Episode 71: Forever the Pain

Episode 71 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "The punishment of the damned will actually be torment forever and ever." Hiram Diaz, creator of the Involuted Speculations blog and contributor at Grassroots Apologetics, affirms. Chris Date, host of the Theopologetics Podcast, denies. Moderated by Mike Felker of The Apologetic Front. This episode contains part 2 of the debate, including the second round of cross-examination, listener Q&A and closing statements. Listen to episode 70, "Perish in Fire," for part 1's opening statements, rebuttals and first round of cross-examination.

Episode 70: Perish in Fire

Episode 70 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "The punishment of the damned will actually be torment forever and ever." Hiram Diaz, creator of the Involuted Speculations blog and contributor at Grassroots Apologetics, affirms. Chris Date, host of the Theopologetics Podcast, denies. Moderated by Mike Felker of The Apologetic Front. This episode contains part 1 of the debate, including opening statements, rebuttals and the first round of cross-examination. Listen to episode 71, "Wailing and Gnashing," for part 2's second round of cross-examination, listener Q&A and closing statements.

Episode 69: When The Saints Go Marching In

Episode 69 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Mike Licona from Risen Jesus Ministries joins me to discuss the resurrection of Jesus and the recent controversy over his interpretation of Matthew 27:51-53.

Episode 68: The Great I Am

Episode 68 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "The deity of Christ is taught in the following texts or families of texts: John 12:41 (cf. Isa. 6 and 53), 1 Cor. 8:5-6, Heb. 1, Col. 1:15-17, and the "I am" statements of Jesus (John 8:24/58, 13:19, 18:5-6)." Dr. James White, Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries and author of The Forgotten Trinity, affirms. Patrick Navas, author of Divine Truth or Human Tradition?: A Reconsideration of the Orthodox Doctrine of the Trinity in Light of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, denies. This episode is part 2 of their debate, including their interaction with Heb. 1, Col. 1:15-17, and the "I am statements" of Jesus (John 8:24/58, 13:19, 18:5-6). Listen to episode 67, "Firstborn of Creation," for part 1's opening statements and interaction with John 12:41 and 1 Cor. 8:5-6.

Episode 67: Firstborn of Creation

Episode 67 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "The deity of Christ is taught in the following texts or families of texts: John 12:41 (cf. Isa. 6 and 53), 1 Cor. 8:5-6, Heb. 1, Col. 1:15-17, and the "I am" statements of Jesus (John 8:24/58, 13:19, 18:5-6)." Dr. James White, Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries and author of The Forgotten Trinity, affirms. Patrick Navas, author of Divine Truth or Human Tradition?: A Reconsideration of the Orthodox Doctrine of the Trinity in Light of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, denies. This episode is part 1 of their debate, including their opening statements and interaction with John 12:41 and 1 Cor. 8:5-6. Listen to episode 68, "The Great I Am," for part 2's interaction with Heb. 1, Col. 1:15-17, and the "I am statements" of Jesus (John 8:24/58, 13:19, 18:5-6).

Theopologetics Debate: Deity of Christ

Announcing what will be the fourth Theopologetics Debate, this time on whether or not the deity of Christ is taught in five specific texts or families of texts, between Dr. James White, Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries and author of The Forgotten Trinity, and Patrick Navas, author of Divine Truth or Human Tradition?: A Reconsideration of the Orthodox Doctrine of the Trinity in Light of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures..

Date: Friday, November 25th, to be published in the podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Resolution: The deity of Christ is taught in the following texts or families of texts: 1 Cor. 8:5-6, Col. 1:15-17, Heb. 1, John 12:41 (cf. Isa. 6 and 53) and the "I am" statements of Jesus (John 8:24/58, 13:19, 18:5-6).

Participants: Dr. James White affirms. Patrick Navas denies.

Debate format:

• 10 minutes opening negative
• 10 minutes opening affirmative
• 28 minutes per each of the five texts/subjects, as follows:
  
  • 7-minute opening presentations (x2)
  • 3-minute rebuttals (x2)
  • 3-minute cross-examinations (x2)
  • 1-minute closing statements (x2)
• (For a grand total of 2 hours 40 minutes.)

Theopologetics Debate: Conditionalism (Again)

Well I've moderated three debates, now it's time to participate in one myself. I've wanted to try my hand at it and get some practice, and have come in recent months to find the case for annihilationism quite compelling. Friends of the show, www.grassrootsapologetics.org, have accepted my invitation to debate the topic.

