The Bellator Christi Podcast

By: Brian G. Chilton, M.Div., Ph.D. | December 7, 2023 S7E13 Genres of Biblical Literature on YouTube The following are the seven genres of biblical… Source The post S7E13 Genres of Biblical Literature appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton, Ph.D., and Michelle Johnson, Ph.D. | November 30, 2023 S7E12 The Historicity of the Bible with Dr. Michelle Johnson on YouTube S7E12… Source The post S7E12 The Historicity of the Bible (w. Dr. Michelle Johnson) appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton and Curtis Evelo | November 30, 2023 S7Q3 The Question Zone Episode 3 on YouTube Question Zone Episode 3 “1) What does… Source The post S7Q3 The Question Zone Episode 3 appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton, Ph.D., and Mark Phillips, D.Min. | November 16, 2023 S7E11 Intertestamental Period (w. Dr. Mark Phillips) on YouTube Topics Discussed on S7E11… Source The post S7E11 Intertestamental Period (w. Dr. Mark Phillips) appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton, Ph.D., Benjamin Laird, Ph.D., and Leo Percer, Ph.D. | November 9, 2023 S7E10 Creating the Canon on YouTube Questions Covered on S7E10… Source The post S7E10 Creating the Canon (w. Dr. Benjamin Laird and Dr. Leo Percer) appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | November 2, 2023 S7E9 Oral Traditions and the Dependability of God's Word on YouTube   S7E9 Oral Traditions… Source The post S7E9 Oral Traditions and the Dependability of God's Word appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Curtis Evelo and Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D. | October 26, 2023 The dynamic duo return for another episode of the Question Zone. On this… Source The post S7Q2 The Question Zone (Episode 2) appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. and T. J. Gentry, Ph.D., D.Min. | October 26th, 2023 S7E8 Inerrancy: Does It Matter? on YouTube Last week,… Source The post S7E8 Inerrancy: Does It Matter? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | October 19, 2023 S7E7 Theopneustos and Biblical Inspiration on YouTube What Do We Mean by Biblical Inspiration? On… Source The post S7E7 Theopneustos and Biblical Inspiration appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | October 12, 2023 S7E6 Divine Covenants: Revelation of God Through History on YouTube   Over the past few… Source The post S7E6 Divine Covenants: Revelation of God Through History appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., and Deanna Huff, Ph.D. | October 5, 2023 S7E5 Models and Theories of Biblical Inspiration on YouTube When we speak… Source The post S7E5 Models and Theories of Biblical Inspiration appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Curtis Evelo and Brian Chilton, Ph.D. | September 28, 2023 The dynamic duo are back with a fresh new segment on the Bellator Christi Podcast. The “Cowboy Apologist” Curtis Evelo leads his brand-new show called the Question Zone. He is joined by Dr. Brian Chilton as they discuss cultural issues and topics related to the articles and podcasts of Bellator Christi Ministries. On this episode, Curtis leads a conversation on issues related to church ministry, caring for those who have been hurt by the church, and astronomy. Be sure to check out this compelling conversation. S7Q1 The Question Zone on YouTube Question Zone Guest Questions E1: Josh Taylor 1: do you think pastoral “burnout “ could be due to the way we do church? Western vs. Eastern ? 2: It’s human nature to give the burden to someone else how can we get the church to see ownership of their own issues and not just hand off ? 3: you mentioned #5 volunteer commitment .. do you think if that should be higher in importance creating a environment of discipleship and having others (deacons and seasoned saints) forming smaller groups to minister to the people of the church ( not replacing the pastor) but creating a Exodus 18 environment….? Question zone season 7 article questions The Church from a Church 1: could some of this be solved or at least somewhat remedied by creating discipleship into scripture and not discipleship into denominations.? 2: can someone with local “church hurt “ find solace in the “big C church “ or should they seek local help either in singular person or small group? 3: in your article one big theme is understanding the difference between what our local church may be doing and what the “C” church was call to do what if we looked more to a “home church “ model as like what the young first century church. What would that do for people today? Storytelling Stars 1: how important is it for us as believers to have an emotional connection along with a theological connection to the God of the Bible ? 2: astronomy is different than astrology so what did the ancients see as the difference compared to us in modern times? If any …? Restated question… Did the ancients understand a difference between the two or were they one in the same to them? 3: Why do we as humans have a second sense that there is a connection to a higher power by just observing the stars? 4: For our listeners where can they go to get information on the topic and even where equipment to examine stars can be found? About the Hosts Brian G. Chilton earned his Doctor of Philosophy in the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast and the founder of Bellator Christi. Brian received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Also, he is enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education to better learn how to empower those around him. Brian is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years and currently serves as a clinical hospice chaplain and serves as an interim pastor in northwestern North Carolina. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104   Curtis Evelo is a cattle rancher at the E6 Hereford Ranch in St. Ignatius, Montana. Curtis is the Co-Host and Producer of the Bellator Christi Podcast. He often teaches and speaks at his church Cornerstone Faith Center in St. Ignatius. Curtis provides a common-sense approach to Christianity as he contemplates the wonders of God’s creation in Big Sky Country. Curtis serves as the Vice-President of Bellator Christi Ministries, a contributor, and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. His research interests include Jewish studies in the New Testament, Old Testament typologies, and studies on free will. The post S7Q1 The Question Zone with Curtis Evelo (Episode 1) appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D. | September 28, 2023 S7E4 How Has God Revealed Himself? on YouTube The Bellator Christi Podcast continues its exploration into Bibliology with an examination of how God has revealed himself to various people throughout the pages of Scripture. Today, we are going to talk about revelation and the various ways that God has revealed himself to humanity. If we consider that the Bible is the Word of God, then we must assert that God, in some way, reveals himself to humanity. Those of a more cessationist mindset, such as James White and others, claim that the only way that we can know God is through the Bible. However, if that is true, then how did the writers of the Bible know the truths that God revealed to them? If God does not communicate with us, then the biblical writers could not have heard from God. And if the biblical writers could not have heard from God, then the Bible is merely a human production. But we know that is not true, as the Bible is the Word of God. But if the biblical writers heard from God in unique ways, then is there not the possibility that God could also reveal himself to us in similar ways? One would think so. With this in mind, let us consider the various ways that God has revealed himself to individuals in Scripture. But first, we need to answer what we mean by revelation. What Do We Mean by Revelation? The term “revelation” comes