In this episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I am joined by a close friend of mine, asking and answering the question, “Who is a Jew?” This will be the first in a periodic series discussing Israelology, the study of Israel and her people.

Music

Paul Wilbur, Roni Roni Bat Zion, from the Jerusalem Arise! album, 2002

Promoted Resources

Stand to Reasonwith Greg Koukl

The Stand to Reason radio program is live on the air every Sunday 2-5 pm PST AM on 740 KBRT.

Also available in podcast form; each episode is published to the podcast the day after it airs.

Terminology

Israelology: the subdivision of systematic theology incorporating all theological doctrines concerning the people of Israel (Fruchtenbaum).

Systematic Theology: the attempt to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs.

Replacement Theology: also known as supersessionism, a view which holds that the Church has “replaced” Israel as God’s people and as the recipients of the promises originally made to them.

Jew: any physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Gentile: any non-Jew.

Samaritans: Jews by descent whose ancestors syncretized with pagans whom they married, and thus no longer worshipped God in truth, and were thus outside the Israelite community.

Proselyte: a Gentile who completely converted to Judaism, and was thus treated as a Jew, but never called one.

Biblical References

Jews

The “people of the sons of Israel,” the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Exodus 1:1-14

Acts 7:8

Exodus 3:6, Matthew 22:32, Acts 3:13

Distinguished by foreigners from themselves using the word “Hebrews”

Genesis 14:13 (Abram the first “Hebrew”)

Genesis 40:15

Exodus 1:15-19

“Jew” originally a member of the tribe of Judah or kingdom of Judah, distinct from Israelites

2 Kings 16:5-6

Jeremiah 32:1-3,12; 40:11

Later extended to descendants of all the twelve tribes, distinguishing them from Gentiles

John 2:13

Acts 2:5; 14:1-2

Romans 3:29

Samaritans

2 Kings 17

Ezra 4

John 4:7-9

Acts 8:14-17, contrasted with Acts 10:44-47

Proselytes

Exodus 12:48

Matthew 23:15

Acts 2:10

Acts 6:3-5

Acts 13:43

Suggesting Gentile believers are “spiritual Jews”

Luke 3:8

Romans 2:28-29; 4:11; 10:12

Galatians 3:7,28-29

Colossians 3:11

Distinction between believing Jews and believing Gentiles

Acts 15:5-6,23-24,28-29

In this episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I discuss the historic Christian doctrine which teaches that Jesus Christ is God, and I’ll address some of the challenges leveled by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who teach that Jesus is a created being and is not God.

Music

FLAME, God Man, from the Flame album, 2004

Promoted Resources

What Color is the Sky in Their World? Podcast, with Phil Naessens.

Also check out the blog of the same name.

The Trinity: Evidence and Issues, by Robert Morey.

An excellent resource providing powerful historical and biblical evidence that Jesus is God.

Terminology

Christology: the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: adherents to a counterfeit form of Christianity who, among other serious false views, believe Jesus Christ is the first being God created.

Theanthropos: a Greek word meaning “God Man,” describing Jesus Christ as being God in human flesh.

Trinity: the historic Christian teaching that there is one and only one God, that the Father is that God, that the Son is that God, and that the Holy Spirit is that God, but that they are not each other.

Historical References

Creeds

Nicene Creed

Athanasian Creed

Church Fathers

Clement of Rome: Letter to the Corinthians, “Second Epistle” of Clement

Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians, Letter to the Romans, Letter to the Trallians, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Letter to Polycarp

Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho (chapter 128)

Irenaeus: The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

Clement of Alexandria: Exhortation to the Heathen (chapter 10), The Paedagogus (Book I)

See my refutation of other Church Fathers claimed by the Jehovah’s Witnesses to support their view at my blog

Biblical References

Jesus is God

John 1:1-3,14

Colossians 1:16-17

Hebrews 1:1-12 (see also my lengthy examination of this text at my blog)

John 20:28

Acts 20:28

Romans 9:5, cf. Romans 1:25

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NLT)

Titus 2:13

2 Peter 1:1

Revelation 22:13, cf. Revelation 1:8, 21:6

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ challenges

Colossians 1:15

Psalm 89:27 has God making David, the eigth and youngest of his father’s sons, God’s “firstborn”

See also Genesis 48:17-19

For more, see my blog.

