Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24

• Greeks: Christ is foolishness to polytheists, and to intellectuals who embrace philosophy over religion
• Jews:  He is also unacceptable to the Jews (generally speaking).
• The Muslim view of Christ is similar to the Jewish view.

Jews

• Jesus was a failed Messiah, or rabbi whose claims were exaggerated.
• Early Judaism: magician
• Crucifixion stumbling block. Seizing on victorious imagery, as opposed to the language of sacrifice. (Refer to lessons 3, 4, 5, and 6.)
• Much of reaction to Christians is historically conditioned: pogroms, crusades, discrimination, etc.
• Many Jews have met few authentic disciples of Christ.
• For more on Judaism, listen to this podcast.

Islam

• Jesus was only a prophet, and inferior to Muhammad.
• Affirmation: prophethood, sinlessness, miracles, Second Coming, virgin birth, Word of God
• Shirk (association), the unforgiveable sin
• For more on Islam, please read our book Jesus & Islam, or listen to the podcasts on the actions and words of Muhammad (the Hadith).

The uniqueness of salvation through Christ is offensive to moderns, as it was to the ancients. Modern responses:

• Use the lingo of the narrow road but more as rhetoric than really putting our weight behind it.
• Universalism: “Accidental” salvation through Christ? Is there an alternative interpretation of John 14:6?
  • If we really have free will, it is hard to see how everyone will eventually make it.  The non-Christian variety of universalism (all will be ultimately saved) is unbiblical.
  • Some Christians think that some Jews, Muslims, Taoists et al will be saved through Christ, even if they have not  understood who Christ is. Somehow his Spirit is at work among them, and they have an implicit understanding of the Truth.
  • Some hold that, since only an explicit understanding and an explicit faith save, the genuine seekers among the world's religions will receive a post-mortem opportunity to learn about Christ.
  • Yet God is the ultimate Judge (1 Pet 2:23). And he tells us to tell them(Matt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 2:14, 5:18-6:1; Rev 12:11).
• Redefinition of tolerance
  • Tolerance of persons vs. tolerance of ideas. Modern tolerance of ideas entails the pretense that, in some sense, all ideas are equal.
  • Tolerance requires disagreement.
  • Beware simplistic, patronizing attitudes on the part of the "tolerant" -- who seldom have any tolerance or patience for biblical Christians who hold to salvation through Christ.
  • Christianity is both exclusive (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and inclusive (1 Tim 2:4; Rev 7:9). We want everyone to come to the party -- yet we are not the ones deciding who gets admitted. (It is God's party.)
• Yet these modern responses do not work. Put simply, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will get to the Father but through him (John 14:6).
• There is only one monotheistic religion that correctly understands Christ.

Next podcast: What the Atheists are Missing

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The final three podcasts in Christ Through the Ages explore how Christ has been refracted through human thinking. We begin with the polytheists (think Hindu); next time we will discuss monotheists (think Muslims); in the last lesson we will consider the atheists.

There are many differing refractions / reflections of Christ in man-made religions.

• Baha’i: Many paths to God
• Buddhist: enlightenment—but to what?
• New Age movement: we are all gods / christs (we just don't realize it).
• Once again, beware differing Christs (2 Cor 11:2-4)!
• Knowing something about how others believe is helpful.
  • Enhances our appreciation of what we have in Christ.
  • Enables us better to connect with members of other faiths.
  • Increases our conviction about the fundamentals of the faith.

Hinduism

• Welcome to the pantheon! If all faiths are valid, then in a sense none of them is true.
• Yet the Hindu gods and goddesses are not necessarily virtuous.
• Moreover, Hinduism teaches the ultimate dissolution of relationships and individuality.
• By the way, Jesus never visited India.
• Idolatry: we become like what we worship
  • Worship the goddess of wealth (Lakshmi), become materialistic.
  • Devote yourself to a violent and vengeful deity (like the blood-drinking Kali), and what behaviors may be rationalized?
  • The most "loving" Hindu deity, Krishna, cavorts with the cowherds. Hardly a model to emulate!
• The gods and goddesses are not, fundamentally, moral.
  • They are created in man’s image.
  • So it is with all the pantheons: Greek, Roman, Nordic, Egyptian, Babylonian, etc.
• Therefore we can't just add Christ to a pantheon. He claims unique and exclusive worship (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Buddhism

• Parallels emphasized (temptation, self-control, compassion), but these are minor.
• The differences are major:
  • Buddha did not die for our sins.
  • Buddhism is originally agnostic, or even atheistic.
  • Our condition of sinfulness is ultimately unreal, since human souls do not even exist.
• Don't be deceived. Christ is not found in the polytheistic religions (even if a few of this teachings appear there).

