4z20Ou6qzkI

                                                                                                  Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus fully expected that his followers would suffer persecution. The world reviles, persecutes, and utters evil against us because of righteousness’ sake and because of our association with Jesus. We do not seek negative attention, but when it comes, we can take comfort knowing that the world persecuted the prophets before us in much the same way. What’s more, Jesus tells us to “rejoice and be glad” since our reward is great.

                                                                                                  Matthew 5:13 Based on the concern for losing its taste, we can conclude that Jesus’ point here is that his follows should retain their distinctive salty flavor. We should not blend in with the world too well. Swapping out Christ’s teachings for the world’s fads and whims results in a comprised Christianity that is as useful as flavorless salt. We need not seek to be weird in the eyes of the world but instead endeavor to follow Jesus’ teachings, and let the chips fall where they may.

                                                                                                  Matthew 5:14 Unlike monasteries and hidden communes, Christ’s followers have an important role to play as the lights of the world. God’s ultimate goal for His city on a hill is to draw all nations to Himself (Isaiah 2:2-4; 42:6; 49:6; 60:1-3, 18-22). We seek to embody God’s future Kingdom in the present by how we live now, both individually and communally. As the city on the hill, our goal is to attract and invite.

                                                                                                  Matthew 5:15-16 A light exists to illuminate. Putting a lamp under a basket doesn’t make any sense. Likewise, we cannot limit our faith to the privacy of our homes and churches. We also have an illuminating, prophetic, public role to play, just like Jesus did. Our goal is for others to see our good deeds so that they give glory to God. In the end, God will wipe away our tears and remove our reproach (Isaiah 25:6-9).

                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                  • Read the article that goes with this message here
                                                                                                  • To join Salt & Light Study Night via Zoom, visit their facebook page or email them here
                                                                                                  • For more about the teachings of Jesus see Podcast 30: Rabbi Jesus and Podcast 78: The Insidious Dangers of Self-Righteousness
                                                                                                  • See more episodes on Christian living
                                                                                                  • Support Restitutio by donating here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                  • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                  • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we ma]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Salt-and-Light.jpg 436 Salt and Light (Sean Finnegan) false no 42:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/03/18/435-holistic-biblical-unitarian-christianity-theophilus-josiah-3/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 20:21:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6685 Have you heard of the Integrity Syndicate? No, not a crime syndicate, the Integrity Syndicate--the online ministry of Theophilus Josiah, my guest today. Abused and neglected by his parents and raised in a California orphanage, Josiah met God in his youth resulting in a new course for his life. Through a series of providential events, he went to college and became a mechanical engineer. His career included working on devices to aid hearts in their work to pump blood throughout the body. Now, he's bringing his analytic mind and passion to disseminate truth throughout the body of Christ via his 27 websites, his YouTube channel, and his conversations on Discord.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/qqtVn1OxU_Y

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Check out the Integrity Syndicate website, YouTube channel, and Discord server
                                                                                                    • Watch Josiah's interview with Sean about Matt Slick's case for the Trinity
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/integrity-syndicate.png 435-Holistic Biblical Unitarian Christianity (Theophilus Josiah) false no 56:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/03/11/434-son-of-david-6-jesus-reign-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 19:17:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6613 Last time we looked at Solomon's glorious reign as an archetype. Today Pastor Victor shows five parallels between Solomon's golden era and Christ's coming kingdom.
                                                                                                    1. Eliminate rivals and enemies
                                                                                                    2. Appoint new leaders
                                                                                                    3. Peace and prosperity
                                                                                                    4. Nations flowing to Jerusalem
                                                                                                    5. Worship of God central

                                                                                                    This last episode of this Son of David class ties together everything nicely, providing us with a wonderful description of the Christian hope in the age to come. As it turns out, in every category the ultimate Son of David outperforms the original Son of David.

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch Pastor Victor's sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class by Gluckin, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Son-Of-David-6.png 434 Son of David 6: Jesus’ Reign (Victor Gluckin) false no 46:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/03/04/433-son-of-david-5-solomons-reign-victor-gluckin-2/ Sat, 05 Mar 2022 01:05:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6606 In many ways, Solomon was the greatest Israelite king of all time. Abundance, security, and vastness characterized his long reign. Pastor Victor surveys Solomon's prodigious reign, tying it in to both the promises God made to Abraham before him and those he made regarding a future son of David after him. Solomon's fabulous wealth, unrivaled wisdom, and magnetic reputation serve as an archetype for the greater son of David whose reign will outshine even Solomon's majesty.

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch Pastor Victor's sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class by Gluckin, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Davids-Son-5.png 433 Son of David 5: Solomon’s Reign (Victor Gluckin) false no 34:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/02/25/432-son-of-david-4-jesus-comes-as-king-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 19:37:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6586 As we saw last time, Solomon's coronation set a precedent as the first son of David. By learning to recognize this archetype, we can spot intentional enactments later on. In this episode, Pastor Victor explores the striking parallels between Solomon's anointing and Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Next he considers how the first coming of our Lord into Jerusalem in peace on a donkey differs from his second coming, which will be on a war horse, ready for battle.

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch Pastor Victor's sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class by Gluckin, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Davids-Son-4.png 432 Son of David 4: Jesus Comes as King (Victor Gluckin) false no 29:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/02/17/431-son-of-david-3-solomon-becomes-king/ Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:58:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6554 Today we begin looking at the original son of David--Solomon. Although his brother, Adonijah had crafted a master plan to take the throne, he was not God's choice. As a result, Bathsheba acted quickly to impose upon her elderly husband so that Solomon would be anointed. Pastor Victor shares the story of how this all happened, ending with the son of David riding into Jerusalem on a donkey with crowds shouting "Long live the king."

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch Pastor Victor's sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class by Gluckin, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Davids-Son-3.png 431 Son of David 3: Solomon Becomes King false no 36:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/02/11/430-son-of-david-2-jesus-the-christ-son-of-david-son-of-god/ Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:58:46 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6536 This is part 2 of the class, Son of David.

                                                                                                    Today our focus is on Jesus. What do terms like “son of God,” “Christ,” and “messiah” mean? How does Jesus fit into the promises God made to King David a millennium before his birth? Victor Gluckin answers these questions through copious texts from the New Testament, driving home the point that Jesus’ primary identifier is messiah, God’s anointed one to rule on the throne of David.

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch pastor Victor’s sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Davids-Son-2.png 430 Son of David 2: Jesus the Christ, Son of David, Son of God false no 48:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/02/04/429-son-of-david-1-davidic-covenant-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 04 Feb 2022 15:49:09 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6534 This is part 1 of the class, Son of David.

                                                                                                    Today we're beginning a new class called "Son of David," which explores the rich biblical parallels between Solomon and Jesus. Our teacher is Victor Gluckin, pastor of Living Faith Christian Church in Warwick, Rhode Island. Over more than two decades of friendship, I've been repeatedly impressed by Gluckin's ability to bring scripture alive when he teaches. Truth be told, he's one of my favorite preachers of all time. You can find out more about him at his church's website: livingfaithri.org.Today our focus is on the covenant God made with David to be a father to one of his descendants and to establish his throne forever. This seminal promise shaped Israelite history in good times and bad until ultimately Jesus came on the scene in the Gospels.

                                                                                                    Download the notes for this session

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Read the pdf notes for this teaching
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • To watch pastor Victor's sermons, visit his church website or follow him on YouTube
                                                                                                    • For another class, see Kingdom Story
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Davids-Son-1.png 429 Son of David 1: Davidic Covenant (Victor Gluckin) false no 41:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/01/28/428-looking-for-the-historical-jesus-between-evangelical-and-liberal-scholarship-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 28 Jan 2022 15:10:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6513 Did you know that scholars who work on Jesus divide starkly into two major camps? On the one hand, the evangelicals do such great work on the existence of God, the historicity of the resurrection, and the reliability of Scripture. But, then they read the Gospels through the filter of their theological commitments, always coming away with a Jesus that looks suspiciously like the second person of the Trinity. On the other hand, liberal scholars tend to get the message of Jesus about the kingdom right, but then due to their anti-supernatural presuppositions, deny the resurrection and end up with a failed prophet.In this presentation, recorded way back in 2008, I share about my own quest to benefit from both evangelical and liberal scholarship to identify the genuine Jesus of the first-century.

                                                                                                    If you'd like to delve deeper into this, you can get the paper here.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • access the full-length paper here
                                                                                                    • Check out the Historical Jesus class (available both as podcast episodes and on YouTube)
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/historical-jesus.jpg 428 Looking for the Historical Jesus between Evangelical and Liberal Scholarship (Sean Finnegan) false no 56:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/01/21/427-why-did-jesus-die-exploring-atonement-theories-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:38:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6506 Why did Jesus die? Why couldn't God just forgive all our sins? How did Jesus' death pay for sin? How can someone else die for my sins? Questions like these are what atonement theories strive to answer. Throughout the history of Christianity a half dozen prominent theories have vied for adherents. In what follows I begin by surveying what the bible says about atonement before moving to briefly cover seven atonement theories. I originally released this presentation as two separate talks a while back (Theology 17 and Theology 18), but due to continued interest and inquires about this subject, I thought it would be a good idea to rebroadcast this talk.

                                                                                                    For those who would like to go more in depth, you can access the full-length paper here.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAox3ELuVwY

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • access the full-length paper here
                                                                                                    • More posts on atonement here
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Why-Did-Jesus-Die-e1642709439822.png 427 Why Did Jesus Die? Exploring Atonement Theories (Sean Finnegan) false no 59:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/01/14/426-the-father-is-greater-than-i-exploring-biblical-subordination/ Fri, 14 Jan 2022 13:53:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6455 Is the Son equal with the Father or is he subordinate? Thinking Christians have struggled over the tension between the traditional doctrine of coequality between Father and Son, on the one hand, and the dozens upon dozens of scriptures that either imply our explicitly teach the Father's supremacy over his Son. Two ways of solving this problem include the idea of the economic Trinity and eternal functional subordination. In what follows I overview the biblical evidence for the Son's subordination to the Father before critiquing both of these reigning trinitarian solutions to the problem. Last of all, I consider a few texts often pressed into service to teach coequality, but upon closer examination fail to adequately warrant that position. Also, if you'd like to dig deeper into this topic, here is the full paper.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/PPjAfgfGejM

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Learn more about the supreme Father both from the bible and church history by taking the One God Over All class.
                                                                                                    • Also check out Did Christians Believe in the Trinity before Nicea? and Five Major Problems with the Trinity
                                                                                                    • Here's the Original Sin series referenced at the end of this episode
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/New-Picture.png 426 The Father Is Greater Than I: Exploring Biblical Subordination (Sean Finnegan) false no 55:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2022/01/10/425-hell-is-the-fire-that-consumes-edward-fudge/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 15:27:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6441 What does the bible say about hell? Though many Christians believe hell is where the wicked suffer eternal conscious torment, this view contradicts dozens of scriptures about the fate of the wicked. In this masterful presentation, hell expert, Edward Fudge, works through not only the bible, but also intertestamental literature and church history to show the original view of hell and how it changed over time. He explains that the destiny of the lost is to face God’s terrifying wrath leaving them ultimately annihilated rather than tortured without end.

                                                                                                    This understanding of judgment has been steadily growing in recent history as evidenced by scholars like F. F. Bruce, John Stott, John Stackhouse, Clark Pinnock, Richard Bauckham, and N. T. Wright. Still none of them compares to the erudition and persuasiveness of the late Edward Fudge in his tour de force on the subject.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • For answers to confusing verses about hell see Difficult Texts for Annihilationism (Warren Prestidge) and Challenging Annihilationism (Sean Finnegan)
                                                                                                    • More episodes about hell and annihilationism
                                                                                                    • Check out the debate between Chris Date (annihilationism) vs. Phil Fernandez (eternal conscious torment)
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/edward-fudge.jpg 425 Hell Is the Fire That Consumes (Edward Fudge) false no 1:06:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/12/31/424-one-god-14-one-god-today/ Fri, 31 Dec 2021 15:12:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6434 This is part 14 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    After a brief sketch of one God believers throughout time, we’ll consider how well positioned we are today to publish this truth. We may be few, but we are mighty, motivated, and making a difference! Additionally, we’ll consider a few important questions like (1) How can unitarianism be right if most Christians are trinitarian? (2) Shouldn’t I stay “in the closet” if so I don’t get excluded, mocked, or persecuted? (3) What are some good books to dig deeper? and (4) How can you support the cause? This is our last episode in this class. I hope it has served you well and that you will share it with your friends.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-14.png 424 One God 14: One God Today false no 38:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/12/24/423-one-god-13-the-fourth-century/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:53:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6410 This is part 13 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    What happened in the fourth century? You've probably heard all kinds of rumors about Arius of Alexandria and his newfangled heresy. But, was Arius really a sinful outsider who tried to corrupt Christianity? Was his idea of a Son with a beginning even new? In this episode we'll cover an outline of the major events that happened in the controversy that raged from 318 to 381. You may be surprised to discover that Arius was actually and elderly conservative with an impeccable character who quite consciously worked to avoid established heresies.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/OZeMX_Ni6O0

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-13.png 423 One God 13: The Fourth Century false no 50:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/12/18/422-one-god-12-early-church-history/ Sat, 18 Dec 2021 15:50:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6408 This is part 12 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    If the entire bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that there is one supreme God who is over all and that Jesus is his subordinate son, then surely we should find evidence of this idea in the historical writings of Christians after the New Testament period. Within the four broad strands of Christianity in the second and third centuries, three of them embraced thoroughgoing subordinationism while the fourth--the modalists--taught that Jesus was the Father. In this episode, we'll focus on the three early subordinationist groups: the Gnostics, the Dynamic Monarchians, and the Logos Incarnationists to explore what they each believed about Jesus.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/Or5KAXkc6Jc

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-12.png 422 One God 12: Early Church History false no 53:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/12/10/421-one-god-11-spirit-of-god-christ/ Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:28:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6388 This is part 11 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Who or what is the spirit of God? It won't do to read later tradition back into the scriptures. Rather, we need to see how the bible itself talks about the holy spirit. To get at that answer we'll take a look at a couple of bible dictionaries along with dozens of texts. Next we'll explore how the spirit solves the problem of a God who is both transcendent and immanent. Lastly, we'll briefly examine three commonly misunderstood texts, including lying to the spirit in Acts 5.3, blaspheming the spirit in Matthew 12.31, and how Jesus talks about the spirit in the upper room discourse (John 14-16).

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrN8EX8lLs

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Link to Blinkist wish list to up-vote Christ before Creeds
                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-11.png 421 One God 11: Spirit of God & Christ false no 47:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/12/03/420-one-god-10-christs-exaltation-priestly-service/ Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:20:07 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6384 This is part 10 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    We've looked at Jesus' identity as Messiah, his relationship to God throughout his ministry, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. Repeatedly we've asked the question, if Jesus is not the one God over all, then how should we interpret him? Today we delve into his exaltation and priestly ministry in heaven. We'll explore a little about what it means to be at God's right hand before spending a good deal of time working through Colossians 1.15-20. Lastly, we'll cover how Jesus' humanity uniquely equips him to sympathize with us in his role as our high priest.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/kdKv52WkI5Q

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-10.png 420 One God 10: Christ’s Exaltation & Priestly Service false no 42:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/11/26/419-one-god-9-christs-crucifixion-and-resurrection/ Sat, 27 Nov 2021 01:03:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6381 This is part 9 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    If Jesus is not the one God over all, then how should we interpret his death and resurrection? How does his death pay for our sins? What does the resurrection tell us about Jesus? Unlike medieval Christianity that taught God the Son united himself to impersonal human nature, the bible portrays a whole person, a second Adam, who died for our sins. When the Almighty raised Jesus from the dead, that marked him out as God’s true messiah.  In this episode, we’ll also briefly consider Thomas’ statement in John 20.28 when he called Jesus, “my Lord and my God.”

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea.”
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-9.png 419 One God 9: Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection false no 44:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/11/19/418-one-god-8-jesus-called-god/ Sat, 20 Nov 2021 04:55:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6368 This is part 8 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Does the bible call Jesus God? If so, how many times? This seems like such a straightforward question, but it's pretty hard to answer. We'll examine three types of texts in which Jesus might be called God, including those with manuscript issues, translation issues, and interpretation issues. In each case we'll see that, in fact, the text in question doesn't have to be taken in that way.Texts covered include: 1 Timothy 3.16; 1 John 5.7-8; John 1.18; Acts 20.28; Romans 9.5; Titus 2.13 (2 Peter 1.1; 2 Thessalonians 1.12); and 1 John 5.20.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvQ32LLM9cU&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV0lS6ELFoLnZovP0NKxqTGG&index=8

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea."
                                                                                                    • Check out the video Is God a Trinity?
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-8.png 418 One God 8: Jesus Called God? false no 44:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/11/12/417-one-god-7-jesus-gods-agent/ Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:54:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6360 This is part 7 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    In the bible we encounter a strange phenomenon. Sometimes beings other than Yahweh are called Gods. How can we square that with monotheism–the idea that the Father is the only true God? Although most Christians are aware that the bible calls Jesus God a couple of times, most have never noticed that the scriptures also use the term for Moses, angels, judges of Israel, the divine council, and the king of Israel. What do all of these individuals have in common? They are all agents commissioned to do God’s will on earth. In this episode we’ll explore the principle of agency so we can better understand Jesus’ role as God’s supreme representative.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea“ and
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-7.png 417 One God 7: Jesus, God’s Agent false no 52:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/11/04/416-one-god-6-jesus-gods-subordinate-son/ Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:56:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6358 This is part 6 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    The bible routinely recognizes the subordination of the Son to his Father. Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus repeatedly and unapologetically taught, "The Father is greater than I" (John 14.28). Further, after his exaltation, Jesus remains dependent on the Father as his superior (1 Cor 11.3). Then, even once the age to come arrives, the Son will remain in subjection to the Father forever (1 Cor 15.28). In addition to covering many of these subordination texts, we'll also consider what Jesus meant when he said "I and my Father are one" in John 10.30 and overview some of the possibilities for interpreting John 1.1.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/zsCh3iIGDaI

                                                                                                    The Father planned salvation, commissioned his Son, authorized him as his agent, empowered him with miraculous powers, guided him in his ministry, provided him the words to speak, instructed him to give his life, raised him from the dead, elevated him to his right hand, poured out the spirit through him, appointed him a priest to intercede in his heavenly ministry, and will one day send him back to restore our world. Then, when the end comes, he will turn everything back over to his Father so that God may be all in all. The Father is the supreme authority who directs his subordinate Son to do the work of salvation. From the Son we see a loyal and loving heart, willing to heroically obey his Father even when it costs everything. He provides the quintessential model for what humanity can be when totally dependent on God.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea“
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-6.png 416 One God 6: Jesus, God’s Subordinate Son false no 46:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/10/29/415-one-god-5-jesus-the-messiah/ Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:30:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6297 This is part 5 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Last time we looked at what Jesus taught about God. Although this class is called "One God Over All," it's also important for us to talk about Jesus. If the Father alone is the one God over all, then what does that mean about Jesus? Who is he? We're going to take the next few sessions to explore what the bible teaches about Jesus. Today our focus is on his primary title--Messiah. In addition we'll briefly look at John 8.58 and whether or not Jesus claimed to be "The Great I AM."

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQbyTyKpuJc&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV0lS6ELFoLnZovP0NKxqTGG&index=5

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea“
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-5.png 415 One God 5: Jesus, God’s Messiah false no 39:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/10/21/414-one-god-4-yahweh-the-god-of-jesus/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:53:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6288 This is part 4 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Today we enter the New Testament and ask the question, “What did Jesus believe about God?” After all, whatever Jesus said on the matter is primary for us as Christ-followers, right? As it turns out, Jesus not only believed the Shema, but strongly endorsed it as his core understanding of what’s most important! Furthermore, he repeatedly spoke of the Father as “my God.”  We’ll also engage with the ideas of “compound unity” as well as “splitting the Shema.”

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea“
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-4.png 414 One God 4: Yahweh, the God of Jesus false no 41:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/10/14/413-one-god-3-yahweh-versus-the-idols/ Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:57:16 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6270 This is part 3 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Yahweh is particularly sensitive about fidelity.  He wants his people to be solely devoted to him; he’s not content to share them with other gods. Century after century, when Israel strayed from him, Yahweh sent prophets to confront his people.  Eventually, he could not abide their treachery and he took drastic measures, removing them from the land. We’ll cover this tragic history and how God cured his people from their idolatry addiction.  Lastly, we’ll cover Isaiah 7.14 and 9.6–two texts that some allege teach that a coming child would be God.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” and “The Trinity before Nicea“
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-3.png 413 One God 3: Yahweh Versus the Idols false no 41:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/10/07/412-one-god-2-yahweh-our-god-yahweh-is-one/ Fri, 08 Oct 2021 02:55:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6213 This is part 2 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    This class is all about who God is. That Yahweh is our God and that Yahweh is one are truths we must take to heart if we want to think biblically about God. Today we'll continue our march through the Hebrew Bible, stopping to see how God reveals himself through his ten commandments, the golden calf incident, and the Shema creed. Although the Shema teaches that "Yahweh is one," some have interpreted the Hebrew word "echad" (translated "one") to mean "compound unity." Fortunately, we can easily dispel this misunderstanding by consulting a standard Hebrew lexicon (HALOT). Not only will this episode introduce you to the Shema, but you'll also learn about the remarkable Jewish legacy of integrating this creed into their daily lives.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/heWcstW7oeI

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including "Five Major Problems with the Trinity" and "The Trinity before Nicea"
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-2.png 412 One God 2: Yahweh Our God, Yahweh Is One false no 36:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/10/01/411-one-god-1-yahweh-the-supreme-creator/ Fri, 01 Oct 2021 11:30:26 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6199 Today we are starting a brand new class called "One God Over All!"  My plan is to work through scripture to build a biblical theology of the one true God and his Son, Jesus the Messiah. This class will cover both texts supporting God's exclusive oneness as well as misunderstood verses that seem to teach otherwise.  Additionally, we will briefly explore how Christian theology developed from the New Testament period to the Trinity's full articulation at the Council of Constantinople in a.d. 381.

                                                                                                    This is part 1 of the One God Over All class.

                                                                                                    Who is God?  Let's begin in the beginning with Genesis 1.1. We encounter the word elohim and ask ourselves, "What does this word mean?" and "Why is it plural?"  Even more to the point, was this what ancient readers would have fixated upon?  In this first class session you'll learn all about the word elohim, what God's name is, and how singular and plural pronouns tell us how many God is.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/tSO106waGnA

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More one God resources and posts available here, including "Five Major Problems with the Trinity" and "The Trinity before Nicea"
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    • Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here.
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-God-Over-All-1.png 411 One God 1: Yahweh, the Supreme Creator false no 37:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/09/23/410-thomas-emlyn-and-the-unitarian-christian-alliance-conference-dale-tuggy/ Thu, 23 Sep 2021 18:10:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6197 Have you heard about the upcoming Unitarian Christian Alliance conference (or as I like to call it, UCA-con)?  It's going to happen next month from October 15-17.  My guest today is Dr. Dale Tuggy, the chairman of the board of the UCA.  Listen in as he discusses what's on the docket for our inaugural UCA conference as well as a teaser for what he will be saying about John 1 in his presentation.  (By the way, if any of you Restitutio listeners make it to the conference, stop by and say "hello" and get your free Restitutio sticker while supplies last.)  We also spend some time talking about the newest UCA publication, a reprint of an interesting book by Thomas Emlyn from the year 1702.  Dale Tuggy and Kegan Chandler worked hard to modernize the old English, provide lots of helpful footnotes, and include an excellent introduction.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/lFPjQDRfG3g

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Get more information about registering for the UCA Conference (October 15-17, 2021) held near Nashville, TN
                                                                                                    • Get the Thomas Emlyn book at Theophilus Press
                                                                                                    • Watch Tuggy's latest talk, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" on YouTube
                                                                                                    • Check out these other Restitutio episodes with Dale Tuggy
                                                                                                    • Follow Tuggy at his Trinities website, on Twitter @DaleTuggy, on Instagram @hermanootics, and on TikTok @Dale_Tuggy
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/vlcsnap-2021-09-23-13h30m44s425.png 410 Thomas Emlyn and the Unitarian Christian Alliance Conference (Dale Tuggy) false no 50:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/09/16/409-serving-god-as-a-single-person-matthew-elton/ Thu, 16 Sep 2021 17:04:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6165 When was the last time you heard a sermon about singleness?  Married people have lots of sermons, classes, books, and conferences dedicated to them, but singles are largely ignored.  Today, Matthew Elton, himself a single millennial, shares what Jesus and Paul have to teach us about the incredible advantages of singleness for God's people.  Far from second class citizens, singles have much to offer the body of Christ.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZqXEJw4u7Y

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Check out podcast 154 Spiritual Friendship: Celibacy as a Call to Love by Wesley Hill
                                                                                                    • More podcasts and posts on singleness
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Matthew-Elton-1-e1631812122516.jpg 409 Serving God as a Single Person (Matthew Elton) false no 51:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/09/09/408-christ-before-creeds-book-jeff-deuble/ Thu, 09 Sep 2021 22:03:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6107 Nearly a year ago, I interviewed Pastor Jeff Deuble from Sydney, Australia about his journey of discovering the genuine Jesus of the first century.  At the close of that interview, he mentioned that he had written a book that makes a case for his understanding of the biblical Christ.  Well, I’m happy to say that this book is now available, published by Living Hope International Ministries.  In what follows, I ask Deuble about the content, purpose, and tone of the book.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Get your copy of Christ before Creeds on Amazon (USA) or Amazon (Australia) today!
                                                                                                    • Here’s the previous interview with Jeff Deuble from November 2020
                                                                                                    • Also see the interview I did with his brother, Greg Deuble, back in December of 2018, called They Never Told Me This in Church
                                                                                                    • More podcasts and posts covering biblical monotheism here
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Christ-Before-Creeds-Wide-e1631219613481.jpg 408 Christ before Creeds Book (Jeff Deuble) false no 46:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/09/02/407-reaching-lgbt-people-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:25:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6166 How should those of us committed to a biblical sexual ethic treat those who are same-sex attracted or who identify as the opposite sex?  In our polarized world, it seems like only two options are available to us: (1) we accept, approve, and celebrate LGBT+ lifestyles or (2) we deny, denigrate, and dismiss them.  Either we reject scripture or reject love.  Surely, there must be a better way.  Can we show love without compromising our morals?  In this episode, we’ll take a look at what the bible says about sexual ethics before asking how we can be like Jesus in loving outsiders without betraying our own code of ethics.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • For a very helpful book on transgenderism, see Preston Sprinkle’s Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say. This is the book that contained the story of Leslie that I quoted from in this message.
                                                                                                    • Check out these other podcasts and posts about same-sex attraction
                                                                                                    • Listen to Becket Cook’s interview “A Change of Affection” where he describes his own walk as a Christ-follower with same-sex attraction
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/reaching-lgbt-people.jpg 407 Reaching LGBT+ People (Sean Finnegan) false no 51:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/08/26/406-difficult-texts-for-annihilationism-warren-prestidge/ Fri, 27 Aug 2021 00:17:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6013 series on conditional immortality with Warren Prestidge.    Although most Christians today believe hell is a place where the dammed suffer eternal conscious torment, the bible teaches that the lost will perish.  For example, the most famous verse in the bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life" (John 3.16).  Did you see the two options there?  On the one hand, those who believe will have eternal life.  On the other, those who do not believe will perish.  Now, considering that eternal life contrasts with perishing, we shouldn't envisage perishing as also having eternal life, but of a much less pleasant variety.   But, if this "annihilationist" perspective is true, then what do you do with the handful of texts that seem to imply that the lost suffer continuous and unending torture?  My guest today, once again, is Baptist pastor Warren Prestidge of Auckland, NZ.  He will help us work through a few key texts to make sense of everything, including Matthew 25.41, 46; Mark 9.47-48; Revelation 14.11 and 20.10; and Luke 16.19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus).  What you'll see is how Prestidge's careful reading explains what these verses really mean in their context without reading in medieval assumptions about infernos and torture chambers.   Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts  

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Order Prestidge's book: Life, Death, and Destiny (paperback on Amazon, ebook on Lulu, or pdf on Afterlife.co.nz)
                                                                                                    • Many more resources available at The Conditional Immortality Association of New Zealand
                                                                                                    • More episodes about annihilationism
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Slide3.png 406 Difficult Texts for Annihilationism? (Warren Prestidge) false no 1:03:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/08/19/405-difficult-texts-about-the-intermediate-state-warren-prestige/ Thu, 19 Aug 2021 23:00:41 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6011 Spotify or Apple Podcasts     —— Books —— Freeman Barton, Heaven, Hell, and Hades Warren Prestidge, Life Death and Destiny George Carry, I Believe in Man Oscar Cullman, Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection Murray Harris, Raised Immortal Joel Green, What about the Soul Paul Elthouse, The Theology of Martin Luther "Eschatology" in New Bible Dictionary

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Order Prestidge's book: Life, Death, and Destiny (paperback on Amazon, ebook on Lulu, or pdf on Afterlife.co.nz)
                                                                                                    • Many more resources available at The Conditional Immortality Association of New Zealand
                                                                                                    • More episodes about conditional immortality
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Slide2.png 405 Difficult Texts about the Intermediate State (Warren Prestige) false no 46:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/08/12/404-what-is-conditional-immortality-warren-prestige/ Fri, 13 Aug 2021 03:01:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6004 Life, Death and Destiny, which both lays out a biblical case for the sleep of the dead and offers solid explanations for confusing texts.   Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts     —— Links ——
                                                                                                    • Order Prestidge's book: Life, Death, and Destiny (paperback on Amazon, ebook on Lulu, or pdf on Afterlife.co.nz)
                                                                                                    • Many more resources available at The Conditional Immortality Association of New Zealand
                                                                                                    • More episodes about conditional immortality
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Slide1.png 404 What Is Conditional Immortality? (Warren Prestige) false no 49:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/08/06/403-why-christianity-16-changed-lives-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 06 Aug 2021 15:04:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6095 This is the last episode of our class, Why Christianity.  We've covered so many different reasons why Christianity is attractive, makes sense, and is worthy of our attention.  We've looked at scientific, logical, epistemological, social, psychological, and historical reasons for God's existence, Christ's resurrection, and the gospel's effectiveness.  Today, we consider three stories of changed lives.  The proof, they say, is in the pudding.  Can Christianity deliver healing, forgiveness, and purpose for real people in our world today?  What about people who are deeply entrenched in atheism, partying, or gay activism? 

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 16 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/iCxsuTKrKB4

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    God Has Power to Change Lives- Titus 3:3-7- sometimes our faith is too little- we are too easily intimidated

                                                                                                    Lee Strobel- 1 Peter 3:1-2- 1 Corinthians 7:13-16 - Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus- both a book and a movie

                                                                                                    Brian Welch- lead guitarist for Korn- Matthew 11:28-30- Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story

                                                                                                    David Bennett- A War of Loves: The Unexpected Story of a Gay Activist Discovering Jesus- David recounts his dramatic story, from his early years exploring new age religions and French existentialism to his university experiences as an activist. Following supernatural encounters with God, he embarked on a journey not only of seeking to reconcile his faith and sexuality but also of discovering the higher call of Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/16-Why-Christianity.png 403 Why Christianity 16: Changed Lives (Sean Finnegan) false no 41:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/07/29/402-why-christianity-15-jesus-the-revolutionary-daniel-fitzsimmons/ Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:00:41 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6075 Although many throughout the Western world are quick to criticize Christianity, Jesus remains well-liked.  In fact, one of the most obvious answers to the question, “Why Christianity?” is “Jesus.”  To this day, reading the Gospels  draws the reader to Jesus’ magnetic and compelling way of life.  What’s more, the less satisfied we are with our own society, the more we find ourselves drawn to counter-cultural forces.  Jesus of Nazareth is just such a person.  He spoke truth to power and challenged the religious status quo of his own day.  He remains counter-cultural, and this just may be a strong reason for unbelievers to consider him today.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 15 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • More with Daniel Fitzsimmons
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    • Countercultural forces and revolutions appeal to people because they’re different than what has been done or experienced before.

                                                                                                    • Rejection by the established political and cultural norms can greatly heighten that appeal.

                                                                                                    • True countercultural forces/revolution substantially affect culture going forward.

                                                                                                    • Countercultural forces are often co-opted, first through mainstream acceptance, then by assimilation and appropriation.

                                                                                                    • Jesus Christ’s ministry was revolutionary and counter-cultural, as evidenced by his radical message, rejection and ultimate execution by those in power.

                                                                                                    • We are to live as examples of Jesus to a desperate and dying world, presenting the message of the gospel as the true alternative to other life-defining – yet ultimately empty – belief systems.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/15-Why-Christianity.png 402 Why Christianity 15: Jesus the Revolutionary (Daniel Fitzsimmons) false no 23:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/07/22/401-why-christianity-14-hypocrisy-and-community-daniel-fitzsimmons/ Thu, 22 Jul 2021 19:00:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6063 Community is so important.  As so many continue to struggle with the ache of loneliness, anxiety about social encounters, and the gnawing pain of depression, we who belong to Christian communities have a huge opportunity and obligation to invite outsiders in, provide them a taste of God’s goodness, and welcome them with a spirit of genuine hospitality.  However, as soon as you begin reaching out to friends, coworkers, and neighbors, you may encounter a flurry of criticisms about Christianity.  “What about the crusades and the Spanish inquisition?” they may ask.  Or perhaps they’ll ask about pedophilia among priests or greedy mega pastors with private jets and multi-million dollar houses.  What can you say when these issues come up?  In this episode Daniel Fitzsimmons shares a about answering charges of hypocrisy as well as what authentic Christian community looks like.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 14 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • More with Daniel Fitzsimmons
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    • Evil that is perpetrated by so-called Christians or in the name of Christianity is a reality that must be acknowledged and addressed.

                                                                                                    • God hates hypocrisy (1 John 4:20; James 1:22-25; 1 John 2:1-6)

                                                                                                    • There are many examples, both ancient and recent, of Christ-followers embodying his teachings of radical love, self-sacrifice, service and forgiveness.

                                                                                                    • The best example of what a Christian community looks like should be the one you set within your own community. People who are skeptical about the Christian faith will be persuaded more by how you treat those around you and in your church community than by rote recitation of the gospel message alone.

                                                                                                    • There are copious opportunities to live out Christ’s teachings within your church and community.

                                                                                                    • The defining characteristic of an authentic Christian community is love.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/14-Why-Christianity.png 401 Why Christianity 14: Hypocrisy and Community (Daniel Fitzsimmons) false no 34:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/07/15/400-why-christianity-13-the-heart-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:36:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6060 What is the proper role of your emotions?  Should you trust them?  How do you know when they are helping and when they are hurting?  Today we'll take a look at another exciting advantage that Christianity provides.  In this episode, you'll learn about the problems endemic to emotional reasoning, the robust biblical teaching about your heart, and how God provides us away to exercise self-control.  Even if these are not new concepts, I believe they provide fresh insights in our emotionally fraught time while helping us to lead better lives.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 13 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/M_6CuLEOTsM

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More information about KingdomFest (Sep 24-26, 2021)
                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Cognitive Distortions----------------------- Emotional Reasoning- Catastrophizing- Overgeneralization- Dichotomous Thinking- Mind Reading- Labeling- Negative Filtering- Discounting Positives- Blaming

                                                                                                    Biblical View of the Heart---------------------------- The problem is worse than you think (Jeremiah 17.9; Mark 7.21-23)- We are the problem- Yet, God has provided a comprehensive solution both now and in the age to come

                                                                                                    Good News-----------1. New Birth- admit you are lost, believe in Christ’s death for you, accept God’s gift of salvation, repent, enter into covenant- he’ll give you a new heart (Ps. 51.1-2, 10)- regeneration via the spirit (Titus 3.3-7)

                                                                                                    2. Sanctification- enkrateia ἐγκράτεια = “restraint of one’s emotions, impulses or desires, self-control” (BDAG); Proverbs 16.32; 12.16- God will help us through his spirit- (Proverbs 3.5-6; Galatians 5.16-23)- Jesus is our example (1 Peter 2.21-23)- ultimately we will benefit from a heart transplant (Ezekiel 36.24-28)

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13-Why-Christianity.png 400 Why Christianity 13: The Heart (Sean Finnegan) false no 36:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/07/08/399-why-christianity-12-inclusiveness-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:32:09 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6044 One of the most enduring problems we have faced throughout human history is tribalism.  From the Nazis to the Rwandan genocide, we’ve repeatedly seen the devastating results of group think and dehumanizing outsiders.  Although some Christian groups have tragically fallen into this sin, we don’t have to.  Christianity provides a better way.  We can draw upon our roots in scripture to live out a faith that recognizes insiders from outsiders while simultaneously inviting outsiders to become insiders.  Rather than excluding and shunning those who are different, we are called to love them and invite them in.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 12 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Racial Inclusion —————– – glimpses in the Old Testament. Jethro, Rahab, Ruth, Jonah – Philip in Samaria – Philip with Ethiopian treasurer – Peter with Cornelius the Roman soldier – Antioch (Acts 11.19-26) – Barnabas and Paul’s missionary journey – the Jerusalem council – Paul’s 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys – see also Eph 2.11-16 and Rev 5.9-10

                                                                                                    Gender Inclusion —————– – in a.d. 177, Celsus criticized Christianity, “It is only foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of perception, and slaves, and women, and children, of whom the teachers of the divine word wish to make converts” (Origen, Contra Celsum 49) – Galatians 3.27-29

                                                                                                    How to Treat Outsiders ———————– – love your neighbor as yourself – love your enemies – 1 Peter 2.11-15; 3.14-16; 4.12-16 – listen and be humble (Acts 17.11) – invite them to follow Christ (Luke 9.23-24) – if ANYONE will put Jesus first…then she or he is welcome to follow him – once God and his son begin to live in someone through the spirit, they will change him/her (sanctification)

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/12-Why-Christianity.png 399 Why Christianity 12: Inclusiveness (Sean Finnegan) false no 35:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/07/01/398-why-christianity-11-christian-identity-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:29:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6032 Who are you and why does your life matter?  These two piercing questions get to the heart of your identity.  Our society in the West has increasingly embraced an internally discovered identity on the basis of individual passions.  Such expressive individualism is exciting to live out, especially if those around you push back, however, the resulting identity is both fragile and abrasive.  In contrast, the Christian identity begins with a surrender and an acceptance of who God says you are.  This received identity is both more durable and more loving.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 11 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEEoHr42eGk

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Identity--------Sense of self—who are you and your understanding of yourself in relation to your family, friends, society, and the world.

                                                                                                    Sense of worth—your assessment of your personal value in life.

                                                                                                    Individualism--------------Expressive Individualism—a desire to pursue one’s own path but also a yearning for fulfillment through the definition and articulation of one’s own identity. It is a drive both to be more like whatever you already are and also to live in society by fully asserting who you are.

                                                                                                    • You be you; Be true to yourself• Follow your heart; Find yourself

                                                                                                    Christian Identity------------------Not outward or inward, but upward.

                                                                                                    Grounded in the immutability, the unconditional love, and the faithfulness of God.

                                                                                                    A secure sense of worth and value that is not dependent upon anything but God alone.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/11-Why-Christianity.png 398 Why Christianity 11: Christian Identity (Jerry Wierwille) false no 25:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/06/24/397-why-christianity-10-suffering-and-evil-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:31:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6020 Let's face it, suffering is a major problem for those of us who believe in a good and powerful God.  How do you answer skeptics who challenge your belief in God because of the gratuitous suffering endemic in human history?  In this episode we'll explore some answers to this question offered by several worldviews before looking at how the Christian metanarrative offers hope.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 10 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/Lu-TyjXB-Nc

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More podcasts about suffering and evil
                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Suffering---------Natural Evil—suffering that is caused by impersonal agents (e.g., hurricanes, famine, fires, illness, etc).

                                                                                                    Moral Evil—suffering that is caused by personal agents (e.g., murder, rape, torture, theft, slander, etc).

                                                                                                    The BIG Questions1) Why me?2) Where’s God?3) What does it mean?

                                                                                                    How do the 3 major categories of metanarrative answer these questions?

                                                                                                    Tri-Lemma----------• Is evil, evil?• Is God all good?• Is God all powerful?• Evil exists• God is omnibenevolent• God is omnipotent

                                                                                                    Critics: “Which of these do YOU deny?”

                                                                                                    Response: “How are they all true?”

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/10-Why-Christianity.png 397 Why Christianity 10: Suffering and Evil (Jerry Wierwille) false no 35:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/06/18/396-why-christianity-9-christian-freedom-and-morality-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:13:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=6015 Freedom and morality are two interrelated concepts that everyone has an opinion about. From a Christian perspective, we limit our freedom based on our received moral code. We believe that the restrictions the bible provides us are for our good; They are not the result of a capricious deity's arbitrary or stifling whims. In fact, we believe that the limits God places on our freedom lead to the best human flourishing available in our fallen world. After thinking through Christian freedom, we'll delve into the much more important question of moral motivation. Most people believe in right and wrong, but many of us lack the drive to chose the good over the convenient or self-serving course of action. In this episode we'll survey some of the popular moral systems out there, including classic systems such as virtue ethics, categorical imperatives, and utilitarianism as well as religious systems, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Although we'll only scratch the surface, I hope you will find this approach useful when conversing with people who call into question your Christian moral commitments.

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 9 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D8wiyxxJOw

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More podcasts about Christian ethics
                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Jesus Explains Morality------------------------Mark 12:29-3129 Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

                                                                                                    5 Biblical Reasons To Do the Right Thing----------------------------------------1. fear of God (Deuteronomy 6:1-2)2. duty (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Luke 17:10)3. personal/communal benefits/detriments (Psalm 7:14-16; Galatians 6:7-8)4. love (1 John 4:9-11)5. prophetic witness (1 Corinthians 6:1-3)

                                                                                                    Other Worldviews-----------------1. Atheisma. Virtue Ethicsb. Deontological Ethicsc. Teleological Ethics

                                                                                                    2. Hinduisma. karma, rebirth

                                                                                                    3. Buddhisma. life is suffering, eliminate desires

                                                                                                    4. Islama. five pillarsb. Yawm al-Qiyamah

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/9-Why-Christianity.png 396 Why Christianity 9: Christian Freedom and Morality (Sean Finnegan) false no 35:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/06/10/395-why-christianity-8-metanarrative-2-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 11 Jun 2021 01:37:05 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5999 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 8 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    Last time we delved into the first two components of scripture's overarching story line: creation and fall.  These two explain where the world came from and what went wrong with it.  Today we'll consider the last two components: redemption and restoration.  These two tell us what God has done about the problems of our world already and what he yet plans to do in the future.  Taken together, these four elements of the Christian metanarrative provide a robust explanation that not only makes sense of the human experience, but also gives us purpose and hope.

                                                                                                    https://youtu.be/HxVEkcyeuAQ

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More podcasts with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Redemption-----------Redemption – Greek apolutrōsis, meaning “to release,” connoting the deliverance effected through the death of Christ from the retributive wrath of God and the merited penalty of sin.

                                                                                                    Eph 1:17—“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of his grace”

                                                                                                    Rom 8:24—“Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?”

                                                                                                    Restoration-----------Restoration – Greek apokatastasis, meaning “to return to a previous good state,” connoting the restoring of what was once good but has since been altered.

                                                                                                    Acts 3:21—“Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord's presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Jesus. He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.”

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/8-Why-Christianity.png 395 Why Christianity 8: Metanarrative 2 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 29:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/06/03/394-why-christianity-7-metanarrative-1-daniel-fitzsimmons/ Thu, 03 Jun 2021 16:01:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5972 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 7 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    So far in this class we have stuck to classic apologetics topics like reasons for God’s existence, the historicity of the resurrection, and the rationality of Christian epistemology.  Now we are going to shift gears and do some work on worldview.  One of the reasons Christianity appeals to someone is how it “works.”  In other words, from inside a Christian worldview life makes sense.  We understand where the world came from, how it got corrupted, what God has already done to remedy the situation, and what he still plans to do in the future.  This four stage metanarrative provides us with a framework to understand not only history, but also our place in the world.  Today we’ll focus on just the first half of the biblical metanarrative (creation and fall) and next time we’ll cover the second half (redemption and restoration).

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More podcasts with Daniel Fitzsimmons
                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    What Are Metanarratives? ————————- An overarching story or storyline that gives context, meaning, and purpose to all of life; a worldview

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    Examples of metanarratives, or the “-isms” —————————————— • Marxism, capitalism, nihilism, atheism, agnosticism, enlightenment & scientism • Religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc…

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    Why are metanarratives useful? —————————— • Give structure to our existence • Give meaning and purpose to our lives • Help explain why things are the way they are, provide a lens through which to view and interpret the world • Metanarratives are comforting and allow us to think about other things besides the ostensible mystery of our existence

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    What is the Christian metanarrative? ————————————- • God created the world and all that is within it • God’s original design was that we be together in paradise, living in harmony with Him, the land and the animals • Through original sin – the fall – both man and earth became corrupted • The consequences of sin endure to this day and created the need for redemption

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/7-Why-Christianity.png 394 Why Christianity 7: Metanarrative 1 (Daniel Fitzsimmons) false no 31:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/05/28/393-why-christianity-6-the-the-origin-and-authority-of-the-bible-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 28 May 2021 17:08:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5970 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 6 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    The Bible is such a strange thing. On the one hand, it looks like a big book, on the other hand, it’s a library of books. It’s loaded with very different kinds of literature from poetry and wisdom to history and prophecy. Dozens of people were involved in it’s production over centuries…and most important of all, it claims that the creator God inspired it all! In this presentation, Jerry Wierwille briefly covers what the Bible is, how Christians decided which books belong in it, how we transmitted it over the eons, and why other collections of books like the Apocrypha, Psuedepigrapha, and Gnostic Gospels didn’t pass muster.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    How We Got the Bible ——————— Bible – from Greek biblia, meaning “books,” and then from the Latin biblia, meaning “book.” The Bible refers to the collection of sacred writings of the Christian Faith.

                                                                                                    Canon – from Greek kanōn, meaning “a rule or standard.” A canon refers to an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture.

                                                                                                    Criteria for Canonicity 1) Apostolicity 2) Orthodoxy 3) Catholicity

                                                                                                    Inspiration – from Greek theopneustos, meaning “God-breathed.” It refers to the origin and character of a writing as being authored by and produced according to God’s will.

                                                                                                    Supposed “Lost Books” of the Bible ———————————– Apocrypha – from Greek apokryphos meaning “hidden, concealed, obscure.” It refers to a body of writings that are considered noncanonical.

                                                                                                    Pseudepigrapha – writings with anonymous authorship that are falsely attributed to other individuals.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/6-Why-Christianity.png 393 Why Christianity 6: The Origin and Authority of the Bible (Jerry Wierwille) false no 39:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/05/20/392-why-christianity-5-the-resurrection-of-jesus-happened-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 20 May 2021 20:21:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5946  

                                                                                                    Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 5 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    How would you go about convincing someone that the resurrection of Jesus actually happened?  Now, what if that person didn't recognize the scriptures as inspired by God.  How would you go about making a case for Jesus' resurrection in that kind of scenario?  In this presentation, you learn four key pieces of historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, including (1) the honorable burial, (2) the empty tomb, (3) appearances, and (4) resurrection belief.  You'll also become familiar with competing theories and how to respond to them.

                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uax_VwrUS94

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here or designate Restitutio as your charity of choice for Amazon purchases
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Honorable Burial-----------------1. multiple, early, independent sources say he was buried in a known marked tomb (1 Cor. 15.4, Mark 15.46, John 19.42) 2. Joseph of Arimathea is unlikely to be a Christian invention since he is not one of the disciples, but a member of the Sanhedrin, the very body that condemned Jesus3. no competing burial story exists (even enemies never claimed a common grave or that Joseph’s grave was inaccurate)

                                                                                                    Empty Tomb-----------1. several independent sources attest to empty tomb (Mark 16.6, Luke 24.5/Acts 13.29-31, John 20.2)2. a movement founded on Jesus’ resurrection could not get far if his body was still in a known tomb…otherwise early opponents could just bring Jesus’ corpse out disproving resurrection3. that women first discovered the empty tomb is unlikely a Christian invention since Josephus tells us women weren’t even allowed to serve as legal witnesses in a court of law4. the Gospels lack marks of legendary development and theologizing in the resurrection narratives (cp. to Gospel of Peter)5. the earliest Jewish polemic, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep” (Matthew 28.13) presupposes an empty tomb

                                                                                                    Appearances-----------1. the early creed of 1 Cor. 15.3-7 contains a list of eyewitnesses2. the Gospel appearance narratives contain earmarks of eyewitness testimony and their divergences exclude the possibility of collusion3. that the disciples failed to anticipate or believe in Jesus’ resurrection even after they found out about the empty tomb is unlikely to be a Christian invention4. James & Paul both did not believe in Jesus as Messiah, but became leaders in the church after they claimed they saw him

                                                                                                    Resurrection Belief--------------------1. belief that God raised Jesus from the d]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/5-Why-Christianity.png 392 Why Christianity 5: The Resurrection of Jesus Happened (Sean Finnegan) false no 41:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/05/14/391-why-christianity-4-believing-in-god-is-not-stupid-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 14 May 2021 16:32:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5937 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 4 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    Is Christianity irrational?  Is believing in God intellectually vacuous?  Jerry Wierwille will address the criticism of skeptics that Christian belief is arrogant, unjustified, and irrational.  Next, he'll describe the popular secular belief in scientism before exposing its deleterious effects.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Arrogant, Unjustified, & Irrational?-------------------------------------Justified – a belief is justified if after careful reflection and investigation of a matter, including objections and counter-arguments, it is still found to be strongly compelling.Rational – a belief is rational if it is produced by cognitive faculties that are functioning properly and successfully aimed at discovering what is true.Warrant – a belief is warranted if it is produced by cognitive faculties that are functioning properly in an appropriate framework of knowledge according to a design plan successfully aimed at discovering what is true.Science & Scientism---------------------Science – the investigation and study of the structure and behavior of the physical world through observation and experimentation.Scientism – the belief that science alone has the intellectual authority to give us knowledge of reality.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4-Why-Christianity.png 391 Why Christianity 4: Believing in God Is Not Stupid (Jerry Wierwille) false no 39:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/05/07/390-why-christianity-3-god-is-real-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 07 May 2021 19:28:29 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5899 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 3 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    How do you know God is real?  What sorts of evidence would you marshal to make a case for God’s existence?  It won’t do to tell skeptics you believe in God because you’ve always believed in him, because you were raised to believe in him, or because the Bible says so.  In this episode you’ll learn six main lines of evidence for God’s existence to equip you to have meaningful conversations with your secular friends, coworkers, and relatives.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Objective: to provide six reasons to believe in God and marvel at that God’s attributes.

                                                                                                    1 The Beginning of the Universe ——————————– 1. everything that has a beginning has cause of its beginning 2. the universe has a beginning 3. therefore, the universe has an external cause of its beginning

                                                                                                    2 Fine-Tuning for Life ———————– 1. our universe is finely-tuned for the existence of complex life 2. fine-tuning is not the result of physical laws 3. therefore, a super-natural fine-tuner exists

                                                                                                    3 DNA Code ———– 1. all languages come from a mind not natural processes 2. DNA is a language 3. all biological life requires DNA to exist 4. therefore, a non-biological DNA designer exists

                                                                                                    4 Moral Absolutes —————– 1. moral absolutes exist (i.e. torturing children for the fun of it is always wrong) 2. nature, society, and individuals do not supply moral absolutes 3. therefore, a supernatural source for moral absolutes exists

                                                                                                    5 Miracles ———- 1. miracles are events in which the laws of nature are interrupted by an agent outside of the natural realm 2. documented miracles have happened 3. therefore, a miracle causer exists

                                                                                                    6 Personal Experience ———————- 1. I’ve experienced God 2. therefore, God exists

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-Why-Christianity.png 390 Why Christianity 3: God Is Real (Sean Finnegan) false no 51:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/04/29/389-why-christianity-2-lay-of-the-land-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 29 Apr 2021 19:40:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5916 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                    This is part 2 of the Why Christianity class.

                                                                                                    It’s so easy to universalize our own local context.  For example, I (Sean) live in a secular, post-Catholic part of New York state.  It would be easy for me to think that most of the state or country or world is just like my area.  However, this ethnocentric perspective will not do justice to the data we have about Christians in the world today.  Sociologists have long held to the “secularization thesis”–the idea that world religions die out as societies improved education, technology, and health-care.  Is this what we see happening globally?  Join me in this episode as we explore the data from a number of sources to get a lay of the land.  How popular is Christianity today?

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See other episodes of Why Christianity
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Objective: to understand the local and global religious landscapes in light of Christianity’s popularity and its claims about Christ’s universal supremacy.

                                                                                                    Secularization Thesis

                                                                                                    “The seminal social thinkers of the nineteenth century—Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud—all believed that religion would gradually fade in importance and cease to be significant with the advent of industrial society.” -Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart, Sacred and Secular, p. 3.

                                                                                                    Future Projections

                                                                                                    Religion, especially Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, is expected to either keep pace with population growth or surpass it while non-religious ideologies are predicted to fall 3% by 2050.

                                                                                                    Universal Claims about Christ

                                                                                                    Scriptures that make big claims about Christ’s cosmic importance: – Colossians 1:19​-20; 2:1-3 – Ephesians 1:9-10 – Philippians 2:9-11

                                                                                                    Christianity’s geographic distribution testifies to its transnational, transracial, transcultural appeal.

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-Why-Christianity.png 389 Why Christianity 2: Lay of the Land (Sean Finnegan) false no 34:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/04/22/388-why-christianity-1-introduction-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:41:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5856 Spotify or Apple Podcasts This is part 1 of the Why Christianity class. In a culture where biblical Christianity is falling more and more out of fashion, it’s increasingly important to have confidence in your faith. Today we are beginning a class called Why Christianity, in which we will lay out a few of the ways that our faith makes sense and works best. In this first session, Jerry Wierwille will introduce our class premise, describe the cultural tension, and speak on the value of taking this class. Although this is an apologetics class, it is significantly different from the previous class we aired starting with Podcast 50 (back in 2016) though there will be some overlap. Our end goal for this class is that it would build your confidence and encourage you to share your faith with others. —— Links ——
                                                                                                    • More episodes about defending your faith here
                                                                                                    • Check out these other podcasts with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                    • For more about Wierwille, see his site: JerryWierwille.com
                                                                                                    • Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    —— Notes —— Class Premise Worldview: A worldview is a set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of reality that ground and influence all of a person’s perceptions, thoughts, knowledge, and behavior. Correspondence Theory of Truth: The view that what is “true” is that which corresponds to, or with, reality (i.e., “what is”). Worldviews are not equal, e.g., religion, science, philosophy Cultural Tension Cultural Polarization: The differences in how people think, especially when two views emerge that drive people apart. Religious Privatization: When people no longer feel comfortable or accepted to discuss or express religious attitudes or behaviors in public. Purpose and Value of This Class Gain a better understanding of the coherence and validity of the Christian worldview. Become more confident and bolder about your faith and the reasons why Christianity is awesome.]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Why-Christianity.png 388 Why Christianity 1: Introduction (Jerry Wierwille) false no 34:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/04/15/387-god-is-enough-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:53:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5854 What do you do when everything is stripped away?  You find out who you really are. In this sermon you'll see what happened in ancient Judah when the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, ultimately resulting in utter destruction, humiliating shame, and forcible deportation. Although our times today can't really compare to the level of suffering these people went through, their experience has much to teach us about hope in dark times. I pray that as you consider this traumatic episode in biblical history that you too would learn to say when you go through suffering, "God is enough."

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More episodes about suffering here.
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                    —— Notes ——

                                                                                                    Jehoiachin

                                                                                                    - reigned 3 months- did evil before God- surrendered to Neb. after siege- thousands deported

                                                                                                    2Ki 24.13-14 13 He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. 14 Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.

                                                                                                    Zedekiah

                                                                                                    - reigned 11 years- did evil before God- rebelled against Babylon- city besieged again- as Babylonians swept through countryside on way to Jerusalem, - lodging would become difficult- surround city w/ army

                                                                                                    2Ki 25.1 Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it.

                                                                                                    - Jerusalem was fortunate- fuel to cook food- disease

                                                                                                    Lam 5.9-10 9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness. 10 Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.

                                                                                                    - food

                                                                                                    Lam 1.11 All her people groan seeking bread; They have given their precious things for food To restore their lives themselves. "See, O LORD, and look, For I am despised."

                                                                                                    Lam 2.11-12 11 My eyes fail because of tears, My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is poured out on the earth Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, When little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city. 12 They say to their mothers, "Where is grain and wine?" As they faint like a wounded man In the streets of the city, As their life is poured out On their mothers' bosom.

                                                                                                    - corpses- 18 months!

                                                                                                    2Ki 25.1-3 1 Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it. 2 So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

                                                                                                    Lam 4.8-10 8 Their appearance is blacker than soot, They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin is shriveled on their bones, It is withered, it has become like wood. 9 Better are those ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/God-Is-Enough2.png 387 God Is Enough (Sean Finnegan) false no 42:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/04/10/386-christian-giving-today-will-barlow/ Sat, 10 Apr 2021 22:19:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5776 This is part three of our Biblical Giving Series.

                                                                                                    In this third and final interview with Will Barlow, we'll spend some focused time looking at Malachi 3 to understand what this passage meant in it's original context and how it relates to us today.  Next we'll take a look at three myths about Christian giving:

                                                                                                    1. Christians are in debt to God. 2. Christians must pay for God’s protection. 3. The gifts of God can be purchased with money.

                                                                                                    Lastly, Barlow will share four keys to Christian giving:

                                                                                                    1. Everything that we have, from our finances to our abilities, are God’s. We are only giving back to God what we have from Him.
                                                                                                    2. When we give financially, let’s keep in mind the biblical precedent for giving: to support ministers, to support missions work, and to help the poor or those in need (especially among believers).
                                                                                                    3. As we follow Jesus and the examples of other faithful disciples in the NT, we will develop an attitude of service, which fuels the amount given.
                                                                                                    4. God works in the financial category to teach us about how to walk with Him.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                    • Check out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg)
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Slide3-1.png 386 Christian Giving Today (Will Barlow) false no 47:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/04/01/385-giving-in-the-new-testament-will-barlow/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:39:38 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5774 This is part two of our Biblical Giving Series.

                                                                                                    Today Will Barlow continues to lay out a comprehensive biblical theology of giving. First he looks at three areas of continuity between the Old and New Testaments:

                                                                                                    1. regarding ourselves as stewards of God's wealth
                                                                                                    2. giving to the poor
                                                                                                    3. giving to ministers

                                                                                                    Next, Barlow explains three ways in which the New Testament diverges from the Old Testament:

                                                                                                    1. no more sacrifices
                                                                                                    2. greater emphasis on freewill giving
                                                                                                    3. the need for wealthy believers to give liberally

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                    • Check out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg)
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Slide2-1.png 385 Giving in the New Testament (Will Barlow) false no 58:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/03/25/giving-in-the-old-testament-will-barlow/ Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:59:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5762 This is part one of our Biblical Giving Series.

                                                                                                    Having grown up with a prosperity theology, Will Barlow begins by sharing about his background regarding tithing before tackling five myths about giving:

                                                                                                    1. The tithe was monetary and applied to all Israelites.
                                                                                                    2. The tithe was the first fruits of the harvest
                                                                                                    3. The tithe was always 10%.
                                                                                                    4. The poor Israelites tithed to God.
                                                                                                    5. Abraham's tithing makes it applicable for all time.

                                                                                                    Now, I realize that finances, tithing, and giving are sensitive subjects within Christianity. Even so, I think you'll benefit a great deal from what Barlow has to share in this series. Today we'll mostly focus on the Old Testament tithe and next time we'll get into what the New Testament says about this important topic.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven Faith
                                                                                                    • Check out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg)
                                                                                                    • Here is the Myth Busters Series that Barlow mentioned
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Slide1-1.png 384 Giving in the Old Testament (Will Barlow) false no 56:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/03/18/383-coming-to-america-timypaul-lupe/ Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:01:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5721 Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timypaul Lupe came face to face with poverty, hunger, and even war. However, his relationship with God provided him with stability and strength through the hardest of times. In this interview, you'll hear about what life was like in Africa, how Timypaul came to America as a student, and how he eventually came to find his role as a passionate evangelist and caretaker for the elderly.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • To get in touch with Timypaul Lupe on facebook, twitter, instagram, or by email: timypaul@lhim.org
                                                                                                    • Find out more Living Hope International Ministries LHIM and the Congo Mission
                                                                                                    • Check out these previous episodes about evangelism
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Timypaul-Lupe2-e1616089988209.jpg 383 Coming to America (Timypaul Lupe) false no 1:07:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/03/11/382-salt-light-study-night-john-and-paola-ely/ Thu, 11 Mar 2021 22:09:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5726 Have you ever attended an online bible study? Would you like to start one, but don't know how? In our episode today, John Paola Ely share about their own journey of faith and how they have come to appreciate the interactive bible study model of fellowship. Not only does this type of meeting help attendees engage with the text of scripture, but it also fosters genuine community in an age where we are all increasingly isolated.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • For more information, email the Elys at salt.light.studynight@gmail.com or visit the Salt & Light Study Night facebook group.
                                                                                                    • Check out Jerry Wierwille's episodes, especially Paul and Covenantal Nomism
                                                                                                    • On the topic of baptism, listen to Ken LaPrade's Baptism Journey
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Salt-and-Light3-e1615501266188.png 382 Salt & Light Study Night (John and Paola Ely) false no 57:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/03/04/381-bible-fed-spirit-led-kevin-guigou/ Fri, 05 Mar 2021 01:11:41 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5760 This is part 7 and the final episode in our holy spirit series.

                                                                                                    Are you on a journey with God or have you arrived? Are you still willing to learn and grow and try new things or have you erected boundaries around your current understanding and practice? Today my guest is Kevin Guigou, a full-time minister at Christian Family Fellowship in Tipp City, Ohio. Although he came from a background that stressed rigidity when manifesting the holy spirit, he's come to enjoy a greater freedom as he has continued to grow and learnx. Not only does Guigou encourage us to remain open to God's leading, but he also shares how we shouldn't let fear of doing something wrong stop us from stepping out in faith.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Kevin Guigou at Christian Family Fellowship's website and YouTube channel
                                                                                                    • Check out a few of Guigou's audio teachings here
                                                                                                    • See the previous podcasts in this series on the holy spirit
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Holy-Spirit-7.png 381 Bible Fed, Spirit Led (Kevin Guigou) false no 1:04:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/02/25/380-test-the-spirits-carlos-jimenez/ Fri, 26 Feb 2021 02:30:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5751 This is part 6 of our holy spirit series.

                                                                                                    Today we hear a new perspective on the manifestations of the spirit from Carlos Jiménez who stakes out what he calls an "evidentialist" position. He is neither a cessationist nor a continuationist, but someone who retains a certain level of skepticism towards reports of spiritual activity. His concern is to test the spirits to make sure they are biblically valid.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • See more of Carlos Jimenez at Focus on the Kingdom website and YouTube channel
                                                                                                    • For the paper referenced in this episode, see "A Brief History of Spiritual Gifts"
                                                                                                    • See the previous podcasts in this series on the holy spirit
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Holy-Spirit-6.png 380 Test the Spirits (Carlos Jiménez) false no 57:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/02/18/379-gifts-of-the-spirit-for-the-common-good-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 19 Feb 2021 02:54:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5734 Today we enter into part 5 of our series on the holy spirit.

                                                                                                    We've seen a couple of perspectives, but my guest today is bringing in a third view to our exploration of this important topic. Growing up with the belief that tongues were the only evidence of salvation, Pastor Victor Gluckin eventually changed his view to accept more diversity in how the spirit shows up in believers' lives.

                                                                                                    Victor Gluckin attended George Washington University, the University at Albany, and the Atlanta Bible College, studying political science, history, Judaic studies, and theology. He served as the assistant pastor at Living Faith Christian Church in Warwick, RI for thirteen years before becoming the lead pastor there in 2018 (where he continues to serve). He's been an influential mentor and lifelong friend of mine, and I think you'll appreciate his candor and tone even if you see spiritual manifestations differently.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Visit Victor Gluckin's church website: Living Faith Christian Church
                                                                                                    • Subscribe to Gluckin's church's channel on YouTube
                                                                                                    • Check out these other podcast episodes, featuring Gluckin
                                                                                                    • See the previous podcasts in this series on the holy spirit
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Holy-Spirit-5.png 379 Gifts of the Spirit for the Common Good (Victor Gluckin) false no 1:01:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/02/11/378-speaking-in-tongues-discussion-2-deuble-truitt/ Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:59:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5742 This is part 4 of our holy spirit series.

                                                                                                    Today we continue to hear John Truitt and Greg Deuble discuss speaking in tongues. If you haven't listened to the previous three episodes in this series, it would be good to do that before listening to this one. Also, if you want to get the most out of this bible-heavy discussion, you should read 1 Corinthians 14 prior to listening--and maybe also keep it open while you listen. These two go deep into the chapter to discuss this issue.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More about John Truitt’s ministry: Allegiance to the King
                                                                                                    • More about Greg Deuble’s ministry: The Bible Jesus
                                                                                                    • Here’s Deuble’s article, “Testing, Testing, One, Two…Nine!“
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Slide4.png 378 Speaking in Tongues Discussion 2 (Deuble, Truitt) false no 52:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/02/04/377-speaking-in-tongues-discussion-1-truitt-deuble/ Thu, 04 Feb 2021 22:00:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5722 This is part 3 of our holy spirit series.

                                                                                                    Do you know what I don't hear enough of today? Dialogue--honest-hearted, biblically-informed, respectful dialogue. So often we silo ourselves off in echo chambers with our doctrinal comrades, occasionally lobbing malotov cocktails at the other side, never taking the time to understand them, much less ask the question, "Could I be wrong on this?"

                                                                                                    My goal here in this holy spirit series is to get various perspectives out there. We heard John Truitt a couple episodes back make the case that the gifts of the spirit are available to all Christians today while Greg Deuble explained why he believes tongues have ceased even though the other gifts remain. Today (and next week) the two of them are going to engage--not as sworn enemies, taking cheap shots at the other side, but as brothers who agree on way more than they disagree.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • More about John Truitt's ministry: Allegiance to the King
                                                                                                    • More about Greg Deuble's ministry: The Bible Jesus
                                                                                                    • Here's Deuble's article, "Testing, Testing, One, Two...Nine!"
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Slide3.png 377 Speaking in Tongues Discussion 1 (Truitt, Deuble) false no 1:01:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/01/28/376-tongues-have-ceased-greg-deuble/ Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:08:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5692 Last week John Truitt explained why he believes the gifts of the spirit are still available for Christians to experience. Today, Greg Deuble pulls on his own biblical research and personal experience to present an opposing case. What's fascinating about Deuble is that he believes in God's miraculous activity in the world today. However, he doesn't believe that speaking in tongues (glossalalia) is genuinely available anymore. Rather, based on his reading of 1 Corinthians 14.21-22, he makes the case that the purpose for tongues ceased the moment Gentiles destroyed Jerusalem, its temple, its people and dispersed them.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Check out Deuble's website: TheBibleJesus.com
                                                                                                    • Articles mentioned in this episode: My Experience with Tongues and Testing, Testing, One, Two...Nine
                                                                                                    • More podcasts with Greg Deuble
                                                                                                    • Other podcasts about speaking in tongues
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Slide2.png 376 Tongues Have Ceased (Greg Deuble) false no 56:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/01/21/375-gifts-of-the-spirit-are-available-today-john-truitt/ Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:11:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5671 Restitutio exists to restore authentic Christianity and live it out today. As a restorationist, it really does matter to me how the earliest Christians practiced their faith. A question I ask myself is if I jumped in a time machine and went back to the late first century and attended a house church meeting, would I fit in? Is what I believe about the bible what they believed? Is how I do Christianity how they did it? Or, to bring in today's topic, would tongues, interpretation, prophecy, or other holy spirit activity be part of the service?

                                                                                                    Today we are beginning a new series on the manifestations of the spirit. We'll begin with John Truitt, a founder and leader of Alegiance to the King, a ministry with a thriving virtual fellowship and lots of teaching resources. He's also a successful entrepreneur and the CEO of Kalleo Technologies an IT company based out of Paducah, Kentucky. He's going to provide evidence for the view that the gifts of the spirit are available for all Christians today. Then, next week, we'll have Greg Deuble from Australia share an opposing viewpoint. Lastly, we'll listen in as these two discuss the subject more in depth.

                                                                                                    This should be a rewarding time for all of us, whatever your current views of the spirit are. It will at least help us to understand the other side. And...who knows, you may change your mind on this subject.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Check out Truitt's ministry: Allegiance to the King
                                                                                                    • Watch past meetings of his virtual fellowship on YouTube
                                                                                                    • You may also want to hear the interview we did with Sam Storms on this same subject
                                                                                                    • More podcasts with John Truitt
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Slide1.png 375 Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today (John Truitt) false no 52:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/01/14/374-im-offended-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:03:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5697 As our society increases in polarization and ideological tribalism, it's easy to become thin-skinned, taking offense at the slightest remark. Even certain words can trigger us to explode in outrage and vitriol. What are we to do? Should we cloister ourselves in echo chambers, surrounded by those who already agree with us? Should we listen when criticisms come our way? After all, sometimes they may be right? Should we always avoid emotional pain or can insensitive remarks, ideological attacks, and harsh criticisms ultimately make us stronger? In this sermon, you'll see how God's love is a game changer that anchors your value in his opinion of you while simultaneously freeing you to engage with offensive statements by others in a healthy and productive way.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • This sermon came from Revive 2020. Listen to other sermons about anger, jealousy, anxiety, and not being good enough by a variety of speakers on this page.
                                                                                                    • You may also enjoy this teaching about Resilience on YouTube
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/offended-3.png 374 I’m Offended (Sean Finnegan) false no 52:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2021/01/07/373-postmodernism-4-cross-cultural-conversations/ Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:58:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5643 Today in our fourth and final part of our series on postmodernism Pastor Jacob Ballard explains four key guidelines for cross-cultural ministry.
                                                                                                    1. Always change the language, but never change the message
                                                                                                    2. Exchange meta-narrative for personal narrative or community narrative
                                                                                                    3. Exchange certainty for humility, clues, hints, and mysteries
                                                                                                    4. Exchange absolutist morality for personal accountability and communal action

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Jacob Ballard at the Timberland Bible Church website
                                                                                                    • Books mentioned: They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball and Who's Afraid of Postmodernism by James K. A. Smith
                                                                                                    • Check out our episode about Gender in Bible Translation
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/postmodernism.jpg 373 Postmodernism 4: Cross-Cultural Conversations false no 59:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/12/31/372-postmodernism-3-postmodernisms-effect-today/ Thu, 31 Dec 2020 16:57:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5641 Today, in part three of our series on postmodernism we ask the question, "How is postmodernism affecting our world today?" Pastor Jacob Ballard explains how narrative, experience, community, and subjective truth are key ways that postmodern-minded people go about making sense of reality. Then he shows how movements like Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights draw strength from these postmodern ways of thinking.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Jacob Ballard at the Timberland Bible Church website
                                                                                                    • check out episode 358 A Christian Perspective on BLM (Russell Brown) and 292 A Change of Affection (Becket Cook), which was recorded just after Cook lost his job for no longer agreeing with the gay lifestyle
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/postmodernism.jpg 372 Postmodernism 3: Postmodernism’s Effect Today (Jacob Ballard) false no 48:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/12/24/371-postmodernism-2-modernism-vs-postmodernism-jacob-ballard/ Thu, 24 Dec 2020 22:42:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5620 In our last episode, Pastor Jacob Ballard explained what worldviews are. Today he covers the two major worldviews: modernism and postmodernism. Although many today still approach life from a modernist mindset, postmodernism is here in increasing force. What are we as bible-believing Christians to do about this? The first step is to become aware of what's going on and how it both fits with and challenges the biblical worldview.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Jacob Ballard at the Timberland Bible Church website
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/postmodernism.jpg 371 Postmodernism 2: Modernism vs. Postmodernism (Jacob Ballard) false no 56:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/12/17/370-postmodernism-1-worldview-jacob-ballard/ Thu, 17 Dec 2020 22:17:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5618 Have you noticed the shifts happening all around us in our culture? Skepticism of traditional institutions from the government to the media to churches is at an all time high, while increasingly we're told to discover our authentic self and live it out courageously. Universal truth claims sound like power grabs while individual personal truths are celebrated no matter how patently false they seem. Corrosive deconstructionism has decimated traditional virtues, traditional ethics, and traditional ways of making sense of the world. The only hero that remains is the triumphant victim who boldly stands against the majority, shouting "This is who I am, you must accept me or we will take you down."

                                                                                                    Ok, so I hammed it up a little there. Not all expressions of postmodernism are so strident. Even so, what is going on?

                                                                                                    Pastor Jacob Ballard from Timberland Bible Church in Indiana will help us understand and engage with this incredible worldview shift that has occurred over the last few decades. Over the next four weeks, Ballard is going to share key insights from a class taught at the Atlanta Bible College designed to help students understand and minister to our changing society.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Find out more about Jacob Ballard at the Timberland Bible Church website
                                                                                                    • Check out Dan Kimball's They Like Jesus but Not the Church
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/postmodernism.jpg 370 Postmodernism 1: Worldview (Jacob Ballard) false no 59:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/12/11/369-civil-discourse-peter-miano/ Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:18:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5622 Have you noticed the shrill tone that permeates public discourse in our time? It seems like everyone is on a hairpin trigger ready to rage and vent at their ideological enemies. What is a Christian to do? Should we stand up for our beliefs, morals, and politics? Should we disengage from conversation about controversial issues? Is there another way? Peter Miano, my guest for today, shares how respect, courtesy, and love can navigate us through these stormy waters. After earning degrees from Boston University, Union Theological Seminary, and Harvard Divinity School and becoming an ordained United Methodist Minister, Miano founded the Society for Biblical Studies, which coordinates trips to the Holy Land and other interesting places where conflict abounds.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Learn more about Peter Miano and get in contact with him at The Society for Biblical Studies of which he is the executive director.
                                                                                                    • You may also like to read this article: "The Power of Unity in a Polarized Time"
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Peter-Miano-2.jpg 369 Civil Discourse (Peter Miano) false no 48:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/12/03/368-introducing-the-uca-podcast-mark-cain/ Fri, 04 Dec 2020 00:00:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5605 Did you know the Unitarian Christian Alliance just launched a podcast? In this interview, Mark Cain explains what he aims to do with this newest addition to one God podcasts and how the UCA podcast is different from the others. Ultimately, he wants to see unitarian Christians carry ourselves with confidence, knowing that our faith is firmly rooted in the scriptures.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Contact Mark Cain: podcast@unitarianchristianalliance.org or by calling 615-581-1158 and leaving a message
                                                                                                    • Check out the UCA podcast webpage or subscribe on Spotify
                                                                                                    • More about Cain's church: Church of the Open Bible in Bedford, OH
                                                                                                    • More about Cain's denomination: Church of God General Conference
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UCA-podcast2.png 368 Introducing the UCA Podcast (Mark Cain) false no 45:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/11/27/367-excommunicated-for-my-beliefs-sam/ Fri, 27 Nov 2020 23:20:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5597 Sam who asked me not to use his last name for fear that he will get kicked out of his current church, tells his story of navigating evangelical Christianity as a biblical unitarian. He shares two sad stories of excommunication from a college ministry and a local church. As you might suspect, this harsh treatment drove Sam to question his non-trinitarian beliefs. Even though he had every reason to abandon his unorthodox convictions, his research into bible, theology, and history strengthened his faith that the Father of Jesus is the only true God. Now he has a YouTube channel where he interviews theologians and recently he debated Chris Date on Preston Sprinkle's Theology in the Raw podcast.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Check out Sam's YouTube Channel "Transfigured"
                                                                                                    • Listen to Sam's debate against Chris Date
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/rejected.jpg 367 Excommunicated for My Beliefs (Sam) false no 54:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/11/19/366-who-was-christ-before-the-creeds-jeff-deuble/ Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:27:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5498 Pastor Jeff Deuble of the Churches of Christ in Sydney, Australia shares his journey to uncover the genuine Jesus from scripture alone. After his brother Greg challenged him to understand Christ from a Jewish perspective, Jeff set out on a quest, reading through all of scripture to see what it really said about the Messiah. What he found upended his life, bringing both delight at his clearer understanding of Christ and heartbreak over losing the church he planted and pastored for 19 years. This is his story.

                                                                                                    Here are some of the questions that caused Deuble to doubt the "traditional" understanding of Christ taught in the creeds:

                                                                                                    • How can you have a singular God who is also plural?  How can you explain three “persons”, who constitute one “being”?
                                                                                                    • How can Jesus be both “fully human” and “fully God”?  How does that work?
                                                                                                    • How can Jesus be eternal, yet “begotten” by God? 
                                                                                                    • The Bible says that “God cannot be tempted” but Jesus was tempted – in fact “in every way, just as we are” (Hebrews 4 says)
                                                                                                    • We know “God alone is immortal” and therefore unable to die (Rom 1:23; 1Tim 6:16) yet Jesus was died, and was raised to life again by the Father. 
                                                                                                    • We read that “no one has seen, or can see” God (1Tim 6:16) - that “no one has ever seen God” (Jn 1:18; 1Jn 4:12) yet Jesus was seen.
                                                                                                    • God “knows everything” (1 Jn 3:26) yet Jesus himself admitted there were things that his Father knew that he himself did not (Mt 24:36; Mk 13:32).
                                                                                                    • Why would “all authority in heaven and on earth” have to be given to him (Mt 28:18)?  Wouldn’t this already be his by virtue of him being God?
                                                                                                    • If Jesus is God, how can he have a God over him (Which Paul clearly states is the case on many occasions, especially in 1 Cor 15)

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Jeff Deuble via email: deublejeff@gmail.com
                                                                                                    • Check out the interview with Greg Deuble (Jeff's brother) They Never Told Me This in Church
                                                                                                    • More interviews with those who studied their way out of the Trinity
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jeff-Deuble.png 366 Who Was Christ before the Creeds? (Jeff Deuble) false no 1:00:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/11/12/365-challenging-soul-making-theodicy-2-brandon-duke-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:00:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5471 This is the second part of a conversation where Jerry Wierwille challenges Brandon Duke's soul-making theodicy. In particular, Wierwille raises the following questions:
                                                                                                    1. Why is hiddenness and epistemic distance considered a necessity for moral development considering the biblical examples where people experienced God and still retained their ability to make real moral choices either to obey or reject him?
                                                                                                    2. How can the four Ds (death, decay, deprivation, and damage) be considered good when scripture calls death itself God's enemy?
                                                                                                    3. Considering that evil and suffering are not 100% effective in bringing about moral development and are in some cases even deleterious to that end, how can soul-making work as a thoroughgoing theodicy?

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Brandon Duke on his website: TruthBorn
                                                                                                    • See other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Wierwille at his website
                                                                                                    • More episodes and posts about the problem of evil and suffering
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/soul-making-graphic-e1605061538675.png 365 Challenging Soul-Making Theodicy 2 (Brandon Duke, Jerry Wierwille) false no 51:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/11/05/364-challenging-soul-making-theodicy-1-brandon-duke-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 05 Nov 2020 23:00:18 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5426 In our last two episodes, Brandon Duke laid out his way of answering the question of why God allows so much suffering in our world. He did so by putting forward a modified version of the late John Hick's soul-making theodicy. In this episode, Jerry Wierwille pushes back on a few issues with soul-making, preferring instead a classic free will theodicy. First we'll see how Duke's version of soul-making differs from John Hick's then we'll examine how soul-making lines up with the four major elements of the biblical meta-narrative: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Lastly we'll discuss whether moral improvement necessitates suffering.

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Michael Murray vs. Phil Harper on Unbelievable, discussing "Animal Suffering and God"
                                                                                                    • Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on John Hick
                                                                                                    • See Sean Finnegan's atonement research, outlining seven major views Christians have taken over the centuries
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Brandon Duke on his website: TruthBorn
                                                                                                    • See other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Wierwille at his website
                                                                                                    • More episodes and posts about the problem of evil and suffering
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/soul-making-graphic-e1605061538675.png 364 Challenging Soul-Making Theodicy 1 (Brandon Duke, Jerry Wierwille) false no 52:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/10/29/363-why-god-allows-suffering-2-brandon-duke/ Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:00:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5161 In part one, Brandon Duke laid out some of the important groundwork for thinking about how a good and powerful God might have a world capable of experiencing immense amounts of evil and suffering. In our conversation today, we'll delve further into the idea of soul-making to explain why suffering like death, damage, decay, and deprivation along with the limitation of God's hiddenness are necessary conditions for a world where authentic moral decisions occur and human development becomes possible.

                                                                                                    —— Books——

                                                                                                    • God and the Problem of Evil: Five Views by Chad Meister, James Dew Jr.
                                                                                                    • Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views by Gregory Boyd, David Hunt, William Craig, Paul Helm
                                                                                                    • The Triumph of God over Evil by William Hasker
                                                                                                    • Four Views on Divine Providence by Paul Helseth, William Craig, Ron Highfield, Gregory Boyd
                                                                                                    • Divine Hiddenness: New Essays by Daniel Howard-Snyder, Paul Moser

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments
                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Brandon Duke on his website: TruthBorn
                                                                                                    • Check out Duke’s videos at the Unitarian Christian Alliance YouTube Channel
                                                                                                    • Watch Duke’s Trinity debate
                                                                                                    • Also check out this six part series on various theories of divine foreknowledge, including Calvinism, Arminianism, and Open Theism.
                                                                                                    • More episodes and posts about the problem of evil and suffering
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/suffering-1.jpg 363 Why God Allows Suffering 2 (Brandon Duke) false no 56:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/10/22/362-why-god-allows-suffering-1-brandon-duke/ Thu, 22 Oct 2020 23:00:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5407 If God is so good and powerful, why is there so much evil in our world? Although you might retort, "It's because humanity fell into sin and we are all suffering the consequences." Such an answer merely pushes the question back one step, since God is the one who determined just how fallen our world would become once sin entered the picture. Why doesn't he allow more suffering or less? What are his aims in having the world be how it actually is? Why doesn't he intervene more to stop harm? Brandon Duke has wrestled with this question extensively and today he'll provide a lay of the land to help you think through the issue. He breaks up the problem into three categories (1) human evil, (2) natural suffering, and (3) God's hiddenness. Today he'll cover a number of presuppositions about God's knowledge that play into how we approach evil as well as what God's objectives are that he ultimately will bring to pass.

                                                                                                    Here is the full John Hick quote that Duke paraphrased in this episode:

                                                                                                    "We can imagine a paradise in which no one can ever come to any harm.  Instead of having its own fixed structure, the world would be plastic to human wishes.  Or perhaps the world would have a fixed structure, and hence the possibility of damage and pain, but a structure that is whenever necessary suspended or adjusted by special divine action to avoid human pain. Thus, for example, in such a miraculously pain-free world, one who falls accidentally from a high building would presumably float unharmed to the ground; bullets would become insubstantial when fired at a human body; poison would cease to be poison; water to drown, and so on.  We can at least begin to imagine such a world, but... a world in which there can be no pain or suffering would also be one without moral choices and hence no possibility of moral growth and development. For in a situation in which no one can ever suffer injury or be liable to pain or suffering, no distinction would exist between right and wrong action.  No action would be morally wrong, because no actions could ever have harmful consequences; likewise, no action would be morally right in contrast to wrong.  Whatever the values of such a world, its structure would not serve the purpose of allowing its inhabitants to develop from self regarding animality to self giving love."

