Dr. Paulson discusses Plato's analogy of the Cave. He emphasizes how Erasmus used this analogy to confuse God's words of law and gospel. This construction is considered the word of God and the enlightening power that can draw us out of the Cave. But the word of God is not just a tantalizing light but the actual creative power of God to save.

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• Caleb Keith

• Steven Paulson

God's word is not just a guide, making you desire to leave the cave and enter the world of real things. Dr. Paulson dives into how the construction of the Gospel as enabling a new guide confuses God's two words. Scripture is not just another Plato leading you out of the darkness but actually brings new life.   

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• Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

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• Steven Paulson

How do you know when spiritual claims are true or the result of enthusiasm? Dr. Paulson outlines the difference between the external certainty from Christ being delivered to you extra nos and the "internal" revelations of the enthusiast. The true spiritual man is not the one with internal revelations but with the external Chris preached to him.

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Erasmus and Luther struggle over the question of church authority. Erasmus makes an appeal to doctrinal authority based on ecclesial order. Luther counters by appealing to doctrine driven out of Scripture alone. 

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In this episode, Dr. Paulson discusses what it means to be a Saint. This extends our conversation, responding to Erasmus's accusations of novelty against Luther. Does Luther stand against the Saints? Does God hide things from those he calls? Dr. Paulson covers these questions and more this week.

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In what way is the Church a remnant? Luther uses God's preservation of a remnant of faithful teachers and preachers throughout scripture and the Church against Erasmus and his argument that Luther stands alone. This deals with the doctrine of hiddenness and how God does not make his will desirable and evident to us. 

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What is the Church, and who belongs to it? Erasmus assails Luther with an attempt to place him outside of the Church. Luther responds with Scripture and shows that consensus and works are not how the Church is formed but that God gathers the faithful and makes them the Church. 

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• Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th:

• The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional

• Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

More from the hosts:

• Caleb Keith

• Steven Paulson

In this episode, Dr. Paulson examines Luther's response to being accused of standing alone in church history. Luther uses the example of Elijah to demonstrate how feeling alone does not mean God has abandoned his Gospel. Likewise, Luther explains that the church embraced free will not because of Scripture but just as the Trojans embraced the Greek's wooden horse. 

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In this episode of The Outlaw God Podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson examines the accusation against Luther that he was the only person in church history to take a stance on the bondage of the will. Dr. Paulson demonstrates that Erasmus was not only in error but also that this type of "church history" can not be leveraged against scripture.

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In this episode, Dr. Paulson addresses the next set of acusations against Luther. Erasmus accuses Luther of rejecting church history and tradition. He proposes that Luther is teaching that God hid the truth from the Church. Luther responds by showing Erasmus that even the tradition of the Church is unable to find God apart from the place where He wants to be found—namely, the preaching of the Gospel.

Show Notes:

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What’s New from 1517:

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More from the hosts:

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• Steven Paulson