from the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning to “unveil or reveal something previously unknown.” As such, when we speak of the revelation of God, we speak of God’s communication with humanity about truths known only to God and not by humanity. Revelation can speak of God’s disclosure of his identity or of some other reality that human beings could not know by themselves. This kind of spiritual knowledge is not something that could be known by any other means, but only through God himself. You can think about this being God’s education of humanity concerning spiritual realities and truth. So, how has God revealed himself to biblical writers and to people throughout all of time? In Scripture, we find at least 9 ways that God has revealed himself. God’s Revelation by Theophanies The first way God has revealed himself to humanity is by theophanies. The term theophany comes from a combination of two Greek terms: theos (θεός) meaning God, and phainein (φαίνειν) meaning “to show.” When placed together, theophany speaks of a visible manifestation of God. Throughout the pages of Scripture, God has revealed himself to various individuals in a visible fashion. However, one must acknowledge that this is a rarity. God’s presence is often accompanied with fire, light, clouds, lightning, storms, thunder, wind, earthquakes, or any combination of the above. Theophanies often occur around a promise made by God. For instance, God appeared to Abram and established a covenant with him in Genesis 12:1–8. Afterward, Abram commemorated the occasion by erecting an altar in the place where he had seen God. God would visibly appear to Moses at the base of Mount Sinai in a burning bush (Exod. 3:1ff). From the burning bush, God disclosed that his name was Yahweh, or “I AM WHAT I AM.” God would guide the people by a visible theophany, which was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He would then appear again on Mount Sinai where he gave Moses the law (Exod. 19:16–25). God would also appear to Samuel when he commissioned the young man as a prophet (1 Sam. 3:1–14). He also appeared to Isaiah (Isa. 6:1–13), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1–19), and Amos (Amos 7:15–17). While God can appear to people anywhere he pleases, God often appeared at springs (Gen. 16:7), rivers (Gen. 32:22–32), and trees (Gen. 12:6–7). Yet most biblical theophanies occurred in the mountains (Gen. 12:8; Exod. 19; Psa. 48). In a mystical manner, ancients believed that mountains connected the earthly realm with the heavens.[1] God visited two mountains more frequently than any other—Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, a location near the Old City of Jerusalem. God’s Revelation by Christophanies             Second, God revealed himself by what is known as Christophanies. Like theophanies, the term uses the same Greek root phainein that describes an appearance. But this term uses the root word Christos, meaning “Christ.” Thus, Christophanies refer to early appearances of Jesus before his birth. Due to their nature, Christophanies are much more controversial in theological circles than are theophanies. Those who accept Christophanies hold that the appearances of the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament were often preincarnate manifestations of the Son of God. For instance, the Messenger of the LORD is often called God, such as in Genesis 18, where “the LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day” (Gen. 18:1).[2] The Angel of the LORD was among three visitors who met Abraham at his tent that day. As the two angels left for Sodom, Abraham “remained standing before the LORD” (Gen. 18:22). From this passage, it would appear that on at least some occasions, the Angel of the LORD is associated with Yahweh. Another example is found in the burning bush event. Moses stood before a burning bush. It was not the bush itself that was so mysterious, but the person he saw in the bush. He writes, “Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed” (Exod. 3:2). A third example is found in the book of Judges. In this case, the angel of the LORD appeared to a woman, the wife of Manoah, and said, “Although you are unable to conceive and have no children, you will conceive and give birth to a son” (Judg. 13:3). While standing before the Angel of the LORD, Manoah prayed to Yahweh and said, “Please, Lord, let the man of God you sent come again to us and teach us what we should do for the boy who will be born” (Judg. 13:8). Later when asked about his name, the Angel of the LORD simply said, “It is too wonderful” (NRSV) or “beyond understanding” (CSB) (Judg. 13:18). There are other cases that could be offered. But these three examples highlight that the Angel of the LORD appeared in humanlike means, conversed with those appointed to him by Yahweh, and was in some way linked with Yahweh himself. In my opinion, I believe that since Jesus is the Son of God, then this was in some fashion preincarnate visitations. This brings up a host of questions like, “How was Jesus incarnate before his incarnation?” That is a question that we will want to cover at a later time. Nonetheless, I think we have sufficient evidence to suggest that God revealed himself and his plan through Christophanic means. God’s Revelation by the Holy Spirit             Third, God has revealed himself through his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, or the “Spirit of holiness,” is God’s living, abiding presence with his people. Unlike the Father and Son’s appearances, the Holy Spirit rarely appears in a physical fashion, although he has at times. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire to those who were filled with his presence (Acts 2:3–4). At Jesus’s baptism, he appeared as a dove lighting on the head of Jesus (Matt. 3:13–17). The Spirit of God communes and communicates with God’s people in various ways. The Spirit inspired the authors of Scripture to write down the truths of God, as the Scripture is God-breathed. Often, the Spirit directs and instructs people to go to the places that God desires them to be. A good case study is with Phillip in the book of Acts. The Spirit led him away from an area of great ministry to a desolated area to meet an Egyptian eunuch. It was there that Phillip led the eunuch to the Lord after answering the questions that the eunuch had about the book of Isaiah. Jesus teaches that the Spirit of God instructs, convicts, teaches, and guides (Jn. 16:8–11). There is no instance where Jesus even implies that this will cease. Rather, Jesus suggests that the Holy Spirit continues to point people back to his teachings and the revelation of God. Thus, the Holy Spirit is God’s revelation to us. He inspired and directed the composition of Scripture, and he reveals the truths of Scripture to people today. God’s Revelation by the Incarnation of Christ             Fourth, God revealed himself through the incarnation of Christ. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it” (Jn. 1:1–5). The apostle goes on to say, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:9–14). From this passage, we find that Jesus was the Light of God, even from creation. He revealed God’s light to the world. However, the world did not receive him. However, through the light of revelation offered to the world, a person has access to the Father by God’s revelation through the incarnation of Christ. Additionally, we should note that the Son is the exact representation of the Father. The writer of Hebrews teaches, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:1–3). The Son is the divine revelation of God, the exact representative of the Father, and the door to salvation. Therefore, God revealed his nature, his salvation, and gifted us with eternal assurance through the incarnate Son. God’s Revelation by the Spoken Word Fifth, God reveals truths to us by the spoken word. Dr. Benjamin Laird points out in his book Creating the Canon that the spoken word played an integral role in the early church.