                                                                                                    —— Books——

                                                                                                    • God and the Problem of Evil: Five Views by Chad Meister, James Dew Jr.
                                                                                                    • Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views by Gregory Boyd, David Hunt, William Craig, Paul Helm
                                                                                                    • The Triumph of God over Evil by William Hasker
                                                                                                    • Four Views on Divine Providence by Paul Helseth, William Craig, Ron Highfield, Gregory Boyd
                                                                                                    • Divine Hiddenness: New Essays by Daniel Howard-Snyder, Paul Moser

                                                                                                    —— Links ——

                                                                                                    • Get in touch with Brandon Duke on his website: TruthBorn
                                                                                                    • Check out Duke's videos at the Unitarian Christian Alliance YouTube Channel
                                                                                                    • Watch Duke's Trinity debate
                                                                                                    • Also check out this six part series on various theories of divine foreknowledge, including Calvinism, Arminianism, and Open Theism.
                                                                                                    • More episodes and posts about the problem of evil and suffering
                                                                                                    • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                    • Intro music: Good V]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/suffering-1.jpg 362 Why God Allows Suffering 1 (Brandon Duke) false no 57:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/10/15/361-paralyzed-by-doubt-joshua-anderson/ Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:00:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4623 When Joshua Anderson left home and attended a secular college, the environment bombarded him with skepticism and criticism of Christianity.  He internalized the general attitude manifested on campus from professors, students, and text books to such a degree that he began doubting his faith.  He fell into a two year period of existential despair as he desperately read book after book trying to find satisfying answers to his nagging anxieties about Christianity.  In this episode he shares how he was able to escape his dark night of the soul and reclaim his walk with God.  If you've ever struggled with your own doubts about God's existence or the bible's veracity, or the Christian worldview, this episode will help you understand the mental forces at work as well as the limits of absolute certainty.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • More Joshua Anderson podcasts
                                                                                                      • See Anderson's 5 part evangelism class, called "Announcing the Kingdom"
                                                                                                      • Visit Anderson’s website Pascal’s Jacket
                                                                                                      • More episodes about doubt
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/worried-egg.jpeg 361 Paralyzed by Doubt (Joshua Anderson) false no 1:04:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/10/08/360-the-making-of-an-old-testament-professor-bob-jones/ Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:00:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5187 I love hearing people's stories--especially people of faith. In this episode you'll get to know Bob Jones, a professor at the Atlanta Bible College. He's equally adept teaching chemistry or physics as he is Old Testament or Systematic Theology. Now in his seventies, Jones looks back on his life to see how God led him through it all, even in the darkest of times.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • To get in touch with Bob Jones, you can email him at rjones@atlantabiblecollege.com
                                                                                                      • Check out his distance learning classes at the Atlanta Bible College
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bible-hebrewmanuscript.jpg 360 The Making of an Old Testament Professor (Bob Jones) false no 1:00:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/10/01/359-faithfully-serving-the-church-of-god-david-krogh/ Thu, 01 Oct 2020 23:00:13 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5175 Although powerful preaching, serving the poor, and missionary work often take the lime light in Christian ministry, the truth is that home groups, churches, and especially denominations will fall to pieces without competent and consistent administrators. The job isn't glitzy or glamorous and it is often beset with equal parts of tedium, stress, and failure, but without it nothing gets done--or at least not for long. Meet David Krogh, a faithful servant who who has found himself in roles ranging from pastor to executive director in a denomination to academic dean of a bible college. Over more than five decades of ministry, Krogh has been involved with countless decisions that have made the Church of God General Conference what it is today.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • More about David Krogh on the staff page for the Atlanta Bible College
                                                                                                      • See also the main website of the Church of God General Conference
                                                                                                      • Learn more about the missions organization: Lord's Harvest International
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/David-Krogh-e1601568083605.jpg 359 Faithfully Serving the Church of God (David Krogh) false no 56:52 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/09/24/358-a-christian-perspective-on-black-lives-matter-russell-brown/ Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:34:50 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5104 We’re delving into a topic rife with controversy, polarization, and intense emotion.  We’re asking the question, how should bible-based Christians respond to the Black Lives Matter movement.  No doubt, some of you will answer that we should all be out marching in full support while others think BLM is itself racist and should be resisted.  Of course, between these two extremes are many more options for responding to this.  In order to navigate our way through the choppy seas of this issue, I’ve invited on Russell Brown who offers an interesting perspective, since he finds himself at the intersection of all three camps.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • More podcasts from Russell Brown
                                                                                                      • Check out Brown’s parenting teaching, “Disciplining Children“
                                                                                                      • More YouTube videos featuring Russell Brown
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/black-lives-matter-e1600965542774.jpg 358 A Christian Perspective on Black Lives Matter (Russell Brown) false no 58:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/09/17/357-a-christian-perspective-on-covid-19-russell-brown/ Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:00:23 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5086 Last December the Coronavirus pandemic began spreading from Wuhan, China across the world. As of today, globally we know of approximately 30 million cases across 188 countries and territories resulting in 941,000 deaths and 20.3 million who have recovered. The United States has the most cases with 6.7 million infected (roughly 2% of the population) and nearly 200,000 deaths (a mortality rate of almost 3%). In this interview, I'm bringing on Russell Brown (my brother-in-law) to share about his own COVID-19 experience, including his symptoms and recovery. He is a passionate Christian who can bring a faith-based perspective to this situation.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Watch Russell and Joelle Brown's video retelling their experience, "Trusting through Storms"
                                                                                                      • More podcasts from Russell Brown
                                                                                                      • Check out Brown's parenting teaching, "Disciplining Children"
                                                                                                      • More YouTube videos featuring Russell Brown
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/covid-19-survivor-e1600364105432.jpg 357 A Christian Perspective on COVID-19 (Russell Brown) false no 57:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/09/10/356-unitarian-bible-translations-3-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5130 Today, we've got three more texts to look at in our selection of unitarian Bible translations. Unlike last time where we focused on Christologically interesting passages, today, we'll examine Luke 23.43, John 7.53-8.11, and 1 Thessalonians 1.3 to look at a punctuation issue, a textual issue, and a grammatical issue. By the end of this episode we hope you'll have a firmer grasp on the differences between these translations. Of course, we could go on to compare many more verses, but we're going to draw this to an end here and this episode will round out this series on unitarian Bible translations.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Read Wierwille's research paper on John 7.53-8.11, "My Favorite Fake Bible Passage"
                                                                                                      • 354 Unitarian Bible Translations 1 (Jerry Wierwille)
                                                                                                      • 355 Unitarian Bible Translations 2 (Jerry Wierwille)
                                                                                                      • Check out these other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                      • For my class on How We Got the Bible, half of which covered translation issues, follow this link.
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Unitarian-Bibles-3-e1599243884239.png 356 Unitarian Bible Translations 3 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 35:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/09/03/355-unitarian-bible-translations-2-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 04 Sep 2020 01:27:05 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5108 Last time we reviewed six unitarian Bible translations, covering some basic information about where each came from and their overall strategy for translation. Today, we're going to analyze how they translate three key texts, including Philippians 2.6, John 1.1-3, and John 8.58. Our goal is to measure these translations against what the Greek says as well as noting significant variations from mainstream translations and each other.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out these other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                      • For previous episodes that cover these verses in greater detail see God’s Form or God’s Nature (Translating Philippians 2.6-7) and Did Jesus Claim to Be the I AM? (Translating John 8.58)
                                                                                                      • For John 1, see Dale Tuggy's "Trinities" podcast episode 290: Is the “Socinian” interpretation of John 1 correct?
                                                                                                      • For my class on How We Got the Bible, half of which covered translation issues, follow this link.
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Unitarian-Bibles-2-e1599182248603.png 355 Unitarian Bible Translations 2 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 43:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/27/354-unitarian-bible-translations-1-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 28 Aug 2020 00:00:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5099 In our last episode, I recommended some mainstream Christian Bible translations, but I would remiss if I didn’t also review some important unitarian Bible translations.  Although often overlooked, these versions are important because they have the opposite bias when it comes to passages commonly offered as proof texts for the Trinity.  Also, I asked Dr. Jerry Wierwille to join me today, since he is Bible translator, currently working on a unitarian bible translation.  In today’s episode we’ll review the following:
                                                                                                      1. Emphatic Diaglott by Benjamin Wilson (1864)
                                                                                                      2. New European Version by Duncan Heaster (2013)
                                                                                                      3. New World Translation by Jehovah’s Witnesses (2013)
                                                                                                      4. Kingdom of God Version by Raymond Faircloth (2018)
                                                                                                      5. The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation by Anthony Buzzard (2020)
                                                                                                      6. The Revised English Version by Spirit and Truth (ongoing)

                                                                                                      In this episode, we’ll offer some background on each of these versions and in our next episode we’ll compare them and see how they handle a number of interesting texts.

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out these other episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                      • Episodes mentioned in this podcast: Evaluating the Message Bible and the Passion Translation, Evaluating the King James Version, Reconstructing the New Testament, and New Testament Textual Criticism
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Unitarian-Bibles-1-e1598617499112.png 354 Unitarian Bible Translations 1 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 50:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/22/353-bible-24-recommended-bible-translations-which-bible-is-best/ Sat, 22 Aug 2020 13:00:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5041 This is now our last episode in this 24 part class on How We Got the Bible.  Today after a quick review and an appeal to learn the biblical languages, I’ll recommend a number of Bible translations.  Although I’m hesitant to do this, so many have written in asking for it that I would be negligent to avoid making some recommendations in this last episode.  Additionally, we’ll cover a list of 7 verses you can use to check translations accuracy (see below).

                                                                                                      —— Verses to Check for Translation Accuracy ——

                                                                                                      • Genesis 4.8 Cain says “Let’s go into the field” (SP, LXX, Syriac, Vulgate)
                                                                                                      • Isaiah 53.11 “he shall see light” not “he shall see it” (DSS, LXX)
                                                                                                      • 1 Samuel 14.41 does it say “Urim?” (LXX)
                                                                                                      • Psalm 145.13 is it 2 sentences or just 1? (DSS, LXX, Syriac)
                                                                                                      • Honesty about Mark 16.9-20 and John 7.53-8.11
                                                                                                      • Revelation 22.19 “tree of life” not “book of life”
                                                                                                      • Matthew 2.2 “pay homage” not “worship”

                                                                                                      —— Recommended Translations ——

                                                                                                      • Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (JPS): dynamic equivalence from Jewish perspective
                                                                                                      • English Standard Version (ESV): formal equivalence from evangelical perspective
                                                                                                      • New English Translation (NET): dynamic equivalence from evangelical perspective
                                                                                                      • New American Bible (NAB): dynamic equivalence from Roman Catholic perspective
                                                                                                      • New Revised Standard Version (NRSV): formal equivalence from a mainline/liberal perspective

                                                                                                      —— Biased Translations to Avoid ——

                                                                                                      • Message Bible (MSG): extreme dynamic equivalence
                                                                                                      • Passion Translation (PT): extreme dynamic equivalence
                                                                                                      • New Living Translation (NLT): dynamic equivalence

                                                                                                      —— Outdated Translations ——

                                                                                                      • 1769 King James Version (KJV): formal equivalence
                                                                                                      • 1982 New King James Version (NKJV): formal equivalence
                                                                                                      • 1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB): formal equivalence
                                                                                                      • any versions not taking into account the Dead Sea Scrolls (see verses above to check)

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 353 Bible 24 – Recommended Bible Translations (Which Bible Is Best?) false no 37:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/18/352-bible-23-spirit-who-or-spirit-which-translating-the-holy-spirit/ Wed, 19 Aug 2020 00:00:45 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5036 This is our fifth and final example of bias in translation. After this episode, we’ll have one more to conclude our class on How We Got the Bible.  Today our focus is God’s spirit.  Should it have an uppercase ‘S’ or a lowercase ‘s?’  Should pronouns referring back to spirit be masculine (like “he”) or neuter (like “it”)?  Is the spirit a “who” or a “which?”  In this episode we’ll get into the grammar of holy spirit in an attempt to show how translation bias steers unsuspecting readers in the direction of the traditional teaching about the personality of the spirit.

                                                                                                      —— Books & Papers ——

                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn
                                                                                                      • Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics by Daniel Wallace
                                                                                                      • “Greek Grammar and the Personality of the Holy Spirit” by Daniel Wallace
                                                                                                      • “The Holy Spirit and Translation Bias: A Smoking Gun of Trinity Mischief (1)” by Sean Finnegan
                                                                                                      • “The Holy Spirit and Translation Bias: A Smoking Gun of Trinity Mischief (2)” by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Watch “The Holy Spirit” video by the Bible Project (note the lack of personhood)
                                                                                                      • Listen to podcast Theology 14 — The Holy Spirit to hear a biblical theology of the spirit and five biblical reasons why the spirit is not a person apart from either the Father or Jesus
                                                                                                      • Listen to podcast Theology 15 — Challenging the Holy Spirit to hear sound biblical explanations of misunderstood verses that defenders of the spirit’s personality point to as evidence of their position
                                                                                                      • More posts and podcasts about the holy spirit
                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 352 Bible 23 – Spirit Who or Spirit Which? (Translating the Holy Spirit) false no 35:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/15/351-bible-22-did-jesus-claim-to-be-the-i-am-translating-john-8-58/ Sat, 15 Aug 2020 14:00:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=5014 Did Jesus claim to be “The Great I AM” in John 8.58?  If not, what was he saying?  In this episode we examine the alleged parallel passage in Exodus where God reveals his name to Moses at the burning bush.  Next, we’ll explore texts with the same Greek construction that Jesus used in an effort to sniff out bias.  In the end we’ll see there are three viable possibilities for translating John 8.58, the least likely of which is what we find in most translations.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • The First Testament by John Goldingay
                                                                                                      • The Hebrew Bible by Robert Alter
                                                                                                      • The Schocken Bible by Everett Fox
                                                                                                      • A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition (BDAG)
                                                                                                      • Greek Grammar by Herbert Weir Smyth (see rule 1885)
                                                                                                      • A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature by F. Blass, A. Debrunner, and Robert Funk (see rule 322, note the typo John 5.58 should be John 8.58)
                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Did Jesus Claim to be the “I Am” in John 8.58? by Victor Gluckin (audio sermon)
                                                                                                      • Explanation of John 8.58 by John Schoenheit (from One God & One Lord)
                                                                                                      • John 8.58 by Steve Katsaras (audio sermon)
                                                                                                      • Debate: Patrick Navas vs. James White on Chris Date’s Theopologetics Podcast (part 2 addresses the “I am” statements in John)
                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 351 Bible 22 – Did Jesus Claim to Be the I AM? (Translating John 8.58) false no 31:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/11/350-bible-21-firstborn-of-or-firstborn-over-translating-colossians-1-15/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 22:00:50 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4990 Colossians 1.15 presents an interesting test case to examine translation bias.  Well-meaning Bible students have taken this text in at least three different ways.  However, some translators, motivated by a fear that readers might see Christ as a member of creation, have increasingly pushed for translating this text so that it says Christ is superior to all creation and thus on the creator side of the creator-creature divide.  In what follows I examine several popular translations and discuss the two main issues in this verse.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition (BDAG)
                                                                                                      • Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics by Daniel Wallace
                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Colossians 1.15-20: Preexistence or Preeminence by William Wachtel (paper)
                                                                                                      • Christ the Firstborn Head of the Universe by Nathan Crowder (paper)
                                                                                                      • Explanation of Colossians 1.15 -20 by John Schoenheit (from One God & One Lord)
                                                                                                      • Resurrection Impact by Sean Finnegan (audio sermon on Colossians 1.15-20 as ascension theology)
                                                                                                      • Debate: Patrick Navas vs. James White on Chris Date’s Theopologetics Podcast (part 2 addresses Colossians 1)
                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 350 Bible 21 – Firstborn Of or Firstborn Over? (Translating Colossians 1.15) false no 23:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/08/349-bible-20-bow-or-worship-translating-proskuneo/ Sat, 08 Aug 2020 13:00:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4988 How should translators render the word προκσυνέω (proskuneo) into English?  Since this word has a range of meanings from bowing as a sign of respect to worshiping God, translators sometimes decide what English words to use based more on their theological presuppositions than the grammar or textual context.  For example, some translations (mostly those done by evangelicals) employ the language of worship when proskuneo is done to Jesus but then interpret the term as a respectful gesture when done to others.  This, I suggest, is another smoking gun of translation bias.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition (BDAG)
                                                                                                      • The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HAOT)
                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn
                                                                                                      • Did the First Christians Worship Jesus?: The New Testament Evidence by James Dunn

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Who Should Christians Worship? by Dale Tuggy
                                                                                                      • Podcast 21: Should We Worship Jesus? by Sean Finnegan
                                                                                                      • Pliny the Younger’s statement about Christians singing hymns to Christ as if to a god
                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 349 Bible 20 – Bow or Worship? (Translating Proskuneo) false no 30:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/04/348-bible-19-gods-form-or-gods-nature-translating-philippians-2-6-7/ Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:00:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4973 This is our first of five examples of bias in translation. Today we’ll examine Philippians 2.6-7, specifically focusing on how translators render two important words (ἁρπαγμός harpagmon and μορφή morphe). We’ll see how a couple of the most popular evangelical versions break free from the underlying Greek syntax in order to inject their own doctrinal bias into scripture. Regardless of your own interpretation of this passage, can we all agree that translators should not read their beliefs into scripture?

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition (BDAG)
                                                                                                      • New American Bible (NAB)
                                                                                                      • The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV)
                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 348 Bible 19 – God’s Form or God’s Nature (Translating Philippians 2.6-7) false no 17:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/08/01/347-bible-18-bias-in-bible-translation/ Sat, 01 Aug 2020 12:00:14 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4976 Last time we evaluated two popular single-translator Bibles: the Message and the Passion Translation.  This time, we’re switching gears to consider committee-based versions.  I want to shine a spotlight on the whole subject of bias in translation in an effort to point out what often goes unnoticed.  We’ll consider both the committee effect that tends to eliminate non-traditional renderings as well as how the concept of sola scriptura exerts immense pressure on evangelicals to nudge their translations in the direction of their doctrinal commitments.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter
                                                                                                      • The New Testament by David Bentley Hart
                                                                                                      • Truth in Translation by Jason David BeDuhn

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 347 Bible 18 – Bias in Bible Translation false no 31:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/29/346-bible-17-evaluating-the-message-bible-and-the-passion-translation/ Wed, 29 Jul 2020 18:14:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4971 Last time we looked at the King James version which is one of the strictest formal equivalence Bibles every made.  This time we are going to analyze two Bibles on the other end of the spectrum: the Message Bible and the Passion Translation.  These two versions share a number of characteristics in common.  For example both are very popular, both were done by single translators, and both employ a very free application of dynamic equivalence.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson
                                                                                                      • The Passion Translation by Brian Simmons
                                                                                                      • The Hebrew Bible by Robert Alter
                                                                                                      • The New Testament by David Bentley Hart

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                      • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                      • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 346 Bible 17 – Evaluating the Message Bible and the Passion Translation false no 34:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/25/345-bible-16-evaluating-the-king-james-version/ Sat, 25 Jul 2020 13:00:55 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4955 What do you know about the King James Version?  Is it an accurate translation?  Does it have flaws?  Should you use it as a measuring stick for other translations?  In today’s episode, we’ll cover the making of the KJV of the Bible, going back to William Tyndale’s courageous work before delving into four areas of evaluation.  We’ll examine the KJV’s manuscript base, translation accuracy, lexicography, and vocabulary in an effort to objectively decide how the KJV compares to other English versions.

                                                                                                      —— Books ——

                                                                                                      • William Tyndale: A Biography by David Daniell
                                                                                                      • The Complete Guide to Bible Translations by Ron Rhodes
                                                                                                      • Essential Guide to Bible Versions by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                      • The Journey from Texts to Translations by Paul D. Wegner
                                                                                                      • How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss
                                                                                                      • The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter
                                                                                                      • “History of the English Bible” by Philip W. Comfort in The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated, ed. F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip Comfort, Carl F. H. Henry
                                                                                                      • “English Versions of the Bible” by J. H. Skilton in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood
                                                                                                      • “English Versions Since 1611” by Luther Weigle in The Cambridge History of the Bible: Vol 3
                                                                                                      • The English Bible from KJV to NIV, 2nd ed. by Jack Pearl Lewis
                                                                                                      • The King James Only Controversy by James White
                                                                                                      • The King James Bible after Four Hundred Years by Hannibal Hamlin and Norman W. Jones

                                                                                                      —— Links ——

                                                                                                      • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                      • See what other classes are available he]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 345 Bible 16 – Evaluating the King James Version false no 38:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/21/344-bible-15-gender-in-bible-translation/ Wed, 22 Jul 2020 00:00:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4940 Did you know that controversies surrounding how to translate gender in the Bible had a major impact on Bible translation over the last 30 years?  In this episode we’ll briefly overview various feminist movements before examining the NRSV, which proved to be a forerunner for gender inclusive Bible translations.  Next we’ll take a journey through the NIVI and TNIV controversies at the turn of the 21st century before seeing how evangelical Bible translations both reacted against (ESV, HCSB) and appropriated (NIV2011, CSB) varying degrees of gender accuracy into their Bibles.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing: For Writers, Editors, and Speakers by Casey Miller and Kate Swift, 1980
                                                                                                        • “Femme Fatale” by Susan Olasky, World, March 29, 1997
                                                                                                        • Colorado Springs Guidelines “Statement by Participants in the Conference on Gender-Related Language in Scripture” May 27, 1997
                                                                                                        • “Bailing Out the Stealth Bible” by Susan Olasky, World Magazine, June 14, 1997
                                                                                                        • “Hands Off My NIV!” by Doug LeBlanc, Christianity Today, June 16, 1997
                                                                                                        • What’s Wrong with Gender-Neutral Bible Translations? by Wayne Gruden, 1997
                                                                                                        • D. A. Carson, The Inclusive Language Debate: A Plea for Realism
                                                                                                        • Mark L. Strauss, Distorting Scripture? The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy
                                                                                                        • The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God’s Words by Wayne Gruden and Vern Polythress, 2000
                                                                                                        • Two Views on Women in Ministry by Linda L. Belleville, Craig L. Blomberg, Craig S. Keener, Thomas R. Schreiner, 2001, updated 2005
                                                                                                        • Southern Baptist Convention Resolution “On Today’s New International Version,” June 11-12, 2002
                                                                                                        • How To Choose a Translation for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss, 2007 (see especially chapter chapter 7)
                                                                                                        • “Why the English Standard Version (ESV) Should Not Become the Standard English Version” by Mark Strauss, 2008 (presented at ETS)
                                                                                                        • “An Evaluation of Gender Language in the 2011 Edition of the NIV Bible,” Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, June 6, 2011
                                                                                                        • Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles by Kathy Keller, 2012

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 344 Bible 15 – Gender in Bible Translation false no 42:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/18/343-bible-14-bible-translation-default-decisions/ Sat, 18 Jul 2020 14:00:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4938 Last time we focused on the two main translation theories: formal and dynamic equivalence.  This time, we need to take a look at five major default decisions translation teams make at the outset.
                                                                                                        1. Units of Measurement and Currency
                                                                                                        2. Hebrew Idioms
                                                                                                        3. English Vocabulary
                                                                                                        4. Editorial Enhancements
                                                                                                        5. God’s Name

                                                                                                        By becoming familiar with these five topics, you’ll be able to better assess English Bible translations and less susceptible to misunderstandings.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • The Complete Guide to Bible Translations by Ron Rhodes
                                                                                                        • Essential Guide to Bible Versions by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                        • The Journey from Texts to Translations by Paul D. Wegner
                                                                                                        • How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss
                                                                                                        • The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter
                                                                                                        • How We Got the Bible by Neil Lightfoot
                                                                                                        • The Theory and Practice of Translation by Eugene Nida

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • “Q&A: Translation Decisions for the Christian Standard Bible”
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 343 Bible 14 – Bible Translation Default Decisions false no 34:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/14/342-bible-13-bible-translation-philosophies-formal-and-dynamic-equivalence/ Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:00:02 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4936 Up until now we’ve focused our attention on the text of Scripture.  We took five episodes looking at the Hebrew Bible, including it’s sources, transmission, and how textual scholars go about deciding the initial text.  Then for the last seven episodes we did the same for the New Testament, examining the surviving source material and looking at the work of textual criticism.  Now, we are in a good position to shift gears and turn to the whole world of translation.  As it turns out, English Bible translators divide into two broad styles of translation: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence.  In this episode we’ll explore these two translation philosophies and the trade offs each makes in order to produce English Bibles.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • The Complete Guide to Bible Translations by Ron Rhodes
                                                                                                        • Essential Guide to Bible Versions by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                        • The Journey from Texts to Translations by Paul D. Wegner
                                                                                                        • How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss
                                                                                                        • The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter
                                                                                                        • How We Got the Bible by Neil Lightfoot
                                                                                                        • The Theory and Practice of Translation by Eugene Nida

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Andi Wu, “A Quantitative Evaluation of the Christian Standard Bible”
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 342 Bible 13 – Bible Translation Philosophies (Formal and Dynamic Equivalence) false no 36:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/11/341-bible-12-two-uncorrected-corruptions-mark-16-9-20-and-john-7-53-8-11/ Sat, 11 Jul 2020 13:00:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4909 Last time we covered two corrected corruptions (1 Timothy 3.16 and 1 John 5.7).  This time we’ll consider two uncorrected corruptions, including the long ending on Mark (16.9-20) and the passage about the adulterous woman that Jesus saves (John 7.53-8.11).  Although these two texts are not found in the earliest and best manuscripts and translators have known this for decades, they continue to include them in virtually all English translations.  What’s going on here?  In this episode you’ll learn the textual basis for both passages and the reasons why textual scholars don’t accept their authenticity.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • New Testament Text and Translation Commentary by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                        • Textual Commentary of the Greek New Testament by Bruce Metzger
                                                                                                        • The NET Bible with 60,932 Translators’ Notes (online here)

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • For background on textual criticism see part 10 New Testament Textual Criticism as well as 6 Greek New Testament Papyri, 7 Greek New Testament Uncials, and 8 Other New Testament Manuscripts
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 341 Bible 12 – Two Uncorrected Corruptions (Mark 16.9-20 and John 7.53-8.11) false no 33:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/07/340-bible-11-two-corrected-corruptions-1-timothy-3-16-1-john-5-7/ Wed, 08 Jul 2020 00:00:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4893 Today we move from learning about manuscripts and textual criticism to actually doing textual criticism.  I’ve chosen two well-known corruptions to illustrate the process of textual criticism: 1 Timothy 3.16 and 1 John 5.7.  In each of these cases scribes have altered the text of scripture and we have the manuscript evidence to show exactly what happened.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • New Testament Text and Translation Commentary by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                        • Textual Commentary of the Greek New Testament by Bruce Metzger
                                                                                                        • The NET Bible with 60,932 Translators’ Notes (online here)
                                                                                                        • The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture by Bart Ehrman
                                                                                                        • Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament by Daniel Wallace et al.
                                                                                                        • The King James Only Controversy by James White

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Read my more thorough treatment of 1 John 5.7-8: “The Story behind the Comma Johanneum“
                                                                                                        • For background on textual criticism see part 10 New Testament Textual Criticism as well as 6 Greek New Testament Papyri, 7 Greek New Testament Uncials, and 8 Other New Testament Manuscripts
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 340 Bible 11 – Two Corrected Corruptions (1 Timothy 3.16 & 1 John 5.7) false no 36:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/07/04/339-bible-10-new-testament-textual-criticism/ Sat, 04 Jul 2020 14:00:16 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4913 Last time we surveyed five hundred years of New Testament textual criticism.  Today we address the process by which these scholars have done and continue to do their work.  We’ll see how they weigh internal and external evidence.  We’ll cover reasoned eclecticism, the refined documentary approach, and the computer-driven coherence based genealogical method.  (Don’t worry if these terms don’t mean much to you yet.)  Lastly, we’ll see what resources you can access to find out the inside scoop on what’s going on with a particular NT verse.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • New Testament Text and Translation Commentary by Philip W. Comfort
                                                                                                        • An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and their Texts by D. C. Parker
                                                                                                        • The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman
                                                                                                        • NA28: Nestle-Aland 28th Edition, aka Novum Testamentum Graece
                                                                                                        • UBS5: United Bible Society 5th Edition, aka The Greek New Testament
                                                                                                        • THGNT: Tyndale House Greek New Testament, aka The Greek New Testament

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Editio Critica Maior
                                                                                                        • Coherence Based Genealogical Method (CBGM) tool
                                                                                                        • Read Peter Gurry’s article, “How Your Greek NT Is Changing: A Simple Introduction to the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method (CBGM)” from the Journal of Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 339 Bible 10 New Testament Textual Criticism false no 41:12 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/30/338-bible-9-reconstructing-the-new-testament/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 00:00:58 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4911 Before we can understand how textual scholars do their work today, it’s important to understand the history of how they have endeavored to reconstruct the Greek New Testament over the years.  In this episode you’ll learn about the rich and important history of how our understanding of the Greek New Testament changed over the last five hundred years.  This history is vital for you to understand why older translations are often based on younger manuscripts–a key paradox we’ll return to in future sessions.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and their Texts by D. C. Parker
                                                                                                        • The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman
                                                                                                        • The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts by Philip Wesley Comfort and David P. Barrett (2 volumes)
                                                                                                        • The King James Only Controversy by James White
                                                                                                        • NA28: Nestle-Aland 28th Edition, aka Novum Testamentum Graece
                                                                                                        • UBS5: United Bible Society 5th Edition, aka The Greek New Testament
                                                                                                        • THGNT: Tyndale House Greek New Testament, aka The Greek New Testament

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 338 Bible 9 Reconstructing the New Testament false no 31:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/27/337-bible-8-other-new-testament-manuscripts/ Sat, 27 Jun 2020 14:00:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4889 We’ve been working our way through the various sources for our Greek New Testament.  We’ve looked at the papyri and the uncials, but there is so much more to consider.  In fact, the New Testament papyri and uncials combined make up less than 2% of our manuscripts.  Today, we’ll consider the other 98% of manuscripts including minuscules, lectionaries, quotations in the church fathers, and ancient translations.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Constantine Tischendorf: The Life and Work of a 19th Century Bible Hunter by Stanley E. Porter
                                                                                                        • An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and their Texts by D. C. Parker
                                                                                                        • The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman
                                                                                                        • The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts by Philip Wesley Comfort and David P. Barrett (2 volumes)
                                                                                                        • Encountering the Manuscripts by Philip Comfort

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • See SBL’s publications of The New Testament in the Greek Fathers
                                                                                                        • Visit The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts and look at high resolution pictures of many manuscripts.
                                                                                                        • Visit the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) to see the work they are doing to compare access and analyze New Testament manuscripts
                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 337 Bible 8 – Other New Testament Manuscripts false no 34:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/23/336-bible-7-greek-new-testament-uncials/ Wed, 24 Jun 2020 00:00:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4875 Today we are moving into our second group of New Testament manuscripts–the uncials.  However, before describing them, we’ll need to focus on how Christian scribes went about their work.  As it turns out the situation is quite different than the Jewish scribes who preserved the Hebrew Bible.  Then we’ll follow the exciting career of Bible hunter Constantine Tischendorf as he brought to light two huge discoveries.  Lastly, we’ll take a brief survey of the five most famous uncial New Testament manuscripts: Codex Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus,  Vaticanus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, and Bezae.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Constantine Tischendorf: The Life and Work of a 19th Century Bible Hunter by Stanley E. Porter
                                                                                                        • An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and their Texts by D. C. Parker
                                                                                                        • The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman
                                                                                                        • The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts by Philip Wesley Comfort and David P. Barrett (2 volumes)
                                                                                                        • Encountering the Manuscripts by Philip Comfort

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 336 Bible 7 – Greek New Testament Uncials false no 33:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/20/335-bible-6-greek-new-testament-papyri/ Sat, 20 Jun 2020 14:00:22 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4879 Today we are shifting gears from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from Hebrew manuscripts to Greek ones.  We’ll begin with the earliest evidence for the Greek New Testament, the papyri.  Made from the papyrus plant, approximately 130 of these manuscripts survive today in museums around the world.  In this lecture you’ll learn the important role collectors like Chester Beatty and Martin Bodmer played as well as the earth-shattering discovery made by archeologists Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt at Oxyrhynchus Egypt.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman
                                                                                                        • Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, Documents, and Sources by Lincoln H. Blumell and Thomas A. Wayment
                                                                                                        • The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts by Philip Wesley Comfort and David P. Barrett (2 volumes)
                                                                                                        • Encountering the Manuscripts by Philip Comfort

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 335 Bible 6 – Greek New Testament Papyri false no 32:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/16/334-bible-5-jewish-bible-translations/ Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:00:38 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4859 Today we are going to take a brief break from manuscripts and dip our toes into the pool of Bible translations.  Specifically, we’ll take a look at six of the most prominent Jewish translations of the Hebrew Bible, including:
                                                                                                        1. Jewish Publication Society (1917)
                                                                                                        2. Koren Jerusalem Bible (1961)
                                                                                                        3. New Jewish Publication Society (1985)
                                                                                                        4. Artscroll’s Stone Tanach (1996)
                                                                                                        5. Schocken Bible of Everett Fox (1995, 2014)
                                                                                                        6. Robert Alter’s translation (2018)

                                                                                                        For each of these versions we’ll get a brief sense of the translation style from the preface and then we’ll compare four texts from each: Genesis 1.1-3; Psalm 23.1-2; Isaiah 9.6; and Micah 7.20.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Jewish Publication Society Bible (1917)
                                                                                                        • New Jewish Publication Society Bible (1985)
                                                                                                        • Koren Jerusalem Bible
                                                                                                        • Artscroll Stone Tanach
                                                                                                        • Everett Fox‘s Schocken Bible
                                                                                                        • Robert Alter’s three volume Bible with commentary
                                                                                                        • The Song of Songs by Ariel and Chana Bloch (translation and commentary)

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 334 Bible 5 – Jewish Bible Translations false no 40:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/13/333-bible-4-determining-the-best-hebrew-reading/ Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:00:50 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4863 For our Hebrew Bibles we have three main groups of manuscripts to compare: the Masoretic Text group, the Samaritan Pentateuch group, and the Septuagint group.  Each of these groups contain many manuscripts with the Masoretic Text group containing the most.  In this episode of How We Got the Bible, we’re going to look at the history of how textual scholars have and continue to pour over all of this information and determine the best reading when they encounter differences in the texts.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia ed. by Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph
                                                                                                        • Biblia Hebraica Quinta series (available as individual volumes)
                                                                                                        • Proverbs: An Eclectic Edition with Introduction and Textual Commentary by Michael V. Fox
                                                                                                        • Old Testament Textual Criticism by Ellis Brotzman and Eric Tully
                                                                                                        • Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible by Emmanuel Tov

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • visit The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Edition site
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 333 Bible 4 – Determining the Best Hebrew Reading false no 33:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/09/332-bible-3-samaritan-pentateuch-and-ancient-translations/ Tue, 09 Jun 2020 23:00:55 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4846 In How We Got the Bible, we’re continuing on in our quest to understand the sources for the Hebrew Bible.  We’ve already covered the Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls, but we have one last important Hebrew source to look at before surveying several significant ancient translations.  As it turns out the Samaritans have their own Hebrew version of the Torah, commonly called the Samaritan Pentateuch.  In this episode you’ll learn about the Samaritan Pentateuch and why scholars take it more seriously today than they did in previous centuries.  We’ll also consider very important ancient translations of the Tanakh, in Greek, Aramaic, Syriac, and Latin.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah by Benyamin Tsedaka and Sharon Sullivan
                                                                                                        • A New English Translation of the Septuagint by Albert Pietersma and Benjamin G. Wright
                                                                                                        • The Septuagint with Apocrypha by Lancelot C. L. Brenton
                                                                                                        • The Targums: A Critical Introduction by Paul V. M. Flesher and Bruce Chilton
                                                                                                        • The Aramaic Bible Volume 1A: Targum Neofiti: Genesis by Martin McNamara
                                                                                                        • The Aramaic Bible Volume 2: Targum Neofiti and Targum Psuedo-Jonathan: Exodus by Martin McNamara
                                                                                                        • Old Testament Textual Criticism by Ellis Brotzman and Eric Tully

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 332 Bible 3 – Samaritan Pentateuch and Ancient Translations false no 34:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/06/331-bible-2-earliest-hebrew-manuscripts/ Sat, 06 Jun 2020 13:00:26 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4834 Last time we looked at the Hebrew manuscripts known as the Masoretic Texts from the middle ages.  Today, we’ll focus on the earliest Hebrew manuscripts ever found, including those at the Cairo Genizah, the Ein-Gedi Scroll, the Nash Papyrus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Ketef Hinnom Silver Scroll.  This is going to be very helpful for future lectures when we cover the process of figuring out which readings are best when manuscripts differ from one another.

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Old Testament Textual Criticism by Ellis Brotzman and Eric Tully
                                                                                                        • Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Genizah by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole
                                                                                                        • The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible by Martin Abegg Jr., Peter Flint, and Eugene Ulrich
                                                                                                        • The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation by Michael Wise and Martin Abegg Jr.
                                                                                                        • The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English by Geza Vermes

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • Frieberg Genizah Project digitizing Cairo genizah manuscripts (see also the free app)
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 331 Bible 2 – Earliest Hebrew Manuscripts false no 31:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/06/04/330-bible-1-the-masoretic-text/ Thu, 04 Jun 2020 20:39:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4825 Today we are beginning a major new class on how we get our English Bibles. I’m so excited about sharing with you so much about what I’ve learned in doing the research for this project. We’re going to have a great time together. My goal here is to cover the transmission of manuscripts and translation process so you understand where Bibles come from. In fact, I was thinking of calling this class, “Where Bibles Come From,” but when I searched for that phrase the search engine in its infinite wisdom had auto corrected it to “Where do babies come from,” which needless to say wasn’t the target audience for this material.

                                                                                                        Today marks part one of this class, How We Got the Bible, and our focus will be on the manuscripts that underlie the Masoretic Text. You’ll learn about the Aleppo Codex: probably the most accurate Masoretic Text on the planet. We’ll cover the Leningrad Codex which to this day dominates textual studies since it is the oldest complete Hebrew Bible. We’ll look at a handful of other important manuscripts in an effort to begin understanding where our Bibles come from.

                                                                                                        Introduction to How We Got the Bible

                                                                                                        1: The Masoretic Text

                                                                                                        —— Books ——

                                                                                                        • Old Testament Textual Criticism by Ellis Brotzman and Eric Tully
                                                                                                        • The Aleppo Codex by Matti Friedman

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Check out all the lectures in How We Got the Bible
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HowwegottheBibleslidebg.jpg 330 Bible 1 – The Masoretic Text false no 39:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/05/28/329-parenting-5-balancing-oversight-with-independence/ Thu, 28 May 2020 21:28:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4822 This is the fifth and final part of our parenting class.  Today you’ll learn about striking the balance between oversight and independence.  Although many parents today think their children are at risk of kidnapping and other terrible crimes, our society is actually much safer than it has been in decades.  The tendency to protect our children at all times has resulted in a culture of “safteyism” that leads to ill-preparedness when children grow up and move out of the house.  On the opposite side chronic neglect or toxic stressors result in adults who are likewise unable to cope with and overcome the complexities of adult life.

                                                                                                        Download [5.21 MB]

                                                                                                        In this episode we’ll take a close look at David to see what evergreen lessons we can learn about parenting our own children today.  In the end, we want to do our best to prepare our children for the road ahead so that they can be their best for God and others.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Watch a panel discussion between the teachers of this class: Mary Ann Yaconis, Sean & Ruth Finnegan, and Russell & Joelle Brown.
                                                                                                        • If you prefer, you can watch the unedited videos here
                                                                                                        • See other episodes in this parenting series
                                                                                                        • Check out Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/podcast-series.png 329 Parenting 5 – Balancing Oversight with Independence false no 52:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/05/21/328-parenting-4-anxiety-depression-and-screens-ruth-finnegan/ Thu, 21 May 2020 15:40:52 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4816 In part 4 of our parenting class, Ruth Finnegan tackles the issue of screen time for children.  Although technology itself is neutral, much of what our children spend their time doing with screens is self-destructive and worldly.  As parents our responsibility is to bring God and his scriptures into the family and curtail exposure to worldly entertainment.  Doing so may help prevent adolescent anxiety and depression.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • For more Ruth Finnegan, check out this episode on consumerism
                                                                                                        • If you prefer, you can watch the unedited videos here
                                                                                                        • See other episodes in this parenting series
                                                                                                        • Check out Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/podcast-series.png 328 Parenting 4 – Anxiety, Depression, and Screens (Ruth Finnegan) false no 39:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/05/14/327-parenting-3-dealing-with-anger-mary-ann-yaconis/ Fri, 15 May 2020 00:00:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4748 Welcome to part three of our parenting class where Dr. Mary Ann Yaconis will help us deal with episodes of anger both within ourselves and our children.  This is such an important issue because childhood anger can lead to serious characterological disorders in adulthood if not dealt with appropriately.  In this episode you’ll learn about what’s underneath anger, what prevents anger, and what provokes anger.  The goal here is to learn how to relate to our children in a godly way that incorporates both age-appropriate discipline and unconditional love.

                                                                                                        Download [3.89 MB]

                                                                                                        Mary Ann Yaconis has served Living Hope Community Church for more than a dozen years in the areas of counseling and hospitality.  She is a licensed Mental Health Counselor with her doctorate degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland.  She maintains a full-time counseling practice ,helping scores of people over the years to work through troubling issues.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Handout 1: Manipulation Test
                                                                                                        • Handout 2: Manipulation Behavior
                                                                                                        • Handout 3: God Centered Home Article (Mary Ann Yaconis)
                                                                                                        • Handout 4: Proverbs about Parenting
                                                                                                        • Listen to Victor Gluckin on “I’m Angry,” taught at Revive 2020.  (Note this is not on the podcast (yet).  It’s an mp3 file.)
                                                                                                        • Also check out The Insidious Danger of Self-Righteousness (Sean Finnegan)
                                                                                                        • Dr. Mary Ann Yaconis’ class on parenting is available here
                                                                                                        • If you prefer, you can watch the unedited video here
                                                                                                        • See other episodes in this parenting series
                                                                                                        • Check out Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/podcast-series.png 327 Parenting 3 – Dealing with Anger (Mary Ann Yaconis) false no 46:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/05/07/326-parenting-2-disciplining-children-russell-joelle-brown/ Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:32 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4733 In this the second part of our parenting seminar, we will broach the topic of disciplining children.  For many of us, this is the hardest part of parenting.  We’d rather enjoy harmony in our homes rather than having to lay down the law.  Even so, the scriptures call us to do the hard work of holding our children accountable.  In this brief but incredibly helpful episode, you’ll learn about setting proportionate consequences to disobeying, affirming children when they do what is right, taking away privileges like screen time, and the controversial topic of spanking.

                                                                                                        Download [575.68 KB]

                                                                                                        Your teachers for this session are Russell and Joelle Brown, the proud parents of two young children, Hosanna and Isaiah who at the time of this recording were five and three and a half years old.  They live in Rhode Island and serve in several ministries at Living Faith Christian Church.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Handout: the four parenting styles of Diana Baumrind
                                                                                                        • Dr. Mary Ann Yaconis’ class on parenting is available here
                                                                                                        • If you prefer, you can watch the unedited video here
                                                                                                        • See other episodes in this parenting series
                                                                                                        • Check out Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/podcast-series.png 326 Parenting 2 – Disciplining Children (Russell & Joelle Brown) false no 43:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/04/30/parenting-1-preparing-our-kids-for-the-road-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:03 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4731 For many of us during this COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine has been difficult.  A huge number of us are working from home and those of us with children are home schooling as well.  Add to that cold and rainy spring weather, and you’ve got a perfect storm for challenging parenting.  In an effort to help out, I thought we’d spend a few weeks equipping, challenging, and encouraging parents.

                                                                                                        Now, I realize that many of you are not parents, but you may have grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or other children in your life.  I’m sure some of you plan to have children one day as well.  This parenting class will help you both understand ways in which our culture is hurting our children and the how the scriptures can guide us in a better direction.

                                                                                                        Our first session is called, “Preparing Our Kids for the Road.” The simple fact is that our children are going to suffer at different times in their lives.  They are going to face failure, rejection, and disappointment.  This is absolutely unavoidable for everyone.  Rather than protecting them from everything, our goal as parents is to prepare them for real life in the real world.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • If you prefer, you can watch the unedited video here
                                                                                                        • See other episodes in this parenting series
                                                                                                        • Check out Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
                                                                                                        • See what other classes are available here or on the Restitutio Classes podcast (subscribe in Apple, Spotify, RSS feed)
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/podcast-series.png 325 Parenting 1 – Preparing Our Kids for the Road (Sean Finnegan) false no 52:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/04/23/324-original-sin-debate-2-kegan-chandler-vs-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:07 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4694 This is part four of our series on original sin. Last time Kegan Chandler and Jerry Wierwille discussed their different views of original sin and the resultant human condition.  In this final part of our series, we circle back to Romans 5 one last time and both explain how they understand it.  What drives our desire to sin?  Is it our mortality, our toxic environment, or our fallen flesh?  Listen in as these two scholars discuss this important issue.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Part 1: 321 Origins of Sin (Kegan Chandler)
                                                                                                        • Part 2: 322 Inherited Sin in Romans 5 (Jerry Wierwille)
                                                                                                        • Part 3: 323 Original Sin Debate 1 (Kegan Chandler vs. Jerry Wierwille)
                                                                                                        • More podcast episodes with Kegan Chandler
                                                                                                        • More podcast episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Original-Sin.png 324 Original Sin Debate 2 (Kegan Chandler vs. Jerry Wierwille) false no 59:12 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/04/16/323-original-sin-debate-1-kegan-chandler-vs-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:00:22 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4399 This is part three of our series on original sin. In part one, Kegan Chandler discussed the history of Augustine’s doctrine of original sin, arguing that the whole idea is post biblical. Last time Jerry Wierwille responded to Chandler, explaining that we do have solid biblical grounding to believe in some form of inherited original sin based on Romans 5.12-21. Today, we put these two scholars in dialogue with each other.

                                                                                                        In today’s episode we being by defining how Chandler and Wierwille understand original sin. Then Chandler lays out his case for a positive view of children in the bible, using Deuteronomy 1.39, Isaiah 7.15-16, Ezekiel 28.15, Isaiah 53.6, Matthew 18.3, Mark 10.13-16, and Romans 9.11, 4.15, 7.8. Next we consider Ephesians 2.1-3, a major text for believing all humans are fallen and sinful as a default.

                                                                                                        Although we’ll have to wait until next week to get into Romans 5, this discussion helpfully elucidates two important views on original sin to help you think through your own position.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Part 1: 321 Origins of Sin (Kegan Chandler)
                                                                                                        • Part 2: 322 Inherited Sin in Romans 5 (Jerry Wierwille)
                                                                                                        • More podcast episodes with Kegan Chandler
                                                                                                        • More podcast episodes with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                        • You may also be interested in our 6-part Calvinism Debate or our series on foreknowledge and free will
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Original-Sin.png 323 Original Sin Debate 1 (Kegan Chandler vs. Jerry Wierwille) false no 56:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/04/09/322-inherited-sin-in-romans-5-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:00:34 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4454 In our last episode Kegan Chandler presented his case against the classic doctrine of original sin.  Today we are going to hear a critique from Jerry Wierwille of Chandler’s presentation.  Wierwille makes the case for a middle position between Augustine and Chandler on the basis of the flow of thought in Romans 5.12-21.  He agrees with Augustine that Adam’s sin corrupted human nature so that we are all born with rebelliousness in our hearts.  However, he agrees with Chandler that these impulses are resistible, especially with God’s spirit living within us.  This is part two of a four part series on Original Sin.

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • Other Restitutio podcasts with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                        • Check out his website at JerryWierwille.com
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                        —— Notes ——

                                                                                                        Romans 5.12

                                                                                                        Greek

                                                                                                        Διὰ τοῦτο ὥσπερ δι᾽ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος, καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν, ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον·

                                                                                                        Latin

                                                                                                        propterea sicut per unum hominem in hunc mundum peccatum intravit et per peccatum mors et ita in omnes homines mors pertransiit in quo omnes peccaverunt

                                                                                                        ESV

                                                                                                        Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned–

                                                                                                        Five ways to translate Romans 5.12

                                                                                                        1. with the result that (Kegan Chandler)
                                                                                                        2. in whom (Augustine of Hippo)
                                                                                                        3. by imitating
                                                                                                        4. because in Adam
                                                                                                        5. because in themselves

                                                                                                        Romans 5.12-21 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be ma]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Original-Sin.png 322 Inherited Sin in Romans 5 (Jerry Wierwille) false no 1:05:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/04/02/321-origins-of-sin-kegan-chandler/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 18:00:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4669 Today we are beginning a new series on original sin based on Kegan Chandler’s presentation from last year, entitled, “Origins of Sin: The New Heretics and the Metaphysics of Disobedience.”  I’m excited about this four part series for a couple of reasons.  First off, I’m glad to host a place where we can discuss genuine theological differences in a respectful and constructive way.  So often in Christianity today, there’s just not an opportunity for peer review.  Well, here on Restitutio, we are going to do just that.  Secondly, I’m excited because this is an important topic that many of us have not through.  Oftentimes until someone challenges our beliefs, we just go with the flow.  However, whether we realize it or not, that flow was determined long ago by Christians whose reasoning may or may not stand up to scrutiny today.

                                                                                                        In what follows Chandler is going to present his case that the idea of original sin goes back to Augustine who combined bits and pieces from earlier Christians like Cyprian and the Manicheans.  Now, this is a strong position Chandler takes.  Essentially, he argues that the doctrine of original sin is not native to scripture, an innovation of the fifth century. If Chandler is right then all of us are born neutral without the stain of Adam’s sin upon us.  Furthermore, Christians need to stop making excuses for sinning and realize that we can live without sin.

                                                                                                        Next week, I’ll air part two, which will be Jerry Wierwille’s critique of this presentation.  Then I have two more interviews where Chandler and Wierwille discuss this topic at length.

                                                                                                        Also, I took notes on Chandler’s presentation which may help you navigate your way through this talk as well as show you the spelling for these ancient Christians in case you want to research any of them further.  (See below.)

                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                        • You can watch the raw video of this talk on YouTube (including the Q&A, starting at 1:18:00)
                                                                                                        • Other Restitutio podcasts with Kegan Chandler
                                                                                                        • Check out his books The God of Jesus in Light of Christian Dogma and Constantine and the Divine Mind
                                                                                                        • Follow Chandler on his Buried Deep blog and his God of Jesus website.
                                                                                                        • Read his scholarly papers on Academia.edu
                                                                                                        • If you’d like to support Restitutio financially, you can donate here.
                                                                                                        • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                        —— Notes ——

                                                                                                        Augustine’s Doctrine Defined

                                                                                                        • A) Adam’s disobedience caused transgressions to enter the world of humanity
                                                                                                        • B) Adam’s disobedience caused all of his progeny to physically die
                                                                                                        • C) Adam’s disobedience fundamentally changed human nature.
                                                                                                        • D) Adam originally had free will, but it became corrupt as a consequence of his disobedience.
                                                                                                        • E) Adam’s disobedience caused all of his progeny to be born without free will (a ‘non-free’ free will).
                                                                                                        • F) Adam’s disobedience transmitted sin-guilt to all his progeny.
                                                                                                        • G) Adam’s disobedience transmitted a sinning-nature ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Original-Sin.png 321 Origins of Sin (Kegan Chandler) false no 1:22:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/03/26/320-evangelism-panel-discussion-josh-anderson-jerry-wierwille-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:00:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4661 This is the sixth and final part of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class. In this panel discussion Josh Anderson, Jerry Wierwille, and I discuss several issues before taking questions from the audience.  Questions we cover include:
                                                                                                          • How can we develop relationships with non-Christians?
                                                                                                          • How should we handle rejection?
                                                                                                          • What should we say when asked a question we don’t know the answer to?
                                                                                                          • How do we respond when someone brings up all the pain and suffering in the world?
                                                                                                          • What should we do when the conversation stalls out?
                                                                                                          • What about Ray Comfort’s method of confrontational evangelism?

                                                                                                          If you haven’t yet, check out the previous episodes in this six-part series here.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • See all the sessions in this class, Announcing the Kingdom
                                                                                                          • Download the notes for this seminar along with the 5 Thresholds Worksheet
                                                                                                          • Watch the unedited videos of this seminar.
                                                                                                          • Visit Joshua Anderson’s website Pascal’s Jacket
                                                                                                          • See more podcasts, posts, and book recommendations about evangelism
                                                                                                          • If you’d like to support Restitutio financially, you can donate here.
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 320 Evangelism Panel Discussion (Josh Anderson, Jerry Wierwille, Sean Finnegan) false no 1:03:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/03/19/how-to-get-better-at-evangelism-josh-anderson/ Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:00:55 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4659 We are living in an unprecedented time. As many of you know, I live in New York, the state with the most positive coronavirus cases in America. In my lifetime, I have never seen a disease spread like this all around the world. This pandemic is taking lives every day even if most of us who get it will probably recover in a week or two. We’ve seen hoarding and panic, but neither of these is fitting for Christ-followers in this time. Thankfully, we are not without guidance on how to behave in these times, for we have the scriptures, the example of Jesus, and the historical record of those who went through much worse plagues than COVID-19.

                                                                                                          From all of this, I have come to see that we have been in training for this moment all our Christian lives. We have learned the priorities of loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. We have learned to pray, to read scripture, to repent of our sins, to live out the fruit of the spirit. And we have learned that through Christ, God has decisively defeated death, leaving behind an empty tomb and rock solid hope in his return to resurrect the saints. This hope is not wishy-washy or nebulous, but the anchor of our souls–a concrete expectation that when Messiah comes, he will make everything wrong with the world right.

                                                                                                          However, our unbelieving friends, neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, and family members, do not have the example of Jesus. They do not have a hope to anchor them through the storms of life. They have only the news, their instincts for self-preservation, and the uncertainty of the future. Now is our time to let our lights shine before people so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Now is our time to be salt, the seasoning that grabs attention rather going with the flow. Now is our time to share the good news with people who are asking the big questions like “What happens when I die?” or “What’s the meaning of life?” or “Is there a God?” This is your chance to practice cross-shaped love, self-sacrificial generosity, and heroic kindness.

                                                                                                          Although, I’ve thought about interrupting this evangelism class, honestly, I can’t think of a better topic for your consideration today than this evangelism session. This is part five of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class.  Today you’ll learn how to diagnose people’s spiritual condition, based on five thresholds that they typically cross on their way to becoming a Christians as well as how to handle objections. This approach will relieve pressure from you of thinking you have to convert someone in just one conversation and it will provide guidance to know what to do to help them along to the next threshold.

                                                                                                          Now, I did want to mention that in this episode Anderson seems to equate the kingdom of God with the church. Although these two are obviously close ideas theologically, strictly speaking the kingdom arrives at the second coming. We are the citizens of the kingdom who preach the gospel of the kingdom while living out the kingdom ethics in anticipation of the kingdom, and there’s no question that the Jesus is already the crowned king who has inaugurated his kingdom in seed form, but we await his return for the consummation when the meek will inherit the earth and God will heal our world. So, I just wanted make that point that the kingdom is still primarily future.

                                                                                                          In light of the topic of evangelism during the pandemic, I’m interested in hearing your stories. Have any of you seen opportunities to testify about your faith or open doors to speak to folks in this crazy time of pandemic? How have you been dealing with it? Leave a comment below or check out our facebook group.

                                                                                                          https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 319 How To Get Better at Evangelism (Josh Anderson) false no 48:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/03/12/318-building-relational-credibility-josh-anderson/ Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4636 This is part four of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class.  Francis of Assisi allegedly said, “Preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.”  Sadly, many of us have taken this way of thinking as an excuse to remain silent.  However, as Anderson points out, the scriptures specifically call us to open our mouths and use words (Romans 10).  In fact, remaining silent can actually disprove Christianity, especially if you work really hard to show Christian love, but never mention your faith.  People will assume you are a well-adjusted non-believer and may even use you as an example of why they don’t need to look into Christianity!

                                                                                                          In this episode, Anderson shares two secret tools of the missionary craft that he learned when he went off with his family to be missionaries in Japan. The first is running a language route and the second has two do with parties.  I don’t want to give a way too much, but these common sense strategies have the potential to get you back on track reaching people with God’s love.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • Visit Joshua Anderson’s website Pascal’s Jacket
                                                                                                          • See all the sessions in this class, Announcing the Kingdom
                                                                                                          • Download the notes for this seminar
                                                                                                          • Watch the unedited videos of this seminar.
                                                                                                          • See more podcasts, posts, and book recommendations about evangelism
                                                                                                          • Restitutio on Spotify
                                                                                                          • Check out the 20s and 30s Conference in Paducah, KY
                                                                                                          • If you’d like to support Restitutio financially, you can donate here.
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 318 Building Relational Credibility (Josh Anderson) false no 48:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/03/05/317-what-evangelism-is-josh-anderson/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 01:00:23 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4625 This is part three of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class.  In the previous teaching we learned what evangelism is not as well as some ineffective methods to avoid.  Today, we’ll hear about what evangelism is and one key to sharing your faith more effectively.

                                                                                                          Anderson also explains the history of how our culture shifted from seeing religious matters as objective to subjective.  The end result is that people now see evangelism as rude and inappropriate.  Knowing this can help us navigate the challenges of sharing our faith authentically today.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • See all the sessions in this class, Announcing the Kingdom
                                                                                                          • Download the notes for this seminar
                                                                                                          • Watch the unedited videos of this seminar.
                                                                                                          • See more podcasts, posts, and book recommendations about evangelism
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 317 What Evangelism Is (Josh Anderson) false no 57:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/02/27/316-what-evangelism-is-not-josh-anderson/ Fri, 28 Feb 2020 01:00:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4593 Today we are gong to hear part two of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class.  His topic is “What Evangelism Is Not.”  Evangelism is not forcing a decision, converting people, condemning people’s sins, or arguing endlessly.  This material is critical for us to grasp so we don’t get frustrated or stuck in ineffective methods.  We do well to keep in mind that whatever your evangelism system is right now, it’s perfectly designed to keep getting the same results.  Do you want to see different results?  Then you have to change something!

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • See all the sessions in this class, Announcing the Kingdom
                                                                                                          • Download the notes for this seminar
                                                                                                          • Watch the unedited videos of this seminar.
                                                                                                          • See more podcasts, posts, and book recommendations about evangelism
                                                                                                          • The Unitarian Christian Alliance Conference (October 16-18) in Nashville, TN area.
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 316 What Evangelism Is Not (Josh Anderson) false no 41:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/02/20/315-why-we-hate-evangelism-and-why-we-arent-doing-it-josh-anderson/ Fri, 21 Feb 2020 01:00:54 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4586 How do you feel about evangelism?  Do you have a heart for the lost?  I know that for me, sharing my faith is pretty challenging, not because of a lack of commitment or a lack of knowledge, but because my culture makes it difficult.  And that stinks, because I want to be faithful to Jesus who commissioned us to make disciples of all nations.  I want to do that.  But, many times, I’m not sure how.

                                                                                                          Today we begin a brand new class on evangelism that is going to cover what evangelism isn’t, what evangelism is, and how we can get better at it.  Our teacher is Joshua Anderson of Rogers, Arkansas who recently got back from Japan after serving there as a missionary for two years.  Anderson has a bachelor of arts from the University of Arkansas, a master’s in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a second master’s in philosophy from Talbot at Biola University.  He’s an expert on apologetics and Christian philosophy and has varying degrees of proficiency in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and Japanese.  Not only is he well educated and super intelligent, but he has the gift of explaining topics in a way that is easy to understand.

                                                                                                          I think you are really going to enjoy this.  This class totally shifted my paradigm on how I think about and carry out evangelism and I think it will help you as well.

                                                                                                          Here’s the handout for this class: Loading... Taking too long?

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                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • See all the sessions in this class, Announcing the Kingdom
                                                                                                          • Download the notes for this seminar
                                                                                                          • Watch the unedited videos of this seminar.
                                                                                                          • See more podcasts, posts, and book recommendations about evangelism
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announcing-The-Kingdom.png 315 Why We Hate Evangelism and Why We Aren’t Doing It (Josh Anderson) false no 1:07:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/02/13/314-adopting-with-bethany-christian-services-renee-rogowski/ Fri, 14 Feb 2020 01:00:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4369 Have you ever heard of Bethany Christian Services?  They are a large Christian adoption agency in the USA and internationally, working hard to find good homes for babies.  In this interview I visit my local branch in Latham, NY and speak with adoption specialist Renee Rogowski about how adoptions work.  I’m so impressed by the work she does and how Bethany provides an alternative to abortion in our country.  In fact, Christian couples have signed up throughout the US to adopt children born with drug addictions, disabilities, birth defects, and even babies who won’t live beyond a year!  Although you don’t hear about this in the news, so many are self-sacrificially putting into practice the teachings of Jesus by loving and investing in these vulnerable children.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • Visit Bethany Christian Services for more information about adopting, foster care, and other related services
                                                                                                          • Contact Renee Rogowski at the Albany branch of Bethany
                                                                                                          • See also Interview 38: Advocating for the Unborn (Kirk Walden)
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BCS_Logo_RGB.jpg 314 Adopting with Bethany Christian Services (Renee Rogowski) false no 44:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/02/06/313-questioning-way-international-doctrines-william-barlow/ Fri, 07 Feb 2020 01:00:07 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4561 How much control should Christian groups exercise over their people?  Should people be free to research and diverge from past ways of thinking?  In this interview, I talk with William Barlow who grew up in the Way International, but ran into problems when he started suggesting changes to the administrators at the Way Corps leadership training program.  After three and a half years of attending, when he was just a few months from graduation, they dismissed him from the program, dashing his dreams of becoming a minister.  Thankfully his story did not end there.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • Visit studydrivenfaith.org to read articles and listen to teachings by William Barlow
                                                                                                          • Get in touch via email: william.a.barlow@gmail.com
                                                                                                          • Check out LHIM free online classes
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/theway.png 313 Questioning Way International Doctrines (William Barlow) false no 1:26:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/30/312-evaluating-dispensationalism-2-john-truitt/ Fri, 31 Jan 2020 01:00:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4371 Last week John Truitt began discussing the theological framework of dispensationalism, especially the “mid-Acts dispensationalism” taught by the Way International.  He pointed out some flaws that got his attention and made him explore the issue more deeply.  In the course of his research, Truitt discovered another way of approaching scripture known as covenantalism.  In this episode he explains his covenantal approach with special emphasis on the new covenant, including the responsibilities and benefits of this new way of relating to God.

                                                                                                          —— Links ——

                                                                                                          • Get in contact with John Truitt through the Allegiance to the King site or by joining his Facebook Group
                                                                                                          • To join one of Allegiance to the King’s weekly virtual fellowship meetings, visit here or email contactallegiancetotheking@gmail.com
                                                                                                          • If you would like to attend the 20s and 30s Christian Conference in Paducah, KY (June 12-14), check out the Facebook Page – 20’s & 30’s Christian Conference
                                                                                                          • Check out previous podcast episodes with Truitt including Virtual Fellowship for Isolated Believers and Apologetics Conference: 6 Evangelism, Jesus’ Way
                                                                                                          • See all interviews with Truitt
                                                                                                          • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/covenant.png 312 Evaluating Dispensationalism 2 (John Truitt) false no 1:08:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/23/311-evaluating-dispensationalism-1-john-truitt/ Fri, 24 Jan 2020 01:00:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4366 Have you ever been on a long drive in the summer when you wore sunglasses for hours and hours?  It’s getting dark and then suddenly you realize you’re still wearing sunglasses.  You take them off and the whole world brightens and  you realize it’s not nearly as dark as you thought?  This is the nature of looking through a lens–it colors your perception of reality.  Today, we are beginning a two part series to talk about lenses through which we read scripture.  What’s your hermeneutic or interpretation strategy?

                                                                                                          Today we’ll focus on the view known as dispensationalism, championed by Dallas Theological Seminary, the Way International, many Baptists, Charismatics, and non-denominational churches as well as theologians like Charles Ryrie, C. I. Scofield, and E. W. Bullinger.  We’ll get into what this system entails in just a moment, but let me first introduce my guest.

                                                                                                          John Truitt grew up in California and Texas converting to Christianity as a Methodist at 14. After a few years of not attending church, at 21 he converted to biblical unitarianism in the shadow of the Way International through an ex-Way group and learned to read the bible in line with classic dispensationalism.  Later on he joined Spirit and Truth Fellowship and even served on the board for a number of years.  After this, Truitt co-founded Allegiance to the King, a web-based ministry with over 150 video teachings, regular virtual church video-conferencing meetings, and an annual young adult event in Kentucky.  Truitt is also the founder and owner of Kalleo Technologies, a managed IT service provider company, based out of Paducah, Kentucky.

                                                                                                          Today he’s going to talk to us about dispensationalism.  Whether that’s where you’re coming from or not, this interview should broaden your understanding of the topic.

                                                                                                          —— Books ——

                                                                                                          • Progressive Dispensationalism by Craig Alan Blaising
                                                                                                          • Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum (also see God’s Kingdom through Covenant: A Concise Biblical Theology)
                                                                                                          • Progressive Covenantalism by Stephen Wellum and Brent Parker
                                                                                                          • Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption by Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn Kreider
                                                                                                          • The Last Days of Dispensationalism: A Scholarly Critique of Popular Misconceptions by Alistair Donaldson
                                                                                                          • Three Central Issues in Contemporary Dispensationalism: A Comparison of Traditional & Progressive Views by Darrell Bock, Elliott Johnson, Herbert Bateman, e]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/dispensational-chart-1.jpg 311 Evaluating Dispensationalism 1 (John Truitt) false no 1:12:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/16/310-are-gifts-of-the-spirit-available-today-sam-storms/ Fri, 17 Jan 2020 01:00:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4351 Are spiritual gifts available today or did they cease after the original apostles died?  In this interview, I talk to Dr. Sam Storms about his own personal experience with speaking in tongues, his biblical case for why gifts are available today, and how he makes room for them in his church services.  Before delving in, I want to just clarify some quick vocabulary.  You are going to hear two terms a lot, and I want to be sure you know what they mean.  The first is cessationist.  This is someone who believes spiritual gifts ceased with the death of the apostles.  The other term is continuationist, which is someone who believes these manifestations continue right down to our own day.

                                                                                                            Dr. Sam Storms has a Ph. D. from the University of Texas and has pastored for about forty-five years in Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.  He taught at Wheaton College for four years and now serves as the lead pastor of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He’s the founder of Enjoying God Ministries and serves on the boards of Desiring God Ministries, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and Acts 29 Network.  He’s the author of numerous published books and articles (see below).  He describes himself as “an Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist who loves his wife of 47 years, his two daughters, his four grandchildren, books, baseball, movies, and all things Oklahoma University.”

                                                                                                            —— Books ——

                                                                                                            • Language of Heaven: Crucial Questions about Speaking in Tongues by Sam Storms
                                                                                                            • Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide by Sam Storms (not yet released)
                                                                                                            • Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Your Life by Sam Storms
                                                                                                            • Simply Spirit Filled by Andrew Gabriel

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • Find out more about Enjoying God Ministries and Sam Storms at samstorms.org
                                                                                                            • Check out the Bridgeway Church website
                                                                                                            • Listen to David Bercot’s lecture, “What the Early Christians Believed about the Gifts of the Spirit“
                                                                                                            • See more Restitutio resources on the holy spirit
                                                                                                            • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/gifts.jpg 310 Are Gifts of the Spirit Available Today? (Sam Storms) false no 47:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/13/introducing-the-unitarian-christian-alliance-dale-tuggy-kegan-chandler-mark-cain-sean-finnegan/ Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:00:34 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4464 Today, we are publicly announcing the launch of a new para-church organization called the UCA or the Unitarian Christian Alliance.  This is a new ministry that I’ve been working on with Dale Tuggy, Kegan Chandler, and Mark Cain for months and I believe it will help all of us, but especially those who don’t live near a church that allows for biblical unitarian members.  Currently the UCA is a website and a conference, though we are hoping it will grow to be much more.  The site is unitarianchristianalliance.org and it’s where you can register to be found by others looking for fellowship with one-God believers.  The conference is slated for the Fall of 2020 in the Nashville, TN area.  I’ll get you more details about that once we settle on a venue and a date.

                                                                                                            I hope that if you are a unitarian Christian–someone who believes the Father of Jesus is the only true God–you’ll sign up.  It’s free and raising your hand to be counted will help others find you so that our scattered movement can coalesce into more home fellowships as well as brick-and-mortar churches.

                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/UCAadjustedFinal.png 309 Introducing the Unitarian Christian Alliance (Dale Tuggy, Kegan Chandler, Mark Cain, Sean Finnegan) false no 53:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/09/308-foreknowledge-and-free-will-6-sean-cole-defending-calvinism/ Fri, 10 Jan 2020 01:00:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4330

                                                                                                            This is part 6 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series.  Last time Dr. Sean Cole introduced the Calvinist understanding of God’s foreknowledge and the limitations on our freedom as a result of our fallen nature.  This time I ask Cole about unconditional election and how that compares to a lottery.  After all, if God has no conditions by which he decides whom he elects to salvation, then isn’t randomness all we have left?  Also, I ask Cole to respond to a number of texts including John 3.16, 1 Timothy 2.4, 2 Peter 3.9, and Luke 7.30.

                                                                                                            —— Books ——

                                                                                                            • Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility by D. A. Carson
                                                                                                            • Excusing Sinners and Blaming God: A Calvinist Assessment of Determinism, Moral Responsibility, and Divine Involvement in Evil by Guillaume Bignon
                                                                                                            • The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner
                                                                                                            • Whomever He Wills by Matthew Barrett and Thomas Nettles
                                                                                                            • No Place for Sovereignty: Whats Wrong with Freewill Theism by R. K. McGregor Wright
                                                                                                            • Chosen for Life: The Case of Divine Election by Sam Storms
                                                                                                            • The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                            • Understanding Christianity Podcast
                                                                                                            • See more about Dr. Cole at seancole.net
                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 308 Foreknowledge and Free Will 6 (Sean Cole Defending Calvinism) false no 1:04:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2020/01/02/307-foreknowledge-and-free-will-5-sean-cole-introducing-calvinism/ Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:00:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4445

                                                                                                            This is part 5 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series.  We’ve considered Open Theism and Arminianism and now we are going to begin thinking about Calvinism. This way of conceiving of God’s foreknowledge argues for both exhaustive foreknowledge and meticulous providence. Thus, no one comes to Christ apart from God’s predestination since our natures are so corrupted that we do not have the ability to choose God.

                                                                                                            I’m happy to have Dr. Sean Cole as my guest today.  He is the lead pastor at Emanuel Baptist Church in Sterling, Colorado.  He is the host of a podcast called “Understanding Christianity” and he teaches Old Testament and New Testament theology as well as biblical interpretation as an adjunct instructor at Colorado Christian University.  He has a Doctor of Ministry degree in expository preaching from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He is the author of Your Identity in the Trinity: Discovering God’s Grace in the Gospel, which came out last April.

                                                                                                            In this episode I ask Cole to share about his background and lay out a positive case for his view of foreknowledge and free will.

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                            • Understanding Christianity Podcast
                                                                                                            • Check out Cole’s recent debate with Tuggy on the Trinity
                                                                                                            • See more about Dr. Cole at seancole.net
                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 307 Foreknowledge and Free Will 5 (Sean Cole Introducing Calvinism) false no 55:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/12/26/306-foreknowledge-and-free-will-4-leighton-flowers-defending-arminianism/ Fri, 27 Dec 2019 01:00:01 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4401

                                                                                                            This is part 4 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series.  Last time Dr. Leighton Flowers of the Soteriology101 podcast laid out his commitment to both God’s complete knowledge of all future events as well as humanity’s ability to freely choose.  Rather than explaining philosophically how that is possible, he suggested that we do not need to know “how” God does something in order to believe “that” he does it.

                                                                                                            In this episode, I ask him about one more Calvinistic text, Romans 9, before delving into a number of Open Theism texts to get his exegesis of these interesting passages, including Genesis 6.5; Isaiah 5.3-7; Jeremiah 7.31; and Psalm 106.23.

                                                                                                             

                                                                                                            —— Books ——

                                                                                                            • Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius on internet archive  and on amazon
                                                                                                            • Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis
                                                                                                            • The Potter’s Promise by Leighton Flowers
                                                                                                            • God’s Provision for All by Leighton Flowers

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                            • Soteriology101 Podcast: YouTube, RSS, Apple, Stitcher
                                                                                                            • YouTube debate: Romans 9, James White vs. Leighton Flowers
                                                                                                            • Purchase Flowers’ class, “Tiptoeing through TULIP,” a six-week study on the doctrines of human responsibility and God’s saving grace ($39)
                                                                                                            • Check out the affirmations and denials about the provisionalist soteriology
                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 306 Foreknowledge and Free Will 4 (Leighton Flowers Defending Arminianism) false no 56:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/12/19/leighton-flowers-interview/ Fri, 20 Dec 2019 01:00:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4315

                                                                                                            We are now in part 3 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series.  We’ve considered Open Theism–the idea that God’s foreknowledge is limited to what he plans to do as well as what he can ascertain from past and present conditions.  In a couple of weeks we’ll examine Calvinism, which holds that God not only foreknows but also predestines all who will be saved.  But, for today, our focus is on the Arminian position.

                                                                                                            Today, I’m happy to have Dr. Leighton Flowers the host of the Soteriology101 a podcast that puts forward an Arminian understanding of salvation as well as responds to prominent Calvinist thinkers. Flowers is also the Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists.  He has authored two books, including The Potter’s Promise, which rebuffed the theology found in James White’s The Potters Freedom.  More recently, he came out with God’s Provision for All, which sets out a positive case for provisionalism, an understanding of salvation that teaches everyone is free to choose to believe the gospel.  Flowers earned his PhD from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where his dissertation focused on the rise of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention.

                                                                                                            In this episode, I ask Flowers to share about his background in Calvinism and how he changed his mind about it.  We discuss his middle position that both affirms God’s exhaustive foreknowledge and our free will.  Then we take a look at a couple of texts like Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 to hear his exegesis of them.

                                                                                                            —— Books ——

                                                                                                            • The Potter’s Promise by Leighton Flowers
                                                                                                            • God’s Provision for All by Leighton Flowers

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                            • Soteriology101 Podcast: YouTube, RSS, Apple, Stitcher
                                                                                                            • YouTube debate: Romans 9, James White vs. Leighton Flowers
                                                                                                            • Purchase Flowers’ class, “Tiptoeing through TULIP,” a six-week study on the doctrines of human responsibility and God’s saving grace ($39)
                                                                                                            • Check out the affirmations and denials about the provisionalist soteriology
                                                                                                            ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 305 Foreknowledge and Free Will 3 (Leighton Flowers Introducing Arminianism) false no 57:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/12/12/304-foreknowledge-and-freewill-2-dale-tuggy-defending-open-theism/ Fri, 13 Dec 2019 01:00:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4379

                                                                                                            Last week we began our Foreknowledge and Freewill series with Dr. Dale Tuggy who gave us an overview of the various positions.  He also commended Open Theism as a view that triumphs where others suffer from logical contradictions.  Now, today in part two, Tuggy will further explore and defend Open Theism against a number of common critiques including:

                                                                                                            • If God doesn’t know the future, how can there be prophecy?  Specifically, how could Jesus predict that Peter would deny him?
                                                                                                            • Why do evangelicals generally look down on Open Theism?
                                                                                                            • Isn’t Open Theism just Process Theology dressed up with some bible references?
                                                                                                            • Doesn’t open theism posit a small God with limited knowledge?

                                                                                                            Additionally, we delve into how Open Theism deals with prayer, especially in light of Hezekiah’s prayer for healing.

                                                                                                            Now, I realize some of you listening are ardent Open Theists and some of you are not.  Keep in mind that next week we are going to hear from Dr. Leighton Flowers on the Ariminian view and then Dr. Sean Cole is going to lay out the case for Calvinist compatabilism.  My goal here is to expose you to multiple views so you can see all of the options laid out side by side.

                                                                                                            —— Books ——

                                                                                                            • The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God by Clark Pinnock, Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, and David Basinger
                                                                                                            • God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God by Gregory Boyd
                                                                                                            • The God Who Risks: A Theology of Divine Providence by John Sanders
                                                                                                            • Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God’s Openness by Clark Pinnock
                                                                                                            • God, Time, and Knowledge by William Hasker

                                                                                                            —— Links ——

                                                                                                            • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                            • More about Dale Tuggy at Trinties.org
                                                                                                            • Get his book, What Is the Trinity?, or read his article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy about Trinity theories
                                                                                                            • Listen to previous Restitutio podcasts with Tuggy here
                                                                                                            • Check out https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 304 Foreknowledge and Free Will 2 (Dale Tuggy Defending Open Theism) false no 1:16:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/12/05/303-foreknowledge-and-freewill-1-dale-tuggy-introducing-open-theism/ Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:00:34 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4353

                                                                                                              Today we are beginning an exciting new series on one of the most interesting ongoing controversies within Christian theology.  Does God have exhaustive foreknowledge of the future?  Does he know everything that is going to happen before it happens?  If so, what does that mean for human free will?  What are the various options within Christian theology and philosophy that well-meaning bible students have taken over the years?

                                                                                                              Now, I’ve been working hard on getting competent representatives from various backgrounds so that you can hear the major options to chose from.  As such, I’ve got interviews with an Open Theist, an Arminian, and a Calvinist, resulting in a six-part series on foreknowledge and freewill.

                                                                                                              To begin with Dr. Dale Tuggy will give us a lay of the land, going through seven different ways that Christian philosophers have understood divine foreknowledge and human free will.  He makes the case that the notion of exhaustive foreknowledge makes libertarian free will impossible.  After all, if we are unable to do other than what God knows we are going to do, then we don’t really have the freedom to chose, right?  See what you think.

                                                                                                              Dr. Dale Tuggy served as Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Fredonia for 18 years. He has taught courses in analytic theology, philosophy of religion, religious studies, and the history of philosophy. Tuggy has a PhD from Brown University. He has authored about two dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters relating to the Trinity and other topics in analytic theology and philosophy of religion.

                                                                                                              —— Notes ——

                                                                                                              Options for Foreknowledge and Freewill

                                                                                                              1. God’s foreknowledge does not cause you to act, rather he foreknows something because you are going to do it (Origen)
                                                                                                              2. Divine Timelessness: God is timeless.  He timelessly exists.  Any kind of change is impossible for God.  God is outside of time.  His knowledge is timeless as well (Boethius, Thomas Aquinas)
                                                                                                              3. Middle knowledge.  God knows all necessary truths (like 2 + 2 = 4).  He also knows all contingent truths b/c he knows what people will freely choose in any circumstances.   (Luis de Molina, William Lane Craig)
                                                                                                              4. Determinism, no libertarian free will (Calvinism)
                                                                                                              5. Your free will changes past facts and changes God’s knowledge.  Causation occurs from the future to the past or from the present to eternity
                                                                                                              6. It’s a mystery. God knows what I’m going to do and yet in the moment, I could have chosen otherwise and have free will.  (Arminianism)
                                                                                                              7. The future does not yet exist. God knows everything that can happen and everything in the past and present, and everyone’s inclinations, and everything that he has planned to do. (Open Theism)

                                                                                                              —— Links ——

                                                                                                              • See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
                                                                                                              • Check out the 6 part Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate between Blake Cortright and Jacob Rohrer
                                                                                                              • More about Dale Tuggy at Trinties.org
                                                                                                              • Also check out these six episodes from the Trinities podcast about God and time:
                                                                                                                • podcast 206 – Florian Fischer – A Slightly Opinionated Introduction to Philosophy of Time
                                                                                                                • https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foreknow-Freewill.png 303 Foreknowledge and Free Will 1 (Dale Tuggy Introducing Open Theism) false no 58:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/11/28/5-reasons-to-thank-god-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 28 Nov 2019 15:21:54 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4340 Gratitude is a key to spiritually healthy living.  We have so many reasons to be thankful, but in this message, I’d like to focus on just five:
                                                                                                                  1. Thankful because God Commanded It
                                                                                                                  2. Thankful for the Basics
                                                                                                                  3. Thankful for the Family of God
                                                                                                                  4. Thankful for God’s Attention
                                                                                                                  5. Thankful for the Cross

                                                                                                                  As God’s people, our lives should not look just the same as the world.  Rather, they should be marked by an enduring sense of gratitude.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • For more sermons from the team at Living Hope International Ministries, visit this YouTube channel
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/gratitude.jpg 302 Five Reasons to Thank God (Sean Finnegan) false no 39:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/11/21/301-the-bibles-view-of-the-body-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 22 Nov 2019 01:00:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4320 We’ve had quite a number of folks commenting in on episode 299, my interview with Dr. Jerry Wierwille, called “Does the Bible Support Abortion“.  That episode was very limited to focusing on a couple of texts relevant to building a Christian perspective on abortion.  Essentially, we concluded, as on several previous episodes, that abortion-on-demand doesn’t fit with the biblical worldview.  However, this is just one aspect of what the bible teaches about bodies.  In fact there is much more to say on the subject.  So I thought it would be good this week to play out my presentation from a theological conference last year called, “Biblical Somatology.”

                                                                                                                  My aim for this research project was to mine the scriptures for information on the body, both how we should think about our bodies as well as the boundaries God has placed on what we should and shouldn’t do with our bodies.  Then by contrasting the biblical approach with our own social issues related to bodies and sexuality, we can glimpse just a small bit of how genius God’s boundaries are as well as how they unleash human flourishing.

                                                                                                                  Now there is also a video version of this talk you can access as well as a much more comprehensive paper with all the references and footnotes in it.  So I encourage you to check those out if you are interested.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • See my Biblical Somatology paper and the YouTube video
                                                                                                                  • More podcasts and posts related to God’s boundaries to enable human flourishing
                                                                                                                  • For the comments at the end of this episode see episode 299 Does the Bible Support Abortion with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                                  • For information about attending the 2020 Theological Conference, visit theologicalconference.org
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gesture-drawing.jpg 301 The Bible’s View of the Body (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:23:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/11/15/300-christian-disciples-with-a-mission-stan-and-pam-chee/ Sat, 16 Nov 2019 04:19:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4302 Are you sold out for God?  Would you move to a foreign land if he called to the mission field?  Well, Stan and Pam Chee of Australia have done just that.  In this interview, they share about their lives of service to God and Christ.  They grew up in Australia but have been serving in Toronto, Canada for the last decade.  Of particular note is how they started and continue to do college outreach at the University of Toronto.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Visit the Christian Disciples Church website
                                                                                                                  • For more on the Christian Disciples Church listen to Interview 47 Christian Disciples Church and the Only True God with Calvin Chan
                                                                                                                  • More episodes and posts on evangelism here.
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Stan-and-Pam-Chee.jpg 300 Christian Disciples with a Mission (Stan and Pam Chee) false no 59:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/11/07/299-does-the-bible-support-abortion-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 08 Nov 2019 01:00:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4054 Abortion has been and remains a hot-button issue in our culture at large and even within some corners of Christianity.  In this episode Jerry Wierwille will explain the issues with the only biblical text that directly addresses this subject (Exodus 21.22-5).  In addition to exegeting this confusing passage, Wierwille also draws on evidence from Psalm 51 before discussing some of the big picture ethical issues related to modern abortions.