John 3:16

Hebrews 11:17 calls Isaac the “only begotten son” of Abraham, even though Abraham had other sons

For more, see my blog.

Proverbs 8:22, cf. 1 corinthians 1:30

Revelation 3:14

But God is also called “the beginning” in Revelation 21:6

Luke 20:20 uses the same Greek word to refer to the power or rule of the governor

John 14:28 and 1 Corinthians 11:3

For more, see my blog.

In this episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I discuss “baptism in the Holy Spirit,” which Charismatics, Pentecostals and some others claim is a special empowering by the Holy Spirit manifested through spiritual gifts, and is separate and distinct from the saving indwelling of the Holy Spirit experienced by all genuine Christians.

Music

Knowledge MC, Baptized in Flames, from the The Book of Knowledge album, 2005

Oaks Worship, Pour Your Spirit, from the Awaken Me album, 2009

Terminology

Pneumatology: the study of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecostalism: a “renewal” movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the “baptism in the Holy Spirit,” an event separate and distinct from the saving indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Charismatics: a larger group of professing Christians, including Pentecostals, who emphasize the availability to believers today of tongues and other miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit as seen in Acts.

Gentile: a non-Jew, one not descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Godfearers: Gentiles who attached themselves in varying degrees to Judaism, engaged in Judaic religious ideas and practices.

Historical References

Clement of Rome: Letter to the Corinthians

Barnabas (various candidates): Epistle of Barnabas

Biblical References

In support of a temporal “gap” and distinction between baptism in the Holy Spirit, experienced only by some, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, experienced by all saved believers.

John 20:22

Matthew 10:19-20

Acts 1:4-5

Acts 2:2-4

Acts 11:15-17

Acts 9:3-17

Acts 8:12-17

Acts 19:1-7

In opposition to any limited scope for baptism in the Holy Spirit; it is for all believers in the expanding scope of God’s Kingdom

Acts 2:15-21 quoting Joel 2:28-32

Contrasted with Numbers 11:16-17,25-29

Gift broadened to Samarians in Acts 8:14-17

Broadened to God-fearers (Gentile followers of Judaism) in Acts 10:44-47

Broadened to unobservant Gentiles in Acts 19:1-7

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all Christians and marks one as a genuine believer

1 Corinthians 12

John 7:37-39

Receiving the Holy Spirit is a promise that we are saved

Romans 8:9-11,15-17

2 Corinthians 5:4-5, cf. Matthew 7:7-8

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Ephesians 1:13-14

Also, since “baptism” sometimes refers to this baptism in the Holy Spirit, and not physical baptism in water…

1 Peter 3:20-21

Romans 6:3-4

Galatians 3:27

Colossians 2:11-12

Apostles didn’t have Holy Spirit before Pentecost

Luke 24:49 cf. John 20:22

In this third episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I interview a guest concerning the topic of “presuppositional apologetics,” an approach to apologetics in which one does not attempt to provide evidence that proves the truth claims of Christianity, but rather that the presupposition that God exists is necessary to account for many of the things we instinctively know to be true.

Music

Dead or Alive, You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), from the Youthquake album, 1985

Promoted Resources

Say Hello to my Little Friend, aka the Beretta Cast, with Glenn Peoples.

Glenn also created my podcast’s theme music, so visit his Theme Music New Zealand for all your theme music needs.

Unbelievable?, with Justin Brierley.

Available on Premier Christian Radio in the United Kingdom, Saturdays 2:30-4:00pm.

Also available in the Unbelievable? podcast (new episodes posted shortly after they air).

Sinner Ministries, with Sye Ten Bruggencate.