[3] When a book was published or an epistle sent, the deliverer of the book would read the book aloud to its recipients. By that practice, the message was heard. Likewise, gospel evangelists were to speak the message by the spoken word, telling others about the wonders of God’s revelation through Christ. Never underestimate God’s power through the spoken word. In like manner, a person may be sent with a message from God that someone needs to hear. That can be a means of divine communication. Additionally, God himself may speak to us audibly, although that is not the norm. When Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven to tell everyone that Jesus was his beloved Son (Matt. 3). On other occasions, God has spoken audibly to people. Again, this is not the norm, but it is always a possibility with a living God. God’s Revelation by the Written Word Sixth, God has revealed himself through the written Word of God. By this, we are, of course, talking about the Bible. As we noted last week, the Bible consists of 66 books, written by at least 40 individuals, over the course of 2,000 years. The Bible is God-breathed. As Paul said, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17). God’s Revelation by Divine Impressions Seventh, God often reveals himself by divine impressions. That is, God’s Spirit communes and speaks with our spirit. In Acts 14, Paul looked at a person and knew that he had faith to be healed (Acts 14:9). Now, how did Paul know that? It must have been by an impression that the Spirit placed on Paul’s spirit. On another occasion, Paul knew that the voyage of their ship was heading towards certain destruction. Paul was unable to deduce this by logic alone. Rather, the Spirit of God impressed upon Paul’s spirit what would come to pass. Divine impressions can consist of spiritual communication, but it can also include dreams, visions, and spiritual awakenings, which are ways to know things that could not be known otherwise. God’s Revelation by Miracles Eighth, God often communicates to humanity through miracles. Even in biblical days, miracles did not happen every day. When they did occur, God was communicating a message to his people. For instance, when the disciples of John relayed John’s question about whether Jesus was really the Messiah, the New Testament writers note that Jesus performed numerous miracles before their very eyes as a confirmation of his identity. When Jesus fed over 20,000 people with five loaves and two fish, it was shown that Jesus is the bread of life. He could sustain when material resources couldn’t. The ultimate miracle is the resurrection of Jesus. From Jesus’s resurrection, we learn that he has the power to give eternal life and is the first fruits of the resurrection. That is, as Jesus was raised, so will the children of God be raised in the future. Miracles do not happen by happenstance. They contain a spiritual, eternal message for those who have ears to hear. Even in the miracles of our lives, it is important to decipher the message that God wants us to have. God’s Revelation by Interventions Ninth, God often reveals his protective nature by interventions. By interventions, I speak of ways that God stepped in and protected us from something that could have been really bad. There are many ways that God may intervene in our lives. In Scripture, there are numerous accounts of God’s protective interventions. For instance, the Exodus serves as a major example of divine intervention. But God’s interventions could be much more subtle. His interventions could consist of natural phenomenon, or it may come by arranging certain circumstances to protect and keep us from danger. Conclusion In all the ways we described, God reveals certain things about his nature, being, and ways of the world. Some have claimed that God has stopped revealing himself to humanity in some sense. However, nowhere in Scripture are we told that God will stop reaching out to humanity. The prophets likely heard from the Spirit through audible communication from time to time. However, more likely they received divine impressions as God placed his thoughts into their thoughts, messages from his Spirit to their own. They also interpreted divine miracles as God gave them insight. Most assuredly, God spoke to humanity in various means, but the ultimate expression of his revelation came through his Son, Spirit, and through the Word of God. If the Bible is to be accepted as the Word of God, then we must accept that God can, has, and will communicate to humanity. On the next episode of the Bellator Christi Podcast, we will peer into how Scripture was written as the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture. Dr. Deanna Huff will join us next week. She will discuss the different models and theories of biblical inspiration. Join us for a fascinating discussion as we step into the arena of ideas. About the Author Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687 To listen to the last episode of the Bellator Christi Podcast, click this link: https://bellatorchristi.com/2023/09/21/s7e3-what-is-the-bible/   Notes [1] “Theophanies,” Lexham Bible Dictionary. [2] Unless otherwise noted, all quoted Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman, 2020). [3] Laird, Creating the Canon, Chapter 1.   (c) 2023. BellatorChristi.com. The post S7E4 How Has God Revealed Himself? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | September 21, 2023 S7E3 What is the Bible on YouTube             Modern Christians place a lot of attention on the Bible. The Bible is the book that is used as the primary teaching tool for Christian worship services. It is the focus of study. Certain services in church settings are called “Bible studies” for good reason. Christians hold that the Bible is the revelation of God. That is, the Bible’s primary author is God as he inspired other individuals to reveal certain truths about himself. Or worded another way, the Bible is the means by which God has described who he is, who humanity is, and God’s plan to redeem humanity. As much attention that Christians often place on the Bible, it is shocking how little attention is given to the structure, history, and characteristics of the Bible. As we begin our series on bibliology, let’s begin by discussing a few basic questions about the Bible itself. Such as: What is the Bible? How do we know the Bible is the Word of God? How long did it take for the Bible to be written? Who were the writers of the Bible? Is there a primary theme? What is Bibliology?   What is the Bible? First, we must ask, what is the Bible? The term “Bible” comes from the Greek term biblios, which means “books.” The Bible is not a singular book. Rather, it is a collection of 66 books.   Divisions of the Bible The Bible is separated into two major sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains 39 books, and the New Testament consists of 27 books. The Old Testament follows the encounters that the people of Israel had with God from the time of creation to their implementation as a nation, and it ends with their return from Babylonian exile. The New Testament picks up the story in the first-century AD when Israel was under Roman rule. The New Testament follows the life of Jesus of Nazareth and his followers. Christians hold Jesus to be the Son of God and the fulfillment of messianic prophecies as found in the Old Testament. The New Testament largely consists of letters written by early church leaders to various churches across the region. It concludes with an apocalyptic look at what is yet to come with the book of Revelation.   