                                                                                                                  —— Related Podcasts ——

                                                                                                                  • Interview 38: Advocating for the Unborn with Kirk Walden
                                                                                                                  • Off Script 34: Killing the Unborn (A Christian View of Abortion) with Rose Rider and Daniel Fitzsimmons
                                                                                                                  • Off Script 46: Should Christians Outlaw Abortion? with Rose Rider and Daniel Fitzsimmons

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • For a biblical theology of the body, see the paper, “Biblical Somatology,” presented at Restoration Fellowship’s 27th Theological Conference
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jerry-Wierwille-at-Converge-2019.jpg 299 Does the Bible Support Abortion? (Jerry Wierwille) false no 52:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/10/31/298-orthodox-jew-defends-god-bible-scott-shay/ Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:00:35 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4277 Scott Shay is an interesting man.  He’s a succesful business man and banker who co-founded a bank in 2001.  He even has a TEDx talk where he spoke on Wall Street on the theme, “More Banks, Fewer Problems.”  However, he’s also an orthodox Jew who is passionate about his faith.  In this interview we talk about his book, In Good Faith, including why he wrote it, why monotheism matters today, how he can believe in God despite the holocaust, and why he believes the bible is trustworthy in the face of higher biblical criticism.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Get his books In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism and Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry
                                                                                                                  • Find out more about Scott Shay at scottshay.com
                                                                                                                  • Also check out K. A. Kitchen’s book On the Reliability of the Old Testament
                                                                                                                  • More podcasts defending the bible here
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Scott-Shay-with-Book.jpg 298 Orthodox Jew Defends God, Bible (Scott Shay) false no 57:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/10/24/297-the-gospels-jesus-wisdom-daniel-calcagno/ Fri, 25 Oct 2019 00:00:47 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4252 Jesus once said, “The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11.31).  In our wisdom series so far, we’ve looked at the wisdom of Solomon from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  We’ve also delved into the wisdom of Job.  But there is one greater than Solomon and Job.  In our last episode in this series, Daniel Calcagno of Ontario, Canada is going to share with us a little bit of the wisdom of Jesus, mainly based on his Sermon on the Mount.

                                                                                                                  Tune in to our Saturday seminar (October 26, 2019) via webcast.  Here’s Joshua Anderson giving a short preview:

                                                                                                                  https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Announcing-the-Gospel-Seminar.mp4

                                                                                                                  For more information about this seminar, click here.

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out the other podcasts in this wisdom series
                                                                                                                  • Check out these other podcasts with Daniel Calcagno
                                                                                                                  • Get info about coming to Revive 2020 (Jan 3-5, 2020)
                                                                                                                  • This message was from Revive 2019, click here to see other teachings and music from that year
                                                                                                                  • Watch the Announcing the Gospel seminar Saturday (October 26, 2019) via this YouTube link
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png 297 The Gospels: Jesus’ Wisdom (Daniel Calcagno) false no 52:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/10/17/296-ecclesiastes-meaningful-life-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4249 Like Job, the book of Ecclesiastes wrestles with anomalies to the general principles of wisdom contained in much of the bible.  Sometimes our world functions in chaotic and unpredictable ways.  Sometimes the race is not won by the swift, nor the battle by the strong, nor bread harvested by the wise, nor riches acquired by the intelligent, nor favor gained by those with knowledge (Ecclesiastes 9.11).  Instead, time and chance happen to them all.  What is a person to do in these confusing and unfair circumstances?  In this message, Pastor Victor Gluckin shares key insights from the book of Ecclesiastes to help you know how to make sense of these situations and what to prioritize when the world seems broken.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out the other podcasts in this wisdom series
                                                                                                                  • Check out these other podcasts with Victor Gluckin
                                                                                                                  • Get info about coming to Revive 2020 (Jan 3-5, 2020)
                                                                                                                  • This message was from Revive 2019, click here to see other teachings and music from that year
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png 296 Ecclesiastes: Meaningful Life (Victor Gluckin) false no 58:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/10/10/295-job-its-complicated-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 11 Oct 2019 00:00:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4241 The Hebrew Bible contains different kinds of wisdom literature.  For example, wise sayings in Proverbs typically express general principles, providing guidance for what to do when the world is working the way it’s supposed to.  However, Job deals with just the opposite issue.  What happens when you do everything right and still face extraordinary loss and suffering?  In this teaching we’ll work through the major themes in Job to uncover the overall message of the book.  We’ll see how Job refutes the simplistic idea of karma, so commonly assumed by so many today.  In the end we’ll see that our world is complicated, but God is here through it all.

                                                                                                                  Click here to read a short but helpful quote by William Lane Craig on our complicated world.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out the other podcasts in this wisdom series
                                                                                                                  • Go deeper and listen to Podcast 63: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                  • Get info about coming to Revive 2020 (Jan 3-5, 2020)
                                                                                                                  • This message was from Revive 2019, click here to see other teachings and music from that year
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Wisdom-poster-v2.png 295 Job: It’s Complicated (Sean Finnegan) false no 56:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/10/03/294-proverbs-simple-wisdom-for-a-complicated-world-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 03 Oct 2019 22:00:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4226 What is the book of Proverbs all about and what can this book teach you about wisdom?  Join Jerry Wierwille as he leads you through Proverbs to gain key insights to be able to read it and benefit from it on your own.  Proverbs are not merely cutesy clever sayings, but helpful insights into how to act in a given situation.  Although you may think of the bible’s proverbs as unconditional promises, they are, in fact, practical principles that generally work. Join Wierwille as he explains how Proverbs can provide us with simple wisdom for a complicated world.

                                                                                                                  Here is the short video played in this episode:

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out the other podcasts in this wisdom series
                                                                                                                  • Go deeper and listen to Interview 27: Understanding Proverbs with Jerry Wierwille
                                                                                                                  • Get info about coming to Revive 2020 (Jan 3-5, 2020)
                                                                                                                  • This message was from Revive 2019, click here to see other teachings and music from that year
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png 294 Proverbs: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World (Jerry Wierwille) false no 45:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/09/26/292-what-is-wisdom-stan-chee/ Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:00:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4211 Have you ever heard the saying, “doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results is the definition of insanity?”  It certainly sounds foolish to try the same approach over and over, thinking something different will happen.  So often, what we need is not more education or life hacks, but bona-fide wisdom.  Today we are beginning a series on wisdom.  Stan Chee of the Christian Disciples Church in Toronto, Canada, will give you four key points on getting genuine wisdom so you can lead a meaningful and worthwhile life.

                                                                                                                  Four Steps to Getting Wisdom

                                                                                                                  1. Have the right attitude; fear God (Proverbs 9.10)
                                                                                                                  2. Have a heart for people, not just for yourself (2 Chronicles 1.10)
                                                                                                                  3. Ask for wisdom in faith, not doubting (James 1.5-7)
                                                                                                                  4. Ask God to number your days (Psalm 90.12)

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Reach Pastor Stan Chee via email: stanintoronto@gmail.com
                                                                                                                  • visit the Christian Disciples Church website
                                                                                                                  • Check out the other podcasts in this wisdom series
                                                                                                                  • See more Restitutio podcasts and posts about wisdom
                                                                                                                  • Get info about coming to Revive 2020 (Jan 3-5, 2020)
                                                                                                                  • This message was from Revive 2019, click here to see other teachings and music from that year
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png 293 What Is Wisdom? (Stan Chee) false no 34:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/09/19/292-a-change-of-affection-becket-cook/ Fri, 20 Sep 2019 00:00:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4209

                                                                                                                  I’ve got a fascinating interview for you with Becket Cook. Now some of you may recognize his name from the interview I did with him two years ago (Interview 18). In that episode Cook shared his amazing testimony of how he went from a committed gay production set designer in Hollywood to experiencing God in a church service so deeply that it completely changed his life forever. Here’s a description of that moment:

                                                                                                                  All of a sudden, a giant wave of God’s presence came crashing over me. A flood of intense warmth, emotion, and power coursed through me. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I now believe it was the Holy Spirit. I had no prior experience with this, no framework for it, and no way of anticipating it…God revealed himself to me. In that moment, everything became clear: God was real, Jesus was real, the Bible was real, the resurrection was real, heaven was real, hell was real–it was all real…It felt like gallons of love were being poured into me…After my stunning encounters with God, I knew I could no longer pursue romantic relationships with men…Put plainly, I accepted that it was a sin.  -Becket Cook, A Change of Affection, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2019), pp. 19, 20, 22.

                                                                                                                  Cook’s book, A Change of Affection, is out and it goes way more into detail than our earlier interview. It’s an engaging relatively short read (less than 200 pages), all telling Cook’s history and conversion and how he thinks about same-sex attraction now. And what’s so cool about Becket Cook’s story is that this all happened 10 years ago. He’s not some fly by night testimony-today and fall-away-tomorrow kind of person. He’s stood the test of time. He’s gone to seminary at Talbot and he understand the Christian worldview and he has a seminary-level understanding of the bible. In this interview I ask him about the book, how it’s been received, and about his future.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Get the book A Change of Affection
                                                                                                                  • Listen to my first interview: God Woo’s Fashion Set Designer from Gay Lifestyle
                                                                                                                  • To get in touch with Cook or to book him to speak at your church or event, visit becketcook.com or email him becket@becketcook.com
                                                                                                                  • Watch his excellent talk at BIOLA from 2014 on YouTube
                                                                                                                  • Check out these other Restitutio posts on Christians who struggle with same sex attraction
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Becket-Cook.jpg 292 A Change of Affection (Becket Cook) false no 37:52 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/09/12/interview-59-god-at-work-in-kenya-3-maurice-chahilu/ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 00:22:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4197 This is the third and final part of our series, God at Work in Kenya with Maurice Chahilu of Kingdom Life Ministries.  We’ve come to see so much about what is going on over there, but there’s still more to learn.  Last time I had asked bishop Maurice about his greatest challenges and what he is doing to overcome them.  He shared about a number of concerns, but the last of them was about raising enough money to do outreach and support himself.  This time, we pick up where we left off to hear about an innovative solution Maurice has proposed to become more financially independent.

                                                                                                                  Additionally, for those of you who are visiting on Restitutio.org, I’ve included a video below of Maurice that Joe Martin did in 2018.  This way you can put a face to the voice.

                                                                                                                  https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Maurice-Chahilu-interviewed-by-Joe-Martin-2018.mp4

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Email Maurice Chahilu (mchahilu@yahoo.com) and Joe Martin (jmartin@atlantabiblecollege.com)
                                                                                                                  • Lord’s Harvest International missions organization (LHI), the missionary wing of the Church of God General Conference
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sean-and-Chahilus-e1568334542549.jpg Interview 59 God at Work in Kenya 3 (Maurice Chahilu) false no 32:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/09/05/interview-58-god-at-work-in-kenya-2-maurice-chahilu/ Fri, 06 Sep 2019 00:00:09 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4189

                                                                                                                  Maurice Chahilu and Rebekah Martin

                                                                                                                  This is part two of our series on God at Work in Kenya with a focus on Kingdom Life Ministries and Maurice Chahilu.  In our last episode we saw how Maurice got started in his ministry.  (If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, go back and listen to it first).  Today, we’ll hear about some of his major challenges, his emphasis on the great commission, and a little more about his needs for growth.  What will come through in this episode crystal clear is this man’s utter dedication and commitment to proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom no matter the cost.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • See part one here: Interview 57 God at Work in Kenya 1 (Maurice Chahilu)
                                                                                                                  • Email Maurice Chahilu (mchahilu@yahoo.com) and Joe Martin (jmartin@atlantabiblecollege.com)
                                                                                                                  • Lord’s Harvest International missions organization (LHI), the missionary wing of the Church of God General Conference
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Maurice-Chahilu-and-Rebekah-Martin-2019.jpg Interview 58 God at Work in Kenya 2 (Maurice Chahilu) false no 31:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/08/29/interview-57-god-at-work-in-kenya-1-maurice-chahilu/ Fri, 30 Aug 2019 00:00:17 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4176 God is doing something in Kenya and churches are forming and growing rapidly.  Today we are beginning a series of shows on the work of Kingdom Life Ministries and the visionary who began the work there, Maurice Chahilu. A few weeks ago I went to Africa to visit Maurice and the churches he oversees.  I was part of a team of missionaries who were going over to support the work that has been going on in western Kenya for the last 8 years, including Joe and Rebekah Martin, Rolin and Linda Carlbom, and Lacey Dunn. On my last day there, I asked the team for their impressions of what it was like and also recorded Maurice sharing his story.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Email Maurice Chahilu (mchahilu@yahoo.com) and Joe Martin (jmartin@atlantabiblecollege.com)
                                                                                                                  • Lord’s Harvest International missions organization (LHI), the missionary wing of the Church of God General Conference
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/20190613_094353.png Interview 57 God at Work in Kenya 1 (Maurice Chahilu) false no 38:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/08/22/interview-56-detoxing-your-brain-2-leah-fronczek/ Fri, 23 Aug 2019 00:00:31 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4165 Today is the second and final part of my interview with Leah Fronczek on detoxing your brain.  See part one here.  We begin by talking about the importance of free will in effecting change before getting into the specifics of how to combat toxic thinking.  Learn about multitasking, daydreaming, community, forgiveness, and honesty as ways to combat negativity.  This episode will help you in your quest to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12.2).

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out these books by Carolyn Leaf that we mentioned in this podcast.
                                                                                                                  • Check out our past young adult event, “Revive“
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/brain.jpg Interview 56 Detoxing Your Brain 2 (Leah Fronczek) false no 29:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/08/17/interview-55-detoxing-your-brain-1-leah-fronczek/ Sat, 17 Aug 2019 15:36:56 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4159 At the beginning of each year, we have a young adult event called Revive in Connecticut.  This year Leah Fronczek was one of the workshop leaders.  Her topic was detoxing your brain and I asked her to come on Restitutio to share with you what she learned in studying this topic.  This is so important for us as Christians, because God expects us to be able to control our thinking (Romans 12.2).  How do you get rid of toxic thoughts?  Leah is going to help us think through not only how negative thoughts affect us, but how to combat them.

                                                                                                                  Now, before we get into this, I want to make a distinction.  The mind, as we are using it in this discussion, is your mental state, consciousness, memories, feelings etc. , i.e. where you do your thinking, whereas the brain is the physical organ in your head that makes the mind possible.  Obviously, these two are connected, but they aren’t necessarily the same.  We’ll get into this more, but I just wanted to point that out before we get started.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out these books by Carolyn Leaf that we mentioned in this podcast.
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/leah-fronczek-e1566055873141.jpg Interview 55 Detoxing Your Brain 1 (Leah Fronczek) false no 51:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/08/08/interview-54-beating-guns-shane-claiborne-and-mike-martin/ Thu, 08 Aug 2019 23:00:59 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4134 Last Saturday while I was attending a Christian festival in Ohio, a 21 year-old man entered a Walmart in El Paso, TX and murdered 22 people, injuring 24 more, making it the 7th deadliest shooting in modern US history.  What’s so crazy about this, is that walking into a huge store like Walmart and shooting a semi-automatic assault rifle and hitting 46 people is only 7th!  Can you agree with me that we have a gun-violence problem in America?

                                                                                                                  Then, the next day, a 24 year-old man shot 10 people outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio, injuring 27 more. He used another semi-automatic assault rifle.  What is the Christian response to all of this?

                                                                                                                  Well, today we are going to hear from two Christians who think it’s time for Christ-followers to lead the way in enacting and living out the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks (and our guns into mattocks.)  In fact, they’re already doing just that.

                                                                                                                  I went to see Shane Claiborne and Mike Martin on their “Beating Guns” tour when they came to New Haven, CT (the same town as Yale University).  I stood there outside the church watching as a woman whose life was traumatized by gun violence beat on a glowing hunk of metal, that had once been a gun, confiscated by the police and now being transformed into an actual garden tool.  As she brought the hammer down on the softened metal, she began weeping.  As she continued hitting it harder and faster she started wailing.  I stood there watching as she took out her overwhelming pain and personal loss on that piece of metal. It was cathartic, prophetic, and transformative.

                                                                                                                  Now I realize that gun-violence is a hot-button issue in our culture today and that many of you listening to this own guns for a variety of purposes.  I don’t expect you to just change what you believe about guns after a single podcast episode, but I simply ask that you listen to these guys as they talk about this subject from a Christian perspective.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Check out RAWtools.org and follow them on twitter @RAWtools
                                                                                                                  • Get the Beating Guns book in print or in audio format through Christian audio or Audible or visit the website
                                                                                                                  • You can follow Shane Claiborne on twitter @ShaneClaiborne
                                                                                                                  • Listen to Restitutio episodes Podcast 15: A Theology of Nonviolence, Podcast 67: It’s Just War (Debate), Off Script 38: Killing in War: A Christian View of Violence, and Off Script 43: Can Christians Use Non-Lethal Violence? (Q&A).
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Beating-Guns-Book.jpg Interview 54 Beating Guns (Shane Claiborne and Mike Martin) false no 56:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/08/01/interview-53-why-knowing-the-land-of-israel-matters-bill-schlegel/ Thu, 01 Aug 2019 23:00:18 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4137 Bill Schlegel lived in Israel for 34 years, much of that time spent studying and then teaching about the geography of the scriptures.  In this interview he provides three reasons why every bible-student should study the land of Israel:
                                                                                                                  1. historical accuracy
                                                                                                                  2. archeological accuracy
                                                                                                                  3. geographical accuracy

                                                                                                                  He also talks about his upcoming tour to Israel (March 19-April 2).  Get more information about that here.  Lastly, he weighs in a little on the modern situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • visit Schlegel’s new website at One God Report
                                                                                                                  • read his blog Land and Bible
                                                                                                                  • get the Satellite Bible Atlas
                                                                                                                  • the details about the trip to Israel
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/20181002_141910.jpg Interview 53 Why Knowing the Land of Israel Matters (Bill Schlegel) false no 58:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/07/25/interview-52-the-plight-of-palestinians-gloria-olivier/ Fri, 26 Jul 2019 00:00:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4112

                                                                                                                  An Antique Map of Palestine

                                                                                                                  What do you know about Palestinians?  In this eye-opening interview with Gloria Olivier, we discuss the plight of Palestinians today.  Did you know that thousands of Christians live in the West Bank today under Israeli occupation?  In this interview, you’ll learn a little about the history of this conflict as well as what conditions are like on the ground.  Now I realize this can be a sensitive subject, but I just ask that you hear out Gloria and keep an open mind on this important topic.

                                                                                                                  Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

                                                                                                                  Also, here’s a picture of some of Gloria’s family when she was only 9 years old and visited Ramallah.  (She’s on the right with white top and dark skirt.)

                                                                                                                  —— Links ——

                                                                                                                  • Books mentioned in this episode: Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour, Fast Times in Palestine by Pamela Olson, Justice and Only Justice by Naim Ateek, and A Wall in Jerusalem by Mark Braverman
                                                                                                                  • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                  ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gaza-west-bank_map.jpg Interview 52 The Plight of Palestinians (Gloria Olivier) false no 49:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/07/18/theology-24-challenging-the-new-covenant/ Fri, 19 Jul 2019 00:00:06 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4105 In our last episode, we laid the theological foundation for a new covenant doctrine: Christ fulfilled the Law and ratified the new covenant, which opened a new way of relating to God apart from obedience to Torah.  Now we will discuss a number of texts that sometimes confuse Christians into thinking the Law is still in effect today.  We’ll cover Jesus’ obedience to Torah, several scriptures that imply the Torah is forever, the sabbath’s association with creation, and a number of prophecies that mention keeping aspects of the Law in the kingdom.  Although, I realize these are not all of the texts and strategies that Torah-observant Christians use to make their case, these are some of the significant ones.

                                                                                                                  —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                  State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                  Because of Christ’s obedient life, atoning death, and justifying resurrection, he has opened a new way of relating to God via the new covenant.  Thus, the old covenant (the Law of Moses) is obsolete for both Jews and Gentiles.

                                                                                                                  Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                  Acts 15.23-29; Rom 2.25-29; 3.21-31; 4.13-16; 6.14-15; 7.1-7; 8.1-4; 13.8-10; 1 Cor 9.20-21; 2 Cor 3.1-18; Gal 2.14, 19-21; 3.10-29; 4.21-31; 5.1-6; 5.13-25; 6.15-16; Eph 2.11-19; 3.4-6; Col 2.11-17; Heb 7.11-12, 21-22; 8.4-13; 9.11-15; 10.8-22; 12.18-29

                                                                                                                  The Example/Teaching of Jesus

                                                                                                                  Hebrews 4.15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

                                                                                                                  • in the context of Jesus’ life, sinless means he kept the Law
                                                                                                                  • just b/c Jesus kept the law, doesn’t mean we should continue to keep it, especially if his whole mission was to open a new way for us to relate to God
                                                                                                                  • Think of the generation that first received the Torah in the time of Moses. They were not free to continue living the old way if they wanted to relate to God through the new way Moses had delivered to them.

                                                                                                                  Numbers 15.32-36 (the guy who collected sticks on the Sabbath) 32 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.  34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.  35 And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”  36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.

                                                                                                                  Matthew 5.17-20 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                                                  • booster rocket analogy of N. T. Wright
                                                                                                                  • Jesus did not abolish, but to fulfill the Law, but once he fulfilled it, a new way became available
                                                                                                                  • what is a covenant? it’s a way God has set up to relate to him
                                                                                                                  • all of Hebrews teaches that the new way is better
                                                                                                                    • he is a better mediator of the covenant than the angels (Heb 1)
                                                                                                                    • he offers better salvation (Heb 2)
                                                                                                                    • he is better than Moses as a son is better than a faithful servant (Heb 3)
                                                                                                                    • his priesthood is better than Aaron’s b/c it’s after Melch]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 24 — Challenging the New Covenant false no 52:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/07/11/theology-23-new-covenant/ Fri, 12 Jul 2019 00:00:04 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4102 We are now in our second-to-last episode in this 24-part theology class, covering the major biblical doctrines as well as various counterarguments.  Today we will focus our time on the New Covenant.  We’ll make our way through biblical history in order to understand the grand sweep of the bible, paying special attention to the old and new covenants.  Of special note for this lecture is what happened when Gentiles started entering Jewish Christianity.  We’ll briefly touch upon the first Jerusalem council, Judaizers, and Paul’s capitulation to Jame’s request.  Lastly, we’ll see how Paul’s epistles as well as Hebrews make it clear that neither Jewish nor Gentile Christians need to keep the law in order to be saved.

                                                                                                                      —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                      New Covenant Basics
                                                                                                                      • testamentum: covenant, testament, will
                                                                                                                      • your bible has one main division between Malachi and Matthew
                                                                                                                      • Old Testament relates to the old covenant and NT to the new that came through Christ
                                                                                                                      • Jer 31.31-34 is the origin for all talk about the new covenant
                                                                                                                      • Jesus’ ministry
                                                                                                                        • new wine into new wine skins
                                                                                                                        • antitheses in Sermon on the Mount
                                                                                                                      • Last supper is when Jesus talks about his death as ratifying the new covenant in his blood
                                                                                                                      • nothing happens until the Gentiles start to come in

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                      Historical Progression

                                                                                                                      Gentiles begin entering the church

                                                                                                                      1. Samaritans?
                                                                                                                      2. Ethiopian treasurer (he’s the first!)
                                                                                                                      3. Cornelius, the Italian soldier
                                                                                                                         • Peter confronted for entering the house of “uncircumcised men” and eating with them (Acts 11.3)
                                                                                                                         • Peter defends his actions by telling them God accepted them so how could he stand in the way?
                                                                                                                         • speaking in tongues => God granted them spirit => God accepts them => Peter baptized them, accepting them into the family (Acts 11.15-18)
                                                                                                                      4. The Antioch Church (lots of Gentiles enter)
                                                                                                                         • some Christians preached in Antioch to Greeks (Acts 11.19-21)
                                                                                                                         • The Jerusalem leadership sent Barnabas (Acts 11.22)
                                                                                                                         • Barnabas “saw the grace of God” and “he was glad” and lived there (Acts 11.23-24)
                                                                                                                         • Barnabas went to get Paul and ministered together in Antioch for a year (Acts 11.25-26)
                                                                                                                         • Antioch was B&P’s home base before going on missionary trips

                                                                                                                      Paul’s Influence

                                                                                                                      1. Cyprus: proconsul Sergius Paulus believed (Acts 13.6-12)
                                                                                                                      2. Pisidian Antioch: B&P turn to Gentiles (Acts 13.45-47)
                                                                                                                      3. other cities: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, then reverse order and go back to Antioch
                                                                                                                      4. Controversy Breaks Out
                                                                                                                         • read Acts 14.27-15.5
                                                                                                                         • Paul confronts Peter:  “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews” (Gal 2.14)

                                                                                                                      Jerusalem Council

                                                                                                                      • first council meets: council called to deal with controversy over Gentiles coming in
                                                                                                                      • Peter talks about Cornelius
                                                                                                                      • Barnabas & Paul tell about what God has done among the Gentiles
                                                                                                                      • James speaks
                                                                                                                      • they pen an official letter (Acts 15.23-29)
                                                                                                                        1. double standard
                                                                                                                        2. allows for table fellowship

                                                                                                                      Some “Judaizers” teach Gentiles need to keep the Law, especially in Galatian churches Paul started

                                                                                                                      • Paul writes to congregations, strongly arguing against Law-keeping
                                                                                                                      • Gal 2.19-21 righteousness does not come through the law
                                                                                                                      • Gal 3.10-29 no one is justified by the law; Christ redeemed us from the law’s curse for disobedience by becoming a curse; Abrahamic promises before law; God gave law to deal with transgressions until the offspring of Ab. came; law was guardian until Christ came; now that faith]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 23 — New Covenant false no 56:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/07/04/theology-22-challenging-conditional-salvation/ Fri, 05 Jul 2019 00:00:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4092 Pull up a chair and listen in as we discuss and wrestle with some verses that proponents of eternal security use to make their case.  Now there will be some overlap here with our last episode, but also some new content as well.  We’ll discuss texts that seem to imply that salvation has nothing to do with works, that we already have eternal life, that salvation is permanent, and lastly that the holy spirit guarantees salvation.

                                                                                                                        —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                        State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                        Salvation is a gift given by God’s grace that we receive by faith and repentance, resulting in a lifestyle of obedience.  If someone turns away from following Christ, whether in a definitive moment of rejection or through a gradual turning away into sin, he or she becomes lost.

                                                                                                                        Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                        Mat 7.21-23; John 15.1-8; Rom 11.16-24; 1 Cor 6.9-10; 9.27; 15.1-2; Gal 5.19-21; 6.8-9; Eph 5.3-12; Phil 3.11-14; Col 1.22-23; 1 Tim 4.16; 5.8; 2 Tim 2.11-13; Heb 2.1-3; 3.12-14; 4.1, 11; 6.4-8; 10.26-29; Jam 2.18-20; 2 Pet 2.20-22; Rev 3.1-5

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        Difficult Texts

                                                                                                                        Below are a number of texts used to teach that salvation cannot be lost.  Also, here’s a website (jesus-is-savior.com/Believer’s Corner/eternal_security.htm) to present a strong argument for eternal security.

                                                                                                                        Salvation Is Based on Faith Alone Not Works

                                                                                                                        John 3.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

                                                                                                                        “believe” in John is more than just mental assent; it implies obedience

                                                                                                                        John 3.36 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        Ephesians 2.8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

                                                                                                                        The initial moment of salvation is truly by grace through faith.

                                                                                                                        However, once saved we need to perform works

                                                                                                                        Ephesians 2.10 (very next verse) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

                                                                                                                        several other verses in Ephesians make it clear that sinful living results in destruction

                                                                                                                        Ephesians 5.5-8 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  7 Therefore do not become partners with them;  8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        2 Timothy 1.9 [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began

                                                                                                                        • yes, the calling is not because of our good works
                                                                                                                        • but, once we accept the call we must live that out
                                                                                                                        • I once got a call from Anastasia at BU, offering me a scholarship
                                                                                                                          • I had to accept it, but then I also had to move away and enroll and go to the school
                                                                                                                          • the calling was free, but it required action or else it would result in nothing

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        Titus 3.5-6 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  6 which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior

                                                                                                                        • yes, we ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 22 — Challenging Conditional Salvation false no 38:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/06/27/theology-21-conditional-salvation/ Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:00:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4084 We’ll delve into the multifaceted theology of salvation (aka soteriology).  We’ll look at all three tenses of salvation: how we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved.  Now, I realize this can be a very sensitive and controversial subject, depending on what your preexisting doctrinal commitments are.  However, I simply ask that you listen carefully and test what I say here against the scriptures to see whether it holds up.  Be a good Berean and see where God leads you.

                                                                                                                          —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                          Past Tense[1]

                                                                                                                          In Paul’s letters we find several different ways of talking about what God has done in Christ.  The most common is that we are “saved.”  Here is (perhaps) the most famous Scripture about how God has saved us.

                                                                                                                          Ephesians 2:8-9   God’s salvation is a gift that we accept by faith.  His grace reaches down, and we reach up through faith.  Then He pulls us up and out.  Because salvation doesn’t depend on works, no one can say, “I’ve earned it; I’m so great.”  Instead, we say God did it.  Isn’t He glorious?

                                                                                                                          In addition to describing gracious act as “salvation,” we also see these other ways of talking about, each emphasizing a different aspect of what He has done for us through Christ:

                                                                                                                          justified Rom 2:13; 3:4, 20, 24, 28; 4:2; 5:1, 9; 8:30; 10:10; 1 Cor 6:11; Gal 2:16-17, 3:11; 3:24; 5:4; Tit 3:7 reconciled Rom 5:10-11; 1 Cor 7:11; 2 Cor 5:18-20; Eph 2:16; Col 1:20-22 adopted Rom 8:15, 23; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5 sanctified 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; Eph 5:26 redeemed Gal 3:13; 4:5; Tit 2:14 regenerated Tit 3:5

                                                                                                                          When considering salvation (in the past tense), we may ask the question, “What are we saved from?”  This question is extremely helpful in clarifying our understanding.  Fortunately, we need only go back up to the beginning of the chapter to get the answer we seek.

                                                                                                                          Ephesians 2:1-10   According to verses 1-3, we’re saved from being dead in sin, going along with evil spiritual forces, living in the passions of our flesh, and being a child of wrath.  Verse 7 tells us we have a future to look forward to as well.  But, if we’re saved, what does that mean about how our lives should look?  Verse 10 tells us the purpose of our salvation is for good works that we should walk in.

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Present Tense[2]

                                                                                                                          1 Corinthians 15:1-2   The Corinthians had already received the gospel some time ago; they believed it when they heard it.  Now they are “being saved.”[3]  Salvation is not just a one-time event, though there is an entry point.  We become saved, and then we continue in that reality.  Is it possible to lose your salvation?

                                                                                                                           Southern Baptist Convention

                                                                                                                          Article Nine: The Security of the Believer[4]

                                                                                                                          We affirm that when a person responds in faith to the Gospel, God promises to complete the process of salvation in the believer into eternity. This process begins with justification, whereby the sinner is immediately acquitted of all sin and granted peace with God; continues in sanctification, whereby the saved are progressively conformed to the image of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit; and concludes in glorification, whereby the saint enjoys life with Christ in heaven forever.

                                                                                                                          We deny that this Holy Spirit-sealed relationship can ever be broken. We deny even the possibility of apostasy.

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Lutheran Churches

                                                                                                                          Formula of Concord: XI Election

                                                                                                                          Therefore we should judge concerning this our election to eternal life neither from reason nor from the Law of God, which lead us either into a reckless, dissolute, Epicurean life or into despair, and excite pernicious thoughts in the hearts of men, for they cannot, as long as they follow t]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 21 — Conditional Salvation false no 47:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/06/20/theology-20-follow-jesus/ Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:21 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4076 Finally, we arrive at practical theology or Christian ethics.  Although, we could easily spend fifteen lectures together building up a full edifice of how God wants us to live, in this episode we’ll simply lay the foundation stones of following Jesus.  What I mean by follow is to read his words and do them, especially when what he says conflicts with our sensibilities, comfort, or common sense.  If we only “follow” Jesus when what he says agrees with us and then diverge when he disagrees, then we are not following, but merely walking in the same direction occasionally.

                                                                                                                          —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                          Two requirements of Christianity
                                                                                                                          1. believe the gospel (conversion/soteriology)
                                                                                                                          2. follow Jesus (ethics)

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Following Christ is worth it
                                                                                                                          • Jn 10.27-28 sheep hear voice and get eternal life
                                                                                                                          • Mt 19.27-30 what will we get for following you?
                                                                                                                          • those who follow Christ get eternal life!!! that’s worth it

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Confess Jesus as Lord to be saved (Rm 10.9-10)
                                                                                                                          • Jesus says can’t call him “Lord” if you don’t do what he says (Lk 6.46)
                                                                                                                          • Jesus defines the word “Lord” as those who do what he says
                                                                                                                          • if you are a Christ-follower you do what he says even when it disagrees with what you think

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Different Jesuses
                                                                                                                          • hippie Jesus (love is all that matters)
                                                                                                                          • one and done Jesus (salvation and then do what I want)…oh yeah, I prayed a prayer once
                                                                                                                          • American Jesus (patriotic, my country right or wrong), we forget Jesus was a middle-eastern Jewish rabbi who counseled against violent revolution against Rome
                                                                                                                          • prosperity Jesus (he wants me to be rich!, sow/reap blessings)
                                                                                                                          • poverty Jesus (unless I’m dirt poor I’m not a true follower)
                                                                                                                          • part-time Jesus (compartmentalized life, Sunday Christians, cafeteria Christianity)
                                                                                                                          • real Jesus
                                                                                                                            1. average Semite was 5’1, weighing 110 pounds (meaning he DIDN’T look like this! [muscular Jesus])
                                                                                                                            2. if Jesus worked outdoors as a carpenter, he probably would have weathered tan skin
                                                                                                                            3. popular mechanics
                                                                                                                            4. the real Jesus is the one we read about in Scripture
                                                                                                                          • but how do we know which Jesus is the REAL Jesus?
                                                                                                                            1. we are not left without help here
                                                                                                                            2. the bible tells us who Jesus is and what he wants us to do

                                                                                                                          “The Christ that Harnack sees, looking back through nineteen centuries of “Catholic darkness”, is only the reflection of a Liberal Protestant face, seen at the bottom of a deep well” –George Tyrrell[1]

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Absolute Commitment

                                                                                                                          Mk 3.31-35 Those Who Do God’s Will Are Jesus’ Family

                                                                                                                          notice what Jesus doesn’t say

                                                                                                                          • he doesn’t say, the one who has an emotional connection to God
                                                                                                                          • he doesn’t say, the one who sings uplifting, positive, and encourage Christian music
                                                                                                                          • he doesn’t say, the one who prays or reads the Bible or goes to church
                                                                                                                          • he says, the one who does the will of God

                                                                                                                          here Jesus redefines the family!

                                                                                                                          • this might seem radical to you, but it is merely the first step
                                                                                                                          • your closest relatives, according to Jesus, are not truly your mother or brother or sister anymore, but those who are unrelated to you by blood but do the will of God are
                                                                                                                          • the Palestinian Christ-follower is more your family than the apple-pie eating American who shares your politics but doesn’t follow Jesus
                                                                                                                          • just look at what Jesus says about his own mother

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Lk 11.27-28 Blessed Mary Becomes Blessed Obedient

                                                                                                                          27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed.” 28 But he said, “On the ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 20 — Follow Jesus false no 55:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/06/13/theology-19-conversion/ Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:44 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4061 In this lecture, you’ll learn what Jesus and the book of Acts have to say about conversion.  From Jesus, we will examine his parable of the Sower with special focus on the good soil–those who hear the message, understand it, accept it, hold it fast, and bear fruit.  Next we’ll work through all of the conversions in the book of Acts to discover the four elements of conversion: belief, repentance, baptism, and receiving the holy spirit.  Lastly, we’ll dig deeper into each of those elements to understand them better.

                                                                                                                          —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                          Jesus on Salvation

                                                                                                                          comparison of soils in Sower and Seed parable

                                                                                                                          Mt 13.23; Mk 4.20; Lk 8.15

                                                                                                                          hear, understand, accept, hold fast, bear fruit

                                                                                                                          Four Elements of Conversion in Acts

                                                                                                                          These examples of conversion from Acts that show 4 elements of conversion:

                                                                                                                          1. believe
                                                                                                                          2. repent
                                                                                                                          3. get baptized
                                                                                                                          4. receive the spirit
                                                                                                                          reference belief repentance baptism spirit Acts 2.38 x x x Acts 3.19 x Acts 8.12, 17 x x x Acts 8.13 x x Acts 8.36 x Acts 9.17; 22.16 x x Acts 10.44, 47-48 x x Acts 11.21 x Acts 13.12 x Acts 13.48 x Acts 14.1 x Acts 16.15 x Acts 16.31, 33 x x Acts 17.30, 34 x x Acts 18.8 x x Acts 19.5-6 x x Acts 28.24 x

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Believe the Gospel

                                                                                                                          what is the gospel?

                                                                                                                          • message preached, that if believed results in salvation
                                                                                                                          • 2 Tim 1.10

                                                                                                                          what the gospel is not

                                                                                                                          • music
                                                                                                                          • a biography of Jesus (originally called “according to Mark”, etc.)
                                                                                                                          • any kind of good news
                                                                                                                          • a general communication about the bible (confusion of the “word”)

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                          Understanding the “Word”

                                                                                                                          Old Testament

                                                                                                                          • God’s activity in the world
                                                                                                                            • “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host” (Ps 33.6)
                                                                                                                            • “he sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” Ps 107.20; cf. Ps 147.15, 18-19; Is 55.10-11
                                                                                                                            • “The three (spirit, wisdom, and word) are simply alternative ways of speaking about the effective power of God in His active relationship with His world and its inhabitants.”[1]
                                                                                                                          • God’s message spoken by the prophet
                                                                                                                            • “And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite saying, ‘Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring disaster upon his house.’” 1 Kings 21.28-29
                                                                                                                          • a synonym for the law
                                                                                                                            • “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.” Psalm 119.16-17

                                                                                                                          New Testament

                                                                                                                          • God’s command in the law
                                                                                                                            • “thus making void the word of God by your tradition…” Mk 7.13
                                                                                                                          • typically it refers to the message or gospel
                                                                                                                            • “word of the kingdom” Mt 13.19 (shortened to “the word” in vv20, 21, 22, 23)
                                                                                                                            • the word (v4) = Christ (v5) = the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (v12) = word of God (v14) = word of the Lord (v25) = the gospel (v25) Acts 8.4, 5, 12, 14, 25
                                                                                                                            • can’t be scriptures b/c in Berea they checked Paul’s word against the scriptures to see if was true Ac 17.11
                                                                                                                            • born again through the living and enduring word of God…this is the word which was preached as gospel to you 1 Pe 1.23
                                                                                                                          • God’s activity in the word to search people’s hearts and find out the truth
                                                                                                                            • “11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of Go]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 19 – Conversion false no 49:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/06/06/theology-18-atonement-theories/ Thu, 06 Jun 2019 19:34:18 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4059 Last time we looked at the major categories the scriptures use to answer the question, “Why did Jesus die?”  This time, we’ll take a journey through church history, making stops along the way to see how our forebearers have made sense of the crucifixion of our Lord. You’ll learn about these seven theories:
                                                                                                                              1. Ransom
                                                                                                                              2. Christus Victor
                                                                                                                              3. Moral Exemplar
                                                                                                                              4. Satisfaction
                                                                                                                              5. Penal Substitution
                                                                                                                              6. Governmental
                                                                                                                              7. Communal Substitution

                                                                                                                              For each I quote someone from Church History who advocated for that position and offer some criticisms.  Note: This episode is from a talk I gave at Restoration Fellowship’s 2016 Theological Conference and you can get the full paper here.

                                                                                                                              —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                              Here is part two of my “Why Did Jesus Die?” paper.  You can find the whole essay here.

                                                                                                                              Introduction

                                                                                                                              Are we satisfied to leave matters where the biblical data lies or should we press on to, as James Orr put it, “seek the inmost secret of atonement?”[19] Alas, for centuries, Christians have meditated on Christ’s redemptive work in an effort to better understand what happened behind the scenes. In this part I will cover seven theories in roughly chronological order. Before we begin, I should note that these various ways of looking at atonement are not mutually exclusive. I will begin with the two theories that emphasize spiritual warfare.

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                              1. Ransom Theory

                                                                                                                              Satan once showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and then said, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will” (Luke 4.6). On the basis of this text, some have concluded that when the first humans rebelled against God, they transferred the dominion and authority over this world to Satan. This is why Jesus called him, “the ruler of this world” (John 14.30), Paul said he was “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4.4), and John termed him “the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12.9). In Christ’s atoning work, he delivered humanity “from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption” (Col 1.13-14). In fact, when he ascended, “he led a host of captives” with him, liberating them from Satan’s custody. Augustine of Hippo (ad 354-430) writes:

                                                                                                                              For men were held captive under the devil, and served devils; but they were redeemed from captivity. They could sell, but they could not redeem themselves. The redeemer came, and gave a price; he poured forth his blood, and bought the whole world…The blood of Christ was the price. What is equal to this? What, but the whole world?[20]

                                                                                                                              Thus, through Christ’s valuable sacrifice, God paid the devil the required ransom to release us from his custody. But, would Satan just release his captives merely because God offered to purchase them? He probably would refuse. Thus, the ransom theory often includes the element of deception. Somehow God would have to trick the devil into overreaching. The devil only had legal right over those who commit sin. However, when he murdered Jesus of Nazareth, he overstepped his authority. Augustine explains it this way:

                                                                                                                              But the redeemer came, and the seducer was overcome. And what did our redeemer to him who held us captive? For our ransom he held out his cross as a trap;]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 18 — Atonement Theories false no 47:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/05/30/theology-17-atonement-scriptures/ Fri, 31 May 2019 02:12:49 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4052 Why did Jesus die? Historically, we could say it was because the Roman Empire perceived him as a threat or the religious leaders in Jerusalem feared he would ignite an unwinnable revolution. Even so, the bible offers a number of theological answers that go far beyond the immediate circumstances of his crucifixion. In this lecture you’ll learn about the eight main biblical reasons why Jesus died. Then we’ll cover the sometimes controversial subjects of substitution and propitiation.

                                                                                                                              —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                              Definitions

                                                                                                                              at-one-ment: bringing together God and humanity through the death of Christ

                                                                                                                              justify: to make just, right; to declare free from blame

                                                                                                                              reconcile: reestablish a close relationship between those who are not unified

                                                                                                                              sanctify: to make holy (pertains to how you live)

                                                                                                                              1. He died for our sins

                                                                                                                              1 Cor 15.3-4 Christ died for our sins in accordance w/ the scriptures

                                                                                                                              • was Paul the first person to understand the theological significance of the cross?
                                                                                                                              • no, b/c he delivered to the Corinthians what he received himself (from others!)
                                                                                                                              • so, who first gave the cross a meaning and when?
                                                                                                                              • Jesus explained the meaning of his broken body and poured out blood at the last supper (Mat 26.28; cp. Lk 22.19)
                                                                                                                              • but Jesus also firmly believed that the OT explained the meaning (Luk 24.25-27, 44-48)
                                                                                                                                • a fact to which Peter likewise testified (1 Pet 1.11)
                                                                                                                              • does anyone know the two primary OT texts that point to the cross?
                                                                                                                                • Psalm 22
                                                                                                                                • Isaiah 52/53
                                                                                                                              • also the typology of the Levitical sacrificial system (especially the Day of Atonement) as explained in Hebrews
                                                                                                                              • also Passover celebration
                                                                                                                                • no coincidence that the Last Supper was actually a Seder meal!
                                                                                                                              • a number of other texts also[1]

                                                                                                                              1 Cor 11.23-26 communion memorializes his death (bread is body which is broken for us)

                                                                                                                              2 Cor 5.17-21: if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. God reconciled us to himself through Christ, not counting our trespasses against us.  For our sake God made Jesus to be sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

                                                                                                                              Rom 3.23-26: We are justified by grace (as a gift) through the redemption in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as propitiation by his blood. In this God demonstrated his righteousness because he had passed over previously committed sin and in such a way God is righteous and the one who makes those who have faith in Jesus righteous (justified) as well.

                                                                                                                              • more on propitiation
                                                                                                                              • 1 Jn 2.2: Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world
                                                                                                                              • 1 Jn 4.10 God sent his son to propitiate for our sins. Is he then the source and the recipient?
                                                                                                                              • Heb 2.17 Chris is the high priest making propitiation for the sins of the people
                                                                                                                              • Heb 7.27 he offered himself as the final sacrifice
                                                                                                                              • ὁ ἱλασμός BDAG
                                                                                                                                • 1. appeasement necessitated by sin, expiation (τῶν θεῶν, Arg. 39; Plut., Fab. 18, 3; cp. Plut., Sol. 12, 5. In these cases we have the pl., prob. referring to the individual actions to be expiated. But also sg.: Plut., Mor. 560d, Camill. 7, 5; Lev 25:9; Ps 129:4; Philo, Leg. All. 3, 174) εἰς ἱ. ἐμοί for my expiation GJs 1:1; so perh. abstr. for concr. of Jesus as the ἱ. περὶ τ. ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν 1J 2:2; 4:10. But mng. 2 has been popular.
                                                                                                                                • 2. instrument for appeasing, sacrifice to atone, sin-offering (Ezk 44:27 προσοίσουσιν ἱ. cp. Num 5:8; 2 Macc 3:33) s. above.—S. also lit. cited s.v. ἱλάσκομαι. DELG s.v. ἱλάσκομαι M-M. TW.
                                                                                                                              • ὁ ἱλασμός LSJ
                                                                                                                                • a means of appeasing, in pl., Plu.Sol.12, Orph.A.39,554,etc.
                                                                                                                                • atonement, sinoffering, LXXEz.44.27, 2 Ma.3.33, 1 E]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 17 — Atonement Scriptures false no 59:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/05/23/theology-16-angels-demons-and-satan/ Fri, 24 May 2019 01:19:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4033 In this episode we’ll consider what the bible says about angels, demons, and Satan.  My goal here is to be as biblical as possible, not giving in to wild speculations or dismissing an understanding because it offends my modern sensibilities.  The scriptures have a lot to say about the spiritual realm, and we can’t possibly work through it all in one episode, but we can at least overview the various major categories of thought.

                                                                                                                                  —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                  Angels

                                                                                                                                  “…[A]ngels are spiritual beings separate from God, yet, unless they be fallen, of unquestioned integrity, goodwill and obedience to him.” (New Bible Dictionary, p. 37)

                                                                                                                                  1. Worshipers

                                                                                                                                  • ever notice God is usually portrayed with others?
                                                                                                                                  • seraphs, cherubs, living creatures
                                                                                                                                  • Isaiah 6.1-3
                                                                                                                                  • Ezekiel 1.1-3, 5, 22, 26-27; 10.15, 20
                                                                                                                                  • Daniel 7.9-10
                                                                                                                                  • Revelation 4.1-11; 5.11; 7.11
                                                                                                                                  • Genesis 1.26; 3.22; 11.7

                                                                                                                                  2. Messengers

                                                                                                                                  • The angel of Yahweh speaks to Hagar (Gen 16.7-13): this is called the principle of agency
                                                                                                                                  • another example is Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3.3-7, 2)
                                                                                                                                  • deceptive messages: Micaiah’s vision shows how God involves the spirits in carrying out his plans
                                                                                                                                  • also Luke 1 where Gabriel announces the birth of Christ to Mary

                                                                                                                                  3. Warriors

                                                                                                                                  • angels who destroy Assyrian army (2 Kings 19.35)
                                                                                                                                  • angels blinded then destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 19)
                                                                                                                                  • angel killed Herod (Acts 12.23)
                                                                                                                                  • typically they begin by saying “Do not be afraid”
                                                                                                                                  • Joshua met an angelic warrior (Josh 5.13-15)
                                                                                                                                  • God is the LORD of hosts (battle name)

                                                                                                                                  4. Helpers

                                                                                                                                  • fed Elijah when he was severely disappointed (1 Kings 19.5-8)
                                                                                                                                  • sees a 4th man in fiery furnace (Dan 3.24-25, 28)
                                                                                                                                  • God sent Daniel an angel to shut the lions’ mouths (Dan 6.22)
                                                                                                                                  • broke apostles out of jail (Acts 5.19-20)
                                                                                                                                  • ministering spirits set out to serve (Heb 1.13-14)

                                                                                                                                  5. national vicegerents

                                                                                                                                  • Deuteronomy 32;
                                                                                                                                  • Daniel 12: Michael your prince
                                                                                                                                  • Daniel 10: Gabriel said he was fighting w/ prince of Persia

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                  Demons

                                                                                                                                  1. Some spirits “fell” in the time of Noah

                                                                                                                                  • 1 Peter 3.18-20
                                                                                                                                  • 2 Peter 2.4-5
                                                                                                                                  • Jude 6-7
                                                                                                                                  • Genesis 6.1-5

                                                                                                                                  this also happened later

                                                                                                                                  • Numbers 13.33; Deut 1.28
                                                                                                                                  • killed Og of Bashan whose bed was 13.5’ long and 6’ wide (Deut 3.11)
                                                                                                                                  • Goliath was of the Anakim (1 Sam 17.4)
                                                                                                                                  • others killed by David’s mighty men (2 Sam 21.16-22)

                                                                                                                                  these events could be what Revelation 12 calls the dragon’s tail pulling down 1/3 of the stars and casting them to earth

                                                                                                                                  2. Demons associated with idols

                                                                                                                                  • Deut 32.15-17 “they made him jealous with strange gods…they sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known”
                                                                                                                                  • Ps 106.34-38 Israelites mixed w/ nations and served their idols and sacrificed their kids to demons (see also sacrificing to “goat demons” in Lev 17.7)
                                                                                                                                  • 1 Cor 10.19-22 pagans offering sacrifices to demons; don’t partake!
                                                                                                                                  • Rev 9.20 during chaotic end-times people don’t repent of worshiping demons and idols
                                                                                                                                  • an idol is just a statue, but the demon behind the idol may be real

                                                                                                                                  3. Demons are not things but personal agents

                                                                                                                                  • James 2.19 they believe God is one and shudder
                                                                                                                                  • Acts 19.15 the spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul…”

                                                                                                                                  4. Usage of “demon”

                                                                                                                                  1. Luke: 30%
                                                                                                                                  2. Mat 23%
                                                                                                                                  3. Mark 21%
                                                                                                                                  4. John 9%
                                                                                                                                  5. 1 Cor 6%
                                                                                                                                  6. Rev 4%
                                                                                                                                  7. J]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 16 — Angels, Demons, and Satan false no 51:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/05/16/theology-15-challenging-the-holy-spirit/ Fri, 17 May 2019 00:00:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4024 Last time we worked through a ton of scripture, trying to get a multidimensional view of how the bible describes the holy spirit.  This time we’ll consider a few scriptures that have confused some into thinking the spirit is really an individual or person distinct from the Father and the Son.  This study is pretty technical, though I did my best to make the grammatical Greek points understandable. Even so, it will be difficult to follow along unless you download the handout we used in class.

                                                                                                                                     Here is the handout I used in class:

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                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                     I didn’t follow these notes very closely, but instead mostly worked from this handout at least until later in the lecture.  Even so, I thought these additional notes may be useful for your study.

                                                                                                                                     State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                     The spirit is God/Christ in action

                                                                                                                                     Reasons that Support Non-Personality of the Spirit
                                                                                                                                     1. The Holy Spirit Does Not Have a Name
                                                                                                                                     2. The Holy Spirit Never Sends Greetings (1 Cor 1.3; 1 Jn 1.3)
                                                                                                                                     3. The Holy Spirit Is Owned by God (Spirit of God) (1 Cor 2.11)
                                                                                                                                     4. The Holy Spirit Is Never Prayed To (Jn 16.23)
                                                                                                                                     5. The Holy Spirit Is Left Out of Key Passages (Jn 10.30; Mt 11.27; Mk 13.32)
                                                                                                                                     6. The Holy Spirit Not in Visions of Heaven (Rev 3.21; 4; 5)
                                                                                                                                     What about All Those Personal Pronouns in John 14-16?
                                                                                                                                     • the word “spirit” πνευμα in the NT is neuter not masculine or feminine
                                                                                                                                     • use handout instead of what’s below unless we are short on time

                                                                                                                                     Nearly all modern translations have adopted the standard of using personal pronouns (like “he” and “him”) in reference to the holy spirit.  This is unusual because the word “spirit” or pneuma is neuter in Greek, and the pronouns the Bible uses are likewise neuter (like it and which).  Although it is often the case that masculine and feminine Greek pronouns are translated in English as “it” or “which,” neuter words in Greek are virtually never translated into English using personal pronouns except when referring to the spirit.  Immediately, this double standard should grab our attention as a potential area of bias in translation.  Jason BeDuhn insightfully explains the matter as follows:

                                                                                                                                     Jason BeDuhn on Translating Greek Gender into English Now it turns out that both “masculine” and “feminine” Greek nouns can be used for impersonal things as well as persons.  But “neuter” nouns are used only for impersonal things, such as objects, animals, forces, abstract principles, and so on.  The same holds true for “masculine,” “feminine,” and “neuter” pronouns…But even though the “personal” category is larger in Greek than in English, the “Holy Spirit” is referred to by a “neuter” noun in Greek.  Consequently, it is never spoken of with personal pronouns in Greek.  It is a “which,” not a “who.”  It is an “it,” not a “he.”  This is the case, then, where the importance of the principle of following primary, ordinary, generally recognized meaning of the Greek when translatin]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 15 — Challenging the Holy Spirit false no 1:02:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/05/09/theology-14-the-holy-spirit/ Fri, 10 May 2019 01:58:15 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4025 How do you think of holy spirit?  In this lecture we’ll build up a biblical theology of the spirit, in an effort to comprehend its variegated facets. We’ll consider the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels before spending a good deal of time in John, looking at the fascinating way that Jesus talks about the spirit in the upper room discourse.

                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                     The Old Testament on Spirit

                                                                                                                                     How ruach is translating in the NASB:

                                                                                                                                     air          2

                                                                                                                                     anger     1

                                                                                                                                     blast      2

                                                                                                                                     breath   31

                                                                                                                                     breathless           1

                                                                                                                                     cool       1

                                                                                                                                     courage               1

                                                                                                                                     despondency      1

                                                                                                                                     exposed               1

                                                                                                                                     grief       1

                                                                                                                                     heart     1

                                                                                                                                     inspired                1

                                                                                                                                     mind      3

                                                                                                                                     motives 1

                                                                                                                                     points    1

                                                                                                                                     side        4

                                                                                                                                     sides      2

                                                                                                                                     Spirit      76

                                                                                                                                     spirit      127

                                                                                                                                     spirits    3

                                                                                                                                     strength               1

                                                                                                                                     temper  2

                                                                                                                                     thoughts              1

                                                                                                                                     trustworthy         1

                                                                                                                                     wind      98

                                                                                                                                     winds     7

                                                                                                                                     windy    2

                                                                                                                                     wrath    1

                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                     Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period

                                                                                                                                     When used of living beings, ruach refers to the essence of the life and vitality in both human beings and animals that is manifested through movement and breathing (Genesis 2:7; 6:17; 7:15; Numbers 16:22; Ezekiel 10:17).  Just as “spirit” was considered the essence of human life, so analogously the term “spirit” was used of the presence, activity, and power of God, that is, characteristics that demonstrate that God is truly a “living God” (Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; 1 Samuel 7:26; Isaiah 37:4; Daniel 6:20; Matthew 16:16; Revelation 7:2).

                                                                                                                                     Jacob Neusner, William Scott Green editors, Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period ©1996, Hendrickson Publishers, page 298

                                                                                                                                     New Bible Dictionary

                                                                                                                                     At its heart is the experience of a mysterious, awesome power—the mighty invisible force of the wind, the mystery of vitality, the otherly power that transforms—all ruach, all manifestations of divine energy.

                                                                                                                                     JDG Douglas, New Bible Dictionary (second edition) ©1962, ed. By JD Douglas, FF Bruce, JI Packer, N Hillyer, D Guthrie, AR Millard, DJ Wiseman, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., pages 1137

                                                                                                                                     James Dunn on the Holy Spirit

                                                                                                                                     There can be little doubt that from the earliest stages of pre-Christian Judaism, ‘spirit’ (ruach) denoted power—the aweful, mysterious force of the wind (ruach), of the breath (ruach) of life, of ecstatic inspiration (induced by divine ruach)…In other words, on this understanding, Spirit of God is in no sense distinct from God, but is simply the power of God, God himself acting powerfully in nature and upon men.

                                                                                                                                     James  DG Dunn, Christology in the Making (second edition) ©1989, Eerdmans Publishing Co., page 133.

                                                                                                                                     Examples of Ruach:

                                                                                                                                     • The spirit of God may be taken from one and distributed to others (Numbers 11:17)
                                                                                                                                     • inspire prophecy (Numbers 11:25, 29; 24:2-3; 1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 1 Chronicles 12:18; 2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; Nehemiah 9:30; Zechariah 7:12)
                                                                                                                                     • be a way God speaks to people (2 Samuel 23:2)
                                                                                                                                     • lead someone to a different location (1 Kings 18:12)
                                                                                                                                     • transport someone from one location to another (2 Kings 2:16)
                                                                                                                                     • be defined parallel with the anointing of Yahweh (Isaiah 61:1 cp. Acts 10:38)
                                                                                                                                     • empower leaders to judge/rule the people (Judges 3:10)
                                                                                                                                     • impart warlike energy/confidence (Judges 6:34; 11:29; 14:6, 19)
                                                                                                                                     • supply supernatural strength (Judges 15:14)
                                                                                                                                     • cause righteous anger (1 Samuel 11:6-7)
                                                                                                                                     • impart regeneration/peace (Isaiah 32:15)
                                                                                                                                     • give the Messiah wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, th]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 14 — The Holy Spirit false no 51:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/05/02/175-did-christians-believe-in-the-trinity-before-325-council-of-nicea/ Fri, 03 May 2019 00:00:55 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=4007 Now I realize we are in the middle of our theology class, but I thought this would be a good time to take a quick break and put out my recent presentation from Restoration Fellowship’s 2019 Theological Conference, titled, “The Trinity before Nicea.”  Next week we’ll get back to theology and build up a biblical theology of the holy spirit, but for now, let’s dive into the second and third centuries and wrestle with the question of whether Christians believed in the Trinity before the year a.d. 325.

                                                                                                                                       Did Christians believe in the Trinity before a.d. 325 when the Council of Nicaea established that the Lord Jesus Christ exists as one substance (homoousios) with the Father? In what follows, I intend to investigate the beliefs of key Christians in the second and third centuries to answer this question, using Matt Slick’s “Early Trinitarian Quotes” as our guide.

                                                                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                       • Read the entire paper, “The Trinity before Nicea“
                                                                                                                                       • Check out the video of this presentation, including slides
                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/concilium-nicaenum-1.jpg 175 Did Christians Believe in the Trinity before 325 (Council of Nicea)? false no 1:03:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/04/25/theology-13-jesus-gods-supreme-representative/ Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:00:37 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3995 Although later Christianity interpreted the handful of texts that call Jesus God as evidence that he shared the same rank, substance, and age as the Father, a more Hebrew-sensitive reading of these same verses yields more organic fruit.  Instead of bringing in complex Greek philosophy to distinguish person from being and divine from human natures, the bible provides clear precedents for the idea that Jesus as God’s agent can be called God because he represents him.  Thus, we do not have two Gods, but one God and his representatives, whether human judges, angelic beings, prophets, or the messiah himself.  Suddenly centuries of harebrained distinctions and intellectual confusions dissipate like so much fog in the morning sun and we are left with Jesus of Nazareth, God’s man to announce and enact the good news.  Texts discussed in this episode include Isaiah 9.6 (by Daniel Calcagno), Matthew 1.23, Psalm 82.1, 6, John 10.34ff, Psalm 45.6, Hebrews 1.8, Exodus 21.5-6, 22.8-9, John 20.28, and John 1.8.  To follow along with this class, please download this handout as I refer to it repeatedly.

                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                       State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                       Because Jesus is God’s supreme agent, people can call him “God” in the same sense that God called the judges “Gods” and Israelite kings could be called “God.”  He is at once subordinate to God and he bears the divine authority and name as his representative.

                                                                                                                                       Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                       Jn 5.19, 30; 8.28; 12.49-50; 14.10, 28; 1 Cor 11.3; 15.28

                                                                                                                                       Difficult Texts

                                                                                                                                       Although we worked through shaky texts last time where the bible might call Jesus God, now we want to work on the remaining key texts, including Hebrews 1.8, John 20.28, and John 1.18.

                                                                                                                                       The word “God” is more flexible than you think.

                                                                                                                                       Principle of Agency

                                                                                                                                       angels            prophets       judges            kings

                                                                                                                                       Ex 3.3-6          Ex 4.14-16     Ex 21.5-6        Ps 45.1-7

                                                                                                                                       Ex 20.1-3        Ex 7.1-2          Ex 22.8-9        Is 9.6

                                                                                                                                       Psalm 8.5       Joel 3.16-17   Ps 82.1-8?

                                                                                                                                       (Heb 2.7)

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Isaiah 9.6   For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

                                                                                                                                       The Messiah is prophesied to be called “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father.”  First of all, Trinitarians do not believe that Jesus is the Eternal Father; they believe he is the Eternal Son.  So they too would argue that this name should not to be taken in a strict literal sense.  Furthermore, there are many others who bore names that included the word God (Heb. El or Yah).  Eliab means “My God Father”; Jehoram means “Yahweh Exalted”; Ithiel means “God with Me”; Isaiah means “Salvation of Yahweh.”  Having a name doesn’t necessarily describe you it may describe your God.  Also, it is possible to call a human being “God” if he represents God to the people.  For example, Solomon (or whoever is in mind in Psalm 45) is called God (Ps 45.6-7).  The judges of Israel are called Gods (Ps 82.6), a fact which Jesus played upon when he was accused of calling himself God (John 10.33-36).  Jesus is called “Mighty God” because he represents the Mighty God.  He is called “Eternal Father” because through him the Eternal Father discloses truth (John 14.10).

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       John 10.27-39 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  30 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 13 – Jesus, God’s Supreme Representative false no 43:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/04/19/theology-11-challenging-jesus-humanity/ Fri, 19 Apr 2019 12:48:09 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3963 Last time we considered Jesus’ identity as God’s messiah.  Today, we’ll look at a number of texts that are sometimes misunderstood to teach that Jesus is God. We’ll go through three classifications of verses: (1) those with manuscript issues, (2) those with translation issues, and (3) those with interpretation issues.  Here is the breakdown.

                                                                                                                                       Manuscript Issues: 1 Timothy 3.16, 1 John 5.7-8

                                                                                                                                       Translation Issues: Acts 20.28, Romans 9.5, Titus 2.13, 2 Thessalonians 1.12, 2 Peter 1.1

                                                                                                                                       Interpretation Issues: John 5.18, John 10.30, 1 John 5.20, Colossians 2.9

                                                                                                                                       See below for links to the various handouts mentioned in this episode.

                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                       State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                       Jesus is God’s human messiah—a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst (Acts 2.22).

                                                                                                                                       Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                       Ex 8.10; 19.16-20; 20.1-6; Deut 4.35-39; 5.1-7; 6.4-5; 7.9-10; 10.17-21; 32.12, 39; 1 Sam 2.2; 2 Sam 7.22-24;  1 Kings 8.60; 2 Kings 19.15, 19; 1 Chron 17.20; Neh. 9.6; Ps. 83.18; 86.9-10; 135.5; Is 37.16, 20; 41.4; 42.5-8; 43.10-13; 44.6-8, 24; 45.5-7, 12, 18, 21-22; 46.9; Jer 10.7-10; Joel 2.27; Zech 14.9; Mat. 19.17; Mk 10.17-18; 12.28-33; Jn 5.44; 8.41; 17.3; 1 Cor 8.4-6; Gal 3.20; Eph 4.6; 1 Tim 2.5; Jam 2.19; Jud 25

                                                                                                                                       Difficult Texts

                                                                                                                                       Before examining these texts, we should note how even Trinitarians have sometimes observed what a shaky foundation their belief in the deity of Christ rests:

                                                                                                                                       Christopher Kaiser:

                                                                                                                                       “Belief in the deity of Christ has traditionally been the keystone of the doctrine of the Trinity, yet explicit references to Jesus as ‘God” in the New Testament are very few, and even those few are generally plagued with uncertainties of either text or interpretation.”[1]

                                                                                                                                       William Barclay:

                                                                                                                                       “But we shall find that on almost every occasion in the New Testament on which Jesus seems to be called God there is a problem either of textual criticism or of translation.  In almost every case we have to discuss which of two readings is to be accepted or which of two possible translations is to be accepted.”[2]

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Manuscript Issues

                                                                                                                                       1 Timothy 3.16 [NKJ] 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

                                                                                                                                       1 Timothy 3.16  [ESV] 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

                                                                                                                                       ὅς {A}

                                                                                                                                       The reading which, on the basis of external evidence and transcriptional probability, best explains the rise of the others is ὅς. It is supported by the earliest and best uncials (א* A*vid C* Ggr) as well as by 33 365 442 2127 syrhmg, pal goth ethpp Origenlat Epiphanius Jerome Theodore Eutheriusacc. to Theodoret Cyril Cyrilacc. to Ps-Oecumenius Liberatus. Furthermore, since the neuter relative pronoun ὅ must have arisen as a scribal correction of ὅς (to bring the relative into concord with μυστήριον), the witnesses that read ὅ (D* itd, g, 61. 86 vg Ambrosiaster Marius Victorinus Hilary Pelagius Augustine) also indirectly presuppose ὅς as the earlier reading. The Textus Receptus reads θεός, with אe (this corrector is of the twelfth century) A2 C2 Dc K L P Ψ 81 330 614 1739 Byz Lect Gregory-Nyssa Didymus Chrysostom Theodoret Euthalius and later Fathers. Thus, no uncial (in the first hand) earlier than the eighth or ninth century (Ψ) supports θεός all ancient versions presuppose ὅς or ὅ and no patristic writer prior to t]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 12 – Challenging Jesus’ Humanity false no 1:00:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/04/11/theology-10-jesus-the-messiah/ Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:24:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3915 Have you joined the Restitutio facebook group?  The idea behind the group is that its a place where anyone can start topics for discussion.  So, please join if you’d like to see what’s going on.

                                                                                                                                       What is the defining title for Jesus of Nazareth?  Although he kept it mostly a secret during his ministry, Jesus’ role as messiah was and is the organizing center of his identity.  Join me as we work through the Gospels to understand Jesus by his own words and deeds.

                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                       Vocab:

                                                                                                                                       • מָשַׁח meshach: anoint, spread a liquid.
                                                                                                                                       • מָשִׁיחַ meshyach: anointed one. (for quiz, what does messiah mean?
                                                                                                                                       • Χριστός = anointed one, messiah, christ
                                                                                                                                       • Mashiack = Christos
                                                                                                                                       • Messiah  =  Christ
                                                                                                                                       • meaning anointed

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Examples of anointing (prophet, priest, king)

                                                                                                                                       • Moses anointing Aaron as high priest (ordination)
                                                                                                                                         • Ex 30.22-33; Lev 8.1-12, so all the high priests were “messiahs”
                                                                                                                                       • Samuel anointing Saul; David
                                                                                                                                         • 1 Sam 9.27-10.1; 1 Sam 16.6-7, 11-13
                                                                                                                                       • David would not take revenge on Saul b/c he was the LORD’s anointed
                                                                                                                                         • 1 Sam 24.8-10, so all the kings were “messiahs”
                                                                                                                                       • Elijah anointing Elisha
                                                                                                                                         • 1 Ki 19.14-17

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       THE messiah

                                                                                                                                       • “The Hebrew word means literally ‘anointed one,’ hence in theory either a prophet, priest or king. In Greek this translates as Christos; ‘Christ’ in early Christianity was a title, and only gradually became an alternative proper name for Jesus.  In practice ‘Messiah’ is mostly restricted to the notion, which took various forms in ancient Judaism, of the coming king who would be David’s true heir, through whom YHWH would rescue Israel from pagan enemies.”[1]

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       messianic prophecies

                                                                                                                                       • Gen 49.10 scepter will not depart from Judah
                                                                                                                                       • 1 Chronicles 17.11-14: David’s son, God’s son
                                                                                                                                       • Psalm 2: God’s son and world ruler
                                                                                                                                       • Isaiah 11: supremely insightful and just ruler[2]
                                                                                                                                       • Jer 23.5-6 God will raise up for David a righteous branch to reign as king[3]
                                                                                                                                       • Zech 9.9-10 king comes on a donkey and cuts off weapons of war and rules from sea to sea

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Jesus’ birth

                                                                                                                                       • Luke 1.31-33 promised to set on throne of David and rule over Jacob
                                                                                                                                       • Mat 2.2 where is he born king of the Jews?

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Interchangeable terms

                                                                                                                                       • son of God
                                                                                                                                         • Luke 4.41 demons rebuked for saying “You are the son of God” b/c they knew he was the Christ
                                                                                                                                         • John 11.27 Martha believes Jesus is “the Christ, the son of God, who is coming into the world”
                                                                                                                                         • John 20.31 purpose of Gosp. Jn to believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of God
                                                                                                                                         • Mat 26.63-64 Messiah, son of God, and Son of Man
                                                                                                                                       • son of David
                                                                                                                                         • Mat 12.22-23 this can’t be the son of David, can it?
                                                                                                                                         • Mat 22.42 whose son is the Christ? they said, ‘the son of David’
                                                                                                                                       • king of Israel
                                                                                                                                         • John 1.49 Nathanael says “you are the son of God! you are the king of Israel!”
                                                                                                                                         • Mat 27.42-43 if he is king of Israel let him come down from cross; he said, I am the son of God

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       Messianic secret and the son of man

                                                                                                                                       • Mark 3.11 demons told to keep quiet about him being the son of God
                                                                                                                                       • Mat 16.13-20 Jesus strictly charge disciples not to tell anyone he was the Messiah
                                                                                                                                       • “We know of several other Jewish movements, messianic movements, prophetic movements, during the one or two centuries either side of Jesus’ public career. Routinely they e]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 11 – Jesus the Messiah false no 56:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/04/04/171-theology-10-challenging-gods-oneness/ Fri, 05 Apr 2019 01:07:51 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3883 How many is God?  Although the ancient Shema (recorded in Deuteronomy 6) teaches that God is one, Christian theologians have put forward a number of reasons arguing for a plurality within God.  We will examine a number of these words, texts, and reasonings in an effort to agree with Jesus who wholeheartedly affirmed the Jewish Shema as his own greatest commandment.

                                                                                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                         State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                         God is one.

                                                                                                                                         Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                         The Shema!

                                                                                                                                         שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶחָֽד׃ וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃

                                                                                                                                         Deuteronomy 6.4-9 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                         story of Akiva

                                                                                                                                         • Roman commander, Turnus Rufus: “Have you no feeling of pain? Are you a sorcerer?”
                                                                                                                                         • Akiva: “I am no sorcerer; but I rejoice at the opportunity now given to me to love my God ‘with all my life,’ seeing that I have hitherto been able to love him only ‘with all my means’ and ‘with all my might,’” and with the word “one” he expired”[1]

                                                                                                                                         Akiva set a precedent for dying, especially in persecution

                                                                                                                                         • from the persecution of the Romans that Akiva faced
                                                                                                                                         • to the forced conversions and subsequent burning at the stake by the Spanish Inquisition of the middle ages
                                                                                                                                         • to the murmur of Jewish voices in the Nazi gas chambers
                                                                                                                                         • to the victims of Hamas today
                                                                                                                                         • this people repeats the words of the Shema in the manner of Akiva over and over and die with it on their lips
                                                                                                                                         • what a legacy!

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                         Isaac Peretz:

                                                                                                                                         “The Hebrew language… is the only glue which holds together our scattered bones. It also holds together the rings in the chain of time…. It binds us to those who built pyramids, to those who shed their blood on the ramparts of Jerusalem, and to those who, at the burning stakes, cried Shema Yisrael!”[2]

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                         Rabbi Shraga Simmons:

                                                                                                                                         “Seth Mandel, the father of 13-year-old Koby Mandel who was bludgeoned to death in a cave by Arab terrorists, spoke at the massive pro-Israel rally in Washington DC in April 2002. He told the following story:

                                                                                                                                         In the Sbarro Pizza bombing which killed 15 people in Jerusalem, five members of a Dutch family were killed. One was a 4-year-old boy named Avraham Yitzhak. As he was lying on the ground – bleeding, burning and dying – he said to his father, “Abba, please help me. Save me.”

                                                                                                                                         His father reached over and held his hand. Together they said the words of the Shema.

                                                                                                                                         Seth Mandel told the DC crowd:

                                                                                                                                         “My son Koby died alone. I didn’t have the chance to say the Shema with him. So now I want you to help me say the Shema for the hundreds of Jews who have been killed in Mideast violence. Say the Shema with me in the merit of the boy in Sbarro’s. And say the Shema with me in the merit of my son Koby.” He then led the crowd of 250,000 in reciting the Shema together. [3]

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                         Talmud:

                                                                                                                                         “Jerusalem was only destroyed because its inhabitants desecrated the Shabbat, they refrained from reciting the Morning and Evening Shema…” (Talmud, Shabbat 119b)

                                                                                                                                         <]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 10 — Challenging God’s Oneness false no 1:02:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/03/28/170-theology-9-god/ Thu, 28 Mar 2019 17:35:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3868 Today we’ll tackle the biggest question of all: who is God?  We’ll take a journey through scripture together to discover what God is like, stopping at key moments to consider what this or that interaction tells us about him.

                                                                                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                         theology: one’s understanding of God

                                                                                                                                         Ontology vs. Functionality

                                                                                                                                         • ontology: understanding something based on what it is (it’s essence)
                                                                                                                                         • tendency to define God based on what he is (omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent)
                                                                                                                                         • perfect being theology: reasons from perfection to generate characteristics that God must have independent from what he reveals about himself in the bible
                                                                                                                                         • bible tends to define God based on what he’s done and his relationship w/ people

                                                                                                                                         Creator desiring trusting relationships

                                                                                                                                         • creation
                                                                                                                                         • Adam and Eve

                                                                                                                                         Limited participant in human affairs

                                                                                                                                         • in time, with us, not aloof (we’ll get to predestination later)
                                                                                                                                         • Cain and Able
                                                                                                                                           • warns Cain
                                                                                                                                           • does not force him or prevent him
                                                                                                                                         • Lamech

                                                                                                                                         Heartbroken exception maker

                                                                                                                                         • Nephilim
                                                                                                                                         • Gen 6
                                                                                                                                         • Noah’s flood

                                                                                                                                         Preemptive preventer

                                                                                                                                         • Babel

                                                                                                                                         the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob

                                                                                                                                         • the call (Gen 12.1-4)
                                                                                                                                         • Yahweh is going to be Abraham’s God
                                                                                                                                           • he’ll have his back
                                                                                                                                           • bless those who bless
                                                                                                                                           • curse those who curse
                                                                                                                                         • he’s just looking for someone to believe him, to trust him, to do what he says
                                                                                                                                         • three tests of trust
                                                                                                                                           • leave your land
                                                                                                                                           • circumcise yourself and all your men
                                                                                                                                           • the Akedah (binding of Isaac)
                                                                                                                                         • with Abraham and Sarah we find the opposite of Adam and Eve
                                                                                                                                           • believed God’s promises
                                                                                                                                           • left their native land to be with God in promised land
                                                                                                                                           • trusted God to perform the impossible
                                                                                                                                           • over time grew more faithful
                                                                                                                                           • died trusting God
                                                                                                                                         • by the end of all of this, God irreversibly yoke’s himself to this family through covenants
                                                                                                                                           • covenant faithfulness and chesed
                                                                                                                                         • henceforth, God’s dealings w/ Abraham affect how he PRIMARILY refers to himself
                                                                                                                                           • I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

                                                                                                                                         Powerful liberator and god-mocker

                                                                                                                                         • burning bush
                                                                                                                                         • how does God introduce himself to Moses?
                                                                                                                                           • the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
                                                                                                                                         • the name
                                                                                                                                         • Pharaoh’s question (Ex 5.1)
                                                                                                                                         • 10 plagues as God telling Egypt and the world who he is vis-à-vis the Egyptian gods
                                                                                                                                           • he is the God above all other gods
                                                                                                                                         • Passover meal memorializes the historical event of God liberating Israel
                                                                                                                                           • this is how God intends to imprint faith on each generation (festivals)

                                                                                                                                         Exclusive moralist

                                                                                                                                         • ten commandments begin w/ several statements of exclusivity
                                                                                                                                         • singular pronouns!
                                                                                                                                           • whenever anyone ever uses a pronoun for God in the bible it is singular: he, him, his, you (sg.)
                                                                                                                                         • basic moral code

                                                                                                                                         8 attributes of God

                                                                                                                                         • Exodus 34.6-7 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

                                                                                                                                         chesed (חֶסֶד)

                                                                                                                                         • John Goldingay: “It is sometimes described as covenant love, though in the OT it rarely appears in the company of the word “covenant.” It is used in two connections: when someone makes an act of commitment for which there is no reason in terms of prior relatio]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 9 — God false no 52:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/03/21/169-theology-8-challenging-annihilationism/ Thu, 21 Mar 2019 23:46:12 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3866 Today we’ll take a look at a number of confusing scriptures that seem to indicate that hell is a place where the wicked are consciously tormented forever.  We’ll look at texts that talk about weeping and gnashing of teeth as well as the how the worm will not die nor the fire be quenched.  We’ll consider biblical phrases like “eternal punishment,” “eternal fire,” and “everlasting contempt.”  Last of all we’ll analyze two verses in Revelation that use the language of eternal torment to describe the final punishment.

                                                                                                                                           —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                           State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                           The biblical punishment for the wicked is destruction not an eternal life of torture.  This is why we find scores of text that use words like perish, cut off, and death to describe the fate of the wicked.

                                                                                                                                           Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                           Gen 2.17; 3.19, 22-23; 5.5; Ps 37.2, 9, 10, 20, 22, 27, 28, 34, 36; Mal 4.1-3; Mt 3.12; 7.13-14; 10.28; 18.8-9; Jn 3.16; Rom 6.23; Gal 6.8; 1 Tim 1.17; 2 Tim 1.9-10; Heb 10.26-27; 2 Pet 2.6; 3.6-7; 1 Jn 5.11-12; Jud 1.6-7

                                                                                                                                           Logical Arguments that Support This Teaching
                                                                                                                                           1. If Jesus paid our penalty for sin and the penalty for sin is eternal conscious torment, then Jesus had to suffer eternal conscious torment. However, Jesus suffered temporary torture followed by death.
                                                                                                                                           2. What does it say about God that he set up our world to be such that those who refuse him must suffer day and night forever and ever without relief? How is he a God of love?
                                                                                                                                           3. Justice is proportional so if a man sins for 80 years, he should not suffer eternally. If God punishes people infinitely for a finite number of sins, then this is unjust.
                                                                                                                                           Difficult Texts[1]

                                                                                                                                           Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth in Fire/Outer Darkness

                                                                                                                                           Matthew 8.11-12 (cp. 13.42) 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,  12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

                                                                                                                                           • “weeping and gnashing of teeth” says nothing about the duration of a punishment. If someone faces judgement they are likely to weep and gnash, whether it is temporary or ongoing.
                                                                                                                                           • “weeping” connotes grief and “gnashing of teeth” anger not suffering
                                                                                                                                           • In the stoning of Stephen the mob got so angry that gnashed their teeth

                                                                                                                                           Acts 7.52-54 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”  54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. [NASB: “they began gnashing their teeth at him”]

                                                                                                                                           • Acts 7.54 ἔβρυχον τοὺς ὀδόντας
                                                                                                                                           • Matthew 8.12 ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.

                                                                                                                                           Unquenchable Fire, Worm Does Not Die

                                                                                                                                           Matthew 3.11-12 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

                                                                                                                                           • unquenchable fire is a fire that cannot be put out
                                                                                                                                           • it refers to the quality of the fire not to its duration
                                                                                                                                           • have you ever seen a fire raging so hot, you could not put it out if you tried?
                                                                                                                                           • think of forest fires in California; they are unquenchable

                                                                                                                                           Mark 9.47-48 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thr]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 8 — Challenging Annihilationism false no 48:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/03/14/168-theology-7-annihilationism/ Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:31:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3855 What is the destiny of the unrighteous?  Christians over the centuries have put forward three major options: eternal conscious torment (traditionalism), temporary torment followed by salvation (universalism), temporary torment followed by destruction (annihilationism).  In this lecture we'll cover the main texts supporting the annihilation of the wicked as well as three logical problems with the traditional view.

                                                                                                                                           —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                           Understanding Immortality

                                                                                                                                           Gen 2.17

                                                                                                                                           • what was the original consequence for sin that God promised? death!
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 3.19, 22-23 expelled from tree of life
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 5.5 Adam died
                                                                                                                                           • from the beginning the punishment for sin was death

                                                                                                                                            proof

                                                                                                                                           • 1 only God is immortal by nature (1 Tim 1.17;15-16)
                                                                                                                                           • 2 humans are by nature mortal (will not by default live forever)
                                                                                                                                           • 3 God gives the saved immortality
                                                                                                                                             • through the gospel (2 Tim 1.9-10)
                                                                                                                                             • through resurrection (1 Cor 15.52-53)
                                                                                                                                           • therefore damned will not be immortal (John 3.16; Rom 6.23[1]; 1 John 5.11-12)
                                                                                                                                           Biblical Language of Destruction

                                                                                                                                           Psalm 37 uses terms to describe the fate of the wicked

                                                                                                                                           v2

                                                                                                                                           wither quickly like the grass

                                                                                                                                           v9

                                                                                                                                           cut off

                                                                                                                                           v10

                                                                                                                                           be no more

                                                                                                                                           v20

                                                                                                                                           perish

                                                                                                                                           v20

                                                                                                                                           vanish like smoke

                                                                                                                                           v22

                                                                                                                                           cut off

                                                                                                                                           v27

                                                                                                                                           reward for good is to live forever

                                                                                                                                           v28

                                                                                                                                           cut off

                                                                                                                                           v34

                                                                                                                                           cut off

                                                                                                                                           v36

                                                                                                                                           passed away

                                                                                                                                           Mal 4.1-3 day is coming that will set them ablaze, they’ll be ashes under your feet

                                                                                                                                           Mat 3.12 burn up chaff [wicked] w/ unquenchable fire

                                                                                                                                           • unquenchable = cannot be put out until it consumes the fuel
                                                                                                                                           • Jer 7.20: God’s wrath is unquenchable, so he tells Jer to stop praying…but after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and carried the people into exile, his wrath ended

                                                                                                                                           Mat 7.13-14  narrow gate leads to life; broad way leads to destruction

                                                                                                                                           Mat 10.28  destroy body and soul in hell

                                                                                                                                           • Hades = greek for Sheol = realm of dead (the grave)
                                                                                                                                           • Gehenna = valley of Hinnom = burning garbage dump where they used to sacrifice children to Moloch that Jesus used as an analogy for the final judgment

                                                                                                                                           Mat 13.40-42 all law-breakers thrown into fiery furnace

                                                                                                                                           • “weeping and gnashing of teeth” indicates anger not suffering
                                                                                                                                           • see Luke 13.28: weeping & gnashing b/c you see Abr. Is. Jac. in kingdom but yourselves cast out

                                                                                                                                           Mat 18.8-9 better to enter life crippled than to be thrown into eternal fire (hell of fire)

                                                                                                                                           • life contrasted with fire

                                                                                                                                           Mat 25.46 eternal punishment vs. eternal life

                                                                                                                                           • punishment that lasts forever not that is experienced forever (death penalty is irreversible)
                                                                                                                                           • Heb 5.9 eternal salvation: process of saving was finite but outcome lasts forever
                                                                                                                                           • Heb 9.12 eternal redemption: process of redeeming was finite but outcome lasts forever

                                                                                                                                           Gal 6.8

                                                                                                                                           • sow to the flesh -> reap corruption
                                                                                                                                           • sow to the spirit -> reap eternal life

                                                                                                                                           Heb 10.26-27 those who go on sinning will get a fury of fire that will consume

                                                                                                                                           2 Peter 2.6 Sodom&Gomorrah condemned to extinction as example of what happens to ungodly

                                                                                                                                           2 Peter 3.6-7 future destruction is like Noah's flood

                                                                                                                                           Jud 1.6-7  Sodom & Gomorrah are an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire

                                                                                                                                           • inhabitants of S&G were violently slain by fire
                                                                                                                                           Atonement

                                                                                                                                           Romans 5.6 “Christ died for the ungodly” https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 7 — Annihilationism false no 48:52 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/03/08/167-theology-6-challenging-the-kingdom/ Fri, 08 Mar 2019 13:40:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3839 In our last episode, we examined the broad scope of scripture, stopping at many texts along the way that teach about a future kingdom when Jesus returns.  In this session, we’ll take a look at a number of sometimes misunderstood texts that seem to imply the kingdom is either already present or in heaven.

