Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

You're to be familiar with the popularized details of the Mary and Nativity stories—the manger, the shepherds, the star. But this week, Dr. Jacobs takes you beyond the familiar Sunday school narrative to explore the robust early Christian tradition surrounding Mary's birth, her betrothal to the elderly widower Joseph, and the supernatural drama unfolding behind the scenes. This episode examines what the Church Fathers believed about the devil's frantic attempts to thwart the Incarnation, from his watchful surveillance of Israel's virgins to Herod's demonic massacre of the innocents. Dr. Jacobs traces the cosmic war between the powers of light and darkness, revealing how God orchestrated an elaborate divine ruse to veil the Messiah from Satan's gaze. Drawing from sources like the Gospel of James, Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom, this deep dive recovers the fuller Christmas story that shaped Christian understanding for centuries.

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

This episode explores the Eastern patristic understanding of Christmas through the doctrines of divine energies, synergy, and man as microcosm. Drawing on Aristotle, Philo of Alexandria, and Church Fathers like Athanasius, the discussion examines why all creation groans for the incarnation and how Christ's becoming creature rebuilds the bridge between God and cosmos. The incarnation is presented not merely as a legal transaction but as the initiation of cosmic healing—a "good infection" that restores humanity's mediating role and allows all creation to partake of divine nature.

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Support the making of this series.

Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

https://www.keipirestaurant.org/first-things-foundation

Dr. Jacobs delivers a talk on hospitality in the ancient world, exploring three stories: Abraham entertaining angels, John Cassian learning from Egyptian monks, and Abba Agathon's encounter with a divine visitor. The presentation examines the theological significance of hospitality in Hebrew and Christian traditions, particularly focusing on Eastern Orthodox patristic interpretations. Delivered at a Georgian Supra event hosted by the First Things Foundation in Greenville, South Carolina. Visit Keipi in Greenville for traditional Georgian cuisine. 

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Other words for the algorithm…

Abraham and the angels, Hebrew Bible hospitality, ancient Near East customs, stranger ethics, John Cassian, Desert Fathers, Abba Agathon, Egyptian monasticism, asceticism, monastic hospitality, fasting and feasting, Georgian Supra, Eastern Orthodox theology, patristic theology, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, church fathers, Orthodox ethics, Christian hospitality, biblical hospitality, sheep and goats parable, love of neighbor, theological virtue, practical theology, ancient world customs, virtue ethics, Christian ethics, moral theology, spiritual formation, monasticism, anachoresis, cenobitic monasticism, apophthegmata patrum, sayings of the Desert Fathers, patristic ethics, biblical interpretation, Old Testament theology, New Testament ethics, Hebrews commentary, Lot and the angels, Road to Emmaus, Tobit, Archangel Raphael, theophany, Christophany, angel visitation, divine testing, covenant theology, Abraham covenant, Sodom and Gomorrah, Job righteousness, ancient virtue, classical virtue, agape love, caritas, philoxenia, Christian hospitality tradition, early Christianity, Byzantine theology, Greek patristics, Eastern Christianity, Western Christianity, East-West theology, theological anthropology, imago Dei, image of God, Matthew 25, eschatology, heavenly feast, messianic banquet, bridegroom theology, joy and fasting, liturgical theology, sacramental life, communion, Eucharist theology, stranger as Christ, Matthew Mathewes, practical philosophy, applied ethics, charitable works, almsgiving, poverty theology, wealth distribution, social justice, Christian socialism, monasticism economics, voluntary poverty, detachment, ascetical theology, spiritual disciplines, prayer and fasting, desert spirituality, Egyptian desert, Palestinian monasticism, Scetes, monastic rules, obedience, humility cultivation, temptation, demonic warfare, spiritual combat, guardian angels, angelology, hierarchy of angels, divine messengers, supernatural encounters, mystical theology, contemplation, theosis, deification, divine energies, Gregory Palamas, hesychasm, Philokalia, nepsis, watchfulness, prayer rope, Jesus prayer, heart prayer, stillness, silentium

Back the East West Lecture Series: theeastwestseries.com 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

Dr. Jacobs is joined by guest Jonathan Pageau for an in-depth discussion on the nature of symbolic thinking and philosophical realism. They explore how symbols function in reality, the relationship between ancient worldviews and modern nominalism, and the distinction between genuine symbology and eisegesis. The conversation addresses the metaphysical foundations of symbolic interpretation, the role of idealism in understanding reality, and whether symbols are merely useful fictions or constitute the actual structure of the world.

