With this episode Theology & Reality begins its latest series of tutorial lecture podcasts on Biblical Theology!

Tune in to get an introduction to the topic of Biblical Theology, as well as to the plan of this series as a whole, which will cover topics as diverse as the role that philosophy plays in reading the Bible, how ancient Israel viewed death and the afterlife, what the Gospel of John can teach us about the person of Jesus Christ, and so much more.

This is guaranteed to be one of our most popular series yet, and if you like what you hear, please consider subscribing to the podcast feed or the website, and please share this with friends and family! You never know who might be interested.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

—1 Peter 3:13-15

What is the field of apologetics? What does it mean to have a rational, logical, and organized defense of the Catholic faith and the Christian worldview? How can you be better equipped to think through the faith, and to provide meaningful answers to anyone who might approach you inquiring about this “hope that is in you”?

Join us in for this new course in apologetics that ranges from the meaning and scope of apologetics, the existence of God, the subject of divine revelation, the historical reliability of Scripture, the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, miracles, and the problem of evil.

We’ll go over all these topics and more during this new theological series of our podcast. To sign up for access to this episode, and all the rest of these episodes going forward, sign up for a paid subscription and follow along week-by-week.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

—1 Peter 3:13-15

What is the field of apologetics? What does it mean to have a rational, logical, and organized defense of the Catholic faith and the Christian worldview? How can you be better equipped to think through the faith, and to provide meaningful answers to anyone who might approach you inquiring about this “hope that is in you”?

Join us in for this new course in apologetics that ranges from the meaning and scope of apologetics, the existence of God, the subject of divine revelation, the historical reliability of Scripture, the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, miracles, and the problem of evil.

We’ll go over all these topics and more during this new theological series of our podcast. To sign up for access to this episode, and all the rest of these episodes going forward, sign up for a paid subscription and follow along week-by-week.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

—1 Peter 3:13-15

What is the field of apologetics? What does it mean to have a rational, logical, and organized defense of the Catholic faith and the Christian worldview? How can you be better equipped to think through the faith, and to provide meaningful answers to anyone who might approach you inquiring about this “hope that is in you”?

Join us in for this new course in apologetics that ranges from the meaning and scope of apologetics, the existence of God, the subject of divine revelation, the historical reliability of Scripture, the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, miracles, and the problem of evil.

We’ll go over all these topics and more during this new theological series of our podcast. To sign up for access to the rest of these episodes going forward sign up for a paid subscription and follow along week-by-week.

“These tales say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found that they were green. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water.”

This Lent, get ready to take a journey through one of G.K. Chesterton’s most beloved works, Orthodoxy, a short book that takes us, his readers, through a series of thought experiments and hypotheses that demonstrate the truth and wonder of the Catholic faith.

In this new podcast series, Dr. Joshua Madden will be going through the book chapter by chapter, highlighting Chesterton’s most interesting ideas and his most persuasive arguments.

In each episode you’ll be invited to learn more about one of the 20th century’s most unique thinkers, and explore how Chesterton’s words can inspire you this Lenten season.

“Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.”

This Lent, get ready to take a journey through one of G.K. Chesterton’s most beloved works, Orthodoxy, a short book that takes us, his readers, through a series of thought experiments and hypotheses that demonstrate the truth and wonder of the Catholic faith.

In this new podcast series, Dr. Joshua Madden will be going through the book chapter by chapter, highlighting Chesterton’s most interesting ideas and his most persuasive arguments.

In each episode you’ll be invited to learn more about one of the 20th century’s most unique thinkers, and explore how Chesterton’s words can inspire you this Lenten season.

This Lent, get ready to take a journey through one of G.K. Chesterton’s most beloved works, Orthodoxy, a short book that takes us, his readers, through a series of thought experiments and hypotheses that demonstrate the truth and wonder of the Catholic faith.

In this new podcast series, Dr. Joshua Madden will be going through the book chapter by chapter, highlighting Chesterton’s most interesting ideas and his most persuasive arguments.

In each episode you’ll be invited to learn more about one of the 20th century’s most unique thinkers, and explore how Chesterton’s words can inspire you this Lenten season.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Why are you a Christian? What possible reasons could you have to hold fast to faith in a world that finds the ideas of God and religion strange and irrational?

This Lent, get ready to take a journey through one of G.K. Chesterton’s most beloved works, Orthodoxy, a short book that takes us, his readers, through a series of thought experiments and hypotheses that demonstrate the truth and wonder of the Catholic faith.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this new podcast series, Dr. Joshua Madden will be going through the book chapter by chapter, highlighting Chesterton’s most interesting ideas and his most persuasive arguments.

In each episode you’ll be invited to learn more about one of the 20th century’s most unique thinkers, and explore how Chesterton’s words can inspire you this Lenten season.

Today’s episode is the final episode of our series on Spiritual Theology.

The first half of the pod focuses on St. Ignatius of Antioch, and his approach to the spiritual life, spiritual warfare, and living a life in imitation of Christ. The second half is taken up with a response I gave to a question that was asked of me on how we are meant to receive Ignatius’ comments on being submissive to spiritual attacks when we also want to be sensitive to people who deal with issues like domestic violence or abuse, or who happen to deal with great tragedies in their lives.

In other words, how do we deal with the tragedy and violence in the world that we might be on the receiving end of, and how do we act in imitation of Christ, without justifying it or making excuses for it. I edited out the question for the sake of that person’s anonymity, but it prompted some good discussion and I wanted to include that in the episode because I thought it was interesting. I was recovering from a cold at the time, and my voice and breathing is a bit raspy, so I hope you’ll forgive me for that.

Theology & Reality is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Much of what I speak about here today can be found in the most significant book on St. Ignatius of Antioch in the modern period, Learning Christ: Ignatius of Antioch and the Mystery of Redemption by Dr. Gregory Vall, an expert theologian and biblical scholar whose course on St. Ignatius and the Apostolic Fathers I was privileged to take while a doctoral student. I can credit Dr. Vall’s lectures and book with anything edifying I have to say about Ignatius.

The quotations of Ignatius in the lecture are taken either from Dr. Vall’s book—whose work includes original translations of Ignatius—or from the Greek/English edition of the Apostolic Fathers translated by Michael Holmes.

Thanks for being here and tuning in after a short hiatus (due to the birth of my sixth child). Now… let’s get back to our regularly scheduled content!

In today’s episode, we begin to explore the question of mystical experience, and what it means to speak about the mystical life.

Thanks for listening!