                                                                                                                                           Here is the picture of the Greek manuscript known as Codex Vaticanus on Luke 23.43 with an arrow pointing to the alleged comma:

                                                                                                                                           And here is Codex Sinaiaticus on 1 Timothy 3.16, with the hand of a later scribe “correcting” ος to θς, changing “who” to “God.”

                                                                                                                                           —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                           State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                           The kingdom is the age when Jesus rules over the world from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  It is present in that the sense that his followers already recognize him as king and submit to his kingdom way.  (It’s been inaugurated but not consummated.)  When it arrives, it will fill the earth.

                                                                                                                                           Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                           Gen 1.28; Ps 2.6-9; 37.9-11, 22, 29, 34; 110; Is 11.1-9; 25.6-9; 35; Dan 2.44; 7.13-14, 18, 22, 27; Mic 4.1-8; Am 9.11-15; Zeph 3.8-20; 45.18; Mt 5.5; 6.9-10; 13.24-30, 36-43; 19.27-28; 25.31-46; Lk 1.31-33; 13.23-30; Acts 1.3-8; 3.19-21; 1 Cor 6.1-3; 15.24-28; 2 Tim 2.11-13; Rev 2.26-27; 5.10; 11.15-18

                                                                                                                                           Difficult Texts:

                                                                                                                                           Kingdom Is Already Here (Either as Spiritual Reality or Came on Pentecost)

                                                                                                                                           Luke 10.9

                                                                                                                                           Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

                                                                                                                                           Luke 11.20

                                                                                                                                           But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

                                                                                                                                           • these two clearly imply the kingdom is not future but present in the ministry of Jesus
                                                                                                                                           • we don’t have to take an “either or” hermeneutic; we can take a “both and” position

                                                                                                                                           Luke 17.20-31

                                                                                                                                           20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,  21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.  24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.  25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot– they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,  29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all–  30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

                                                                                                                                           Albert Nolan:

                                                                                                                                           “Many Christians have been misled for centuries about the nature of God’s kingdom by the well-known mistranslation of Lk 17:21: “The kingdom of God is within” Today all serious scholars and translators agree that the text should be read: “The kingdom ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 6 — Challenging the Kingdom false no 56:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/28/166-theology-5-kingdom-hope/ Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:00:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3782 We now begin a series of four lectures on the eternal destiny of the righteous and the wicked, including the kingdom and the judgement.  For today we are going to focus on what God promises for his own people in the age to come.  We’ll cruise through the entire bible (right from Genesis to Revelation), making key stops along the way to understand the golden thread, woven throughout scripture of the kingdom.

                                                                                                                                           —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                           eschatology

                                                                                                                                           • understanding of the last things or end times
                                                                                                                                           • destiny of the righteous: kingdom
                                                                                                                                           • destiny of the wicked: hell

                                                                                                                                           3 dimensions to kingdom

                                                                                                                                           1. hope
                                                                                                                                           2. gospel
                                                                                                                                           3. way

                                                                                                                                           we are just talking about hope right now

                                                                                                                                           creation theology

                                                                                                                                           • the first book of the bible begins with a poem, detailing God’s creation of universe
                                                                                                                                           • Genesis 1
                                                                                                                                             • what repeats?
                                                                                                                                               • And God said
                                                                                                                                               • let there be
                                                                                                                                               • and God saw that it was good
                                                                                                                                               • and there was evening and there was morning—the ?? day
                                                                                                                                               • every stanza begins with, “And God said” and “let there be”
                                                                                                                                               • every stanza ends with, “and God saw that it was good” and “it was evening and morning”
                                                                                                                                           • more patterns
                                                                                                                                             • God creates heavens on day 1
                                                                                                                                             • God populates heavens on day 4
                                                                                                                                             • God creates the waters on day 2
                                                                                                                                             • God populates waters on day 5
                                                                                                                                             • God creates the land on day 3
                                                                                                                                             • God populates the land on day 6
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 1.26: The poem climaxes at the creation of humanity
                                                                                                                                             • first time God brings others into creation
                                                                                                                                             • the first thing he says about humans is for them to have dominion over everything else on earth
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 1.27: God made us in his own image
                                                                                                                                             • we are similar to him in some way
                                                                                                                                             • also similar to the angels (cf. v26)
                                                                                                                                             • he does not say the animals are in his image
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 1.28: first commands God gives
                                                                                                                                             • reproduce
                                                                                                                                             • rule the world
                                                                                                                                           • Gen 1.29: God gives his people food (vegetables, grains, & fruits)
                                                                                                                                           • robust creation theology is the foundation for eschatology
                                                                                                                                             • example of Gnostics who believed the physical universe was an accident
                                                                                                                                             • people generally believe God will get in the end what he wanted in the beginning
                                                                                                                                           • Isaiah 45.18
                                                                                                                                             • God’s plan is not to evacuate but to have his world inhabited
                                                                                                                                           • last book reflects the first book
                                                                                                                                             • Genesis records the beginning Revelation records the end
                                                                                                                                             • river flowing out of Eden river flowing from God’s throne
                                                                                                                                             • tree of life in the garden tree of life on either side of the river
                                                                                                                                             • gold, bdellium, and onyx a ton of different precious stones
                                                                                                                                             • God walking in the garden God dwelling with his people (see his face)
                                                                                                                                             • garden city
                                                                                                                                             • probationary permanent
                                                                                                                                             • satan deceives satan done away with
                                                                                                                                             • God curses ground no more curse
                                                                                                                                             • first marriage last marriage
                                                                                                                                             • what God originally wanted in the beginning he will get in the end!
                                                                                                                                             • typically people conceive of the end based on what they believe God originally wanted in the beginning

                                                                                                                                           Promise to Abraham

                                                                                                                                           • Gen 17.4-8
                                                                                                                                             • father of a multitude of nations (not just Israel!)
                                                                                                                                             • to be God to you and your offspring
                                                                                                                                             • give you land Canaan as an everlasting possession

                                                                                                                                           Promise to David

                                                                                                                                           • 1 Chronicles 17.11-14
                                                                                                                                             • raise up one of your sins
                                                                                                                                             • he will build me a house
                                                                                                                                             • I will establish his throne forever

                                                                                                                                           Psalms

                                                                                                                                           • Psalm 2.6-9
                                                                                                                                           • Psalm 37.9-11, 22, 29, 34
                                                                                                                                           • Psalm 110 https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 5 — Kingdom Hope false no 1:03:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/21/165-theology-4-challenging-conditional-immortality/ Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:00:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3780 In our last episode we looked at what the scriptures teach about humanity, including creation, death, and resurrection.  I laid out a case for conditional immortality from several important texts.  This time, we will consider a number of challenges to this understanding including:
                                                                                                                                             1. Philippians 1.23 “depart and be with Christ”
                                                                                                                                             2. 1 Corinthians 5.8 “absent from the body…present with the Lord”
                                                                                                                                             3. Luke 23.43 “Today you will be with me in paradise”
                                                                                                                                             4. Revelation 6.9-10 “under the altar the souls…cried out”
                                                                                                                                             5. Luke 16.19ff Rich man and Lazarus
                                                                                                                                             6. 1 Samuel 28.7ff the witch of Endor

                                                                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                             State the Doctrine Simply

                                                                                                                                             The dead are asleep—unconscious—until the resurrection when they are brought back to life at the return of Christ.

                                                                                                                                             Texts that Support This Teaching

                                                                                                                                             Gen 2.7; 1 Kings 2.10; 11.43; 14.20; Job 3.11-14; Ecc 9.5-10; Ps 6.4-5; 13.3; 115.17; 146.3-4; Dan 12.2; Jn 11.11-14;5.28-29; 6.39-40, 44, 54; Acts 2.29, 34; 7.60; 1 Cor 15.6, 21-23, 51-55; 1 Thes 4.13-17

                                                                                                                                             Logical Arguments
                                                                                                                                             • comfort to know loved one is just resting in peace (RIP)
                                                                                                                                             • would be weird if they watched everything you do
                                                                                                                                             • don’t need to pray for them a million times hoping to change God’s mind
                                                                                                                                             • immortality of the soul opens the door for spiritualism
                                                                                                                                               • Lev 20.6 people whoring after mediums and necromancers will be cut off
                                                                                                                                               • Lev 20.27 any medium/necromancer will be put to death
                                                                                                                                               • Deut 18.9-13 abominable practice, a reason why Canaanites were expelled
                                                                                                                                             • derives from pagan sources
                                                                                                                                               • Plato, Egyptians, Norse, Hindu, etc.
                                                                                                                                             • creepy to think deceased loved ones are watching everything we do
                                                                                                                                             • has led to church abuse, i.e. sale of indulgences
                                                                                                                                             Difficult Texts

                                                                                                                                             Hand out article by Matt Perman at Desiring God:

                                                                                                                                             The “intermediate state” is the time between the death and the resurrection. Some have held that during this time we are unconscious or possibly even go out of existence. We do not think that this is biblical.

                                                                                                                                             The biblical evidence is that our soul continues on after death and that we remain conscious in the intermediate state while awaiting our final destiny of resurrected existence in the new heavens and new earth.

                                                                                                                                             First, Paul spoke of having the desire “to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippians 1:23). Notice first of all that Paul speaks of death as a departure (from the body) not into temporary nothingness or unconsciousness but to be with Christ. If we are with Christ once we have died, then we continue existing. Second, notice that Paul speaks of this state as “very much better” than the present state. It would be hard to say such a thing of a state of complete unconsciousness. Particularly when we consider that Paul’s passion was to know Christ, it would seem that the reason the state beyond death is better than this present life is because we are with Christ and know it. If we were suddenly unconscious at death until the resurrection, wouldn’t it be better to remain in this life because at least then we would have conscious fellowship with Christ?

                                                                                                                                             Second, Paul also said that “while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord” and that therefore he would “prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” ( https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 4 – Challenging Conditional Immortality false no 52:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/14/164-theology-3-conditional-immortality/ Fri, 15 Feb 2019 01:00:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3750 In this lecture, you'll learn about anthropology--the bible's view of humanity.  In particular, we'll focus on the two ends of the spectrum: creation and death.  We'll see how the biblical view of humanity is rather exalted since we are made in God's image.  We'll examine what the bible teaches about death and resurrection and how the intermediate state is regularly labeled sleep. 

                                                                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                             Why start here?  it’s where the bible starts (creation)

                                                                                                                                             anthropology: your understanding of humanity

                                                                                                                                             where do humans come from?

                                                                                                                                             • two typical answers
                                                                                                                                               • unguided natural processes based on huge amounts of time and inconceivably unlikely chance events (evolution)
                                                                                                                                               • God made the first people (imago dei)
                                                                                                                                             • Genesis account

                                                                                                                                             Gen 2.7: God personally creates humans

                                                                                                                                             • with heavenly bodies God says, “let there be”
                                                                                                                                             • with plants God says, “let there be”
                                                                                                                                             • with animals (air, land, or sea) God says, “let there be”
                                                                                                                                             • with humankind God stoops down
                                                                                                                                               • he forms us; he shapes us from dust, like clay
                                                                                                                                             • he breaths into our nostrils the breath of life
                                                                                                                                               • sounds like mouth to mouth
                                                                                                                                             • animals have the breath of life, but not such a tender description

                                                                                                                                             consider God’s human design

                                                                                                                                             • 22 square feet of skin
                                                                                                                                             • 206 bones
                                                                                                                                             • 25 feet of intestines
                                                                                                                                             • 45 miles of nerves
                                                                                                                                             • 100,000 miles of blood vessels
                                                                                                                                             • can live from hottest equatorial climates to the frigid polar caps
                                                                                                                                             • skin provides
                                                                                                                                               • waterproof barrier
                                                                                                                                               • temperature regulation
                                                                                                                                               • sensory input
                                                                                                                                             • fingers are both finely tuned (painting) and strong (boxers)
                                                                                                                                             • wrists enjoy 160 degrees of motion
                                                                                                                                               • throw frisbee
                                                                                                                                               • ride a motorcycle
                                                                                                                                             • ball and socket shoulder joint allows
                                                                                                                                               • 360 degrees of motion
                                                                                                                                               • lift an object from the ground over our heads in one fluid motion
                                                                                                                                             • hearts pump 2,000 gallons of blood each day
                                                                                                                                               • never rest
                                                                                                                                             • stomachs produce hydrochloric acid powerful enough to digest solid metal
                                                                                                                                             • biped design allows for ridiculous range of activities
                                                                                                                                               • climb trees
                                                                                                                                               • run marathons
                                                                                                                                               • ballet
                                                                                                                                             • ears pick up incredible range of sounds
                                                                                                                                               • soft sounds
                                                                                                                                               • rock concerts
                                                                                                                                             • voices can whisper, speak, yell, sing
                                                                                                                                             • eyes allow for nearly 180 degrees of horizontal vision
                                                                                                                                               • three dimensions
                                                                                                                                             • brains process everything effortlessly
                                                                                                                                               • and assemble a realistic perception of the external world
                                                                                                                                               • capable of thinking abstractly (what’s better courage or integrity?)
                                                                                                                                               • can imagine future possibilities
                                                                                                                                               • mental simulator to run through plans
                                                                                                                                               • art, science, relationships, sports, etc.
                                                                                                                                             • people are capable of incredible creations
                                                                                                                                               • Shakespeare
                                                                                                                                               • your favorite song
                                                                                                                                               • Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai (more than a half mile high)
                                                                                                                                               • Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China (more than 100 miles)
                                                                                                                                               • bicycles, performance cars, submarines, airplanes, and spaceships
                                                                                                                                             • we are discoverers
                                                                                                                                               • charted a billion stars
                                                                                                                                               • catalogued over a million animals species
                                                                                                                                             • we are producers
                                                                                                                                               • 130 million books
                                                                                                                                               • over 28 million songs
                                                                                                                                               • more than 2 million movies
                                                                                                                                             • we peer into space far away and examine the minute DNA within the microscopic world
                                                                                                                                             • you gotta admit, that God did a pretty amazing job making us!

                                                                                                                                             God’s creation was good (7x)

                                                                                                                                             • significant b/c it means God made the universe and people the way he wanted
                                                                                                                                               • it wasn’t some accident (Gnostics)
                                                                                                                                             • was God’s origin]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 3 – Conditional Immortality false no 56:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/10/163-jesus-gods-agent/ Sun, 10 Feb 2019 17:11:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3728 In this presentation you'll learn about the core creed of the bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, the Shema, and how that relates to the smattering of texts in which Jesus may be called "God."  If Yahweh alone is God then how can Jesus be God too?  Are there two Gods or is something else going on?  The answer is the principle of agency.  Jesus can be called God because he represents God.

                                                                                                                                               It is much  more likely that Jesus is called God because he represents God, just like Moses did to Pharaoh, the judges did to Israel, and the king did as God’s anointed one.  Jesus is the ultimate proxy, God’s agent through whom God’s word became a human being and spoke to his people.  Jesus was utterly transparent, always doing his father’s works, pursuing his God’s will, and speaking Yahweh’s words and thus can rightly be called God.  He’s not a separate God, but God’s human representative.  To meet Jesus is to meet God, not because he is God in himself, but because God was so at work within him.

                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                               • For a written version of this talk, see my article, “Explanations to Verses Commonly Used to Teach that Jesus Is God”
                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/agent.png 163 Jesus, God’s Agent false no 47:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/07/162-refuting-michael-browns-case-for-the-trinity-4/ Fri, 08 Feb 2019 01:00:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3732 We continue our refutation of Michael Brown’s opening statement by addressing a whole smattering of texts, including Isaiah 9.6, John 20.28, Colossians 2.9, 2 Peter 1.1, Romans 9.5, and 1 John 5.20. We explain and debunk Brown's unusual singular verb argument from 1 Thess 3.13, 2 Thess 2.16-17, and Rev 22.3-4. We briefly touch upon Zech 14.3-4 and Mat 28.19 before handling Brown's case for the independent personality of God's spirit (Acts 5.3-4; 2 Cor 13.14; John 15.26; Mat 12.32). We look at the angel passage from Gen 48.15-16 and the whole concept of seeing God in OT times. In the end we find that Brown's case is not only confusing and self-contradictory, but he also repeatedly presupposes the deity of Christ in exegesis, he cherry picks texts without regard for their contexts, and he regularly disregards the Hebrew culture of key passages. In the end we remain unconvinced by his case for the Trinity.

                                                                                                                                               Here are two manuscripts on Romans 9.5.  The first is Codex Vaticanus and the second is Codex Alexandrinus.  Note the very interesting punctuation after the word σάρκα (flesh) in each.  This indicates that the 4th and 5th century scribes took the latter clause as a distinct unit from the former in agreement with the punctuation we find in the New American Bible (NAB), "theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen."  For comparison, here is the Greek from the NA28, "ὧν οἱ πατέρες καὶ ἐξ ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν."

                                                                                                                                               To help you follow along, here is the relevant portion of the manuscript Brown used for his opening statement:

                                                                                                                                               That’s why Isaiah said in 9:6 that one of the Messiah’s titles would be, “Mighty God,” yet in Isaiah 10:21, it is Yahweh who is called “Mighty God.” That’s why Thomas said to the risen Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” in John 20:28. The text is totally clear! Thomas called Jesus his Lord and his God. And that’s why Paul wrote in Colossians 2:9 that “the whole fullness of deity” dwelt in bodily form in Jesus.

                                                                                                                                               Peter is clear as well, writing in 2 Peter 1:1 about “the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” And it is very likely that Paul speaks of Jesus as God in Romans 9:5, while it is most likely that in 1 John 5:20, John states that Jesus Christ is “the true God.”

                                                                                                                                               That’s why Jesus could say that the Father was in Him and He in the Father (John 14:9-11). That’s why Paul identifies the Spirit of God with the Spirit of Christ in Romans 8:9-11. That’s why Paul could pray to the Father and Son together in 1 Thessalonians 3:13, saying, “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,” using a singular verb for the Father and Jesus. And why else would Paul include Jesus in a prayer to the Father, let alone pray to the Father and Son using a singular verb in the Greek – unless they are one? (See also 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, where Paul puts Jesus first in the prayer, using a singular verb again: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”)

                                                                                                                                               And that’s why prayer is offered directly to the Son in the New Testament. Stephen prays to Him in Acts 7:59 (“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”); we are taught to pray, “Maranatha,” which in Aramaic means, “Our Lord, come!” And John calls out to Him in prayer in Revelation, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). Jesus even told us to ask Him for anything and He ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Slide6.png 162 Refuting Michael Brown’s Case for the Trinity 4 false no 1:11:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/02/01/161-refuting-michael-browns-case-for-the-trinity-3/ Sat, 02 Feb 2019 00:43:53 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3706 We continue our refutation of Michael Brown's opening statement by addressing some alleged pre-existence texts in John 17.5, John 12.41, Philippians 2.6-11, and Matthew 23.37.  (See previous episodes here.)  Lastly we spend some considerable time working through Hebrews 1, giving special attention to verses 8 and 10. 

                                                                                                                                               To help you follow along, here is the relevant portion of the manuscript Brown used for his opening statement:

                                                                                                                                               There are other texts which explicitly point to the Son’s eternal preexistence. In John 17:5, Jesus prays to the Father, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Once again, the text is clear.

                                                                                                                                               John also tells us in chapter 12 that when Isaiah saw the Lord’s glory (meaning, Yahweh in His glory in Isaiah 6), it was the Son of God he saw, the one who suffers and dies in Isaiah 53. Isaiah saw the Son of God, and the Son was called Yahweh.

                                                                                                                                               That’s why Paul tells us explicitly in Philippians 2 that Jesus existed in the form of God yet emptied Himself and became a servant, dying for us. And that’s why Paul uses a text speaking of Yahweh in Isaiah 45:23, where God swears that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue swear to Him and applies the verse to Jesus, saying that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue confess that He is Lord. If the Son is not deity, that’s blasphemous, and it cannot possibly be to the glory of the Father. Just think if the verse were referred to an angel, rather than Yahweh. It’s unimaginable.

                                                                                                                                               Note also that Paul in this passage uses the example of Jesus in Philippians as an example of humility. He didn’t take what rightly belonged to Him – namely, the privileges of deity – but rather emptied Himself on our behalf. He who was eternally God came to earth as a servant to die for us! 

                                                                                                                                               That’s why Jesus says that He had often longed to have mercy on Jerusalem, but it was not willing (Matthew 23:37). He was the one wooing His people throughout Old Testament times.

                                                                                                                                               That’s why Hebrews 1:8, quoting from Psalm 45:7, says to the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Yes, the Son is God and has an eternal throne! (The plain sense of the Hebrew and Greek texts is quite clear and the major reason there is any debate in how to translate the words is because of theological objections to the Messiah being God.)

                                                                                                                                               Not only so, but Hebrews continues, quoting from Psalm 102 and applying these words to the Son, “And, ‘You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.’” (Heb 1:10-12) The Son is the eternal creator, the one who always was and always will be. That’s what Scripture states!

                                                                                                                                               We don’t need to play games with this text and try to make it say something it is not saying. The text clearly and indisputably speaks of the Lord creating the heavens and the earth, which will ultimately wear out, but He – the eternal Lord – will remain the same. Yet Hebrews applies this to the Son! And Psalm 102 makes frequent reference to Yahweh, yet the psalm is referred to the Son in Hebrews 1. Not only so, but the Greek text speaks of the Lord creating the universe in the beginning (archas). There is no denying the plain truth of these words!

                                                                                                                                               And Hebrews makes the consistent argument that the Son is greater than the angels, yet in first-century Judaism, the very context of these words, there was no one higher than the angels other than God Himself.

                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                               • You can]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Slide5.png 161 Refuting Michael Brown’s Case for the Trinity 3 false no 1:07:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/26/160-refuting-michael-browns-case-for-the-trinity-2/ Sat, 26 Jan 2019 20:35:18 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3677 In this episode we tackle the next chunk of Michael Brown’s opening statement in the recent Trinity debate.  We address his argument that since God’s words remain forever and Christ’s words remain forever, they must be the same (cf. Mat 24.35 vs. Isaiah 40.7-8).  Next we briefly explain the grammatical issues related to Titus 2.13 and the alleged Granville Sharp Rule.  Then we discuss Brown’s case for Jesus as the eternal, uncreator, creator of the cosmos (John 1, 1 Cor 8.6, and Col 1).

                                                                                                                                                 To help you follow along, here is the relevant portion of the manuscript Brown used for his opening statement:

                                                                                                                                                 That’s why in the Old Testament, Yahweh’s words remain forever (Isa 40:7-8) but in the New Testament it is Jesus’ words that will remain forever (Matt 24:35).

                                                                                                                                                 The Lord declared in Isaiah 43:11, “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior,” yet throughout the New Testament, Jesus is hailed as our Savior. Either He is one with God, or there is more than one true savior. Paul leaves us no doubt, referring to “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” in Titus 2:13. That’s the most obvious and clear sense of the Greek. Jesus is our great God and Savior.

                                                                                                                                                 We also learn from this same section in Isaiah that when Yahweh created the universe, He did it alone. As written in Isaiah 44:24, “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.” Yet the New Testament tells us explicitly that the Son was involved in creation.

                                                                                                                                                 In John 1:1, John uses the language of Genesis 1:1 in the Septuagint, saying that the Word was in the beginning (en arche), and explaining that what God was, the Word was. And, he continues, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4). And, John tells us, it is this preexistent Word, this Word through which all things were created, which became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

                                                                                                                                                 And that’s why John the Immerser explained that Jesus “ranks before me, because he was before me” (John 1:30). That’s why Jesus said that He was from above, that He came down from heaven, that He came from God and was returning to God (John 3:13; 6:38, 41; 8:23; 13:3).

                                                                                                                                                 That’s why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:6, “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” Even more emphatically, he wrote, “For by him [meaning the Son!] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17).

                                                                                                                                                 The text is clear. The Son is eternal. The Son is uncreated. All things were created through Him and for Him.

                                                                                                                                                 You really have to engage in a hopeless series of exegetical gymnastics to deny the plain sense of these words. And remember: In Isaiah, Yahweh said no one was with Him when He created the universe, yet these texts say He created all things through His Son. That can only mean one thing: The Father and Son are one God! And that’s why Jesus explained that it was His Father’s will “that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23).

                                                                                                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                 • For a more extensive treatment of John 1.1, see Podcast 111 with John Schoenheit
                                                                                                                                                 • You can find the other episodes in this series on Refuting Brown’s Opening Statement here
                                                                                                                                                 • You can li]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Slide4.png 160 Refuting Michael Brown’s Case for the Trinity 2 false no 1:01:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/24/159-refuting-michael-browns-case-for-the-trinity-1/ Fri, 25 Jan 2019 01:00:43 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3664 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

                                                                                                                                                   Jerry Wierwille and I systematically refute Michael Brown’s problematic case for the deity of Christ in his recent debate with Dale Tuggy. Due to the number of texts Brown crammed into his opening statement, this will have to be a multipart series. In this episode we begin by covering Brown’s assertion that believing that Jesus is a glorified man “neuter[s] the gospel” since a man’s death for our sins “is hardly a demonstration of the immeasurable love of God.” We discuss his contention that Isaiah 42.8 means that God does not share his glory with anyone else in light of the worship scene in Revelation 5. We explain the absurd claim that Jesus claimed to be the “I am” of the burning bush in John 8.58 as well as the alpha and omega texts in Revelation.

                                                                                                                                                   To help you follow along, here is the relevant portion of the manuscript Brown used for his opening statement:

                                                                                                                                                   Thanks so much for coming out tonight and for tuning in to our livestream, and thanks, Dr. Tuggy, for your comments, which I’m quite eager to rebut. The fact is, you claim that Jesus is simply a glorified man, and I want to declare in the clearest possible terms that the Son of God of the Bible – the one we rightly worship as God – is infinitely more than a glorified man. To make Him into a glorified man is to deny the clear and consistent witness of Scripture. To make Him into a glorified man is to neuter the gospel, since the idea that a glorified man died for our sins is hardly a demonstration of the immeasurable love of God. To the contrary, when God sent His Son to pay for our crimes, He was giving of His very self.

                                                                                                                                                   So, again, I’m eager to rebut Dr. Tuggy’s opening comments, and it’s clear that a lot of his difficulties come from the fact that Son took on human form, hence praying to the Father and having the Father as His God. But for now, in my opening statement, I will lay out the clear scriptural case that the Son is fully divine, and since there is only one God, then God must be complex in His unity. Simply stated, this one God has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Spirit, and if we are to accept the testimony of the Scripture, this is the only fair conclusion.

                                                                                                                                                   For Dr. Tuggy and others, this is a logical contradiction, but the day we can fully wrap our minds around the nature of God is the day we’ve reduced Him to our level, thereby making a god in our image. The God of the Bible is marvelous and transcendent, without beginning and without end, rightly called in Judaism the eyn sof – the infinite One – and, according to the Scriptures, clearly complex in His unity. Will we accept the biblical witness, or will we try to create a god based on our own limitations and perceptions?

                                                                                                                                                   In the Old Testament, the Lord stated categorically that He would share His glory with no one. As written in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” (See also 48:11, “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”)

                                                                                                                                                   Yet we see in the New Testament that massive glory and honor are given to the Son. As Revelation records, “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every cre]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Slide3.png 159 Refuting Michael Brown’s Case for the Trinity 1 false no 58:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/22/interview-51-dale-tuggy-post-debate-review/ Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:41:20 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3636 Are you curious how Dale Tuggy thinks he did on the Trinity debate with Michael Brown?  In this post-debate interview I ask him about his strongest points as well as what he thought Brown’s strongest arguments were.  I ask Tuggy about Brown’s Trinity theory and he explains the “one self” version of the Trinity as well as some of the major problems with that position.  In the end, Tuggy both gave Brown a lot of credit for his rhetorical style while remaining completely unconvinced that Brown’s position can stand up to the bible or plain old logic.

                                                                                                                                                   Stay tuned next time when Jerry Wierwille and I discuss Brown’s opening statement and give brief answers to his many opening arguments.

                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                   • Visit Dale Tuggy’s website and podcast at trinities.org
                                                                                                                                                   • Check out Tuggy’s excellent YouTube video entitled, “Who Should Christians Worship“
                                                                                                                                                   • You can either listen to the entire debate on podcast 158 or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Dale-Tuggy.jpg Interview 51 Dale Tuggy Post-Debate Review false no 1:02:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/17/interview-50-michael-brown-post-debate-interview/ Fri, 18 Jan 2019 01:00:16 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3627 Are you curious how Michael Brown thinks he did on the Trinity debate last weekend? In this post-debate interview I ask him about his strongest points as well as what he thought Dale Tuggy's strongest points were. We talk about his reticence to use traditional trinitarian language in light of his own unique heritage and ministry focus. I press him gently to explain his view of the Trinity in light of some of the confusion that arose during the debate. Next time, I'll be interviewing Dr. Tuggy and getting his response and then after that Jerry Wierwille and I are planning on thoroughly reviewing and rebutting Dr. Brown's opening statement, verse by verse.

                                                                                                                                                   Now, I realize that a number of you may not appreciate me giving Dr. Brown an opportunity to defend his view of the deity of Christ, but if you've listened to this podcast for any length of time, you know that I end every episode with the words "the truth has nothing to fear." For me, that's not just a tag line, it's how I believe. I'm not afraid to hear arguments for the deity of Christ or the Trinity. It's healthy for those of us who are biblical unitarians to be challenged by passionate defenders of opposing positions. If I'm wrong about Jesus, I want to be corrected and if I'm right then hearing another viewpoint shouldn't be a threat.

                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                   • Visit Michael Brown's website and radio show at askdrbrown.org
                                                                                                                                                   • You can either listen to the entire debate on podcast 158 or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DrMLBrown.jpg Interview 50 Michael Brown Post-Debate Review false no 41:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/12/dale-tuggy-vs-michael-brown-debate-is-the-god-of-the-bible-the-father-alone/ Sat, 12 Jan 2019 21:55:44 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3617 Last night Michael Brown (PhD NYU) and Dale Tuggy (PhD Brown U) debated the question, “Is the God of the Bible the Father Alone?” Tuggy affirmed while Brown denied. Both scholars recognize the inspiration and the authority of scripture over tradition. Both made an effort to found their beliefs using the bible, reason, and history. The debate went for nearly three hours and followed this format:
                                                                                                                                                   • Opening Statements (20 minutes each)
                                                                                                                                                   • Rebuttals (12 minutes each)
                                                                                                                                                   • 2 Rounds of Cross-Examination (7 minutes each)
                                                                                                                                                   • Concluding Statements (5 minutes each)
                                                                                                                                                   • Questions from the Audience (54 minutes total)

                                                                                                                                                   Please leave your comments below. Who do you think won? Were both sides fairly represented? Whom should Tuggy debate next?

                                                                                                                                                   Here are my notes for the two opening statements.  They aren’t perfect, but I tried to keep up with each.

                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                   Dale Tuggy’s Opening Statement

                                                                                                                                                   • The Father is the only God (1 Cor 8.6; John 8.54)
                                                                                                                                                   • Jesus is not God but messiah, God’s agent (1 Tim 2.5)

                                                                                                                                                   compare 2 hypotheses in light of 6 indisputable facts 1. NT believe Father is one God alone 2. NT believes one God is the Trinity

                                                                                                                                                   6 Indisputable Facts

                                                                                                                                                   1. all 4 Gospels feature a “mere man” compatible main thesis
                                                                                                                                                      • Jn 20.31 -> that’s it? nothing about Jesus being God
                                                                                                                                                   2. the word God nearly always refers to the Father and no word refers to the Trinity
                                                                                                                                                      • they should sometimes use the word God to refer to the Trinity but they never do
                                                                                                                                                      • in the NT God is nearly always the Father
                                                                                                                                                      • no more than 8 texts where the term God refers to the Son
                                                                                                                                                      • a human can be referred to with the title God
                                                                                                                                                      • Jesus makes that point in Psalm 82
                                                                                                                                                   3. only the Father and Jesus are worshiped
                                                                                                                                                      • no worship of the Trinity
                                                                                                                                                      • no worship of all 3 persons-> no spirit!
                                                                                                                                                      • Phil 2.11 says that Jesus’ worship is indirectly to God
                                                                                                                                                      • by worshiping Jesus we worship the creator
                                                                                                                                                   4. that God is triune or tripersonal is never clearly asserted in the NT
                                                                                                                                                      • poor Jewish theology is always assumed
                                                                                                                                                      • Jesus never gets around to telling us that God is 3 persons in 1 essence
                                                                                                                                                   5. no controversy about the Trinity in the NT
                                                                                                                                                      • Trinity theories always engender controversy
                                                                                                                                                      • the NT controversies are over whether Jesus is messiah and whether non-Jews can be saved apart from Torah observance
                                                                                                                                                   6. no NT author lifts a finger to limit or qualify clear implications of the son’s limitations
                                                                                                                                                      • Jesus got his mission, authority, message, power, from God
                                                                                                                                                      • no author shows any embarrassment that Jesus is subordinate

                                                                                                                                                   Jesus is a real human man

                                                                                                                                                   • w/ a real human mom
                                                                                                                                                   • but w/ God as his father
                                                                                                                                                   • he was brought into existence in the womb

                                                                                                                                                   the one God is eternal

                                                                                                                                                   • why aren’t the NT authors at all concerned to exert the eternal existence of the son
                                                                                                                                                   • will grant pre-existence but not eternality for purposes of this debate

                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                   Michael Brown’s Opening Statement

                                                                                                                                                   • not a catholic bone in my body
                                                                                                                                                   • Son of God is infinitely more than a glorified man
                                                                                                                                                     • this denies Scripture
                                                                                                                                                     • neuters the gospel
                                                                                                                                                     • a man dying for our sins is hardly a demonstration of God’s love
                                                                                                                                                   • son is fully divine
                                                                                                                                                     • can’t wrap our minds around the nature of God
                                                                                                                                                     • God is complex in his unity
                                                                                                                                                     • making a God based on our own limitations and perceptions
                                                                                                                                                   1. God shares his glory w/ no one (Is 42.8)
                                                                                                                                                      • in Rev 5, massive glory a]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/debate.jpg 158 Dale Tuggy vs. Michael Brown Debate: Is the God of the Bible the Father Alone? false no 165:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/10/157-theology-2-bibliology/ Fri, 11 Jan 2019 01:00:48 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3610

                                                                                                                                                        Before delving into specific biblical doctrines, we need to first think about what the bible is. In this lecture you’ll learn what the bible says about itself, some reasons to believe God inspired it, as well as the major types of biblical scholars and how they approach scripture. This episode, along with the last one, serves to round out the introduction to this course.

                                                                                                                                                        —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                        bibliology: one’s understanding about the bible

                                                                                                                                                        • what is the bible?
                                                                                                                                                          1. a library of 66 books
                                                                                                                                                          2. written by 40 people
                                                                                                                                                        • how should you interact with it?

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                        claims that God inspired the bible

                                                                                                                                                        • Matthew 1.22-23
                                                                                                                                                        • Mark 12.36
                                                                                                                                                        • Acts 1.16
                                                                                                                                                        • Acts 3.18
                                                                                                                                                        • Acts 4.25
                                                                                                                                                        • Acts 28.25-26
                                                                                                                                                        • Hebrews 3.7
                                                                                                                                                        • Hebrews 10.15-17
                                                                                                                                                        • 2 Timothy 3.16
                                                                                                                                                        • 2 Peter 1.16-21
                                                                                                                                                        • Revelation 1.1-2

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                        reasons why I believe the bible is genuinely inspired

                                                                                                                                                        • it claims it
                                                                                                                                                        • predictive prophecy
                                                                                                                                                        • unflattering honesty
                                                                                                                                                        • medical insights
                                                                                                                                                        • martyrdom
                                                                                                                                                        • archeology

                                                                                                                                                        some more reasons

                                                                                                                                                        • ear-marks of eye-witnesses
                                                                                                                                                        • historicity of the resurrection of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                        • changed my life
                                                                                                                                                        • incredible preservation
                                                                                                                                                          • survived some Israelite and Judean kings who disregarded it (Manasseh->Amon->Josiah)
                                                                                                                                                          • survived 70 year exile in Babylonia
                                                                                                                                                          • survived Antiochus Epiphanes who tried to destroy the Torah
                                                                                                                                                          • survived destruction of Temple in a.d. 70
                                                                                                                                                          • survived destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 135
                                                                                                                                                          • survived several Muslim empires
                                                                                                                                                          • survived all the crusades
                                                                                                                                                          • OT survived in high quality manuscripts (Aleppo, Leningrad, DSS, LXX)
                                                                                                                                                          • Diocletian tried to destroy the NT
                                                                                                                                                          • NT survived in over 5,000 Greek mss
                                                                                                                                                          • 531 language for whole bible, 1329 languages for NT

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                        dichotomy today between bible-believing and bible-critical approaches to doctrine

                                                                                                                                                        • refer to youtube video of my lecture on Losing Faith from 500
                                                                                                                                                        • enlightenment gave rise to intense philosophical and biblical criticisms
                                                                                                                                                          1. most bible professors in most secular universities examine the bible from an atheist worldview
                                                                                                                                                        • some Christians affirmed these criticisms but tried to save Christianity
                                                                                                                                                          1. Schleiermacher (1822): feeling of absolute dependence; entering into Christ’s perfect God consciousness
                                                                                                                                                          2. Albrecht Ritschl (1852): kingdom of God = community of brotherly love (focus on Jesus’ ethics not miracles)
                                                                                                                                                          3. Adolf Harnack (1886): fatherhood of God, brotherhood of man, worth of each soul, love rather than law
                                                                                                                                                          4. Walter Rauschenbusch (1917): social gospel movement—focus on humanitarian needs
                                                                                                                                                        • other Christians dug in and fought the criticisms
                                                                                                                                                          1. John Locke (1695) published The Reasonableness of Christianity
                                                                                                                                                          2. William Paley (1802) early proponent of intelligent design
                                                                                                                                                          3. Charles Hodge (1874) defended infallibility and attacked Darwinism
                                                                                                                                                          4. Fundamentalist Movement (1910)
                                                                                                                                                        • In 19th and 20th centuries the liberals and conservatives fight it out
                                                                                                                                                          1. major denominations split (Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans)
                                                                                                                                                          2. as universities go liberal and biblical conservatives leave and start new schools
                                                                                                                                                             • 1806 Harvard splits to form Andover Theological Seminary
                                                                                                                                                             • 1908 Lyman Stewart started BIOLA; he’s the man who funded the 1910 “The Fundamentals”
                                                                                                                                                             • 1929 Princeton splits to form Westminster Theological Seminary
                                                                                                                                                             • 1976 Liberty University Founded a]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 2 – Bibliology false no 1:05:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2019/01/03/156-theology-1-introduction/ Fri, 04 Jan 2019 01:00:25 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3594

                                                                                                                                                               Happy New Year. I’m so excited to begin with you a new class that covers a whole range of biblical doctrines. In fact, I’m going to combine two classes into one and I think they will work together really well. The first class was originally titled “Basic Bible Doctrine” and it covered approximately fifteen different major beliefs. The goal was to explain these aspects of theology and give supporting scripture and reasons for them. I’m combining this with a more advanced class called “Solutions to Bible Texts,” which deals with commonly misunderstood verses on a bunch of doctrines. I’m going to attempt to interweave these two, so that you get a comprehensive understanding of theology.

                                                                                                                                                               Now I realize that you very well may disagree with my understanding on some of these beliefs, so we may have some exciting dialog in the comments on these episodes.  I will freely admit at the outset that I don’t know everything and that I have been wrong in the past.  I just ask that you give this class a charitable listen and check it against the scriptures to see if it is true.  Hopefully, this will be a good way to lay it all out there and see what you think.  To begin with, this episode is an introduction that covers some important basics about approaching truth and building biblical doctrines.

                                                                                                                                                               —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                               In one sense there’s nothing basic about bible doctrine. Constructing a coherent biblical theology on any topic takes immense effort from collecting the many texts on the topic to interpreting each of them based on their own literary, historical, and theological contexts to conceiving of an understanding that simply yet elegantly embraces the most texts possible while minimizing the number of difficult texts to comparing other doctrinal systems both ancient and modern—the process is anything but “basic.” Even so, the end result is often simple enough to comprehend and communicate, though it rests upon the work of teams of specialists drawn from a variety of fields.

                                                                                                                                                               the bereans

                                                                                                                                                               • Acts 17.11
                                                                                                                                                               • what was Paul trying to convince them to believe?
                                                                                                                                                               • neither accepted nor rejected<–really impressed Paul
                                                                                                                                                               • tested Paul’s message against the scriptures

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                               why is it so important to be willing to change our beliefs?

                                                                                                                                                               b/c it’s easy to misunderstand the bible

                                                                                                                                                               • geographic separation (what’s the Arabah?)
                                                                                                                                                               • cultural separation (did they have divorce? could they read? did they have running water?)
                                                                                                                                                               • different religious groups (what’s the difference between a Saducee and a Pharisee?)
                                                                                                                                                               • language (what language did Jesus speak? how do we know that? ephphatha)
                                                                                                                                                               • metaphysics: function over essence (why did God call the light day?)
                                                                                                                                                               • anachronism: since everything is so different, it takes serious work to not read our own ideas into the bible

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                               reasons why it can be hard to change our beliefs

                                                                                                                                                               • easier to keep them the same
                                                                                                                                                               • might need to leave our church
                                                                                                                                                               • might lose friends, relationship with kids (Ray Faircloth), marriage (1 Cor 7)
                                                                                                                                                               • might lose job opportunities
                                                                                                                                                               • identity might be wrapped up in being 3rd generation church of God or whatever
                                                                                                                                                                 • remember when I went to BU and got asked what I was
                                                                                                                                                                 • anabaptist, adventist, biblical unitarian, restorationist
                                                                                                                                                                 • my core identity (what defines me at more core, but doesn’t change no matter where I am on my quest for understanding)
                                                                                                                                                               1. love God
                                                                                                                                                               2. follow Christ
                                                                                                                                                               3. seek truth

                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                               typical to think doctrine doesn’t matter or worse that it’s divisive

                                                                                                                                                               • not taught to argue constructively
                                                                                                                                                               • head knowledge vs. heart knowledge
                                                                                                                                                                 • mind vs. emotions vs. actions
                                                                                                                                                                 • fal]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/theology-logo.png Theology 1 – Introduction false no 37:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/12/27/interview-49-they-never-told-me-this-in-church-greg-deuble/ Fri, 28 Dec 2018 01:00:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3535 Greg Deuble grew up in the Church of Christ in Australia, went to N.S.W. Bible College in Sydney, and spent fifteen years serving as a pastor and evangelist.  One day he attended a meeting during which Anthony Buzzard challenged him on his belief in the deity of Christ.  Rattled, Deuble began on a quest to reassess all of his doctrinal convictions in light of scripture.  As a lifelong member of the restorationist tradition, Deuble always wanted to practice the authentic Christianity of the apostles and couldn’t just slough off such important questions.  The result was his book, They Never Told Me This in Church, an exposé of how bad philosophy corrupted the teaching of scripture.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Visit Greg Deuble’s website at thebiblejesus.com
                                                                                                                                                                   • Get his book They Never Told Me This in Church on Amazon
                                                                                                                                                                   • Take a look at this YouTube video where Deuble shares his testimony
                                                                                                                                                                   • Get in touch with Deuble at greg@thebiblejesus.com
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Greg-Deuble.jpg Interview 49 They Never Told Me This in Church (Greg Deuble) false no 48:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/12/20/interview-48-korean-ministry-sam-an/ Fri, 21 Dec 2018 01:00:40 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3531 For more than a decade, Sam An has faithfully served as an administrator and teacher at the Korean Extension of the Atlanta Bible College.  In this interview, you’ll learn about his own story of faith as well as what God is doing through his ministry to touch Koreans both in America and in South Korea.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out the Korean Extension’s website at abcke.weebly.com
                                                                                                                                                                   • Watch Steve An teaching in Korean on his YouTube channel
                                                                                                                                                                   • Apply to be a student at the Atlanta Bible College Korean Extension
                                                                                                                                                                   • Get in touch with Sam An at info.abcke@gmail.com or by calling (678) 392 – 2600
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Korean-Extension.jpg Interview 48 Korean Ministry (Sam An) false no 45:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/12/13/interview-47-christian-disciples-church-and-the-only-true-god-calvin-chan/ Fri, 14 Dec 2018 01:00:03 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3432

                                                                                                                                                                   Have you heard of the Christian Disciples Church?  They are a biblical unitarian group scattered throughout Asia primarily.  In this episode Calvin Chan, who has been with the disciples since the beginning, will tell you the story of how this group got started as a student disciple movement.  He also shares about how the founder, Pastor Eric Chang, reexamined what the bible says about Jesus and had the courage to change his mind when he was in his seventies.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out the Christian Disciple Church online
                                                                                                                                                                   • Take a look at The Only True God online or on Amazon.
                                                                                                                                                                   • Also, here’s the sequel, The Only Perfect Man
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/the-only-true-god-book.jpg Interview 47 Christian Disciples Church and the Only True God (Calvin Chan) false no 48:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/12/06/interview-46-misunderstood-texts-about-jesus-4-bill-schlegel/ Fri, 07 Dec 2018 01:00:30 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3314

                                                                                                                                                                   This is the fourth and final part of our Misunderstood Texts about Jesus series with Bill Schlegel.  In this episode he offers remarks on Philippians 2.5-6, Colossians 2.9, and Revelation 1.17.  After this, I ask him one of the biggest questions on this subject: if Jesus isn’t God then how can his sacrifice possibly pay for our sins?  As usual Schlegel points out that this is not a biblical question–Jesus never asked it, Paul never asked it, and John never asked it.  If no one ever makes this point in scripture, maybe we should wonder why our questions are so out of line with theirs?

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out the other episodes in the Misunderstood Texts about Jesus series.
                                                                                                                                                                   • To learn about Schlegel’s backstory, listen to Interview 31: Master’s University Prof. Finds Son of God, Loses Job
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his excellent book, the Satellite Bible Atlas
                                                                                                                                                                   • Follow Bill Schlegel on his blog or on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • For an extensive list of verses and explanations from a biblical unitarian perspective, visit christianmonotheism.com (use the scripture index on the right)
                                                                                                                                                                   • Watch “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/misunderstood-jesus.jpg Interview 46 Misunderstood Texts about Jesus 4 (Bill Schlegel) false no 1:05:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/11/29/45-misunderstood-texts-about-jesus-3-bill-schlegel/ Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:00:42 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3312 one and two, we examined ten misunderstood verses in the Gospel of John.  In part three, we’ll examine seven more texts from the rest of the bible:
                                                                                                                                                                   1. Genesis 1.26
                                                                                                                                                                   2. Isaiah 9.6
                                                                                                                                                                   3. Matthew 2.2
                                                                                                                                                                   4. Matthew 28.9
                                                                                                                                                                   5. Matthew 28.19 (cf. 2 Cor 13.14)
                                                                                                                                                                   6. Romans 9.5
                                                                                                                                                                   7. Acts 20.28

                                                                                                                                                                   Repeatedly, Bill Schlegel calls us back to understand each verse within its immediate and canonical contexts, rather than reading in later theological commitments.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out the other episodes in the Misunderstood Texts about Jesus series.
                                                                                                                                                                   • To learn about Schlegel’s backstory, listen to Interview 31: Master’s University Prof. Finds Son of God, Loses Job
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his excellent book, the Satellite Bible Atlas
                                                                                                                                                                   • Follow Bill Schlegel on his blog or on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • For an extensive list of verses and explanations from a biblical unitarian perspective, visit christianmonotheism.com (use the scripture index on the right)
                                                                                                                                                                   • Watch “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/misunderstood-jesus.jpg Interview 45 Misunderstood Texts about Jesus 3 (Bill Schlegel) false no 1:01:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/11/23/interview-44-misunderstood-texts-about-jesus-2-bill-schlegel/ Fri, 23 Nov 2018 21:37:28 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3415 This is part two of my series with Bill Schlegel, former professor of the Israel Bible Extension and long time bible teacher and geography expert.  Last time we discussed five major texts in the Gospel of John and this time we cover four or five more:
                                                                                                                                                                   1. John 10.30
                                                                                                                                                                   2. John 10.33
                                                                                                                                                                   3. John 13.18-19
                                                                                                                                                                   4. John 20.28
                                                                                                                                                                   5. 1 John 5.20

                                                                                                                                                                   Next time we’ll discuss a number of more important verses in the rest of the bible.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out the other episodes in the Misunderstood Texts about Jesus series.
                                                                                                                                                                   • To learn about Schlegel’s backstory, listen to Interview 31: Master’s University Prof. Finds Son of God, Loses Job
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his excellent book, the Satellite Bible Atlas here
                                                                                                                                                                   • Follow Bill Schlegel on his blog or on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • For an extensive list of verses and explanations from a biblical unitarian perspective, visit christianmonotheism.com (use the scripture index on the right)
                                                                                                                                                                   • Watch “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/misunderstood-jesus.jpg Interview 44 Misunderstood Texts about Jesus 2 (Bill Schlegel) false no 54:12 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/11/15/interview-43-misunderstood-texts-about-jesus-1-bill-schlegel/ Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:00:34 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3413 Today we are beginning a new series called “Misunderstood Texts about Jesus” with Bill Schlegel.  Professor Schlegel lived and taught the bible and geography in Israel for more than three decades.  Recently, he came to change his mind on the deity of Jesus, seeing him now as God’s man rather than a God-man.  Since he made this change, several friends and acquaintances have brought up a number of scriptures that they believe prove Jesus is God.  This podcast series is Schlegel’s opportunity to answer these commonly misunderstood verses and explain what they mean.  In this episode we discuss the following texts:
                                                                                                                                                                   1. John 1.1
                                                                                                                                                                   2. John 1.14
                                                                                                                                                                   3. John 1.18
                                                                                                                                                                   4. John 5.18
                                                                                                                                                                   5. John 8.58

                                                                                                                                                                   Next time we’ll discuss five more scriptures from John.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • To learn about Schlegel’s backstory, listen to Interview 31: Master’s University Prof. Finds Son of God, Loses Job
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his excellent book, the Satellite Bible Atlas here
                                                                                                                                                                   • Follow Bill Schlegel on his blog or on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • For an extensive list of verses and explanations from a biblical unitarian perspective, visit christianmonotheism.com (use the scripture index on the right)
                                                                                                                                                                   • Watch “Five Major Problems with the Trinity” on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/misunderstood-jesus.jpg Interview 43 Misunderstood Texts about Jesus 1 (Bill Schlegel) false no 51:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/11/08/155-gods-book-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 09 Nov 2018 01:00:47 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3342 Q: How do you know the bible is true? A: Because God wrote it.

                                                                                                                                                                   Q: How do you know God wrote it? A: Because the bible says God wrote it.

                                                                                                                                                                   Q: But, how do you know the bible is true?

                                                                                                                                                                   Here we encounter the classic circular argument for the bible’s inspiration. Surely, there’s a better way to go about establishing God’s influence on this book.

                                                                                                                                                                   In this episode we’ll take a look at three main comparative texts from the same part of the world and same time as the bible was written, including the Enuma Elish, the Code of Hammurabi, and the Ebers Papyrus. By comparing the bible to these Babylonian and Egyptian texts we can see just how unusual it was in its own context. This, in turn, helps up have more confidence that God in fact did work with the authors of his book, providing them with an alternative source of information that cut against the grain of wisdom of their age.

                                                                                                                                                                   Stay tuned afterwards for a couple of event announcements

                                                                                                                                                                   Winter Teen Camp

                                                                                                                                                                   • held at Living Faith Christian Church in Warwick, RI (Dec 28-30)
                                                                                                                                                                   • winterteencamp.com
                                                                                                                                                                   • a weekend for teens to learn about God and spend time together building relationships and serving the community
                                                                                                                                                                   • early bird rate is only $60.00 for those who register by December 9th. After December 10th the cost is $75

                                                                                                                                                                   Revive 2019

                                                                                                                                                                   • held at Woodstock, CT (Jan 4-6)
                                                                                                                                                                   • lhim.org/revive
                                                                                                                                                                   • a weekend for young adults (20+) to worship and enjoy time with other believers
                                                                                                                                                                   • theme is Wisdom, looking at the wisdom literature, including Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
                                                                                                                                                                   • $146 per person, please register if you know you’re coming so we can get a good count

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • See also the YouTube video God Speaks through Scripture (10 reasons to believe the bible is true)
                                                                                                                                                                   • More resources on the reliability and trustworthiness of the bible
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/God’s-Book.png 155 God’s Book (Sean Finnegan) false no 50:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/11/01/154-spiritual-friendship-celibacy-as-a-call-to-love-wesley-hill/ Fri, 02 Nov 2018 00:00:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3316

                                                                                                                                                                   Our world seems intent on trotting out the same extremist examples of Christianity as either a homophobic religion (think Westboro Baptist Church) or a totally accepting faith (think Episcopalians).  However, these are not the only positions Christians take on this subject.  In this talk, Wesley Hill, assistant professor of biblical studies at Trinity School for Ministry, not only advocates for but lives out a third way.

                                                                                                                                                                   Hill identifies as gay while agreeing with the historic view of the church that marriage is only between a man and a woman.  Not only that, he wants to help other gay and lesbian people come into Christianity without compromising what the bible teaches on sexuality or lying to themselves about same-sex attraction.  Consequently, he is committed to singleness for life.  This is hard road to walk, but he believes it’s the best way forward.  Even so, he’s concerned about gay Christians getting their needs met for intimacy and friendship within the church.  How tragic would it be to heroically sacrifice marriage and parenthood on the altar of biblical faithfulness only to wake up at 65 years old, alone, single, isolated, and without meaningful connections to anyone?

                                                                                                                                                                   Hill says the church needs to step up not only by rooting out homophobia, but also building and strengthening friendship bonds between singles and singles as well as singles and families.  He concludes, “God calls us precisely in saying, ‘No’ to same-sex marriage to say, ‘Yes’ to intimacy,  ‘Yes’ to Christian community, ‘Yes’ to same-sex friendship, ‘Yes’ to a life of love in the body of Christ.”

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Read more about spiritual friendship at spiritualfriendship.org
                                                                                                                                                                   • Hill’s faculty page at the Trinity School for Ministry
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his book, Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality, which tells his story of reconciling his faith with his sexuality and how he came to think of celibacy as his calling.
                                                                                                                                                                   • See also Interview 18 with Becket Cook, a fashion set designer who likewise embraced celibacy to follow Christ
                                                                                                                                                                   • For more, search Youtube for testimonies by Christopher Yuan, Rosaria Butterfield, Jackie Hill, and Sam Allberry.
                                                                                                                                                                   • Also, see Podcast 82: Biblical Boundaries for Same-Sex Attraction as well as Podcast 83: Questions about Gay and Lesbian Christians
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Wesley-Hill.jpg 154 Spiritual Friendship: Celibacy as a Call to Love (Wesley Hill) false no 47:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/10/25/153-be-you-colossians-3-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 26 Oct 2018 00:00:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3291 Our culture longs for authenticity. We’re tired of fakers and phonies who say one thing and do another. People should just be true to themselves and have the courage to flout tradition when it holds them back from genuine self-expression. However, this mentality results in major individual and social problems from sexually transmitted diseases to sexual harassment to racism and mass shootings. Christianity offers a better way, by providing a standard to conform ourselves to that maximally enables human flourishing.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                   Colossians 3:1-5 The terminology in v5 is excessively hostile: “put to death what is earthly in you.” Don’t reason with it, or seek to diminish its influence. Don’t try to understand it, or make excuses for it. Kill it! Put it down.

                                                                                                                                                                   Colossians 3:6 God did not design us to behave this way. He gave us passions but placed boundaries on them. When people defy His original intention, it bothers Him.

                                                                                                                                                                   Colossians 3:7-10 This is the language of clothing: put off and put on. We must strip off the old way of being a human (Adam) and clothe ourselves with the new way of being a human (Christ), which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator—the way God originally designed us.

                                                                                                                                                                   Colossians 3:11 Not only behavior but social barriers need to change. Ethnicity, social status, education, independence are all outshone by the splendor of Christ’s radiant glory, enabling harmony between us all.

                                                                                                                                                                   Colossians 3:12-17 Imagine that there are two towns that live by each of these opposing ways: Freetown and Corpus Christi. Which would you rather live in? As you conform to the Christian lifestyle, it becomes second nature. It does not crush you or rob you of your humanity, but it provides the necessary boundaries to make human growth and flourishing possible.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • More episodes like this:
                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 1: Seeing the Filter
                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 2: Hyper-Individualism
                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 3: Tolerance
                                                                                                                                                                     • 72: Free as a Fish on Land
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/christ-mirror.jpg 153 Be You — Colossians 3 (Sean Finnegan) false no 49:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/10/18/152-why-didnt-god-call-the-light-light-john-walton/ Fri, 19 Oct 2018 00:00:19 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3280 When it comes to Genesis 1, Christians tend to divide into two major camps: old earth and young earth creationists. The former sees the days as long periods of time (e.g. Hugh Ross) while the latter insists on literal twenty-four hour periods (e.g. Ken Ham). Professor John Walton of Wheaton College advocates for a different reading of the bible’s first chapter. By carefully comparing Genesis to other ancient near eastern creation texts, he proposes that it’s talking about God providing functionality to the already-existing cosmos rather than creating structures ex nihilo.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • For a much more in depth explanation of Walton’s perspective on Genesis 1, see his book The Lost World of Genesis One
                                                                                                                                                                   • Visit his faculty page at Wheaton College
                                                                                                                                                                   • See podcast Off Script 30: Stewarding the Earth or 84: Kingdom Restoration
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/day-and-night.png 152 Why Didn’t God Call the Light Light? (John Walton) false no 41:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/10/11/151-god-of-wonder-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:00:24 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3262 Do you ever stop and marvel at God’s creation?  Are you in wonder at what he has made?  Too often we take God’s masterful creations for granted, instead of seeing them as pointers back to God’s ingenuity, generosity, and artistry.  Although we can’t always take time out to praise God for plums, palm trees, and panthers, when we can it’s helpful to meditate on his handiwork.

                                                                                                                                                                   Here’s the video from this message that shows the relative sizes of our solar system’s planets and sun with other much bigger stars:

                                                                                                                                                                   Here are a couple of praise songs that tap into the proper sense of wonder we should experience because of God’s works:

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                   Notes

                                                                                                                                                                   Psalm 19.1-6 The heavens declare God’s glory

                                                                                                                                                                   Psalm 104.1-35 The psalmist works through creation, marveling at God’s manifold artistry and brilliance.

                                                                                                                                                                   Psalm 8.1-9 Even though God is so powerful, so transcendent, so majestic, he still cares about us puny humans.

                                                                                                                                                                   C. S. Lewis’ attention to God’s every-day marvels:

                                                                                                                                                                   Lewis’s keen, penetrating sense of his own heart’s aching for Joy, combined with his utter amazement at the sheer, objective realness of things other than himself, has over and over awakened me from the slumbers of self-absorption to see and savor the world and through the world, the Maker of the world…

                                                                                                                                                                   Lewis gave me, and continues to give me, an intense sense of the astonishing “realness” of things. He had the ability to see and feel what most of us see and do not see. He had what Alan Jacobs called “omnivorous attentiveness” (Alan Jacobs, The Narnian, p. xxi.) I love that phrase. What this has done for me is hard to communicate. To wake up in the morning and to be aware of the firmness of the mattress, the warmth of the sun’s rays, the sound of the clock ticking, the coldness of the wooden floor, the wetness of the water in the sink, the sheer being of things (quiddity as he called it). And not just to be aware but to wonder. To be amazed that the water is wet. It did not have to be wet. If there were no such thing as water, and one day someone showed it to you, you would simply be astonished.

                                                                                                                                                                   He helped me become alive to life. To look at the sunrise and say with an amazed smile, “God did it again!” He helped me to see what is there in the world — things which if we didn’t have them, we would pay a million dollars to have, but having them, ignore. He convicts me of my callous inability to enjoy God’s daily gifts. He helps me to awaken my dazed soul so that the realities of life and of God and heaven and hell are seen and felt. I could go on about the good effect of this on preaching and the power of communication. But it has been precious mainly just for living.

                                                                                                                                                                   John Piper, “Lessons from an Inconsolable Soul,” Feb. 2, 2010, Desiring God Conference for Pastors

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • This message was inspired by Jerry Wierwille’s phenomenal sharing, “God — Our Spectacular Creator,” presented at Revive 2016.
                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out Podcast 53: Does God Exist? for more examples of God’s creation pointing to him
                                                                                                                                                                   • more sermons by Sean Finnegan
                                                                                                                                                                   • see also John Cortright’s sermon, “The Living God“
                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Blue-Bells.jpg 151 God of Wonder (Sean Finnegan) false no 42:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/10/04/interview-42-christian-solidarity-vs-polarizing-politics-kenneth-laprade/ Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:00:36 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3255 Kenneth LaPrade lives in El Paso, Texas, on the border between the United States and Mexico.  His wife is Mexican and many of the folks in his house church are from Mexico.  In such a context, immigration is always a touchy subject, but lately some Christians have baptized certain political rhetoric and presented it as “the” Christian position on this complicated issue.  LaPrade sees this as merely one aspect of the much larger problem of Christians trying to take power in America as if establishing God’s kingdom here, now.  In this interview, he urges us to retain the bible’s teaching about the future kingdom and see ourselves as Christians first and Americans (or Mexicans) second.

                                                                                                                                                                   Here’s the text of Ken LaPrade’s statement on how Christians should orient themselves politically that inspired this interview:

                                                                                                                                                                   I honestly feel a bit frustrated concerning the following situation (which I will briefly describe), and I believe its persistence is related to Satan’s tricks to promote biblical unawareness concerning the priority of the future kingdom. I know that my attempted reminders, in certain cases, keep falling on deaf ears. Please, pray concerning this highly distracting issue.

                                                                                                                                                                   I am earnestly still prayerfully concerned about so-called Christian efforts at erroneous “kingdom NOW” thinking – such as an obsession with American politics, either defending or demonizing “Trump” or current social or political trends.

                                                                                                                                                                   I personally work with several immigrants who have been quite hurt by very strange, insensitive comments (even bullying remarks) posted quite publicly as if representing a “Christian” perspective!

                                                                                                                                                                   In my estimation, ALL such misguided trends (either to justify or condemn pagan leaders in a pagan nation) are a failure (among so-called Christians) to really grasp the Kingdom of God as FUTURE!

                                                                                                                                                                   Present hurtful rhetoric is tantamount (in my assessment) to the hypothetical absurdity of retroactively getting 1st century Christians to hotly debate whether Tiberius, Nero, or Domitian were better or worse for the Roman Empire! As is obvious, 1st century Christians were far too future Kingdom focused to be so distracted!

                                                                                                                                                                   We, as 21st century Christians, do not help anyone by being seduced into speaking for one side or another of two (or more) warring camps of Gentile hate-mongers who are ruled in typically corrupt Gentile fashion!

                                                                                                                                                                   “Christian” pop-culture labels pasted on political & social movements do not “Christianize” blatant disregard for Jesus himself. Neither do they “COVER” for outright demonic evil – whether from “the left” or from “the right.”

                                                                                                                                                                   We’d be better off suffering NOW for obeying him, rather than getting bamboozled by a pseudo-Christian ( with NO Future Kingdom focus) bandwagon to get our way now – as if entitled …. by an “American idol.”

                                                                                                                                                                   Biblically speaking, the USA, and all current nations (Gentiles by nature) await JUST dismantling when our true theocratic King (Jesus) comes to reign. I still pray that King Jesus’ perspective NOW have the priority that it should have, at least among those who try to faithfully await his much needed intervention.

                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                   • Get in touch with Kenneth LaPrade at ldc84jpm@yahoo.com
                                                                                                                                                                   • Listen to Interview 14: Ken LaPrade’s Baptism Journey
                                                                                                                                                                   • Read articles by LaPrade that he wrote for Glad Tidings
                                                                                                                                                                   • Books mentioned in this interview:
                                                                                                                                                                     • https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mexican-immigrants.jpg Interview 42 Christian Solidarity vs. Polarizing Politics (Kenneth Laprade) false no 56:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/09/27/150-what-is-hell-john-cortright/ Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:00:41 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3242

                                                                                                                                                                       Last week we examined what the bible teaches about heaven. This week we’ll see what it says about hell. John Cortright explains there are three meanings of hell in scripture, including tartarus where fallen angels are temporarily imprisoned, hades/sheol where the dead remain until resurrection, and gehenna where the wicked are destroyed in the final judgment.

                                                                                                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                       • More Restitutio podcasts with John Cortright
                                                                                                                                                                       • Also, get more of Cortright’s sermons, classes, and articles at Living Hope Community Church
                                                                                                                                                                       • Listen to an excellent debate on hell (eternal conscious torment vs. annihilationism) Podcast 10: Is Hell Forever? Chris Date vs. Phil Fernandez
                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out the kingdom of God class podcasts
                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/what-is-hell.jpg 150 What Is Hell? (John Cortright) false no 48:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/09/20/149-heavens-for-the-birds-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:00:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3240 What is heaven? Throughout the bible we find different layers of meaning, including (1) heaven as sky, (2) heaven as God’s throne, and (3) heaven as God’s realm or dimension. Although heaven is a reality, it is not where we go when we die. Rather the bible teaches that the dead are asleep until the resurrection when they inherit the earth, renewed and restored.

                                                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                       Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald famously sang about heaven:

                                                                                                                                                                       Heaven, I’m in heaven And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak And I seem to find the happiness I seek When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek Yes, heaven, I’m in heaven And the cares that hung around me through the week Seem to vanish like a gambler’s lucky streak When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek[1]

                                                                                                                                                                       2 Samuel 18.9 9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.

                                                                                                                                                                       he was between heaven and earth

                                                                                                                                                                       • what does that mean?
                                                                                                                                                                       • he was between the sky and the land
                                                                                                                                                                       • heaven is the sky

                                                                                                                                                                       Heaven as Sky (Realm of the Birds)

                                                                                                                                                                       Genesis 1.14-20 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights– the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night– and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”

                                                                                                                                                                       Genesis 1.28 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

                                                                                                                                                                       • this is where my title comes from
                                                                                                                                                                       • heaven’s for the birds!

                                                                                                                                                                       Matthew 6.26 26 Look at the birds of the air [οὐρανός]: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

                                                                                                                                                                       • so heaven’s for the birds
                                                                                                                                                                       • but, it’s more than that!

                                                                                                                                                                       Heaven as God’s Throne

                                                                                                                                                                       Isaiah 66.1-2 1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

                                                                                                                                                                       • control room (throne): where God makes plans/decisions
                                                                                                                                                                       • storehouse: where rewards are stored up w/ God
                                                                                                                                                                       • Jesus says to lay up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy (Mt 6.20)
                                                                                                                                                                       • Peter says we have an inheritance imperishable kept in heaven (1 Pet 1.4)
                                                                                                                                                                       • Paul says our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3.20)

                                                                                                                                                                       N. T. Wright:

                                                                                                                                                                       “What then do the New Testament writers mean when they speak of an inheritance waiting for us in heaven? This has been much misunderstood…The point of such passages, as in 1 Peter 1.4, 2 Corinthians 5.1, Philippians 3.20, and so forth, is not that one must ‘go to heaven’, as in much-popular imagination, in o]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Heavens-for-the-Birds2.png 149 Heaven’s for the Birds (Sean Finnegan) false no 44:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/09/13/interview-41-the-scattered-brethren-network-with-robin-todd/ Fri, 14 Sep 2018 00:00:11 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3170 Robin Todd has faithfully served as the director of the Worldwide Scattered Brethren Network for the last 10 years.  He helps biblical unitarians find each other all over the United States as well as some other countries.  In this interview, we talk about how he got started, what it takes to get on his list, and how he sees the future of the network.

                                                                                                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                       • Visit the Worldwide Scattered Brethren Network or email Todd to get on his list or to volunteer to help with the website: robinsings4u@comcast.net
                                                                                                                                                                       • If you live in Europe and you’d like to get in touch with Werner Bartl, you can reach him at redaktion@filmreif.at
                                                                                                                                                                       • For more about virtual church, see Interview 32: Virtual Fellowship for Isolated Believers (John Truitt)
                                                                                                                                                                       • To tune into Living Hope’s weekly live webcast, go to lhim.org/webcast on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm EST
                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/scattered-brethren.jpg Interview 41 The Scattered Brethren Network with Robin Todd false no 45:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/09/07/148-apologetics-conference-6-evangelism-jesus-way-john-truitt/ Fri, 07 Sep 2018 13:35:10 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3223 In this concluding teaching of our apologetics conference, John Truitt gleans from Christ’s example key ways that we can imitate him in our own evangelistic efforts today.  He begins by looking how Jesus was completely obedient to God and how he prepared himself (both in knowledge and experience).  Next Truitt urges us to get moving, expecting God to direct us as we are obedient.  Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of radical love to our neighbors and the need for community.

                                                                                                                                                                       Here now is podcast 148 Evangelism, Jesus’ Way with John Truitt

                                                                                                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                       • To find out how to join John Truitt’
                                                                                                                                                                       • s virtual church online watch this video or contact him directly at jtruitt@kalleo.net
                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out the podcast episode with Truitt: “Virtual Fellowship for Isolated Believers“
                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out the other talks in this Apologetics Conference
                                                                                                                                                                       • For more, here’s an entire Apologetics Class
                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 148 Apologetics Conference: 6 Evangelism, Jesus’ Way (John Truitt) false no 1:03:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/08/30/147-apologetics-conference-5-metanarratives-and-failed-promises/ Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:00:33 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3198 Have you ever been in a corn maze?  The reason they work is because you can only see right in front of you.  If you had a live drone feed, you could easily orient yourself and find the way out.  This is the benefit of history.  We live in a postmodern culture, but it’s hard to see or understand what that means since we’re surrounded with it.  In this exceptional presentation, Kegan Chandler guides us through the history of premodernism, modernism, and postmodernism so that we can orient ourselves to how many people in our world think and approach life.  Not only will this give you a drones-eye perspective of our current situation, but it also will help you understand how to better share your faith with postmodern people.

                                                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                       Metanarratives and Postmodernism (Kegan Chandler)

                                                                                                                                                                       1. What is postmodernism?
                                                                                                                                                                       2. How in the world did we get here?
                                                                                                                                                                       3. Where do we go from here?

                                                                                                                                                                       Postmodernism is a worldview based on French philosophers, Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard w/ these four characteristics:

                                                                                                                                                                       1. no objective truth (Derrida)
                                                                                                                                                                       2. only interpretations (Derrida)
                                                                                                                                                                       3. no meta-narrative (Lyotard)
                                                                                                                                                                       4. interpretation in society results from power not truth (Foulcault)

                                                                                                                                                                       meta-narrative: overarching account that provides a pattern or structure for ppls beliefs and experiences

                                                                                                                                                                       postmodernist mission: deconstruction

                                                                                                                                                                       • identify social constructs in the world and break them down

                                                                                                                                                                       if everything is deconstructed, what do we fill it with?

                                                                                                                                                                       • our experiences
                                                                                                                                                                       • community

                                                                                                                                                                       First Star Wars w/ Luke vs. last star wars w/ Luke, deconstructs everything

                                                                                                                                                                       premodernism

                                                                                                                                                                       • belief in objective truth
                                                                                                                                                                       • problem: priestly class determines truth
                                                                                                                                                                       • problem: superstition
                                                                                                                                                                       • authority structure suffocated learning and creativity
                                                                                                                                                                       • Renaissance was a way to recover art and classics that the church had suppressed

                                                                                                                                                                       premodernism crumbles

                                                                                                                                                                       • Reformation
                                                                                                                                                                       • Galileo defeats Aristotle (dropping 2 lead balls from leaning tower of Piza)
                                                                                                                                                                       • this challenges authority of Aristotle
                                                                                                                                                                       • heliocentricity also challenges church’s imprimatur of Ptolemaic geocentricity

                                                                                                                                                                       modernism

                                                                                                                                                                       • rejection of authority
                                                                                                                                                                       • time and numbers don’t guarantee truth
                                                                                                                                                                       • reason alone can find truth
                                                                                                                                                                       • naïve optimism (holocaust, communism, eugenics)
                                                                                                                                                                       • epistemological revolution, exalting empiricism, which reduced miraculous to superstition
                                                                                                                                                                       • we can save the world if we just apply reason and science

                                                                                                                                                                       postmodernism

                                                                                                                                                                       • glad that modernism rejected authority
                                                                                                                                                                       • reject the idea that human institutions and states can save us
                                                                                                                                                                       • only the individual can be free
                                                                                                                                                                       • get rid of objective truth to build our own realities
                                                                                                                                                                       • rejection of meta-narratives
                                                                                                                                                                       • distrust that reason can bring enlightenment or satisfaction

                                                                                                                                                                       pomo is good for Christianity b/c

                                                                                                                                                                       • it defeat naïve secular utopian dreams
                                                                                                                                                                       • defeats empiricisms
                                                                                                                                                                       • accepts supernatural, transcendent
                                                                                                                                                                       • ennobles the individual’s journey of discovery

                                                                                                                                                                       problems w/ postmodernism

                                                                                                                                                                       • the statement “there is no objective truth” is self-defeating
                                                                                                                                                                       • you can always disagree, saying “that’s just your interpretation”
                                                                                                                                                                       • I can just say “pomo is wrong” and no one can disagree b/c then they would have to appeal to objective reality
                                                                                                                                                                       • just b/c everyone has their own interpretation doesn’t mean that there isn’t one correct one on any given subject

                                                                                                                                                                       a post-postmodernism worldview

                                                                                                                                                                       • belief in objective truth
                                                                                                                                                                       • belief in the right authoritative sources of truth (scripture)
                                                                                                                                                                       • value]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 147 Apologetics Conference: 5 Metanarratives and Failed Promises false no 58:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/08/23/146-apologetics-conference-4-are-all-religions-the-same-dale-tuggy/ Thu, 23 Aug 2018 23:43:39 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3194

                                                                                                                                                                         How should we think through the different major religions of our time? Are they all the same? What are their differences? In this presentation, philosopher of religion, Dale Tuggy, works through key questions that can help us differentiate and distinguish religions from each other. In the second half of his talk, he invites the audience to diagnose various quasi-religious perspectives popular in our culture, before offering comments on each.

                                                                                                                                                                          

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                                                                                                                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                         aspects of religion

                                                                                                                                                                         • practical & ritual
                                                                                                                                                                         • experiential & emotional
                                                                                                                                                                         • narrative
                                                                                                                                                                         • doctrinal & philosophical
                                                                                                                                                                         • ethical & legal
                                                                                                                                                                         • social & institutional
                                                                                                                                                                         • material

                                                                                                                                                                         religious diversity vs. religious pluralism

                                                                                                                                                                         • diversity: people are loyal to different religions
                                                                                                                                                                         • pluralism: all religions are equally valuable

                                                                                                                                                                         on moral questions, major religions have a lot of common-sense overlap

                                                                                                                                                                         • if they weren’t plausible and didn’t help they wouldn’t have gotten so popular

                                                                                                                                                                         four core claims

                                                                                                                                                                         • diagnosis: fundamental problem facing humanity
                                                                                                                                                                         • cure: how to positively and permanently resolve the problem
                                                                                                                                                                         • methods: what to do to get the cure
                                                                                                                                                                         • exemplar: actual person(s) whose lives show us how to live out the methods, getting the cure

                                                                                                                                                                         Christianity is more focused on truth than any other religion

                                                                                                                                                                         • this is why we’re so quarrelsome
                                                                                                                                                                         • this is why we write and read so many books
                                                                                                                                                                         • shouldn’t assume other religions care about doctrine like we do

                                                                                                                                                                         there’s one theology/teaching per religion

                                                                                                                                                                         • not even w/in Christianity

                                                                                                                                                                         Christianity on the four core claims

                                                                                                                                                                         1. we are fallen and sin, which causes dysfunction, harm, and death
                                                                                                                                                                         2. Christ died to pay for sin
                                                                                                                                                                         3. conversion, disciplines, follow Christ
                                                                                                                                                                         4. Jesus, apostles, Christian heroes over time

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Visit Dale Tuggy’s website and podcast at trinities.org
                                                                                                                                                                         • Listen to other podcasts with Dale Tuggy
                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other talks in this Apologetics Conference
                                                                                                                                                                         • For more, here’s an entire Apologetics Class
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 146 Apologetics Conference: 4 Are All Religions the Same? (Dale Tuggy) false no 49:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/08/17/145-apologetics-conference-3-moral-argument-kenny-willenburg/ Fri, 17 Aug 2018 14:00:57 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3168 How do you know the difference between what's right and wrong?  Do morals have an absolute source or does society determine them?  In this talk, Kenny Willenburg explains the classic moral argument as well as how we can use this approach to "turn the tables" when people object to Christianity on moral grounds.  I've also left in a fair amount of discussion following Willenburg's presentation.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                         1. if morals are objective then they are obligatory
                                                                                                                                                                         2. there must be a source for morals
                                                                                                                                                                         3. the most reasonable source is God

                                                                                                                                                                         if there is no God, there couldn't be objective morality

                                                                                                                                                                         Richard Dawkins (God Delusion)- God of the OT is jealous, petty, control freak, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                         three problems

                                                                                                                                                                         1. saying God is immoral doesn't disprove God's existence○ Hitler didn't exist b/c the things he did were too bad
                                                                                                                                                                         2. saying the creator is evil is arrogant○ if there is a creator then he would have the right to interact w/ creation however he wanted
                                                                                                                                                                         3. can't claim God is immoral b/c w/o God's existence there's no standard by which to judge God

                                                                                                                                                                         relativism is taught in our culture as the only absolute truth

                                                                                                                                                                         • tolerant of anything but intolerance
                                                                                                                                                                         • can't push religious ideas on others, but that is pushing secularism on us
                                                                                                                                                                         • no one is allowed to criticize anyone's actions

                                                                                                                                                                         sources for morality

                                                                                                                                                                         • morality can't be individually determined
                                                                                                                                                                         • morality can't be socially constructed○ actually, our culture got its ideas from a Judea-Christian background○ thus, this proves what the non-theist is trying to disprove
                                                                                                                                                                         • morality comes from nature (i.e. Darwinian evolution)○ how is self-sacrificial care of the weak/unproductive helpful to the herd?○ morals are simply evolutionary hold overs○ not clear how this is obligatory

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other talks in this Apologetics Conference
                                                                                                                                                                         • For more, here’s an entire Apologetics Class
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 145 Apologetics Conference 3: Moral Argument (Kenny Willenburg) false no 42:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/08/09/apologetics-conference-2-a-strategy-to-reach-our-postmodern-world-sean-finnegan/ Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:00:08 +0000 https://restitutio.org/?p=3151 In the second presentation of this Apologetics Conference, we delve into a comparison of three major time periods: (1) the age of authority, (2) the age of reason, and (3) the age of authenticity.  We look at how people practiced their faith in each as well as what criticisms apologists answered.  For our post-modern time, I recommend the strategy of discussing a social issue, showing how our society is failing to address it, and how Christianity can offer a solution.  Last of all we try out this strategy on a number of controversial issues, including gun violence, sexual harassment, and  technology use.

                                                                                                                                                                         Here is the handout I used:

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other talks in this Apologetics Conference
                                                                                                                                                                         • For more, here's an entire Apologetics Class
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 144 Apologetics Conference 2: A Strategy to Reach Our Postmodern World (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:04:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/08/02/apologetics-conference-1-the-problem-of-privatization-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:00:46 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3131 Today we are starting something new. I’m very excited to present to you in its entirety, the apologetics conference held in Paducah, KY last June. We’ve got a great line up of speakers for you including Jerry Wierwille, myself, Kenny Willenburg, Dale Tuggy, Kegan Chandler, and John Truitt.

                                                                                                                                                                         It was a wonderful time of meeting people and working together to figure out ways of reaching the millennial generation with the gospel. As it turned out, a great majority of the presentations focused on understanding the post-modern worldview. This was so helpful, because it’s nearly impossible to discuss important issues if both people are unaware of the fact that they are each coming from incompatible worldviews. Although, for many of us, our natural inclination is to show someone why their underlying assumptions are invalid, a better starting point for evangelism is to work within their post-modern outlook to show how attractive and awesome the gospel is.

                                                                                                                                                                         In this first presentation, Jerry Wierwille covers a brief history of how major philosophers initiated a movement that led to sequestering away of faith as something personal and private.  Then he shares how to broach spiritual topics with secular people around us. His talk is relatively short, only 34 minutes long, but I also included the questions and comments, which went for another half hour.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                         Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

                                                                                                                                                                         • early 1600s
                                                                                                                                                                         • cogito ergo sum
                                                                                                                                                                         • put himself at the center of reality rather than God
                                                                                                                                                                         • previously, scientists located God at the center of the universe and from there derived his laws
                                                                                                                                                                         • divided mind from matter

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         John Locke (1632-1704)

                                                                                                                                                                         • empiricism
                                                                                                                                                                         • sense perception is the basis for true knowledge/reality

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         David Hume (1711-1776)

                                                                                                                                                                         • skepticism
                                                                                                                                                                         • anything not proven using scientific method is not verifiable

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

                                                                                                                                                                         • appearances of forms
                                                                                                                                                                         • absolute idealism
                                                                                                                                                                         • law of non-contradiction
                                                                                                                                                                         • freedom above nature

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         Georg Hegel (1770-1831)

                                                                                                                                                                         • dialectic idealism
                                                                                                                                                                         • thesis, antithesis, synthesis

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         value/fact divide

                                                                                                                                                                         • religion relegated to the mind, but not objective

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         humanism

                                                                                                                                                                         • manifestos in 1933, 1973, 2003
                                                                                                                                                                         • progressive philosophy of life that w/o supernaturalism affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives
                                                                                                                                                                         • live well, fully
                                                                                                                                                                         • values and ideals however carefully wrought are subject to change
                                                                                                                                                                         1. knowledge derived by empirically
                                                                                                                                                                         2.  humans are part of nature, the result of unguided evolution
                                                                                                                                                                         3. ethics derived from trial and error, treat others as having inherent worth and dignity
                                                                                                                                                                         4. life’s fulfillment found in wonders and joy of human existence
                                                                                                                                                                         5. humans find meaning in relationships; want a world free of cruelty; differences resolved cooperatively w/o violence
                                                                                                                                                                         6. working to better society maximizes happiness; support a just distribution of nature’s resources so as many as possible can enjoy a good life; human rights; civil liberties; civic duties to vote
                                                                                                                                                                         • the responsibility for our lives is ours and ours alone

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         private life (values) ————————- public life (facts)

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         you can have beliefs, but they are private

                                                                                                                                                                         • privatization is one of the main problems in our society for evangelism
                                                                                                                                                                         • culture/public life must be devoid of religion
                                                                                                                                                                         • you can believe what you want, but don’t tell me what to believe
                                                                                                                                                                         • we all make our own truth
                                                                                                                                                                         • called judgmental, traditionalist, intolerant
                                                                                                                                                                         https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ChristianApologetics_Header.png 143 Apologetics Conference 1: The Problem of Privatization (Jerry Wierwille) false no 1:08:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/07/26/interview-40-how-much-does-truth-matter-chuck-whitlock/ Fri, 27 Jul 2018 00:00:47 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3010 How much does truth matter to you?  In particular, how should we think about Christians who hold very different views on key subjects?  For example, I’m a biblical unitarian, someone who believes that we should take Jesus literally when he called his Father “the only true God.”  Of course I believe Jesus is God’s only begotten son, the anointed Messiah who died for our sins, but I don’t affirm the fourth century doctrine of the Trinity.  Some Christians would call me a heretic beyond the pale of fellowship or even salvation (even if I do believe the gospel message with all my heart).  Others would say I’m deceived but would have no problem working together in various areas.  Chuck Whitlock, a bible student, husband, and father of five has been wrestling with precisely these questions over the last 5 or so years.  Having grown up in strong evangelical denominations his whole life, he had to rethink his relationship with mainstream Christianity when he began changing several of his key beliefs.  In this interview, we discuss various ways to think about this issue, based on Whitlock’s paper (see below).  He steaks out a balanced position between writing everyone off who disagrees with him and accepting everyone as brothers and sisters without regard for their beliefs.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Read Chuck Whitlock’s entire paper below
                                                                                                                                                                         • Email him at chuckw@whitlox.net
                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out his blacksmith forges
                                                                                                                                                                         • For Dale Tuggy’s presentation on John Locke’s minimalist definition of Christians based on the simple confession that Jesus is Messiah, see Heretic! Four Approaches to Dropping H-Bombs
                                                                                                                                                                         • For more on biblical unitarianism, check out these podcasts, especially Podcast 44: The Immutable Shema as well as christianmonotheism.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about KingdomFest (Sep 7-9, 2018)
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         Does Truth Matter?

