A History of Christian Theology

Andrew Hofer’s new study The Power of Patristic Preaching (Catholic University Press, 2023) surveys several key early Christian theologians and preachers. We talk through Origen, Leo the Great, and Gregory the Great, three figures we haven’t discussed much on this podcast. 

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Join us as we delve into Dr. Benjamin Laird's latest book, 'Creating the Canon' (IVPress, 2023), offering a comprehensive exploration of the intriguing journey behind the New Testament's origins. Dr. Laird focuses on the pivotal concept of apostolic authority and unravels the challenges and rewards associated with emphasizing this narrative in the New Testament's formation. 

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In a monumental third interview, we venture into the fascinating world of Paul Hinlicky, a multifaceted individual who wears two significant hats: farmer and theologian. Join us as we explore the compelling narrative of how he embarked on this unique path, the intricacies of his agricultural endeavors, and the profound intersection between his Christian faith, particularly within the Lutheran tradition, and the art of farming. This conversation promises to be a captivating exploration of faith, agriculture, and the meaningful synergy between the two in Paul's life.

We have Scot McKnight on again to talk us through his new translation of the New Testament with IVPress called The Second Testament. We talk through translation choices, different methods of translation, and why it’s so important to read the bible in Greek. 

Emily Dumler-Winckler brings our conversation into the modern period with her book Modern Virtue: Mary Wollstonecraft and a Tradition of Dissent (Oxford University Press, 2022). Dr. Dumler-Winckler has some insights into the nature of tradition and how Wollstonecraft fits into the virtue tradition. Also, we discuss Wollstonecraft’s lesser known theological convictions which are often overlooked in scholarship on the early feminist. 

Dr. KJ Drake works through the history of the doctrine known as the Extra-Calvinisticum in his book The Flesh of the Word: The Extra Calvinisticum from Zwingli to Early Orthodoxy (Oxford University Press, 2021. Although this is not a popularly discussed doctrine it drives at the heart of what the Reformers were debating in the early years of the Protestant Reformation. Dr. Drake provides a window into how the Reformers answered the question: “where is Christ after the resurrection?”

Dr. Ruben Rosario Rodriguez gives his case for a new way of thinking about theology in his book Theological Fragments (Westminster John Knox Press, 2023). We talk about our experience teaching undergrads at a Jesuit university and how that has shaped Dr. Rosario’s approach to teaching and doing theology. 

Grant Kaplan has been working on the relationship between Faith and Reason in the Christian tradition (Catholic University Press, 2022). We discuss differing Catholic and Protestant approaches to the question and why many of the ancient doctors of the church have the greatest insights. 

Paul Hinlicky comes back on the pod to discuss Between Humanis Philosophy and Apocalyptic Theology: The Twentieth Century Sojourn of Samuel Stefan Osusky (T and T Clark, 2016). This fascinating man confronted some of the great historical disasters of the twentieth century from Communism to Nazism and found that the biblical faith of his childhood was the only thing which could carry him through the dark times. 

Matthew Lynch talks with us about his new book Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God (IVPress 20223). We cover how the question of violence has to be considered canonically as well as dig into the weird stories of the Nephilim.

CONTENT WARNING: Rape; in the context of Old Testament studies

Today we talk with Dr. Scot McKnight professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary about his recently released book Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple (Zondervan, 2023). We talk about his own background with Revelation as well as our mutual love for baseball. I hope you will enjoy this episode.

Dr. Paul Hinlicky is Professor Emeritus of Theology at Roanoke College in Virginia. Dr. Hinlicky talks with us about early Christian reception of the Greek philosophical tradition in a work entitled Divine Complexity (Fortress Press, 2010). We also delve into his work in Slovakia and his connection to Robert Jenson. 

This week we do a deep dive into Augustine's rhetorical theology. We talk about the ways Augustine as a rhetorician framed his theology in different ways using the tools he learned from his particular trade. Dr. Gronewoller's book, Rhetorical Economy in Augustine's Theology (Oxford University Press, 2021) has many fascinating elements, but we focus mainly on how rhetoric helps Augustine better explain the problem of evil. 

