The Carson Center Podcast

In this lecture, Don Carson discusses Ezekiel’s visions from God in Ezekiel 8–9, which convey Jerusalem’s widespread idolatry and sinfulness. He contrasts the corruptibility of false worship with the necessity of true worship, and he connects the importance of authentic worship to historical awakenings. Carson underscores that without a clear moral vision, society risks decay.

He teaches the following:

• Ezekiel's denunciation of corrupt worship that relativized God
• How corrupt worship dulls moral vision and invites divine judgment
• The Western world's interest in worship and search for spirituality
• The idol of jealousy in Ezekiel’s vision as an example of syncretism
• God’s judgment of participants of corrupt worship and his mercy on those who grieve over their sin
• How Ezekiel’s vision shows the moral impetus behind the Great Awakening

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

In this lecture, Don Carson examines Ezekiel's prophetic vision from God as recorded in Ezekiel 4–5. The prophet's actions symbolize Jerusalem's impending judgment because of their sin, and Carson highlights the inevitability of God's wrath and the need for repentance. He points to the seriousness of God's judgment in the Old Testament and the ultimate display of God's justice and mercy in the New Testament, particularly through the cross.

He teaches the following:

• Ezekiel’s prophetic actions convey the severity of God’s coming judgment
• God’s wrath is a necessary consequence of the people's wickedness
• Why we must understand repentance
• How Ezekiel 4–5 fits into the context of the Bible’s metanarrative
• The problem of humanity’s sin requires a divine solution
• The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s justice and mercy

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Don Carson introduces the study of Ezekiel, focusing on chapters 1–3 and Ezekiel's calling amid visions of God’s glory and the challenges of a rebellious nation. Carson delves into how Ezekiel faithfully spoke God's words, regardless of opposition, and calls listeners to similar boldness and faithfulness in today's culture.

Carson teaches the following:

• Ezekiel's visions that reflect God’s majesty and power
• Ezekiel's command to speak to Israel
• Ezekiel's call to speak to both the wicked and the righteous
• Ezekiel's equipping to deliver God’s words fearlessly
• How to speak God’s truth boldly in a biblically illiterate culture

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

 Don Carson discusses the strengths and weaknesses of new hermeneutics, arguing that while it offers helpful insights, all Scripture carries an enduring relevance that transcends cultural shifts. He emphasizes the need for humility in biblical interpretation, the clarity of Scripture, and the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding God's Word.

He teaches the following:

• New hermeneutics must be balanced by Scripture's transcendent relevance
• Scripture is clear and accessible for all believers to understand and obey
• God's revelation is complete under the New Covenant
• Understanding Scripture requires both intellectual effort and the Holy Spirit's guidance
• How to evaluate command, sharing, and servant models of leadership
• Humility and a teachable spirit are essential when interpreting God's Word

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Don Carson addresses the challenge of biblical inerrancy and interpretation, particularly in the context of textual variants and modern pluralism. He emphasizes that while textual variations exist, they do not compromise major doctrines, and he calls for a deeper understanding of genre, grace, and cultural relevance in Scripture interpretation.

He teaches the following:

• Why textual variants don't undermine inerrancy or key doctrines
• God's sovereignty shown through Scripture's preservation
• How Genesis 1-3 combines history and symbolism
• Common grace should not be twisted to oppose God's truth
• Parables like the Good Samaritan should be modernized carefully
• Pluralism rejects objective truth, complicating evangelism
• Biblical interpretation must account for cultural relevance

In his lecture on Genesis 39, Don Carson examines the literary structure of the text and highlights Joseph's faithfulness in resisting temptation. Focusing on themes of faithfulness and divine blessing, and the significance of biblical parallelism, Carson compares Joseph's rise in Egypt with broader patterns of Hebrew poetry and scripture interpretation.

He teaches the following:

• How the structure of the text highlights faithfulness and blessing
• Parallelism in Hebrew poetry for its significance for understanding biblical texts
• The importance of understanding biblical literary genre
• Applying wisdom literature in a pluralistic society
• How to interpret apocalyptic texts in light of their genre
• The subjective nature of biblical interpretation and its implications for objective truth
• Biblical interpretation and cultural humility

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

In this lecture, Don Carson explores the role of logic in biblical study, emphasizing the multiple meanings of "logic" and the importance of avoiding exegetical fallacies. He highlights the tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, urging the development of a biblical framework for understanding these concepts rather than relying solely on systematic theology, while acknowledging the limitations of human understanding.

He teaches the following: 

• Logic, its various meanings, and its application in biblical study
• Biblical interpretation and God's sovereignty
• God's sovereignty and human responsibility
• Limitations of understanding God's nature and sovereignty
• Understanding biblical theology and its application in evangelism
• Structure and interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount

Don Carson teaches on the complexities of interpreting 1 Timothy 2:12, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful, context-driven approach to gender roles in the church. He looks to other passages to challenge narrow interpretations of Scripture, urging believers to consider the broader biblical and linguistic context to faithfully understand God’s design and Scripture's meaning.

He teaches the following:

• Applying biblical interpretation principles to understand gender roles
• Using biblical language and meaning to avoid narrow interpretations
• The use of synonyms in John's Gospel
• Biblical examples for the meaning of "love"
• Biblical metaphors and their cultural context
• The balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility

Don Carson explores spiritual rebirth through Jesus's conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, emphasizing the distinction between natural and spiritual birth and God's essential role in salvation.

He teaches the following:

• Spiritual birth and its relationship to natural birth
• The importance of connecting expository preaching with broader biblical truth
• Modeling good Bible study and application, rather than just teaching it
• Understanding the semantic range of words in different languages
• The evolution of words in the Bible and their changing meanings over time

Don Carson focuses on Jesus's message to the church in Laodicea and the parable of the 10 virgins in order to illustrate the importance of understanding biblical texts within their historical and cultural context.

Carson teaches:

• How Jesus uses Laodicea's economic symbols to critique spiritual lukewarmness
• How the contextual reading of Scripture is an essential precursor to careful biblical exegesis
• The symbolism behind Jesus’s foot-washing and what it means for us today