                                                                                                                                                                         Truth matters!

                                                                                                                                                                         … but how much?

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         Introduction:

                                                                                                                                                                         There is a significant distance between the Biblical Unitarian faith and ‘orthodoxy’ in its various forms.

                                                                                                                                                                         If you haven’t come to this conclusion, just try to advance the idea that Jesus is not God and see what kind of reception this gets:)  Even less divisive topics, such as resurrection or the gospel of the kingdom, meet with great opposition.

                                                                                                                                                                         The apparent incompatibility between Biblical Unitarianism and ‘orthodoxy’ causes one to wonder what it means that other Christians don’t seem to be interested in the truths we’ve discovered.

                                                                                                                                                                         Both parties reference the same book and so there is something very familiar in ‘orthodoxy’.

                                                                                                                                                                         A little scholarship shows us how ‘orthodoxy’ represents the Hellenization of the original Jewish Christian faith.  Most of the terms and characters are retained but the meanings are either co-opted or obscured such that, today, in very real terms, they have a different Jesus, a different God, and a different Gospel. 

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         How much does that matter?

                                                                                                                                                                         What does it mean?

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                         Who is saved?:

                                                                                                                                                                         I recognize that this bumps into the impossible question of who is truly saved.  That s]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Chuck-Whitlock2-e1532378147118.jpg Interview 40: How Much Does Truth Matter? (Chuck Whitlock) false no 58:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/07/19/interview-39-first-faith-kirk-walden/ Fri, 20 Jul 2018 00:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2958 Are you looking for a Christian blog to encourage you in your faith?  In this short interview Kirk Walden shares about his new website, 1stfaith.com, and the work he and his team are doing to live out 1st century Christianity in the 21st century.  First Faith aims to simplify and strengthen your faith so you can take the next step in your journey with God.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Visit 1st Faith at 1stfaith.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out Jennifer Walden’s fine articles “Buried Desires” and “When Life Sucks, Jesus Carries Us“
                                                                                                                                                                         • More about Kirk Walden’s pro-life work here
                                                                                                                                                                         • Listen to his earlier interview, “Advocating for the Unborn“
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/firstfaith.png Interview 39: First Faith (Kirk Walden) false no 38:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/07/12/interview-38-advocating-for-the-unborn-kirk-walden/ Fri, 13 Jul 2018 00:00:31 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2956 Kirk Walden has been advocating for the lives of the unborn since 1991 when he became the director of a small pregnancy help center in Auburn, Alabama.  Over the last 17 years, he’s focused on fundraising for Heartbeat International, which supports pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes.  In this interview I ask him about how he talks to both Christians and non-Christians about this sensitive and emotionally explosive issue.  He lays out his case using biblical and scientific reasoning, but what really comes through strongest is his incredible sense of compassion for those who find themselves in this situation.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • More about Kirk Walden here
                                                                                                                                                                         • Get a copy of his book, The Wall, on Amazon
                                                                                                                                                                         • Find out more about Heartbeat International
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/kirk-walden-2013-p3.jpg Interview 38: Advocating for the Unborn (Kirk Walden) false no 59:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/06/28/142-calvinism-vs-arminianism-6-perseverance-of-the-saints/ Fri, 29 Jun 2018 00:00:58 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3085 This is part 6 of the Calvinism Debate Can you lose your salvation?  If God saves someone, will they always persevere?  What about people who leave the church?  These are important questions and they are at the heart of this last discussion on Calvinism.  Blake affirms that after regeneration, absolutely nothing can separate someone from God’s saving love.  Jacob denies “once save always saved,” putting forward instead that the warning passages in the bible make the most sense if someone can actually fall away.

                                                                                                                                                                         Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about Jacob and Blake here
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 142 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 6: Perseverance of the Saints false no 48:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/06/21/141-calvinism-vs-arminianism-5-irresistible-grace/ Fri, 22 Jun 2018 00:00:37 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3073 This is part 5 of the Calvinism Debate

                                                                                                                                                                         When God calls you, can you say, “No?” According to Calvinism, God’s grace is irresistible, meaning when he determines to save someone, he always achieves his goal. In other words, his call is always effectual.  On the other side, Arminianism teaches that God offers grace, but people can freely choose to accept it or reject it.  His call is general and people respond differently.

                                                                                                                                                                         Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about Jacob and Blake here
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 141 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 5: Irresistible Grace false no 38:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/06/14/140-calvinism-vs-arminianism-4-limited-atonement/ Fri, 15 Jun 2018 00:00:36 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3058 This is part 4 of the Calvinism Debate

                                                                                                                                                                         Did Jesus die to make it possible for anyone to be saved or did he only die for the elect? In this discussion between Blake Cortright and Jacob Rohrer, they discuss this important issue and how it relates to evangelism. Blake affirms limited atonement while Jacob argues that Jesus died for sinners in general.

                                                                                                                                                                         Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Read my biblical and historical survey of the atonement, called Why Did Jesus Die?, or watch the video presentation.  Also check out these other posts on the subject.
                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about Jacob and Blake here
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 140 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 4: Limited Atonement false no 1:01:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/06/07/139-calvinism-vs-arminianism-3-unconditional-election/ Fri, 08 Jun 2018 00:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3053 This is part 3 of the Calvinism Debate

                                                                                                                                                                         Does God predestine everyone who will ever be saved before they’re even born?  Blake affirms that not only does God choose whom he will save in eternity past, but he did so without regard to any conditions or qualities of what these people will do.  Jacob denies, arguing that everyone has free will to choose God or reject him.  God does predestine, but in a general rather than specific way.

                                                                                                                                                                         Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other posts in this debate here
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about Jacob and Blake here
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 139 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 3: Unconditional Election false no 1:02:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/05/31/138-calvinism-vs-arminianism-2-total-depravity/ Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:44 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3044 This is part 2 of the Calvinism Debate

                                                                                                                                                                         Just how fallen are we? What does it mean to be dead in trespasses and sins? Are we so depraved and mired in sin that we cannot even have faith in God? Blake Cortright says answers, “Yes.” Unless God quickens us through his spirit, we are innately unable and unwilling to reach up to him in faith. Jacob Rohrer says, “No.” Though we are fallen, we are still capable of responding to God’s call.

                                                                                                                                                                         Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • Check out the other posts in this debate here
                                                                                                                                                                         • More info about Jacob and Blake here
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 138 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 2: Total Depravity false no 1:05:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/05/24/137-calvinism-vs-arminianism-1-introduction/ Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3012 This is part 1 of the Calvinism Debate

                                                                                                                                                                         Today we begin an extended series on Calvinism and Arminianism.  For those of you not familiar, Calvinism, named after John Calvin (d. 1564), holds that God sovereignly chooses and effectually saves all whom he decides to save based on his predestined will whereas Arminianism, named for Jacobus Arminius (d. 1609), asserts that people freely choose to accept or reject the gospel message that God graciously offers to all.  Traditionally, Calvinism breaks into five major points, summarized by the acronym, TULIP, which stands for the following:

                                                                                                                                                                         1. Total Depravity
                                                                                                                                                                         2. Unconditional Election
                                                                                                                                                                         3. Limited Atonement
                                                                                                                                                                         4. Irresistible Grace
                                                                                                                                                                         5. Perseverance of the Saints

                                                                                                                                                                         In this episode we begin by laying down the framework for future discussions.  Subsequent episodes will each take up one of these five points of Calvinism.

                                                                                                                                                                         Jacob Rohrer

                                                                                                                                                                         Holding the Arminian position is Jacob Rohrer, a graduate of the Atlanta Bible College. At the time of this recording he served as the Lead Worship Pastor of Living Hope Community Church in Latham, New York. Now he serves as the Assistant Pastor and Worship Leader at Lawrenceville Church of God in Springfield, Ohio.

                                                                                                                                                                         Blake Cortright

                                                                                                                                                                         On the Calvinist side, Blake Cortright graduated from Regent University in Virginia. He serves in missions work to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leads worship at Living Hope Community Church in Latham, New York. Cortright also wrote and directed The 46ers, a documentary about the high peaks in the Adirondacks of New York State.

                                                                                                                                                                         Sean Finnegan is the moderator.  He serves as the Associate Pastor at Living Hope Community Church and has degrees in theology (B.A., Atlanta Bible College) and church history (M.T.S., Boston University). You can find out more about Sean here.

                                                                                                                                                                         Our aim in this initial episode is to briefly discuss the origins of Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as their predecessors.  Additionally we urge listeners to have an open mind going forward, regardless of which side of the issue you are approaching it from.  Don’t confuse the value of an idea with the person’s name associated with it (the genetic fallacy).  Instead measure the theology against scripture, logic, and life experience.  Pray and ask God to help you understand his book.

                                                                                                                                                                         Here is proof that discussing deep theology and leading worship are not mutually exclusive. In this shot, Jacob is on the drums and Blake is playing guitar at Living Hope Community Church.

                                                                                                                                                                         Subsequent episodes will be audio only and appear here each Thursday at 8pm EST, starting on May 31, 2018 and following.

                                                                                                                                                                         —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                         • See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                         • See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/calvinism-vs-arminianism-1.jpg 137 Calvinism vs. Arminianism 1: Introduction false no 46:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/05/17/interview-37-a-new-perspective-on-galatians-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 18 May 2018 00:00:24 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=3015 Last time, Jerry Wierwille explained the concept of covenantal nomism–the idea that rather than seeking to earn their salvation through perfect obedience, Jews at the time of Christ looked at the Law as a covenant God graciously entered into with his people.  They enter that covenant by birth and then need to remain faithful to it through obedience to Torah.  This time he shows how this new perspective on Paul affects how we read his epistles.  Looking at the first few chapters of Galatians, Wierwille deciphers what Paul was saying about the Law for Christians both Jewish and Gentile.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to Wierwille’s previous interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Check out these sermons and articles on Wierwille’s website (JerryWierwille.com)
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Paul-rebukes-Peter.jpg Interview 37: A New Perspective on Galatians (Jerry Wierwille) false no 1:00:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/05/10/interview-36-paul-and-covenantal-nomism-jerry-wierwille/ Fri, 11 May 2018 00:00:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2962 How did Jews at the time of Jesus understand their relationship to the Law?  Did they believe in “works righteousness”–the idea that only by obeying the commandments of Torah could they earn salvation?  Did they believe in grace?  Jerry Wierwille leads us through this important issue so that we contextualize the epistles of Paul within their own thought-world.  Drawing on the work of Krister Stendahl, E. P. Sanders, and James D. G. Dunn, Wierwille presents the view known as covenantal nomism, often associated with the new perspective on Paul.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to Wierwille’s previous interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Check out these sermons and articles on Wierwille’s website (JerryWierwille.com)
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/new-perspective.gif Interview 36: Paul and Covenantal Nomism (Jerry Wierwille) false no 54:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/05/04/interview-35-should-messianic-jews-keep-torah-daniel-calcagno/ Fri, 04 May 2018 15:25:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2954 Pastor Daniel Calcagno lays out a his case for what he calls a positive view of Torah. He believes that the cleavage with Judaism in early church history is something the apostles never envisioned. Sadly, this parting of the ways led to confusion, doctrinal drifting, and persecution. Although Calcagno does not believe Gentiles need to keep the Law, he sees no reason for Jews to stop observing Torah.

                                                                                                                                                                           Here are his notes:

                                                                                                                                                                           TOWARDS A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE TORAH by Daniel Calcagno

                                                                                                                                                                           Restoring the Jewish Identity Markers to the Church

                                                                                                                                                                           The Hebrew word “torah” means “instruction” and refers primarily to the first five books of the Bible but more specifically can refer to the commandments of God in those books.

                                                                                                                                                                           In this podcast, Daniel attempted to show that it is biblical and proper for a disciple of Jesus to have a positive view of the Torah, specifically those elements of the Torah that are usually associated with Jewish identity (i.e. the Sabbath, the festivals, keeping kosher, etc.).

                                                                                                                                                                           The Torah’s own presentation of the enduring nature of the commandments associated with Jewish identity:

                                                                                                                                                                           The Sabbath: Exodus 31:13

                                                                                                                                                                           Passover: Exodus 12:14

                                                                                                                                                                           The Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16:29

                                                                                                                                                                           The Aaronic priesthood: Exodus 29:9

                                                                                                                                                                           Sign of a False Prophet: Deuteronomy 13:1-5

                                                                                                                                                                           Positive Statements about the Torah in the rests of the Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 19; Psalm 119; Joshua 1:7-8; Jeremiah 9:12-13; Malachi 4:4; Ecclesiastes 12:13.

                                                                                                                                                                           Jesus and the Apostles were Torah-observant:

                                                                                                                                                                           The Sabbath: Luke 4:16-17; Mark 1:21; Luke 23:56

                                                                                                                                                                           Passover: Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

                                                                                                                                                                           Pentecost: Acts 2:1; Acts 20:16, 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

                                                                                                                                                                           The Day of Atonement: Acts 27:9

                                                                                                                                                                           The Feast of Booths: John 7:2, 10, 14, 37

                                                                                                                                                                           Hanukkah (extra-biblical Jewish holiday): John 10:22-23

                                                                                                                                                                           Daily Jewish Prayer: Acts 2:42, 3:1, 6:4

                                                                                                                                                                           Liturgical Blessings: Matthew 14:19-20, 26:27; Acts 27:35

                                                                                                                                                                           Tzitzit: Matthew 9:20-21

                                                                                                                                                                           Keeping Kosher: Acts 10:14

                                                                                                                                                                           Circumcision: Luke 1:59-60, 2:21, Philippians 3:5, Acts 16:3

                                                                                                                                                                           Offering Sacrifices: Acts 24:17

                                                                                                                                                                           Baptism/Ritual Immersion: Acts 2:41, 9:18

                                                                                                                                                                           They Torah will be observed in the kingdom: Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 45:17; Zechariah 14:16-17; Isaiah 56:6-8

                                                                                                                                                                           Positive Statements about the Torah by Jesus: Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 23:23

                                                                                                                                                                           Paul was a Torah-observant Jew:

                                                                                                                                                                           Paul was born to Jewish parents: Philippians 3:5

                                                                                                                                                                           His name was both Saul and Paul: Acts 13:9

                                                                                                                                                                           Paul was educated under Rabbi Gamaliel: Acts 22:3

                                                                                                                                                                           Paul attended synagogue on the Sabbath: Acts 17:2-3, 18:3-5

                                                                                                                                                                           He said that served God “…believing everything that is in accordance with the Torah…” (Acts 24:14).

                                                                                                                                                                           He testified that he had “…committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews” (Acts 25:8).

                                                                                                                                                                           He was NOT teaching the Jewish people to forsake Moses, to not circumcise their children, nor keep Jewish tradition. James said about Paul: “…there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah.” (Acts 21:24).

                                                                                                                                                                           Positive Statements about the Torah by Paul:

                                                                                                                                                                           Paul said “…it is not the hearers of the Torah who are just before God, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.” (Romans 2:13).

                                                                                                                                                                           He said “Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.” (Romans 3:31).

                                                                                                                                                                           He said “the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12).

                                                                                                                                                                           He said “…I joyfully concur with the Torah of God in the inner man” (Romans 7:22).

                                                                                                                                                                           He said “…the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Go]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Jew-at-wailing-wall.jpg Interview 35: Should Messianic Jews Keep Torah? (Daniel Calcagno) false no 1:00:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/04/26/interview-34-from-pentecostal-to-messianic-unitarian-daniel-calcagno/ Fri, 27 Apr 2018 00:00:07 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2948 Born to Italian immigrants, Daniel Calcagno grew up in Canada, near Niagara Falls and attended a Pentecostal church.  After he began taking his faith seriously, he started researching the Jewish people–especially those who believe in Jesus.  Over time he founded Messianic Niagara, a local home group with a website that promoted audio teachings.   However, it was in listening to Michael Brown’s show that Calcagno came across the biblical unitarian theology of Anthony Buzzard.  For some time he had felt uneasy about the Trinity, and now he had an alternative that fit much better with the bible’s Hebrew context.  Now he serves as the pastor of Glad Tidings Church of God in Fonthill, ON.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Follow Daniel Calcagno on Twitter, YouTube, or at MessianicNiagara.com
                                                                                                                                                                           • Visit him at Glad Tidings Church of God in Fonthill, Ontario, Canada
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to Michael Brown’s discussion with Anthony Buzzard on his show Line of Fire
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to more Restitutio interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0887.jpg Interview 34: From Pentecostal to Messianic Unitarian (Daniel Calcagno) false no 36:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/04/19/interview-33-can-you-lose-your-salvation-dan-gallagher/ Fri, 20 Apr 2018 00:00:34 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2862 Having believed in the permanence of salvation for 46 years, Dan Gallagher recently changed his mind to believe in what he calls continuance in faith–the idea that those who fail to continue in faith can be lost. The whole process took about fourteen years from when a book introduced him to a number of verses that are difficult to interpret from a once-saved-always-saved perspective. Here is his account of how he came to a new understanding on this issue and why he thinks it’s so important.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Email Dan Gallagher at djgallagher777@gmail.com
                                                                                                                                                                           • His ministry is called Lean on Jesus and you can follow him on his podcast, YouTube, facebook, or at leanonjesus.com
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to more Restitutio interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Dan-Gallagher.png Interview 33: Can You Lose Your Salvation? (Dan Gallagher) false no 58:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/04/12/interview-32-virtual-fellowship-for-isolated-believers-john-truitt/ Fri, 13 Apr 2018 00:00:24 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2919 Are you longing for fellowship with other like-minded believers?  In this interview, John Truitt of Kentucky shares how he uses video conferencing to have interactive and encouraging virtual fellowships.  Whether you want to join in with what he does or you want to start your own, this conversation is loaded with helpful guidance on how to succeed.

                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Get in touch with Truitt at jtruitt@kalleo.net
                                                                                                                                                                           • Here’s a link to Truitt’s facebook
                                                                                                                                                                           • See the Christian Virtual Fellowship YouTube channel
                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about the 20s and 30s Apologetics Conference (June 8-10)
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to more Restitutio interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/virtual-fellowship.png Interview 32: Virtual Fellowship for Isolated Believers (John Truitt) false no 45:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/04/05/interview-31-masters-seminary-prof-finds-son-of-god-loses-job-bill-schlegel/ Fri, 06 Apr 2018 00:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2870

                                                                                                                                                                           Bill Schlegel, professor and cofounder of The Master’s University extension program in Israel (IBEX), was studying the phrase “Son of God” and came to understand the term did not correlate with the traditional “God the Son” teaching, but instead meant God’s heir, the king he has designated to rule the world.  Although he had taught the bible faithfully in Israel for more than two decades, he knew that this discovery would cost him dearly.  In the end he lost his job at the institution he founded as well as any opportunity to preach and lead the church he helped to start.  He’s been maligned by many who used to regard him as a brother and blackballed in the evangelical world.  Why would Professor Schlegel go through all of this?  Why wouldn’t he just sign the statement of faith for another year and carry on in his work?  He had discovered a truth so profound and so irrefutable, that he could not hide it under a basket–he had to let it shine, even if it cost him everything.  Here is his story.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Follow Bill Schlegel on his blog or on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                           • Purchase The Satellite Bible Atlas on Amazon
                                                                                                                                                                           • Master’s official statements about the termination of Schlegel
                                                                                                                                                                           • Israel Bible Extension (IBEX)
                                                                                                                                                                           • John MacArthur’s The Master’s University
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to more Restitutio interviews here
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Bill-Schlegel.jpg Interview 31: Master’s University Prof. Finds Son of God, Loses Job (Bill Schlegel) false no 50:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/29/136-whatever-did-st-paul-do-with-the-kingdom-of-god-n-t-wright/ Fri, 30 Mar 2018 00:00:07 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2842 Join Professor N. T. Wright as he shows how well Paul’s epistles fit with the Hebrew prophets and the Gospels.  Rather than seeing Paul as the purveyor of a heavenly hope wherein saints may enjoy disembodied bliss, Wright highlights a number of key passages that unlock Paul’s kingdom-centered hope.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Take a look at Wright’s big book on Paul or his recent shorter one
                                                                                                                                                                           • Delve deeper into Wright’s courses at ntwrightonline.org
                                                                                                                                                                           • Access free audios/videos at the ntwrightpage.com
                                                                                                                                                                           • Check out my youtube talk on Pauline Eschatology
                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to more Restitutio podcasts on the kingdom of God, including “Heaven Is Not My Home“
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NTWright.jpg 136 Whatever Did St. Paul Do with the Kingdom of God? (N. T. Wright) false no 59:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/25/off-script-47-is-gods-violence-in-the-bible-wrong-qa/ Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2868 This is part six in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In light of our killing series, we considered whether Christians should kill the old, the young, enemies, or criminals, however we never addressed the morality of God killing. Brian asked:

                                                                                                                                                                           Can I expect a subsequent episode where you discuss a sort of ‘divine inflicted’ death, for example, the event with Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10; also the deaths of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, in Acts 5? If yes, wonderful, if no, then perhaps you could consider it.

                                                                                                                                                                           Hopefully in the future we can delve more deeply into this subject, but for now, here is a brief response to this important question.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Check out the episodes in our killing seres
                                                                                                                                                                           • See other episodes responding to your questions and comments
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sun-eyes.jpg Off Script 47: Is God’s Violence in the Bible Wrong? (Q&A) false no 18:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/22/off-script-46-should-christians-outlaw-abortion-qa/ Fri, 23 Mar 2018 00:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2864

                                                                                                                                                                           This is part five in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In this Q & A episode, we address two commenters who responded to Off Script 34: Killing the Unborn (A Christian View of Abortion). Dan Fitzsimmons responds to Candace who inquired why Dan would vote against capital punishment but not against abortion even though he opposes it on moral grounds. Rose Rider responds to John’s lengthy comments in which he called into question the legitimacy of using the bible to arrive at a position on abortion.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to the episode that this comment came from: Off Script 34: Killing the Unborn (A Christian View of Abortion)
                                                                                                                                                                           • See other episodes responding to your questions and comments
                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/abortion.jpg Off Script 46: Should Christians Outlaw Abortion? (Q&A) false no 40:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/18/off-script-45-should-christians-support-capital-punishment-qa/ Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:00:28 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2840 This is part four in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In this episode, we respond to a comment made on Off Script 37: Killing Criminals, in which we took the position that capital punishment is a biblically justifiable practice, but in America today it is fraught with problems, including the outrageous cost of death row and the possibility of executing the innocent.  We respond to the comment of someone named Sean who challenges us on our view of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is challenging the old way of living and laying out a new way.  He also makes a couple of secular arguments in favor of capital punishment.  Here is Sean’s comment in full:

                                                                                                                                                                           I think this discussion has to take a lot more into account, but clearly this would take hours and hours to encompass it all… This is a huge subject really. But for example, such as Abraham saving Lot by killing people to rescue him. This was obviously when there were less governmental type controls but the point remains the most righteous man on earth, the father of the faith killed to save someone. There’s also laws about the requirements of helping someone being attacked, which could clearly result in the death of an attacker. I don’t think vengeance is the same as self-defense, and many equate these two… I used to.

                                                                                                                                                                           And I still have the same objection that seems to arise about Matthew 5 and Jesus’ “…but I say unto you…” statements having to do with contradicting the Torah. I don’t see this as logical, nor a possible understanding if you believe the Messiah was a sinless man. To have any man come into Israel and start teaching contrary to God’s law(even if just in THAT time period) by definition would have been sin and the man should have been ignored/killed. (Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 5:19, Deut 4:2) No one could convict the Messiah of sin, that one would have been obvious if that’s what he was doing. He *had* to keep the Torah, right? Or do you believe he didn’t keep it? That might have to be clarified.

                                                                                                                                                                           The secular arguments are based on the risk of human error. By those types of standards no one should drive automobiles either because thousands of people die each year innocently due to the error of other operators. As sad as the situation is—there’s always a risk of human error/corruption, and God -still- gave the death penalty in his Torah. The young man seems to be arguing against God’s own commands. And one also must address the many assumptions that are built into his objections against capital punishment. To say “it costs more” to prosecute for the death penalty versus lifetime of prison is not the point—even if it were, it’s still proper justice according to God’s laws. God never said to hold anyone in confinement for the entire life. It also likely WOULDN’T cost more if there were so many other regulations in place that make it that much more expensive. It’s morally reprehensible to pay for convicted murderers to continue to live on our own backs for their lifetime.

                                                                                                                                                                           Take note also, that even with Paul as a former murderer and what he taught later–he said if he did anything worthy of death, he’d submit to it. Acts 25:11

                                                                                                                                                                           Overarching all of this is clearly the most poignant thing of all—without the death penalty you would have no death of the Messiah and a risen savior. Again, I know this is a huge topic and I just thought I’d weigh in a few things on my mind that I don’t think really got full weight in this discussion. I think I also have more to say on the subject from Scripture because I used to hold the same view as many of you until I re-examined it.

                                                                                                                                                                           —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                           • Listen to the episode that this comment]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Last-Word-in-Capital-Punishment.jpg Off Script 45: Should Christians Support Capital Punishment? (Q&A) false no 26:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/15/off-script-44-should-we-ban-muslim-immigrants/ Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:00:53 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2791

                                                                                                                                                                             This is part three in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In Off Script 28: Seeking a Christian View on Refugees and Immigrants, we concluded on the basis of several scriptures in the Old Testament as well as the Great Commission that Christians should welcome refugees into their countries.  In response to this, William wrote:

                                                                                                                                                                             First, Thank you for your podcasts and all the work that you do preaching the word of God and your Unitarian teachings. I have to take the other side when it comes to Muslim immigrants coming into this country from the mentioned 7 Muslim countries. In December 2015, President Obama signed into law a measure placing limited restrictions on certain travelers who had visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011. Two months later, the Obama administration added Libya, Somalia, and Yemen to the list, in what it called an effort to address “the growing threat from foreign terrorist fighters.” So Trumps “temporary 90 day ban” was justified considering he is coming into office and now it’s his problem to solve and protect the American people from terrorism. I don’t want to turn this into me defending Trump because I don’t agree with all of his policies, but I do agree with the temporary ban to come up with a way a vetting refugees who come with less then amiable intentions. Ok, first Exodus 23:9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt”. The key word for me is “heart” The heart of the sojourner. What are the intentions of the refugee? do they plan to live among you and abide in God’s law? If they don’t, do you still accept them as your brother even if they want to kill you or convert you through force? Do you allow mosques to operate that call for jihad and sharia law, infecting peaceful Muslims? Surly you wouldn’t invite someone into your home if you thought their intentions were to harm you or your family. Europe has has a policy of dropping off Muslims into their country and Europe is mess. All I’m saying is that it was not Gods intention to have his people treat sojourners as brothers if they would not assimilate into the culture or worse…destroy it. God Bless.

                                                                                                                                                                             In this episode, Dan takes the lead in responding to William.  Here are some quotes from our discussion:

                                                                                                                                                                             “How many minds can be changed by radical love like that [the Good Samaritan Parable]?  How many barriers of racism and nationalism could be torn down by that, by that kind of radical love?  That’s the attitude we should have toward outsiders, not, ‘Hey stay away because we’re afraid that you might shoot us even though our own countrymen are shooting us at a far higher rate.” –Dan

                                                                                                                                                                             “The kingdom will be a melting pot anyway; it will be a true melting pot where the one thing that we have in common and the only thing that matters is that we are citizens of the kingdom of Christ.  So we look forward to that day and in the meantime we are have the opportunity to live like that now.” –Rose

                                                                                                                                                                             “How cool is it that other nations want to come here?  How much easier does it make it to fulfill the Great Commission where Jesus says, ‘Go make disciples of all nations?’  Well if the nations are all coming here?  There are all in Chinatown and Koreatown and Polishtown or whatever towns in New York City, then how much easier is it to fulfill that Great Commission?” –Sean

                                                                                                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to the episode that this comment came from: Off ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/refugees-welcome.jpg Off Script 44: Should We Ban Muslim Immigrants? (Q&A) false no 26:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/11/off-script-43-can-christians-use-non-lethal-violence/ Sun, 11 Mar 2018 19:00:34 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2806

                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                               This is our second answer in our series on responding to your questions and comments.  In Off Script 38: Killing in War: A Christian View of Violence, we discussed whether it is appropriate for Christians to participate in war, concluding that Jesus’ command to love our enemies means that Christians should not kill others.  If you haven’t already, check out that episode first before listening or commenting on this one.  In this episode we respond to Zak’s comment.  He wrote:

                                                                                                                                                                               I really enjoyed this episode. It challenged my current worldview with scripture(a very good thing, even if not pleasant at times). I do have few questions. 1.Can none lethal self defense be put under “confrontational nonresistance” or is it always finding “exceptions to Jesus’ commands.”

                                                                                                                                                                               For example in the highly unlikely event that I would be walking a busy street and someone pulled out a gun and started shooting other people/family/etc. Would it be against the bible to(if I had the training)Disarm the individual.

                                                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                               • Listen to the episode that this comment came from: Off Script 38: Killing in War
                                                                                                                                                                               • Check out these other posts on how Christians should love their enemies, including a full length debate between Christians on this issue
                                                                                                                                                                               • More information about Christian pacifism: loveyourenemies.wordpress.com
                                                                                                                                                                               • See other episodes responding to your questions and comments
                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mr-potato-head.jpg Off Script 43: Can Christians Use Non-Lethal Violence? (Q&A) false no 9:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/08/off-script-42-hillary-clinton-a-dead-moose-and-christians-discussing-politics/ Fri, 09 Mar 2018 01:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2812 Welcome to our series answering your questions and responding to some of your comments.  We’ve been saving these up and over the next few weeks, we’ll address a number of them.  We’ve decided to do these in individual episodes, so if you’re not interested in the topic, you can just skip it and listen to the ones that matter to you.  As a result, these are each significantly shorter than our typical Off Script episodes.

                                                                                                                                                                               First up is a statement someone made on an old episode.  In Off Script 16: Christians Discussing Politics, we cited John Zmirak’s comment that he made on Unbelievable, a Christian talk radio show in London, as an example of inappropriate Christian discourse.  Zimrak said,

                                                                                                                                                                               I would vote for a dead moose strapped to the hood of a car in order to stop Hillary Clinton or really any of the Democrats in America because their policies are fundamentally incompatible with Christianity and really just with human decency.

                                                                                                                                                                               This episode responds to the following comment by Levi:

                                                                                                                                                                               A dead moose would in fact be less threatening to freedom of religion, the lives of the unborn, the sexual purity of our young people, etc etc etc. The left is an atheistic, perverted agenda and the Truth is, the Facts are such that no disciple of Christ should ever countenance no less support their godless agenda.

                                                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                               • Listen to the episode that this comment came from: Off Script 16: Christians Discussing Politics
                                                                                                                                                                               • Check out these other posts on how Christians should think politically
                                                                                                                                                                               • See other episodes responding to your questions and comments
                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dead-moose.jpg Off Script 42: Hillary Clinton, a Dead Moose, and Christians Discussing Politics (Q&A) false no 14:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/03/01/135-the-fate-of-the-apostles-sean-mcdowell/ Fri, 02 Mar 2018 01:00:04 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2780 Have you ever heard the martyrdom argument for the resurrection of Jesus?  It goes something like this.  Jesus’ apostles faced persecution and martyrdom for their confession that God raised Jesus from the dead, sealing their witness with their blood.  Why would they die for a lie?  Their martyrdom unequivocally proves that they sincerely believed in Christ’s resurrection.  Since they were in a position to know if it was true or not, we have every reason to trust their testimony.

                                                                                                                                                                               However, if I asked you to prove to me that these apostles suffered martyrdom, how would you do it?  How do you know they died as martyrs?  The only apostle whose execution the bible records is James, the brother of John (Acts 12.2).  Furthermore, critics like Candida Moss have argued that the martyrdom stories we have are historically unreliable and are full of exaggerations at best and completely made up at worst.  This is where Sean McDowell’s research is so helpful for us.  He’s taken the time to sift through countless pages of primary documents to collect and then evaluate the martyrdom accounts of the apostles.  After rating the historical likelihood of each on a nine-point scale, he’s concluded that four of them definitely died for their faith: Peter, Paul, James the brother of Jesus, and James the brother of John.  In addition, he argues that two more have a probability greater than 50%, including Thomas and Andrew.

                                                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                               • Check out Sean McDowell’s book The Fate of the Apostles
                                                                                                                                                                               • Follow McDowell on twitter: @Sean_McDowell
                                                                                                                                                                               • Visit his personal website at seanmcdowell.org
                                                                                                                                                                               • Listen to more Restitutio podcasts on apologetics
                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sean-McDowell.jpg 135 The Fate of the Apostles (Sean McDowell) false no 1:03:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/02/22/134-finding-the-love-of-your-life-book-of-ruth/ Fri, 23 Feb 2018 01:00:54 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2778 Have you ever read the book of Ruth?  Though it’s only four chapters, it contains timeless truths that can help us today.  Our culture puts an incredible amount of pressure on spouses to never change, be perfectly compatible, and fulfill our deepest longings that it’s no wonder that singles often can’t seem to find the right one.  However, the lesson of Ruth’s life is that she pursued God and then he took care of finding her a spouse and even built her a lasting dynasty.

                                                                                                                                                                               —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                               1|Tragedy Strikes

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 1.1 The famine in the land left people with few options

                                                                                                                                                                               1. find a way to get food from someone who has some
                                                                                                                                                                               2. move to a land that is not experiencing famine
                                                                                                                                                                               3. starve

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 1.2-5  The widow’s options

                                                                                                                                                                               1. go back to family
                                                                                                                                                                               2. remarry (these were arranged)
                                                                                                                                                                               3. depend on charity of others
                                                                                                                                                                               4. practice prostitution
                                                                                                                                                                               5. starve

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 1.6-14 Naomi decides everyone should go with option 1

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 1.15-18 Ruth abandons her country, her gods, and her family

                                                                                                                                                                               Background on Moab

                                                                                                                                                                               • Moab was the son of Lot and his firstborn daughter (Gen 19.29-33, 37)
                                                                                                                                                                               • God commanded Israel not to harass or fight with Moab (Deut 2.9)
                                                                                                                                                                               • (but) Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel before they came into the promised land (Num 22.1-6)
                                                                                                                                                                               • Moabite women seduced Israelite men to worship Baal (Num 25.1-3, 9; 31.16)
                                                                                                                                                                               • God commanded that no Moabite should enter his assembly (Deut 23.3-6)
                                                                                                                                                                               • During time of judges, Eglon, king of Moab, conquered Israel (Judges 3.12-14)

                                                                                                                                                                               2|Ruth Gleans

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 2.1-12 Gleaning in the barley fields was an accepted norm for the poor

                                                                                                                                                                               • Deut 23.25; 24.19, Lev 19.9 Mat 12.12

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 2.20 Boaz is a potential redeemer

                                                                                                                                                                               3|Ruth Proposes

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 3.1-14 Levirate marriage

                                                                                                                                                                               • Deut 25.5-10; Gen 38.6-10

                                                                                                                                                                               “Any childless widow had the right to expect her dead husband’s brother to marry her. If no brother existed, some more distant male relative was required to perform this duty.  Whichever relative married the widow became her “go’el” (redeemer or protector).  The first son born to the widow by the new marriage was counted as a child of the dead husband and inherited his property.”[1]

                                                                                                                                                                               4|Boaz Redeems

                                                                                                                                                                               Ruth 4.1-17  Boaz does the right things and Naomi and Ruth both benefit

                                                                                                                                                                               Although she has every reason not to, Ruth chooses Yahweh and his people.  Even if it is a forbidden love, she wants the God of Naomi.  Instead of spurning her, this great lover accepts Ruth and provides for her.  She comes under the protection of his wings and he takes care of the rest.  Not only does he provide her with a husband and the means to thrive, but he grafts her into the ancestral tree that one day would sprout the branches of not only king David but even Jesus the Messiah!  Ruth is no longer an unfortunate Moabitess widow, but a matriarch—the great grandmother of David—and the premier example of a heart who found the love of her life.

                                                                                                                                                                               [1] Great People of the Bible and How They Lived, (Reader’s Digest Association, 1974), p. 132

                                                                                                                                                                               —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                               • To go deeper into this topic, check out Off Script 23: Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                               • For a great message on dealing with frustration and disappointment in marriage, see Podcast 12: Don’t Let Them Go (Keith Daniel)
                                                                                                                                                                               • More podcasts and resources on marriage
                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ruth.png 134 Finding the Love of Your Life (Book of Ruth) false no 52:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/02/15/133-is-god-a-misogynist-mary-willson/ Fri, 16 Feb 2018 01:00:20 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2773 Mary Willson, director of women’s initiatives for the Gospel Coalition, wrestles with a couple of the Old Testament texts that critics use to show that God hates women, including Deuteronomy 21.10-14 and Numbers 5.11-31.  First she looks at how we perceive these ancient scriptures from the perspective of our own culture, then she shows how they functioned in their original historical contexts.  She concludes that God gave these laws to protect women not oppress them.

                                                                                                                                                                                 —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                 • Check out Mary Willson’s writings at the The Gospel Coalition
                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Willson-Mary.jpg 133 Is God a Misogynist? (Mary Willson) false no 55:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/02/08/132-twentieth-century-american-christianity-five-hundred-15/ Fri, 09 Feb 2018 01:00:01 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2761 In this last episode of our 500 class, we’ll cover a bunch of 20th century American groups including Christian Science, the Evangelicals, Plymouth Brethren, Pentecostals, Calvary Chapel, Vineyard Churches, Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Way International, the Worldwide Church of God, Scientology, the Moonies, and Megachurches (Rick Warren, Craig Groeschel, and Joel Osteen).  It’s a whirlwind, but it should aid you in making some interesting and helpful connections between present day Christian groups and their past.

                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 15 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                 All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                 —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                 Christian Science (a.k.a. Church of Christ, Scientist) (85,000)

                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1866 – Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) experienced healing from back pain after studying the Gospels and devoted her life to studying healing
                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1875 – published findings in Science and Health
                                                                                                                                                                                 • early 20th century had major growth but declined towards the end

                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                 Evangelicals/Born Again Christians (similar to fundamentalists, but different focus)

                                                                                                                                                                                 • National Association of Evangelicals[1] defines an evangelical as someone who believes in
                                                                                                                                                                                   • The need for everyone to have a “born again” experience
                                                                                                                                                                                   • The engagement in missionary and social reform efforts
                                                                                                                                                                                   • The obedience to the Bible as ultimate authority
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Sacrifice of Christ on the cross as a central focus

                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                 Plymouth Brethren (1 million)

                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1827 meeting in Dublin, Ireland by John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
                                                                                                                                                                                 • Father of dispensationalism including pre-tribulational rapture
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Dallas Theological Seminary’s Professor Dr. Chafer’s 1948 Systematic Theology
                                                                                                                                                                                   • I. Scofield Bible’s 1909 Study Bible
                                                                                                                                                                                   • W. Bullinger’s 1909 Companion Bible (finished in 1922)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Hal Lindsey’s 1970 Late Great Planet Earth (a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ 1995 Left Behind 12-part series
                                                                                                                                                                                 • Met together in the name of the Lord without reference to a denomination
                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1831 – first meeting held in England at Plymouth; 1845 – assembly at Plymouth had 1,000 people
                                                                                                                                                                                 • Distinctives
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Avoidance of traditional symbols (no crosses, unembellished rooms, no stained glass)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • No membership, what matters is who is written in the Lamb’s book of life in heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                   • No clergy, but they have elders and sometimes support a “full-time worker”
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Weekly communion as a separate meeting from worship service (Quaker feel)

                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                 Pentecostals (279 million)

                                                                                                                                                                                 • Holiness Movement
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Asa Mahan (1799-1889), Charles Finney (1792-1875), Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1881 – Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) founded (currently 1.2 million)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1895 – Church of the Nazarene founded (currently 2 million)
                                                                                                                                                                                 • Charles Parham (1873-1922), a holiness preacher, formulated the doctrine of “initial evidence”
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1901 – During a service, a woman asked for prayer and the laying on hands to be filled with the holy spirit and started speaking in tongues.
                                                                                                                                                                                 • William Seymour (1870-1922)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • One of Parham’s students, an African American
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1906 – Seymour went to LA and ignited the Azusa Street Revival, which lasted until 1915
                                                                                                                                                                                   • People came from all over to see/experience tongues, including Europe
                                                                                                                                                                                 • ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 132 Twentieth Century American Christianity (Five Hundred 15) false no 58:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/02/04/131-love-without-limits-victor-gluckin/ Sun, 04 Feb 2018 17:00:47 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2740 How do you deal with difficult people? Jesus teaches us that there’s nothing noteworthy about showing love to those who love us. Rather, he says we are to be like God who sends rain on the just and the wicked. He calls us to love annoying people, boring people, monopolizing people, vengeful people, shallow people, prideful people, and all other kinds of difficult people. We are not free to set our own artificial boundary on love, instead we must love without limits. Listen to this powerful message by Victor Gluckin, originally taught at Revive 2018.  This sermon will challenge you to strengthen your relationship with God since he alone can sustain you with his love so you can freely love those who don’t love you back.

                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Listen to all the other messages from Revive 2018
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Find out more about pastor Victor Gluckin at his church website or follow him on Twitter
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Browse other Restitutio episodes with Victor Gluckin
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 115 Don’t Put It on a Cart
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 79 Proud of Our God
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 66: What I’ve Been Saved From
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 24: Now Is Our Time To Speak
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/difficult-people.jpg 131 Love without Limits (Victor Gluckin) false no 53:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/02/01/130-missionaries-adventists-and-mormons-five-hundred-14/ Fri, 02 Feb 2018 01:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2723 The 1800s was an exciting time for Christianity in America. At the same time that secularism and liberal Christianity made huge gains, several renewal movements occurred throughout the land, including the Second Great Awakening. In this episode you learn about the birth of the Protestant missionary movement with the Moravians and the Baptists, how the various Adventist denominations got their start, and last of all the most successful made-in-America religion–Mormonism. These thumbnail sketches will help you understand a number of groups that are still around today.

                                                                                                                                                                                   This is lecture 14 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                   All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                   Pietism (late 17th c. to 20th c.)

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Movement within Reformed and Lutheran countries (happened during Enlightenment)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1675 – Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705) published Pious Desires
                                                                                                                                                                                     1. The earnest and thorough study of the Bible in private meetings
                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Laity should share in the spiritual government of the Church
                                                                                                                                                                                     3. Knowledge of Christianity must be attended by the practice
                                                                                                                                                                                     4. A sympathetic and kindly treatment of Christians of other groups
                                                                                                                                                                                     5. Universities should give more prominence to the devotional life
                                                                                                                                                                                     6. Rather than pleasing rhetoric, preach to implant Christianity in the inner man
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Emphasized inner life and conversion
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Millennialism (Pietists had millennialist leanings)
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Continued baptizing infants but de-emphasized it in favor of conversion experience
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Halle in Saxony established as center of Pietism

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   Moravians (Unitas Fratrum)

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Descendants of the 15th Hussites; persecuted during 30 years war in Bohemia
                                                                                                                                                                                   • In late 17th c., they went to Poland; 18th c. they went to Saxony
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1722 – Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760), a Pietist who attended school at Halle (godson to Spener) gave the Moravians land which became the community of Herrnhut
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1731 – Some Moravians went to the coronation of the King of Denmark.
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1732 – Johann Leonhard Dober (1706-1766) chose David Nitschmann (1695-1772) as his travelling companion; petitioned the Danish government for passage to St. Thomas in Virgin Islands
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Teaching them about God and how to read and write
                                                                                                                                                                                   • In less than a century, the Pietist Moravians sent 300 missionaries throughout the world and baptized some 3,000 converts.
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Moravian motto:

                                                                                                                                                                                   “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love”

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Today, around 825,000 members worldwide (largest concentration is in Tanzania)

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   Modern Missions

                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1792 – William Carey (1761-1834) published An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Used the best available geographic and ethnographic data to map and count the number of people who had never heard the gospel

                                                                                                                                                                                   “It is inconsistent for ministers to please themselves with thoughts of a numerous auditory, cordial friends, a civilized country, legal protection, affluence, splendor, or even a competency. The flights, and hatred of men, and even pretended friends, gloomy prisons, and tortures, the society of barbarians of uncouth speech, miserable accommodations in wretched wildernesses, hunger, and thirst, nakedness, weariness, and painfulness, hard work, and but little worldly encouragement should rather be the objects of their expectation. Thus the apostles act]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 130 Missionaries, Adventists, and Mormons (Five Hundred 14) false no 46:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/28/off-script-41-guns-immigrants-and-white-evangelicals/ Sun, 28 Jan 2018 17:00:54 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2673 This is part two of our discussion about Charles Mathewes’ Washington Post article, “White Christianity is in big trouble. And it’s its own biggest threat.”  Check out part one here.  In this episode we consider gun control, immigration, the death penalty, and treatment of the poor in an effort to understand and respond to evangelicalism’s ongoing public relations problem.  Are “white evangelicals” as Mathewes puts it “a breathtakingly cruel bunch?”

                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Read the original Washington Post article here
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Listen to part one of this discussion: Off Script 40: Roy Moore, Gay Wedding Cakes, and White Evangelicals
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out these Off Script episodes mentioned in this discussion:
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 38: Killing in War (A Christian View of Violence)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 28: Seeking a Christian View on Refugees and Immigrants
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 37: Killing Criminals (A Christian View of Capital Punishment)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Off Script 16: Christians Discussing Politics
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/praying-on-flag-e1516915318929.jpg Off Script 41: Guns, Immigrants, and White Evangelicals false no 39:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/25/129-losing-faith-five-hundred-13/ Fri, 26 Jan 2018 01:00:46 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2717 This lecture covers the two main types of criticisms leveled against Christianity during the Enlightenment period: biblical and philosophical.  In addition you’ll see how some Christians dug their heals in and worked hard to defend their faith while others gave ground but reinterpreted Christianity in a way that would not only survive the criticisms but also attract “cultured despisers.”  We’ll conclude with a brief sketch of unitarianism in America.

                                                                                                                                                                                   This is lecture 13 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                   All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                   Early Views of Biblical Inspiration

                                                                                                                                                                                   “The Holy Spirit did not simply inspire the meaning or sense of the words contained in Scripture, which the prophets and apostles then set forth, expressed, and embellished with their own words by their own will.  The Holy Spirit supplied, inspired, and dictated the very words and each and every utterance to the writers.” –Johann Quenstedt (1623-1687)[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                   “The Hebrew Original of the Old Testament…is, not only in its consonants, but in its vowels—ether the vowel points themselves, or at least the power of the points—not only in its matter, but in its words, inspired of God” –Helvetic Consensus (1675)[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   In the 18th c., we have Deism and Pietism.

                                                                                                                                                                                   In the 19th c., we have higher criticism and revivalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                   In the 20th c., we have secularism and Pentecostalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   Enlightenment[3] (1650-1890)

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Not an organized movement but widespread current of thought
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Critical of superstition, enthusiasm, fanaticism, and supernaturalism
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Philosophy is no longer the handmaiden of theology but an independent field
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Though in France the Enlightenment was anti-Christian, it was embraced by Christians in other places like England and Germany
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Three phases (according to Alister McGrath)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Demonstrating the rational nature of Christian belief (John Locke’s The Reasonableness of Christianity)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Could derive Christian beliefs from reason alone
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Reason sits in judgment over revelation
                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1751 French Encyclopédie: multi-volumes covering all human knowledge and written by atheist Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and the Philosophes

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   Deism (17th-18th centuries)

                                                                                                                                                                                   • Revelation, ritual, and traditional practices minimized or written off as superstitious
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Clergy criticized for
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Keeping people in bondage
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Monopolizing truth using their authority
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Freedom to inquire and religious toleration
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Essence of religion is morality expressed in universal principles
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Idea that all religions contained the same basic moral precepts
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1738: Pope Clement XII denounced Deism
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Cut miracles out of the gospels[4]
                                                                                                                                                                                   • Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                   Philosophical Criticisms of Christianity

                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1656 – Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) excommunicated from Talmud Torah congregation
                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1777 – Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume (1711-1778)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Only have knowledge of what we directly experience (empiricist)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Cannot determine cause from effect (the world does not point to a creator)
                                                                                                                                                                                     • Miracles were made up, based on hearsay, or the result of ignora]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 129 Losing Faith (Five Hundred 13) false no 54:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/21/off-script-40-roy-more-gay-wedding-cakes-and-white-evangelicals/ Sun, 21 Jan 2018 17:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2667 While scrolling through Facebook, I came across Charles Mathewes’ Washington Post article, “White Christianity is in big trouble. And it’s its own biggest threat.”  At first reading, I was infuriated at what I felt were unfair criticisms, but after I thought about it, I realized what an opportunity this article presented.  It collects together no less than thirteen criticisms against Christianity.  In this episode Dan Fitzsimmons, Rose Rider, and I (Sean Finnegan) respond to the first seven, including:
                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Our society’s war on Christmas bothers Christians
                                                                                                                                                                                       2. A Christian baker refused to sell a cake for a gay wedding
                                                                                                                                                                                       3. 80% of white evangelicals in Alabama voted for a pedophile
                                                                                                                                                                                       4. We’re ignorant of history
                                                                                                                                                                                       5. We’re ignorant of the current state of the world
                                                                                                                                                                                       6. We’re ignorant about scientific knowledge
                                                                                                                                                                                       7. We’re surprisingly ignorant about our own religion

                                                                                                                                                                                       —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                       • Read the original Washington Post article here
                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/starbuck-cup.jpg Off Script 40: Roy Moore, Gay Wedding Cakes, and White Evangelicals false no 47:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/18/128-colonials-and-methodists-five-hundred-12/ Fri, 19 Jan 2018 01:00:15 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2636 Hear the winding tale of early Christian history in the Americas with a special focus on the thirteen colonies.  Right from the start the Americas were full of Christian diversity including Catholicism, the Church of England, Puritans, Baptists, and Quakers.  In this lecture you’ll see how this diversity led to an unprecedented level of religious tolerance and flourishing.  Other significant issues in this period include the horrors of the slave trade and the treatment of native Americans as well as the impressive success of the Great Awakening under the preaching of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards.

                                                                                                                                                                                       This is lecture 12 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                       All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                       —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                       Founding the Colonies

                                                                                                                                                                                       • Catholicism in the Americas
                                                                                                                                                                                         • Spanish claims included American west coast, Florida, and much territory in central and South America (Catholic)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • French claims included eastern Canada (Quebec) and the territory of Louisiana (Catholic)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1634 Catholics founded “Mary land”
                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1607 Virginia founded as first English Colony
                                                                                                                                                                                         • founded as joint effort by the Virginia Company to make money (Tobacco export)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • brought Church of England to New World
                                                                                                                                                                                       • Separatists founded New England
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1620 Plymouth settled (from Brownists who were sojourning in Holland)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1630 Puritans establish Massachusetts Bay Colony fleeing from Archbishop Laud
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1648 Cambridge Platform: Westminster Confession w/ congregational polity
                                                                                                                                                                                         • No religious freedom
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1636 Harvard founded for training of Puritan ministers
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1631 Roger Williams (1603?-1683) arrived
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1639 Williams founds first Baptist church in RI
                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1681 William Penn founded Pennsylvania (Penn’s Forrest)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • he was a Quaker who tolerated all monotheists
                                                                                                                                                                                         • many people outside of England moved to Pennsylvania including Moravians, Lutherans, German Reformed, Amish

                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                       Immorality

                                                                                                                                                                                       • tobacco
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1602 an English doctor wrote Chimney-Sweepers or a Warning for Tabacconists warning about health risks
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1604 King James wrote a tract against tobacco
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1617 Virginia exported 10 tons; 1622 30 tons; 1627 250 tons; 1639 1,500 tons; 1688 colonies exported 14,000 tons; 1771 52,000 tons
                                                                                                                                                                                       • rum
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1667 Boston’s first distillery
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1774 Mass had 63 distilleries, producing 2.7 million gallons of rum a year
                                                                                                                                                                                         • RI had more than 30 distilleries
                                                                                                                                                                                         • colonists preferred rum made in the West Indies so they sold it in Africa and to Indians
                                                                                                                                                                                       • Golden Triangle
                                                                                                                                                                                         • molasses bought in New England to make rum
                                                                                                                                                                                         • rum sold in Africa to purchase slaves
                                                                                                                                                                                         • slaves sold in West Indies to purchase molasses
                                                                                                                                                                                       • slavery
                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1619 first Africans came to VA as indentured servants (work for a set time to pay off travel debt)
                                                                                                                                                                                         • by 1680 racial slavery
                                                                                                                                                                                         • insanely inhumane conditions on slave trader ships
                                                                                                                                                                                           • Falconhridge: “The hardships and inconveniences suffered by the Negroes during the passage are scarcely to be enumerated or conceived. They are far more violently affected by seasickness than the Europeans.  It frequently terminates in death, especially among the women.The exclusion of fresh air is among the most intolerable.  Most ships have portholes for air.  But whenever the sea is rough and the rain heavy, it becomes necessary to shut these and every other conveyance by which air is admitted.  The fresh air being thus excluded, the Negroes’ quarters very s]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 128 Colonials and Methodists (Five Hundred 12) false no 47:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/14/off-script-39-a-christian-response-to-sexual-harassment/ Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:00:55 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2621 Several significant sexual harassment cases have come to light in the last few months.  Now a whole range of behaviors have come under scrutiny as women (and some men) have felt emboldened to make public their experiences.  In this episode we even out our Off Script panel with one more female voice, Terri Crowder, to help us discuss this prevalent phenomenon from street corners to workplaces to churches.  After discussing sexual harassment in some detail, we bring relevant scriptures to light to provide a Christian response.

                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                             • More on the Christian work ethic here
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Also check out Off Script 31: Stewarding Our Bodies
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out the first part of episode 603 of This American Life to hear what happens when a woman confronts men after catcalling her.
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/time-magazine.jpg Off Script 39: Sexual Harassment, A Christian Response false no 44:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/12/127-catholicism-five-hundred-11/ Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:12:12 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2619 Although the focus of this class is on the history of Protestants of various stripes, it’s also important to realize that Catholicism changed a good deal during the last five hundred years.  In this lecture, you’ll get a brief sketch of the history of significant Catholic movements and doctrinal declarations during this period, including the inquisition, Council of Trent, the Jesuits, doctrines about Mary, the first and second Vatican Councils, and much more.

                                                                                                                                                                                             This is lecture 11 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                             All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                             Initial Responses to Reformation

                                                                                                                                                                                             • Pope Leo X thought Reformation was just a drunken brawl among German monks
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1541 Regensburg Colloquy

                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                             Inquisition

                                                                                                                                                                                             • started in 12th France to combat heresy of Cathars and Waldensians
                                                                                                                                                                                             • The 1578 handbook for inquisitors spelled out the purpose of inquisitorial penalties:”… for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evils they would commit.”
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1821 Inquisition abolished in Portugal; 1834 Inquisition outlawed in Spain
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1908 Inquisition renamed to The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1965 Inquisition renamed to The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)

                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                             Council of Trent (1545-1563)

                                                                                                                                                                                             • response to Protestant movement
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Catholicism after Trent is called Tridentine Catholicism
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 7 sacraments, recognized Apocrypha as canon, Scripture and Tradition determine doctrine
                                                                                                                                                                                             • bishop as pastor of diocese rather than prince of the church: have to live in their diocese, preach regularly, inspect clergy to insure proper teaching, meet regularly at synods
                                                                                                                                                                                             • support of Baroque style of art, music, and architecture
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1559 Index of Prohibited Books
                                                                                                                                                                                               • list had circulated since 1521 in Paris and Louvain
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1966 Index of Prohibited Books abolished
                                                                                                                                                                                               • still to this day the word Imprimatur (let it be printed) is on approved Catholic books
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 2011 imprimatur first applied to iPhone app

                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                             Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

                                                                                                                                                                                             • Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1521 severely wounded by a cannon ball
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1522 stayed in a cave for a while practicing severe asceticism
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1523 pilgrimage to the holy land
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1524 finished Spiritual Exercises (Ignatian Contemplation)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • returned to Spain and preached on street corners
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1528 attended University of Paris and got master’s degree
                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1534 started Jesuits with 6 companions, taking solemn vows
                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1540 Society of Jesus approved by pope
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Rules of the Order: vows of poverty, chastity, obedience to pope, go anywhere in the world
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Rule 13 “That we may be altogether of the same mind and in conformity … if [the Church] shall have defined anything to be black which to our eyes appears to be white, we ought in like manner to pronounce it to be black.”
                                                                                                                                                                                             • Missionary Activity
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Francis Xavier (1506-1552) preached in India and had success in Japan
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Matteo Ricci (1522-1610) dressed as Confusion scholar, brought Christianity to China
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Robert Nobili (1577-1656) brought Christianity to Brahman caste in India
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Alexander de Rhodes (1591-1660) preached in Vietnam

                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                             Colonialism

                                                                                                                                                                                             • ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 127 Catholicism (Five Hundred 11) false no 46:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2018/01/04/126-dissidents-in-britain-five-hundred-10/ Fri, 05 Jan 2018 01:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2612 Learn about the dissident groups in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, and Unitarians. In addition, Sean Kelly presents a vignette of John Biddle’s life and influence.

                                                                                                                                                                                               This is lecture 10 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                               All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                               —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                               Puritans

                                                                                                                                                                                               • Robert Browne (1550-1633)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Treatise of Reformation without Tarrying for Any, and of the Wickedness of those Preachers which will not Reform…till the Magistrate Command and Compel Them
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Reformation needed to take place whether or not the king wanted it or not
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Congressionalist rather than Presbyterian
                                                                                                                                                                                               • A group of Dutch Brownists were the ones who came to the New World in 1620s

                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                               English Baptists

                                                                                                                                                                                               • Not related to continental Anabaptists
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Founded by John Smyth in 1609, an Englishman from Cambridge who fled to Amsterdam
                                                                                                                                                                                               • General [Arminian] vs. Particular [Calvinist] are two types of Baptists
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Reject role of the state in matters of conscience (church should be independent of the state)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • John Bunyan (1628-88), Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666)
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Wrote autobiography Grace Abounding to Chief of Sinners
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), second part appeared in 1684
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Roger Williams (1603?-1683) brought Baptist faith to America

                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                               Quakers (“Society of Friends”)

                                                                                                                                                                                               • Founded by George Fox (1624-1691)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • “Inner Light” written in 1647: The word of God is not confined to the Bible but rather came directly to each person (inner light or inner voice)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • He rejected social distinctions, allowed women to preach
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Pacifists and egalitarians (worked against slavery in the US using underground railway)
                                                                                                                                                                                               • No sacraments at all b/c they were physical
                                                                                                                                                                                               • Total silence during meetings until someone is inspired to speak

                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                               British Unitarians

                                                                                                                                                                                               • John Biddle (1615-1662), the father of English Unitarianism
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • brilliant man
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1634 his anthology he published his translations from classics into English
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • at university he “outran his instructors and became tutor to himself” (Protesters, 131)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1634 he went to Magdalen Hall at Oxford
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1641 he was headmaster of the Crypt Grammar School in Gloucester
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • immersed himself in Scripture for years
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • knew entire NT by heart in English and most in Greek, though about Rev. 4 his memory got fuzzy
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • claimed he never read Socinian literature before coming to his own opinions
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • wrote a pamphlet, Twelve Arguments against the Deity of the Holy Spirit
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1646 summoned to London’s parliament and imprisoned for 5 years
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1648 Publishes two anti-Trinitarian documents
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • A Confession of Faith Toughing the Holy Trinity According to Scripture
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • The Testimonies of Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Novatianus, Theophilus, Origen. As Also of Arnobius, Lactanius, Easebius, Hilary and Brightman Concerning the One God and the Persons of the Holy Trinity
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1652 Biddle released and remained in London where he found fellowship
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • 1654 Biddle published his Twofold Catechism
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • when Oliver Cromwell got in power Biddle was released
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • returned to quiet active work in a church
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • two months later he was imprisoned in Newgate prison
                                                                                                                                                                                                 • remained at St Mary’s for 3 years<]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 126 Dissidents in Britain (Five Hundred 10) false no 49:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/28/125-the-reformation-in-britain-five-hundred-9/ Thu, 28 Dec 2017 23:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2587 In this sprint through British church history, you’ll learn about King Henry VIII and his staggering Act of Supremacy when he pulled the Church of England out of Catholicism and appointed himself the head of the church.  After Henry’s death, England swayed back and forth as Henry’s successors adopted Protestantism then Catholicism then Protestantism again.  Still none of this tumult compares to the chaos of the English Civil War a century later when a Protestant Parliament executed a too Catholic King Charles I for treason and initiated stringent Puritanical laws throughout the land.  You’ll also learn about the persistent and tenacious John Knox who was instrumental in bringing the Reformation to Scotland.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   This is lecture 9 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Henry VIII (1491-1547)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Wives, Heirs
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Catherine of Aragon (m. 1503), mother of Mary Tudor
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • The Great Issue: could not divorce her to marry mistress Ann Bolin
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1534: Act of Supremacy (Henry declared “Supreme Head” of the church
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Ann Bolin (m. 1533), mother of Elizabeth
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Jane Seymour (m. 1536), mother of Edward
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Anne of Cleves (m. 1540)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Catherine Howard (m. 1540)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Catherine Parr (m. 1543)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Religious Policies
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Ostensibly Catholic, apart from his great issue (Cardinal Wolsey)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Dissolution of monasteries and shrines
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 200 hangings of people who resisted Henry’s royal assertions as head of the church
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Six Articles (1539) affirmed traditional Catholic understandings of
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Transubstantiation, no cup for laity during communion, chastity for clergy, private Masses, confession

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   William Tyndale (1495-1536)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Languages: Greek, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Italian, English
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1521 – ordained a Catholic priest
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1522 – he was called before John Bell—chancellor of the diocese of Worcester but was released

                                                                                                                                                                                                   “We were better to be without God’s laws than the pope’s.” Master Tyndale, hearing this, full of godly zeal and not bearing that blasphemous saying, replied, “I defy the pope, and all his laws;” and added, “If God spared my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture than thou doest.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1523 – he went to Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall to ask permission to translate the Scriptures
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1524 – he fled England to the continent possibly to study at Wittenberg (12 years a fugitive)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1525 – he finished the NT
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1526 – the NT was printed in Worms and Antwerp
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1526 – Tunstall had as many copies as he could find publicly burned
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1529 – Cardinal Wolsey condemned Tyndale as a heretic
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1530 – he finished the Torah (Gen-Deut)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1530 – he wrote The Practice of the Prelates, opposing Henry VIII’s divorce as unscriptural
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1531 – he finished Jonah
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1534 – a new edition of the NT published (thoroughly revised)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1535 – Henry Philips gained Tyndale’s trust and friendship and betrayed him to the authorities.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Letter from Tyndale to overseer of the castle in September: “I believe, most excellent Sir, that you are not unacquainted with the decision reached concerning me. On which account, I beseech your lordship, even by the Lord Jesus, that if I am to pass the winter here, to urge upon the lord commissary, if he will deign, to send me from ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 125 The Reformation in Britain (Five Hundred 9) false no 54:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/21/124-asian-christianity-with-matthew-elton-five-hundred-8/ Fri, 22 Dec 2017 01:00:56 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2575 Did you know that Christianity spread to Asia in the first century?  At one time the Church of the East was bigger than the Roman Catholic Church.  Although often overlooked, this part of the world is critical to our understanding Christianity in the last five hundred years.  Our guest lecturer, Matthew Elton, guides us through an enlightening and helpful survey of the history of Asian Christianity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   This is lecture 8 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Early Christianity (1st Century)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Christianity spreads in Arabia, Persia, India.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Nestorian Schism (431)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Nestorius was bishop of Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey).
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Disagreement over unity vs. separation of human and divine natures in Christ.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Disagreement over title of Mary: theotokos (“God-bearer”) vs. Christotokos (“Christ-bearer”).
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Nestorius accused of heresy, excommunicated, and exiled to Egypt.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 17 other bishops also excommunicated.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Nestorian view of Christ accepted by Church of the East (Nestorian Church).

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Church of the East (~431 to Present)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Also called the Nestorian Church.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Split from the western church as a result of the Nestorian Schism.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Main power base was in Persia (present day Iran).
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Spread east into India, Nepal, Mongolia, China.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Height of power c. 700-1000. During this time it was the largest and possibly most populous church in the world, more powerful than the Catholic church.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Islam founded by Muhammad in early 7th
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Church of the East collapses under Muslim persecution and war, almost extinct by 1500.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Survives today in very small “Assyrian Church of the East” in U.S. and groups active in Iraq, Syria, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Early Christianity in China (7th Century)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Aluoben was a Nestorian Christian from Persia.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Led the first mission to China in 635.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Emperor Tang Taizong calls Christianity “religion of light,” commands that it be spread throughout China.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Oldest church in China is in Xi’an, dates to 640, still standing today.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Nestorian Monument erected in 781 to celebrate Chinese Christianity.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • “Jesus Sutras”: Early Chinese Christian texts discovered in a cave in Dunhuang. Recently translated into English.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Persecution in later dynasties diminished Christianity in China.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Christianity in Japan: Francis Xavier (active 1541-1552)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Jesuit missionary from Portugal.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Wins converts in Africa, India, Indonesia.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Meets Anjiro, an exiled samurai, in Indonesia.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Travels to Japan with Anjiro aboard a pirate ship.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Third European to go to Japan, and first to learn Japanese.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Preached in Japan 3 years but won few converts due to cultural barriers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Christianity in Japan grew rapidly c. 1550-1600.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Shoguns (warlords) ruled Japan for almost 300 years.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • They hated foreigners and persecuted Christians.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • February 5, 1597: 26 Christians crucified in Nagasaki.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 1632: 55 Christians crucified.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Meiji Restoration (1868)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Emperor Meiji restores the rule of the emperor.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Modernizes Japan with western technology.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Establishes a democratically elected parliament (Diet of ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 124 Asian Christianity with Matthew Elton (Five Hundred 8) false no 40:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/17/123-the-fall-by-preston-jackie-perry/ Sun, 17 Dec 2017 17:00:01 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2571 Have you ever thought about what it must have been like for Adam and Eve have that conversation after the Fall, after they had become ashamed of what they had done and they had to come to grips with the new reality.  In this stunning piece of poetry, written by Preston and Jackie Perry, we see the two of them embodying Adam and Eve in a very intense exchange where they blame each other and then come to an understanding and resolution of this issue.  I found this piece to be at once melodic and beautiful, but also deep and profound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Transcript ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: So I guess it was convenient for you to turn your back on the woman who held your spine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: Woman – you were brought fourth from my side- created to support me like the gravity stricken moon does to brisk breath of nightfall- but when fear clawed its way into my heart when he called my name in the garden you shrunk and hid your shameful body-

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Both: Where were you?

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: When the prince of night found his way to your star, you watched him lie… I watched you sit and set like sun you morning of a man. You can’t even see the nightmare you have become.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: I was there, standing in the distance having a conversation with my backbone. I wanted to stop you but you let that evil reptile with eyes slow dancing with deceit and tongue swift as breeze woo you dumb to think we could be wise as the God who thought the galaxies into existence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: Adam, I thought he was my friend, letting me in on secrets God pinky promised the leaves not to tell. He pointed me to the tree, told me of what I was missing and as my faith in his lies led me to stare, I watched death become gorgeous.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: But God is beautiful.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: Adam, my tongue became sight. The fruit looked too good not to-

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Both: Taste

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: -and see that God is Good

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: God is thief. He kept us from the one thing he knew would turn our minds deity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: No God is wise, Eve cant you see? In our feast for knowledge we have become fools, searching for wisdom in a mere branch we forgot about the God who had the power to grow us from dust with no roots. His mind is wide as sky and we were free as clouds, but now the silent hum of shame echoes the land–the eerie chill of fathers curse crawls across our conscience and the very river we bathe our naked souls in is damned because of you.  What have you done?

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: Do not blame me for murder and name yourself victim as if we are not both ghosts with skin.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Both: You left me for dead. Did you forget the sixth day when God made you?

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: From dust.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: But he made you from me for me! While sleeping he carved you from my caged bones beautiful, but you with your pride of dis-positioned switched positions and tried to lead, took heed to a snake without consulting me first. You didn’t respect me!

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: He gave you authority. He made you the head of us but you became neck. I can still see the apple stuck in your throat, Adam. Swallow your pride. You were supposed to lead me, yet I am to blame? Your wife, your Eve, the one who is now shame once beauty the moment you saw her breath. Maybe, I should noose a ribbon around my neck, make a skirt of wrapping paper, stuff my natural naked chest with leaves. Maybe then these bones will be enough gift for you again, this flesh enough body for you to bathe in. The day you removed God from your soul. Emptied your nest of his glory is the day you begged me to take his place. Fill your voids, become this image of perfection to satisfy your insecurities.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Both: God forbid.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eve: -Our sons grow up treating their sisters like cemeteries. Stacking their bodies and bones in one closet to wear as one flesh every time they want to feel alive.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Adam: Eve please understand that you further prove my point. That prideful o]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Preston-Jackie-Hill-Perry.jpg 123 The Fall by Preston & Jackie Perry false no 9:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/14/122-reformations-on-the-continent-five-hundred-7/ Fri, 15 Dec 2017 01:00:06 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2558 Zooming out, this episode casts a wide net to summarize how the movement started by Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin affected Europe over the next century. We’ll see how the Reformation took root in Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands while simultaneously failing to find fertile ground in France, especially among those in power. Lastly, we’ll consider the Thirty Year’s War (1618-1648) and how this brutal conflict fundamentally changed the way religion and politics related henceforth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 8 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Germany

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560): systematic theologian of Lutheran movement
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1521 – Diet of Worms: edict outlawed Luther and followers
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1526 – Diet of Speyer suspended the edict of Worms
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1529 – Diet of Speyer re-enacted the edict of Worms
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1530 – Diet of Augsburg
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Lutherans presented Augsburg Confession[1] (written by Melanchthon)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Johann Eck prepared a confutation against the Augsburg Confession
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Charles demanded Lutherans sign this refutation
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1531 – Schmalkaldic League
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1532 – Emperor called a truce at Nuremberg that lasted a decade
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1546-7 – First Schmalkaldic War
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1552 – Second Schmalkaldic War
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1555 – Peace of Augsburg
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Cuius regio, eius religio: whose region, his religion

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • All of Scandavia ultimately became Lutheran during the 16th
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Monarchs converted to the faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1527 – Gustav Vasa (1496-1560), king of Sweden split with Rome
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • King took possession of all church property
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Subjected clergy to civil law
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Declared all churches to preach “the pure Word of God”

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Netherlands

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Anabaptist movement was popular
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Spanish government (Philip II) harshly persecuted Protestants in the Netherlands
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1560s – Dutch Reformed Church dominated

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     France

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • French Protestants were called Huguenots
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Francis I (r. 1515-1547) initially was tolerant, owing to humanist tendencies until 1534
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1534: Affair of the Placards stirred Catholics against Protestants
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1562-1698: French Wars of Religion were civil wars

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “The parish pulpits of Paris taught hatred of heretics and suspicion of those—including the magistracy and monarchy—who allowed their continuing existence. Catholic preachers goaded people into a frenzy of fear and hatred of the religious and moral depravity of the ‘Deformed’ that would undermine royal efforts for toleration and produce deadly fruit. …For over the next 30 years Huguenots and Catholics murdered and assassinated each other with increasing barbarity.”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1572: St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Marriage between Marguerite of Valois and Henry of Navarre brought many prominent people into Paris
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • August 24th King Charles IX (1550-1574) had gates of Paris locked

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “The streets were covered with dead bodies, the rivers stained, the doors and gates of the palace bespattered with blood. Wagon loads of corpses, men, women, girls, even infants, were thrown into the Seine, while streams of blood ran in many quarters of the city…One little girl was bathed in the blood of her butchered fa]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 122 Reformations on the Continent (Five Hundred 7) false no 46:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/10/interview-30-when-god-speaks-alan-cain/ Sun, 10 Dec 2017 17:00:50 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2532 Have you ever noticed that pastors tend to get called to bigger churches over time, usually with better pay.  However, after fifteen years of serving at a church in rural South Carolina, Pastor Alan Cain heard God calling him to move to a smaller church that was having financial difficulty.  Although he took some convincing, Cain moved his wife and children up to Ohio and began serving at the Lawrenceville Church of God.  Over the past thirteen years, they’ve gone from 30 people in attendance on a typical Sunday to 175!  In this interview I ask Cain what his secret is.  The answer he gives may surprise you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Alan Cain’s sermons on his church YouTube channel
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Visit the Lawrenceville Church of God  website
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Alan-Cain.jpg Interview 30: When God Speaks (Alan Cain) false no 56:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/07/121-the-socinian-movement-five-hundred-6/ Fri, 08 Dec 2017 01:00:49 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2548 In the 1500s scholars in northern Italy began questioning the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. Before long the Inquisition forced these burgeoning Italian biblical unitarians to flee, resulting in the spread of their ideas to other parts of Europe. The two most significant groups that emerged were the Polish Brethren and the Unitarian Church of Transylvania. In this lecture, you’ll learn about this interesting though typically overlooked chapter of church history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 6 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Not only psychopannychism but also Antitrinitarianism was to find its fullest ecclesial expression in Polish Socinianism and Hungarian Unitarianism.  The leaders of these two parallel and closely interrelated movements…were Italians or palpably dependent upon Italians.”[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Italian Roots

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Marsiglio Ficino (Marsilio Ficino) (1433-1499)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Subordinated Son to Father

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Made bold to translate Verbum as sermo, thereby sloughing off the philosophically freighted conception of Christ as the Eternal Word (Logos, Verbum), as the Mind and Instrument of God, and substituting the idea of Christ as merely the voice of God. Although Ficino, basing his thought allegedly on Paul, wrote of approaching the preached sermo with the same reverence as the eucharistic corpus, he had started a train of thought that would equate the Word with the prophetic vox of the Old Testament, and even with rational meditation and literary scripta, and which would inevitably render philosophically difficult the received formulation of the Logos-Son as consubstantial with the Father.”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1540s – Vicenza Society
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Vicenza is a city in Italy that had a strong unitarian church
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Fled and ended up all over Europe in Moravia and Switzerland
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Lelio Sozzini (1525-1562)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Part of the Vicenza Society, a leader
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Visited Poland in 1551
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Fausto Sozzini (1539-1604)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Went to Poland and Hungary and worked with unitarians there
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • In 17th, people started calling the Polish brethren “Socinians”

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Polish Brethren (1565-1658)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Also called Minor Reformed Church of Poland and Socinians by outsiders, but called themselves “brethren” or “Christians”
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Peter Gonesius (1525?-1573)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Studied at University of Padua in northern Italy and graduated with a doctorate in philosophy
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1556 – Synod of Secemin: excommunicated for non-Trinitarian beliefs
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Became the leader of the Ecclesia Minor in Poland along with Marcin Czechowic
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Georg Schomann (1530-1591)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Left a letter to children and grandchildren (a kind of will)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “If you want to find out these things yourselves, there is my second catechism which I compiled from Holy Scripture privately for you. It explains about the Most High God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, man, only begotten Son of God our Lord, who are to be worshipped in spirit and in truth…May your understanding of God be that which we have from the prophets of Israel and not after the fashion of the Lutherans and Papists.”[3]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • • In 1574, a little work, Confession of Faith of the Congregation Assembled in Poland (thought to be Schonmann’s work)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 121 The Socinian Movement (Five Hundred 6) false no 40:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/12/03/off-script-38-killing-in-war-a-christian-view-of-violence/ Sun, 03 Dec 2017 17:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2523 Is war ever justified?  If so, can Christians participate in killing?  In this episode we delve into a sensitive and controversial subject to figure out what the bible has to teach us about how we should treat our enemies.  Our aim here is not be provocative, but faithful to what our lord taught us.  Here now is the conclusion of our series on killing: off script 38: Killing in War: A Christian View of Violence

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Four Texts in the Sermon on the Mount Clearly Show What Jesus Taught

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Mat 5.5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Mat 5.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. Mat 5.38-42 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. Mat 5.43-48 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jesus’ Apostles Furthermore Continued His Teaching:

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. 1 Thess 5.15  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Rom 12.14, 17-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. 1 Pet 3.8-11 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Three Views of “Resist Not Evil”

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. total nonresistance
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. find exceptions to Jesus’ commands
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. confrontational nonresistance

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Quotes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Hippolytus (a.d. 215) A soldier of the civil authority must be taught not to kill men and to refuse to do so if he is commanded, and to refuse to take an oath. If he is unwilling to comply, he must be rejected for baptism. A military commander or civic magistrate who wears the purple must resign or be rejected. If an applicant or a believer seeks to become a soldier, he must be rejected, for he has despised God.” [1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Origen (a.d. 248) In the next place, Celsus urges us “to help the king with all our might, and to labour with him in the maintenance of justice, to fight for him; and if he requires it, to fight under him, or lead an army along with him.”  To thi]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/death.jpg Off Script 38: Killing in War: A Christian View of Violence false no 54:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/30/120-biblical-unitarian-trailblazers-of-the-16th-century-five-hundred-5/ Fri, 01 Dec 2017 01:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2521 Although sometimes lumped in with enlightenment rationalism, the biblical unitarian movement came to prominence right from the start of the Reformation.  Essentially, as soon as bible translations started getting into the hands of regular people, a great many Catholic doctrines came under scrutiny.  In this episode you’ll learn about three major biblical unitarian trailblazers of the sixteenth century, including Claude of Savoy, Adam Pastor, and Michael Servetus.  These men did not give definitive shape to the larger groups that soon emerged, but they tread along the path, preparing the way for those who would come after.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 5 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Claude of Savoy (Claudius Aliodus) (1500?-1560?)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Itinerant preacher
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1534 – exiled from Basel and Bern
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1534 – Henry Bullinger (1504-1575), Zwingli’s successor in Zurich, wrote a defense of the dual natures’ doctrine to refute Claude’s teachings.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Claude’s confession of faith:

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “’The Lord thy God is one.’ Whence then are there two others? particularly since it is written [Rom. 11:34]: “Who hath been his counselor?” That man alone, whom Mary conceived and brought forth, is called Jesus, which is proved [by Luke 1:31 -32]: “Behold thou wilt conceive and bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus; and he will be called great and the Son of the Most High.” Who therefore is so holy, so great, who is called the Son of God, but he who was conceived in the womb of the Virgin and born?

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Therefore a Christian should acknowledge none other to be the Son of God than him whom Scripture so declares. Behold, the same man, the first born of Mary, is called the Savior and not some divinity of Christ.  He is declared to have saved us by his blood, not by his divinity. For this reason he himself says of himself [John 6:54]: “who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” He does not say. “who eats my deity.” Therefore I am not held to eat the deity of Christ but rather his flesh and to drink his blood.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     They blaspheme therefore who say of the Virgin that she is the Mother of God, for she did not bear God but Christ. If heaven and earth cannot contain God, how much the less the womb of a woman? In any case, if Jesus were thus divided into God and Man, the Virgin would not be the Mother of Christ, but only of a part of him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Observe also the expression “this day” [I have begotten thee: Ps. 2:7; Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5], which indicates a definite time. He was not, therefore, begotten eternally of the Father, as they [the orthodox] falsely imagine. But when came the fullness of time he sent his Son made of woman. Therefore he is precisely called the Son of God, who is made of woman.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Father gives testimony concerning him [cf. Matt. 3:17]: “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.” Concerning whom is this said, unless it be about him who had been baptized? For surely the divinity of Christ is not said to have been baptized, but only the man was shown forth.  Again [John 1:29]: “Behold the Lamb who taketh away the sins of the world.” In that he is said to be a Lamb, nothing of deity is included, but exactly what is appropriate for sacrifice. It is also sufficiently shown, by the declaration [Heb. 2:16]: “he took not on him (assumpsit) the nature of angels, but he took on the seed of Abraham” that the Father, wishing to reconcile the world to himself, willed to do this by a creature and by blood, and not by any divinity. But the Father was in him through the plenitude of the Spirit reconciling himself to the]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 120 Biblical Unitarian Trailblazers of the 16th Century (Five Hundred 5) false no 58:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/26/off-script-37-killing-criminals-a-christian-view-of-capital-punishment/ Sun, 26 Nov 2017 19:12:07 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2501 Determining the validity of capital punishment is a complex task, especially when approached from a Christian perspective.  To arrive at a biblically informed decision we need to consider both the Old and New Testaments, giving special attention to the nuanced understanding the Apostle Paul gave in Romans 13.  Furthermore, in America we have quite a few other issues we need to balance out such as the exorbitant cost of sustaining convicts on death row and the handful of cases where an executed person turns out to be innocent on the one hand, and  capital punishment’s ability to deter crime and mete out justice on the other.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out the other episodes in the series on Killing
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/death.jpg Off Script 37: Killing Criminals: A Christian View of Capital Punishment false no 49:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/23/119-sattler-munster-and-simons-five-hundred-4/ Thu, 23 Nov 2017 11:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2509 In this lecture you’ll learn about the Anabaptist movement and their distinctive beliefs.  We’ll consider the life of Michael Sattler, an important leader of the Anabaptists, and see how he stood firm in his faith even when his life was at risk.  Next, you’ll find out about Melchior Hoffman and how his followers took over the city of Münster, eventually resulting in chaos, immorality, and significant loss of life.  Sadly, European governments tended to lump all radicals together so that peaceful Anabaptists and violent apocalypticists got painted with the same brush.  Lastly, we’ll look at Menno Simons who became so influential among the Anabaptists that a sizeable group took his name, becoming the Mennonites.  Significant events in this lecture include:
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1527 Schleitheim Confession
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1527 Michael Sattler burned at the stake
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1535 Münster captured
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1537 Menno Simons becomes an Anabaptist
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1544 Anabaptists in Netherlands called Mennonites
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1569 Dirk Willems rescues pursuer

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 4 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Anabaptist Distinctives

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Bible as the standard, not tradition or church hierarchy
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Discipleship & love (literal obedience to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Separation from the world (especially government)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Home fellowships (voluntary church, no infant baptism)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Congregational polity

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Michael Sattler (1495-1527)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1525 -left Benedictine monastery, married a nun named Margaretha, expelled from Zurich
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1526 – became Anabaptist
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1527 – major leader in writing Schleitheim Confession[1]
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Baptism for those who repent only
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • The ban practiced according to Matthew 18.15-17
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Communion for baptized only
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Separation from the world (including government, Catholics, & Protestants)
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Pastors supported and given authority
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • The sword not to be used
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Oaths are not to be taken
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • May 21, 1527 – burned at the stake

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Articles or Charges against Michael Sattler[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. First, that he and his adherents have acted contrary to the mandate of the Emperor.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Secondly, he has taught, held, and believed that the body and blood of Christ are not present in the sacrament.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. Thirdly, he has taught and believed that infant baptism does not conduce to salvation.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. Fourthly, they have rejected the sacrament of extreme unction.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. Fifthly, they have despised and condemned the mother of God and the saints.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     6. Sixthly, he has declared that men are not to swear before the authorities.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     7. Seventhly, he has commenced a new and unheard of custom in regard to the Lord’s Supper, placing the bread and wine on a plate, and eating and drinking the same.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     8. Eighthly, he has left the order and married a wife.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     9. Ninthly, he has said that if the Turks should invade the country, no resistance ought to be offered them; and if it were right to wage war, he would rather take the field against the Christians than against the Turks; and it is certainly a great matter, to set the greatest enemies of our holy faith against us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Thereupon Michael Sattler requested permission to confer with his brethren and sisters, which was granted him. Having conferred with them for a little while, he began and undauntedly answered thus: “In regard to the article]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 119 Sattler, Münster, and Simons (Five Hundred 4) false no 47:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/19/off-script-36-killing-the-suffering-a-christian-view-of-euthanasia/ Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:00:13 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2493 Is it ever right to end someone’s life early? If so, under what conditions? In this episode we turn to the bible to sort out a Christian position on euthanasia.  Drawing on the inherent dignity God has invested in each person by making us in his image and the fact that God claims sovereignty over life and death, we conclude that physician assisted suicide is a sin.  In difficult cases of extreme and continuous suffering, Christians have pioneered palliative care in the hospice movement as a compassionate alternative to euthanasia.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out the other episodes in the series on Killing
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch a short testimony of Joni Eareckson Tada
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Read more about Cicely Saunders, the founder of hospice
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/death.jpg Off Script 36: Killing the Suffering: A Christian View of Euthanasia false no 41:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/16/118-zwingli-and-the-swiss-anabaptists-five-hundred-3/ Fri, 17 Nov 2017 01:00:55 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2485 Learn about the Swiss Reformation, spearheaded by Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich as well as the formation of the sect of Anabaptists known as the Swiss Brethren, including Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock. Key events covered in this episode include:
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1519 Ulrich Zwingli begins Reformation in Zurich
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1529 Zwingli and Luther part ways over communion
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1523 Conrad Grebel broke with Zwingli
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1525 Founding of first Anabaptist house church
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1527 Felix Manz martyred by Protestants
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1529 George Blaurock burned at the stake

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 3 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Zwingli’s reputation for biblical preaching led to his nomination for the post of people’s priest at the Great Minster in Zurich in 1518. Detractors raised the issue of Zwingli’s womanizing.  Zinwgli responded to the rumor that he had seduced the daughter of an influential citizen by admitting his struggle with sexual temptations but denying both the woman’s ‘purity’ and her father’s influence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     ‘Some three years ago I firmly resolved not to touch a woman;…I succeeded poorly in this, however.  In Glarus I kept my resolution about six months, in Einsiedeln about a year,…That girl was a ‘virgin’ during the day and a ‘woman’ at night.  She was such a ‘day’ virgin, however, that everyone in Einsiedeln knew exactly her role…She had had affairs with many men, finally with me.  Or let me say it better: she seduced me with more than flattering words.’

