Episode 472: Over the weekend on Saturday (7/13) there was an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump while he gave a speech during a rally in Pennsylvania. Since then, dozens of just plain bad readings and interpretations of the Bible have flooded social media. In this episode, I takedown some of the more prominent and egregious applications of the Bible to the event. Then, I give an account of God’s involvement in the whole ordeal based on Scripture.
Category Archives: Podcast
From Heiser to Heidelberg: How Zacharias Ursinus Answers the Heiser Question on Romans 5.12
Episode 471: Via a Twitter/X interaction I ran across Dr. Michael Heiser’s series of blog articles on Romans 5.12. The question Heiser believes those who affirm Original Sin cannot answer is “How is Jesus, being a Son of Adam, exempted from Original Sin?” This question is not new. Dr. Zacharias Ursinus nearly 500 years ago provided an explanation in his “Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism” under his exposition of Question 35. Tune in as I interact with both Heiser & Ursinus.
Some Brief Thoughts on “Sin Nature” by Heiser
Back to Romans 5.12 where Heiser fleshes out his question further
Commentary on Heidelberg Catechism by Ursinus (PDF)
Total Depravity: Rex Turner, Louis Berkhof, Michael Heiser
Episode 470: Start of the show with a review of part of Dr. Rex Turner, Sr.’s, Biblical Theology. His definition of Total Depravity is mere tautology. Thus, we look at Berkhof’s Systematic Theology for a more robust appreciation of the doctrine. Finally, land with Dr. Michael Heiser’s comments on Romans 5.12, which is part of the debate, but is not the whole debate.
Pride Month: Six Verses from Our Bible App
Episode 469: A very fast walkthrough of the progressive Christian worldview, especially as it pertains to their answer to “What is the Bible?” Then, brief explanation of how certain verses get reinterpreted within that worldview. Identifying fallacies within progressive reading of the Bible (the claim the word “heresy” is not in the Bible). Finally, takedown of the “Six Verses for Pride Month” meme from Our Bible app demonstrating their error.
Christ’s Proclamation to the Spirits, pt. 2
Episode 468: Once more we turn out attention to the enigmatic text 1 Peter 3.18b-19 with an eye toward 4.6. I challenge the traditional view, offering a more consistent and coherent understanding of this tough text. Christ is risen, Christ is Lord, the angelic powers are subjected to Him, and this is good news for the church!
Christ’s Proclamation to the Spirits, pt. 1
Episode 467: 1 Peter 3.18b-19 can be an enigmatic mystery. The traditional view sees Jesus going to the hadean realm and preaching the gospel to dead people for a posthumous opportunity at salvation. In this episode, I cut through the fog, approaching the text linguistically and exegetically for something a bit more coherent and consistent.
Walter Scott on Election, pt.2
Episode 466: I continue to explore the development of the doctrine of election within the Restoration Movement by working through Walter Scott’s essays on election published in the Millennial Harbinger in 1829. Tune in as I takedown the arguments.
Walter Scott on Election, pt.1
Episode 465: As mentioned in the previous episode, development must have taken place with Alexander Campbell concerning the doctrine of election. Perusing the archives of the Millennial Harbinger, I found four (4) articles on the subject of election. However, they were not written by Campbell, but by Walter Scott, his right hand man. Nevertheless, Campbell & Scott were sympatico and Scott elucidated the doctrine of election as understood by the Restoration Movement in the late-1820s. After a brief recap of Campbell’s 1817 “Views” essay, I begin working through Scott’s essays on election.
Alexander Campbell on Election & Reprobation
Episode 464: In 1817 Alexander Campbell wrote a circular letter for the churches within the Red Stone Baptist Association. Surprisingly, it contains a high view of divine sovereignty in election and reprobation. Also, there is a denial of Arminianism, as well as an implied agreement with John Calvin. Tune in as I read from this letter and get a sense of Campbell’s view on these biblical doctrines.
Jim Palmer’s Fallacies
Episode 463: Ex-Christian Jim Palmer (not the baseball player) makes noise on social media. A couple of his lists came across my radar recently (14 Ways Christian Jesus Wrong, 15 Things the Misguided Religious Establishment Does Not Want You to Know). First, I demonstrate what is wrong with the one. Then, I demonstrate how he comes to the conclusions he does in that list. Finally, I expose the fundamental errors of deconversion through deconstruction as it relates to the Bible.
Live from the Pulpit 