Our journeys of faith often involve the navigation of doubt. In this lecture, Dr. Luke Irwin explores this dynamic through the Gospel of John. There, Jesus famously says to “Doubting Thomas:” “Have you believed because you have seen? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This statement from Jesus may make us question whether the “eyes of faith” should rely on visible evidence. After all, doesn't the Apostle Paul himself say that “faith comes through hearing” (Romans 10:17)? Nevertheless, study of the Jewish scriptural tradition can inform our exploration, suggesting that God makes himself visible in the human flesh of Jesus Christ for a reason. Join us as Dr. Luke Irwin argues that seeing God in Jesus Christ represents the culmination of Johannine belief as well as the eschatological hope of all believers.

Dr. Luke Irwin is the Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Covenant College. He has received his MDiv from Covenant Seminary and his PhD from Durham University.