7 Subdivisions of the Bible             We can break down the divisions of Scripture even further as we look at the Bible as a whole. These seven subdivisions consist of the law, history, poetry, prophecy, biographies, epistles, and apocalyptic literature. Let’s now look at these 7 subdivisions. Law The first five books of the Bible, often called the Pentateuch or the Torah, contain the law that God gave to the people of Israel. The law consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. However, it would be wrong to think that legal standards are all that is found in this section. The first portion of Genesis contains the creation story, where God is shown to be the source behind all that exists. The story continues with the narratives depicting the patriarchs of Israel, their lives, the lives of their children, and ends with their redemption from famine when they were welcomed to Egypt by Joseph who assumed a high position in the Egyptian court. In Exodus, things grew worse for the Israelites. In Egypt, they grew in population which grew the ire of the Egyptian pharaoh. Seeking to keep the people in line, he then enslaved the Israelites. Afterward, God calls Moses, an Israelite saved by the Egyptian princess and adopted by the Egyptian royalty, to set his people free. After they are freed from the clutches of Egypt, God leads Moses to Mount Sinai where he gives him the law that is recorded in the remaining parts of Exodus, Leviticus, parts of Numbers, and retold in Deuteronomy. Historical Narrative The second subsection is called historical narrative. Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles all call this subsection home. As the name implies, historical narratives are the historical stories of early Israel. They tell the story of the early leaders and prophets who established Israel as a nation. Joshua picks up the story after Moses’s death when Joshua led the people back to their homeland. It is a book full of courage, faith, and revitalization. The book of Judges describes the unfortunate fall of the people into deep depravity after returning home. Each subsequent judge is more wicked than the one preceding them. Then, the other historical books tell of the rise of King Saul, King David, and King Solomon. They follow their lives and rule. The historians are very honest. They do not hide the sins and wrongdoings of their leaders, giving the books the thrills and chills of a novel. These stories, while true, are timeless and very spiritual, as the kings serve as both inspirations of what to do and examples of what not to do. Poetry The third subsection is called poetry. As the name suggests, this section comprises books of poetry, wisdom literature, and songs. Job—likely the oldest book of the Bible—along with Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are all found in this section. The book of Proverbs tells of how life is supposed to go. If you live right and follow God, good things should come your way. However, Job serves as an example of a man who followed God and experienced great tragedy. Ecclesiastes is a profound book that is quite depressing unless you read it under the lens of the last few verses. The Qoheleth, or Teacher, highlights the meaninglessness of life without a transcendent anchor found in God. The Song of Songs serves as a vivid example of the beauty of love between a couple, also serving as a beautiful example of God’s love for us. All these books connect together to show that life is designed to function a certain way. But these books are very honest in that life does not always go according to plan. In the end, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Prov. 16:9, NIV). Prophecy The fourth subsection is prophecy. This section holds the writings of various prophets who lived after the split of Israel, which morphed into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judea. The prophet served as God’s mouthpiece. They often gave messages of warning, exhorting people to change their ways before they faced an inevitable time of hardship. These judgments could be avoided if they sought the protection and holiness of God. Regrettably, the people rarely listened. The prophets were not only foretellers—predicting the future—but they were primarily forthtellers—preaching about the woes of the current generation. The prophets are divided into two further subdivisions: the Major Prophets, which are larger books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Lamentations), and smaller books called the Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). Biographies For the last subsections, we turn to the New Testament. The fifth subsection is called biographies. Some could hold that the first five books are biographical. However, the Book of Acts could also be considered historical. Nonetheless, I digress. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four biographical accounts of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Traditionally, Matthew is held to be written by Levi Matthew, a former tax collector and then-turned disciple of Jesus. His primary audience is Jewish believers and those interested in Jewish beliefs. Matthew links Jesus’s life back to the prophets of old, often showing Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic expectations. In the Gospel of Matthew, you can find a lot of classic teachings of Jesus, including the Sermon on the Mount, several classic parables, and the Olivet Discourse. Matthew is often believed to have been written around AD 50–70 and likely came about in stages. The Gospel of Mark was written by a man known as John Mark. John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas and a traveling companion of Paul, until a mysterious disruption caused Paul to part ways with Mark. John Mark gives a treatise primarily with a Roman audience in mind. Mark does not give a lot of lengthy messages. He is quick and to the point, often using phrases like “And immediately they went.” Mark’s Gospel is neither overly concerned with chronological accuracy nor fine-tuned details. Rather, he seeks to preserve the teachings of Simon Peter and does so with quickness. Mark’s Gospel often reads like an action movie as he moves from one scene to the next. Mark wrote his Gospel sometime in the AD 50s. The Gospel of Luke is the exact opposite of the Gospel of Mark. Luke the physician wrote the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a colleague of Paul the Apostle. With great precision and detail, Luke writes an orderly account of Jesus’s life. While not an eyewitness of Jesus himself, he set forth to interview various individuals who were eyewitnesses and detailed their stories in the exquisite fashion of a historian. The Gospel of Luke was likely written in the late AD 50s or early AD 60s, although some argue that the Gospel was written in the 70s. The Gospel of Luke was written with an intellectual Greek audience in mind. His Gospel contains some of the classic parables of Jesus, including the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The last Gospel is the most unique of all the four Gospels. It is the Gospel of John. John the Apostle likely wrote the Fourth Gospel later in life and likely while he was the pastor of the Church of Ephesus. It is one of the last New Testament books to be written. Most likely, the Gospel was penned in the mid-to-late 80s. John’s audience included all future generations of Christians. For that reason, his Gospel is the most spiritual and theological in nature. In contrast with the first three Gospels, John focuses on the Judean ministry of Jesus and Jesus’s theological impact. Because of the later time of his writing and different focus, John provides some stories and teachings that do not appear in the other Gospels. In John, you will find the “I am” teachings, the story of the raising of Lazarus, and various other post-resurrection stories not found anywhere else. If you are new to the Bible, John is an excellent starting point. In my opinion, the apostle likely had that in mind when writing this glorious book. The book of Acts continues the story of the New Testament church from Jesus’s ascension