Scriptural thought: Ephesians 4:3-7

• There is only one God -- monotheism, not polytheism, is the correct stance. This is a central doctrine of biblical religion (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 -- see also Matthew 22:34-40).
• There is only one faith -- as attractive as liberal "tolerance" may be, it is incoherent: not all faiths can be valid, since they contradict one another.
• There is only one Lord -- and we have enough room in our hearts to serve only one (Matthew 6:24).

For more podcasts on world religions, click here.

Next: Christ Refracted in the World: The Monotheists

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

In this final lesson in the sub-series on Christ as understood through the course of the history of the church, we will focus on the period  from the Reformation onward. Listen to 500 Years of Alternative Christs (25 minutes).

Christ as depicted in theology, practice, and art

• Theology -- often tends to follow practice (trends)
• Action
• Art
  • Iconography -- from aniconic art to depictions of Deity
  • Increasingly powerful imagery -- from Shepherd to Greek god to warrior
  • And in our modern period, Christ is even insulted in art. (See, e.g., Andres Serrano's 1987 Piss Christ.)
  • This could easily be another podcast series!

The Reformation

• A more biblically balanced view, yet (eventually)…
  • Ritual and empty motions deemphasized.
  • Faith and individual obedience stressed.
  • Yet Christ is still a political figure
    • Luther, Calvin, and others
    • Radical Reformation (Anabaptists) tend to be apolitical.
• The end result, especially in the absence of critical thinking about government and society, and the increase of individualism, is a more permissive Christ

From Reformation & Modern Christs: Jesus Hijacked in the absence of scriptural controls

• Che Jesus (Liberation Theology)
• Gay Jesus (LGBT agenda)
• Guru Jesus (Eastern religion)
• ET Jesus

Christ in Evangelicalism

• Evangelicals hold to 3 central teachings:
  • Christ is the Son of God
  • The Bible is the Word of God
  • We are not born Christians, but must willingly be born again.
• Yet most evangelicals today go beyond what is written, in subscribing to the Sinner's Prayer.
  • Revelation 3:20 becomes a proof-text on how to be saved, even though it isn't addressing outsiders, but insiders.
  • Christ is shivering in the cold; please let him in! We are to ask him into our lives by means of a prayer.
• Most evangelicals and other Protestants teach a tame, non-judgmental Christ—one who is “nice."
  • We worship a "nice" God (not too judgmental), and a "nice" Christ (one who won't be too radical or rock the boat).
  • We need to find a "nice" church.
  • We need to be "nice" people.
• Favorite verses in evangelicalism:
  • John 3:16 -- but what about vv.5 and 21?
  • Ephesians 2:8 -- but what about v.10?
  • Romans 10:9 -- but what about v.13 (Acts 22:16), and 6:3?
  • Revelation 3:20 -- but what about vv.15-19?
• Specific study: Revelation 3:14-22
  • Divine (v.14)
  • Demanding (vv.15-16)
  • Challenges materialism (vv.17-18)
  • Disciplining (v.19)
  • Desires connection (v.20)
  • Christus Victor but not in the medieval sense (v.21)
  • One standard for all followers of Christ (v.22)

Conclusion

• The Jesus of the N.T. is the only true Christ.
• He has promised to live in us (John 14)—which has significant lifestyle implications.
• It's up to us to show the world the true Christ: through our lives and our teaching.

Final 3 podcasts -- Christ Refracted in the World: Polytheists, Monotheists, Atheists

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Doctrinal development and changing views of Christ

• Changes occur slowly, accumulating incrementally. Probably most people never even noticed.
• But in the 4th century the church rockets into worldliness.
  • Majority authentic disciples -> only the minority (Matthew 7).
  • At odds with the world -> friends with the world (James 4).
  • Apostolic message authoritative -> Roman message reinterprets and adds to the message.
  • The church “baptizes” pagan practices, attitudes, etc. – creative and certainly pragmatic, but what about authentic  Christian culture?
  • If we want to locate a pivotal date, perhaps 325 (Nicaea) or 381 (Christianity the official imperial religion)

Mary

• Mother of God, Ephesus, 431 AD
• West (Catholic and Orthodox Christianity) v.  East (Church of the East, 400s+)
• The stern Christ (his mother is more approachable)
• She will be understood as Queen of Heaven (see Jeremiah 7:8. 4417-19, 25)), and become a de facto goddess.

Accommodation

• Many martyrs are venerated, and days are assigned to remember them.
• Saint days take over pagan holidays.
• Many pagan customs are accepted, after minor tweaking, as Christian traditions.