“Nobody needs arguments for the existence of God. Nobody needs proof that God exists. The Bible teaches that those who claim that God does not exist are merely suppressing what they already know to be true.”

Terminology

Epistemology: the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope (limitations) of knowledge.

Evidential Apologetics: an approach to defending the Christian faith from critics by presenting evidence that God exists.

Presuppositional Apologetics: an approach to defending the Christian faith from critics by demonstrating that only a biblical world view can account for evidence in the first place.

Circular Reasoning/Logic: as I’m using it in this episode, appealing to or relying upon something to account for the existence of that very thing; for example, believing that the future will be like the past because the future has in the past been like the past.

Biblical References

1 Peter 3:15

Romans 1:18-21

Psalm 14:1

Proverbs 26:4

In this second episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I discuss the topic of “baptismal regeneration,” the belief that water baptism is a requirement of salvation, the means by which our sins are remitted.

Music

Al Green, Take Me To the River, from the Definitive Greatest Hits album, 2007

Britney Spears, Oops!… I Did it Again, from the Oops!… I Did It Again album, 2000

Alison Krauss, Down To the River To Pray, from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, 2000

Promoted Resources

Theology Today Apologetic Ministries Podcast, with Phil Naessens.

Also check out the Theology Today blog.

Terminology

Soteriology: the study of religious doctrines of salvation

Baptismal Regeneration: A view shared by the Roman Catholic Church and a few other Christian sects which holds that the physical act of water baptism is a requirement for salvation, that in fact salvation happens at baptism when one’s sins are remitted or “washed away.”

Churches of Christ: A group of autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices, including a view of baptism similar to baptismal regeneration.

“Straw Man” Logical Fallacy: An informal logical fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent’s position. A poor imitiation of an opponent’s argument may be easy to “knock down,” but doesn’t actually address the argument.

Protestant: Generally, any Christian who rejects the authority of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. More specifically, related to the view of those reformers who separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the Protestant Reformation.

Apostolic Origin: Written by one of Jesus’ original Apostles.

Denying the Antecedent Fallacy: A fallacy in which one first says, “If A is true, then B is true,” and then says that “Because A is not true, then B is not true.” This does not logically follow.

Type: Something physical which symbolically prefigures a spiritual reality.

Grace: Unmerited (not earned) favor from God.

Historical References

Creeds

Apostle’s Creed

“Rule of Faith” cited by Irenaeus

Nicene Creed

Athanasian Creed

Church Fathers

Faith PLUS baptism

Tertullian: On Baptism

Augustine: On Marriage and Concupiscence

Cyprian: Epistles 72

Ambrose: On the Mysteries

Uncertain Author: Recognitions of Clement, Book VI

Faith, not baptism

Polycarp: Letter to the Philippians

Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Philadelphians, Letter to the Trallians, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Letter to Polycarp, Letter to the Ephesians

Clement of Rome: Letter to the Corinthians

Spiritual baptism in faith

Barnabas (various candidates): Epistle of Barnabas

Justin Martyr: Dialogue With Trypho (chapters 10-30, chapters 48-54); On the Resurrection; The First Apology

Augustine: On Grace and Free Will

Biblical References

In support of baptismal regeneration

The “elementary” nature of the teaching of baptism

Hebrews 6:1-2

Jesus’ statements concerning baptism

John 3:3-5

Matthew 3:13-16

Mark 16:15-16

Matthew 28:19-20

The acts of the Apostles

Acts 2:38

Acts 22:15-16

Acts 8:12-13

Acts 8:35-38

Acts 9:17-18

Acts 16:14-15

Acts 16:32-33

Acts 18:8

Acts 19:2-6

The writings of the Apostles

Romans 6:3-4

Galatians 3:27

Colossians 2:12

1 Corinthians 12:13

1 Peter 3:20-21

Opposed to baptismal regeneration

Saved by faith alone, apart from works

Ephesians 2:8-9

Romans 3:22,27-28

2 Timothy 1:9

Righteousness given as the result of works is not grace

Romans 4:3-5

Romans 11:5-6

If you believe you are saved (no mention of baptism)

