Dead Theologians Podcast

The doctrine of hell is more than an academic debate—it shapes the way Christians preach, evangelize, grieve, and care for others.

In the second part of our discussion, we move from historical theology to practical ministry, asking how our understanding of final judgment influences everyday Christian life.

We explore why hell has become an increasingly neglected topic in many churches, whether different views of judgment affect the urgency of evangelism, and how pastors can minister to those grieving loved ones who died outside of faith.

Along the way, we discuss difficult biblical questions surrounding the meaning of "eternal" punishment, the boundaries of Christian orthodoxy, and the importance of holding deep convictions with both humility and charity.

Whatever conclusions listeners reach, our hope is to encourage thoughtful engagement with Scripture and confidence in the justice, mercy, and goodness of God.

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

We've got a lot to learn, if we're willing to listen.

Few doctrines have generated more debate—or more discomfort—than the doctrine of hell.

In this episode, we introduce the three major Christian views of final judgment: Eternal Conscious Torment, Annihilationism, and Universal Reconciliation.

Rather than beginning with modern opinions, we let history speak by reading from influential theologians such as Jonathan Edwards, Origen of Alexandria, and Irenaeus.

As we examine the biblical passages that have shaped this debate, we consider why Christians throughout history have reached different conclusions about the nature of judgment, punishment, and God's ultimate purposes.

We also explore why conversations about hell have largely disappeared from many churches and why understanding these historic perspectives still matters for Christians today.

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

We've got a lot to learn, if we're willing to listen.

What does it actually mean to be human?

In the second half of our conversation on ontology, we move beyond the classic debates over body, soul, and spirit to explore their practical implications.

How does our understanding of human nature shape the incarnation of Christ, the hope of the resurrection, and the nature of heaven itself?

We also tackle two increasingly relevant questions: Do animals possess souls or spirits, and what should Christians make of artificial intelligence?

As AI continues to blur the lines between imitation and consciousness, we ask whether machines could ever become truly personal beings or whether humanity remains uniquely created in the image of God.

Along the way, we compare monism, dualism, and trichotomy while considering what each perspective contributes to a biblical understanding of life, death, and the world to come.

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

We've got a lot to learn, if we're willing to listen.

What does it actually mean to be human?

In this episode of the Dead Theologians Podcast, we explore one of the oldest and most important questions in theology, philosophy, and human existence itself. Are humans made of body and soul? Body, soul, and spirit? Or are we better understood as an inseparable unity?

Featuring quotes and ideas from John Calvin, Karl Barth, and Watchman Nee, we discuss dualism, trichotomy, psychosomatic unity, sanctification, the intermediate state, resurrection, and the biblical language surrounding body, soul, and spirit.

Along the way, we also begin exploring modern questions that emerge from Christian anthropology:

What separates humans from animals? Could artificial intelligence ever possess personhood? And what does the image of God truly mean?

This conversation serves as the foundation for our upcoming discussion on AI, consciousness, and where humanity is heading.

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

We've got a lot to learn, if we're willing to listen.

In Part 2 of our conversation on women in ministry, we pick up where we left off—returning to one of the most discussed passages in this debate: 1 Corinthians 14.

• What does Paul mean when he says women should “remain silent in the churches”?
• Is this a universal command—or a response to a specific situation?

We look at how the Church has historically understood and practiced this, including examples of women serving in leadership and ministry roles throughout church history.

We also explore broader theological approaches—including whether questions like this should be grounded primarily in biblical interpretation, church tradition, or the character of God.

Finally, we bring it down to the practical level:

• How should we approach this conversation today?
• What if we disagree?
• And how do we remain unified as the body of Christ?

This is an “in-house” conversation—one where faithful Christians may land in different places, but share the same desire to honor God and be faithful to His Word.

Resources & Documents Referenced

Assemblies of God Position Paper on Women in Ministry.

Personal study notes & annotated materials (including prior version of the A/G position paper).

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 [email protected]

We've got a lot to learn, if we're willing to listen.

Few topics generate more discussion in the Church today than women in ministry.