to the imprisonment of Paul. Acts is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Therefore, Luke the physician also wrote this book. Acts continues the story of the church by primarily looking at the lives and ministries of Peter and Paul. The book of Acts was likely written before AD 64, the year that Paul and Peter were executed in Rome. Epistles The sixth subsection is the Epistles. Rather than letters written to one specific person, epistles are circular letters written to a church, group of people, or a group of churches. The apostle Paul was the main author of these letters. However, the Catholic Epistles make up another subsection within this group. They contain letters ascribed to James, Jude, Peter, and John. Apocalyptic The seventh subsection of the Bible is apocalyptic. Apocalyptic literature focuses on the end times and the eventual victory of God in the ultimate culmination of history. While apocalyptic literature can often be frightening due to its imagery, when the symbols used by apocalyptic writers are correctly interpreted, the message of apocalyptic literature is often very optimistic. The book of Revelation, parts of Ezekiel, and parts of Daniel are all part of the apocalyptic genre of Scripture.   How Do We Know the Bible is the Word of God? While a full treatment of this issue cannot be offered at this time, we have numerous reasons for believing that the Scripture is the Word, or revelation, of God. First, consider the inspiration of Scripture. Simon Peter regards the nature of Scripture as one that comes from the Holy Spirit. He writes, “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:20-21, NRSV). Thus, if Peter is correct, and Scripture flowed from the prompting and communication of the Holy Spirit, then it stands to reason that the Scripture is God’s divine revelation. Furthermore, even though God used human agents to bring about the books of the Bible, the human authors are under the instruction of the ultimate Author—and that Author is God. God said to Moses in the book of Deuteronomy concerning his prophets, “I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him” (Deut. 18:18, NIV). God has been in the practice of using human agents to reveal his truth. Second, consider the instruction of Scripture. Paul writes that Scripture is theopneustos, that is, God-breathed. Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, NIV). The Bible is the primer, the primary manual for Christians. Thus, if the Bible is God’s written revelation, then we know about God through the truths he provided about himself in Scripture. Secondly, the Bible is used to rebuke. In our time, we like to mold the Bible to say things that we want. When I say this, most people think of a liberalization of Scripture in some sense. However, the opposite is also true. Often, denominations have added things to the revelation of God to oppress and legislate certain criteria that are not found in Scripture. Therefore, Scripture convicts people from both sides of the aisle when properly understood. Finally, Scripture corrects and trains a person to live a life of righteousness. When the Bible is allowed to speak what the ultimate Author intended, it is shown to be factual and inspired. The problem comes when we place more emphasis on our interpretations than attempting to understand the actual teachings of Scripture. In other words, we should allow God to mold us in his image through the Word, rather than trying to mold God in our image.   How Long Did It Take for the Bible to be Written? The Bible spans a timeframe of over 2,000 years. Most likely, the Book of Job is the oldest book of the Bible. Though many scholars believe that it may have been written much later, Roy B. Zuck in the Bible Knowledge Commentary offers a compelling case that Job was likely a contemporary of Abraham (Zuck, BKC, 717). If true, that would place him and the story around 2100—1900 BC. Some contend that the story may have been passed along as an oral tradition until the time of Moses, when he ultimately recorded the story in a book. Revelation is the last book of the Bible to have been written. John the Apostle likely penned the book around AD 95. If we are to accept both dates, Job being the more controversial of the two, then the Bible spans a remarkable 2,195 years.   Who Were the Writers of Scripture? It is important to remember that the Bible traverses a vast number of societies and civilizations. The first individuals recorded in Scripture were the patriarchs who were Semites living as Sumerian nomads. Then, the people developed into communities, then city-states, until they finally formed a nation. At certain times, the people lived as slaves in Egypt, and at other times they lived as prosperous citizens of a mighty kingdom. Eventually, the Bible ends with the Jewish followers of Jesus who lived under the auspicious rule of the Roman Empire. God used at least 40 individuals to write the Bible. Here are a few of the more prominent writers of Scripture. Moses wrote the majority of the first five books of the Bible, along with Psalm 90. It is likely that he collected stories of his people while living in Egypt. As he encountered the living God and the redemption of the people of Israel from the enslavement of Egypt, he likely documented their theological history in addition to the law that God gave him. Moses would have been a highly educated, sophisticated gentlemen, having been granted the best education that Egypt could offer. King David is one of the most prolific writers of the Bible. He collected the majority of the psalms in the Book of Psalms. He penned at least 73 of them himself. King Solomon was the son of David. He was one of the wisest kings of Israel. Solomon collected and likely wrote most of what is found in the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Unsurprisingly, the name identified as the wisest man in Israel was known for his wisdom literature. God used many individuals as writing prophets. The prophet Samuel was an early prophet. He likely wrote the vast majority of what is found in 1 and 2 Samuel. The chief of them was Isaiah. Isaiah wrote a large masterpiece that spoke of the upcoming Messiah and the restoration of Israel. Many believe that he may have been executed by being sawn in two. Jeremiah, often called the weeping prophet, wrote the book ascribed to him along with the Book of Lamentations. Many Jewish and Christian scholars alike believe that Jeremiah may have penned 1 and 2 Kings as well. Baruch, Jeremiah’s assistant, likely helped him pen these documents. Like Isaiah, he wrote a large book that often spoke of the pending judgment that was to come to the people and about the ultimate restoration that would eventually come. Additionally, God used Ezekiel to write a compelling, yet bizarre prophecy that included a futuristic look at the third Temple in Jerusalem. Other prophets include Daniel, Amos, Hosea, Habakkuk, and the other Minor Prophets. Like Moses, the prophet Daniel would have been a man of great education and sophistication. He likely penned most, if not all, of the book that bears his name. In addition to writing the book that holds his name, some also hold the prophet Ezra to be behind the writing of 1 and 2 Chronicles. He may have authored other books or portions of them. In the New Testament, God used Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Simon Peter, James, and Jude to write the books in this collection. Additionally, if one of Paul’s companions wrote Hebrews, such as Barnabas or Apollos, then there would be another person to add to the list of writers. What is the Primary Theme of the Bible? As complicated and expansive as the Bible is, its message is relatively simple. The Bible’s main message is one of redemption. The narrative thread that connects the 66 books of Scripture tells the story of God’s loving creation, of humanity’s sinful fall, and of God’s ongoing effort to redeem mankind from sin and themselves. The story of the Bible reaches its climax with Jesus of Nazareth, who was the Son of God and the Savior of humanity, the horror of his crucifixion, and the glory of his marvelous resurrection. The story culminates with God’s restoration of humanity and creation in the New Heaven and the New Earth. As my dad used to say, “The Bible is about love. If you take love out of the Bible, then you have removed the message of the Bible.” Dad was and is absolutely right!   