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:52 Jonathan’s Background

00:17:31 Symbology 101: What is Symbolic Thinking? 

00:22:01 Philosophical Realism and Ancient Intuition 

00:25:01 Are Symbols Real or Useful Fictions? 

00:37:27 Idealism and the Structure of Reality 

00:44:02 Christ-Shaped Reality and the Logos 

01:12:20 How to Avoid Eisegesis in Symbolic Interpretation

01:23:45 The Danger of Gnostic and Esoteric Fascination 

01:28:58 The Problem of Non-Realist Symbolism 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

This is part three of our three-part series on the seven ecumenical councils, focusing on the philosophical commitments embedded in the final five councils from Ephesus to Nicaea II. We examine the Nestorian controversy and Cyril of Alexandria's defense of moderate realism, the doctrine of complex natures, and the distinction between common faculties and idiosyncratic use in the monothelite debate. The episode concludes with the monoenergist controversy's codification of the essence-energies distinction and the ontology of image and archetype in iconography.

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:36 Dogma vs. Kerygma: Basil's Distinction 

00:10:26 The Council of Ephesus: Nestorius vs. Cyril 

00:14:56 Moderate Realism and Complex Natures

00:23:18 Nestorius's Metaphysical Error

00:30:14 Why Mary Is Theotokos

00:45:02 The Monophysite Controversy After Ephesus

00:49:19 The Council of Chalcedon 

00:57:00 Common Nature, Idiosyncratic Use

01:02:00 The Theandric Operations: John of Damascus's Analogy

01:07:56 The Essence-Energies Distinction in the Councils 

01:13:34 Against Calling It "Palamite" 

01:19:09 Nicaea II and the Ontology of Images 

Other words for the algorithm… 

ecumenical councils, Christology, Chalcedon, Council of Ephesus, Nestorius, Cyril of Alexandria, moderate realism, complex natures, theotokos, patristics, church fathers, early Christian philosophy, Byzantine theology, Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox theology, hupóstasis, essence-energies distinction, Gregory Palamas, Cappadocian fathers, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, John of Damascus, Maximus the Confessor, monothelite controversy, monoenergist controversy, monophysitism, Apollinarianism, hypostatic union, two natures one person, divine energies, theosis, deification, incarnation, Nicene Creed, Constantinople, Council of Chalcedon, hyalomorphism, Aristotle, Plato, realism, nominalism, universals, particular, form and matter, substance, accidents, common nature, Christian metaphysics, patristic theology, systematic theology, philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, Christian philosophy, Thomas Aquinas, scholasticism, medieval philosophy, ancient philosophy, Neoplatonism, divine simplicity, divine freedom, anthropology, theological anthropology, imago dei, image of God, iconography, Nicaea II, body and soul, will, free will, monothelitism, Apollinaris, Athanasius, homoousios, consubstantial, Trinity, divine nature, human nature, rational soul, theandric operations, dogma, kerygma, divine liturgy, anti-Chalcedonian, Council of Constantinople, moderate realist, extreme realism, archetypal ideas, common will, idiosyncratic use, Philippians 2, morphe, kenosis, inflamed blade analogy, David Bradshaw, essence and energies, Aristotle East and West, Gregory of Nazianzus, Chrysostom, ontology, metaphysics, formal properties, genera and species, specific difference

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

This is part two of a three-part series examining the philosophical commitments embedded in the seven ecumenical councils of early Christianity. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explores the metaphysical foundations of Nicene and Constantinopolitan theology, including hyalomorphism, moderate realism, the doctrine of the hypostasis, and the distinction between creation and eternal generation. He’ll walk through how the early church fathers developed sophisticated philosophical positions on the nature of God, creatures, causation, and the individual that were integral to Christian theology rather than later Greek additions.

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Intro 

00:02:15 The Seven Ecumenical Councils wverview 

00:04:42 No ancient divide 

00:21:42 Ancient Christians saw Christianity as philosophy 

00:29:39 Dispelling the progress narrative 

00:38:21 The Arian disput & metaphysical commitments 

00:39:16 What it means to be "created" 

00:43:12 Hylomorphism: form & matter 

00:52:24 Metaphysical realism and the law of contradiction 

01:03:07 Are creatures material? 