Date: Tuesday, December 20th (or Thursday, December 22nd if unforeseen circumstances rule out Tuesday), to be published in the podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Resolution: The punishment of the damned will be actual torment forever and ever.

Participants: Hiram Diaz from Grassroots Apologetics affirms. Chris Date, host of the Theopologetics Podcast, denies.

Moderating: Michael Burgos, also from Grassroots Apologetics, will moderate. If he is unavailable, Mike Felker of The Apologetic Front will moderate.

Audience Questions: To submit a question to be posed to either participant, please email the moderators at voluntaryenslavement@gmail.com and mike@theapologeticfront.com with your question and the participant to which you would like it posed.

Debate format:

• 20 minutes opening affirmative
• 20 minutes opening negative
• 10 minutes rebuttal affirmative
• 10 minutes rebuttal negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 30 minutes "audience" Q&A, alternating
• 10 minutes closing negative
• 10 minutes closing affirmative

Episode 65: Immortal

Episode 65 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "Unsaved humans will suffer everlasting conscious torment." Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Ronnie from the Consuming Fire blog denies. This episode is part 2 of their debate, including cross-examination, Q&A and closing arguments. Listen to episode 64, "Consuming Fire," for part 1's opening statements and rebuttals.

Episode 64: Consuming Fire

Episode 64 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "Unsaved humans will suffer everlasting conscious torment." Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Ronnie from the Consuming Fire blog denies. This episode is part 1 of their debate, including their opening statements and rebuttals. Listen to episode 65, "Immortal," for part 2's cross-examination, Q&A and closing arguments.

Episode 63: Lake of Fire

Episode 63 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Larry Dixon, author of The Other Side of the Good News, joins me to discuss why he believes the traditional view of hell, and not annihilationism, is the biblical teaching concerning the fate of the wicked. This episode is part 2 of the interview; for part 1, listen to episode 62, "The Other Side."

Episode 62: The Other Side

Episode 62 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Larry Dixon, author of The Other Side of the Good News, joins me to discuss why he believes the traditional view of hell, and not annihilationism, is the biblical teaching concerning the fate of the wicked. This episode is part 1 of the interview; for part 2, listen to episode 63, "Lake of Fire."

Episode 61: Lost Forever

Episode 61 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6." Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 3 of their debate, including Q&A and their closing arguments. Listen to episode 59, "God Save Us All," for part 1's opening statements and rebuttals, and listen to episode 60, "No More One More Chance," for part 2's cross-examination.

Episode 60: No More One More Chance

Episode 60 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6." Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 2 of their debate, including cross-examination. Listen to episode 59, "God Save Us All," for part 1's opening statements and rebuttals, and listen to episode 61, "Lost Forever," for part 3's Q&A and closing arguments.

Episode 59: God Save Us All

Episode 59 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Debate topic: "Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6." Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 1 of their debate, including their opening statements and rebuttals. Listen to episode 60, "No More One More Chance," for part 2's cross-examination, and listen to episode 61, "Lost Forever," for part 3's Q&A and closing arguments.

Once Enlightened--A Study of Hebrews 6:4-6

A friend of mine texted me asking that I do a blog post exegeting Hebrews 6:4-6, which reads,

4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

In this series I will exegete the passage to the best of my ability, explaining what I think it means and what it does not mean. And I'll do so without isolating it from the rest of Scripture as so many often do, while not simply saying it can't mean what my friend thinks it means because of such and such other passages. So with that introduction, let's begin with the first clause of the passage.

Theopologetics Debate: Conditionalism

Announcing what will be the third Theopologetics debate! This time on the topic of annihilationism or conditional immortality. Participants have agreed to field questions from you, my listeners, so send them my way at theopologetics@hotmail.com. Stay tuned!

Date: Friday, October 21st (or Tuesday, October 25th if unforeseen circumstances rule out Friday), to be published in the podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Resolution: Unsaved humans will suffer everlasting conscious torment.

Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan of http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/ affirms. Ronnie, creator of the Consuming Fire blog, denies.