                                                                                                                                                                                                     The charge of immorality was finally ineffective since the other priest vying for the post lived openly in concubinage and had six children.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     In light of this specific example and the generally widespread practice of priestly concubinage in the late Middle Ages, it is not surprising that one of the first reforms initiated in the Swiss Reformation was the right of the clergy to marry.  …[Only months after the ‘Affair of the Sausages,’ Zwingli, then living with the widow Anna Reinhart, led ten other Swiss priests in a petition to the bishop of Constance To Allow Priests to Marry, or at Least Wink at their Marriages (July 1522).  The priests signing this petition declared that chastity is a rare gift of God, and that they hadn’t received it.  Zwingli married Anna in a public ceremony in 1524 shortly before the birth of their child.  In 1525 the Zurich magistrates instituted a marriage ordinance mandating clergy living in concubinage either to end the relationship or to marry.”[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                     The following happened in 1519

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Zwingli became leading priest in Zurich
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. He preached from his own text rather than the church’s calendar
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. He instituted Bible study groups
                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. He decided everything should be judged by Scripture
                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. He ministered during the plague

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1522 – “Affair of the Sausages”

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1523 – public disputation (Zwingli vs. Catholic Representative)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1525 – marriage required for priests/monks w/ concubines

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1529 – Marburg Colloquy

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1531 – died in battle

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Swiss Brethren

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Conrad Grebel (1498-1526), a scholarly aristocrat
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • 1521 – came to Zurich and studied under Zwingli
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • 1522 – experienced conversion
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • 1523 – broke with Zwingli over the Mass issue

                                                                                                                                                                                                     “He [Zwingli] continued to defend the principle of the sole authority of Scripture; in practice he followed the wishes of the council, thus virtually committing the ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 118 Zwingli and the Swiss Anabaptists (Five Hundred 3) false no 37:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/12/off-script-35-killing-yourself-a-christian-view-of-suicide/ Sun, 12 Nov 2017 17:00:11 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2474 On average, 121 people commit suicide per day in America. It is now the tenth leading cause of death in this country.  In this episode we discuss this phenomenon and seek to understand what the bible can teach us about this subject.  In addition, we wrestle with a number of hard questions about suicide such as:

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Is suicide a sin?
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Will suicide bar someone from eternal life?
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • How do we explain God strengthening Samson to commit suicide at the end of his life?
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • How can we show compassion and love to those with suicidal thoughts?

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Lastly, we consider how the bible provides hope for when we go through the darkest of times.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out the other episodes in the series on Killing
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For more on Wendy Savage and her interlocutor, Hayood Robinson, check out this Unbelievable episode
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/death.jpg Off Script 35: Killing Yourself: A Christian View of Suicide false no 1:01:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/09/117-luther-and-calvin-five-hundred-2/ Fri, 10 Nov 2017 01:00:34 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2464 In this episode, you’ll get a brief introduction to the contributions of Martin Luther and John Calvin to the initiation and spread of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, including these events:
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1505 Martin Luther becomes a monk
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1517 Martin Luther nails 95 Theses on Wittenberg church door
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1524-5 Peasants War
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1536 John Calvin publishes Institutes of the Christian Religion
                                                                                                                                                                                                     • 1541 John Calvin returns to Geneva as leader

                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 2 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Martin Luther (1483-1546)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. An Augustinian Monk (1505)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Professor of Bible at Wittenberg (1512)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. 95 Theses (October 31, 1517)[1]
                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. Debate with Johann Eck at Leipzig (1519)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. “On 4 July Luther came into the debate. Eck prodded him with charges of being a ‘Hussite’ and a ‘Bohemian.’  This was tantamount to being labeled a communist in the 1950s, because this area still recalled the numbers of Germans expelled from Bohemia during the Hussite revolt.  Luther protested Eck’s charges but finally went to the library and looked up Hus’s teachings.  When he returned, he stated that many of the condemned Hussite articles were truly Christian and evangelical, and ought not to be condemned by the church.  After a moment of shocked silence, there was uproar.  Eck pressed on and got Luther to state that both the papacy and councils may err.  This was an immediate triumph for Eck.  After this, Karlstadt returned to take up the debate again, but Duke George was anxious to bring the whole thing to a close.” (Lindberg, pp. 86-7)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Three admissions
                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. Officially excommunicated (1521)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     6. Diet of Worms (April 16, 1521)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.  God, help me.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                     7. Translated New Testament into German at Wartburg Castle (1522)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     8. Marriage to Katharina von Bora (1523)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     9. Peasants’ War (1524-1525)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants: “The peasants have taken upon themselves the burden of three terrible sins against God and man; by this they have merited death in body and soul… they have sworn to be true and faithful, submissive and obedient, to their rulers… now deliberately and violently breaking this oath… they are starting a rebellion, and are violently robbing and plundering monasteries and castles which are not theirs… they have doubly deserved death in body and soul as highwaymen and murderers… they cloak this terrible and horrible sin with the gospel… thus they become the worst blasphemers of God and slanderers of his holy name.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                     10. Finished translating Old Testament so complete Bible was in German (1534)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     11. Believed in the sleep of the dead

                                                                                                                                                                                                     John Calvin (1509-1564)

                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Child prodigy (employed by bishop as clerk by age 12)
                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Conversion experience (1533)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. “God by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame, which was more hardened in such matters than might have been expected from one at my early period of life. Having thus received some taste and knowledge of true godliness, I was immediately inflamed with so intense a desire to make progress therein, that although I did not altogether leave off other studies, yet I pursued them with less ardour.”[2]
                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. Published I]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 117 Luther and Calvin (Five Hundred 2) false no 45:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/11/05/off-script-34-killing-the-unborn-a-christian-view-of-abortion/ Sun, 05 Nov 2017 17:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2452 Today we are beginning a new series on life and death, in which we’ll consider abortion, suicide, euthanasia, and capital punishment.  Our goal is to address each topic from a biblical framework in order to arrive at a Christian position.  At the outset, I’ll admit that we don’t know everything and could be wrong, so we appreciate your engagement in helping us arrive at a godly position.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Today we’ll focus on abortion and consider whether it’s ever right for a Christian to have an abortion.  We’ll cover the scriptures that relate to this topic, the track record of early Christianity, and how this relates to our own time.  We discuss the major objections and consider the toughest cases like rape, incest, and when the mothers’ life is in danger.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Please note that some of what we discuss here is probably inappropriate for children.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Check out the other episodes in the series on Killing
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • For more on Wendy Savage and her interlocutor, Hayood Robinson, check out this Unbelievable episode
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/death.jpg Off Script 34: Killing the Unborn (A Christian View of Abortion) false no 58:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/10/31/116-introduction-five-hundred-1/ Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2445 500 years ago, there was only one Christian denomination throughout most of the world. 500 years ago, the church and the government killed those who resisted tradition. 500 years ago, no one could read the bible in their own language. How did we get from there to here? Discover the wild and exciting story of Christianity for the last 500 years, so you can understand how the world ended up the way it is now, avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, and gain inspiration from heroic people who made a difference.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        In this first lecture, you’ll learn: 1. What the religious world was like 500 years ago in Europe 2. Precursors to the Reformation, including John Wycliffe and Jan Hus 3. The movement called humanism, including Gutenberg’s printing press and Desiderius Erasmus

                                                                                                                                                                                                        All the notes are available here as a pdf.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Three aims for this class:

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. to understand why the world is the way it is now
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past
                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. to gain inspiration from heroic people who made a difference

                                                                                                                                                                                                        I want to talk about Martin Luther, but first need to do some background

                                                                                                                                                                                                        • key person
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • reason why this class if 500 instead of 600 or 400
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • on Oct 31st 1517 he started the Reformation (i.e. the changing of Christianity)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • before we can understand what he reformed, we have to understand what was already there

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Three points for today:

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Setting the Scene
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Precursors of the Reformation
                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Humanism

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1| Setting the Scene

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. life and death
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • no electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, gas heat, computers, phones, facebook, cars, postal service
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • thinly populated (black death in 14th)
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • high infant mortality
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 15-35% of infants died before first birthday
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 10-20% of children died before 10
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • agricultural subsistence
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 65-90% were peasants or small farmers
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • suffering and death were pervasive (bad medical care, famine, epidemic disease, war)
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • highly stratified society, most stay at same status they were born into
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • towns had extreme differences in wealth
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. beliefs/practices
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • infant baptism
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • church as God’s instrument of salvation on earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • death => eternal torment in hell, purgatory, heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • needed right belief and right behavior, which was determined by church
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • faith was not enough for salvation, needed concrete actions
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • authority on the basis of apostolic succession and good standing with hierarchy
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • hierarchy: pope, bishops, local priests
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • religious orders: monks, nuns,
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • contemplative orders: Benedictines, Cistercians, etc. cloistered lives of prayer and devotion
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • mendicant orders: Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, etc. served through preaching, teaching, missionizing, and hearing confessions
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • weekly mass with Eucharist as weekly sacrifice to God (transubstantiation)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • priest’s words make bread and wine Christ’s actual body and blood
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • sacraments: means by which God dispenses grace through priests who claimed authority on the basis of apostolic succession
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • baptism, penance, communion, confirmation, matrimony, extreme unction, and holy orders
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • communion was only once a year before which one did confession and penance to cleanse sins
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • processions and pilgrimages (relics)
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • vigorous practices
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • books of hours were most common printed book 50 years before Reformation
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • endowing masses, paying for urban preachers, paying for church upkeep
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • many were taking their faith seriously
                                                                                                                                                                                                           • anti-cler]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/500.jpg 116 Introduction (Five Hundred 1) false no 47:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/10/27/115-dont-put-it-on-a-cart-victor-gluckin/ Fri, 27 Oct 2017 14:08:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2436 Have you ever read about the time Uzzah touched the ark and God struck him down? When’s the last time you heard a sermon preached on this text? Anytime I’ve reflected on this passage, I’m so focused on trying to explain how God could be just in carrying out this judgment that I’ve missed the point for my own life. In this rousing sermon, Victor Gluckin argues that we often commit the same sin as Uzzah. We reject God’s good way of doing life and prefer instead to “put it on a cart,” that is, come up with our own easier way of handling the situation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Notes & Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to more Restitutio podcasts with Victor Gluckin
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Get info about Revive 2018 (Jan 5-7) at Woodstock, CT
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • To stay up to date with Revive (any year), like the Revive facebook page
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Watch or listen to Victor Gluckin’s sermons delivered at Living Faith Christian Church
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cart.jpg 115 Don’t Put It on a Cart (Victor Gluckin) false no 45:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/10/19/114-divorce-and-remarriage-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:00:44 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2425

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Divorce is a painful and complicated subject to talk about in America today where about half of all marriages end in divorce. Our laws have changed to accept “no-fault” divorce and many of us are unaware of what the bible teaches on this critical subject. To figure out the biblical perspective on divorce and remarriage, we will consider three scriptures from the Old Testament (Mal 2.13-16; Deut 22.13-21; 24.1-4) and three from the New (Mat 5.31-32; 19.3-12; 1 Cor 7.10-40). We’ll give particular focus to the reasons that allow for divorce both in Deuteronomy as well as how Jesus interpreted it when he was asked about it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                             To figure out the biblical perspective on divorce and remarriage, we will consider three Scriptures from the Old Testament (Mal 2:13-16; Deut 22:13-21; 24:1-4) and three from the New Testament (Mat 5:31-32; 19:3-12; 1 Cor 7:10-40).  Although other verses touch on this subject, the constraints of time limit what we can consider here.  Other texts include: Lev 21:7, 14; 22:13; Num 30:9; Is 50:1; Jer 3:8; Hos 2:2; Mat 1:19; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Malachi 2:13-16 13   In antiquity, divorced women had limited options.  A man could get rid of “the wife of his youth” and upgrade to a younger wife.  God takes a strong stand on this.  He will not accept the offerings of a man who has done this.  He hates divorce.[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Deuteronomy 22:13-21   This law protects the virtuous woman from getting divorced.  If her husband falsely accuses her of pre-marital sex, he will get whipped, fined, and barred from divorcing her henceforth.  If she’s guilty, she’ll suffer capital punishment, a harsh ruling by our standards.  Even so, this shows how seriously they treated pre-marital sex and virginity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Deuteronomy 24:1-4   Providing a divorced woman with a certificate of divorce (today called “a get”) was a huge step forward for women.  It meant she was legally free and could remarry.  This law specifically prohibited remarrying a woman who had an intervening marriage with someone else, but our interest is more on the reason for the initial divorce.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Hebrew word in question is עֶרְוַת (ervat), the word for “nakedness.”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Translation ervat davar ESV/NASB some indecency JPS (1988) something obnoxious KJV some uncleanness NET something offensive NRSV something objectionable

                                                                                                                                                                                                             The rabbis argued over what ervat precisely meant.  From the Babylonian Talmud, we gather three perspectives: Hillel, Shammai, and Akiva.  Hillel (110 – 10 BC) died before Jesus was born, Shammai (50 BC – AD 30) overlapped with Jesus, and Akiva (AD 50 – 132) was born a generation after Jesus.  Here are their positions on divorce:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Tractate Gittin 90a Mishnah.  The house of Shammai says: a man should not divorce his wife unless he has found her guilty of some unseemly conduct, as it says, because he has found some unseemly thing in her.  The house Hillel, however, says [that he may divorce her] even if she has merely spoiled his food, since it says, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her.  Rabbi Akiva says, [he may divorce her] even if he finds another woman more beautiful than she is, as it says, it comes to pass, if she find no favor in his eyes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Shammai some unseemly conduct Hillel spoiled his food Akiva finds another more attractive

                                                                                                                                                                                                             How did Jesus compare to these other rabbis from this period?

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Matthew 5:31-32 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/divorce.jpg 114 Divorce and Remarriage (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/10/12/113-trinity-history-stan-chee/ Thu, 12 Oct 2017 23:00:20 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2411 Stanley Chee of the Christian Disciples Church in Toronto, Canada shares a brief overview of how the doctrine of the trinity developed in the first four centuries.  Pulling on the work of Eric Chang, Bentley Chan, Hans Kung, and Richard Rubenstein, Chee explains four major factors that played a role in this process:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. The church’s gradual separation from its Jewish roots
                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. The subtle exaltation of Jesus towards deity
                                                                                                                                                                                                             3. Worldly and political motivations
                                                                                                                                                                                                             4. The introduction non-biblical words and concepts

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Chee delivered this message at LHIM‘s annual 2017 Kingdom Fest.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Information about Stan Chee and the college outreach he does at the University of Toronto available here
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Books referenced in this message:
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • The Only True God by Eric Chang
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • The Only Perfect Man by Eric Chang and Bentley Chan
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Christianity: Essence, History, and Future by Hans Kung
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • When Jesus Became God by Richard Rubenstein
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More biblical unitarian podcasts
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/stan-chee.png 113 Trinity History (Stan Chee) false no 39:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/10/05/112-gods-not-done-with-you-yet-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 05 Oct 2017 23:00:46 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2399 We all get beaten down in life. Whether it’s catastrophes like hurricanes, shootings, or economic meltdowns, or just dealing with the day to day demands and responsibilities of life, we all go through periods of dryness, feeling like we aren’t making a difference. This is where Elijah’s example is particularly pertinent. Having reached the peak of his influence and achieved a mighty victory over the prophets of Baal and Ashera, Elijah still found himself on the run from the government, hunted like an animal. In the deepest time of despair and discouragement, we encounter a message that can help us today as well. God told Elijah that he wasn’t done with him yet. I believe God’s not done with you yet either. He has work for you to do.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Notes ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 Kings 17:1 Elijah’s name means “Yahweh is my God.” He wants to attack Baal directly, by undermining his alleged weather powers. It will not rain until Yahweh’s prophet says so. 1 Kings 18:5-18 After 3 1/2 years (James 5:17), Elijah meets Ahab again who hasn’t repented or turned away from supporting Baal worship in the land. 1 Kings 18:19-22 Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a contest. Whoever answers by fire is the true God. This occurs before an assembly of Israelites who stand as witnesses. 1 Kings 18:27 Elijah mocks Baal publicly. He’s certainly not holding back here. 1 Kings 18:36-39 Yahweh comes through, and the people say, “Yahweh, He is God; Yahweh, He is God.” 1 Kings 18:46 Elijah ran before Ahab’s chariot for 17 miles while the rain storm approached. Upon arrival, Elijah’s heart must’ve thought, “This is it! Revival at last!” 1 Kings 19:1-4 However, Jezebel, undaunted by her god’s obvious inferiority to Yahweh, vows to capture and execute Elijah. He’s ready to quit. 1 Kings 19:9-18 Elijah speaks to God at Mount Horeb, where Israel first became a nation when they left Egypt. God asks him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He is worn out; he needs a word from the Lord. 1 Kings 19:13-18 God doesn’t spend much time comforting Elijah, but gives him important work to do. He assures him that he’s not alone, but that 7,000 others are faithful as well. God’s not done with him yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Is God done with you, or does He still have more work for you to do? What’s God calling you to do? Is it to volunteer here on Sundays, invite your neighbors over for dinner, invite your coworker to church, start teaching your kids the Bible, go to a foreign land as a missionary, serve the poor, feed the hungry, or clothe the naked? Whatever God’s calling you to do, it’s time to do it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             —— Links ——

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to other sermons by Sean Finnegan
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Watch or listen to a message on St. Patrick
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Eljiah-and-the-Angel.jpg 112 God’s Not Done with You Yet (Sean Finnegan) false no 57:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/09/28/111-john-1-1-explained-john-schoenheit/ Thu, 28 Sep 2017 23:00:24 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2391 The first verse of John’s Gospel reads: “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” Typically, Christians understand the Word to refer to the Son and God to refer to the Father. However, as John Schoenheit explains, this reading owes more to later trinitarian theology than the native biblical context. Instead of assuming the Word just is the Son, Schoenheit carefully shows how God’s word is his plan for salvation. In fact this is what became incarnate in Jesus in verse 14.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Here’s a link to John Schoenheit’s slideshow

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to my interview with Schoenheit, called Word of Faith vs. Trusting God
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More on John 1.1 from a biblical unitarian perspective available at ChristianMonotheism.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out videos of the other presentations from KingdomFest 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/John_1_Large.jpg 111 John 1.1 Explained (John Schoenheit) false no 53:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/09/21/110-heaven-is-not-my-home-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 21 Sep 2017 23:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2370 This world is not my home I’m just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven’s not my home then lord what will I do The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore

                                                                                                                                                                                                             So goes the classic hymn, “This World Is Not My Home.”  However, the bible frequently portrays the final destination of the righteous as occurring on earth.  In this message we’ll take our cue from Daniel’s vision in chapter seven to see what God’s plan is for his people.  Ultimately, he wants a restored world without suffering and sin so that he can enjoy a relationship with his people forever.  This world is your home.  You were born here.  You currently live here.  And your hope is to remain here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Vision Daniel 7.1-8: Vision of the four beasts: a lion, a bear, a leapord, a dreadful beast, little horn

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Daniel 7.9-12: The Ancient of Days passes judgment against the dreadful beast

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Daniel 7.13-14: The Son of Man rules over all peoples forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Daniel 7.15: Daniel’s response

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Interpretation Daniel 7.16-18: first clarification – the beasts are kings, but saints will receive a kingdom and rule forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Daniel 7.19-27: second clarification – the fourth kingdom and the little horn who persecutes the saints

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Daniel 7.28: Daniel’s response

                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Saints Will Reign Matthew 19.28; 20.21-23; 1 Corinthians 6.2; 2 Timothy 2.12; Revelation 2.26-27; 5.9-10; 20.6

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Kingdom Driven Luke 4.43; Matthew 24.14

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out the kingdom of God class podcasts
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More posts about conditional immortality (the sleep of the dead)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Get the book Heaven Is Not My Home by the late David Burge or listen to my interview of him here
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out these additional audios, videos, articles, and ebooks on conditional immortality
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/heaven.jpg 110 Heaven Is Not My Home (Sean Finnegan) false no 50:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/09/14/interview-29-gods-faithful-minister-john-mccave/ Thu, 14 Sep 2017 23:00:20 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2357 John McCave has faithfully served God as a minister for 36 years.  In this interview he shares his story of how God brought him from a hardened tough guy to a humble servant, motivated by love.  McCave also shares key insights he’s gained along the way, especially with regard to his wife, Mary without whose support he could never have succeeded.  Although this interview is chock-full of fascinating first-hand accounts of what God has done in his life, McCave’s humility, more than anything else, shines through as an example for all of us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Watch McCave’s recent sermon from KingdomFest called “Yahweh, the Only God“
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Visit his ministry website at Christian Outreach Fellowships
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Order his book, Worship: God’s Desire for All Ages
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Take a look at our KingdomFest 2017 videos
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/John-McCave.png Interview 29: God’s Faithful Minister (John McCave) false no 53:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/09/07/109-five-reasons-i-changed-my-mind-about-the-trinity-sid-hatch/ Thu, 07 Sep 2017 23:00:48 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2354 Sid Hatch, a former Baptist minister and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary explains his reasons for questioning the Trinity.  Ultimately he concluded the bible does not teach that Jesus is “God the Son” but that he is “the Son of God.”  In this presentation, he discusses various key texts including John 1.1 and Philippians 2.1-9 among others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Watch the video of this lecture
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More podcasts on monotheism
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sid-hatch.jpg 109 Five Reasons I Changed my Mind about the Trinity (Sid Hatch) false no 1:01:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/31/interview-28-exegetical-fallacies-jerry-wierwille/ Thu, 31 Aug 2017 23:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2154 Why are there so many divergent beliefs about what the bible teaches?  Partially, this results from mistakes we make when reading scripture.  In this interview, Dr. Jerry Wierwille enumerates seven typical fallacies that bible students commit when reading:
                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Root Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. Time-Frame Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             3. Misusing Parallels Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             4. Single Meaning Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             5. Word-Concept Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             6. Disjunctive Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                             7. Lexical Fallacy

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Avoiding these pitfalls will help you engage with scripture better and build solid understandings that can stand up to critical analysis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Dig deeper by reading Introduction to Exegetical Fallacies and Overview of Exegetical Fallacies
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to Wierwille’s earlier interviews, especially the one he did on Hermeneutics (interpreting scripture)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out these sermons and articles on Wierwille’s website (JerryWierwille.com)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • To delve deeper, take a look at D. A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/greek-nt.jpg Interview 28: Exegetical Fallacies (Jerry Wierwille) false no 51:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/24/108-indigenous-missionaries-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 24 Aug 2017 22:10:05 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2333 Are you a missionary? Although we typically think of missionaries as those who travel to foreign lands to share the gospel with people, the simple fact is that we are all called to the work of sharing the gospel.  Furthermore, as HeartCry Missionary Society points out, indigenous missionaries have huge advantages over foreign missionaries since they are more plenteous, less expensive, culturally literate, fluent, and avoid nationalistic biases.  What if you altered your thinking just a little?  Rather than seeing your role as a member of a church or a participant in a community of faith, what if you thought of yourself as an indigenous missionary?  How would that change your life?

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Please pardon the quality of this recording.  This meeting happened outside in a park in the Albany, NY area.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Info about KingdomFest 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More podcasts on evangelism
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/long-hair-silly.jpg 108 Indigenous Missionaries (Sean Finnegan) false no 36:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/20/interview-27-understanding-proverbs-jerry-wierwille/ Sun, 20 Aug 2017 16:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2151 What do you know about the book of Proverbs?  It can be quite difficult to understand what’s going on without some knowledge of how Hebrew poetry works.  In this episode Jerry Wierwille, serves as our guide to get a better grip on what Proverbs is all about.  He explains the poetic structures, general approach, and theological content of this incredibly important book so you can get more out of it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Listen to Wierwille’s earlier interviews: Caring Enough to Confront, Hermeneutics, and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out these sermons and articles by Jerry Wierwille on his website (JerryWierwille.com)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Read the recently completed Revised English Version of Proverbs
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • To delve deeper, take a look at Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Poetry
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/proverbs.jpg Interview 27: Understanding Proverbs (Jerry Wierwille) false no 53:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/17/107-each-one-serve-john-cortright/ Thu, 17 Aug 2017 23:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2286 Service is an important part of Christian living.  We are not spectators waiting to be entertained, but participants looking for ways to help out.  In this sermon, John Cortright shows what Jesus taught us about service at the last supper as well as what sort of attitude we should have.  So often we either critique from the sidelines or remain oblivious to the needs around us.  Instead, we can take the initiative and jump in where there’s a need.  This is a call to action!

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             At the last supper, Jesus shared many important truths with his disciples that they would need to know after his departure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             John 13:1-17 Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and then explained why. Foot washing was an Eastern/biblical custom of service towards others (Gen 18:1-4; 19:1-2; 24:30-32; 43:16-24; 1 Samuel 25:40-41; Luke 7:44; 1 Tim 5:10). Jesus was their Teacher (Master) and Lord. If we are Christ’s disciples, he should be also our Lord and Master (Roman 10:9). If he is our Lord, then we ought to wash one another’s feet. The slave (the servant) is not greater than his master. Neither is the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. Blessed are you if you “do” these things.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Luke 22:24-27 This account also took place during the last supper. The greatest should become the servant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Romans 12:1 We are urged to present our bodies a living sacrifice, a spiritual service of worship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Romans 12:2-11 We are individually members of the body of Christ, “each” having a function to perform.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ephesians 4:7, 14-16 — “Each one” of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 Corinthians 12:4-6 — There are a variety of gifts, ministries, and effects, but it is one spirit, one Lord, and one God that works all things in all persons!

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 Corinthians 12:11 — One and the same spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 Corinthians 12:27 — Now you are Christ’s body and individually members of it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near! So serve!!! As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Philippians 2:1-13 Be intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. Do not look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus! It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More Restitutio podcasts featuring John Cortright include 45 Talking with Jesus and 77 God Is Enough
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out dozens of more sermons by Cortright at the Living Hope International Ministries archive
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Take Cortright’s classes, including Isaiah and The Twelve (aka the ‘minor’ prophets)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/john-cortright-open-bible-e1502375622509.jpg 107 Each One Serve (John Cortright) false no 49:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/13/interview-26-word-of-faith-vs-trusting-in-god-john-schoenheit/ Sun, 13 Aug 2017 16:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2193 What is faith?  To some it is believing in something without evidence.  To others it is a means by which to attain God’s blessings like prosperity and health.  John Schoenheit explains how neither of these definitions best encapsulates the biblical understanding.  Instead, he shows how faith is really just trust in what God says, whether in scripture or by revelation.  In this fascinating interview you’ll learn about how the meaning of the word faith has changed throughout Christian history as well as how the “Word of Faith” approach could ruin your life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Read the full article “Faith is Trust” or check out his ongoing by translation project, the Revised English Version (REV)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More resources by John Schoenheit are available at Spirit and Truth Fellowship and at Truth or Tradition and at Biblical Unitarian
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More information about KingdomFest here (Sept 8-10, 2017)
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/John-Schoenheit.jpg Interview 26: Word of Faith vs. Trusting in God (John Schoenheit) false no 52:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/10/106-misunderstood-texts-kingdom-of-god-15/ Thu, 10 Aug 2017 23:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2267 Find out what the most commonly misunderstood texts about the kingdom are as well as how to interpret them within their own contexts.  In this final session of the kingdom of God class, we’ll look at these important verses:
                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Matthew 16.28 “Some…will not taste death until they see…the kingdom”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. Luke 17.21 “The kingdom of God is in your midst”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             3. Matthew 24.34 “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             4. Luke 23.43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             5. John 18.36 “My kingdom is not of this world”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             6. John 14.3 “I go and prepare a place for you”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             7. 2 Corinthians 5.8 “to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             8. Philippians 1.23 “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             9. Ecclesiastes 12.7 “The dust returns to the earth…and the spirit returns to God”

                                                                                                                                                                                                             This is lecture 15 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Some will not taste death until kingdom comes
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Matthew 16.28-17:9 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”  1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”  8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • they received a vision of the kingdom; this fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy that they wouldn’t die before “seeing” the son of man coming in his kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. Kingdom is within you
                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Luke 17.20-31 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,  21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.  24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.  25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah en]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 106 Misunderstood Texts (Kingdom of God 15) false no 1:14:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/06/interview-25-studying-the-trinity-discovering-god-is-one-sean-holbrook/ Sun, 06 Aug 2017 16:00:53 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2137 Sean Holbrook was attending a typical evangelical church when he heard a series of sermons teaching the Trinity.  Ironically, these very messages, designed to bolster faith in the doctrine, ended up inspiring Holbrook to question the age old dogma.  As a result, he set out to study the topic more and watched James White debates and read his book The Forgotten Trinity.  Once again, what was meant to convince Holbrook of the Trinity opened his eyes to more flaws and shaky logic that spurred him on to study the subject even further.  After much investigation and careful consideration, he concluded the bible teaches that the Father of Jesus is the only true God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Early in 2017, Sean Holbrook debated Joshua Lovell on the question: Is God a Trinity?

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Here’s another link to the debate with better audio quality.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Check out Sean Holbrook’s blog: droptozro
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Follow him on Twitter @titus2_11_14
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Listen to more episodes about biblical unitarianism
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Sean-Holbrook.png Interview 25: Studying the Trinity, Discovering God Is One (Sean Holbrook) false no 40:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/08/03/105-recovering-the-kingdom-kingdom-of-god-14/ Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2260 We’ve looked at how and why Christianity lost the kingdom message; in this episode you’ll learn how we got it back.  Over the last five hundred years, three different movements have made significant strides in recovering the kingdom: the Anabaptists (16th century), the Adventists (19th century), and liberal scholars (20th century).  In this lecture you’ll get a brief overview of each of these groups and see a bit about how they learned about the kingdom and did their part to restore it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               This is lecture 14 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                               (16th c.) Anabaptists and Radicals Rediscover the Kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                               • in the 1440s, the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press led to the reexamination of traditional Catholic doctrines
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • the bible revolution initiated a new interest in doctrine
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1454 Gutenberg Bible (Latin)
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1516 Erasmus’ Greek NT
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1522 Luther’s German NT
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1526 Tyndale’s English NT
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1534 Luther’s German Bible
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • 1535 Coverdale English Bible

                                                                                                                                                                                                               George Williams: “Because the New Testament uses the euphemism of sleep, the term soul sleep (Seelenschlaf) is often encountered in the sixteenth century. It will be sharply opposed by Calvin in his first theological work, Psychopannychia (1534; Strasburg ed., 1542).  This important work against Anabaptists and perhaps Servetus supplies our generic term psychopannychism in the present narration for that full range of Christian views not in line with the decree on the natural immortality of the soul of the V Lateran Council and of Calvin himself who would come to hold to the continued consciousness of the departed souls, as saints ‘under the alter’ (Rev 6.9-11), participants as the elect in the invisible Church, awaiting the Last Judgment.  Luther, for his part, was himself, at the outset of his scriptural career as reformer a psychopannychist, as was his most renowned English follower, the Bible translator, William Tyndale.”[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                               • why do you think Calvin wrote this book?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • his book, Psychopannychia, fought against people who believed in the sleep of the dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • this means sufficient people believed in this idea that he felt it was the first doctrine he had to attack!
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • apocalypticism vs. millennialism vs. millenarianism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • active apocalypticism (Melchior Hoffman and the Munster debacle)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • passive apocalypticism

                                                                                                                                                                                                               George Williams: “Not only psychopannychism but also Antitrinitarianism was to find its fullest ecclesial expression in Polish Socinianism and Hungarian Unitarianism. The leaders of these two parallel and closely interrelated movements…were Italians or palpably dependent upon Italians.”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                               • these 2 groups combined sleep of the dead w/ biblical unitarianism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Polish Socinians, Hungarian Unitarians

                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                               (19th c.) Adventists and Restorationists

                                                                                                                                                                                                               William Miller (1782-1849)

                                                                                                                                                                                                               • father of Adventism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Adventism: movement based on rediscovery of the return of Christ
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Adventist: someone who believes Jesus is coming back and usually also believes in conditional immortality
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • American Baptist who preached in upstate New York (Hampton, east of Lake George on VT border)
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • studied prophecies of Daniel and used day-year method
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • in 1822 he predicted Christ would come by 1843 (made public in 1831)
                                                                                                                                                                                                               • submitted 16 articles to https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 105 Recovering the Kingdom (Kingdom of God 14) false no 50:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/30/off-script-33-stewarding-your-resources/ Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2221 We all have resources, whether money, time, talents, or skills.  How should we steward these resources?  In this episode, we conclude our series on stewardship by talking about work, debt, contentment, retirement, volunteering, industriousness, and laziness.  We conclude that as with all areas of life, we need to seek God’s glory with our resources.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Check out the other episodes in the Stewardship Series
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Listen to Off Script 6: Consumerism or read this article
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Listen to Podcast 4: A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/finances.jpg Off Script 33: Stewarding Your Resources false no 38:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/27/104-the-kingdom-is-too-jewish-kingdom-of-god-13/ Thu, 27 Jul 2017 23:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2225 This is part three of a series of three lectures on why some Christians ended up rejecting the kingdom message in the first few centuries of Christianity.  In this part, I work through the major differences between how Jews and Greeks read scripture.  What we find is that the Christians who didn’t like the kingdom idea lumped in those who did believe in it with the unbelieving Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah.  In other words, kingdom advocates got labeled “Judaizers” for supporting biblical (literal) interpretations that the Jews were using to show that Jesus could not be the Messiah because he did not literally fulfill the kingdom prophecies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 13 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Christians Who Spoke Against the Kingdom as Too Jewish

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Origen of Alexandria (3rd c.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Now some men, who reject the labour of thinking and seek after the outward and literal meaning of the law…picture to themselves the earthly city of Jerusalem rebuilt with precious stones laid down for its foundations and its walls erected of jasper and its battlements adorned with crystal…Then, too, they suppose that ‘aliens’ are to be given them to minister to their pleasures, and that they will have these for ‘plowmen’ or ‘vinedressers’ or ‘wall-builders’…and they consider that they are to receive the ‘wealth of nations’ to live on and that they will have control over their riches, so that even camels of Midian and Ephah will come and bring ‘gold, incense and precious stones’.  All this they try to prove on prophetic authority from those passages of scripture which describe the promises made to Jerusalem…and they quote from the scriptures many other illustrations, the force of which they do not perceive must be figurative and spiritual. Then, too, after the fashion of what happens in this life, and of this world’s positions of dignity or rank or supreme power, they consider that they will be kings and princes…And, to speak briefly, they desire that all things which they look for in the promises should correspond in every detail with the course of this life, that is, that what exists now should exist again. Such are the thoughts of men who believe indeed in Christ, but because they understand the divine scriptures in a Judaistic sense, extract from them nothing that is worthy of the divine promises.  (De Principiis 2.11.2)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Eusebius of Caesarea (4th c.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 In addition to all these letters, he [Dionysius of Alexandria] composed two treastises, On Promises, occasioned by Nepos, a bishop of Egypt, who taught that the promises made to the saints in the divine Scriptures should be interpreted in a more Jewish fashion and that there would be a sort of millennium of bodily indulgence on this earth.  (Ecclesiastical History 7.24)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Like the Jewish people who read the Scriptures literally, one could assume that it is the land of Palestine. But according to the deeper meaning, according to the final word, the high and heavenly and angelic word of God and the divine apostle of the “heavenly” Zion teaches that it is “the Jerusalem above, which is the mother of us all.” (Commentary on Isaiah 2.1-4)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 And though the lion is carnivorous by nature, he shall be nourished with husks as a herbivorous animal. So too there are savage and coarse people who understand only the literal interpretation of the graces of the divine Scripture. The divine Scripture is the nourishing word of souls, but its secrets escape the notice of our minds, for the meaning is surrounded by a husk.  (C]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 104 The Kingdom Is Too Jewish (Kingdom of God 13) false no 44:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/23/off-script-32-stewarding-your-image/ Sun, 23 Jul 2017 16:00:21 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2211 Last week we looked at stewarding your body. In this episode we focus on a phenomenon that has been growing over the last couple of decades–tattoos and piercings. What was once seen among sailors, bikers, and soldiers is now rampant among celebrities, athletes, and countless others. What’s a Christian to do? Should we go with the flow? Does the bible condemn tattoos and piercings outright? If tattoos are ok, how should we figure out what is appropriate and godly versus what is inappropriate and sinful? In this Off Script episode we discuss these questions in an effort to set aside cultural bias and think biblically about tattoos and piercings.  Here’s a quick list of questions to ask before getting a tattoo or piercing:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 10 Questions to Ask before You Get a Tattoo or Piercing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. Will it portray something God is against?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. Is your motivation vanity (drawing attention to yourself)?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3. Will this limit your career options?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 4. Are you ok with strangers coming up and asking you about it?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 5. Are you sure you want this on your body permanently?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 6. Would this cause issues or offense in your cultural setting?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 7. Does your spouse agree with you on getting it?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 8. Will it cause irreversible damage?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 9. Will it remind you of something God has done or give God glory?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 10. Will it open doors for evangelism?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Here are some pictures we reference in the episode:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “The LORD is my shepherd”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Wife’s matching tatoo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dan (cohost of Off Script)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Close up of Dan’s tattoo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Listen to Podcast 68: Soli Deo Gloria
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Check out the other episodes in the Stewardship Series
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Tattoo20120619_400.jpg Off Script 32: Stewarding Your Image (Can Christians Get Tattoos?) false no 51:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/20/103-the-kingdom-is-too-hedonic-kingdom-of-god-12/ Thu, 20 Jul 2017 23:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2209 Last time we saw that some influential Christians rejected the biblical teaching on the kingdom because the idea of living on earth forever seemed crude to them.  This time, we look at how the ancients thought about bodies and bodily pleasures.  As it turns out, from (at least) Plato onward, many philosophers tended to embrace a very negative view of pleasure, arguing that the truly enlightened person should exercise abstinence and discipline as much as possible.  This idea flourished among the Stoics and Neo-Platonists and infiltrated Christianity from the second century onward.  Consequently, the biblical descriptions of feasting in the kingdom with the patriarchs in resurrected bodies seemed to demand reinterpretation.  Additionally kingdom deniers labelled kingdom advocates hedonists, as if their uncontrollable desire for pleasure motivated their belief in the kingdom.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 12 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ἡ ἡδονή (e edone): pleasure, enjoyment, delight

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • hedonism, hedonist, hedonic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • hedonism: belief that pleasure is life’s goal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Our Plan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. show you that some Christians rejected the kingdom belief because it was too hedonic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. explain why they had such an ascetic bias (ascetic means anti-pleasure)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Greco-Roman background
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. how this infiltrated Christian thinking
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3. biblical view on bodily pleasures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 4. how this affects us today

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Quotes showing rejection of the kingdom on the charge of hedonism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Gaius (early second century)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “But Cerinthus also, by means of revelations which he pretends were written by a great apostle, brings before us marvelous things which he falsely claims were shown him by angels; and he says that after the resurrection the kingdom of Christ will be set up on earth, and that the flesh dwelling in Jerusalem will again be subject to desires and pleasures. And being an enemy of the Scriptures of God, he asserts, with the purpose of deceiving men, that there is to be a period of a thousand years5 for marriage festivals.” (H.E. 3.28.2)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Origen (early third century)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Certain persons, then, refusing the labour of thinking, and adopting a superficial view of the letter of the law, and yielding rather in some measure to the indulgence of their own desires and lusts, being disciples of the letter alone, are of opinion that the fulfilment of the promises of the future are to be looked for in bodily pleasure and luxury; and therefore they especially desire to have again, after the resurrection, such bodily structures as may never be without the power of eating, and drinking, and performing all the functions of flesh and blood (De Princip. 2.11.2)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “And even as those who because of the fact that they do not interpret the prophecies allegorically suppose (that) after the resurrection we will eat and drink bodily food and drink, since also the words of the prophetic writings embrace such as these, so also what has been written concerning marriages of both men and women, keeping to the literal and supposing (that) we will take part in intercourse then, on account of which it is not even possible to have time for prayer when being in (a state of) defilement and uncleanness partaking in sexual pleasures.” (Commentary on Matthew 17.35)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dionysius (mid third century)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “For the doctrine which he [Cerinthus] taught was this: that the kingdom of Christ will be an earthly one. And as he was himself devoted to the pleasures ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 103 The Kingdom Is Too Hedonic (Kingdom of God 12) false no 56:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/16/off-script-31-stewarding-our-bodies/ Sun, 16 Jul 2017 16:00:14 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2186 How should you steward your body?  Are all bodily pleasures inherently sinful?  In order to grapple with these questions, we take a tour through the bible from the Garden of Eden through to the time of Jesus to observe the balanced biblical perspective between asceticism (denying all pleasures) and hedonism (living for pleasure).  As it turns out, God designed us to experience pleasure, but within his boundaries.  We discuss several of these before considering how sometimes we may need to enter a period of abstinence to recenter ourselves.  Lastly, we look at how legalism can sneak in and wreak havok when we impose our own personal boundaries on other Christians.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Check out the other episodes in the Stewardship Series
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Read an article on how ancient asceticism invaded the church, leading to the rejection of the kingdom message
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/body-health.jpg Off Script 31: Stewarding Your Body false no 40:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/13/102-the-kingdom-is-too-crude-kingdom-of-god-11/ Thu, 13 Jul 2017 23:00:10 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2188 Now that you’ve seen the historical defenders of the kingdom faith, it’s time to turn our attention to those who fought against it.  Over the next three lectures you’ll learn the main reasons why Christianity rejected the kingdom message of the bible and replaced it with going to heaven or hell at death.  First up, we’ll take a tour of how the ancients thought about creation and the universe, giving special attention to how Plato and Philo influenced Christian thinking.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 11 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Kingdom Called Crude

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dionysius of Alexandria (d. 265)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “But since they bring forward a certain work of Nepos, on which they especially rely as irrefutably proving that the kingdom of Christ will be on earth…we should…examine and correct whatever appears to be unsoundly composed…But when a book is published which seems most convincing to some and do[es] not allow our simpler brethren to have high and noble thoughts, either regarding the glorious and truly divine coming of our Lord or our resurrection from the dead or our gathering together unto Him and being like to Him, but persuade them to hope for the small and mortal and such as are of the present in the Kingdom of God…then it is necessary that we, too, argue with our brother Nepos as if he were present.”  (Eusebius, History of the Church 7.24)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Origen of Alexandria (d. 253)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Because of this it happens that certain of the simpler Christians, since they do not know how to distinguish and to keep separate what in the divine Scriptures must be allotted to the inner man and what to the outer man, misled by the similarities in the designations, have turned themselves to certain foolish stories and vain fictions, so that even after resurrection they believe that corporeal foods must be used and drink taken not only from that true Vine which lives forever, but also from vines and fruits of wood.” (Comm. of the Song of Songs, Prologue)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Eusebius of Caesarea (d. 339)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Among these he [Papias] says that there will be a period of about a thousand years after the resurrection of the dead, when the kingdom of Christ will be established on this earth in material form. I suppose that he got these ideas through a perverse reading of the accounts of the Apostles, not realizing that these were expressed by them mystically in figures. For he appears to be a man of very little intelligence, to speak judging from his books, but he was responsible for the great number of Church writers after him holding the same opinion as himself, who proposed in their support the antiquity of the man, as, for instance, Irenaeus and whoever else appeared to hold similar views.” (Church History 3.39)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Augustine of Hippo (d. 430)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “The same Evangelist John has spoken of these two resurrection in his book which is called the Apocalypse, but in such a way that some of us have not understood the first of the two, and thereby have turned it into some ridiculous fancies….Those who, because of this passage in this book, have suspected that the first resurrection is future and bodily…This opinion would be somewhat tolerable, if the delights of that Sabbath to be enjoyed by the saints were, through the presence of the Lord, of a spiritual kind. For we too were at one time of this opinion.” (City of God 20.7.1)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “If we were to tell those pagan philosophers that our bodies are going to be victorious on a new earth and not in heaven, we would be speaking boldly and rashly, yes, even against the faith. For we ought to believe ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 102 The Kingdom Is Too Crude (Kingdom of God 11) false no 46:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/08/off-script-30-stewarding-the-earth/ Sat, 08 Jul 2017 16:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2159 We’re beginning a new series on stewardship. To start with, we’ll discuss the biblical mindset towards stewarding the earth. Future episodes will address stewarding our bodies and finances.  In this show, we begin with creation theology and move to consider how God injected covenantal significance into how Israelites were to think about their land. Lastly, we look at how believing in the renewal of our earth in the age to come should affect us now.  We also overcome several typical Christian objections to creation care while trying to avoid any kind of legalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Check out the other episodes in the Stewardship Series
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/plant.jpg Off Script 30: Stewarding the Earth false no 37:15 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/06/101-historical-kingdom-advocates-kingdom-of-god-10/ Thu, 06 Jul 2017 23:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2161 Who has believed in the kingdom over the history of Christianity?  In this lecture, you’ll find out who defended the kingdom belief in the first four centuries, before it faded out of the mainstream and got replaced with going to heaven instead.  In order to put you in contact with the primary sources, we read through a bunch of quotes, so you can hear the unfiltered voices of these remarkable kingdom advocates.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 10 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1st Century

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Author(s) of Didache (wrote/edited ad 60-150)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Didache 8.2  Nor should you pray like the hypocrites.  Instead, pray like this, just as the Lord commanded in his Gospel: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Didache 9.4 Just as this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and then was gathered together and became one, so may your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom; for yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Didache 10.5-6 5 Remember your church, Lord, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in your love; and from the four winds gather the church that has been sanctified into your kingdom, which you have prepared for it; for yours is the power and glory forever.  6 May grace come, and may this world pass away.  Hosanna to the God of David.  If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not, let him repent.  Maranatha! Amen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Didache 16.6-8 6 And then there will appear the signs of the truth: first the sign of an opening in heaven, then the sign of the sound of a trumpet, and third, the resurrection of the dead—7 but not of all; rather, as it has been said, “The Lord will come, and all his saints with him.”  8 Then the world will see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Clement of Rome (wrote ad 80-100)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1 Cl. 42:3  3 Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1 Cl. 50:3 3 All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love, now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation of the kingdom of Christ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Barnabas (wrote ad 70-132)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Epistle of Barnabas 1.7 For the Master has made known to us through the prophets things past and things present, and has given us a foretaste of things to come.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Epistle of Barnabas 6.13 Again, I will show thee how, in respect to us, He has accomplished a second fashioning in these last days. The Lord says, “Behold, I will make the last like the first.” In reference to this, then, the prophet proclaimed, “Enter ye into the land flowing with milk and honey, and have dominion over it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Epistle of Barnabas 10.11…Because the righteous person not only lives in this world but also looks forward to the holy age to come….

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Epistle of Barnabas 15.4-5 Observe, children, what “he finished in six days” means.  It means this: that in six thousand years the Lord will bring everything to an end, for with him a day signifies a thousand years…”And he rested on the seventh day.”  This means: when his son comes, he will destroy the time of the lawless one and will judge the ungodly and will change the sun and the mo]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 101 Historical Kingdom Advocates (Kingdom of God 10) false no 1:03:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/07/02/interview-24-what-is-the-trinity-with-dale-tuggy/ Sun, 02 Jul 2017 16:00:30 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2135 Do you know what the Trinity is?  Could you explain it to someone else or is it just a confusing collection of impenetrable statements hidden under a cloud of fog?  In his recent book, Professor Dale Tuggy seeks to clarify everyone’s perceptions of the various Trinity theories so that we can have productive conversation on the subject.  He delves deep into the various key concepts like explaining various ways of thinking about persons and essence (ousia) to help you make sense of it all.  Whether you believe in the Trinity or not, this interview will help you understand how to have more focused and profitable conversation on this important doctrine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Visit Dr. Tuggy’s website at Trinities.org
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Purchase his book at Create Space or on Amazon (Also, write him a review!)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Follow him on twitter @DaleTuggy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/what-is-the-trinity-by-dale-tuggy.png Interview 24: What Is the Trinity with Dale Tuggy false no 52:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/30/100-kingdom-allegiance-kingdom-of-god-9/ Fri, 30 Jun 2017 18:31:11 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2144 Like all kingdoms, God’s kingdom is political in nature. As a result, the kingdom requires allegiance from its citizens. By examining Jewish messianism and Roman political sensibilities, you’ll come to better see how early Christians prioritized their allegiance to the age to come over their local and national allegiances.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This is lecture 9 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 two parts:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. Jewish Messianism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. Roman Allegiance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 politics and religion were not separate realms in antiquity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Other leaders of messianic movements:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Athronges (4 bc)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Judah the Galilean (ad 6)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • the Samaritan Prophet (ad 36)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Theudas (ad 45)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • the Egyptian Prophet (ad 58)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Simon bar Giora (ad 69)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Simon ben Kosiba (ad 132)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 the Roman empire always perceives the leaders of Jewish messianic movements as threats and moves decisively to eliminate them

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I bring up these leaders of messianic and quasi-messianic movements to contextualize Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • he knows what he’s doing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • and he’s smart about it

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Messianic Secret

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • messianic secret: Jesus kept the fact that he claimed to be the messiah a secret
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Jesus had been extremely careful up to this point
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • casting out many demons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. Luke 4.40-41 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.  41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Peter’s Confession (Mark 8.27-30)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. Matthew 16.15-20 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven…20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 until…the Triumphal Entry

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Mark 11. 7-11 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.  9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • three coded actions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. riding the donkey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. waving palm branches
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3. called “Son of David”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Riding the Donkey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 By riding the donkey Jesus provocatively fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy.[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Zechariah 9.9-10 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 100: Kingdom Allegiance (Kingdom of God 9) false no 1:13:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/25/interview-23-bible-lock-screens-with-ryan-maher/ Sun, 25 Jun 2017 19:58:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2015 Are you interested in online ministry?  Would you like to reach more people?  Ryan Maher shares what he’s learned about combining his love for God and graphic design into his bible lock-screen app.  Once Instigram came out, he jumped on board and developed a following that numbers around a million people.  In this interview Maher talks about his journey of faith, how he’s found success in reaching people online, as well as some tips on how to be more effective on social media.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Get more info about Ryan Maher’s bible lock screen app
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Check out his daily encouragement blog at ryanmaher.net
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Subscribe to his podcast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Follow him on twitter @RyanMaher
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ryan-maher.jpg Interview 23: Bible Lock-Screens with Ryan Maher false no 44:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/22/99-the-kingdom-way-kingdom-of-god-8/ Thu, 22 Jun 2017 23:00:36 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2129 How does your belief in the God’s coming kingdom affect your life now? Now that we’ve looked at the kingdom as hope (what we look forward to) and gospel (what we preach to others), we’ll examine how God calls us to embody the kingdom now.  Taking our cue from Jesus’ kingdom-saturated ministry, we’ll see how he enacted the future in the present as a testimony and a taste of what’s to come.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   This is lecture 8 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   three dimensions of the kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. kingdom hope (including, judgment and restoration)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. kingdom gospel (message preached)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3. kingdom way (lifestyle, motivation, allegiance)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Jesus was obsessed w/ the kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • we’ve already established that Jesus was a kingdom preacher
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • that Jesus believed he was messiah—God’s anointed king of the kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • that Jesus chose 12 disciples and promised them 12 thrones in the kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • his parables were all about the kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • parable of the sower: responding to the “word of the kingdom” seed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • parable of the tares & wheat: righteous and wicked grow together until the kingdom age when judgment occurs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • parable of the minas: teaches how to steward what God has given you so as to be rewarded in the kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • parable of the sheep and the goats: treat those in need well so when the son of man sits upon his throne he will grant you entrance to kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • you wanna tell me you can understand Jesus w/o understanding the kingdom?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • he was obsessed with it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • it was his hope, his destiny, his dream, his sermon,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • he gave his life for it (Rev 5.9-10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • he called the kingdom a treasure in a field and a pearl of great price (Mt 13.44-46)—something worth selling everything to get
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • as for priorities, Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6.31-33) (on quiz: in what verse does Jesus tell his disciples to seek first his kingdom?)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • but, he doesn’t stop here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • his whole ministry, including preaching, healing, exorcisms, dinner parties all enacted the kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • I want to look at three incidents
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • his inaugural sermon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • his answer to John’s delegation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • an exorcism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. inaugural sermon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Luke 4.16-21 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.  17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,  18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Isaiah 61.1-11 1 The Spirit of the Lord G]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 99: The Kingdom Way (Kingdom of God 8) false no 1:01:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/18/interview-22-the-21st-century-reformation-j-dan-and-sharon-gill/ Sun, 18 Jun 2017 16:00:52 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2117 J. Dan and Sharon Gill are part of a growing movement of bible students who have concluded that the Father of Jesus is the only true God.  They’re so passionate about this truth that in 2008, they launched their website, called Twenty-First Century Reformation (21stcr.org).  To date they’ve received over 700,000 views on YouT ube, not to mention visitors to the site.  In this interview you’ll here a bit about the Gill’s journey of faith from oneness to one, why they decided to launch 21st century reformation, how Sharon became “the most tech savvy grandma in America,” how they came up with the name, and their vision for the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Visit 21st Century Reformation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Subscribe to 21st Century Reformation’s YouTube channel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Get J. Dan Gill’s book, The One: In Defense of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Also check out these audios, featuring J. Dan Gill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • One God, One Message  (sermon)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Is the Trinity Necessary for Salvation? (interview)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • From Oneness to One (testimony)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/J.-Dan-and-Sharon-Gill.jpg Interview 22: The 21st Century Reformation (J. Dan and Sharon Gill) false no 37:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/15/98-the-gospel-of-the-kingdom-kingdom-of-god-7/ Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:00:39 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2101 What is the gospel of the kingdom of God? It’s not about Jesus dying for your sins or going to heaven when you die. In fact, Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom is not new at all; it’s the message the prophets of old proclaimed–that one day God was going to make everything wrong with the world right and extend his reign from heaven to earth. In this lecture, you’ll see how John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the twelve, the seventy, and Philip the evangelist, and Paul the Apostle all preached about God’s coming kingdom.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     This is lecture 7 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     first off, what is the gospel?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • τό εὐαγγέλιον (to evangelion): good message
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • holding this message results in salvation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1 Corinthians 15.1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you– unless you believed in vain.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 2 Timothy 1.10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Romans 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • thus, getting the gospel wrong is huge!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • since believing in the gospel results in salvation, getting the gospel right is absolutely paramount!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     begin by looking at an interesting incident (why did Jesus rebuke peter?)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Matthew 16.21-23 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”  23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Why in the world did Peter rebuke Jesus?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • he had told him he was going to suffer and die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Why was this so shocking to Peter? Surely he had heard Jesus preaching the gospel!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • note v. 21: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples…”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • this was the first time they heard about it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • how did they react? outrage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • if he didn’t talk about his crucifixion prior to this, what was he preaching for 16 chapters!?!?!?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     John the Baptist preached the kingdom gospel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Matthew 3.1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • what is the “kingdom of heaven?” (same as kingdom of God)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • heaven probably substitutes as a circumlocution for God or else it derives from Dan 2.44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • this OT verse may account for the two phrases (kingdom of heaven AND kingdom of God)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jesus preached the kingdom as gospel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Mark 1.14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospe]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 98: The Gospel of the Kingdom (Kingdom of God 7) false no 45:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/11/interview-21-anthony-buzzard-relentless-herald-of-jesus-gospel-and-creed/ Sun, 11 Jun 2017 16:00:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2040 Sir Anthony Buzzard has led a fascinating life.  He grew up in the Church of England in the 1930s and 40s.  While at Oxford, he attended a “get saved” meeting and went forward.  Next he joined Herbert Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, but then left and studied with the Christadelphians, before joining the Church of God General Conference.  He’s written seven books, publishes a monthly magazine, co-founded the annual Theological Conference, initiated a thriving mission in Africa, trained dozens of current pastors, launched a radio program, and produced nearly a thousand YouTube videos.  He’s tirelessly promoted Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom and the simple truth that the Father is the only true God (biblical unitarianism).  In this interview, you’ll learn about Buzzard’s journey of faith as well as his hopes for the future of the movement.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Visit Sir Anthony Buzzard’s website: focusonthekingdom.org
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Subscribe to Restoration Fellowship’s YouTube channel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out Podcast 71: What Good Is Jesus without His Gospel?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/anthony-buzzard.jpg Interview 21: Anthony Buzzard, Tireless Herald of Jesus’ Gospel and Creed false no 47:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/08/97-the-sleep-of-the-dead-kingdom-of-god-6/ Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2050 What happens when you die? Is there an intermediate state? What does the bible teach about the dead before resurrection? These questions are important for our study of the kingdom of God.  If you go straight to heaven when you die, you’re not going to care very much about what happens when Jesus returns.  You may find it marginally interesting, but it’s what’s next for you.  In this way, the doctrine of heaven-at-death eclipses Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom.  However, as it turns out, the bible teaches that the dead are asleep until the resurrection on the last day.  In this lecture you’ll learn the primary texts that support conditional immortality and you’ll see how this Hebrew notion compares to what other cultures and religions say about the afterlife.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This is lecture 6 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       difference between conditional immortality and natural immortality

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • natural means immortality is part of nature
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • conditional means immortality is conditioned on God giving it

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       death is sleep (sleep = not awake)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • RIP = rest in peace

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       sleep is the dominant metaphor the bible uses to talk about death

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • David slept with his fathers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1 Kings 2.10 10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Solomon slept with his fathers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1 Kings 11.43 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jeroboam slept with his fathers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • 1 Kings 14.20 20 And the time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. And he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • death is lying down, quietly in sleep, and at rest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Job 3.11, 13-14, 17, 19 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?…13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, 14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves…17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest…19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • the dead know nothing and do nothing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Ecclesiastes 9.5, 10 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten…10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • no remembrance or praise of God in sheol
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Psalm 6.4-5 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.  5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • help me or else I’ll sleep the sleep of death
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Psalm 13.3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • the dead do not praise the LORD
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Psalm 115.17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • breath [ruach/spirit] departs, return to earth, plans perish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Psalm 146.3-4 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jesus calls Lazarus asleep when he is dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • John 11.11-14 11 After saying these things, he said to them, R]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 97: The Sleep of the Dead (Kingdom of God 6) false no 53:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/96-nicholas-hlifka-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 22:00:52 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2076 Nicholas Hlifka grew up as an atheist until a Christian teacher shared his faith with him in high school.  While attending the State University of New York at Fredonia, he took a class with Dale Tuggy.  When he found out that Tuggy was a biblical unitarian, he was immediately wary of such a heretical belief.  Over time, he challenged Tuggy, his best trinitarian proof-texts to him.  Tuggy explained the various texts and eventually Hlifka felt compelled to follow the evidence where it was leading.  Next, in an online coversation with Kegan Chandler, he learned about how God plans to establish his kingdom on earth (rather than going to heaven at death).  Once again Hlifka didn’t balk at the challenge, but embraced the biblical teaching.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Nick-Hlifka-e1496371354496.jpg 96: Nicholas Hlifka Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 10:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/95-chad-hoffman-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 21:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2074 After a bad divorce, Chad Hoffman became a Christian.  He attended a number of different churches and something didn’t sit right at each.  In 2006, he was diagnosed with a inoperable tumor on his brain stem.  After some treatment it shrank and grew back.  During this tumultuous time, he started considering what he believed about the afterlife.  He took some seminary courses to get more information and learned about hermeneutics (how to interpret the bible).  Armed with these tools, he began understanding that the bible taught that the dead are asleep until resurrection.  He continued in his studies and discovered more about God’s nature and his coming kingdom.  He still battles cancer, but since this recording a recent mri has revealed this his tumor is currently stable.  Please pray for the Hoffmans as they continue in the walk with the Lord.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Chad-Hoffman-e1496371406745.jpg 95: Chad Hoffman Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 14:44 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/94-carouthers-family-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 20:00:06 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2069 Steve and Phyllis Carouthers have attended many churches throughout their Christian journey.  A couple of years ago Phyllis was researching the gifts of the spirit and came across an article on the Truth or Tradition website and saw that they were biblical unitarians.  Initially she found this quite disturbing as she associated all unitarians with the very liberal Unitarian Universalist denomination.  However, after learning that biblical unitarians actually hold to the inspiration and authority of scripture, she began considering the idea that the Father is the only true God.  She searched around online and began watching the free classes from Living Hope International Ministries.  After much study she came to agree that Jesus is not God the Son, but the Son of God.  She shared this with her step son, Thomas Brewer who had been studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a year.  (He could never quite bring himself to join them because of their opposition to blood transfusions.)  He came to see the light and attended the Theological Conference in 2016.  This year the whole family came.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/carouthers.png 94: Carouthers Family Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 20:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/93-jouke-elsinga-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:00:10 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2065 Even though he grew up in the Calivinist Reformed tradition as a pastor’s kid, Jouke Elsinga was not sure he believed in God’s existence.  After reading Frank Turek’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, he came to believe in God and started searching for apologetics.  He came across my apologetics class on youtube (also available on podcasts 50-65) and deepened his reasons for believing in the bible.  Next he began digging into theology, trying to discern the teachings of the bible.  He came to believe in conditional immortality (the sleep of the dead), but still held to the doctrine of the trinity.  However, after researching a little more he came across the Trinity Delusion website and youtube channel and found the arguments there very convincing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/jouke.jpg 93: Jouke Elsinga Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 11:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/92-danny-tanner-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:00:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2055 Danny Tanner grew up in the Lutheran Church and later got heavily involved with the Brethren in Christ group.  He’s served as a worship pastor, an associate pastor, and an executive pastor.  Currently he’s involved in a church plant.  Over the years he’s questioned his faith, but never let himself dive in deep enough to reconsider his core beliefs.  He didn’t want to give himself permission to reconsider any of them, because he was worried he might end up renouncing his faith.  After hearing about biblical unitarianism from Jeremy Bowders, he began working through his understanding of God and Christ.  The bible starting making sense and coming alive in a fresh way for him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/danny-tanner.jpg 92: Danny Tanner Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 6:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/91-jeremy-bowders-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 17:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2042 While working in a casket factory as an upholsterer, one day Jeremy Bowders reflected on the fact that he would be in one eventually. He began asking the big questions about his life’s purpose. He began reading the bible and became a Christian. In the course of researching open theism, he read an article by William Lane Craig that mentioned Dale Tuggy. He came to trinities.org and began listening to Tuggy’s podcast, specifically episode 6 where a Muslim, a biblical unitarian, and a trinitarian debated Jesus’ identity.  Strangely enough, he found himself agreeing with the biblical unitarian!  According to Bowders, understanding that the Father is the only true God and that Jesus is his human messiah was like finding the decoder ring in a cereal box.  Suddenly the bible made much more sense to him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/bowders-1.jpg 91: Jeremy Bowders Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 13:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/04/90-jonathen-favors-faith-journey-2017-theo-conf/ Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2043 Having overcome his desire to remain in the background, Jonathen Favors boldly shared his testimony of coming to understand who God is.  After a severe football injury, he had a lot of time to spend time with and think about God.  While attending BIOLA University, he had learned that the title “Son of God” is a messianic title, but he didn’t understand how God could be three in one.  He began reading through scripture to discover Jesus’ conception of God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Other faith stories from Theological Conferences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • More information about Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/14242461_10208599378956669_6989652574983385543_o-e1496337605489.jpg 90: Jonathen Favors Faith Journey (2017 Theo. Conf.) false no 10:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/06/01/89-kingdom-in-the-new-testament-kingdom-of-god-5/ Fri, 02 Jun 2017 01:50:02 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2079 Now that we’ve looked at many of the kingdom texts from the Old Testament, today we’ll get into the New Testament and see what Jesus and the apostles taught about the kingdom.  We’ll examine the titles of Jesus, a couple of his parables, some texts from Paul and James, and conclude in Revelation.  In this lecture, we’ll restrict our focus to just those verses that speak of the kingdom as future.  We’ll come back to the other kingdom scriptures in the New Testament in subsequent lectures.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           This is lecture 5 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           My goal is to cruise through the New Testament and look at texts pertaining to the coming kingdom (Matthew to Revelation)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           defining Messiah/Christ: the one God anoints to rule over the kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Mark 15.32 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           defining Son of Man: the one Daniel saw in a vision to whom God gave the kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Daniel 7.13-14 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.  14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           defining Son of David: the promised descendant to rule on the throne of David forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • triumphal entry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Matthew 21.9 “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Mark 11.9-10 “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Luke 19.38 “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • John 12.13 “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           defining Son of God: same as God’s messiah (2 Sam 7.14) and God’s creation (Luke 1)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • John 1.49 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Luke 1.35 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy– the Son of God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Jesus clearly believed in a coming (future) kingdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Matthew 5.3-5 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • “kingdom of heaven” is only in Matthew (32x) and is identical to “kingdom of God” cf. Mat 19.23 vs. 24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • this is as powerful as it is terse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • bottom line: if you inherit the earth, you aren’t floating around in heaven

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           They [the meek] show by every word and gesture that they do not belong to this earth.  Leave heaven to them, says the world in its pity, that is where they belong.  But Jesus says: “They shall inherit the earth.”  To these, the powerless and the disenfranchised, the very earth belongs.  Those who now possess it by violence and injustice shall lose it, and those who here have utterly renounced it, who ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 89: Kingdom in the New Testament (Kingdom of God 5) false no 1:09:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/28/88-restorationist-manifesto/ Sun, 28 May 2017 16:00:49 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2019 Simply put, restorationism is the approach to Christianity that seeks to compare accepted doctrines and practices against the bible to see if they are valid.  Our intention is to recover authentic New Testament Christianity and live it out today.  We hold God’s inspired scriptures above traditions, creeds, and clergy.  The time is ripe for us to reach over denominational lines and dialogue with each other about our differences in a respectful and constructive manner.  We are restorationists and this is our manifesto. Read the Restorationist Manifesto.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Here’s the full-length YouTube presentation:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Read the Restorationist Manifesto here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/manifesto-1.png 88: Restorationist Manifesto false no 49:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/25/87-kingdom-in-the-prophets-kingdom-of-god-4/ Fri, 26 May 2017 00:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=2016 Last time we looked at the kingdom prophecies in Isaiah.  Today we’ll examine Amos, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, and Daniel to continue developing a biblical picture of the age to come.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           This is lecture 4 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           We’ve already looked at God’s promises to Abraham and David as well as the richest kingdom book of the bible—Isaiah.  Now we will examine several other key prophecies and psalms.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Amos 9.11-15

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the LORD who does this.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • restoration of Davidic throne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • what does it mean, “the plowman will overtake the reaper?”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • look at how tactile this kingdom vision is!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • plowing, reaping, treading grapes, wine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • how far is this from floating on a cloud or “polishing rainbows”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • rebuilding the cities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • enjoying the produce of the land

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Micah 4.6-8

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Micah 4.6-8 6 In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; 7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.  8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • lame, outcasts, afflicted will live in Mount Zion w/ God forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Zephaniah 3.8-20

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • does anyone remember the catch phrase from last lecture that encapsulates the kingdom?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • everything wrong with the world made right
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • part of what’s wrong with the world is human rebellion and wickedness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • two sides to the kingdom coin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • judgment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • restoration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • many of the majestic kingdom restoration passages come after macabre judgment prophesies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • 7 Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. 8 And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice– “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.  9 On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud. ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 87: Kingdom in the Prophets (Kingdom of God 4) false no 58:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/21/interview-20-how-to-quit-pornography-blake-cortright/ Sun, 21 May 2017 16:00:54 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1996 Let’s face it; it’s difficult to talk about pornography, especially among Christians.  We get overwhelmed with feelings of shame and embarrassment while fearing how others will regard us with disgust or disdain.  However, this issue is a huge struggle for a ton of Christians (and non-Christians) in the world today.  Drawing on some of what he shared last week about spiritual disciplines, Blake Cortright joins us once again to tackle this sensitive topic.  He explains why porn is so hard to quit as well as reasons why it’s worth it to gain freedom from this taskmaster.  In a remarkable display of courage and honesty, Cortright also shares his own 10+ year struggle with pornography and what measures he took that finally liberated him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Warning, if children are around, although we do not discuss any graphic content, the general topic is probably inappropriate, depending on the ages.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Follow Blake Cortright on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Check out Interview 19: Spiritual Disciplines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/how-to-quit-porn.jpg Interview 20: How To Quit Pornography (Blake Cortright) false no 56:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/17/86-kingdom-in-isaiah-kingdom-of-god-3/ Wed, 17 May 2017 23:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1944 The prophet Isaiah spoke more about the kingdom than any other prophet in the Hebrew bible. Consequently, his book is a phenomenal place to begin developing our understanding of what the kingdom will be like.  Stitching together his various snapshots, we encounter a magnificent collage detailing a new world full of peace, justice, and healing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             This is lecture 3 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             God will make everything wrong with the world right.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 2.1-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • all nations will go to God’s mountain to learn how to live
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God will settle disputes between nations and peoples
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • weapons of war will turn into tools of agriculture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • no more learning or waging war

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 9.2-7

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • human child will shoulder the government
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • no end to the increase of his government
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will reign on the throne of David
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • uphold kingdom with justice forever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Yahweh’s zeal will get this done

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 11.1-10

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • the spirit of God will rest upon the king
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • his delight will be in the fear of Yahweh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he won’t judge by eyes and ears
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will make just decisions for the poor and meek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • with the “rod of his mouth” and “the breath of his lips” he will kill the wicked
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will be righteous and faithful
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • animals will live in peace w/ each other and humanity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • no one will hurt or destroy in God’s holy mountain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as waters cover the sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • the nations will inquire of the “root of Jesse”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 25.6-9

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • reach feast of well-aged wine and choice meats
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will swallow up death forever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • the Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from all faces
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will wipe away the reproach of his people from the earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • people will be glad and rejoice in his salvation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 35.1-10

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • desert will blossom abundantly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • they will see the glory and majesty of our God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God will come with vengeance and recompense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he will come and save you
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • the disabled will find healing (blind, deaf, lame, mute)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • singing and “everlasting joy” coming to Zion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • sorrow and sighing will flee away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 51.3-8

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God will make Zion’s waste places like Eden, the garden of Yahweh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • thanksgiving and voice of song will be found in Zion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God’s salvation and righteousness will be forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 60.1-22

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • wealth of the nations will come to Jerusalem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • foreigners will build up Jerusalem’s walls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Jerusalem’s gates will be open continually (24/7)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • any nation that refuses to serve Jerusalem will perish, utterly laid waste
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Yahweh will be Jerusalem’s everlasting light instead of the sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • all the people will be righteous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • they will possess the land forever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • all so God might be glorified

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 61.1-7

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • good news to the poor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • liberty to the captives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • comfort those who mourn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • call people oaks of righteousness to God’s glory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • repair ruined cities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • strangers/foreigners will tend flocks and work land
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • you will be priests of Yahweh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • possess a double portion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Isaiah 65.17-25

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • create new heavens and earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God will rejoice in Jerusalem and his people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • no more will people hear the sound of weeping or the cry of distress
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • mortals will live very long lives (no more infant deaths)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 86: Kingdom in Isaiah (Kingdom of God 3) false no 49:35 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/14/interview-19-spiritual-disciplines-blake-cortright/ Sun, 14 May 2017 16:00:35 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1868 What spiritual disciplines do you practice?  We’re all familiar with reading our bibles and prayer, but there’s so much more available.  In this interview, Blake Cortright guides us through his own journey into discovering ancient Christian disciplines that can help us today, including prayer, fasting, meditation, bible study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.  Pulling on the work of Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, Dallas Willard, and John Eldredge, Cortright shares how these spiritual disciplines can help center us and sanctify us so we can live for God better today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Follow Blake Cortright on Twitter @blakecortright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Books mentioned in this podcast: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen, Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Watch the epic “Trinity Schminity” song by Winterband here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • More on Dale Tuggy vs. James White here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/blake-cortright-1-e1494511069588.jpg Interview 19: Spiritual Disciplines (Blake Cortright) false no 47:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/11/85-kingdom-covenants-kingdom-of-god-2/ Thu, 11 May 2017 23:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1933 It’s impossible to understand the kingdom of God or Jesus without having a grasp of the history-changing promises God made with Abraham and David.  To Abraham God covenanted the land and to David, a descendant to rule.  Ultimately these two covenants find their fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth–the Messiah.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             This is lecture 2 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             defining a covenant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • בְּרִית: agreement, alliance, covenant, pact
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • The brit milah (Hebrew: בְּרִית מִילָה‎‎, pronounced [bʁit miˈla]; Ashkenazi pronunciation: [bʁis ˈmilə], “covenant of circumcision”; Yiddish pronunciation: bris [bʀɪs]) is a Jewish religious male circumcision ceremony performed by a mohel (“circumciser”) on the eighth day of a male infant’s life. (Wikipedia)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • ἡ διαθήκη: a will, covenant, contract
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Καινή Διαθήκη: new testament
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • where do we have covenants in our society?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • marriage, homeowner associations, airports

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Abraham (Land Promise)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Gen 12.1-4: the pre-covenant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • move to this land and I will
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • bless you
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • make your name great
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • bless those who bless you and curse those who dishonor you
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • all families of earth will be blessed in you

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Gen 12.5-7

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.  7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Abram obeyed: this is the key to everything
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • v7 is the first land promise

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Gen 17.1-12, 23-27: the blood covenant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”  3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,  4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.  5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Abram gets renamed Abraham (a father of a multitude of nations)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • ironic that the first Hebrew is “the father of many peoples”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • v7 everlasting covenant!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 85: Kingdom Covenants (Kingdom of God 2) false no 1:08:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/07/off-script-29-dealing-with-doubt/ Sun, 07 May 2017 16:00:58 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1931 What role does doubt play in your life?  Do you think of it as something to push aside and ignore or do you pursue your doubts to get answers?  In this episode we examine the role of doubt for Christians, avoiding both extremes of refusing to engage with doubt as well as obsessing on it.  Our goal is to face doubt honestly and ask God for help as we do the hard work of getting good answers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • See Sean Kelly’s Off Script on Resting from Work
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Apologetics Class podcast episodes (on Restitutio)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Releveant.com articles on doubt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Unbelievable podcast with Justin Brierley
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • William Lane Craig’s apologetics site: ReasonableFaith.org
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Craig Blomberg’s Historical Reliability of the Gospels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Tim Keller’s book Reasons for God and Making Sense of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/doubt1.jpg Off Script 29: Dealing with Doubt false no 43:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/05/04/84-kingdom-restoration-kingdom-of-god-1/ Thu, 04 May 2017 23:00:47 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1917 Today we begin a new class on Restitutio on the Kingdom of God. Jesus said the kingdom was like a treasure hidden in a field—it’s so valuable it’s worth selling everything to purchase. He said to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness above what we eat or wear. In this class we’ll spend a great deal of time exploring what the bible teaches about the kingdom, including hope, gospel, and way. We will also work through the main reasons why Christianity lost the kingdom before looking at how some Christians recovered it. This class will not only provide a panoramic and nuanced view of the kingdom, but it will also offer a cohesive proleptic ethic to aid navigating our complex world while remaining true to Jesus, the king of the coming kingdom.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               In this first lecture we look at the bookends of the bible: Genesis and Revelation. By developing a robust creation theology we’ll have a better grasp on what the end will be like. In addition to looking at Genesis, we’ll consider some of the marvels of God’s creation, including relativity, quantum theory, the hydrologic cycle, and bees. In the end my goal is to convince you that God did a good job making our world so it makes sense that he would want to restore it in the end.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               This is lecture 1 of the Kingdom of God class, originally taught at the Atlanta Bible College.  To take this class for credit, please contact ABC so you can do the work necessary for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               eschatology = study of the end

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               two key restoration texts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1. Matthew 19.28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • ἡ παλιγγενεσία: (1) state of being renewed with focus on a cosmic experience, renewal, (2) experience of complete change of life, rebirth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • NASB: regeneration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               2. Acts 3.21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • ἡ ἀποκατάστασις: restoration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • this is what the whole bible is about!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               creation theology

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • close your eyes and picture earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • ever since 1972 when an astronaut took this picture, called “The Blue Marble” during the Apollo 17 lunar mission, this is how we think of earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • if I asked an ancient Israelite to picture earth, they would think of soil, land, crops
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • so, we have to be very careful about reading our own assumptions into what the bible says
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • we need to adjust our thinking to the bible rather than the other way around
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • the first book of the bible begins with a poem, detailing God’s creation of universe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Genesis 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • what repeats?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • And God said
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • let there be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • and God saw that it was good
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • and there was evening and there was morning—the ?? day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • every stanza begins with, “And God said” and “let there be”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • every stanza ends with, “and God saw that it was good” and “it was evening and morning”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • more patterns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God creates heavens on day 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God populates heavens on day 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God creates the waters on day 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God populates waters on day 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God creates the land on day 3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God populates the land on day 6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • orderliness of creation!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • billions of stars, galaxies, and quasars and they move in totally predictable ways
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • millions of plant and animal species w/ highly specialized niches determined by insanely detai]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crown3.png 84: Kingdom Restoration (Kingdom of God 1) false no 51:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/30/off-script-28-seeking-a-christian-view-on-refugees-and-immigrants/ Sun, 30 Apr 2017 16:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1918

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Christians protecting Muslims while they prayed in Tahrir Square, Egypt in 2011