Eucharist

• A spectacle
• The cup eventually forbidden to the laity.
• Eucharist brings luck -- even when committing a crime!

Violence

• Christus Victor
• Inquisition (13th century +)
• Christ of the Crusades
• Papal bodyguards and armies
• Meditation on Matthew 5:9.
  • Blessed are the peacemakers.
  • How does the medieval Christ square with Jesus' teaching and character?
    • Jesus' treatment of outsiders?
    • Jesus' teaching about enemies (later in Matthew 5)?
    • Jesus' attitude towards those who have wronged us?
    • Paul’s comments on the gentleness of Christ, e.g. in Philippians 2?
    • Paul's observation that we do not wage war as the world does, in 2 Corinthians 10?
    • The fact that, whereas OT warfare is often literal, NT warfare is spiritualized (Ephesians 6 etc)?
  • How distinctive was the church in its attitude and practice? How distinctive are we?

Next: Christ in Church History: 500 Years of Alternative Christs

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The 25th podcast in this series (21 minutes) is entitled Christ in Church History: The Early Middle Ages. We will also discuss some misunderstandings of Christ in the two centuries leading up to the Middle Ages (2nd-4th centuries).

Some academic considerations

• Though we could track the changes in how Christ is understood, and proclaimed, century by century, for the sake of brevity and simplicity we are condensing things.
   
• Historical terms
  • Apostolic era -- the apostles are still walking the earth.
  • Subapostolic period -- there are still disciples around who knew the apostles.
  • Patristic period (pater is Greek for father, as in the church fathers) -- many documents are produced by church leaders
  • Council of Nicaea (325 AD) -- to resolve the Arian controversy, an "ecumenical" council convenes in the city of Nicaea. The Roman emperor, Constantine, presides.
  • Middle Ages -- 4th century-15th century
  • Reformation -- Protestant attempt to reform the Catholic Church, beginning in the 16th century
• Remember Paul's warning about following a different Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

Earlier controversies

• Docetism -- concerns humanity v. divinity of Christ (1-2 John). The Docetists claimed that Christ only appeared to be human. I was, in fact, immaterial. Late first century.
• Gnosticism -- this was the great heresy of the second century. Since physicality is evil, Gnostics denied the crucifixion and resurrection (e.g. Gospel of Judas). The Gnostics produced many gospels, apocalypses, etc.  Second century.
• Marcion -- The O.T. God is evil, and thus not to be equated with our true Lord. Thus Christ divorced from the God of the Old Testament. Mid-second century.
• Montanism – “new prophecy” (a type of charismatic movement). Jesus speaks directly to the women who lead this movement. Starting in the late second century.

Definitions and Developments

• Bishops -- Instead of a body of elders governing each congregation, one elder becomes the chief bishop. The embryonic ecclesiastical hierarchy of the middle ages is growing.
• Deacons -- Originally servants interfacing with the poor, they increasingly become the servants of the bishops.
• Priests -- The priesthood of all believers gives way to a clergy class.
• Martyrs -- Seek death as a means of salvation / union with God.
• Monks -- React to the worldliness of the church.

Disputes of the Councils

• Nicaea (325): Christ fully divine
• Constantinople (381): Christ fully human
• Ephesus (431): Christ a unified person – Mary mother of God
• Chalcedon (451): Human and divine in one person

Four ways in which Christ is re-imaged from the 2nd century to the early middle ages

• Mother – Luke 1:41-43, 11:27-28.  As Mary is promoted to a quasi-goddess, Christ recedes. She is a mediatrix. (Note: this tenet goes well beyond the notion of the dead interceding for the living; she isn't simply talking to God for us [intercession], but enthroned with the Father and the Son.)
• Communion – In the Eucharist, the presence of Christ is mystical… moving towards the magical.
• Pagan accommodation: celebrations, customs, calendar… E.g. birthday of the Persian god Mithras
• Warrior – Jesus is less and less the Prince of Peace. More on this next time.

About Mary

• Honor those who deserve honor. Mary deserves honor. Please listen to the Mary podcast.
• Yet the sort of devotion shown in Luke 11 is not accepted by Christ. Or if it is, he certainly diminishes its value. What counts is obedience!
• Luke 6:46 – we should aim to cultivate a lifestyle of obedience

Communication & Excommunication

• Not to say these things are trivial, but little grace was shown to those who disagreed.
• Conformity with the creeds produced by the councils is the test of fellowship.

Next: Christ in the Later Middle Ages

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Early sources

• Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• Acts
• Letters
• Apocalypse
• Found also in early documents like 1 Clement, the letters of Ignatius, etc.