Debate format:

• 20 minutes opening affirmative
• 20 minutes opening negative
• 15 minutes rebuttal affirmative
• 15 minutes rebuttal negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 20 minutes "audience" Q&A, alternating
• 10 minutes closing negative
• 10 minutes closing affirmative

Theopologetics Debates: Evangelical Universalism

Announcing the second ever Theopologetics debate! This time on the topic of "evangelical universalism." Participants have agreed to field questions from you, my listeners, so send them my way at theopologetics@hotmail.com. Stay tuned!

Date: Friday, October 7th (or Tuesday, October 11th if unforeseen circumstances rule out Friday), to be published in the podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Resolution: Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6.

Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan of http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/ affirms. Jason Pratt, contributor to The Evangelical Universalist, denies.

Debate format:

• 30 minutes opening affirmative
• 30 minutes opening negative
• 15 minutes rebuttal affirmative
• 15 minutes rebuttal negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative*
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of affirmative
• 10 minutes cross-examination of negative
• 20 minutes "audience" Q&A, alternating
• 15 minutes closing negative
• 15 minutes closing affirmative

* Negative has offered to be cross-examined first if the affirmative so chooses.

Episode 58: God Is in the House

Episode 58 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Stephen Atkerson from the New Testament Reformation Fellowship joins me to discuss house churches and New Testament patterns of church practice. This episode contains part 2 of the interview. Listen to episode 57, "God is in the House," for part 1.

Episode 57: Our House

Episode 57 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Stephen Atkerson from the New Testament Reformation Fellowship joins me to discuss house churches and New Testament patterns of church practice. This episode contains part 1 of the interview. Stay tuned for episode 58, "God is in the House," for part 2.

Episode 56: Everlasting God

Episode 56 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Glenn Peoples joins me to discuss Christology, philosophy of mind and the crucifixion of Christ. Was God the Son alive and conscious while the man, Jesus, lay dead and unconscious in the tomb? Or did the Godman die both as man and as God? And can either of these views be considered orthodox?

Analyzing Annihilation: JPH vs. EWF (Round 2)

In round 1 we looked at J.P. Holding's claim in "An Examination of Annihilationism" that the Greek word apollymi, rendered "perish" in describing the final fate of the wicked, more strongly supports the traditional view of hell than it does the conditionalist position. I concluded such was not the case at all, and that the word more strongly supports conditionalism than traditionalism. My friend Michael Burgos agreed that Holding was running away from the clear meaning of the word, and that apollymi clearly fits within a conditionalist framework, but did not feel that it was any less consonant with traditionalism. So I gave the round to Fudge, and Mike would say, I guess, that round 1 was a draw (though he does find statements in Revelation compelling, which we'll get to later in this series). And so the bell rings in round 2.

The Day God Fell Asleep?

In the comments thread following my previous post, listener Ronnie pointed out that it's possible to be a dualist and yet maintain mortalism, that immaterial human souls are completely unconscious in death awaiting the resurrection. I pointed out, hastily and perhaps incorrectly, that that would still be considered heresy by those who can't accept that as deity, Jesus either remained alive while His body lay dead in the tomb, or died along with His body.

Ronnie suggested in email that this objection seems to be to the death of the soul, not necessarily its being rendered unconscious. He pointed out the seeming likelihood that while living but asleep, the Word was likewise unconscious. Because I don't want to derail that conversation from conditionalism, I pose the question here:

Could it be that for three days God the Son was, as God, unconscious, and that not violate the immutability and triunity of God?

Analyzing Annihilation: JPH vs. EWF (Round 1 Post Mortem)

In round 1 of my series analyzing annihilation, I argued that the meaning of apollymi used to describe the final state of the wicked more heavily favors Edward Fudge's view of hell, commonly called "annihilationism" or "conditionalism" or "conditional immortality," than it does J.P. Holding's somewhat more traditional view of hell as argued for in his article, "An Examination of Annihilation." My post received a lot of great comments and the discussion is ongoing.

The latest comment posted there was made by my friend, Michael Burgos of Grassroots Apologetics. As I began to respond, however, I realized that I had so many thoughts to articulate that it would make more sense to write a whole blog post rather than squeeze my large response into the comments area at the end of the previous post.

Analyzing Annihilation: JPH vs. EWF (Round 1)

It was my immense pleasure to recently interview Dr. Edward Fudge on the topic of annihilationism or conditional immortality. The first half of that interview can be heard in episode 54, "Burn It Up;" the second half is in episode 55, "Eternal Fire." As I stated when that interview was over, I felt left with little reason--apart from tradition--to maintain the traditional view of hell as eternal conscious torment. And I was pleased to hear from a friend of mine who, having been skeptical of Fudge's view in the past, found his case compelling.