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   On January 27, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13769, called “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” in which he banned immigration from seven countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.  This unpopular order caused much controversy throughout the US and led to significant litigation, delaying it’s implementation.  Much of the president’s motivation for this order (and subsequent revisions) is to protect Americans from terrorists posing as refugees.  In this episode we look at few significant biblical passages on sojourners (immigrants) and attempt to stake out a Christian position on this subject.  Whether you are for or against immigration, this episode should help you think through your position from a distinctly Christian perspective.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 99% Invisible podcast on the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s: podcast 1, podcast 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Washington Post article: ‘Now they live in the light’: A Syrian refugee family finds only love and compassion in America
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • “World Poverty, Immigration, & Gumballs” by Roy Beck visually demonstrates how immigration cannot solve world poverty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Jeff Palmer, executive director of Baptist Global Response: “Caring for Refugees from the Middle East” (interview with Darrell Bock on The Table Podcast)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Info about Stan and Pam Chee’s ministry to Chinese students at the University of Toronto
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Christians-protecting-Muslims-in-Tahrir-Square-2011..jpg Off Script 28: Seeking a Christian View on Refugees and Immigrants false no 55:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/27/podcast-83-questions-about-gay-and-lesbian-christians/ Thu, 27 Apr 2017 23:00:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1911 In the last episode (Boundaries for Same-Sex Attraction), we looked at what the bible says about same-sex attraction.  In this one, we consider seven important questions about gay and lesbian Christians:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. How should same-sex attracted Christians think of themselves?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. Isn’t the Christian sexual ethic harmful to gays and lesbians?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3. Is having same-sex feelings a sin?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   4. Can someone go from gay to straight?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   5. Do people choose to be gay or are they born gay?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   6. As a Christian, how should I treat gay people?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   7. How can we support same-sex attracted folks who choose Christ over their sexual gratification?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Becket Cook’s podcast, YouTube talk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Sam Allberry’s book: Is God Anti-Gay?, website: LivingOut.org
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Rosaria Butterfield’s book: Secretly Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Jackie Hill-Perry podcast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Mark Yarhouse’s book: Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church’s Moral Debate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Wesley Hill: Celibacy as a Call to Love (YouTube)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Becket Cook’s story can help us think through some really tough questions related to same-sex attraction.[1]  Our culture pressures us through songs, movies, and stories about finding romance to believe singleness is inferior to relationships.  It’s easy to get the impression that to achieve human flourishing and experience humanity to its fullest, you need to get married (or at least be in a serious relationship).  What does that say about Jesus?  Are we saying he wasn’t a full human being?  Did Christ mope around, longing for romance?  Did the great missionary Paul think singleness was a curse?  Far from it, he wrote, “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am” (1 Cor 7.8).  He goes on to extol the benefits of celibate singleness, including freedom from worrying about how to please a spouse and freedom to serve the Lord better.  He concludes, “So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better…Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is [i.e. single]” (1 Cor 7:38, 40).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Question 1: How should same-sex attracted Christians think of themselves?  Sam Allberry, author of Is God Anti-Gay, an excellent book, writes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The gospel of Jesus is wonderful news for someone who experiences same-sex attraction.  I used the term “same-sex attraction” just then because an immediate challenge is how I describe myself.  In western culture today the obvious term for someone with homosexual feelings is “gay.”  But in my experience this often refers to far more than someone’s sexual orientation.  It has come to describe an identity and a lifestyle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   When someone says they’re g]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/rainbow-cross.jpg Podcast 83: Questions about Gay and Lesbian Christians false no 38:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/23/podcast-82-biblical-boundaries-for-same-sex-attraction/ Sun, 23 Apr 2017 16:00:23 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1892 Is it a sin to be gay? What does the bible say about same-sex attraction? In this episode you’ll become familiar with the relevant scriptures that talk about homosexuality. You’ll also learn what arsenokoitai (ἀρσενοκοῖται) means in 1 Corinthians 6.9, a key battleground text for discussions of biblical sexuality. Here the Apostle Paul pulls from the Greek translation of Leviticus 20.13 as well as Roman sexual sensibilities to condemn both active and passive participants of same-sex acts.  Whether you believe in accepting gay lifestyles or think homosexual behavior is sinful, it’s important to get a grasp on what the bible says about this incredibly controversial subject.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Creation provides the foundation for what the bible says about human sexuality:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Genesis 2:23-24 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”  24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   God’s original design was a man and a woman, complementing each other in marriage.  However, when our first parents rebelled, humanity fell from its original condition.  The serpent asked, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” (Gen 3:1).  After Eve confirmed God’s restriction not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the serpent said, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3.5).  He wanted the first people to distrust God, to think he’s holding them back, to imagine he’s restricting them from enjoying something good.  As a result Adam and Eve committed high treason against their maker in an act of open rebellion.  Consequently “fallenness” contaminated them and their descendants ever since.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Romans 5.12, 17, 18, 19 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…17 because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man… 18 one trespass led to condemnation for all men…19 by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Today we are imperfect mirrors stamped with God’s image, but broken in all kinds of ways.  Some of us are tempted with losing our tempers, others with adultery, still others with greed.  Our fallen condition means that from birth we are out of tune with how God wants for us to think and live.  Of course, redemption is available in Christ today and ultimately complete restoration will flood our world when the kingdom comes, healing everyone from sinful impulses, physical sickness, and relational dysfunction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Although the incident in Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19) is the first mention of same-sex desire, it’s not particularly helpful for figuring out the bible’s position on homosexuality, since the men of the city wanted to rape the visitors.  (Rape, of course, is condemned throughout scripture.)  Instead, we’ll begin in the Law of Moses with two texts in Leviticus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Leviticus 18.22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   abomination: something that causes disgust or hatred.  Example: “Although once common, torture is now an abomination to the civilized peoples of the earth.”[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Lest you think abomination is a radical word, solely used for sexual acts, here are some other abominations in scripture:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews (Gen 43:32)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • the gold and silver on idols (Deut 7:25)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • child sacrifice (Deut 12:31)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • eating unclean animals (Deut 14:3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • practicing magic or sorcery (Deut 18:9-10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • prideful eyes, lying, shedding innocent blood, devising]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/homosexual-sin.jpeg Podcast 82: Biblical Boundaries for Same-Sex Attraction false no 35:08 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/20/podcast-81-my-life-as-a-stud-jackie-hill-perry/ Thu, 20 Apr 2017 22:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1889 Jackie Hill-Perry used to dress like a boy to go out and pick up girls. She ended up in a long-term relationship with another woman, but then she came to a sudden realization that she was living a lie. She’s completely changed her life and now embraces her femininity and even got married to a man (Preston Perry). She’s a poet, a hip-hop artist, and a powerful speaker.  This is her testimony.  Warning! This episode contains sexually explicit content and is not appropriate for children.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch”My Life as a Stud” on YouTube here and here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Listen to “The Art of Joy” album here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Also, see a powerful piece about the conversation Adam and Eve may have had after the Fall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Visit Jackie Hill-Perry’s official website at jackiehillperry.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • More Restitutio posts about same-sex attraction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Jackie-Hill-Perry.jpg Podcast 81: My Life as a Stud (Jackie Hill-Perry) false no 17:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/16/interview-18-god-woos-fashion-set-designer-from-gay-lifestyle-becket-cook/ Sun, 16 Apr 2017 16:00:37 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1861 Meet Becket Cook.  He’s a very well-connected gay fashion set designer who has traveled the world, attended the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, etc., and rubbed shoulders with Hollywood’s A-list actors.  One day he saw Christians reading their bibles in a trendy coffee shop in LA and engaged them in conversation.  One of them invited Cook to church and he went to check it out.  That Sunday God encountered him in a spectacular way that instantaneously changed his life from that day forward.  God gave him a vision of his holiness and in a moment Cook knew that God was real, Jesus was real, eternal life was real and that homosexuality was wrong.  In addition to his testimony, I ask him what questions he gets asked, including:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Can you be a Christian if you’re gay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Isn’t it unfair that you don’t get to have a partner for the rest of your life?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. Are you straight now that you’re a Christian?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. Are people born gay?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Cook answers these questions confidently and biblically.  Throughout this interview his enthusiasm for God and life will draw you in.  Even though his conversion was nearly eight years ago, Cook says he wakes up every day “in awe of God and his holiness and his grace on me.” He’s just about to finish up his seminary degree at BIOLA (Talbot), working with JP Moreland and others.  His goal is to develop a ministry that helps the church understand homosexuality biblically, theologically, culturally, and personally.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To get in touch with Cook or to book him to speak at your church or event, visit becketcook.com or email him becket@becketcook.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch his excellent talk at BIOLA from 2014 on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out these other Restitutio posts on Christians who struggle with same sex attraction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Also, watch these YouTube testimonies about Christians who’ve left the gay/lesbian lifestyle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Rosaria Butterfield
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Christopher Yuan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jackie Hill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Wesley Hill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Sam Allberry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Caleb Kaltenbach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/becket-cook.jpg Interview 18: God Woos Fashion Set Designer from Gay Lifestyle (Becket Cook) false no 59:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/13/podcast-80-resurrection-people-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 13 Apr 2017 22:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1851 The best chapter on resurrection in the bible is 1 Corinthians 15. In it, the Apostle Paul masterfully lays out the Christian position on resurrection while overcoming common objections in the culture. As it turns out, people living in Corinth thought the idea of resurrection seemed real bizarre.  Looking at tombstone inscriptions, Plato’s Phaedo, and Celsus’ criticism of Christianity, we can get a sense for why the Corinthians balked at resurrection.  However, there’s no way around it; if we get rid of our belief in resurrection, then Jesus himself is not raised and our faith is worthless.  But, since Jesus is risen, we know that resurrection is possible and it awaits God’s people on the last day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • More episodes on resurrection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Podcast 56: Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus (William Lane Craig)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Podcast 57: More Evidence for the Resurrection (NT Wright)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Podcast 47: Resurrection Implications (Richard Hays)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/resurrection.jpg Podcast 80: Resurrection People (Sean Finnegan) false no 52:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/09/interview-17-will-all-israel-be-saved-matthew-elton/ Sun, 09 Apr 2017 16:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1839 How does salvation work?  Is Israel still God’s chosen people or are they on the same footing as everyone else now that the Messiah has come?  In Off Script episode 17, Is Jesus the Only Way to God?, Brian wrote in, inquiring if a Torah-observant Jew could be saved even if he or she didn’t believe in Jesus.  He sharpened his question by pointing out how painfully aware many Jews are of how Jesus’ followers have horribly mistreated their people over the centuries. In this interview, Matthew Elton deftly works his way through several of Paul’s epistles, giving special attention to Romans 9 to find an answer.  Whether you are interested in Jewish-Christian relations or struggle to understand the doctrine of election, this bible-heavy interview is sure to stimulate your thinking on these important issues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Off Script 17: Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Listen to another interview with Elton called Churchology vs. Christianity from way back when he was still in high school.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Visit here to read a number of Elton’s theological articles, especially the one called “A Free Will Perspective on Romans 9 and Predestination“
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/matthew-elton-e1491574670366.jpg Interview 17: Will All Israel Be Saved? (Matthew Elton) false no 1:05:32 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/06/podcast-79-proud-of-our-god-victor-gluckin/ Thu, 06 Apr 2017 22:00:26 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1763 Are you embarrassed of your non-traditional beliefs about God? Victor Gluckin says that it’s time to stand up for what we believe. Believing God is one (instead of three-in-one) is not some sort of fringe doctrine; it’s at the very heart of biblical faith. After all, Jesus himself identified the Jewish “shema” as the most important command.  He said:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12.29-30 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Knowing that Yahweh our God is one and loving him (not them) with everything is paramount for authentic Christ-centered Christianity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Drawing on the examples of the prophets of old, Michael Servetus, and John Biddle, Gluckin urges us to boldness:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “The testimony of scripture to the proclamation of the identity and personality of Yahweh is clear and consistent…Yet today many believers in the unity of God remain silent, afraid and ashamed. My brothers and sisters, things should not be this way. Our God and our Lord deserve more from their followers.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Here’s the paper that accompanied Gluckin’s presentation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch Gluckin’s sermons on YouTube or visit his church website: Living Faith Christian Church (Warwick, RI, USA)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For another rousing appeal to proclaiming God’s oneness, see Podcast 43: Identity Theft (Vince Finnegan)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To learn more about the Shema, listen to Podcast 44: The Immutable Shema (Sean Finnegan)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out more biblical unitarian podcasts here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/victor-gluckin-e1491486690115.jpg Podcast 79: Proud of Our God (Victor Gluckin) false no 59:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/04/02/interview-16-church-of-god-vision-seth-ross/ Sun, 02 Apr 2017 16:00:46 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1614 Back in Interview 11, Joe Martin talked about how he was soon to step down from his leadership position at the Church of God (General Conference).  In this episode, you’ll hear from Seth Ross, who has taken up the mantle and who casts his vision for the future.  You’ll learn about his background, his twenty years pastoring a church in Ohio, and how he came to be the executive director.  What I found particularly refreshing about Ross’ outlook is how non-sectarian he is.  Rather than looking at the Church of God as a denomination to be protected from hostile secularists, on the one hand, and heresy hunting evangelicals, on the other, he sees his role as a cheerleader and facilitator not only for his network of churches, but also individuals far and wide who are studying the bible and coming to discover God’s identity, the kingdom gospel, conditional immortality, and believers’ baptism.  Whether you are a member of the Church of God or not, this interview should get you excited about the future of what God’s doing in the world in our time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Participate in the Christian Workers’ Seminar in Pigeon Forge, TN on April 23-28, 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Come to the Theological Conference in Hampton, GA on May 18-21, 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Here’s a list of churches affiliated with the Church of God General Conference in the United States and Canada (see here for other countries).  Please note that there are several groups with the name “Church of God.”  To find out about Ross’ group, visit coggc.org
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Contact Robin Todd on the Worldwide Scattered Brethren Network to see he can connect you with someone in your area
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Get more information about Eric Chang and the Christian Disciples Church (mostly in Asia)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Interview 11: Joe Martin, Looking Back on His Service at the Atlanta Bible College
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Seth-Ross.jpg Interview 16: Church of God Vision (Seth Ross) false no 54:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/30/podcast-78-the-insidious-danger-of-self-righteousness-sean-finnegan/ Thu, 30 Mar 2017 22:00:52 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1761 No one joined the Pharisees out of desire to practice professional hypocrisy. They were the devout, the separated, the ones who took God and holiness seriously. However, by the time of Jesus, they had confused godliness with self-righteousness and lost compassion in the process. It’s so easy for us to root for Jesus as he calls them on their hypocrisy. Nonetheless, this same attitude–thinking we’re better than others–is not just a Pharisee problem. When we look within our own hearts, we see our own self-righteousness masking itself as moral outrage. What’s the cure? The way to heal a judgmental heart is with the medicine of grace and humility.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Quotes from This Episode

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Dale Tuggy:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “God would rather have ten humble Trinitarians that are trying to follow Jesus every day, and act his teachings in their daily lives, he’d rather have ten of those guys than one constantly battling and self-righteous, angry, condemning, doctrine-obsessed unitarian, who’s got the correct theology. So…don’t be that guy. If we’re that guy, the movement’s doomed.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Frederick Douglass:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “I find, since reading over the foregoing Narrative, that I have, in several instances, spoken in such a tone and manner, respecting religion, as may possibly lead those unacquainted with my religious views to suppose me an opponent of all religion. To remove the liability of such misapprehension, I deem it proper to append the following brief explanation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference—so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slave-holding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of “stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in.” I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show, together with the horrible inconsistencies, which everywhere surround me.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who wields the blood-clotted cow skin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus. The man who robs me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of life, and the path of salvation. He who sells my sister, for purposes of prostitution, stands forth as the pious advocate of purity. He who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Christianity of America is a Christianity, of whose votaries it may be as truly said, as it was of the ancient scribes and Pharisees, “They bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides! which s]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/high-horse.jpg Podcast 78: The Insidious Danger of Self-Righteousness (Sean Finnegan) false no 52:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/26/off-script-27-worshiping-god/ Sun, 26 Mar 2017 16:00:35 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1720 Now that we’ve worked through several counterfeit gods, including love, money, success, and power, it’s time to dig in a little deeper.  Do you understand your own heart?  Can you discern where you are tempted to idolize something or someone?  In order to figure this out, ask yourself these four questions:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. What do you daydream about?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. What do you spend your money on?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. What happens when you don’t get an answer to prayer?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. What instigates the most uncontrollable emotions within you?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Asking these kinds of questions can help you discover your own counterfeit gods.  However, even once you’ve identified and uprooted them, you still have to put God on the throne.  One of the best ways to do this is to recognize the incredible worth and value of God.  To that end, here are ten reasons why God is is worthy of worship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     10 Reasons Why God Is Awesome

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. Creation (dna, clouds, gravity)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. God calls the underdog (Saul, Esther, Mary Magdalene, Peter)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. The cross shows God’s love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. In the resurrection God defeats death
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. When the kingdom comes, he plans to make everything wrong with the world right
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     6. God’s love, compassion, grace (kings of Judah)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     7. Justice, wrath
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     8. Power (10 plagues)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     9. His eye is on the sparrow (Matthew 10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     10. Forgiveness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ultimately, we need to cultivate our relationship with God.  Worshiping him takes work and diligence, but it is grounded in God’s unfathomable love shown to us through the cross.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Episodes in this series on Counterfeit Gods:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Worshiping Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4. Worshiping Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Worshiping God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Kim Walker’s exhortation in the middle of this song on YouTube.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For an excellent overview of this topic, listen to Tim Keller’s talk on Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To purchase the book this series is based on by Tim Keller, go here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/worshiping-God.jpg Off Script 27: Worshiping God false no 45:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/23/podcast-77-god-is-enough/ Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:00:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1732 Covetousness, self-reliance, and envy can rob us of gratitude and contentedness.  So much of our world programs us to feel restless, entitled, and discontent regarding our possessions, how we look, our work, and our relationships.  Have you ever asked yourself, “How much is enough?”  Taking his cue from the Apostle Paul, John Cortright shares the secret of being content: recognizing that what God has done through Christ is already enough.  In the end, Cortright concludes based on Psalm 73, that God is his chief good, his portion, his refuge, therefore, come what may, God is enough!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Psalm 73.25-28 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all your works.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • More podcasts with John Cortright on Restitutio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Living Hope sermon archive for John Cortright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Listen to Off Script 6: Consumerism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Off Script 24: Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/is-god-enough.jpg Podcast 77: God Is Enough (John Cortright) false no 49:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/19/off-script-26-worshiping-power/ Sun, 19 Mar 2017 16:00:11 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1711 The 19th century philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, believed that our desire for success, money, or love really went back to our “will to power.”  Whereas other philosophies focused on calibrating our internal state to accept reality, Nietzsche focused more on conforming reality to our desires.  Although it’s terribly out of fashion to admit one desires and pursues power, this counterfeit god is alive and well.  We can get so involved with a political party, a social justice issue, or advocating some cause that we begin to live for it rather than God.  We seek to make the world better and this often takes heroic sacrifice and commitment, which, in turn, can easily lead to removing God from the throne of our hearts and even defying how he says to live in the process.  The solution is not to divest ourselves of power, but to submit our wills to God.  Humility is the way God can redeem our influence for his purposes.  In his earthly ministry, Jesus was powerful, but he did not let it go to his head; instead, he constantly recognized that God was the source of his words and works.  In the end, God exalted Jesus, bestowing on him a name that is above everyone else.  This is our example.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Episodes in this series on Counterfeit Gods:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Worshiping Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4. Worshiping Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Worshiping God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Off Script 16: Christians Discussing Politics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For an excellent overview of this topic, listen to Tim Keller’s talk on Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To purchase the book this series is based on by Tim Keller, go here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/power-fist.png Off Script 26: Worshiping Power false no 34:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/16/podcast-76-the-real-st-patrick/ Thu, 16 Mar 2017 22:00:52 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1699 Saint Patrick is one of the most courageous missionaries of Christian history. Although revelers mark his day with debauchery and drunkenness, he pursued holiness and risked his life to preach to the Irish barbarians. He held out to the ancient Irish tribes a promise of protection from their gods and demons, if only they would come to Christ. Not only is he an example of virtue and courage, he also shows how far forgiving and loving our enemies can go. After patiently waiting for years for his non-missionary-minded church to send him, he got to preach to the very people who had kidnapped and enslaved him as a teenager.  Learn who the real St. Patrick was and how his life can inspire you to live for Christ in our post-Christian society today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Sources I used for research on Saint Patrick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Let Me Die in Ireland by David Bercot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Confessio by St. Patrick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/st-patrick.jpg Podcast 76: The Real St. Patrick (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/12/off-script-25-worshiping-success/ Sun, 12 Mar 2017 16:00:37 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1686 Everyone enjoys accomplishment and achievement, but what happens when we take success and make it our ultimate goal in life?  When you reach the pinnacle of success in any field, it’s easy to get depressed, asking yourself, “Is this all there is?”  Furthermore, you may begin to fear that you won’t be able to maintain your position as other star-eyed would-be achievers are climbing to the top in an effort to push you off.  How can we guard against worshiping the counterfeit god of success without settling into complacency or laziness?  In this episode we answer this question by embracing the goodness and joy of achievement while recognizing that our ultimate worth comes from God’s gracious offer of love, demonstrated on the cross of his dear Son.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Episodes in this series on Counterfeit Gods:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Worshiping Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4. Worshiping Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Worshiping God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch David Foster Wallace’s entire commencement speech
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For an excellent overview of this topic, listen to Tim Keller’s talk on Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To purchase the book this series is based on by Tim Keller, go here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/success.jpg Off Script 25: Worshiping Success false no 45:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/09/podcast-75-heretic-4-approaches-to-dropping-h-bombs-dale-tuggy/ Thu, 09 Mar 2017 23:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1675 The history of Christianity can sometimes be really depressing, especially when we look at the “heresy hunters.” From Justin Martyr and Irenaues in the second century to Athanasius and Epiphanius of the fourth century, as Christians we progressively came to define ourselves on the basis of what we don’t believe.  As a result, so much energy focused on precisely defining and policing the boundaries of orthodox doctrine.  This tendency continued to develop throughout the middle ages, culminating with the Catholic Inquisition in Spain where the church interrogated, tortured, and executed “heretics” (typically Jews who had been forcibly converted to Catholicism).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     In the sixteenth century, even Protestants executed heretics like the founders of the Anabaptists and Michael Servetus.  Thankfully, the world has changed so much from the days when one could be executed for thought crimes.  However, especially with the advent of the internet, the heresy-hunting impulse is alive and well within Christianity.  Across countless blogs, chatrooms, and youtube channels, self-appointed orthodox defenders continue to bully and blackball other honest-hearted Christians for their unwillingness to accept their list of essential doctrines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     In this eye-opening talk, Dr. Dale Tuggy discusses four approaches to heresy, including (1) Catholic, (2) Protestant, (3) “free” Protestant, and (4) apostolic.  He argues that there is such a thing as heresy, and we should take it seriously, but it has a lot more to do with divisiveness than doctrinal errors.  Ironically, the heresy-hunters are the ones guilty of causing αἵρεσεις (factions) in the body of Christ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Find out more about professor Tuggy at his website and subscribe to his excellent podcast in iTunes or via RSS or check out his YouTube channel.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Here’s a transcript of this talk (pdf)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch the full video of this talk (posted by 21st Century Reformation)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch Tuggy’s screencast version of this presentation (includes slides)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For information about this year’s Theological Conference, including to register, go here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/heresy-detected.jpg Podcast 75: Heretic! 4 Approaches to Dropping H-Bombs (Dale Tuggy) false no 52:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/05/off-script-24-worshiping-money/ Sun, 05 Mar 2017 17:00:59 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1660 I bet you don’t think you struggle with greed. In fact, I’ve never met anyone who told me this was a problem for him or her. But greed is subtle. It sneaks up on you when you think you’re just working towards financial security or building your confidence or taking control of your life. In this episode we discuss how greed lurks in the shadows as well as how to slay the beast through gratitude and generosity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Episodes in this series on Counterfeit Gods:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Worshiping Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4. Worshiping Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Worshiping God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For more on money, especially consumerism, check out Off Script 6: Consumerism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For an excellent overview of this topic, listen to Tim Keller’s talk on Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To purchase the book this series is based on by Tim Keller, go here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/money.jpg Off Script 24: Worshiping Money false no 36:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/03/02/podcast-74-which-you-are-you/ Thu, 02 Mar 2017 23:00:58 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1648

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     We all have competing impulses within us vying for our attention and expression. How do you know which ones to amplify and which to repress? How should we think of ourselves? Are we powerful and valuable creatures made in God’s image or accidental byproducts of time plus chance plus matter? In order to live out authentic humanity we need to grasp who we are and how God calls us to live. Only when we live in conformity with our designer and creator can we flourish and bring him glory.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For more on authentic Christianity, take a look at Rosaria Butterfield’s testimony
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/who-are-you.jpg Podcast 74: Which You Are You? (Sean Finnegan) false no 59:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/26/off-script-23-worshiping-love/ Sun, 26 Feb 2017 17:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1608 Today we are starting a series based on Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods, wherein we’ll consider a number of idols that vie for worship in our society.  In this episode we consider Aphrodite, the ancient goddess of love, and her modern counterparts.  We begin by examining the somewhat dysfunctional love story of Jacob and Rachel in the book of Genesis.  We conclude that love and romance are goods God has given people, but they should not be our ultimate pursuit or what we look to for salvation.  In addition, Rose rebukes the tendency among Christians to hold out romance and marriage to singles as an ultimate goal to find completion.  Dan also shares some great advice about attracting a godly spouse.  Whether you are married or single, this Off Script episode will help you think through the proper place you should have for romantic love in your life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Episodes in this series on Counterfeit Gods:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. Worshiping Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. Worshiping Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Worshiping Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4. Worshiping Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Worshiping God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For an excellent overview of this topic, listen to Tim Keller’s talk on Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods or watch it on YouTube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To purchase the book, go here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tim-Keller-Counterfeit-Gods.jpg Off Script 23: Worshiping Love false no 52:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/22/podcast-73-relating-to-the-government-vince-finnegan/ Wed, 22 Feb 2017 23:00:18 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1594 How should Christians relate to the government?  In this sermon, Vince Finnegan works through Romans 13 to show how we should relate to the powers that be.  Ultimately God is in charge of raising up and tearing down regimes and nations over the course of human history.  Our goal is to love one another as examples of genuine faith rather than get overwhelmed with political concerns.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 13:1 – In order to stay constantly living for God, we must have the right mindset and proper behavior in relationship to the kingdoms of this world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Subjection is very common. Wives to husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24), children to parents (Ephesians 6:1-3), servants to masters [employees to employers] (Ephesians 6:5-8), younger to elders (1 Peter 5:5), and believers to church elders (Hebrews 13:17).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Husbands tell wives to worship. Parents tell children to steal. Employer tells employees to lie. Church leadership tells people to have sex. Government tells clerk about marriage licenses to homosexuals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Daniel 3:18; Daniel 6:10; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Deuteronomy 13:4 Submission in human relationships is commanded, but never when it breaks God’s commandments. We must obey God rather than man.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 13:2 If we do not submit to the laws of the government, we will be judged by those laws. By no means is God saying to us that worldly governments are holy or that their reign is equitable, fair, and right. Governments are a temporary necessity in this present evil age to maintain a semblance of order until God’s perfect Kingdom comes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The main danger was that the early Christians would err in refusing submission, even when it was proper, rather than in undue conformity to idolatrous rites and ceremonies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Daniel 2:21; 4:17, 26, 34, 35 By God’s permission or appointment, those in office obtain their power. God often claims and asserts that He sets up one and puts down another.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 13:5 – The word “minister” could also be translated “servant” as it often is in other translations. Kings, presidents, governors are God’s servants just as Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyrus were. They were not serving us because they understood God’s Word and believed it, but because God is almighty and the supreme ruler of the earth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     7 – Mark 12:15-17; Matthew 17:24-27

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     8 – God does not want us to owe anyone because indebtedness may place us in a compromising position to be controlled or influenced by someone other than Him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Genesis 14:21-24 Abraham refused to be indebted to the king of Sodom when he was offered great wealth. Nor would he accept the land to bury Sarah without paying, so he remained free from obligation to anyone other than God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 John 3:16; 4:11 – We all love because God loved us, and He commands us to love others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 13:12 – We are to maintain an awareness of the urgency of our times. Each day, we are one day closer to his return or our death, whichever comes first.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ephesians 5:14-16 – We cannot afford to fall into a lackadaisical slumber and squander the time we could have with God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 13:14

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out this Off Script on patriotism for more on this subject
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/whitehouse.jpg Podcast 73: Relating to the Government (Vince Finnegan) false no 46:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/19/interview-15-healing-from-abuse-and-abandonment-claudia-scott/ Sun, 19 Feb 2017 17:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1586 Claudia Scott is one of the pillars of our church, a woman of faith who carries herself with dignity and poise. Growing up, she’s been an example to me of faithfulness and passion for God. Having only known her over the last twenty or so years, I was clueless about how much she had been through in her past. She suffered repeated sexual abuse for years as a child. Once she left the house, her life didn’t fair much better. When she met God and discovered his power to heal her, she began a journey that eventually led her to mental relief and peace of mind. This is her story.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Interview 4: Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Healing with Bill & Ann DeNenno
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/claudia-scott.jpg Interview 15: Healing from Abuse and Abandonment (Claudia Scott) false no 1:02:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/15/podcast-72-free-as-a-fish-on-land/ Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1566 What is true freedom?  We tend to think of freedom as the lack of restrictions so that we can do whatever we want.  However, I want to make the case that freedoms is not the lack of boundaries, but finding the right ones to enable us to be our best for God.  After God liberated the ancient Israelites form Egypt, they were free: politically, religiously, economically, etc.  However, they continued to distrust God and hold to an enslaved mindset.  We have much to learn from their example.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Freedom: autonomy, independence, liberty, license, self-determination, self-governance, sovereignty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exodus 3:7-8 God tells Moses His plans to deliver His people from slavery.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exodus 6:5-8 God plans to rescue them so they can become His people and He can become their God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exodus 12:30-32 After the ten plagues, the Egyptians released the Israelites.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exodus 14:27-31 God splits the Red Sea and then destroys the Egyptian army, freeing His people once and for all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exodus 16:2-4 Remember sitting by the meat pots and eating bread to the full?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Numbers 11:4-6 Remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Numbers 14:1-4 Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Numbers 20:4-5 Why have you made us come up out of Egypt?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 10:1-14 Let’s learn from their example and not desire evil or give ourselves to idolatry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Hebrews 3:7-4:2 Do you trust God? The issue comes down to belief.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” —Jesus (Mt 11:28-30)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out this Off Script on tolerance for more on this subject
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Read more about a Christian analysis on tolerance here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/free-as-a-fish-on-land.png Podcast 72: Free as a Fish on Land (Sean Finnegan) false no 47:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/12/inerview-14-ken-laprade-on-baptism/ Sun, 12 Feb 2017 17:00:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1517 What do you believe about baptism?  In this interview, I ask Ken LaPrade, a house church pastor in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico, to share his baptism journey.  Coming from a Way International background, LaPrade learned that spirit baptism had replaced water.  As a result he had interpreted the water baptisms in Acts to be incidents where the apostles held to an outdated methodology.  Apparently, they had not realized that spirit baptism had replaced water.  However, when LaPrade went back through the book of Acts, he failed to detect any negative remarks about baptism in water.  He started to see how baptism in water and spirit actually went together in several conversion narratives in Acts.  After careful study and much prayer, LaPrade decided to take the plunge himself and was surprised when he received significant physical healing as well.  Whether you accept baptism or not, please take the time to consider LaPrade’s humble and honest-hearted approach to this important issue.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • You can get in touch with Ken LaPrade at ldc84jpm@yahoo.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/baptism.jpg Interview 14: Ken LaPrade’s Baptism Journey false no 50:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/09/podcast-71-what-good-is-jesus-without-his-gospel-anthony-buzzard/ Thu, 09 Feb 2017 23:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1549 In this vintage message, Sir Anthony Buzzard makes the case that the gospel Jesus preached was about the kingdom. Although Jesus remains incredibly popular all around the world today, his message remains obscured even among many sincere followers. How can we call ourselves Christians if we are ignorant of Christ’s proclamation?  The kingdom is not living in heaven nor is it a clever way of talking about the church or Jesus reigning in your heart. Rather, it refers to the age when Jesus returns to fulfill all the prophecies of the Hebrew bible, bringing wholeness, judgement, and God’s reign to our world. We’ve substituted the gospel of Jesus for a gospel about Jesus. Of course, we don’t want to lose out the magnificent truths of his death and resurrection, but we dare not re-contextualize these within an overall scheme that defies Jesus’ kingdom announcement. According to Jesus, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24.14).  How can we hope to be faithful to Jesus’ commissioning here, unless we recover and proclaim “this gospel of the kingdom” that Jesus preached?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Anthony-Buzzard.jpg Podcast 71: What Good Is Jesus without His Gospel? (Anthony Buzzard) false no 1:00:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/05/interview-13-caring-enough-to-confront/ Sun, 05 Feb 2017 17:00:02 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1482 How are you at handling conflict?  Do you withdraw and avoid conflict at any cost?  Do you rush in headlong, eager to set the other person straight?  Are you a compromiser who looks at everything like a contract where both parties inevitably have to make trade-offs to get some advantage?  As with so many really important aspects of life, we rarely receive any instruction on how to confront one another or deal with conflict in a constructive manner.  In this episode, Dr. Jerry Wierwille reviews David Augsburger’s book Caring Enough To Confront, which will help you learn which of the four main postures towards conflict you hold as well five helpful strategies to help you improve your skills.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Listen to Jerry Wierwille’s other interviews
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Interview 1: Jerry Wierwille on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Interview 2: Jerry Wierwille on Hermeneutics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Visit his website at JerryWierwille.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/confront.jpg Interview 13: Caring Enough to Confront (Jerry Wierwille) false no 54:36 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/02/02/podcast-70-getting-the-gospel-right/ Thu, 02 Feb 2017 23:00:25 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1550 The gospel is the message we believe in that results in immortality (2 Tim 1.7-10).  If I were the devil, I would target the gospel message so that even if some Christians rustled up the courage to actually share it with others, they’d have a distorted or partial message.  In fact, scripture tells us that the god of this world blinds the minds of unbeliever to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel (2 Cor 4.4)!  We cannot just go along with the flow of evangelical or Catholic Christianity.  We need to examine the scriptures to see what the original gospel was.  When we do this, we discover a radically different message from what we hear on radio, TV, and in most churches today.  In this message I make the case for a gospel with a minimum of three elements: the kingdom, the cross, and the resurrection.  Take away or alter one of these and you no longer have the whole gospel.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Does Amos 9.11-15 seem strange to you?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Two Major Problems

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. most of us do not speak the gospel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. those who do speak it know a partial gospel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Importance of Getting the Gospel Right

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Is the gospel like a paint color or a medical diagnosis?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • It is a matter of life and death (Galatians 1.6-9; 2 Timothy 1.7-10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • the gospel is the pill of immortality, washed down with faith

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Three Elements

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. kingdom (Matthew 4.23; 5.5; 6.9-10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. cross (1 Corinthians 15.3; Romans 5.8)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.4)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Four Reasons the Kingdom Matters

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. it is God’s idea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. it was Jesus’ primary focus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. it is gospel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. promotes stewardship

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Satan attacks the believing of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4.3-4; Matthew 13.19; Luke 8.12)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     But just knowing isn’t enough!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. believe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. repent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. persevere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Check out Jacob Rohrer’s interview about his journey of getting the gospel right
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/gospel.jpg Podcast 70: Getting the Gospel Right (Sean Finnegan) false no 53:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/29/interview-12-jacob-rohrer-on-the-gospel/ Sun, 29 Jan 2017 17:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1505 What is the gospel?  Growing up, Jacob Rohrer heard about Jesus dying for his sins so he could go to heaven.  However, he’s come to see that this way of thinking is not only wrong, but goes against what Jesus himself taught.  Listen in to Rohrer as he explains the five elements of the gospel, including (1) repentance, (2) kingdom, (3) Jesus’ death, (4) Jesus’ resurrection, and (5) obedience to Jesus.  You may be surprised to discover that the gospel you received is not the whole message.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jacob Rohrer is a 2015 graduate of the Atlanta Bible College who is currently interning at Cornerstone in Gatesville, Texas.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Listen to Jacob Rohrer’s recent sermon from Revive 2017, “What To Do When You Fail“
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Watch a number of his sermons on YouTube, here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • If you want to get in contact, email Rohrer: thekingdomgospel@outlook.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • You can read some of his work on KingdomUprising.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jacob-Rohrer-1.jpg Interview 12: Jacob Rohrer on the Gospel (Jacob Rohrer) false no 41:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/26/podcast-69-teen-comes-out-as-christian-to-gay-parents/ Thu, 26 Jan 2017 23:00:02 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1523 We hear a particular narrative over and over: “Gay teen courageously comes out to Christian parents and faces consequences.” This is the hero’s journey of the early 21st century. From gay pride marches to hit songs to movies and TV shows, this story is ubiquitous in our culture. For example, I used to listen to the Moth podcast and heard story after story championing the gay lifestyle and supporting the choice to live “out and proud.” In the hundreds of stories I listened to, not once did I ever hear a story of someone who came to Christ, even though it is a much more common occurrence. It’s hard not to absorb the impression that LGBTQ folks are courageous and tolerant while Christians, especially bible-believing ones, are repressive and unloving. However, could it be that there’s an alternative narrative that few are hearing?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Caleb Katenbach has an interesting story. He grew up with two moms and learned to hate Christians. However, when he unexpectedly became a Christian in high school, he had to “come out of the closet” to his moms. Were they supportive? Did they embrace his new sense of identity? Did they accept him for following his heart? No! They kicked him out and expressed intolerance. Of course, his story doesn’t end there. Listen to this fine interview between Darrell Bock and Caleb Kaltenbach to learn both how we as Christians need to repent as well a how we can reach the LGBTQ community.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Caleb Kaltenbach’s book, Messy Grace: How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction, is available here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Thanks to Darrel Bock for persmission to replay this episode. Check out his stimulating podcast, “The Table,” here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/caleb-kaltenbach.jpg Podcast 69: Teen Comes out as Christian to Gay Parents (Caleb Kaltenbach) false no 50:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/22/interview-11-joe-martin-looking-back-on-his-service-at-the-atlanta-bible-college/ Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:00:01 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1503 Dr. Joe Martin has taught at the Atlanta Bible College for over 25 years. He’s worked as an adjunct professor, full-time professor, academic dean, and the president. In this interview he talks about his favorite class to teach, his greatest challenge as a teacher, and his advice to those interested in going into ministry. He shares several stories about God’s mighty provision during his tenure as president, including one incident when he marched the staff around the building for seven days in prayer before a mighty miracle happened. His endearing spirit and passionate heart come through in this conversation along with his bold faith.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “I will live and die by the simplicity of the word of God rather than orthodox credal systems.”  –Joe Martin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • To watch Dr. Joe’s sermons and theological presentations, check out the 21st Century Reformation youtube channel or his own personal channel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For more information about the Atlanta Bible College, see this website
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • For more about Martin, see Interview 10: Twenty Years of Missions in Africa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Dr-Joe-Martin.jpg Interview 11: Joe Martin, Looking Back on His Service at the Atlanta Bible College false no 50:12 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/19/podcast-67-soli-deo-gloria/ Thu, 19 Jan 2017 23:00:04 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1497 Did you make any new year’s resolutions this year? We are now three weeks into 2017 and I bet many of us have already reverted to our old ways. However, what I want to propose here is not a new habit or a trick to stop an old one. Rather, I want to encourage you to adopt a particular perspective. Whether you gain weight or lose it, whether you go to bed early or stay up late, whether you get consistent with flossing or not, everything you do can and should be done to the glory of God. What’s more, living with this perspective doesn’t mean you have to give up pleasure. In fact, just the opposite is true. When we live for God’s glory, we can enjoy our lives more than ever before.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever…4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.” — Jonathan Edwards (c. 1720)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 10.31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Q: What is the chief end of man?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God,1 and to enjoy him forever.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 10.31 Do all to the glory of God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Judges 6-7 God’s whittling down of Gideon’s army provides us a prime example of how important it is to God that he receives proper glory for what he does. He could have worked with thousands, but then they would have thought they had won the victory because of their own military prowess.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 Peter 4.11 In everything we should give God glory through Jesus Christ. This is not limited to when we are here on Sundays or at other fellowships, but our whole lives.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Matthew 6.1-18 Jesus teaches us about doing righteous deeds for God not people

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • pray to God in private
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • fast secretly so God sees not people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • give to the poor secretly

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Romans 16.27 To God be glory forevermore

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ephesians 3.21 To God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Philippians 1.11 Righteousness comes through Jesus to the glory and praise of God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1 Thessalonians 2.4 We speak not to please people but God who tests our hearts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jesus made his whole life about glorifying God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Jn 5.41 “I do not receive glory from people”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Jn 7.18 “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent me is true, and in him there is no falsehood”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Jn 8.50, 54 “Yet I do not seek my own glory…if I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Jn 12.43 “for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • John 5.30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     How to glorify God in 2017: Love God and Love People!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • John Piper, “God Is]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/soli-deo-gloria.jpg Podcast 68: Soli Deo Gloria (Sean Finnegan) false no 47:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/15/interview-10-twenty-years-of-missions-in-africa/ Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:00:36 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1492 Joe and Rebekah Martin have labored for twenty years in Africa to bring the gospel and humanitarian aid to some of the poorest people in the world.  They minister primarily in Malawi and Mozambique, though the work in Kenya is now gaining traction as well.  In this interview, you’ll hear how a single tract led to one believing family, which eventually resulted in more than 450 churches, 20 years later!  In addition, the Martins share several stories of what they’ve seen God do in the missionary field.  They’ve run missions trips virtually every summer with other pastors and students.  I went myself (with Ruth) back in 2004.  Now that they’ve reached the age for retirement, they’ve purchased a house in Malawi so they can spend even more time there each year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • If you would like to get in touch to contribute to their work (financial or volunteering), you can reach Rebekah at rrebrn@yahoo.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • For more about the Lord’s Harvest International (LHI), the missionary wing of the Church of God General Conference, visit their website or like their facebook page.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • For more information about the Atlanta Bible College where Joe Martin teaches, see this website
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LHI-africa.jpg Interview 10: Twenty Years of Missions in Africa (Joe and Rebekah Martin) false no 54:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/12/podcast-66-its-just-war-debate/ Thu, 12 Jan 2017 23:00:41 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1473 Martin Luther King Jr. day is on Monday, so I thought this would be a good time to replay a phenomenal debate on the question of whether or not Christians should use violence or participate in the military.  Peter Kreeft and J. Daryl Charles defend the classic just war position while David Bercot and Dean Taylor advocate for the Anabaptist view.  The debate is cordial and the recording is top-notch.  What’s more the speakers are evenly matched and the debate moves right along.  If you’ve ever wondered about whether or not Christians can use violence, this debate will give you a window into how sincere Christians on both sides explain their positions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Thank you to Followers of the Way for permission to rebroadcast this debate.  You can watch the full video on youtube as well.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out Podcast 15: A Theology of Nonviolence, which includes both the audio of my presentation at the 18th Theological Conference as well as the full text of my paper.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • For more research and resources on Christian pacifism, visit loveyourenemies.wordpress.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/its-just-war-Peter-Kreeft-David-Bercot.png Podcast 67: It’s Just War (Debate) false no 2:05:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/08/off-script-22-christianity-is-lame/ Sun, 08 Jan 2017 17:00:28 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1387 Let’s say you are sharing your faith with a friend and they say to you, “Well, I’m glad that Christianity works for you, but it sounds like no fun to me.”  How would you respond?  Is Christianity no more than a set of restrictions we set on our lives like a straitjacket?  Listen in to this episode as we discuss how following Jesus is an exciting adventure worth pursuing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Episodes in this series on Overcoming Objections to Christianity:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. Christians Are Hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4. The Bible Is Too Antiquated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         5. Christianity Is Lame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out Shane Claibourne’s book, Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/lame.jpg Off Script 22: Christianity Is Lame false no 46:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/05/podcast-65-what-ive-been-saved-from/ Thu, 05 Jan 2017 23:00:26 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1405 Pastor Victor Gluckin of Living Faith Christian Church (Warwick, RI) shares about his journey of faith. He was Mr. Popularity in High School; everyone loved him.  However, he was spiritually dead and lifted up with pride.  His breaking point came when he left his small town and attended George Washington University in DC.  He planned to study political science before launching a career in public service, eventually culminating in his election as the president of the United States.  However, when he got to GW, he discovered that he was just one of many ex-high school presidents with big dreams.  God humbled him and showed him the truth about his heart.  Listen to this episode to hear the rest of his story as well Gluckin’s appeal to you to consider your own life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • You can find more sermons by Victor Gluckin on his church website and on youtube
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • For another episode with Gluckin, check out Podcast 24: Now Is Our Time to Speak
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out his classes Son of David and Kingdom Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • You can follow him on Twitter @vgluckin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Listen to more testimonies here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/victor-gluckin.jpg Podcast 66: What I’ve Been Saved From (Victor Gluckin) false no 57:46 No no https://restitutio.org/2017/01/01/off-script-21-the-bible-is-too-antiquated/ Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1355 The youngest part of the bible is nearly 2,000 years old.  How can such an ancient book have any relevance to our complex and technologically advanced world?  How would you answer this objection?  It’s certainly undeniable that our world is so much different from the nomadic shepherds of three millennia ago.  However, science, political innovations, and technology have failed to generate a golden age of tranquility and prosperity.  Our world is just as fragmented and fraught with dysfunction and injustice as ever.  The internet has enabled us to access an unprecedented amount of information from all around the world quickly and cheaply.  However, the net effect has led to information overload as searchers find themselves paralyzed by all of the “authoritative” perspectives and “experts” clamoring for attention.   Increasingly people are turning to ancient analog faiths for answers in our digital age.  The luster of virtual reality has worn off for many as they find their souls empty and isolated after binging on the dainties of television shows and social media.  Many are looking for something real, something tried and tested, something with substance.  This is where the bible has fresh appeal for our age.  When we compare the scriptures to other historical books, they stand head and shoulders above them in that they are better preserved, more accessible, and more practical than the others.  Timeless moral principles, powerful motivation, and encouraging hope make the bible an elixir to the soul’s of countless readers worldwide.  Listen in as we discuss how the bible remains relevant and powerful in our time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Check out our Off Script episode on Progress where we talk about chronological snobbery and the invisible fictive force many believe is moving us towards a better world.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • More podcasts and resources on Apologetics available here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Episodes in this series on Overcoming Objections to Christianity:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. Christians Are Hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4. The Bible Is Too Antiquated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         5. Christianity Is Lame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/old-bible.jpg Off Script 21: The Bible Is Too Antiquated false no 46:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/29/podcast-64-christian-views-of-sexuality/ Thu, 29 Dec 2016 23:00:04 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1063 Apologetics 15: Gender and Sexual Ethics (Objection 3)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This lecture covers some basic Christian sexual ethics, including marriage, divorce, pornography, homosexuality, cohabitation, and adultery.  Sadly, since this was the last lecture, time did not permit a thorough analysis of these subjects.  Even so, I touched on each briefly and biblically in an effort to stake out a Christian position on each and give some evidence to equip you to give an answer to those who critique us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       on all of these controversial issues

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • comes down to whether or not the bible is true and authoritative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • how to interpret the bible
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • statistics of success/failure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • reason from creation (again depends on scripture)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • remember Satan is working on culture to make it hard to understand the gospel (Mt 13.19) and to blind people’s eyes from seeing it (2 Cor 4.4)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Marriage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • live together before marriage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • divorce of you don’t get along
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • God invented sex for marriage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • who do you think designed our genitals, packing them with a ridiculous concentration of erotogenic nerve endings?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God’s vision of the world included: naked vegetarians living in a garden making lots of babies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God proclaimed the first two people married (Gen 2.23-24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jesus speaks on divorce & remarriage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • “whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Mt 19.3-9)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Paul speaks on singleness vs. marriage (1 Cor 7.1-17)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • good to be single
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • wife does not have authority over her own body..husband does not…
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • don’t deprive each other of sex except for a time of prayer otherwise Satan will tempt you b/c of your lack of self-control
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • remain single
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • better to marry than burn (with passion)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Lord says: wife should not separate from her husband
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • if she does anyhow, she should remain unmarried
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • or be reconciled to her husband
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • if spouse is unbeliever, don’t divorce him/her
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • spouse is made holy by believer (and kids too)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • if unbelieving spouse separates, let it happen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • marriage represents relationship between Christ and the church (Eph 5.31-33)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       three views of marriage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • western: it’s good so long as I’m happy or at least not miserable
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • the individual is at the center of the western cultural view towards marriage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • traditional: it’s good so long as it helps the family/clan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • biblical: my marriage is a living illustration of Christ and the church

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Sex Outside of Marriage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       God designed sex for marriage in the beginning. Thus, sex within marriage is godly and holy and enjoyable and not shameful.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • problem is when someone takes sex out of this boundary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • it’s like a nuclear reactor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • so long as it is contained behind a lead barrier
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • w/ plenty of cooling systems functioning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • all is well and this immensely powerful reaction does good
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • but take it out from that protected system and you have Fukushima or Chernobyl

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Jesus on sexual purity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Mat 5.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Mat 5.27-30
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • don’t look at a woman w/ lustful intent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • same as committing act of adultery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • need to be extreme here (gouge out eye, cut off hand): he’s really talking about lust!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Paul on purity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1 Thessalonians 4.3-8 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 65: Christian Views of Sexuality (Apologetics 15) false no 24:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/25/off-script-20-christmas-special/ Sun, 25 Dec 2016 05:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1363 We take a break from our normal Off Script format to share some seasonal reminiscences and lighthearted banter about Christmas past and present.  In this somewhat silly episode you’ll learn what Christmas song Rose hates, Dan’s most cherished childhood present, and Sean’s Christmas-eve meal preference.  Other exciting topics discussed in this podcast include: why Handel’s Messiah is awesome, how to poach a Christmas tree from state land, and when it’s ok to start listening to Christmas music.  Additionally, Rose will reveal an ethnic secret about herself that you won’t want to miss.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/merry-christmas-png-11.png Off Script 20: Christmas Special false no 36:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/22/podcast-63-science-vs-the-bible/ Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:00:09 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1059 Apologetics 14: Science (Objection 2)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Although our culture commonly pits science and faith against each other, as if they’ve been at war for centuries, the truth is that faith gave birth to science.  In this lecture, you’ll learn about some of the main science objections that skeptics bring against Christianity and how to respond to them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Why Isn’t God’s Existence Obvious?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • no scientific test you can use to prove God’s existence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • “Confronted with the Almighty, [Bertrand Russell] would ask, ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?'”[1]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Isaiah 45.15 talks about the hiddenness of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Dembski’s point in In Defense of the Bible ch 14 is that
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is hidden enough not to coerce belief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is visible enough to be found by those who seek him
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • “This seems to be the pattern in God’s revelation of himself: provide enough evidence to convince those who are honestly seeking truth but not so much evidence as to force belief on those who prefer to believe a lie.”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Theists Pioneered Most Branches of Science

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • belief in God led to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • belief in rational universe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • belief that external world cohered w/ our observation/perception
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • belief that God used stable physical laws
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • belief that studying creation was a good b/c it indirectly extolled the Creator
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, James Clerk Maxwell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His laws, surely all this must be a pleasing and acceptable mode of worship to the Most High, to whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge.” –Nicolaus Copernicus, the mathematician and astronomer (1473-1543) who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “…Those laws are within the grasp of the human mind. God wanted us to recognize them by creating us after his own image so that we could share in his own thoughts.”  –Johannes Kepler, the German mathematician and astronomer who discovered the laws of planetary motion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.”  —Lord William Kelvin, who was noted for his theoretical work on thermodynamics, the concept of absolute zero and the Kelvin temperature scale based upon it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.” “I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.”—Sir Isaac Newton, who is widely regarded to have been the greatest scientist the world has ever produced.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “There can never be any real opposition between religion and science; for the one is the complement of the other. Every serious and reflective person realizes, I think, that the religious element in his nature must be recognized and cultivated if all the powers of the human soul are to act together in perfect balance and harmony. And indeed it was not by accident that the greatest thinkers of all ages were deeply religious souls.”  —Max Planck, the Nobel Prize winning physicist considered to be the founder of quantum theory, and one of the most important physicists of the 20th century, indeed of all time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power.”  –Nikola Tesla, the inventor and futurist scientist known for nume]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 64: Science vs. the Bible (Apologetics 14) false no 56:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/18/off-script-19-more-on-why-god-allows-suffering/ Sun, 18 Dec 2016 17:00:12 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1383 In this episode, we pick up the conversation where the last lecture in my Apologetics class left off.  We review six reasons the bible gives for suffering as well as how to face pain and hardship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       By looking at Jesus and Paul, we see that God did not spare either of them from adversity.  Jesus came into this world as a hunted refugee, faced conflict and opposition his entire ministry, and then, in =the end, faced torture and execution.  Similarly Paul endured rejection, whippings, beatings, shipwreck, and martyrdom.  We can learn from these examples about how we can deal with difficulty in our own lives.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Also, we discuss the prosperity gospel and play a clip from John Piper who puts his finger on why such a theology is so dangerous.  Lastly, we draw inspiration from the words of the prophet Habakkuk who cried out to God to do something to deal with the rampant injustice of his day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       If you haven’t already, I encourage you to first listen to podcast episode 62: Why Does God Allow Suffering? before listening to this episode.  It should be the one right before this one.  Here now is off script episode 19: more on why God Allows Suffering

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Episodes in this series on Overcoming Objections to Christianity:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. Christians Are Hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4. The Bible Is Too Antiquated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         5. Christianity Is Lame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/suffering.jpg Off Script 19: More on Why God Allows Suffering false no 57:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/15/podcast-62-why-does-god-allow-suffering/ Thu, 15 Dec 2016 23:00:01 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1041 Apologetics 13: Problem of Evil (Objection 1)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Now that we’ve established the existence of God, the historicity of Christ’s resurrection, and the bible’s veracity, we come to objections commonly brought against Christianity. The chief classical question posed to Christians throughout the eons is, “How can you believe in God when there is so much pain and suffering in the world?” Thankfully, the bible provides a range of answers to that question though, it’s not always clear which answer applies to a given situation.  In what follows I address the logical argument against God’s existence before going on to cover 6 major reasons why God allows suffering, including: (1) the Fall, (2) the devil, (3) God’s judgments, (4) using suffering for good, (5) lack of faith, and (6) time and chance.  Lastly, I explore some of what the scriptures teach us about dealing with suffering.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The Problem of Evil

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This is a serious problem

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • I don’t have the problem of evil totally figured out, however this is the way I understand it right now. Your thoughts, doubts, and comments are appreciated.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • “The problem of evil is the most serious problem in the world. It is also the one serious objection to the existence of God. More people have abandoned their faith because of the problem of evil than for any other reason. It is certainly the greatest test of faith, the greatest temptation to unbelief. And it’s not just an intellectual objection. We feel it. We live it.” –Peter Kreeft[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       outline

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. show how this objection fails to disprove God’s existence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. explore reasons why God allows evil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. consider how to deal with suffering

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. How the POE Fails to Disprove God’s Existence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The problem stated and some possible solutions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • the problem of evil is “If there is a God then why is there so much pain and suffering?”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Proof against God’s existence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is all-loving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is all-powerful
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Evil exists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • \There is no God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Some suggested solutions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • God is not all loving: He really can stop all evil but he doesn’t care enough about our puny lives to put forth the effort.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • he is distant (deists)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • hard predestination (you’re a worthless maggot to whom God owes nothing)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • molinism (God’s arranged the proper amount of suffering to maximize the number who would freely choose him)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • his focus is not on individual but the group (utilitarian)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is not all-powerful:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Harold Kuschner: “God does not reach down to interrupt the workings of laws of nature to protect the righteous from harm. This is a second area of our world which causes bad things to happen to good people, and God does not cause it and cannot stop it”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       reformulating the proof

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • proof
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is all-loving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God is all-powerful
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • evil (still) exists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • God has not eliminated evil yet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • can’t prove God doesn’t have some reason(s) for allowing evil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • a world w/ minimal suffering might not be best from God’s perspective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • a world w/ constant gratuitous evil would probably crush people’s faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • a world w/ lots of suffering, lots of beauty, lots of kindness would probably maximize the number of people who turn to God and freely choose to put their faith in him

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       evil points to a source of evil

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • shouldn’t presume the absence of a source of good<]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 63: Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Apologetics 13) false no 1:04:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/11/off-script-18-christians-are-hypocrites/ Sun, 11 Dec 2016 17:00:28 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1341 In part two of our series on objections to Christianity, we look at the issue of hypocrisy.  Many are unwilling to even consider Christianity as a viable option because they’ve witnessed or heard about some horrible act of hypocrisy by a Christian leader.  It’s hard to deny that hypocrisy is a major problem in Christianity today.  Whether we look at child molestation among Catholic priests, evangelicals who fall into adultery, or prosperity gospel preachers who squeeze every penny out of their poor congregations, hypocrisy is a black eye on the bride of Christ.  How can we talk to skeptics and unbelievers about this issue?  How can we avoid hypocrisy in our own lives?  The cure lies in the teaching and example of Jesus.  Listen to this frank discussion and learn how to respond to this ubiquitous objection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • For more on Rosaria Butterfield’s story, see this post.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Episodes in this series on Overcoming Objections to Christianity:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. Christians Are Hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           3. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           4. The Bible Is Too Antiquated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           5. Christianity Is Lame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/hypocrisy.jpg Off Script 18: Christians Are Hypocrites false no 46:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/08/podcast-61-is-the-new-testament-trustworthy/ Thu, 08 Dec 2016 23:00:38 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1043 Apologetics 12: New Testament Trustworthiness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         For the New Testament we can employ several of the same lines of reasoning as the Old Testament, though there are a couple more to consider like internal evidence and messianic prophecies that help bolster the case. Furthermore, many people’s lives have been changed by reading and believing the words of the New Testament. No other book has such a legacy for radical life transformation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #1: Archeology Supports the Bible

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Handout from Skeptics Search for God pages 227 to 234
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Handout from Case for Christ pages 92-99
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Building Belief, pages 145-146
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • In Defense of the Bible ed. by Cowan and Wilder pages 236-239

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #2: Unflattering Honesty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Consider the heroes of faith and their recorded failures:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • If they made it up, why would they paint themselves so true to life (moles and all)?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Peter’s denials (Matthew 26.69-74)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Paul’s persecution of the church (Acts 8.1-3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • All of this is evidence that the Bible is legitimate—it honestly chronicles what happened. And if we can trust it when people would be inclined to change it for the sake of embarrassment, we can certainly trust it on matters such as the kingdom and the crucifixion/resurrection of Christ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #3: Changed Lives

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • There is an old story about an atheist who challenged a Christian to a debate. The Christian responded, if you can provide me with one person who has been delivered from alcoholism, drug addictions, sexual perversion, violence, or another significant vice by atheism then I will debate you. And I will bring a dozen who have drastically changed as a direct result of their belief in the Bible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #4: Preservation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Antiochus Epiphanes tried to destroy the Hebrew bible and Jewish practices
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • The Roman Emperor Diocletian, following an edict in ad 303, attempted to destroy every New Testament
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • 25 years after Diocletian, the next emperor, Constantine, paid for 50 more bibles to be copied
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Voltaire (18th century) predicted within a hundred years the bible would be gone, but 50 years after he died, the Geneva Bible Society used his house and printing press to produce many more bibles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Today the bible is available in more languages than any other book (over 500)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • This reason alone does not prove the bible is true, but it coheres with the idea.  In other words, if the bible were from God, we would expect he would have his hand on it to preserve it throughout the centuries

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #5: Internal Evidence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. What sort of books are the Gospels?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. What did the writers think they were doing?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. Luke 1.1-4; 2 Peter 1.16; 1 Corinthians 15.6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4. they claim to have reported historical facts accurately

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Reason #6: Messianic Prophesies

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Ralph Muncaster has calculated the odds of 118 non-messianic historical prophecies being true to be 1 chance in 10118. Thus it is more likely that the Bible is true than this pen will hit the floor when I drop it! In other words, to not believe in the Bible is more suicidal than to jump off a cliff and think that the law of gravity will not take effect!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Promise to Abraham
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. (Acts 3:25-26)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Prophet like Moses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. (Acts 3:22-23, John 1:43-49, 6:13-14)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Raised from the dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. (Psalm 16:10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. (Acts 13:33-37
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 62: Is the New Testament Trustworthy? (Apologetics 12) false no 26:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/04/is-jesus-the-only-way-to-god/ Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1330 With this episode we are beginning a series on overcoming objections to Christianity.  To start with we want to address the criticism often leveled at bible-believing Christians today that our perspective on salvation is too narrow-minded and exclusive.  Who are we to say that all the other religions are wrong?  In order to tackle this issue, we begin with the words of Jesus himself who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14.6).  If we remain committed to scripture then the question is not, “Is Christ the only way to salvation?” but “How is that fair?”  What about the old lady in Fiji who never got a chance to hear about Jesus?  Listen in as we explore five answers to this important question.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • For a masterful presentation concerning Christian exclusiveness, check out Tim Keller’s lecture at Berkley.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • See also Podcast 51: Pluralism, Post-Modernism, Relativism, and Truth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Episodes in this series on Overcoming Objections to Christianity:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. Christians Are Hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             3. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             4. The Bible Is Too Antiquated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             5. Christianity Is Lame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/onlyway.jpg Off Script 17: Is Jesus the Only Way to God? false no 42:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/12/01/podcast-60-is-the-new-testament-reliable/ Thu, 01 Dec 2016 23:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1038 Apologetics 11: New Testament Transmission

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           With the New Testament we can’t argue for a reliable transmission on the basis of meticulous Hebrew scribes. More often, especially early on, the Christian scribes focused more on quantity than quality so they could get the word out as quickly as possible. However, the sheer number of manuscripts that survived and the relatively early date of several ensure that we can employ a range of strategies to recover the original text with 99.5% accuracy. In fact, when we compare the New Testament to other ancient literature it is almost embarrassing how much better it is than the others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           How To Determine Reliable Transmission

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Two factors that need to be tested to prove reliability
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • number of copies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • time span between extant copy and autograph
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • extant means the existing copy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • autograph means what was originally written

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A Wealth of Manuscripts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • extant means currently in existence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Uncial manuscripts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • all-capital Greek letters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 306 manuscripts dating to as early as the third century (200’s ad)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus (both date to around ad350
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • about 250 years between the completion of the NT and the first full copies of it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Minuscule
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Cursive writing emerged in ad 800
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 2,856 manuscripts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Lectionaries
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Contain NT Scripture in the sequence that it was to be read in the early churches at appropriate times of the year
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 2,403 manuscripts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Total Greek Manuscripts = 306 + 2856 + 2403 = 5,565 currently (according to Bruce Metzger)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Also there are ancient translations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Approximately 10,000 copies of the Latin Vulgate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 9,300 copies in Ethiopic, Syriac, and Aramaic.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Grand Total = over 24,000 manuscripts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • critical editions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • NA28  \ all modern translations for the NT are based on one of these
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • UBS4 /
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Stephanus[1] (KJV was translated from Stephanus) see footnote and next page
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • originated from Erasmus’ 1516 critical edition and complutensian polyglot of 1522
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • based on 20 to 25 mss, mostly medieval 8th c. or later
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • notable differences
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Comma Johanneum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • two later additions that still appear in our Bibles are Adulteress woman and long ending of Mark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • resources
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Bruce Metzger’s A Textual Commentary of the Greek New Testament
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • NET Bible
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Translations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • major strategies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • formal equivalence (word for word)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • dynamic equivalence (thought for thought)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • translations using outdated Greek manuscripts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • KJV, NKJV, YLT, ASV, Amplified
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • range of Bibles from most literal to least
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NASB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • HCSB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • ESV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NRSV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NET
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NAB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NJB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NIV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NCB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • GNB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • CEV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • NLT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Living
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Message

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Time Between Autograph and Extant Manuscript

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • see chart on pp. 142-143 in Building Belief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • The John Rylands papyri manuscript found in Egypt, which is a small portion of the Gospel of John, is dated from ad 117-138. This means that we have a manuscript within nearly 30 years of the autograph. (Only 30 years between Gospel of John and P52 – John Ryland’s Papyrus)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Variants between Manuscripts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • If we ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 61: Is the New Testament Reliable? (Apologetics 11) false no 49:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/27/podcast-60-be-ye-holy-for-i-am-holy/ Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:00:15 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1322 What do you believe about holiness?  Do you view it as an impossible ideal?  Slogans like “I’m not perfect, just forgiven” and “I don’t want to be holier than thou” show how uncomfortable we are with this whole subject.  Even so, God calls us to be holy as he is holy.  We cannot ignore or dismiss such a calling.  There must be some way to live up to his ideals.  In this episode, Keith Daniel, the revival preacher and evangelist from South Africa, brings a convicting and much needed message about holiness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Other Restitutio podcasts with Keith Daniel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Find more Keith Daniel sermons at Sermon Index
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • To get more information about Winter Teen Camp in RI (Dec 28-30, 2016), visit http://livingfaithri.org/events/wtc
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • For our young adult retreat, Revive, held in CT (Jan 6-8, 2017), visit http://lhim.org/register/?id=205
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/be-holy.jpg Podcast 60: Be Ye Holy for I Am Holy (Keith Daniel) false no 1:02:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/24/podcast-59-is-the-old-testament-trustworthy/ Thu, 24 Nov 2016 23:00:49 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1034 Apologetics 10: Old Testament Trustworthiness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Last time we looked as reasons to believe the Jewish scribes reliably transmitted the Old Testament so that what we have today is what they actually wrote. This time you’ll learn five main reasons why we believe the Hebrew bible is true: (1) archaeology, (2) medical insights, (3) unflattering honesty, (4) predictive prophecy, and (5) martyrdom. Although some of these are stronger than others, cumulatively they establish the veracity of scripture quite convincingly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Five reasons to believe the bible is true:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. archeology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. medical insights
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             3. brutal honesty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             4. predictive prophecy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             5. martyrdom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Reason #1: Archeology Supports the Bible

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Archeology is a soft science based on hard evidence. The clay pot is hard evidence but when it is dated and what it means are based on interpretation. The longer that archeology exists the more detail we get on antiquity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Why would the author take the time to report so many things accurately and then make up a story in between?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Many times when Israel had conflict with other nations we can look in the secular history and find corroborative evidence of the event
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Sennacherib’s Prism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • chart on pp. 140-141 in Building Belief

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Reason #2: Miraculous Medical Accuracy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Leviticus continues incredible medical insights far ahead of its time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=2024&topic=102
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 8th day circumcision http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=1118

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Reason #3: Brutal Honesty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • If they made it up, why would they paint themselves so true to life (moles and all)? Consider the heroes of faith and their recorded failures:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Noah gets drunk (Genesis 9.20-24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Abraham is deceptive about Sarah (Genesis 12.19; 20.5)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Moses disobeys and speaks presumptuously (Numbers 20.7-12)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11.1-27)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Reason #4: Predictive Prophesy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Prophecy is an objectively testable criterion that could prove the bible true or false. Objective is true no matter who believes it; Subjective is true depending on how it is perceived. Amazingly, the bible repeatedly predicts historical events before they happen! This is the strongest argument for the bible being true because it is testable. The bible is made falsifiable by predictive prophecy.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Some allege that it is easy to predict the future.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Try predicting the weather, stock market, gambling, lottery ticket (and don’t forget that if you are wrong once, then you are stoned to death!)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Nostradamus made extremely vague prophecies. For more information on what he prophesied and how it has to be twisted in order to fit modern events see EvangelicalOutreach.org/nostradamus.htm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • “Jeane Dixon’s supposed “prediction” about John F. Kennedy’s election and assassination. In reality, her prediction in Parade magazine in 1956 said that “a Democrat” would win the election and would “die in office.” This was far less specific than predicting “John F. Kennedy would be assassinated,” as some later retold the “prophecy.” Just how amazing was this prediction?”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Let’s figure out the odds here: Dem]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 59: Is the Old Testament Trustworthy? (Apologetics 10) false no 55:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/20/interview-9-pagan-influences-on-the-development-of-the-trinity/ Sun, 20 Nov 2016 17:00:14 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1309 Kegan Chandler joins me once again to talk about the history of theology.  If you haven’t yet heard his story, check out Interview 8: A Restorationist Finds the God of Jesus.  In this episode, I ask Chandler about his book, The God of Jesus in Light of Christian Dogma.  If you are at all interested in the history of ideas that influenced what Christians in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries believed about Jesus, this show is for you.  Chandler address the how Plato’s Greek philosophy influenced Christian theologians as well as how the Gnostics not only anticipated much trinitarian language, but also how they influenced “orthodox” theology.  After exposing the pagan influnences on the development of the Trinity, Chandler goes on to offer a better way of reading the New Testament–through the lens of second temple Judaism.  Instead of reading later ideas into scripture, why not read it in light of the Hebrew bible and contemporary Jewish literature, like the Dead Sea scrolls.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Review Kegan Chandler’s The God of Jesus in Light of Christian Dogma: The Recovery of New Testament Theology on Amazon.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Chandler’s websites include: thegodofjesus.com and burieddeepblog.wordpress.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • R. P. C. Hanson wrote the definitive history of 4th century doctrinal development in his The Search for a Christian Doctrine of God.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Richard Rubenstein wrote a much shorter, easier history of Trinity history in his When Jesus Became God.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/god-of-jesus-kegan-chandler.jpg Interview 9: Pagan Influences on the Development of the Trinity (Kegan Chandler) false no 1:07:38 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/17/podcast-58-is-the-old-testament-reliable/ Thu, 17 Nov 2016 23:00:34 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1030 Apologetics 9: Old Testament Transmission

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   What reasons do we have for believing the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) was reliable transmitted from antiquity to today? This lecture provides four arguments: (1) Jewish scribes were competent, (2) people memorized large portions of the text, (3) the consequences for false prophecy, and (4) the Dead Sea Scrolls function as a time capsule. The Old Testament is excellently preserved, especially in comparison to other ancient texts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Introduction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. Circular reasoning: Why do you believe that there is a God->the Bible says so->How do you know that the Bible is true?->God wrote it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. This is the fundamental question of Christianity: “Anyone who knows the content of the Bible knows that its reliability is the single most important question in the history of humanity.” (Can You Trust the Bible by Ralph Muncaster, p. 4)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3. Remember 1Peter 3.15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   4. Question:=>Too many translations, how do you know which is right? The Bible was written in Greek, translated to Aramaic then to Latin then to German and then to English. Answer:=>We have more than 5,000 manuscripts extant today and there are several million people who speak the original language. We do not depend on a translation. (Pass around the Hebrew and Greek Bibles) a. OT written in Hebrew b. NT written in Greek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   OT Manuscript Tradition

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • manuscripts (hand written)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Hebrew
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Aleppo Codex (a.d. 920)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Leningrad Codex (a.d. 1009)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Dead Sea Scrolls (250 b.c. to a.d. 70)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • early translations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Aramaic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Targum (5th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Samaritan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Samaritan Pentateuch (11th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Syriac
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Peshitta (5th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Greek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Septuagint (fragments from 2nd c. bc, complete from 4th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Theodotion, Aquilla, Symachus (before 3rd c.) (extant?)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Coptic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Crosby-Schoyen Codex (3/4th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Latin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Codex Amiatinus (5th c. a.d.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • critical editions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • based mostly on Leningrad Codex but with variants from other sources as well
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • last updated1997
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Biblia Hebraica Quinta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • incorporates Dead Sea Scrolls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 20 volumes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • partially published since 2004, to be completed in 2015
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     • Oxford Hebrew Bible Project
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • extensive critical edition underway at Berkeley, California

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Scribal Argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Only master scrolls were used for duplication
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Scribes were highly trained (noble profession)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Held in training until age 30
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Ceremonial washing before copying Scripture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Any time the name of God was written a sanctification prayer was said. (6,824 times in the NASB)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Memorization was a problem so they visually confirmed the letters one by one
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Each letter was counted and compared to master
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Each word was counted and compared to master
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • The middle letter in each scroll was located and compared to the master
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • If there is one mistake, the scroll was discarded
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Scrolls are buried ceremonial when they wear out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Memorization argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • Object Lesson: driving laws
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     1. What do you do when school bus stops and you are driving towards it?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. What do you do at a stop sign? Yield sign? Green, yellow, & red lights?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     3. What do you do at a four way stop?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     4. What is the cell phone law?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. Why do you have all of t]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 58: Is the Old Testament Reliable? (Apologetics 9) false no 33:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/13/interview-8-a-restorationist-discovers-the-god-of-jesus/ Sun, 13 Nov 2016 17:00:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1297 Kegan Chandler grew up as a bible-believing Christian in Texas.  His grandfather, Pat E. Harrell, was a leader within Church of Christ who founded their Restoration Quarterly publication.  As a result of his grandparents’ and parents’ passion for God, Chandler grew up in a family steeped in bible study and theological reflection.  One day the Mormon’s came knocking and Chandler, the consummate apologist and champion of orthodoxy, licked his lips at the chance to set them straight.  However, in the course of that conversation, one of the missionaries asked Chandler, “Well, who do you say that Jesus is?”  Strangely enough, this one question caught him off guard.  The young man wasn’t asking, “Who do your parents, your pastor, or your seminary say that Jesus is?” but “Who do you say that Jesus is?”  The intensely personal nature of this question started Chandler on a quest to firm up his orthodox answer, which eventually led to a complete reconsideration of his beliefs about God, Jesus, and the spirit.  Over the course of several years, he came to see the bible from a more Hebrew perspective.  After intense bible study and a thorough investigation into church history, he discovered the God of Jesus.  Here is his story.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Notes and Links:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The conference we met at was Restoration Fellowship’s Theological Conference.  Next year the date for this weekend is May 18-21, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • For “the Protestant burden” see Jason David BeDuhn’s book, Truth in Translation.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Chandler referenced my presentation, “Five Major Problems with the Trinity.” (This video now has over 33,000 views.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Chandler’s book, The God of Jesus, is now available on amazon.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Chandler’s websites include The God of Jesus and Buried Deep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • For J. Dan Gill, visit the 21st Century Reformation website as well as his voluminous youtube channel.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • For Anthony Buzzard, visit the Restoration Fellowship site or watch his videos on youtube.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kegan-chandler.jpg Interview 8: A Restorationist Discovers the God of Jesus (Kegan Chandler) false no 51:26 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/10/podcast-57-more-evidence-for-the-resurrection/ Thu, 10 Nov 2016 23:00:07 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1025 Apologetics 8: More Evidence for the Resurrection

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Because secular historians don’t accept the inspiration of the bible, they don’t trust the Gospels as reliable witnesses about Jesus. Consequently, they’ve come up with various “criteria of authenticity” to sift the sayings and deeds recorded in the Gospels into historical and mythical categories. Last time we saw how Jesus’ resurrection still passes with flying colors when employing such a skeptical approach. This time we’ll discuss another historical consideration under the able guidance of N. T. Wright. He enumerates seven mutations within Judaism that cry out for an explanation. In the end, history seems to have a hole in it about the size and shape of an actual resurrection. The most plausible explanation is that God really did intervene in the middle of history and perform a miracle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Criteria secular historians use to determine authenticity:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. multiple attestation: the more independent witnesses the better
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. dissimilarity: if something is dissimilar from Jewish historical context and later Christian tradition it is more likely to be historical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. embarrassment: if something would have been embarrassing it is more likely to be historical (i.e. disciples not getting what Jesus is saying, Peter cutting ear off,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. aramaisms: sayings that align with Aramaic: “straining out the gnat (galma) and swallowing a camel (gamla)”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. coherence to Jewish context
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. coherence to early Christian tradition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. coherence with other authentic material
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. anachronism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Two indisputable facts about Jesus (according to Paula Fredriksen)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Jesus died by crucifixion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • attested by Paul, Gospels, Tacitus, Josephus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Romans were involved w/ his death
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. None of Jesus’ followers were crucified with Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • pulls in the opposite direction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jesus as apocalypticist (Ehrman, Fredriksen, Sanders, etc.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Fredriksen, “w/o apocalyptic framework a conviction of resurrection is incoherent”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        N.T. Wright has articulated seven mutations from the Jewish understanding of resurrection in the early Christian communities which cry out for an explanation. It turns out that the explanation of the missing event which would make sense of these mutations takes the exact shape of a grave-emptying bodily resurrection. His seven mutations are as follows:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Though the early Christians came from a variety of backgrounds there was virtually no spectrum of belief about what resurrection meant to the early Christians. In Judaism there were quite a few different views, that of the Pharisees, that of the Sadducees, that of Philo, and so on. However, the Christians leave no room for speculation as to what resurrection means and what it looks like.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Resurrection has moved from a peripheral idea to the central focus of the early Christian community. The word “resurrection” appears 43x in NT as opposed to none in the OT.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. In Judaism it is often rather vague regarding what sort of body the resurrected will possess but in Christianity there is unanimous agreement that the body will be a transformed physical body which will use up the matter of the old body though it will itself also possess new properties.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. The Christians saw The Resurrection as having been split into (at least) two stages—first Messiah is raised and then the rest at his return.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. The resurrection means that God’s future (the resurrection is always seen in the OT as an end times event) has arrived early in the person of Jesus. This means that now his followers are i]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 57: More Evidence for the Resurrection (Apologetics 8) false no 1:01:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/04/off-script-16-christians-discussing-politics/ Fri, 04 Nov 2016 22:25:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1256 This election cycle American political discourse has sunk to a new low.  Rather than presenting facts and offering persuasive arguments based on policies, we’ve seen a whole slew of false claims and personal attacks.  The exchanges between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have been so caustic and shameful that when I discovered my ten year-old was watching one of the presidential debates with his mom, I immediately ushered him out of the room, muttering that such language and behavior was inappropriate for him to see.  (He had weaseled his way in to watch it on the excuse that he couldn’t sleep.)  What does it say about the way politics works itself out on national TV that I felt horrified that my son was exposed to such bickering and animosity among those who are vying for the highest and noblest governmental office in the land?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I could deal with all of this, but what I can’t handle is the fact that Christians don’t seem to carry themselves any differently than their worldly counterparts.  Social media channels and email boxes overflow with vitriol and exaggeration as each side shouts ever louder, trying to drown out the sound of the other.  In this episode of off script, we offer some suggestions on how to think and behave when engaging in political discourse as Christians.  We begin by discussing an episode of Ira Glass’ This American Life podcast episode “Seriously?” in which he addressed how misinformation and lies dominate political conversations.  Listen to the first 20 minutes to hear the part we discuss.  Also, we engaged with Justin Brierly’s Unbelievable? podcast episode “Should Christians vote for Trump?” where Republican John Zmirak and Democrat Christina Rees discuss what Christians should do.  For Zmirak’s “dead moose” comment, skip to 18 minutes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Intro music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/clinton-vs-trump.jpg Off Script 16: Christians Discussing Politics false no 45:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/11/03/podcast-56-evidence-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus/ Thu, 03 Nov 2016 22:00:22 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1021 Apologetics 7: Evidence for the Resurrection

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           During this lecture, I played a video of William Lane Craig making a case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  What’s so brilliant about Craig’s approach is that he doesn’t assume the bible is true to make his case.  He treats the Gospels and Paul’s letters as normal historical sources and uses the standard historiography of skeptics and atheists to establish this ancient miracle.  He employs the minimal facts strategy, arguing that (1) the honorable burial, (2) the empty tomb, (3) the appearances, and (4) the resurrection belief are agreed to by critical scholars.  Thus, the hypothesis, “God raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead,” is the best historical explanation of facts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Four Historical Facts Agreed upon by Most Historical Jesus Scholars

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. Honorable Burial: Jesus was buried by Joseph Arimethea in a known grave

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • attested by very old tradition in 1 Cor 15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • uses technical rabbinic terminology for tradition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • formulaic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Paul received this within 5 years of his crucifixion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • burial story is part of an old source used by Mark when he wrote
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • most of Mark is like pearls on a string, but once we get to the passion narrative it is smooth and chronological….which suggests that the passion narrative was from an actual written source
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • gospels don’t diverge until after the burial account
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • as a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea is unlikely to be a Christian invention
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • strong resentment toward Jewish leadership responsible for the execution of Jesus so it is highly improbable that Christians would invent that a member of the very court that condemned Christ would be the one to give him an honorable burial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • no competing burial story exists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • no controversy over the issue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • if it were false, we should expect to find some historical trace of what really happened

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. Empty Tomb: On Sunday after the crucifixion women found the empty tomb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • empty tomb is in pre-Markan passion source
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Mark’s source did not end with burial but with empty tomb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • old tradition in 1 Cor 15 implies an empty tomb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • “that he was buried and that he was raised” clearly implies an empty grave was left behind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • apostolic preaching in the book of Acts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • Mark’s story is simple and lacks signs of legendary embellishment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • compare to Gospel of Peter (from 2nd half of 2nd century)…tomb is surrounded by Roman guard and by chief priests, Pharisees, and a huge crowd….suddenly during the night a voice rings out….three gigantic figures come out of the tomb with heads reaching to the sun….the cross comes out of the tomb and speaks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • women’s testimony was less trustworthy than men counts in favor of the women’s role in the discovery of the empty tomb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Josephus says, “due to the levity and temerity of their sex, women should not be allowed to serve as legal witnesses in a court of law”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • any later legendary account would have made male disciples like Peter and John to be the first to discover the empty tomb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • earliest Jewish allegation that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body presupposes that the body was in fact missing from the tomb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           3. Appearances: on multiple occasions and under a variety of circumstances, individuals and groups of people experienced appearances of Jesus after his death

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • list of eyewitnesses quoted by Paul in 1 Cor 15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Paul actually knew these people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 56: Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus (Apologetics 7) false no 42:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/30/off-script-15-should-christians-celebrate-halloween/ Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1247 Halloween comes from the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain when the Celts believed the boundary between our world and the spirit world grew thin, allowing spirits, fairies, and disembodied souls to enter our realm. Consequently, they employed several strategies to appease and misdirect these nefarious ghosts from messing with them. However, in our secular age, most Americans who participate in Halloween neither believe in this ancient mythology nor are they even aware of it when they dress their children in costumes and ring doorbells for free candy. What’s a Christian to do? On one end, the purists refuse to participate and put signs on their doors alerting trick-or-treaters not to disturb them, and on the other, Christians decorate their lawns with grizzly scenes from horror movies and encourage their children to dress up as ghosts and monsters. Listen to this episode of Off-Script as we discuss this seasonal issue.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/jesus-pumpkin4.jpg Off Script 15: Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? false no 48:22 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/27/podcast-55-did-jesus-exist/ Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1018 Apologetics 6: Historical Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Have you ever heard of the Jesus mythicists? They teach that Jesus never existed, that he’s a myth. How would you go about debunking this claim? Are you aware of what historical sources mention Jesus and early Christianity? In this lecture you’ll learn what’s out there from biblical authors, historians, and hostile witnesses. The cumulative case for the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth is nothing short of staggering.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             New Testament is not one witness. It was not originally published as a single volume.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Pre-Pauline Quotations

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • 1 Corinthians 15.3-4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Philippians 2.6-10

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Paul (wrote between a.d. 51 and 62)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • earliest written documents that mention Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • written 20 – 30 years after death of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • born of a woman (Gal 4.4; Rom 1.3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • had disciples (1 Cor 15.5)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • had brothers (1 Cor 9.5; Gal 1.19)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11.23-25)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • crucified (1 Cor 2.2; 11.23; Gal 3.1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • put to death by Jews (1 Thes 2.15)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • buried (1 Cor 15.4; Rom 6.4)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • raised from the dead (1 Cor 15.21)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • ascended into heaven (Eph 1.20-23)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             James (a.d. <62)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • slave of Jesus (1.1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Jesus is Lord Messiah (1.1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he is coming back (5.7)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • coming is near (5.8)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Peter (a.d. <62)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Christ suffered, sinless, bore our sins, did not revile (1 Peter 2.21-24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • eyewitness of his majesty (transfiguration) (2 Peter 1.16-17)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • he is coming back (2 Peter 3.2-4)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Jude (?)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • slave of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • several mentions of him, but not historical, mostly future

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Mark (a.d < 62)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • got his gospel from Peter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • miracles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • some sayings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • passion narrative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • resurrection stated
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15.21)…as if his audience knew Alexander and Rufus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Matthew (after Mark)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • eye-witness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • birth narrative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • extensive teachings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • miracles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • passion narrative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • resurrection appearances

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Luke (after Mark)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • investigator, second hand
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • birth narrative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • extensive teachings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • miracles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • lots of dinners
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • passion narrative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • resurrection appearances
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • ascension
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • continuity with the church (Acts)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Hebrews (after 62 before 70)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • mostly theological concerned with making the point that Jesus is superior to angels, Moses, Aaron, etc. because he is priest after Melchizedek, better covenant, better promises, etc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Christ died (9.26; 10.12; 12.2)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • tempted yet sinless (4.15)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • made like his brethren in all things (2.17)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             John (<a.d. 100)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • eye-witness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • pre-ministry miracle (wedding at Cana)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • miracles as signs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • attending festivals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • self-revelatory (“I am… statements)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • resurrection appreances

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Flavius Josephus (a.d. 93)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • first non-Christian to write about Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Passage 1 (about James)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • “but this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, {a} who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper o]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 55: Did Jesus Exist? (Apologetics 6) false no 55:12 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/23/off-script-14-should-christians-watch-horror-movies/ Sun, 23 Oct 2016 16:00:15 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1191 Horror movies inspire fear, causing our hearts to beat faster and our adrenaline to flow.  Their monsters, murder, and jump scares have won them a dedicated following.  In this episode, we discuss whether Christians have any business watching horror movies.  We talk about where to draw the line and what exactly is problematic about this genre.  Furthermore, we talk about haunted houses and the idea of using such fear tactics to win people to the Lord.  Whether you love horror or hate it, this episode should help you to think through this issue from a biblical perspective.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/horror.jpg Off Script 14: Should Christians Watch Horror Movies? false no 41:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/20/podcast-54-four-more-reasons-why-god-exists/ Thu, 20 Oct 2016 22:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1012 Apologetics 5: Arguments for God (Part Two)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 In this lecture, you’ll learn four more reasons for God’s existence, including the cosmological argument, moral argument, miracles argument, and the ontological argument. These are each quite different from each other, which is great because it increases their cumulative effect. Last of all, you’ll learn about “Pascal’s Wager,” which is really just an appeal to self-interest, so you can share your faith effectively with skeptics.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 First Cause (Cosmological Argument)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Here are all the possibilities for thinking about the beginning of the universe:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Three step argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Everything that has a beginning has a cause of its beginning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • The universe has a beginning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • 2nd law of thermo (Meister, p. 93-94)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • big bang theory(Meister, p. 96)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • cannot cross an actual infinite series of events (Mesiter, p. 99)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • The universe has a cause of its beginning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • The universe did not cause itself because it did not exist before its beginning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • The cause of the universe must be external to it (i.e. super-natural)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • This cause must be sufficiently powerful to bring the universe into existence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • There are only two kinds of causes: personal or impersonal processes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • If a process caused the universe to come into existence then how does one explain the fact that the universe did not always exist? Can an impersonal process one day begin to do something? Thus the cause must have been personal (i.e. a being or beings with a will(s))

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Two drawbacks to this argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • it does not rule out multiple gods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • it does not rule out the possibility of an infinite succession of gods

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Who made God?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • God was always there. Since he does not have a beginning he does not need a cause.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • then the universe could have always been here and we don’t need to posit the existence of a god to explain it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • theoretically this is correct except for one thing: all scientists now agree that the universe did not always exist (2nd law of thermodynamics)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Argument from Morality