Apostolic emphases illustrated in evangelistic speeches:

• Acts 2:14-36
  • Jesus was a real person -- he was from Nazareth (v.22).
  • The scriptures (Old Testament) bear witness to Christ (vv.16-21, 25-28, 34-35).
  • His many miracles also testify to him (v.22)
    • These were indisputable, even to his enemies.
    • In the early centuries, the Jews did not deny his miracles, although sometimes they dismissed them as magic.
  • Crucified (v.23).
    • See 1 Corinthians 1. What was striking was not the agony of his death, but his apparent failure.
    • Little emphasis on the gore. Restraint exercised even in the gospel accounts of Jesus' passion.
  • Resurrected (vv.24-32).
    • Corroborated by eyewitnesses.
    • Emphasized more than the crucifixion.
  • The world /age to come is here:
    • Day of the Lord here (v.20).
    • Kingdom of God -- and Christ is King (vv.30,33).
    • The Spirit is now available (vv.17-18, 33 -- see v.38)
  • Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah (vv.34-36).
    • Son of David
    • Jesus is the Lord (vv.34, 36).
    • Salvation therefore comes in name of the Lord (v.21--see v.38, 22:16).
• Acts 28:23
  • 25 years later than the Pentecost message
  • This is an abbreviated version of most of the material in the Pentecost sermon.
  • Paul had many hours to proclaim Christ -- far longer than Peter did at Pentecost -- and this one-verse compendium summarizes a period of teaching doubtless containing  more content than the Acts 2 sermon:
    • Kingdom
    • Messianic texts

General

• Incarnate God -- both divine and human
• Sinless
• Lord: personal and political implications (esp. beginning in the 2nd century).
• Church as visible body of Christ, though see 2 Corinthians 4:5.
• Yes this compelling portrayal of Christ slowly begins to change. To be continued...

Next: Christ in Church History: The Early Middle Ages

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Today's lesson is from the Apocalypse. Revelation depicts our Lord in a majestic, awesome way, and serves as a much-needed reminder not to trivialize Christ or to forget his role as both Savior and Judge.

"King of Kings" in Scripture

• Ezra 7:12 -- claim of ancient kings
• Ezekiel 26:7 -- frightful context
• Daniel 2:37 -- refers to sovereignty.  Note: God is "Lord of kings" in 2:47.
• 1 Timothy 6:15 -- ultimate sovereignty
• Revelation 17:14 -- more powerful than the evil one, and thus a victor
• Revelation 19:16 -- commands the armies of heaven (like the unnamed angel of Joshua 5:13-15)

"Lord of Lords" in Scripture

• Deuteronomy 10:17 -- (unlike so many earthly authorities) he cannot be corrupted and cares for all equally
• Psalm 136:3 -- his mercy / steadfast love his one of his essential qualities
• 1 Timothy 6:15 -- he is in a class apart, so holy as to be unapproachable, and we are powerless apart from him
• Revelation 17:14 -- we are called and chosen by him (see 2 Thess 2:13-15), and can only respond in faithful living.
• Revelation 19:16 -- The name of Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Conclusions

• Christ is above all earthly kings. He has full authority over the earth.
• Though he is regal, he is still portrayed as a "Lamb" (see also Rev 5, where he is both Lion and Lamb).
• Christ fulfills the Old Testament prophecies.
• Christ is on the level of God himself.
• Those who follow him are his chosen and faithful. They are on the right side in the cosmic spiritual war.

Next: Christ in Church History: The Apostolic Age

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Insights about Christ from the epistle of Jude

• We are kept by Christ (v.1)
• Yet there is a threat: godless men have infiltrated the church (v.4).
• They go beyond the faith that has been delivered to the saints (v.3), otherwise Jude would not have felt compelled to modify his agenda.
• There are Old Testament and other Jewish precedents for false prophets; moreover, the apostles warned us about these persons (vv.5-16, 17).
• We are to keep ourselves in God's love (v.21).
  • We must make the effort to build ourselves up in our faith.
  • We are to pray in the Holy Spirit (spiritually -- with holy lives that correspond to our faith, unlike the false teachers).
  • V.21 also helps us to correctly interpret Romans 8:39.
• We are to look after one another, lest anyone be trapped by these false teachers (vv.22-23).

Conclusion

• We must do our part, and he will keep us safe.
• Am I sure I'm honoring Christ as my Lord, or is my theology a license for me to do what I would have done anyway, only supposedly in the name of the Lord?
• He is more than capable. Jesus is Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore (vv.24-25)!

Next lesson: Revelation--King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Senses of anti in Greek

• against
• in place of (2 Cor 11)

Occurrences of "antichrist(s)" in Bible

• Not in Revelation!
• Only in the letters of John
  • 1 John 2:18, 4:3
  • 2 John 7

Who were the antichrist?