However, my friend did ask what I thought of an article by J.P. Holding, "An Examination of Annihilation," in which Holding argues for the traditional view and against annihilation. As I began to read it, I was at first disappointed. The earliest points made in the article are, in my humble opinion, very weak. However, as the article progresses, Holding makes some points deserving of examination.

I told my friend that I'd like to discuss those points together, one-by-one, taking them as seriously as we are both beginning to take annihilationism. It dawned on me, however, that our mutual examination of Holding's article might prove helpful to those who, like us, are beginning to consider this minority alternative to hell. So, assuming my friend does not mind (he is a fellow blogger), I'll publish that interaction here, and I welcome your feedback.

Episode 55: Eternal Fire

Episode 55 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Edward Fudge joins me to discuss annihilation as an orthodox alternative to the traditional view of hell. This episode contains part 2 of the interview in which I present Edward with common traditionalist challenges to his view. Listen to episode 54, "Burn It Up," in which we focus on Dr. Fudge's book and the doctrine of annihilationism or conditional immortality.

Episode 54: Burn It Up

Episode 54 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Edward Fudge joins me to discuss annihilation as an orthodox alternative to the traditional view of hell. This episode contains part 1 of the interview in which we focus on Dr. Fudge's book and the doctrine of annihilationism or conditional immortality. Listen to episode 55, "Eternal Fire," for part 2 in which I present Edward with common traditionalist challenges to his view.

Episode 53: Church of Christ, Sleep No More

Episode 53 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Edward Fudge joins me to discuss the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and the Churches of Christ which have emerged from it. This episode contains part 2 of the interview; see episode 52, "Restored," for part 1.

Episode 52: Restored

Episode 52 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. Edward Fudge joins me to discuss the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and the Churches of Christ which have emerged from it. This episode contains part 1 of the interview; see episode 53, "Church of Christ, Sleep No More," for part 2.

Episode 51: 144,000

Episode 51 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Mike Felker from The Apologetic Front joins me once again to discuss the Jehovah's Witnesses, this time focusing in particular on their "two-class" doctrine of life in the eternal state. This episode contains part 2 of the interview; see episode 50, "Second Class Citizen," for part 1.

Episode 50: Second Class Citizen

Episode 50 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Mike Felker from The Apologetic Front joins me once again to discuss the Jehovah's Witnesses, this time focusing in particular on their "two-class" doctrine of life in the eternal state. This episode contains part 1 of the interview; see episode 51, "144,000," for part 2.

Episode 49: A Man and a Woman

Episode 49 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Michael Glatze joins me to discuss biblical sexuality and his movement out of the homosexual lifestyle. This episode contains part 2 of the interview, focusing on the Bible and homosexuality, and how culture gets it wrong. Listen to episode 48, "Changed Man," for part 1 of the interview discussing Michael's story and answers to criticisms leveled against him.

Episode 48: Changed Man

Episode 48 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Michael Glatze joins me to discuss biblical sexuality and his movement out of the homosexual lifestyle. This episode contains part 1 of the interview, focusing on Michael's story and answers to criticisms leveled against him. Listen to episode 49, "A Man and a Woman," for part 2 of the interview discussing the Bible and homosexuality, and how the culture gets it wrong.

Episode 47: The Day God Died

Episode 47 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Joel B. Green joins me to discuss the view of the soul known as "physicalism" and its implications when it comes to the nature of Jesus Christ.

Coming Soon: Interview On the Restoration Movement

It is my pleasure to announce that next week I'm scheduled to interview an anonymous guest on the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, from which has arisen, among other churches, the Churches of Christ, and the International Churches of Christ (ICoC). Stay tuned!

Limited Atonement and 2 Peter 2:1

As I explained in episode 44 of my podcast, in some recent email and phone interaction with Jim Wallace of the Please Convince Me podcast, we came to agree that John 6:37 made a compelling case for the Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace, which teaches that everyone whom the Father chooses for salvation will inevitably come to faith in Jesus Christ. (I understand many of you reading may disagree; please wait to comment on that passage until I get to the "I" in my "TULIP" podcast series.) But shortly thereafter, someone who commented on the PCM Facebook page linked to a debate betweeen Dr. James White and Michael Brown (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3), and in part 3 of that debate, Brown challenged Dr. White with 2 Peter 2:1 which reads,

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

I had not realized the challenge this verse seems to present to the doctrines of Limited Atonement and/or Perseverance of the Saints, but Brown explained it well. Notice that here Peter seems to explicitly say that the "false teachers" were "bought" by "the Master," bringing destruction upon themselves. Limited Atonement and Perseverance of the Saints together assert that Jesus died only for the elect (and not every human being) and that the elect will forever remain in Christ through faith, but this verse seems to suggest that Jesus died even for those false teachers who once were among the believers but later denied Christ.