In this episode, Tom, Trevor, and Chad rejoin forces to discuss St. Augustine's Enchiridion and his definition of hope. Trevor is currently writing his PhD thesis on hope in the field of philosophical theology, so we are certainly in for an apt and in-depth conversation on this important aspect of the Christian life and theology. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

We sat down this week with Hannah Nation to discuss her recently published book under Intervarsity Press, '"Faithful Disobedience". Nation speaks on leaders of the faith in an environment that is growing increasingly hostile toward Christianity. We hope you enjoy the interview!

In this episode, we talk with Brad East whose book The Church's Book (Eerdmans Press, 2022) explores the relationship between the church and scripture. It was an illuminating book and conversation where Dr. East expounds upon the book and how Robert Jenson, among other theologians, can help us understand what the bible is. 

In this final episode on the Christological Controversies, Tom, Trevor, and Chad work their way through the Chalcedonian definition and what that means for how Christians understand the two natures of Christ.

Tom, Trevor, and Chad continue their conversation over the Christological Controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries. In this episode, we cover the question over the name “theotokos” for Mary and why this was such a hot topic for Nestorius and Cyril. This is the second of three in the series on this important topic of early Christianity.

Dr. Benjamin Wheaton comes on the podcast to explore his thesis in Suffering Not Power: Atonement in the Middle Ages (Lexham Press). Although many have thought since Gustav Aulen that a kind of Christus Victor was the predominate view, Wheaton explains why we should nuance that view and see other ways of viewing the atonement in Dante, and several other early preachers and commentators. 

*A technical issue occurred in the recording of this episode, but much of the content was able to be retained*

Jordan Daniel Wood discusses his recently released monograph The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus the Confessor (University of Notre Dame Press, 2022). Dr. Wood talks us through some the controversial aspects of his thesis, but why it can still be understood as an orthodox perspective. We even cover a little bit of Hegel and his role in Dr. Wood’s work.

Ross McCullough comes on the show to discuss his new book Freedom and Sin: Evil in a World Created by God (Eerdmans Press). Although a bit more on the philosophical theology side, this podcast follows his argument of an asymmetrical approach to God's causality and human responsibility. I found his thesis very thought provoking. Thanks to Eerdmans Press for providing a copy of the book and suggesting such a great interview!

In this episode, Tom, Trevor, and Chad return to the format of earlier podcasts and discuss a few texts from early Christian thinkers. In this case, we are talking about Apollinaris of Laodicea and Theodore of Mopsuestia. They represent early christological thinking from an Alexandrian and Antiochene point of view. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy these episodes

Dr. Jacob Wood returns with a more earthy description of nature and grace. In this episode, we have a brief discussion of the doctrine of analogy which then moves into a conversation about how farming has shaped Dr. Wood's academic research. 

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Benjamin Quinn shares with us a little about the importance of Augustine in contemporary thought and education. We also learn more about how Augustine understood wisdom and how that fits with the wisdom tradition in the Old Testament. His new book Christ the Way is now out with Lexham Press.

Today's episode is a bucket-list episode. We interview Dr. Stanley Hauerwas! Dr. Hauerwas has recently published Fully Alive: the Apocalyptic Humanism of Karl Barth with the University of Virginia Press. We talk about this work and a little about how Hauerwas understands the task of theology.

We are pleased to welcome back Dr. Myk Habets. We discuss Dr. Habets books Heaven: An Inkling of What's To Come. Dr. Habets provides some insight into why we should look forward to heaven and how to talk about heaven with your family. 

Is even the Devil redeemed? We talk through this question with Dr. Michael McClymond whose book The Devil's Redemption (Baker Academic) has received multiple awards, including the Gospel Coalition's Book of the Year. 

Hannah Nation comes on to talk about Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church (Kirkdale Press). Our conversation gives some background to the Chinese house church pastors who preached these sermons and the history of the House Church movement in China. We have much to learn about how to suffer well from these Chinese brothers and sisters in the faith. As Hannah said in closing, "Our call is what to walk with Christ and reminds ourselves that he is our suffering Lord and he is with us.” 