• They are people, not a person.
• They'd left the church. Yet not all who wander are the antichrist!
• They denied the incarnation. Probably these people had been deceived by a false teaching called Docetism.
• Polycarp (69-155 AD)  warned the Philippians that everyone who preached false doctrine was an antichrist. Yet this seems to go beyond the biblical meaning of the term, which concerns God becoming flesh, and no other doctrine. In later centuries, Christian writers began to identify the Antichrist with specific individuals.

What about 2 John?

• There is still a problem.
• Notice v.7, which may be easiest verse to share with others who are looking for a definition of the term.

What about 3 John?

• Here there's no mention of antichrist.
• Diotrephes the narcissist (in 3 John 9) may not deny the incarnation, but...
• The enemy doesn't necessarily reject the gospel - at least not visibly. Heretics come in two shapes.
  • Those who deny fundamental doctrines. This is a later sense of heretic.
  • Those who create factions (haireseis, in Greek) -- the original sense.
  • Both senses entail something false.

Conclusions

• Antichrist means denying the central teaching of Christianity: that God became flesh.
• Virtually everything you hear about the Antichrist these days is rubbish.
• Let's make sure we aren't the antichrist! Appreciate the incarnation!
• Let's also be sure we don't go the way of Diotrephes. Be humble; stay unified; stay connected.
• For more, please hear the podcast on Antichrist in the Last Things series at this website.

Next: Jude--Lordship or License?

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction

• Like all the letters, 1-2 Peter are intended to help us to grow, to continue to live as disciples of Christ to the very end.
• 2 Peter – growth through knowledge
• 1 Peter – growth hrough suffering
• The translations relied on in this lesson are the NIV and that of biblical scholar J. Ramsey Michaels.

The theme of suffering in 1 Peter

• 1 Pet 1: Faith refined in fires of suffering – persecution is starting already, or is on the horizon. In the 60s AD there was a general souring of imperial relationships, though nothing like what it will be 40 years later, once Christianity became illegal.
• 1 Pet 2: Unjust suffering, as opposed to suffering we bring on ourselves or deserve.
• 1 Pet 3: Suffering and hard times affect relationships, e.g. marriage and those within the church family.
• 1 Pet 4: We are to arm ourselves with a robust attitude towards suffering, just as Christ did, and then we will be finished with sin. We can share in Christ’s suffering. Opposition may come in the form of being mocked for taking a strong stand.
• 1 Pet 5: Patience in suffering, knowing our brothers and sisters worldwide are also suffering, and being convinced that, eventually, the Lord will lift us up.

Unjust suffering

• Servants – beaten or mistreated by cruel masters (2:18). In the next section, we read of wives, who may be hurting at hands of unbelieving husbands (3:1).
• Yet all Christians are servants (2:16), so Peter's words to servants (2:18-25) apply to us all.
• Isaiah 53 lies in the background of 1 Peter 2:21-25. This passage is perfectly suited to the point, as this is the famous chapter on the Suffering Servant, and the best known prophecy of Jesus Christ in all the O.T.
• 2:23 suggests verbal abuse (like 4:4 -- notice the theme in the epistle of Christians being alienated / aliens in the world).
• Remember the life of our Lord, esp. his last 24 hours, before Annas and Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, and the contemptuous crowd at the cross. He did not return threats with threats. While we may be tempted to lash out, to trade insult for insult, Jesus exhibited grace.

In his steps

• Our devotional passage (epitomized in 1 Peter 2:21), applies to all of us. Occasionally, if not often, we find ourselves unfairly treated. And frequently, probably daily, we must adjust to unpleasant circumstances or unpleasant people.
• We are called to reject the impulse to demand our rights, or insist on our way.
  • Christians are to be gracious, not ugly. Not
    • Speaking hatefully  when mocked by unbelievers
    • Writing threatening letters or emails
    • Communicating in a disrespectful or distant demeanor, or in derogatory words or tones.
    • Driving selfishly
    • Behaving impatiently
    • Acting like the Judge -- as opposed to leaving our opponents in God's hands.
  • When we can control ourselves in the small things, then we have a chance to follow in his steps when things really get hard. Besides, the day is coming nearer and nearer when Christians are ostracized globally. How will we behave before our enemies?
• Jesus did not demand his rights. He did not call down curses, retaliate in word or deed, or conduct himself vindictively -- ever.
• Rather, he demonstrated a fineness of his character and the genuineness of the Holy Spirit. And he calls us to follow in his steps.

Next talk: 1-3 John: Christ & Antichrist.