This seemed to me to be a pretty formidable challenge, and so I waited anxiously to hear Dr. White's response, and thereafter did some additional research. I no longer think this particular challenge is very persuasive, and here's why.

Episode 44: Mail Call Time

Episode 44 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! In this episode, I read some recent feedback from listeners and my responses, discussing Oneness Pentecostalism, Israelology and the Calvinist doctrines of Total Depravity and Irresistible Grace.

Evangelists to the East?

Theopologetics needs you again! I have for some time wanted to do an episode on the Eastern Orthodox Church, but know very little about it. I would love to have a guest on who has come out of the Orthodox Church, or whose ministry is especially geared toward them. Can you help me find a guest to have on the podcast?

Coming Soon: Interview with Joel B. Green

I'm excited to announce that Dr. Joel B. Green, Associate Dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary, has agreed to appear on the Theopologetics Podcast to talk about physicalism in order to give his answer to some Christological implications of physicalism which I've discovered since Dr. Glenn Peoples' appearance. Stay tuned!

Episode 43: Israel, My Beloved

Episode 43 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! My good friend David Jeroslow joins me for the second installment in our Israelology series to discuss the people and nation of Israel and her relationship to the Church.

Episode 42: Post Mortem

Episode 42 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics joins me to discuss his recent debate on my show with Oneness Pentecostal, James Anderson. This episode contains the second half of the discussion; see episode 41, "The Aftermath," for the first half.

Episode 41: The Aftermath

Episode 41 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics joins me to discuss his recent debate on my show with Oneness Pentecostal, James Anderson. This episode contains the first half of the discussion; see episode 42, "Post Mortem," for the second half.

Episode 40: She's the Boss

Episode 40 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Matt Slick from the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry joins me to discuss the appropriateness of women pastors and elders.

Episode 39: This Generation Shall Not Pass

Episode 39 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! In Matthew 24:34 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." The meaning of Jesus' statement seem obvious, but most Christians in America today think He was saying something else. How is the phrase, "this generation," used by Jesus and others in the Bible? And what impact does that have on Jesus' words in the Olivet Discourse?

Theopologetics Needs You!

As I've mentioned in a couple of episodes, next week I'll be moderating a debate which will appear on my podcast. Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics will be affirming the resolution, "The Son personally preexisted the incarnation with the Father." Oneness Pentecostal James Anderson from Evidential Faith will be arguing the negative. Included will be a cross-examination period where Mike and James will be asking each other questions. And here's where you come in:

After Mike and James have finished cross-examining one another, before their closing arguments, I would like to pose some difficult questions to each of them. I don't want to toss them softballs; I want to pose questions to them which genuinely challenge their respective positions. I have a few in mind, but I need your help! Please send me any questions you'd like to see one or both of them answer by emailing me at theopologetics@hotmail.com. I'll pick what I think are the most challenging ones for each of them, and which they haven't already answered as part of the debate up to that point.

So send me your questions, and maybe you'll get to hear yours in this exciting (in my opinion) upcoming episode of the Theopologetics Podcast!

Episode 36: God Makes No Mistakes

Episode 36 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Jamin Hübner from RealApologetics.org joins me to discuss the doctrine of biblical inerrancy.

Episode 35: Contradicting Words

Episode 35 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Atheists and other non-Christians skeptical of the Bible's reliability and divine origin are fond of pointing to what might appear to be contradictions in Scripture, of which there are alleged to be hundreds. In this episode I begin to step through one popular list, demonstrating how a close look at the text reveals that they are not contradictions at all.

Episode 34: When in Rome

Episode 34 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Dr. James White from Alpha & Omega Ministries joins me to discuss Roman Catholicism, Sola Scriptura and the issue of authority.