In this episode, we begin that conversation by bringing together voices from across church history alongside a biblical framework for understanding the issue. Through guided readings, we hear from Macrina the Younger, Thomas Aquinas, and Catherine Booth—three figures who represent different moments in how the Church has recognized, structured, and defended women’s roles in ministry.

From there, we turn to Scripture.

We walk through key passages often discussed in this conversation, including 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2, and begin asking the deeper question:

Are these instructions universal, or are they addressing specific cultural situations?

This is Part 1 of a larger discussion. We don’t resolve everything here, and that’s intentional.

Our goal is not to force a quick answer, but to think carefully, read faithfully, and approach this conversation with both conviction and humility.

If you have questions, thoughts, or want to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you:

📩 [email protected]

📄 Resources & Documents Referenced

Assemblies of God Position Paper on Women in Ministry

Personal study notes & annotated materials (including prior version of the A/G position paper)

How do we read the Bible today?

Is there only one correct interpretation of a passage?

Are some interpretations simply wrong?

How do we know?

In this episode, Matt & Matt talk teaching approaches, practical frameworks like SOAP Bible study, and how to responsibly apply Scripture to our own lives.

Our goal isn’t to make interpretation feel elusive or academic — but empowering. Scripture was given to the people of God. You can read it. You can grow in it. And you don’t need a seminary degree to engage it faithfully.

If you have questions, thoughts, pushback, or episode ideas, reach out to us at:

📩 [email protected]

We’d love to hear from you!

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📚 Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

If you’d like to go deeper in your own study of Scripture, here are some helpful tools and resources we referenced in this episode:

• StudyLight (studylight.org) – Free access to commentaries, dictionaries, cross-references, and multiple translations

• Bible Study Tools – Devotionals, commentaries, concordances, and searchable Bible tools

• BibleRef – Clear, concise verse-by-verse explanations

• BibleHub – Greek/Hebrew tools, parallel translations, interlinear text, and cross-references

• Logos Bible Software – Offers a free base version and optional paid theological libraries

• Olive Tree Bible Software – A strong mobile-friendly Bible study platform for building your own digital library

• FireBible Study Bible – A Pentecostal study Bible with strong theological and ministry notes

• Archaeological Study Bible – Excellent for historical and cultural background

• Compare multiple Bible translations when studying a passage

• Use a simple structure like SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

• Bring questions to your local church small group and pastor

How should Christians read the Bible?

In this opening episode of Season 2 of the Dead Theologians Podcast, we step back to ask one of the most foundational—and often overlooked—questions of the Christian faith: how do we interpret Scripture in the first place?

To explore this, we listen in on a moderated conversation between two towering early church thinkers with sharply different approaches to biblical interpretation: Origen of Alexandria and Theodore of Mopsuestia. Origen argues that Scripture contains multiple layers of meaning meant to draw believers toward Christ and spiritual transformation, while Theodore insists that faithful interpretation must begin with history, authorial intent, and the literal sense of the text.

Their exchange highlights a tension the Church has wrestled with from the very beginning—between spiritual depth and historical grounding, allegory and literal meaning, transformation and doctrinal clarity.

After the dialogue, hosts Pastor Matt Jones and Matt Lingafelt reflect on why hermeneutics matters for everyday Christians, how interpretation shapes theology and practice, and why no one truly reads the Bible “without interpretation.”

This episode sets the stage for Season 2’s deeper conversations on Scripture, theology, and how we faithfully read God’s Word today.

We loved bringing Season 1 of the Dead Theologians Podcast to you.

In this in-between episode, we reflect on the highs, lows, and unexpected moments from Season 1—and respond to listener questions covering theology, church life, calling, Scripture, and more. We’ll also share a glimpse of what’s ahead as we prepare for Season 2.

If you have questions or topics you’d like us to explore in the future, you can contact us at [email protected].

Thanks for listening. We’ve got a lot to learn—if we’re willing to listen.

We loved bringing Season 1 to you.

Before Season 2 begins, we’re answering listener questions and reflecting on what we’ve learned so far. Here’s a sneak preview of what we’ll be discussing next.