01:04:38 Biblical foundations for these commitments 

01:09:20 From Nicaea to Constantinople 

01:11:51 The doctrine of the hypostasis 

01:14:00 Moderate realism: Aristotle vs Plato 

01:23:10 The individual as its own reality 

01:32:15 On "Not Three Gods" 

01:42:32 The distinction of causes: begotten, not made 

01:51:27 Efficient vs formal cause 

02:00:05 Per se vs per accidens causality 

02:02:39 Eternal generation & procession

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

This week we’re taking a look at the seven ecumenical councils of the early Christian church, from Nicaea (325 AD) to Nicaea II (787 AD). Dr. Jacobs traces how each council addressed Christological controversies while establishing foundational theological and philosophical positions. Topics include Trinitarian theology, the nature of Christ's divinity and humanity, the concept of eternal generation, and the distinction between essence and energies. The analysis demonstrates how seemingly disparate theological disputes form a unified narrative centered on the question "Who do you say that I am?"

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Intro 

00:00:22 Christianity’s philosophical commitments 

00:03:21 What are the Ecumenical Councils? 

00:11:19 Keys for understanding the councils 

00:20:59 The Council of Nicaea: is Christ fully God? 

00:29:20 How is the Son begotten?

00:35:18 Council of Constantinople: three persons, one nature 

00:48:32 Are Christians monotheists? 

00:55:50 Is Christ fully human? 

01:04:50 Council of Ephesus: one person with two natures 

01:12:14 Council of Chalcedon: unconfused & unmingled 

01:24:31 The remaining councils

01:26:39 The icon controversy 

Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership

The book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout

This episode concludes a four-part series examining slavery, polygamy, and genocide in biblical texts. The discussion addresses remaining questions about the moral gap between Mosaic law and early Christian teaching, arguing that Scripture reflects a progressive moral pedagogy rather than an immediate ideal. The framework employs natural law theory and Eastern Orthodox theology to distinguish between morally impermissible slavery and morally acceptable servitude arrangements, while contextualizing Old Testament ethics within the Ancient Near Eastern cultural baseline from which God drew his people toward eventual Christian perfection.

All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:01:20 Recapping the Slavery Episode 

00:08:20 Recapping the Polygamy Episode 

00:10:00 Recapping the Genocide Episode 

00:11:27 Why a 4th Episode? 

00:15:00 Slaying of Innocence 

00:19:45 Possibility #1 

00:20:30 Possibility #2 

00:22:15 Possibility #3 

00:23:40 The Rich Man and Lazarus 

00:27:30 The Most Troubling Psalm 

00:36:17 Lingering Concerns with Genocide 

00:42:35 Are the Innocent Damned? 

00:46:35 Loose Ends with Slavery 

00:53:29 The Law and Moral Progress 

01:00:50 Sensitivity of Moral Faculties 

01:06:15 The Ideal of the Logos

Join Jacobs Premium

Join the book club (use code LEWIS)

This week Dr. Jacobs tackles the Eastern Orthodox perspectives on hell, divine providence, and human nature at Northern Arizona University. This conversation explores how Eastern patristic theology differs from Western Christianity on topics including original sin, the fall of man, Christ's descent into Hades, and the possibility of universal salvation. Jacobs traces his journey from philosophical opposition to Christianity through his discovery of the Church Fathers, addressing common objections to Christian theology based on moral intuitions and examining whether eternal damnation contradicts God's goodness. We also have a little tag on Mormonism and the Great Apostasy at the end. 

All the links: 

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Intro 

00:02:07 Background on Dr. Jacobs 

00:14:56 The standard Western view of hell 

00:18:33 The Eastern patristic perspective 

00:32:19 God’s providence and goodness 

00:40:06 Death & Hades in Eastern thought

00:49:19 Death as both enemy and mercy 

00:53:50 Genesis & the fall 

01:13:06 Universal salvation & God’s will 

01:35:03 Steel-manning nominalism 

01:38:53 Christ not knowing the day or hour

01:46:03 Mormonism & the Great Apostasy