In today's episode we talk about Ambrose of Milan and his famous hymns. Music in church has not always been a given. We have Ambrose to thank for this great blessing. 

It was a pleasure to speak with Dr. Jonathan Tran about his new book Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism. Dr. Tran begins with some fascinating engagement with political theory and a history of Delta Chinese, before moving into the metaphysical and theological underpinnings of his positive proposal in the latter chapters. Our conversation focuses on the more theological chapters, but the entire work is very thought provoking. 

We are back with our old format in this episode. Tom, Trevor, and Chad discuss Basil of Caesarea's Against Eunomius Books 2 and 3. The conversation centers on how to speak about God given what we know from scripture. It is a conversation that includes philosophy of naming and language broadly. This touches on some of the most foundational issues in theology, how does one speak about God at all. Hope you enjoy this episode. 

Dr. Hart comes on to discuss his new book Tradition and Apocalypse with Baker Academic Press. We discuss the theological nature of tradition, why analytics are destroying baseball, and his translation of the New Testament. Check out our Pattern at www.patreon.com/ahoct, Twitter @theologyxian, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ahistoryofchristiantheology. 

Dr. Kelly Kapic comes on the show to discuss his new book You're Only Human with Brazos Press. We bring his work into conversation with historical theologians, like Tertullian and Augustine. 

Greetings all! The conversations with Tom and Trevor are back. We begin with a discussion about why we think about the Trinity and difficult topics like this at all, and then launch into a conversation about the unbegotten Father and the begotten Son. We are grateful any and all support, whether it is a like on twitter or Facebook, or a donation: https://www.patreon.com/AHOCT. 

Thanks for listening!

in this long overdue interview, Dr. Charles Kim interviews Dr. Myk Habets, head of the school of theology at Laidlaw College in New Zealand. Dr. Habets has done much of his academic work on T F Torrance, the great Scottish Reformed theologian and specifically on the doctrine of Thesis. The recording became corrupted after the conversation. Our apologies for the delay.

We continue our series of conversations on the overlap of philosophy and theology with Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington's book Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life (Brazos Press). Dr. Pennington brings the bible into conversation with the philosophies of ancient Greece and offers a constructive proposal for how the bible can be read philosophically. Thanks for listening!

Continuing in our conversations over the overlap between philosophy and theology, we welcome Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss his recent book Biblical Philosophy: A Hebraic Approach to the Old and New Testaments (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Johnson's challenge in the book is to consider the bible as a philosophical text, not just a religious or theological one. 

Continuing in our conversations over the overlap between philosophy and theology, we welcome Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss his recent book Biblical Philosophy: A Hebraic Approach to the Old and New Testaments (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Johnson's challenge in the book is to consider the bible as a philosophical text, not just a religious or theological one. 

We return to Aquinas and the nature of grace in this interview with Jacob W. Wood. Dr. Wood is the author of To Stir a Restless Heart with Catholic University Press (2019) which was just released in paperback. Among many topics, we touch on what it means to bring Aristotelian philosophy into conversation with Christian theology. We have been having a continual conversation about philosophical influences in Christian thought and Dr. Wood warns against an overly simplistic understanding of these influences. 

Tom and Trevor are back! In this episode, we welcome back Tom and Trevor to discuss our theme question for guests, what are various ideas we have changed our minds about. I hope you enjoy it! 

Dr. Houck talks with us about original sin, original justice, and how St. Thomas can help us think through these critical doctrines. His book Aquinas, Original Sin, and the Challenge of Evolution (Cambridge University Press) is the definitive treatment of the topic in addition to incorporating conversations on evolution. Dr. Houck discusses the univocity of language, why original sin is a humane doctrine, and much more. 

We are pleased to welcome our friend and historical theologian, Dr. Ben Heidgerken. Dr. Heidgerken recently published Salvation through Temptation: Maximus the Confessor and Thomas Aquinas on Christ's Victory over the Devil with Catholic University Press. We discuss his work, comparing the Western emphasis on grace in anthropology and salvation to the Eastern with writings of Maximus the Confessor. We hope yo uwill enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Thanks for listening!