What is Bibliology? Of all our questions tonight, this one is the easiest to answer. Bibliology is the study of the Bible. Biblios means “books,” and logos means the “study of something.” Thus, bibliology is the study of the Bible. Bibliology includes hermeneutical studies—that is, how we can best interpret the Bible—along with canonical issues, or how the early collectors of Scripture identify which books were inspired from those that were not. One of our first explorations of bibliology will peer into the nature of revelation. How has God revealed himself through history? That will be our topic of conversation next week. We will also be joined by Curtis Evelo for the first episode of the Question Zone. We hope that you will join us for this fascinating study. Until then, we thank you for joining us on the Bellator Christi Podcast. May God bless, and we’ll see you back the next time that we step into the arena of ideas. About the Author Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687 To listen to the last episode of the Bellator Christi Podcast, click this link: https://bellatorchristi.com/2023/09/14/s7e2-why-does-god-seem-so-hidden/ (c) 2023. Bellator Christi. The post S7E3 What is the Bible? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D. | September 14, 2023 Have you ever looked for God and not found him? Perhaps you have been in situation where God seemed so distant. If you have ever been in situation like this, then you have encountered a theological conundrum called the hiddenness of God. Why is it that God does not more openly reveal himself to the world? Skeptics like J. L. Schellenberg argue that because God does not more openly reveal himself, then it must mean that God does not exist. How does a Christian respond to this accusation? Well, today’s guest has an answer for the problem of divine hiddenness. We are talking about Dr. Joshua Waltman, Associate Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and former coordinator of the Learning Commons at the Jerry Falwell Library at Liberty University. Dr. Waltman wrote a book where he engages this issue, entitled Why Does God Seem So Hidden? A Trinitarian Theological Response to J. L. Schellenberg’s Problem of Divine Hiddenness published by Pickwick, an imprint of Wipf & Stock Publishers. Dr. Waltman, welcome to the Bellator Christi Podcast.   Questions Covered on S7E2 Why Does God Seem So Hidden? What do we mean by divine hiddenness? Describe J. L. Schellenberg’s problem of divine hiddenness. What counterargument do you use to respond to Schellenberg’s argumentation? I found your comments on theological analogy quite interesting. I have been reading through the complete work of the Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas uses the analogical approach in his works. So, what are the limitations of the analogical approach and how does this impact the way that Schellenberg understands divine hiddenness? How does understanding the greatness of God in his Tri-unity help us with the problem of divine hiddenness? You discuss God’s love, particularly the inner nature of love within God’s triune nature. How does a proper understanding of divine love help the sticky issue of divine hiddenness? Do you have some final words of encouragement that you would like to share with those struggling with the issue of divine hiddenness?   S7E2 Why Does God Seem So Hidden? on YouTube About the Host Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687 About our Guest: Dr. Josh Waltman Dr. Josh Waltman is an Associate Professor of Theological Studies at Liberty University and the former Director of the Learning Commons at the Jerry Falwell Library. Dr. Waltman received a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and a Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Columbia International University at Columbia, South Carolina. He also holds degrees from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Waltman is the author of the newly published book Why Does Seem So Hidden: A Trinitarian Theological Response to J. L. Schellenberg’s Problem of Divine Hiddenness.   (c) 2023. Bellator Christi. The post S7E2 Why Does God Seem So Hidden? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton, Ph.D. | September 7, 2023 Amid these major problems, the church finds itself with a pastoral workforce that is becoming increasingly disenfranchised with ministry, resulting in burnout, and leading many to leave the ministry altogether. One statistic states that some 37% of pastors currently serving in ministry have seriously contemplated leaving, and for good reason. The COVID-19 pandemic stressed pastors in ways that they were not prepared for. In a recent article, a pastor of a Presbyterian church announced that he was leaving the ministry after serving 30 plus years. As he put it, he was tired of working for 1,000 bosses. Congregants are panicking as they want to see growth and often compare their local pastor to their favorite preaching celebrity on television. Yet it is more and more difficult to encourage people to attend church, especially Millennials and Gen-Zers, generations that have more people identifying themselves as “nones”—that is, those with no church or religious affiliation. This has led to what church analysts have called the “Pastoral Exodus.” The Pastoral Exodus leads to additional problems for the church, resulting in a lack of qualified candidates available to fill the pulpits, fewer youth entering the ministry, and a diminished pool of individuals for pastor search committees to choose from. Thus, pastoral burnout is not only an issue for pastors. Rather, it is an issue that impacts everyone. How do we resolve pastoral burnout? Well, our guest today has some insights that could help. We welcome Dr. Josh Taylor with us. Dr. Taylor is an ordained minister and pastors Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest, Georgia. He holds degrees in pastoral ministry from Toccoa Falls College, Christian apologetics from Biola University, and a D.Min. in Biblical Preaching from Anderson University in South Carolina. He is married to Mandy, and they have two kids: Scottlynn and Haddon. Dr. Taylor is the author of the book A Preach Well Church: How Churches Can Stop Burning Out Their Pastors. We welcome Dr. Taylor to the podcast today. What is the main premise of your book A Preach Well Church? In your first chapter, you mention panic attacks that often accompany burnout. What are the main factors behind pastoral burnout and anxiety? What are the seven commitments you challenge churches to take in order to become a “preach well church.” I found your chapter on the control commitment very fascinating. Why is it that churches often seek to control the pastor’s schedule and, if we can be so blunt, to control pastors in general? What inspired you to write A Preach Well Church? How dire is our situation with pastoral burnout? Any closing words you would like to share with our listeners? S7E1 A Preach Well Church on YouTube About our Host Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687 About our Guest Dr. Josh Taylor is an ordained minister and pastors Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest, Georgia. He holds degrees in pastoral ministry from Toccoa Falls College, Christian apologetics from Biola University, and a D.Min. in Biblical Preaching from Anderson University in South Carolina. He is married to Mandy, and they have two kids: Scottlynn and Haddon. Dr. Taylor is the author of the book A Preach Well Church: How Churches Can Stop Burning Out Their Pastors. He writes and speaks at preachwell.com where you can find free resources, articles, and more.     