John 3:15-16,36

John 6:27-29,35,40,47

John 20:31

Acts 10:43

Acts 13:38-39

Acts 16:31

Romans 4:19-24

Romans 5:1-2

Romans 10:8-11

Galatians 3:22-26

1 John 5:5,10-13

On symbolic nature of “washings”

Hebrews 6:1-2

Mark 7:2-5,15

Hebrews 9:8-14

Ephesians 5:25-27

Titus 3:4-5

Matthew 3:11

Acts 1:5

Acts 11:15-17

Psalm 51:2,[...]

This is the inaugural episode of the Theopologetics Podcast. The topic is the general resurrection of all the dead, which I use to introduce myself and what this podcast is all about. Related is a seeming ignorance of the doctrine in American Evangelicalism, which instead focuses on “heaven” as a place where our spirits go when we die, as well as a refutation of hyperpreterism’s claim that the resurrection is non-physical and happened in the first century.

Music

Evanescence, Bring Me to Life, from the Fallen album, 2003

Daft Punk, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, from the Discovery album, 2001

My Blogs

On theology and apologetics: http://www.theopologetics.com

On competitive powerlifting: http://chrisdatepower.blogspot.com

Promoted Resources

The Preterist Podcast, with Dee Dee Warren.

Check out the episode I guest-hosted, “Kicking Some Left Behind Pt. 5–Jesus, the Not-So Master Communicator.”

I am also a guest author Dee Dee’s The Preterist Blog, and she has a ton of eschatological study material available at The Preterist Site.

Terminology

Eschatology: a part of theology and philosophy concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history

Theology:study of divine things or religious truth, often referring generally to one’s set of beliefs, doctrines and teachings

Apologetics: the branch of theology concerned with the defense and rational justification of Christianity

Preterism: the orthodox view that most of the biblical prophecies concerning the so-called “end times” were fulfilled in our past

Hyperpreterism: the heretical view that all biblical prophecies were fulfilled in our past including the Second Coming and resurrection

Orthodox: in agreement with the Church through history concerning those things which are essential to the Christian faith

Heresy: the denial of essentials of the faith on which the Church has united through history; a view which does so is called “heretical” or “unorthodox”

Creed: an authoritative, formulated statement of the chief articles of Christian belief

Historical References

Creeds

Apostle’s Creed

“Rule of Faith” cited by Irenaeus

Athanasian Creed

Church Fathers on the Resurrection

Polycarp: Epistle to the Philippians

Church of Smyrna: Martyrdom of Polycarp

Tertullian: On the Resurrection of the Flesh

Athenagoras: On the Resurrection of the Dead

Augustine: Exposition on Psalm 63, Exposition on Psalm 30, quoted in General Resurrection (Catholic Encyclopedia)

Biblical References

On the importance of a correct view of the resurrection

2 Timothy 2:16-18

On “heaven” (the “intermediate state” where our spirits go when we die)

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Philippians 1:22-23

2 Timothy 4:6

2 Peter 1:14

Luke 16:19-31

Luke 23:42-43

Revelation 6:9-11

On death as “sleep”

Daniel 12:2

Isaiah 26:19

Job 14:12

1 Corinthians 15:51

John 11:11-14

1 Thessalonians 4:14

On the resurrection of the dead

Jesus taught it

Matthew 22:23-32

Luke 14:12-14

John 5:28-29

John 6:39-40,44,54

Jesus’ listeners expected it

John 11:21-24

Pharisees expected it

Acts 23:6-8

Acts 24:14-15

Acts 26:4-8

Apostles taught it

1 Corinthians 15

Philippians 3:8-11,20-21

2 Corinthians 4:13-14,5:1-4

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

2 Peter 3:13

Romans 8:22-23

John’s vision of the future depicts it

Revelation 20:4-6,11-15

Old Testament hints at it

Job 19:26

Daniel 12:2-3,13

Isaiah 26:19

1 Samuel 2:6