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Historical References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
- On “heaven” (the “intermediate state” where our spirits go when we die)
- On death as “sleep”
- On the resurrection of the dead
- Jesus taught it
- Jesus’ listeners expected it
- Pharisees expected it
- Apostles taught it
- John’s vision of the future depicts it
- Old Testament hints at it
One other bit of friendly feedback …
For podcasts such as yours, it is easy to leave the impression that the only thing that matters is what you believe, and the being a disciple of Jesus is secondary. I am not of the opinion that every Mormon or JW is lost. People will be judged by what they do with the light that they have.
I used to believe that someone who was not a conditionalist was in serious trouble, but I have since seen that that attitude was wrong. What is important is whether or not you follow Jesus’ commands; and if you are a careful reader, very little of what Jesus and the apostles taught was about what we would call “beliefs.” It was mostly about behavior.
If you are unsure what I mean, I would encourage you to consider the life of John Calvin who many would say had the “right beliefs”, yet he ordered the brutal execution of an innocent man as as far as we know not only did not repent of this, but was proud of it.
Not sure if you see things this way or not … maybe there is a show in this somewhere.
-Tim
in response to Tim, i think Chris addresses your view that “People will be judged by what they do with the light that they have” adequately in episode 3
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