Copyright, 2023. BellatorChristi.com.   The post S7E1 A Preach Well Church with Dr. Josh Taylor appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | July 7, 2023 Note: Please be advised that this article contains references to expletive material. Recently, hit movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed in an interview with Danny DeVito that he thought the idea of heaven was nothing more than “some fantasy.”[1] Schwarzenegger went on to say, “It reminds me of Howard Stern’s question to me … ‘Tell me, governor, what happens to us when we die?’ I said, ‘Nothing. You’re six feet under. Anyone that tells you something else is a f—king liar.”[2] With great remorse, the former governor of California reflected that “We don’t know what happens with the soul and all this spiritual stuff that I’m not an expert in, but I know that the body as we see each other now, we will never see each other again like that … I know people feel comfortable with death, but I don’t. Because I will f—king miss the s—t out of everything.”[3] DeVito merely responded by saying, “Life! It’s the best!”[4] About Arnold Schwarzenegger It is undeniable that Schwarzenegger is an accomplished individual. Arnold won numerous bodybuilding awards, and quite frankly was nearly unbeatable in his prime. He was the primary focus of the cult film Pumping Iron, which especially has a strong following in weightlifting and bodybuilding communities. Guys like Schwarzenegger were inspirational in getting me started with weightlifting in my teenage years. Additionally, Schwarzenegger is a much-accomplished actor. In full disclosure, Arnold Schwarzenegger is my all-time favorite action hero. Schwarzenegger’s films such as The Terminator, Running Man, Commando, Total Recall, and Predator are among some of the best action movies in cinematic history, even by today’s standards. So, with the aforementioned information, it is important to know that I have great respect for Schwarzenegger, even if I do not accept his theological moorings. But with that in mind, is Arnold right in his assessment? Is heaven simply a fantasy for those who cannot cope with the concept of death’s finality? Or do we have good reasons for believing in a literal place called heaven? If you have followed my material, you already know my answer. Heaven is not a fantasy. Rather, it is an actual place where the saints of God live immediately after their deaths on earth. But do we have good reasons for believing so? I would argue that there are at least five reasons for believing that heaven exists.   Heaven is Not a Fantasy Because of the Resurrection of Jesus First, if Jesus has risen from the dead, then we have solid evidence for the existence of heaven. Not only did Jesus defeat death and the grave, but he also ascended to the Father forty days after his resurrection. Additionally, Jesus promised the following—“Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1b–3, CSB). Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life Additionally, Jesus assured Martha at Lazarus’s grave of a heavenly afterlife, saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26, CSB). If Jesus died, arose, and ascended to heaven; then we have excellent reasons for believing in what he says about heaven. Reasons to Know Jesus Arose from the Dead So, how do we know that Jesus arose from the dead? There is too much information to share to give a proper assessment. But to give a brief recap, the resurrection of Jesus is confirmed by early eyewitness testimony, multiple attestations to the historicity of the event, extremely early messages about Jesus’s resurrection (confirmed by NT creeds), early oral traditions affirming the resurrection of Jesus corresponding with both the informal-controlled and formal-controlled methodologies (a major deal!), enemy attestation, a confirmed empty tomb which is found at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Shroud of Turin, the change of the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday to celebrate the resurrection (a huge deal!), the transformation of those who were formally enemies of the church after seeing the risen Jesus, the novel idea of a resurrection occurring before the eschaton, and the willingness of the early disciples to give their lives for what they knew to have seen. All of this speaks volumes about the veracity of Jesus’s resurrection. If the resurrection of Jesus is true, then heaven is most assuredly a reality.   Heaven is Not a Fantasy Because of Near-Death Experiences Second, heaven cannot be a fantasy if near-death experiences are real. In other articles at Bellator Christi and my book Conversations about Heaven,[5] I supplied various reasons to believe in the authenticity of near-death experiences. Because of the objective nature of these experiences—particularly those postmortem observations made by an individual outside of their body that is verified by others in the room—near-death experiences cannot be merely a hallucination or an illusion of the mind. Therefore, the soul survives death, indicating the very real possibility of heaven.   Heaven is Not a Fantasy Because of the Nature of the Soul Third, consciousness, or the human soul, is both a mystery and another signpost to the reality of heaven. Thomas Aquinas noted that “nothing subsisting is greater than the rational soul, except God.”[6] As such, the soul is an essence that can exist beyond the scope of the mortal body. Surprising as it may sound, issues of consciousness and the soul are no longer conversations held in theological hallways. Consciousness has found its way into modern scientific discourse. Recent research into the odd and mysterious realm of quantum physics shows that consciousness impacts the physical domain. Subatomic particles behave differently when conscious beings observe them than when they do not. Roger Penrose later asserted that “true intelligence requires consciousness”[7] and that the soul belongs in the realm of Platonic forms.[8] As such, the nature of the soulish consciousness is not one that can be contained by the physical realm, but supersedes it. Some have even argued that physical reality is only possible because of a prior existing consciousness. But that argument is for another time. Nonetheless, Schwarzenegger’s dismissal of heaven as a mere fantasy does not hold with the complex nature of human consciousness.   Heaven is Not a Fantasy Because of the Moral Order of the Universe Without going deep into the issue, the moral order of the universe is a fourth reason for holding on to the reality of heaven. Nearly everyone recognizes that the world is not what it should be. We all long for a place that is better than the one we have. For someone who has been as successful as Schwarzenegger, this could fall on deaf ears. Life has been good to the Austrian-born bodybuilder. He received the breaks he needed to make it big in both the world of bodybuilding and cinematic history. However, there have been numerous individuals who were just as talented and just as sculpted but never received the same accolade that he did. Furthermore, what do we do with a world where so much evil and sorrow are found? Some may be tempted to accept atheism as the standard reaction to such things. As one who was a former agnostic, I can say that non-belief only makes things worse. Why even continue living in such a hopeless environment? Well, the answer is that not only does God exist, but God has created a heavenly abode for those who wish to join him.   