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Some actions are morally wrong (like torturing children for the fun of it)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • These actions are moral absolutes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • If there are moral absolutes there must be some moral law by which they can be determined
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • If there is a moral law then there must be a moral law giver or else it must be produced by natural processes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Assuming naturalism one social “law” becomes apparent: might makes right (also called survival of the fittest)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • If this is the true law by which morals are to be determined then it is moral to do anything one wants so long as he or she is strong enough to accomplish it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • This legalizes rape, murder, genocide, and torturing children for the fun of it
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • But we have already said that torturing children for the fun of it is absolutely morally wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Thus, morals are not determined by nature and there exists (or existed) a moral law giver who is itself the locus of true morality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • this doesn’t mean athiests are not moral people, they may be, they just don’t have a grounding or foundation for being moral

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 God Experiences

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • miracles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • defined as an event that could not happen based on the laws of nature
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • there are many claims to miracles throughout time and also in our own day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 54: Four More Reasons Why God Exists (Apologetics 5) false no 44:04 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/16/interview-7-an-analytic-philosopher-unleashes-logic-on-the-trinity-doctrine/ Sun, 16 Oct 2016 16:00:43 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1185 In my previous interview with Professor Dale Tuggy, we discussed his journey of faith.  In this conversation I ask him to discuss logical and biblical problems with the Trinity.  This is a higher level conversation, but well worth the listen if you are at all curious about the Trinity or are interesting in hearing how analytic philosophers approach complex doctrines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 For more about Professor Tuggy and his work, including his amazing podcast, visit trinities.org.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/trinity.jpg Interview 7: An Analytic Philosopher Unleashes Logic on the Trinity (Dale Tuggy) false no 51:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/13/podcast-53-does-god-exist/ Thu, 13 Oct 2016 22:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1009 Apologetics 4: Teleological Arguments for God’s Existence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 If someone asked you, “Why do you believe in God?” How would you answer? Sadly, most of us would flounder around, maybe talking about the bible or second-hand miracles. However, philosophers have long identified three classic approaches to reasoning about God’s existence: the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments. In this lecture, you’ll learn several versions of the teleological argument–evidence for intelligent design–so that you can reason from the complexity of creation to the existence of the creator.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 introduce three main arguments

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. cosmological: cause and effect
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. teleological: order and design
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3. ontological: reason alone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 general approach for teleological arguments:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. the universe exhibits a certain level of order and design
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. a design requires a designer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3. a designer of the universe exists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 what proof is there that a painter exists? a painting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 what does a building prove? a builder exists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 what about a tree? it is more complex than a painting or building, doesn’t this prove a tree-maker exists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • relating to design or purpose especially in nature (m-w.com)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • it is based on order and design
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Romans 1.18-20 and Psalm 19.1-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Advantages to the teleological argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • It is very easy to prove because it is in experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • The argument uses well established scientific facts to prove the existence of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • True science will always lead to God. In the end science it the study of the creation and thus an indirect study of the Creator.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • “The conflicts between ‘science’ and ‘religion’ occur in historical science, not in operational science.” (Answer’s Book, p. 21)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 classic formulation:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 William Paley’s Watchmaker Argument

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Suppose you were walking along the beach and saw a watch on the ground…
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • How many parts are in the watch?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • biological complexity, cosmic complexity, the just right conditions for earth (distance from sun, etc.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Cell Complexity (Biological Teleological Argument)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Consider a human cell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1. blood-clotting mechanism, the bacterial flagellum, photosynthetic apparatus, pupal transformation from caterpillars to butterflies, complexity of human brain,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. “The most reasonable inference from such observations is that outside intelligence was responsible for a vast original store of biological information in the form of created populations of fully functioning organisms. Such intelligence vastly surpasses human intelligence…” (Answer’s Book, p. 29)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Information in DNA (Origin of Code Approach)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • it is an encoding/decoding system
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • the sequence represents something other than itself (i.e. the genes contain the information about what an organism will be)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • It has an alphabet and a syntax (the combinations of letters mean something)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • A DNA sequence can be copied and stored on other media without a loss of information (only language has this property)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • In fact even committed atheists will refer to it as the DNA code (code is a language; think of Morse code or computer code)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • The DNA code contains information which is neither matter nor energy (though it is stored/transmitted/encoded/decoded by matter and energy)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Language comes from a mind (there are no languages that do not come from a mind)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • this argument hinges on this assertion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   <]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 53: Does God Exist? (Apologetics 4) false no 45:40 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/09/interview-6-dale-tuggys-journey/ Sun, 09 Oct 2016 16:00:28 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1160 In this interview with philosopher Dr. Dale Tuggy, I ask him questions about his personal spiritual journey.  Dr. Tuggy is an analytic philosopher who works on world religions and the doctrine of the Trinity.  He’s a tenured professor of philosophy at the State University of New York at Fredonia.  Furthermore, he runs a popular website called trinities.org where he blogs and hosts a podcast of the same name.  Dr. Tuggy also wrote the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on the Trinity, an excellent read, including a very informative supplemental reading called “unitarianism.”  In what follows I interview Dr. Tuggy about his own journey of faith, including how he became a Christian, what got him into philosophy, how he came to doubt the traditional doctrine of the trinity, and where he sees the future of the biblical unitarian movement going.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   To get in touch with Professor Tuggy, visit Trinities.org or his personal bio page.  Also, you can subscribe to his podcast on iTunes or Google Play and follow him Youtube.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/dale-tuggy.jpg Interview 6: Dale Tuggy’s Journey false no 1:03:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/06/podcast-52-theism-atheism-and-pantheism/ Thu, 06 Oct 2016 22:00:12 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1006 Apologetics 3: Theism, Atheism, and Pantheism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   In Building Belief, Chad Meister uses a worldview comparison chart to simplify all the religions of the world into three broad categories: theism, atheism, and pantheism. This strategy will help you to compare and contrast five major aspects of these three worldviews, including theology, ontology, epistemology, axiology, and anthropology. Next, you can evaluate each of the three main possibilities on the basis of logic and livability. This way of looking at world religions can especially help you in talking to others about the faith.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade. Here now is lecture three: Theism, Atheism, and Pantheism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   worldview: “a collection of beliefs and ideas about the central issues of life…the lens through which we ‘see’ all of reality” (Meister, 39)[1]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. theology: is there a God, if so what is God like?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. ontology: what is ultimate reality?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3. epistemology: how do we acquire knowledge?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   4. axiology: what is the basis for morality?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   5. anthropology: who are we as human beings (Mesiter, p. 40)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   origin, meaning, morals, destiny

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • the worldview approach is so helpful because there are thousands of religions and no one would have the time to study and evaluate them all
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • since they can be categorized into three main worldviews, we can immediately eliminate huge numbers of them if we can disprove or prove one of these to be correct
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • According to Meister, there are three worldviews: atheism, theism, and pantheism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • common objection1: how do you know that Christianity is right and all the other thousands of religions are wrong? how can you be so arrogant?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   • common objection2: all religions are just the same anyhow like the blind man and the elephant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   paradigm atheism pantheism theism God/gods/divinity (theology) no supernatural arguments for God God is everything; everything is God if God has a mind then he can’t be a rock; if he doesn’t have a mind then he is not a person one or more gods exist apart from nature problem of evil; no empirical test for supernatural beings reality (ontology) naturalism (big bang + evolution) big bang needs cause, origin of 1st life, Cambrian explosion no distinction between creator and creation why can’t I read minds if there is only one mind? physical and spiritual realities both exist; spiritual first then physical God of the gaps knowledge (epistemology) scientific method can’t prove logic, can’t understand love or altruism can’t trust senses; learn through meditation; look with in then I don’t need to listen to you teach me how to think about pantheism (only ideas I conceive of are true) knowledge gained through senses (scientific method) and revelation (divine insight) what about wackos who say God told them to kill their children? morality (axiology/ethics) socially constructed, determined by evolution if no absolute source for morals, then why follow them? selfishness leads to dysfunction evil is an illusion; eliminate attachments can’t detach from loving my children God sets absolute standard for right and wrong Euthyphro dilemma humanity (anthropology) physical only, electro-mechanical machines difficult to explain consciousness spiritual only, physical is a deception but I know I have a physical body! both physical and spiritual brain damage affects personality

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   atheism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   description:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   1. theology: no God or supernatural
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. ontology: naturalism (big bang + evolution) nothing outside of nature exists
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3. epistemology: scientific method, empiricism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 52: Theism, Atheism, and Pantheism (Apologetics 3) false no 53:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/10/02/off-script-13-should-christians-watch-tv/ Sun, 02 Oct 2016 16:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1151 What standards should Christians have when it comes to entertainment?  Can the bible offer any guidance for such a modern issue?  Every day shows, movies, books, and songs bombard us with all kinds of ideas and depictions that constantly nudge us in different directions.  Although, we like to think of ourselves as impervious to the subtle effects of violent movies, sex scenes, foul language, and so on, the truth is we are more like sponges than stones.  This is an important topic worthy of your consideration.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/tv-addict.jpg Off Script 13: Should Christians Watch TV? false no 53:14 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/29/podcast-51-pluralism-post-modernism-relativism-and-truth/ Thu, 29 Sep 2016 22:00:36 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1003 Apologetics 2: What Is Truth?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      In order to establish any of the claims of Christianity, we must first make a case for truth itself. How can you hope to provide reasons for God’s existence or Christ’s resurrection if the person your talking to claims, “That’s just your truth, and I’m glad it works for you, but it’s not true for me?” Learn how to use the law of non-contradiction to help explain what an objective truth claim is. Although many prefer the mushy relativism of our age, in the end, as Christians, we are stuck with Chris who claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that “no one comes to the father but through me” (John 14.6).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      pluralism/multi-culturalism definition:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      when Christians and non-believers are the only two options, life is simple

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • throwing in Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Diana Eck’s four points on pluralism[1]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. First, pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity. Diversity can and has meant the creation of religious ghettoes with little traffic between or among them. Today, religious diversity is a given, but pluralism is not a given; it is an achievement. Mere diversity without real encounter and relationship will yield increasing tensions in our societies.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Second, pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference. Tolerance is a necessary public virtue, but it does not require Christians and Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and ardent secularists to know anything about one another. Tolerance is too thin a foundation for a world of religious difference and proximity. It does nothing to remove our ignorance of one another, and leaves in place the stereotype, the half-truth, the fears that underlie old patterns of division and violence. In the world in which we live today, our ignorance of one another will be increasingly costly.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Third, pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments. The new paradigm of pluralism does not require us to leave our identities and our commitments behind, for pluralism is the encounter of commitments. It means holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in relationship to one another.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Fourth, pluralism is based on dialogue. The language of pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. Dialogue means both speaking and listening, and that process reveals both common understandings and real differences. Dialogue does not mean everyone at the “table” will agree with one another. Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table — with one’s commitments.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • challenges of pluralism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • compete for adherents, financial contributions, legitimacy, political influence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • intermarriage (raising children), national identity, public education (Halloween for Christians), workplace (prayer time for Muslims, Sabbath for Jews)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • specific challenge to Christianity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • is Jesus really the only way?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • are all non-Christians going to hell? (more than 2/3 of the world)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • isn’t it intolerant and bigoted to say we have the only right way to God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • cultures have their own moral standar]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 51: Pluralism, Post-Modernism, Relativism, and Truth (Apologetics 2) false no 40:09 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/25/interview-5-seeking-truth-wherever-it-leads/ Sun, 25 Sep 2016 16:00:28 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1145 Brian and Rochelle Allen of Vermont share their journey of faith, including how they became discontent with the traditional evangelical doctrines they grew up believing.  In this interview they discuss how recontextualizing the bible in its Hebrew thought-world opened their eyes to understand Jesus so much better.  He is the Jewish Messiah sent to redeem Israel, not an eternally generated, second-person of a metaphysical Trinity.  In addition, they discuss how they studied their way out of the rapture ideology, popularized by the Left Behind book series.  I think you’ll find their story intriguing and heartfelt, but even more compelling is their intellectual humility.  This husband and wife team is a true example of what it means to be a Berean in the 21st century.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Brian-and-Rochelle-Allen-e1474807505436.jpg Interview 5: Seeking Truth Wherever It Leads (Brian and Rochelle Allen) false no 49:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/22/podcast-50-why-defend-your-faith/ Thu, 22 Sep 2016 22:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=997 Apologetics 1: Introduction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Have you ever heard of apologetics? This is the field where Christians seek to provide the reasons for why they believe what they believe. In a post-Christian society, it is increasingly important to understand the reasons for your faith. For example, why do you believe in God’s existence? Why do you think the bible is true? How do you know God raised Jesus from the dead? What about pain and suffering, modern science, or Christianity’s sexual ethics? In the next fifteen lectures, you’ll get answers to these important questions so you can build your own faith as well as get better at sharing it with others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade. Here now is lecture one: Introduction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Biblical Mandate for Apologetics

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • 1 Peter 3.14-16
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • apologetics has nothing to do with apologizing, it is simply giving a reasoned defense of the faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • two key guidelines: (1) gentleness, (2) respect
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • ἀπολογία: a speech of defense, the act of making a defense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • as a speech: Acts 22.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • as written: 1 Corinthians 9.3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • in court: 2 Timothy 4.16; Acts 25.16
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • defending the gospel: Philippians 1.7

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The task of apologetics is to show that the evidence that the New Testament calls people to commit their lives to is compelling evidence and worthy of our full commitment. That often involves a lot of work for the apologist. Sometimes we would rather duck the responsibility of doing our homework, of wrestling with the problems and answering the objections, and simply say to people, ‘Oh, you just have to take it all in faith.’ That’s the ultimate cop-out. That doesn’t honor Christ. We honor Christ by setting forth for people the cogency of the truth claims of Scripture, even as God himself does.[1]”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Objections:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Faith by definition excludes the possibility of certainty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Sadly, in our day many Christians argue that we ought not to be engaged in attempts to ‘prove’ the truth claims of Christianity, that faith and proof are incompatible. ”[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • blind faith vs. informed faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • what did Jesus do? did he ask people to just believe that he was the Messiah without offering any reasons for that belief? John 5.36; John 10.24-25, 37-38; 14.10-11
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Later on Jesus’ resurrection became the single most important proof of his claim to be Messiah. Acts 17.30-31; Romans 1.1-4 In the book of Acts, Jesus’ resurrection was mainly argued for on the basis of eye-witness testimony. Acts 1.22; 2.32; 3.15; 10.39-42; 13.31
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • this is not to say we can have complete certainty, faith is still required, but it’s not a leap of blind faith

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The Bible never tells us to take a leap of faith into darkness and hope that there’s somebody out there. The Bible calls us to jump out of the darkness and into the light. That is not a blind leap.[3]”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. only the holy spirit can illuminate someone’s heart to believe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • much of apologetics is clearing out of the way barriers to belief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Bible is full of contradictions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Christians are all hypocrites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • How can there be a God if there is so much pain and suffering?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Doesn’t God command genocide?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Hasn’t science disproved miracles?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • What about evolution?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • What about the Big Bang?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • think of it like picking up rocks from the field before planting the seeds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • besides, God has chosen to work with the spoken word. foolishness of preaching (1 Cor 1.21)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/apologetics-shield-and-sword.jpg Podcast 50: Why Defend Your Faith? (Apologetics 1) false no 34:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/18/interview-4-spiritual-emotional-and-physical-healing/ Sun, 18 Sep 2016 16:00:07 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1123 Some say faith-healing is a charade, concocted by charlatans to build their empires on the backs of the afflicted and suffering.  Others think that Christians who reject healing contradict what Jesus said and did, preferring the comfort of tradition instead of unleashing God’s mighty power.  What do you believe about supernatural healing?  Listen in to this interview with Bill and Ann DeNenno to hear what they’ve learned in four decades of pursuing and practicing healing.  In this interview they discuss the benefits of keeping an open mind so that you can learn from others outside your own tradition.  They go on to talk about deliverance (casting out demons), including both some of the excesses they witnessed as well as the genuine results they’ve encountered.  Next they explain inner healing and how God can set us free from emotional wounds that happened long ago, but still push us around today.  Lastly, they share about Christ-centered healing, where they look to Christ as both the example and the active agent in healing today. You can contact the DeNennos directly via email at bdenenno@gmail.com.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/jesus-heals.jpeg Interview 4: Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Healing (Bill and Anne DeNenno) false no 48:48 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/15/podcast-the-exceeding-sinfulness-of-sin/ Thu, 15 Sep 2016 22:00:49 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=881 How much time do you spend with God alone?  Do you have a quiet time each day for scripture reading and prayer and meditation?  Drawing on the image of the vine in John 15, Keith Daniel passionately advocates for a daily devotional time to abide in him.  He argues that this time is the key to holy living.  If we commune with God consistently, then we can draw on the strength we receive then to walk with God the rest of the day.  Daniel believes this time is always under attack so you have to fight for it each and every day.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/keith-daniel.jpg Podcast 49: Abide in Me (Keith Daniel) false no 1:27:41 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/11/interview-3-discussing-doctrinal-differences/ Sun, 11 Sep 2016 16:00:44 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1095 Today Hugh Knowlton joins Restitutio to talk about how to handle important doctrinal differences with other Christians.  So often such intra-Christian discussions generate more heat than light.  Does that mean we should all just ignore our differences, forcing smiles and hoping that no one peers beneath our thin veneer of unity?  Or should we charge headlong like a bull at the matador, eager to present our case and defeat all objections whatever the cost?  This interview will help you strike the balance between empathy and courage as Knowlton shows how he stood up for his monotheistic beliefs in a gracious way that refused to forsake kindness while disagreeing on a core issue.  In the course of the interview, Knowlton addresses five main questions from a biblical unitarian point of view:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Based on John 1.1, do you believe that Jesus is eternal?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Do you believe that Jesus is the creator?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Does Isaiah 9.6 refer to Jesus when it calls him “God” and “eternal?”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Why does Jesus receive worship if He is not God?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. If you do not believe that Jesus is God, who is he?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Here is the text of the letter he sent:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dear Ben,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As I have mentioned I don’t come from a traditional Trinitarian background and as a result, I have a different paradigm or way of thinking in regards to the relationship of God and His son, Jesus. Even though there is a difference I sincerely pray that what I believe will not bring offense or cause you to think that I am diminishing the Son if I believe, as I do, that he is not exactly the same (identical) as the Father.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          You will surely agree that Christology is a massive subject! I don’t consider myself a theologian or a master on this subject but do enjoy studying it occasionally; more so during the last several years when I have been attending an orthodox church where the Trinity is not questioned and alternative beliefs as to who Christ is are not generally welcomed. I am not out to change the Christian world to my beliefs but do like to do “a check up from the neck up” to see if what I hold true still makes sense or whether I need to consider changes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By fellowshipping with men like you, Larry and many others at PBC I have grown in my respect and understanding of your mindset and beliefs. It is good to gain understanding even if it does not end up with agreement on all points.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Before I address your questions I want to say that my answers are, in my estimation, more of a summary of what I believe; they are certainly incomplete and are not as full an explanation with all the reasoning, historical evidence and scriptural support that I would like to include. I think that would take writing a book, which I want to avoid! I am sure more questions will be raised and if we want to continue a dialog, either in person or by email, we can both share more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In your email below you express a concern about ‘agreeing on His nature’. I don’t see a similar concern shared by Jesus, Paul, John or the other writers in the New Testament. I am not saying the concern does not exist but I don’t recall scriptures that place an abundant emphasis on it other than what I read in Math 16:13-17 where Jesus asks his disciples ‘Who do you say that I am?’ and Peter’s reply ‘You are the Christ (the Messiah), the son of the living God’. I think this is a great start for having common ground.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          And this is where I would like to start by addressing your last question as who I think Jesus is. I believe him to be the son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the promised seed, my redeemer and savior, the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, the resurrection, the way, the truth and the life, the bread of life, the living Word of God, He declared the Father and reveals]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hugh-Knowlton2.jpg Interview 3: A Letter to a Trinitarian (Hugh Knowlton) false no 59:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/08/podcast-the-courage-of-esther/ Thu, 08 Sep 2016 22:00:44 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=878 Have you heard about Esther’s courage?  She had the audacity to stand for God in an incredibly dark time.  Though the Persian Empire had decreed the genocide of her people, she could have easily remained in the closet about her ethnicity and enjoyed the comforts of the palace.  Nonetheless, she would not stand idly by, but courageously trusted in God and risked her life to petition the king for the lives of her people.  Even if you already know the story of Queen Esther, it’s worth your time to consider how her example can encourage you to stand up for God in your own context.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 1: Queen Vashti disobeys Ahasuerus Esther 1.15-20

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 2: The Search for a New Queen Esther 2.17

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 3: Haman’ Plot Esther 3.8-14

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 4: Esther Takes a Stand Esther 4.11, 13-14, 16; 5.13-14

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 5: Mordecai Exalted Esther 6.3-11

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 6: Haman’s Demise Esther 7.2-6, 8-9

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Act 7: The Jews Delivered Esther 8.15-17

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is one area in your life where fear is holding you back?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is one change you would make in your life if you had the courage of Esther?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Do you think God would back you up if you made this change?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/esther.jpg Podcast 48: The Courage of Esther (Sean Finnegan) false no 50:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/04/off-script-12-forgiveness/ Sun, 04 Sep 2016 16:00:16 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1111 What does the bible teach about forgiveness?  Is it optional or mandatory?  Are Christians allowed to hold grudges?  Do we only have to forgive if someone apologizes?  Join us as we discuss four reasons why you should forgive: (1) if we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us; (2) forgiving others makes sense in light of how much God forgave us; (3) forgiveness offers an opportunity to testify; (4) forgiving is better for your health.  Forgiving others is simple but far from easy.  Even so, it’s something we need to become good at doing.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 12: Forgiveness false no 39:55 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/09/01/podcast-resurrection-implications/ Thu, 01 Sep 2016 22:00:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=873 Richard Hays, Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, explains the incredible effect Jesus’ resurrection has on theology and practice.  His lecture divides into two parts: (1) a proper New Testament understanding of the resurrection requires a robust affirmation of the resurrection of the body and (2) resurrection of the body is a sign of God’s power invading creation and therefore preaching resurrection requires embodying resurrection ethics as well.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Richard-Hays.jpg Podcast 47: Resurrection Implications (Richard Hays) false no 59:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/28/off-script-11-resting-from-work/ Sun, 28 Aug 2016 16:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1091 This is now our third and last episode in our series on work.  We’ve talked about the Christian work ethic and honorable work (i.e., what sorts of jobs Christians should shoot for as well as avoid) and now today we are talking about work’s opposite: rest.  This is a really important topic to consider.  Listen in to the discussion with Sean Finnegan, Rose Rider, and Sean Kelly as we talk about the crazy pace of American life today as well as why we need to take breaks each day, each week, and each year.  What is the Sabbath?  Should Christians keep the Sabbath?  How can we lead balanced lives?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 11: Resting from Work false no 47:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/25/podcast-hospitality-challenge/ Thu, 25 Aug 2016 22:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=860 What do you believe about hospitality?  The scriptures lay out three major kinds: (1) hospitality to the saints; (2) hospitality to the needy; (3) hospitality to the unbeliever.  As it turns out showing hospitality is an important Christian practice, even if it takes courage to invite others into our houses.  In our present age, hospitality just might be the secret the church has been looking for to reach out to others with God’s grace and love.  For example, when a pastor invited over Rosaria Butterfield, a lesbian, feminist, vegetarian, English professor, she was able to begin seeing through the negative hype about bible-believing Christians and started on a journey that ultimately led to her conversion.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/hospitality.png Podcast 46: Hospitality Challenge (Sean Finnegan) false no 45:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/21/off-script-honorable-work-millennials-and-unemployment/ Sun, 21 Aug 2016 16:00:23 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=1046 Picking up where we left off last week, we continue discussing the Christian work ethic and, in particular, delve into Max Weber’s “Protestant work ethic” hypothesis.  Next Rose shares about her own career path, including graduating with a 4.0 in graphic design and her two year struggle to find a career job.  After that, we looked at three criteria for honorable work:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Does your job require you to sin?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Are you contributing to something that causes harm?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Is it dishonest work?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If you can say, “No,” to each of these, then you’re in good shape.  However, considering that the most common jobs in America are retail salespersons, cashiers, food preparers, and office clerks, all of which pay well under the mean wage, how should a Christian feel about such work?  We talk about how we have to be careful to find our identity in Christ rather than in our job, no matter how well or poorly it pays.  Drawing on the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi we talked about ideal jobs that produce enjoyment, enable a team mindset, and better our world.  Last of all, we addressed how we as Christians should think about unemployment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 10: Honorable Work, Millennials, and Unemployment false no 49:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/18/podcast-45-talking-with-jesus/ Thu, 18 Aug 2016 22:00:53 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=951 This is now the third in a series of messages related to monotheism.  Having established that the Father of Jesus is the only true God (John 17.3), we must be careful not denigrate or demote Jesus in any way.  He is the perfect one who lived without sin and courageously faced death on behalf of all of us.  In this message, John Cortright shares what the scriptures say about talking with Jesus.  His full notes are available online here.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/john-cortright.jpg Podcast 45: Talking with Jesus (John Cortright) false no 51:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/13/off-script-christian-work-ethic/ Sat, 13 Aug 2016 16:00:11 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=993 What is the Christian work ethic?  What does the bible say about work?  Join Rose Rider, Sean Finnegan, and Daniel Fitzsimmons for an honest conversation about how the biblical understanding of work challenges us.  Leaning on Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, as well as the epistles of Paul, they share how work is God’s gift to us, that we should take pleasure in it, and that we should work hard regardless of who’s watching.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 9: Christian Work Ethic false no 40:01 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/11/podcast-the-immutable-shema/ Thu, 11 Aug 2016 22:00:16 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=869 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Shema has been the core creed of Judaism from the time of Moses to today.  It stands as an immovable witness to God’s identity as well as our proper relation to him.  Even though Jesus confessed the Shema, most Christians today aren’t familiar with it.  This is because after the New Testament age, under the influence of Greek philosophy Christian thinking metastasized into Trinitarian dogma, scorning its native Hebrew context in the process.  Eventually, “Yahweh” became “Lord” and “one” became “three in one” and the church became estranged from the bible’s legacy of unitarianism.  This led to persecuting Jews and Christian monotheists.  Listen in to this message about the Shema to find out how to stay true to the bible’s teaching about God’s identity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deuteronomy 6:4 This verse begins the passage known as “the Shema.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Shema Yisrael, Yahweh eloheinu, Yahweh echad Hear, O Israel: Yahweh [is] our God, Yahweh [is] one Deuteronomy 6:5 Not only is God one, but we are to love Him with everything we have, including all our heart, all our soul, and all our might. These are more than just words on a page for Jews. It’s what they die for, what they live for. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Jews say the Shema each morning and night in obedience to this command. The Shema is not a silent belief but something spoken aloud daily. Deuteronomy 6:8 For prayer, Jews wear tefillin, small black leather boxes with scrolls in them. Deuteronomy 6:9 On Jewish homes all around the world you can find mezuzah, small decorative cases hung on their door posts containing scrolls. Deuteronomy 6:10-15 Sadly, Israel did forget God’s commands, and they did worship other gods, which resulted in their exile from the Promised Land. However, after they returned, they remembered.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          How do we process this as Christians? We must look to Christ and see what he said about this idea. Did he accept it, reject it, or change it? Mark 12:28-34 Jesus and the scribe completely agree on who God is. “He is one, and there is no one else besides him.” Jesus knows the Shema and endorses it. What about you?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/shema.jpg Podcast 44: The Immutable Shema (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:33 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/06/off-script-8-relativism/ Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:03:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=981 Who determines truth?  Is there such a thing as objective truth or are all claims subjective in nature?  Join Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about relativism before bringing in a biblical perspective to help you think through this critical issue.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 8: Relativism false no 34:56 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/08/04/podcast-identity-theft/ Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:00:39 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=854 by Vince Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          From Exodus and Deuteronomy, God makes clear who he is and how he wants his chosen people to worship him.  He is Yahweh, the one God of Israel, the only one.  His identity does not change.  Sadly, later on God became the victim of identity theft, as Christians developed the dogma of the Trinity and substituted three for one.  Now is the time to repent of this egregious act of hubris and return to how God defines himself.  He is the only one who is truly God who reigns supreme over all, even Jesus.  Join Vince Finnegan (my dad) as he teaches with boldness and conviction in a message that is sure to fire you up!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Notes:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Exodus 6:1-8 The revealing of YAHWEH as Almighty God. YAHWEH is the proper name of the one true God. The manner in which God led Israel out of the bondage of Egypt showed them that YAHWEH is God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Exodus 7:4 and 5, 14-17; 8:10, 22 This incredible event also showed the Egyptians and the entire world that YAHWEH is God. God’s salvation for Israel and His judgment on Egypt is how He revealed His Identity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Exodus 16:1-14 The manna from heaven revealed that He was YAHWEH their God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Exodus 20:1-7 After making clear His identity as YAHWEH their God, He gave commandment that there were to be no other gods before Him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deuteronomy is a recapitulation of what was communicated in Exodus to their fathers. Moses therefore repeated, and also more largely explained; to which are likewise added several particular laws, instructions, and directions. The time frame addressed is the fortieth year, eleventh month when Israel was in the wilderness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deuteronomy 1:6-8, 10, 30-40 The people Moses addressed in the book of Deuteronomy are the children of those who went into the wilderness. Only two of the millions went into the Promised Land. All the rest died in the wilderness, primarily because they refused to believe that YAHWEH was the one true God. They held onto the false gods of Egypt. During the years they lived in Egypt (about 210), everyone believed in the many gods of Egypt. The reason God selected the ten plagues was it directly challenged the gods of Egypt. Everyone they (Israel) knew believed in these gods. For them to believe in YAHWEH, a monotheistic God, would have made them outcasts or weird. Everyone believed in polytheistic gods.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Moses is declaring YAHWEH as Almighty God to a people who have experienced His supernatural intervention all their lives fire by night, cloud by day, manna, Mount Horeb, angel leading them, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deuteronomy 2:29, 31, 33, and 36; 3:2, 3, 18, 21-26 “YAHWEH” is used 439 times in Deuteronomy; “YAHWEH YOUR GOD,” 239; and “YAHWEH OUR GOD,” 21 times. “YAHWEH” is used 1,555 times in the books of Genesis to Deuteronomy. Christians who witness tell new people to read the gospel of John to learn about God. It is no wonder that so many people think Jesus is God because the emphasis is placed on Jesus with the exclusion of God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Thus, many followers of Christ are ignorant of the information YAHWEH provided about Himself. It is absolutely impossible to understand the Son without first knowing the Father.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deuteronomy 4:23 and 24, 35-39; 5:6-10; 6:4 and 5; 7:9-11; 10:17-21 YAHWEH wants to be identified and worshiped.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Malachi 3:5-7 YAHWEH does not change. He is Who He is and has always been. His identity did not change with the birth of His Son. 5,789 times, YAHWEH is used in the Old Testament, and not once is there the slightest indication that He is three in one. Contrariwise is the powerfully empathic communication that YAHWEH IS ONE. Yet, the commonly accepted belief of most Christians is the Trinity dogma of the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ezekiel 25:17; 36:22-32; 39:7-10, 22 In Exodus, God’s wrath against Egypt and His salvation for Israel showed the world that He was YAHWEH. So it will ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/identity-theft.jpg Podcast 43: Identity Theft (Vince Finnegan) false no 52:25 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/31/interview-2-jerry-wierwille-on-hermeneutics/ Sun, 31 Jul 2016 16:00:18 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=935 Have you ever struggled to interpret the bible?  Although many today think only professionals who are trained in seminaries can understand the bible, the truth is that every reader is a theologian to some degree.  The moment you pick up the book and begin reading, you also begin interpreting what you read.  The only question is: are you going to be a good theologian or a bad one?  Join Jerry Wierwille as he explains some of the key strategies you can use to understand scripture accurately.  He also covers some of the common pitfalls to avoid.  For more information about Wierwille, visit his website at jerrywierwille.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/jerry-wierwille.jpg Interview 2: Jerry Wierwille on Hermeneutics false no 47:34 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/28/podcast-42-my-testimony/ Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=943 Last week I attended a youth camp in Indiana called FUEL.  They assigned me the text on the Prodigal Son (Luke 15).  As I pondered and prayed how I should approach this powerful parable, I sensed God wanted me to interweave my own story in with the prodigal.  As a result, I decided to share my testimony in an honest and raw way.  The next day, John Guthrie wrote this summary, which I felt well-encapsulated my message:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Pastor Sean Finnegan used the Parable of the Prodigal Son as a jumping off point to tell his personal “prodigal son story.” Sean, the son of a pastor, seriously strayed from God when he first attended college. Sean spoke of his several serious addictive behaviors that led to situations that could have very well killed him. His addiction to video games was primarily the cause of his academic dismissal after only 2 semesters of college. His dad was furious at this news and told Sean he was a loser (which he acknowledged he was). He sank even further into trouble when he renewed his connections with former high school friends. His mom insisted he go to a community college, but he continued his destructive behavior which led to poor academic performance again. Like the prodigal son of Luke 15, Sean finally “came to himself.” He finally realized how out of control he was. And so, one night, he cried out to the God of his youth, “save me,” and if he would, Sean would live for Him. In spite of what may have been the wrong attitude, God did save him and Sean literally woke up a new man. He found new friends, went back to community college, learned how to study, and his grades were almost all A’s. He eventually had his way paid to attend RPI where he graduated with a 3.9 GPA in engineering. He asked us to access where we were in our spiritual journey. He hoped some could learn from his story and not follow the wrong path that he had taken. He shared Romans 10.9 and asked that those who had not yet decided to follow Christ might consider that. He asked, “Why not tonight?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/13710425_10154399847703466_7087951006291723231_o.jpg Podcast 42: My Testimony (Sean Finnegan) false no 36:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/24/interview-1-jerry-wierwille-on-emotionally-healthy-spirituality/ Sun, 24 Jul 2016 16:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=917 Drawing on the work of Peter Scazzero, Jerry Wierwille discusses how we can avoid some of the common unhealthy emotional pitfalls. No matter if you are new to the faith or someone who has persevered for decades, this subject will make you examine yourself to see if there are issues you need to overcome. Access more of Wierwille’s thoughts, including his blog and sermons, at jerrywierwille.com.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Jerry-Wierwille.jpg Interview 1: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Jerry Wierwille) false no 39:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/21/podcast-41-counterfeit-gods/ Thu, 21 Jul 2016 22:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=618 by Tim Keller

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          What drives you?  What is that one person or thing or dream that you couldn’t live without?  What thing if you lost it, could mean that almost all significance and value would be drained out of your life?  Whatever that thing is, the bible calls it an idol, a counterfeit god.  Tim Keller expertly explains how any idol, no matter how good or wonderful, will ultimately break your heart.  Taking his cue from Augustine of Hippo, Keller argues that idolatry results from disordered love.  Thus, when we put our family or career or cause or goals first, we end up suffering rather than getting what we want.  God must be first and when he is, everything else falls into place.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/timkeller.jpg Podcast 41: Counterfeit Gods (Tim Keller) false no 46:42 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/17/off-script-7-patriotism/ Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=901 Should Christians be patriotic? How patriotic should we be? Join Daniel Fitzsimmons, Rose Rider, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss issues related to patriotism and stake out a Christian perspective based on the example of Jesus and his earliest followers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 7: Patriotism false no 43:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/14/podcast-40-resurrection/ Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:00:17 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=604 Historical Jesus 16: Resurrection

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Traumatized by their rabbi’s crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples endured maddening grief and cognitive dissonance as they tried to come to grips with what had happened.  Into the midst of despair and helplessness, Jesus appeared.  Although the first “Christians” were also the worst believers in his resurrection, eventually they came to see him, in the flesh, and their doubts were assuaged as rejoicing replaced their mourning.  The power of death is broken!  He really is the messiah!  All is not lost!  He is risen!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/16-Resurrection.png Podcast 40: Resurrection (Historical Jesus 16) false no 30:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/10/off-script-consumerism/ Sun, 10 Jul 2016 16:00:16 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=847 Is consumerism a force for good or ill in our society today?  How should Christians think about the ubiquity of advertising, our innate desire for novelty, and the allure of finding a deal?  For this episode Ruth Finnegan joins in with Daniel Fitzsimmons, Rose Rider, and Sean Finnegan to consider the pros and cons of consumerism as well as discuss what wisdom the bible has to share on this important subject.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read a detailed article on Consumerism here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 6: Consumerism false no 39:49 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/07/podcast-39-crucifixion/ Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:00:33 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=600 Historical Jesus 15: Crucifixion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          One of the most significant events in all of human history, Jesus’ crucifixion was at once a supreme miscarriage of justice while, at the same time, the supreme illustration of God’s love to humanity.  We’ll join Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane, agonizing in prayer before his God, to his arrest, trials, and ultimately his torture and crucifixion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/15-Crucifixion.png Podcast 39: Crucifixion (Historical Jesus 15) false no 36:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/07/03/off-script-scientism/ Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:00:11 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=843 Is scientific knowledge superior to all other forms of knowledge?  How should Christians balance faith and reason?  Join Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss science and religion in an effort to describe and deconstruct the naive notion that science has all the answers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read a detailed article on Scientism here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 5: Scientism false no 45:30 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/30/podcast-38-last-supper/ Thu, 30 Jun 2016 22:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=596 Historical Jesus 14: Last Supper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Why did Judas betray Jesus?  What did Jesus teach his closest friends and followers at the last supper?  Learn about the first “Lord’s Supper” or communion as well as what was on Jesus’ mind in his last hours before his arrest.  He taught them how to carry on after he was physically gone and showed them how to serve one another by washing their feet.  This tender dinner is the calm before the storm.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/14-Last-Supper.png Podcast 38: Last Supper (Historical Jesus 14) false no 34:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/23/podcast-37-olivet-discourse/ Thu, 23 Jun 2016 22:00:34 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=592 Historical Jesus 13: Olivet Discourse

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Did Jesus predict the destruction of the Temple in a.d. 70?  Did he predict the end of the world?  Learn about Jesus’ Olivet Discourse and discover what he said about false Christs, persecution, the abomination of desolation, and the coming of the son of man.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/13-Olivet-Discourse.png Podcast 37: Olivet Discourse (Historical Jesus 13) false no 36:43 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/19/off-script-progress/ Sun, 19 Jun 2016 16:00:32 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=811 Is the world getting better and better over time or worse and worse?  Listen in to Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss how our culture thinks about progress in order to help you understand the hidden forces at work.  After discussing and deconstructing the idea of progress, they offer a helpful and balanced Christian perspective.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read a detailed article on Progress here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 4: Progress false no 35:13 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/16/podcast-36-intensified-conflict/ Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:00:44 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=588 Historical Jesus 12: Intensified Conflict

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Once Jesus came into Jerusalem, his enemies threw “stumper questions” at him in an effort to discredit him before the populace.  Jesus ably diffused these theological bombs and lobbed his own in return.  He told parables about the religious leaders that infuriated them while delighting the crowds.  Coupled with his earlier acts, Jesus’ public defiance was sure to land him in serious trouble.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/12-Intensified-Conflict.png Podcast 36: Intensified Conflict (Historical Jesus 12) false no 30:58 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/12/off-script-tolerance/ Sun, 12 Jun 2016 16:00:58 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=781 Join Sean Finnegan, Dan Fitzsimmons, and Rose Rider for some interesting cultural analysis.  We begin by looking at how the ethic of tolerance works in our culture before deconstructing it and providing a Christian point of view.  Though many times tolerance can be a force for good, sometimes people use it as a stick to beat others who hold a minority opinion.  Furthermore, tolerance is shallow whereas the kind of love Jesus calls us to is deep.  Tolerance often complies with the status quo but love gives of itself in risky and exciting ways.  Tune in to here our full conversation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read a detailed article on Tolerance here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 3: Tolerance false no 37:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/09/podcast-35-entering-jerusalem/ Thu, 09 Jun 2016 22:00:30 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=584 Historical Jesus 11: Entering Jerusalem

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          When Jesus entered Jerusalem, it was not quietly, but triumphantly, riding a donkey while the crowds shout, “Hosanna!”  This moment brings to and end his “messianic secret” and publicly declares to everyone that he was claiming to be the Jewish Messiah.  His action in the temple further underlined this claim.  The Sadducees took note and resolved to deal with him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/11-Entering-Jerusalem.png Podcast 35: Entering Jerusalem (Historical Jesus 11) false no 33:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/05/off-script-hyper-individualism/ Sun, 05 Jun 2016 16:00:49 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=754 Daniel Fitzsimmons and I probe the culture by discussing one of the most influential hidden philosophies of life in our culture today–hyper-individualism.  In a nut shell, hyper-individualism is a two step process:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. search within your heart to discover your deepest longings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. realize your dreams over against any external resistance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This mindset has benefits and detriments for society, but in the end it fails to work as a philosophy of life.  After analyzing this cultural narrative, we offer a Christian perspective that can competently replace hyper-individualism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read a detailed article on Hyper-Individualism here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 2: Hyper-Individualism false no 37:10 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/06/02/podcast-34-conflict/ Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:00:22 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=580 Historical Jesus 10: Conflict

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          From his birth to his untimely death, conflict dominated Jesus’ life.  During his ministry the Pharisees disagreed with Jesus about the Sabbath, purity, divorce, and his style of ministry.  Jesus called them out on pride, greed, and hypocrisy.  Looking at how Jesus handled conflict serves as an example to those of us today who seek to follow him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/10-Conflict.png Podcast 34: Conflict (Historical Jesus 10) false no 37:45 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/05/29/off-script-seeing-the-filter/ Sun, 29 May 2016 19:00:45 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=738 In what ways is the culture putting a filter over your eyes?  How is our world rewriting your script, adjusting your plausibility intuitions?  For our first ever “Off Script” episode, I’m joined by two cohosts, Dan Fitzsimmons and Rose Rider, to discuss how our culture influences our lives as well as how to share the gospel with those who hold defeater beliefs.  Right now I’m not sure how often we’ll be able to put this out, but you’re feedback will be key in evaluating if this idea is worthwhile.  Please take the time to drop a comment on this episode or email me at sean@restitutio.org with your thoughts.  Let us know how we did and how we can improve.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Read an article called “Seeing the Filter” here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/offscript.png Off Script 1: Seeing the Filter false no 46:47 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/05/26/podcast-33-jewish-groups/ Thu, 26 May 2016 22:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=576 Historical Jesus 9: Jewish Groups

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In order to understand Jesus, it helps to know what kinds of Jewish groups were around in his time.  In particular, four massively influential Jewish groups vied for influence among the people of Christ’s time: the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.  Learn how Jesus compares and contrasts to these sects.  In addition, we need to consider four other groups, mentioned in the Gospels: the chief priests, Sanhedrin, scribes, and Samaritans.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/9-Jewish-Groups.png Podcast 33: Jewish Groups (Historical Jesus 9) false no 33:57 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/05/19/podcast-32-paradoxical-submission/ Thu, 19 May 2016 22:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=572 Historical Jesus 8: Paradoxical Submission

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus enjoyed an intimate relationship with his Father.  He often spent time with him in prayer, sometimes all night long.  Throughout his ministry Jesus frequently spoke about how his words and deeds were not his own, but the Father’s who sent him.  Paradoxically, by utterly submitting himself to God, he experienced the greatest exaltation in human history.  Learn from Jesus the true path to greatness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/8-Paradoxical-Submission.png Podcast 32: Paradoxical Submission (Historical Jesus 8) false no 37:27 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/05/12/podcast-31-disciples-of-jesus/ Thu, 12 May 2016 22:00:08 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=568 Historical Jesus 7: Disciples of Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          What does Jesus expect of his followers?  What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?  What is the cost of discipleship?  Join me as I work through what Jesus said about his expectations and requirements of his disciples as well as the rewards he promises.  This is a topic you’ll want to take seriously, after all what would be worse than thinking you were Christ’s disciple when in fact, you are deceived.  You can gather an army of theologians together and survey their opinions, but in the end, all that really matters is what Rabbi Jesus says he requires.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/7-Disciples-of-Jesus.png Podcast 31: Disciples of Jesus (Historical Jesus 7) false no 34:50 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/05/05/podcast-30-rabbi-jesus/ Thu, 05 May 2016 22:00:12 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=564 Historical Jesus 6: Rabbi Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who gathered disciples and taught them how to interpret the Torah–the sacred Scriptures of Moses.  Learn how Jesus’ compared to other famous Jewish rabbis like Hillel and Shamai.  In this episode, we’ll look at Jesus’ emphases and style in his teaching ministry.  Anyone seeking to understand the historical Jesus, cannot hope to genuinely grasp him apart from his role as rabbi.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/6-Rabbi-Jesus.png Podcast 30: Rabbi Jesus (Historical Jesus 6) false no 33:17 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/04/28/podcast-29-kingdom-saturated-ministry/ Thu, 28 Apr 2016 22:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=560 Historical Jesus 5: Kingdom Saturated Ministry

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          How should you understand Jesus’ miracles, healing ministry, and exorcisms?  Surely, these are acts of compassion, but they are so much more.  In this lecture, learn how Jesus’ deeds and words coalesce around his primary ministry focus–the kingdom of God.  By examining three ancient Hebrew prophecies, you’ll see how Jesus’ own self-understanding helps make sense of his kingdom saturated ministry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/5-Kingdom-Saturated-Ministry.png Podcast 29: Kingdom Saturated Ministry (Historical Jesus 5) false no 34:11 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/04/21/podcast-28-baptism-and-temptations/ Thu, 21 Apr 2016 22:00:21 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=551 Historical Jesus 4: Baptism and Temptations

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Before he began his ministry, Jesus first had to receive John’s baptism and then overcome Satan’s temptations.  After briefly explaining his baptism, we’ll go into detail exploring why Satan’s temptations were so tempting as well as what we can learn from Jesus’ example.  How does Jesus defeat Satan where Eve failed?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/4-Baptism-and-Temptations.png Podcast 28: Baptism and Temptations (Historical Jesus 4) false no 35:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/04/14/podcast-27-rulers-in-christs-world/ Thu, 14 Apr 2016 22:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=548 Historical Jesus 3: Rulers in Christ’s World

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Life was very different in the world of Jesus, especially politics.  In this lecture you will learn about the three main leaders that shaped Jesus’ time: Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and Pontius Pilate.  Drawing on the Jewish historian, Josephus, you will discover the cut-throat way that Roman rulers managed provinces like Galilee and Judea in the first century.  Understanding how leaders wielded power sets a glaring contrast to how Jesus carried himself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Course notes are available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/3-Rulers-in-Christs-World.png Podcast 27: Rulers in Christ’s World (Historical Jesus 3) false no 31:24 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/04/07/podcast-26-birth-of-the-messiah/ Thu, 07 Apr 2016 22:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=545 Historical Jesus 2: Birth of the Messiah

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Drawing on the promises God gave Abraham and David, and the historical events prior to Jesus’ life, we can get an idea of what messianic expectations were like when Jesus of Nazareth was born.  In this lecture, learn how the birth of the messiah both fulfilled prophecy as well as set the stage for what Jesus’ ministry would be like.  After seeing all of the remarkable events surrounding the birth of this baby, we can’t help but ask the question: “Who will this child grow it to be?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Study notes available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2-Birth-of-the-Messiah.png Podcast 26: Birth of the Messiah (Historical Jesus 2) false no 32:19 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/03/31/podcast-25-sources-for-jesus-life/ Thu, 31 Mar 2016 09:00:01 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=541 The Historical Jesus: What the Bible Says about the Life of Christ

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In this 16 lecture class I seek to answer the question: “Who is Jesus?” Join me as we journey through Gospels to see what the bible says about Jesus’ life. It is my hope that this class will inspire you to love Jesus, teach you to follow Jesus, help you to understand Jesus, and empower you to navigate the Gospels on your own.  Throughout I will seek to situate Jesus within his own historical context to enable you to see him as clearly as possible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Historical Jesus 1: Sources for Jesus’ Life

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          How do we know what we know about the life of Jesus of Nazareth?  Join me as I cover the non-Christian sources that mention Jesus, including Josephus, Pliny, and Tacitus.  Next discover the reasons why the four biblical Gospels are such good and credible sources.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Download the course notes here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/1-Sources-for-Jesus-Life.png Podcast 25: Sources for Jesus’ Life (Historical Jesus 1) false no 31:18 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/03/28/podcast-24-now-is-our-time-to-speak/ Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:03:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=537 by Victor Gluckin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In this fantastic evangelism sermon, Victor Gluckin lays out a biblical case for why we should reach out and share our faith with others.  His zeal is contagious, his reasoning cogent, and his passion inspiring.  If you are anything like me, you need to be encouraged in this area of your Christian walk.  All too easily I lose focus from the mission Jesus gave his followers–the Great Commission.  In this sermon Gluckin focuses on the parable of the minas, showing that Jesus has put us in charge of the “family business” while he is gone.  He urges us to take responsibility for our part of the Great Commission, rather than just burying what we’ve received in the ground.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/victorgluckin.jpg Podcast 24: Now Is Our Time To Speak (Victor Gluckin) false no 45:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/03/19/podcast-23-let-us-make-man/ Sat, 19 Mar 2016 14:00:53 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=511 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In Genesis 1.26, God says, “Let us make man in our image.”  Since this is the creation of humanity, he couldn’t have been speaking to any humans.  So whom was God speaking to?  One common interpretation is to say he was speaking to another person within his being–God the Son.  But, this is quite a strange idea.  Honestly, it sounds like a multiple personality disorder.  In any other literature, when we encounter the word “us” we know it means the speaker and whomever he or she is speaking to.  Why do we suddenly, go into theology land when God says “us.”  Who else was there?  The angels.  Join me as I present the case for why Genesis 1.26 (and the other “us texts”) should be taken as God speaking to his heavenly court.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The word “person” has multiple meanings.   In normal conversation, it means simply a human being. However, in theological terminology (thanks to the council of Nicaea in AD 325) “person” means a being that has a mind (an independent consciousness).   According to this definition, God is a person because He (note the personal pronoun) thinks, acts, and feels demonstrating his unique personality. Even so, the Trinity states that there are three persons in one God. Thus, each person － the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit － are independent in mind but are thought to share the same substance ( i.e. they are all considered to be fully God).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The Hebrew Bible and the New Testament contain well over twenty thousand pronouns and verbs describing the One God.”*[1] In order to grasp this statement, perhaps a brief grammar lesson will clarify.   Personal pronouns are those little words that are used to refer to a person rather than repeating his or her name. There are both singular and plural personal pronouns.   Plural personal pronouns include: we, us, our, ours, they, them, their, and theirs. Singular personal pronouns include: I, me, my, he, him, his, she, her, and hers. Back to the Bible: God is referred to by the words “he,” “his,” and “him” thousands of times.   For example, perhaps the most famous verse in the whole Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son….” Notice the type of personal pronouns used for God － “he” and “his.” These pronouns are singular; thus, God is a singular person ( i.e. He is one). If God were a Trinity (three persons), then John 3:16 should read: “For God so loved the world that They gave Their only begotten Son….”   Thus, the simple fact that God is always** referred to by singular personal pronouns is strong evidence that God is a single person!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This is exactly what one would expect if the central creed of Jesus (the Shema) is taken seriously: “Hear O Israel, the LORD your God is one LORD” (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29).   Yahweh is in a class by Himself (Deut. 4:35, 39; Is. 45:5 and 6). There is no one that even comes close to Him － He has no equals.   He alone is the uncreated One, and He alone deserves all of our worship (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:23 and 24).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          There are four “us” texts in the Bible (Genesis 1.26; 3.22; 11.7; Isaiah 6.8). These are verses in which God uses a plural pronoun when referring to something He will do. The most common example of this phenomenon is quoted below.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’…God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1.26-27)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The traditional understanding is that these places prove that God is composed of multiple persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) who are conferring together to act.]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/formed-human.jpg Podcast 23: Let Us Make Man (Sean Finnegan) false no 44:31 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/03/10/podcast-22-allow-me-to-reintroduce-the-christ/ Fri, 11 Mar 2016 00:00:51 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=503 by Blair Wingo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Authentic Christianity requires both believing the biblical gospel as well as following Christ.  Too often today we want to believe in Jesus as savior without following as lord.  In this moving poem Blair Wingo sets the record straight.  She appeals to the bible as the source for reintroducing the real Christ rather than what pop-culture teaches.  Never has there been a man who is at once so universally loved and lauded while simultaneously ignored and marginalized as Jesus in America today.  Listen in as Wingo courageously exposes the rampant hypocrisy in Christianity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/blairwingo.jpg Podcast 22: Allow Me To Reintroduce the Christ (Blair Wingo) false no 8:29 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/03/04/should-we-worship-jesus/ Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:00:30 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=130 Most Christians never give worshiping Jesus a second thought.  However, as biblical unitarians–those who believe the Father is the only true God–we do need to wrestle with this question.  Some have argued that worshiping Jesus is tantamount to idolatry since we should only worship God.  Others have taken the view that we can worship Jesus on a different level than God and that doing so is not only permissible but encouraged by God.  I go through some of the words translated worship and serve, list out worship acts, and handle objections and limitations in an effort to see what the bible actually says about this important practice.  Listen to the message to find out more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This sermon has a corresponding prezi, available here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Introduction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. There is only one God; His name is Yahweh; Jesus is not God; Jesus is not Yahweh[1]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Neither accepted nor rejected the message
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Until they checked it against the Scriptures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Whatever the Bible says is what I want to believe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Worship Vocabulary

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Bowing: shacha (שָׁחָה) or proskyneo (προσκυνέω)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Of gods (Judges 2:12)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Of humans (1 Samuel 24:8; Revelation 3:9)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1. As respectful greeting (Matthew 8:2; 9:18)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               2. As submission/honor (Matthew 18:26; Mark 15:19)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Serving: avad (עָבַד) or latrevo (λατρεύω)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1. Of God (Acts 24:14)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               2. Of a nation (Jeremiah 27:6)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Often used together
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1. Deuteronomy 5:8-9; Matthew 4:10

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Worship Acts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Submission: bowing, kneeling, prostrating (Hebrews 1:6)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Adoration: love, devotion, gratitude (1 John 5:1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Veneration: respect, reverence, fear (Ephesians 6:5)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Praise: recounting attributes, deeds, tongues (2 Peter 1:16-18)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Meditation: contemplating, communing, fellowshipping (1 John 1:3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Sacrifices: animal, cereal, wine, candy, hair, money (Luke 8:1-3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Sacred texts: reading, reciting, chanting, memorizing (~25 references to SOM in James)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Serve: follow laws, seek to please, lifestyle (Colossians 3:23-24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Singing: to/about (Revelation 5:9-10)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Objections[2]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Isn’t worshipping anyone other than God idolatry?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Two definitions of idolatry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Worshipping a statue/representation of a god
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               • Devotion that “takes attention away, detracts from, or takes the place of the glory of the only true God”[3]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • God has exalted Christ to His right hand, above the angels (Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 2:10; 1 Peter 3:22)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • Worshipping Christ actually gives God glory as the indirect recipient
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1. Philippians 2:9-11
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. In light of Phil 2:9-11 and Hebrews 1:6, Patrick Navas writes, “In fact, it would be fair to say—in accord with Scripture—that the worship, honor, glory and respect attributed to Christ is something that God not only allows but commands, is pleasing to him, and God himself is glorified in this…Yet the honor and adoration given to Christ is, in the ultimate sense, an honor and adoration given through Christ to the Father, the ultimate source of every blessing in Christ.” [4] (1 Peter 4:11; Hebrews 13:15)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               2. Christ’s transparency
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Christ’s words were really God’s (John 12:49-50)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Christ’s actions were really God’s (John 5:36)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Christ did the Father’s will (John 6:38)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Christ admitted he could do nothing on h]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/worship.jpg Podcast 21: Should We Worship Jesus? (Sean Finnegan) false no 58:02 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/02/26/the-shocking-youth-message/ Fri, 26 Feb 2016 05:00:37 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=126 by Paul Washer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In this convicting sermon Paul Washer exposes the unholiness that pervades much of Christian youth culture.  Although I do not agree with much of what Washer stands for, this message of his significantly affected my life.  It not only inspired me to live for God wholeheartedly, but also exposed the sneaky ways in which my culture subtly pulls me towards unholiness and sin.  This sermon is a wake up call.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/paul-washer.jpg Podcast 20: Shocking Youth Message (Paul Washer) false no 59:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/02/19/death-then-what/ Fri, 19 Feb 2016 05:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=120 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    What happens when people die?  In this sermon I mention show the biblical “evidence” for heaven, hell, purgatory, ghosts, and reincarnation before revealing the overwhelming number of texts supporting the sleep of the dead.  Focusing on John’s Gospel, I establish that (1) the dead are in their tombs asleep until they hear Christ’s voice to awaken in resurrection, (2) that resurrection will not occur until the last day, (3) that Jesus called Lazarus “asleep” when he was really talking about him being dead, and (4) that Mary was looking for Jesus not merely his body when she discovered the empty tomb.  In the end we must ask ourselves, “Why should there be a resurrection of the dead if no one is really dead?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I used a prezi for this sermon, which you can access here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Acts 17:11

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bereans are not only noble-minded but courageous as well. They did not immediately accept Paul’s message about Jesus, nor did they reject it out of hand. They listened; then they checked it against the Scriptures to see if it was valid.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    What Happens at Death?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Heaven (stare at God, become a star, become an angel, watch over relatives)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Hell (tortured in a fire forever)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Purgatory (tortured in a fire until sins are purged)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Ghosts (live on earth among us without a body, possibly able to interact or possess)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Reincarnation (at death, one’s memory is wiped, and they are reborn)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Sleep (unconscious but able to be resurrected)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Gone (their thoughts, feelings, experiences, etc. are gone forever)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    As Christians, we can test ideas to see which are correct by a standard − the Bible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John 5:26-29

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The dead are in their tombs asleep. However, when they hear his voice, they will awaken. This is resurrection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John 6:38-44, 54

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Four times over, Jesus clearly teaches that he will raise the dead on the last day, not the day of their death.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John 11:11-27, 43-44

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    When Jesus spoke of Lazarus’ death, he said he was asleep and that he was going to awaken him, and yet he was really talking about death and resurrection. Did Jesus tear Lazarus away from bliss in heaven to return to this old earth? No, he brought him back to life—woke him up!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John 20:11-18

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mary looked for Jesus, not merely his body. Jesus clearly says he had not gone to the Father in death. If Jesus did not go to heaven at death, then why should we think we will?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Why should there be a resurrection of the dead if no one is really dead?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rest-in-peace.jpg Podcast 19: Death Then What? (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:03 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/02/12/eternal-security-steve-gregg-vs-tom-morris/ Fri, 12 Feb 2016 05:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=116 Steve Gregg vs. Tom Morris

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Once you become saved can you lose your salvation?  Listen to this debate to hear both sides of this important question.  Admittedly, the debate does seem to be a bit of a mismatch, since Gregg is extremely well prepared and Morris could not answer many of Gregg’s points.  Even so, this debate showcases what scriptures those of us who believe in Conditional Salvation use to make our case as well as how to respond to at least some of the stereotypical texts that eternal security proponents employ to justify their position.  Overall the debate is cordial and worth your time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/eternal-security.jpg Podcast 18: Eternal Security: Steve Gregg vs. Tom Morris false no 1:32:20 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/02/05/follow/ Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=112 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    According to Jesus no one should call him “Lord” if he or she does not do what he says.  In other words, Christ says he wants followers not merely believers.  Although hippie Jesus, one-and-done Jesus, American Jesus, prosperity Jesus, poverty Jesus, and part-time Jesus all vie for all attention, we encounter the real Jesus in the Gospels, which have confidence in today because of the massive number of manuscripts that have survived from antiquity.  Following Jesus has massive benefits as well, including eternal life, forgiveness of sins, life transformation, and ultimate meaning for your life.  The reasons not to follow Jesus pale in comparison.  As a result, doesn’t it make sense to take the next step, to confess Jesus as Lord and begin following his teachings?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Two requirements of Christianity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Believe gospel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Follow Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    What it means to follow Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Calling Jesus “Lord” means doing what he says (Luke 6:46-49)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Resisting the temptation to fashion a Jesus to suit our desires
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Getting at the real Jesus through Scripture

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Reasons to follow Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Eternal life (Matthew 19:27-30)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7-8)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Transformation (Matthew 11:28-30)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Reasons not to follow Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Too much commitment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Don’t want to be called a Jesus freak
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Don’t believe it is true

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Taking the next step

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/follow.jpg Podcast 17: Follow (Sean Finnegan) false no 44:05 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/01/29/ten-shekels-and-a-shirt/ Fri, 29 Jan 2016 05:00:57 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=108 by Paris Reidhead

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    One of the most famous classic sermons of all time, Paris Reidhead’s “Ten Shekels and a Shirt” calls into question why you serve God?  From his account of missionary work to his observations of historic Christian preaching to other movements occurring in his own day, Reidhead weaves together an inspiring and very convicting message relevant in any age.  Are you a Christian because of what God will do for you or do you serve him because he is deserves it?  Learn about the pervasive and subtle influence of humanism as well as the cure to such a blight.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/paris-reidhead.jpg Podcast 16: Ten Shekels and a Shirt (Paris Reidhead) false no 52:21 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/01/22/a-theology-of-nonviolence/ Fri, 22 Jan 2016 05:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=103 Here’s the original paper in pdf form.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I presented this talk at the 18th Theological Conference held near Atlanta, GA.  In it I present a case for the radical practice of loving our enemies.  Whether you believe Christians can and should use violence to defend themselves or others or if you think more along the lines of Christian pacifism, this talk will familiarize you with the main reasons why some Christians hold to nonviolence.  Essentially, my case finds its roots in taking Jesus’ command “love your enemies” literally along with the apostles instructions to never return evil for evil.  My case is couched in proleptic ethics such that Christians are now, even before the kingdom arrives in all of its magnificent glory, embodying the kingdom in whatever ways we can.  In other words, I believe God calls us to live the way we will live then now as a testimony of what is to come.  Lastly, I tackle the issue of early Christian history and demonstrate that the writings we have from the first few centuries testify that the church was nonviolent.  Please do not judge my position on this as liberal or cowardly (the two most common charges), but realize that I’m basing my beliefs on the testimony of scripture and that it takes a heck of a lot more courage to love one’s enemy than merely reciprocate violently.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Below is the paper that went with this presentation along with a detailed set of responses to common objections.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Introduction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Is it right for Christians to volunteer in the United States’ military?[1] Should followers of Jesus join the police force? Can one who has been redeemed find employment as a security guard? Should disciples keep a loaded gun in the house in case an intruder enters? Is there ever a time when violence is justified? These questions and many like them, for Christians, center on whether or not we interpret the New Testament teachings to prohibit violence or permit it. This work seeks to provide a clear biblical theology for this critical subject.[2] From the title it is clear that my perspective falls on the side of those who see Jesus and the Apostles as teaching something new—the idea of nonviolent enemy love.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Now, I realize that the moment I suggest that violence is wrong for Christians, a whole slew of questions and “what ifs” come to mind. Let me start by saying that these types of questions have good answers and we have collected a number of answers to difficult questions on our website.[3] However, it would not be prudent to handle all of the “objections” prior to laying out the case for nonviolence biblically, logically, and historically. Therefore, it is my intention to present both the clear biblical teaching on this subject and the theological framework into which this teaching fits.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Though adherents to nonviolence are still unquestionably in the minority, as of late more and more leaders from non-Anabaptist[4] traditions are beginning to speak up. As I have researched this subject, in an effort to gain answers to the tough questions that face Christian pacifism, I have been surprised to find how central kingdom of God theology is to this topic.[5] It’s as if one cannot talk about nonviolence without talking about the kingdom. But, what is it about the kingdom of God that inspires peace-making rather than war-making? In order to see how Jesus understood and applied the kingdom of God theology to his life and ministry, we need to first look at how the kingdom was understood in the Hebrew Bible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Kingdom of God in the Hebrew Bible

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thou]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/love-your-enemy.gif Podcast 15: A Theology of Nonviolence (Sean Finnegan) false no 1:01:00 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/01/15/my-story-his-glory/ Fri, 15 Jan 2016 05:00:32 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=99 by Joel Hemphill

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In this short but revealing testimony, famed southern gospel singer Joel Hemphill tells his journey from oneness to one.  Growing up in the “Jesus only” movement, he preached and sung about Jesus as God until the Father began to show him the light.  His transparent honesty comes through as he narrates of how he courageously opened his mind to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, he had gotten the most important doctrine wrong for all of these years; he had misidentified God with Jesus and consequently robbed him of his glory.  Now that Hemphill has seen the light, he writes and travels proclaiming the glory of God the Father with vigor and passion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/joel-hemphill.jpg Podcast 14: My Story, His Glory (Joel Hemphill) false no 32:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/01/08/whats-your-script/ Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:00:06 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=95 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    According to Hebrew bible expert, Walter Bruegemann, all of us live by a script.  He contends that our society is constantly scripting us with technological, therapeutic, consumer militarism.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, we must fight this tendency by refusing to conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  The gospel message itself offers us a whole new script.  It’s hopeful rather than pessimistic, motivated by love rather than fear, characterized by abundance rather than scarcity, provides us an anchor to weather the storms of this life, gives us lasting purpose, and makes sense of morals.  Ultimately, we all have to choose what kind of script we will live by. We are privileged and commissioned to give the world a foretaste of the kingdom through our actions and words, by modeling a new way of doing relationships, by performing outrageous acts of cross-shaped love to a world that is numb, consumeristic, obsessed with sexuality, terrified of extinction, and generally over busy, under paid, and bored.  We offer the world a new script. We are the people of God who have a prophetic message to deliver—a message of hope and forgiveness, a message of value and purpose, a message of freedom about a God who is dedicated to fixing up this place and who will one day send his son to make everything wrong with the world right.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Good News

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • origin is in Genesis creation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • promises to Abraham
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Davidic royal line chosen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • 2 Chronicles 17.11-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • pre-exilic prophets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Isaiah 2.1-4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Isaiah 35.4-7
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • exilic prophets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Daniel 2.44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Daniel 7.13-14, 18, 22, 27
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • post-exilic prophets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Zechariah 14.6-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • John the Baptist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • Message of repentance in light of the coming kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jesus’ ministry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • gospel proclamation (Luke 4.43; Matthew 4.23; 24.14)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • teaching the way of Jesus (i.e. Sermon on the Mount)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • healing/exorcisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • radical acts of love to outcasts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • parables (Matthew 13)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • calling of 12 and promise to reign (Matthew 19.28)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. crucifixion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 1 Peter 2.21-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • for our sins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • to show us the way of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • to enable us to die to sin and live the way of Jesus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. resurrection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Jesus really is the Messiah (Acts 17.31)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • defeat of evil (Colossians 2.15)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • we too will be raised (1 Corinthians 15.20)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. holy spirit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1. fire of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • tongues, prophecy, healing, boldness (Acts 2.4)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2. empowered to live the age to come now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5.22-23)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Effects of Believing the Gospel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. given a bright future
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 2 Timothy 1.10
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. given a new life to live now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 2 Corinthians 5.17
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Romans 6.4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/script.png Podcast 13: What’s Your Script? (Sean Finnegan) false no 46:59 No no https://restitutio.org/2016/01/01/dont-let-them-go/ Fri, 01 Jan 2016 05:00:00 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=90 by Keith Daniel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    So often husbands make grandiose declarations in the heat of the moment whereby they bind themselves to a destructive or vengeful course of action that inevitably results in shipwrecking their marriages.  In this powerful sermon Keith Daniel provides sage advice for husbands and wives to stick together through the toughest times.  As always he illustrates the biblical principles he preaches with stories drawn from people who serve as examples for us–both positive and negative.  Whether you are married or thinking about getting married one day, this message–though simple–has the power to save you from inestimable misery and pain.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/hands-letting-go.jpg Podcast 12: Don’t Let Them Go (Keith Daniel) false no 1:38:54 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/12/25/wrestling-against-spiritual-forces/ Fri, 25 Dec 2015 05:00:40 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=86 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ephesians 6.12 tells us our struggle is not really against other humans but against spiritual forces.  Learn how malignant powers influence people both directly (through demon possession) and indirectly (through the culture).  Hopefully, this message will open your eyes to what is happening behind the scenes as Satan works to keep people from believing the gospel message as well as take out those who already follow Christ.  At the end, I offer 7 specific examples of how the devil gains a foothold in our lives.  Even so, through the power of God we are able to shut down these vulnerabilities and overcome spiritual attacks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist” –Keyser Söze, Usual Suspects

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Eph 6.12

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Because the struggle for us is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers of this darkness, against the wicked spirits in the celestial realm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    how is it that malignant spiritual powers are behind flesh and blood actions?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • direct influence of people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • indirect influence of people
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • specific examples to watch out for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. direct influence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Luke 4.31-36

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are– the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    though you would think dealing with demon-occupied people would be harder, it’s actually easier

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • we have authority in the name of Jesus to cast them out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • when the 72 returned they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10.17)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Paul cast out demon from girl in Ephesos (Acts 16.18)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. indirect influence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    wake you up to Satan’s influence on our world

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • relevant scriptures about Satan’s massive sway over this age
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • John 14.30: “the ruler of this world”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • 2 Cor 4.4 “god of this age”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Rev 12.9 “the deceiver of the whole world”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    by nature we dance to the devil’s drumbeat

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Eph 2.1-3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    what indirect means does he use to infect us?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • horror movies: meditate on torture and evil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • music, especially rap and pop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • sing about committing sin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • where are the songs about how wonderful marriage is after a dozen years?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • where are the songs about raising children?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • where are the songs about finding satisfaction in working hard?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • tv ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/greek-helmet.jpg Podcast 11: Wrestling against Spiritual Forces (Sean Finnegan) false no 50:28 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/12/18/is-hell-forever-chris-date-vs-phil-fernandez/ Fri, 18 Dec 2015 05:00:29 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=82 by Chris Date & Phil Fernandez

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      What does the bible teach about hell?  In hell do the damned experience eternal conscious torment or are they annihilated?  Phil Fernandes affirms the “traditional” view of  a fiery torture chamber whereas Chris Date defends the proposition that God will destroy people in the fire.  Obviously, I have a bias on this subject, having examined the many biblical texts that proclaim the wicked will vanish like smoke, be cut off, be no more, be destroyed, and perish.  Even so, how do we deal with the two or three difficult texts that talk of an eternal fire or an eternal punishment?  Listen in and hear one of the best conditional immortality apologists present a strong case for annihilationism while ably fielding objections and questions from Fernandes and the audience.  For more resources by Chris Date, check out rethinkinghell.com: a site that has a spectacular podcast that I highly recommend.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/fire.jpg Podcast 10: Is Hell Forever? Chris Date vs. Phil Fernandez false no 2:50:06 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/12/11/god-and-jesus-an-overview/ Fri, 11 Dec 2015 05:00:13 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=63 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      What’s the difference between God and Jesus.  Many Christians believe they are mysteriously one in being, but what do the scriptures teach?  It turns out the bible clearly distinguishes between these two individuals and their attributes preclude their metaphysical oneness.  Listen in to hear the evidence for why Jesus is the son of God not God the son.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This lecture was part of a class called “Exploring Scripture.”  To access more of this class, Exploring Scripture Class.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Who is God?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. The people meet their God (Deuteronomy 4.32-39; 5.1-10, 22-26)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. The Shema (Deuteronomy 6.4-6, 13-15; Mark 12.28-34)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Verses that speak of Yahweh as the only true God (2 Samuel 7.22; 2 Kings 19.19; 1 Chronicles 17.20; Nehemiah 9.6; Psalm 86.8-10; 135.5-7; Isaiah 37.16,20; 44.24; 45.5-7, 18, 21-22; 46.9-10; Jeremiah 10.10-16; Zechariah 14.9; Mark 10.18; John 17.3; 1 Corinthians 8.4-6; 1 Timothy 2.5; James 2.19; Jude 24-25)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Who is God?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Are there any other gods besides Yahweh?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      How many Yahwehs are there?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Other words we use to refer to Yahweh: God, Father, Savior, Lord, Most High, Almighty, Redeemer, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Why do we call Yahweh Father?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Yahweh had a son

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Who is Jesus?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. The birth of the Son of God (Luke 1.31-35)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. The king of the Jews (Matthew 2.1-6)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Who did his followers think he was? (Mark 8.27-30)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. The Son of Man (Daniel 7.13-14, 18, 22, 27)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. The sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 15.3-4; Galatians 1.4)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. The Lord at the right hand of God (Psalm 110)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Shared Attributes of God and Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. They are both called Lord, Savior, Redeemer, King, Judge, and Rock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. They both forgave sins, loved, will establish the kingdom and judge the world
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. We could list many other commonalities between God and Jesus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Chart of the Differences between God and Jesus (slide)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      May we worship the same God that Jesus worshiped (John 20.17; Revelation 3.12)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Creación_de_Adán_Miguel_Ángel.jpg Podcast 9: God and Jesus: An Overview (Sean Finnegan) false no 48:16 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/11/27/the-secret-messiah/ Fri, 27 Nov 2015 05:00:19 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=42 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Why did Jesus so often tell people to be quiet when they discovered he was the messiah?  Christianity is all about telling the world this truth.  In fact, Jesus’ last words–the Great Commission–include the mandate to spread the gospel around the world.  So, why was it that in his own ministry he was so reticent about who he was?  Was it because of humility or did he have another reason?  Listen to this message to find out about the messianic secret and the glorious moment when Jesus publicly announced his messianic claim during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      initial narrative (Mark 11.1-11)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Hosanna is “Save now”, rejoicing! jubilation! excitement!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • turn to Zechariah 9

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      messianic secret

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • examples of Jesus telling people not to tell about him (messianic secret)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Demon in Synagogue at Capernaum (Mark 1.21-28)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Raising Jairus’ Daughter (Mark 5.21-24, 35-43)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Peter’s Confession (Mark 8.27-30)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. So, casting out spirits he told them “shhhh don’t tell”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • healing people like Jairus’ daughter he said “shhh don’t tell who I am”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • even his own disciples he said “shhh don’t tell”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           • ALL THAT CHANGED WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      the triumphal entry as revealing the ultimate secret

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • JESUS IS MESSIAH!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      But what is a “Messiah?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • is it a sensai like Woo who teaches spin-jitsu?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • is it a power ranger megazord robot?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • is it an Ariel sea horse? <<slide
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • it is a King like David (1 Chron 17.11-14)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      three ways: (coded actions)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. riding the donkey (Zechariah 9.9-10 prophecy)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. palm branches
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. called “Son of David”, “King of Israel”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Gabriel promised Mary that Jesus would rule over Israel forever (Luke 1.31-33)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • “The Son of David”, “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!”, “The King of Israel”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      but the Romans, the bad guys, would not like that, because they wanted to stay in charge

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. so any time someone called themselves a king
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • the Romans would kill them
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. we’ll talk about what happened to Jesus when the Romans found out about him being called the King of the Jews next week

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jesus is Messiah! Jesus is Messiah! Jesus is Messiah!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • is this a secret?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • is it a secret in your life?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • we have an opportunity (Easter is coming up)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. best time to invite friends, relatives, co-workers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/secret1.jpg Podcast 7: The Secret Messiah & the Triumphal Entry (Sean Finnegan) false no 38:39 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/11/20/my-godly-father/ Fri, 20 Nov 2015 05:00:26 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=38 by Keith Daniel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hailing from South Africa, Keith Daniel is one of the best preachers I’ve ever heard.  His unmitigated passion and lived experience colors his biblical exposition in a way that urges the listener to be better for God.  This sermon is not really a sermon but a biography of his father.  In it Daniel recounts the remarkable life of his “daddy” who went through not only the Great Depression and World War II, but also came to make piles of money in the business world before realizing that he was about to lose his family due to his insane work habits and his alcohol addiction.  Although the audio quality is not very good, the content couldn’t be better.  Listen in to the phenomenal testimony of an unlikely man who changed so much that his wife once asked, “I don’t know who you are anymore,” since she was so overwhelmed by the dramatic change in his life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Keith-Daniel1.jpg Podcast 6: My Godly Father (Keith Daniel) false no 1:16:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/11/13/miracles-messiahs-how-jesus-best-fits-prophecy/ Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:00:09 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=30 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Why do we believe that Jesus is the Jewish messiah?  What is our evidence?  Taking a look at contemporary miracle workers like Honi the Circle Drawer and Hanina ben Dosa, Jesus of Nazareth stands out as an exceptional healer and exorcist.  Taking our cue from ancient Jewish interpretations of Isaiah 53, we can see how Jesus of Nazareth best fits the prophesied suffering servant.  These two lines of inquiry intertwine in the historical Jesus to produce a compelling case that he really is the long-awaited Jewish messiah.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Miracles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Isaiah 35: The prophet envisions a renewed world when the desert will bloom, the weak will find encouragement, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, the mute will shout, and all will worship God joyfully.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Isaiah 61: God acts bringing good news to the afflicted, liberty to the captives, vengeance to the wicked, and comfort to all who mourn. His people will rebuild, serve as priests, and possess a double portion in the land. As the earth brings forth sprouts, so God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Other miracle workers: Honi the Circle Drawer (1st century bc), Hanina ben Dosa (1st century ad)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Messiahs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Isaiah 53: He will not have a majestic appearance, but he will be despised, forsaken, acquainted with grief. He will bear our griefs and sorrows, be pierced through for our transgressions, be crushed for our iniquities. By his scourging we are healed. Oppressed and afflicted, he remained silent. He was cut off yet found his grave with the rich; thereby, he interceded for transgressors and justified the many.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jewish sources that thought Isaiah 53 referred to the Messiah:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Babylonian Talmud ad 180 Targum Jonathan ad 200 Midrash Ruth Rabbah ad 850 Rabbi Moshe Maimonides ad 1200 Zohar via Moses de León ad 1290 Moshe Ibn Crispin ad 1375

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Other leaders of messianic movements: Athronges (4 bc), Judah the Galilean (ad 6), the Samaritan Prophet (ad 36), Theudas (ad 45), the Egyptian Prophet (ad 58), Simon bar Giora (ad 69), Simon ben Kosiba (ad 132)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Who best fits the Kingdom age and suffering servant prophecies?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/jesus-messiah1.jpg Podcast 5: Miracles & Messiahs: How Jesus Best Fits Prophecy (Sean Finnegan) false no 51:07 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/11/06/a-biblical-theology-of-finance/ Fri, 06 Nov 2015 09:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=17 by Craig Blomberg

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This is one of those areas where, as a preacher, I can’t help but be very sensitive.  Although most pastors struggle with just enough to get by, a few have amassed great wealth or even embezzled people’s contributions.  Because of some very public bad examples, people tend to be leery of listening to pastors talk about finances.  However, it’s an extremely significant topic that the bible talks about quite a lot: both how to steward your possessions and how to give.  Join Craig Blomberg as he surveys the bible, basing his remarks on his book Neither Poverty nor Riches.  I think you will be surprised by the breadth of his presentation as well as gain some insight into this important topic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/craig-blomberg.jpg Podcast 4: A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg) false no 1:26:53 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/10/30/between-the-testaments/ Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:00:46 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=25 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Have you ever wondered what happened between the Old Testament and the New Testament?  When the Old Testament closes the people have returned to their land after the 70 year captivity and are living under the Persian empire, though they have significant freedoms, including the right to worship God in the rebuilt temple.  However, when we begin reading the New Testament, the whole scene is different.  Now the Romans are in power and we encounter these new religious groups likes Sadducees and Pharisees.  Where did they come from?  What happened in between?  Though you might assume the Romans just took over from the Persians, the story in ancient Israel is more complicated than that.  The people fought and won their independence from their Greek overlords and established a kingdom that lasted over a century–called the Hasmonean dynasty.  Often times historians refer to this time as the Maccabean period, named after the revolutionary freedom fighter, Judah the Maccabee.  Understanding this interim is crucial for New Testament studies and explains why so many Judeans in Jesus’ day were naming their kids John, Judah (or Judas), and Simon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This lecture was part of a class called “Exploring Scripture.”  To access more of this class, go to Exploring Scripture.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      If you can’t see the slides to this lecture, click here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Overview from Abraham to the Return from Exile

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Abrahamic Covenant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Egypt as a good place to sojourn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Egyptian oppression, Moses, the 10 plagues, Red Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Law given (10 commandments)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Disobedience to enter the land (40 years wandering in the wilderness)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Entering the land (Joshua and the Judges)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. First three Kings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Kingdom Divides
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Israel taken into captivity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Judah taken into captivity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Judah returns

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Age of Empires

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Assyrian Empire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Babylonian Empire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Persian Empire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Greek Empire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Alexander the Great

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. At 20 years old Alexander (son of Philip of Macedon) became king in 336 bc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. military commander (undefeated in battle)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. defeated Darius III at the Battle of Issus in 333 bc
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks pressing east into India (map slide)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Judah became a Greek province
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. he founded Alexandria in Egypt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. In 331 bc, Alexander was welcomed as a liberator in Egypt and was pronounced the son of Zeus by Egyptian priests of the god Amun. From then on, Alexander referred to the god Zeus-Ammon as his true father.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Alexander was a brilliant and fearless military strategist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Aristotle was his personal tutor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hellenization: Alexander’s idea to make the world Greece

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Greece is “Hellas” or the “Hellenic” Republic in Greek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. he wanted to make the world like Greece, civilizing it.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. wanted people in his domain to speak Greek, act Greek, be Greek.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Hellenizing: civilizing people to the Greek way of thinking and acting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. all conquered provinces were to be Hellenized
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. method of indoctrination was simple & effective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. ordered his officers and men to intermarry with the native populations and to beget many children.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. in 10 years he founded 25 Greek cities in the Middle East
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. most notably Alexandria

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      He spread:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Greek language,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. religion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. philosophy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. city structure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. recreation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. educational structures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. sports
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. attitude towards the body (i.e. circumcision)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. by the time of Jesus Greek was the international language https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Judah-the-Maccabee.jpg Podcast 3: Between the Testaments (Sean Finnegan) false no 55:51 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/10/26/james-ossuary/ Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=14 by Ben Witherington III

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Have you heard about the controversial James Ossuary?  An ossuary is a small coffin, often made of limestone, that the Jews in the second Temple period used for the bones of their deceased loved ones.  Someone found an ossuary with the inscription “James son of Joseph, his brother is Jesus.”  Could this find be the actual ossuary of Jesus’ brother, James?  Join world class scholar, Ben Witherington, as he defends it’s authenticity.  If Witherington is correct, this archaeological find is the best material evidence of early Christianity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/JamesOssuary-1-.jpg Podcast 2: James Ossuary (Ben Witherington) false no 48:37 No no https://restitutio.org/2015/10/25/keys-to-a-meaningful-life/ Sun, 25 Oct 2015 12:00:42 +0000 http://restitutio.org/?p=139 by Sean Finnegan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         What is the meaning of life? What is the reason to live? Why are you here? What are you living for? In what ways does your life make a difference? How do you lead a meaningful life?  Listen to this message to discover not only what happiness experts says, but, more importantly, what Jesus’ purpose statements were and how that can affect your purpose today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Rick Warren’s Three Levels of Living

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. survival
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. significance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Martin Seligman’s Three Levels of Happiness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1. pleasant life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2. good life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. meaningful ilfe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Both put purpose at the pinnacle of human experience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Jesus’ Purpose Statements

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • to preach the kingdom of God everywhere (Luke 4.43; Mark 1.38)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • to seek and save the lost (Luke 19.10; 1 Timothy 1.15; also Luke 4 in Nazareth)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • to call sinners to repentance (Mark 2.17; Acts 3.26)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20.28; 1 John 4.10)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         • to provide others with an abundant life (John 10.10)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         As he was sent so he sends us (John 20.21)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         We are his witnesses (Luke 24.46-48)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Our great commission (Matthew 28.18-20)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ]]> https://restitutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/keys.jpg Podcast 1: Keys to a Meaningful Life (Sean Finnegan) false no 52:04 No no