Episode 33: Call On The Name

Episode 33 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! In a number of places, the Bible uses variations of the phrase, "Call on the name of the Lord," and its use in reference to Jesus Christ proves that He is God.

Episode 32: Hey Ladies

Episode 32 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Mary Jo Sharp from Confident Christianity joins me to discuss women in apologetics.

Episode 31: Just Dropped In

Episode 31 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! The first point of Calvinism, the "T" in "TULIP," stands for "Total Depravity." We are by nature in opposition to God, in bondage to sin, and will never, left to our own devices, turn to Christ.

Episode 30: Letter 2 My Unborn

Episode 30 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Scott Klusendorf from Life Training Institute joins me to discuss abortion and persuasively communicating the pro-life message.

Episode 29: Blah Blah

Episode 29 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Mike Abendroth from No Compromise Radio joins me to discuss the biblical gift of tongues.

Coming Soon: Interview with Scott Klusendorf

I'm excited to announce that Scott Klusendorf from the Life Training Institute has agreed to appear on the Theopologetics Podcast to talk about abortion and how to persuasively communicate the pro-life message. Stay tuned!

Episode 28: Testify

Episode 28 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Jim Wallace from Please Convince Me joins me to discuss the gospels as reliable eyewitness testimony to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Episode 27: In the Beginning

Episode 27 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! Steve Ham from Answers in Genesis joins me to discuss the book of Genesis, creation and the authority of Scripture.

Coming Soon: Interview with Jamin Hübner

Jamin Hübner hosts the Real Apologetics podcast, to which I was recently turned on by my friend Mike Felker. Younger than me by an embarassing number of years, Jamin is the Professor of Theology at the Jesus Bible Institute, has written several books including Light Up the Darkness and The Portable Presuppositionalist, holds a BA in Theology from Dordt College and is currently pursuing his MA in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary. And to top off all of that, he regularly contributes to James White's Alpha and Omega Ministries blog.

Jamin was gracious enough to agree to let me interview him in an upcoming episode of the Theopologetics Podcast to talk about the inerrancy of Scripture. Stay tuned!

Coming Soon: Interview with Mike Abendroth

Mike Abendroth is Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Bible Church (BBC) in West Boylston, MA, and hosts No Compromise Radio, which "is dedicated to the ongoing proclamation of Jesus Christ, even Him crucified, His exclusive and saving gospel, and His inerrant Word." Pastor Mike joins me in an upcoming episode to talk about the gift of tongues: what it isn't (but is often believed to be today), and what it really is according to the Bible. Stay tuned!

Coming Soon: Interview with Steve Ham

For many years I have been a huge fan of Answers in Genesis, and have been immensely edified by their ministry, which has taught me to believe, defend and proclaim the truth of the Bible... from the very first verse. Steve Ham is Senior Director of Outreach for AiG, and has graciously agreed to talk with me about creation, the authority of Scripture, and about his recent book, In God We Trust: Why biblical authority matters for every believer. Stay tuned!

Episode 26: More Than a Feeling

Episode 26 of the Theopologetics Podcast is now available! In this episode I interview Greg Koukl from Stand to Reason on the importance of careful thinking when it comes to the Christian faith.

Coming Soon: Interview with Jim Wallace

Jim Wallace hosts the Please Convince Me Podcast, in which he powerfully presents the evidence for biblical Christianity. In an upcoming episode of my podcast, Jim will join me to talk about the reliability of the gospels, from his unique perspective as a detective working cold case homicides. Stay tuned!

Coming Soon: Interview with Greg Koukl

I've mentioned a couple of times that there was the possibility that Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason might appear on my show, and sure enough in response to an email I sent STR this morning, we've got it scheduled for the middle of next week! I'll be talking to Greg about the importance of careful thinking, and not relying upon primarily emotions and experiences, in an episode I'll call, "More than a Feeling." As Greg has said, "Emotions are what make life delicious, careful thinking is what makes life safe." Stay tuned!

With Gentleness and Respect...

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. (NLT)

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. (NASB)

In this passage from 1 Peter 3:15-16, often cited in support of doing the work of apologetics, Peter says that while we are always to be ready to give an answer or defense, we are to do it with gentleness and respect. We apologists are fond of the defense part, but it seems we too often ignore the gentleness and respect part. I often fail that part, but I think I've improved some, and I pray God will continue to grow me.

I post this in the hope that you, reader, will remember this admonition when you talk about your faith with others.