Heaven is Not a Fantasy Because of the Reality of God’s Existence Finally, heaven is not a fantasy if God exists. The reality of God’s existence can be known through numerous avenues. Aquinas’s Five Ways provide support for the existence of God through the cosmological argument from motion, the nature of efficient cause, the argument from possibility and necessity, the argument from perfection and gradation, and the governance of the world.[9] Other arguments from design and a panoply of other key points strongly suggest that God exists. Therefore, if God exists, then heaven is strongly likely as it would be a place for a person to commune with God for all eternity.   Conclusion At least five reasons suggest that heaven is an actual place and not a mere fantasy. Many more could be added if it were not for the limitations of space. Arnold Schwarzenegger has given much to the world by serving as a hero, an inspiration, and an entertainer. It is my hope that he will be encouraged by the promised hope of heaven. For me, one of the strongest pieces of evidence for heaven has come from my three years of work as a hospice chaplain. I have seen firsthand how God has lovingly and gently escorted people from this life to heaven. The death of the believer is often accompanied by little miraculous events as the person passes into eternity, including seeing God, loved ones, angelic beings, and expressions of love and peace that nothing else could afford. My prayer is that you would be encouraged to see heaven as more than a fantasy, but a promised place of bliss. About the Author Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687 If you enjoyed this article, consider reading the following: https://bellatorchristi.com/2023/06/16/what-happens-when-we-die/ Notes [1] Lauryn Overhultz, “Arnold Schwarzenegger says heaven is ‘some fantasy:’ That’s the sad part,” FoxNews.com (June 6, 2023), https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-heaven-some-fantasy-sad-part. [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Brian G. Chilton, Conversations about Heaven: Difficult Questions about Our Eternal Home (Eugene, OR: Resource, 2023), 114–134. [6] Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica 1.q16.16.ad1., Fathers of the English Dominican Province, trans (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne, 1910). [7] Roger Penrose, The Emperor’s New Mind (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1989), 526. [8] Ibid., 556. [9] Aquinas, Summa Theologica 1.q2.a3.   © 2023. Bellator Christi. The post Is Heaven a Fantasy? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | June 16, 2023 Death is one of the greatest mysteries of life. The term “death” holds such a stigma that many of us do not even mention it when speaking of our dearly departed. Some may use the term “passed away” or even “expired.” While taking Clinical Pastoral Education, I was told about a staff chaplain who scolded someone who used the term “expire” to reference a person’s passing. The chaplain said, “People are not milk. They don’t go bad.” While everyone received a great laugh from the chaplain’s remarks, he did bring up an interesting point. Conversations about death and passing are often avoided. British philosopher and documentarian Adam Curtis spoke about how people in Victorian times rarely spoke about sex but often mentioned death. However, in today’s culture, people never talk about death but are obsessed with sex.[1] Curtis’s observations are on point. Perhaps as a culture, it is easier for us to ignore the reality of death. Yet in my current profession as a hospice chaplain, death cannot be ignored. Regardless of whether a person admits it or not, we often wonder what death will be like when it comes. You may have wondered whether we can know anything about the death experience. It may surprise you to discover that we can to a degree. Objective Evidence for What Happens When We Die In my doctoral work, I was introduced to the concept of near-death experiences by one of the world’s leading scholars on NDEs, Dr. Gary Habermas, a research professor at Liberty University. Dr. Habermas took up this study when he tragically lost his wife to breast cancer when she was only in her thirties. Both he and J. P. Moreland, a research professor at Biola University, discovered that good objective evidence suggests that a person’s soul survives death. Some individuals return to their bodies and report what they have seen and heard outside the scope of their bodies. While their experiences in the heavenly realm cannot be verified, their encounters outside of the body can. In one famous case, a woman died, left her body, and overheard her obnoxious brother-in-law say in the waiting room that he was going to “wait and see if the ol’ girl kicks the bucket.” She later returned to her body. A month after her recovery, she gave her brother-in-law an earful.[2] Principle: Be careful what you say in a waiting room. You never know who’s listening. Similarities of Experiences Tell Us What Happens When We Die Some have objected to NDEs by saying that the reported encounters are too varied to tell us anything about the death experience. However, that is not entirely true. In a massive research study, medical doctor Jeff Long and Paul Perry investigated over 1,300 cases of reported NDEs from across the world. Evaluating the varied stories, they discovered some fascinating parallels.             75.4% reported feeling an out-of-body separation from their bodies.             74.4% reported having heightened senses, including experiencing a “reality that was more real than the present reality.”             76.2% reported having experiences of incredible emotions and overwhelming peace.             33.8% reported passing through a tunnel.             64.6% reported seeing a divine being of magnificent light.             57.3% reported encountering angelic beings, seeing deceased relatives, and/or deceased friends.             60.5% reported having an altered sense of space and time.             22.2% reported having a life review.             52.2% reported having encountered unworldly heavenly realms.             56% experienced some special learning of life.             31% witnessed some boundary or barrier.             58.5% of those who returned to their body reported having the free choice to return as their time had not yet come.[3] As noted, Long and Perry researched over 1,300 NDE cases across the globe when they penned their book. Amazingly, at Long’s website, the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (nderf.org), the number of cases now surpasses over 5,000, all reporting eerily similar phenomena that Long and Perry reported over 10 years prior. These reports come from people from various walks, different ethnicities, and a panoply of languages. Yet, they all still convey having the same kind of experiences that others maintain, even though many had not heard of other NDEs. The NDEs of the Physically Blind Indicate What Happens When We Die In Chapter 8 of my book Conversations about Heaven, I give numerous other examples that provide additional evidence for near-death experiences. The chapter, called “Are Near-Death Experiences Real?,” features recent studies conducted with blind individuals who reported visual experiences outside their bodies. The descriptions of their out-of-body experiences were confirmed by the medical team in the hospital room. Furthermore, when they returned to their bodies, the NDErs maintained their physical blindness.[4] There is simply no other way to account for these kinds of encounters outside of accepting that the soul lives beyond the scope of the body. No matter what you make of NDEs, one thing is fairly evident: our conscious selves (i.e., our souls) appear to survive death. And the evidence suggests that we are fully embraced by a loving God who grants us peace, immensely surpassing anything felt on earth. This certainly does not bring back the ones we loved and will never replace the real grief we feel when thinking about our losses. Nonetheless, this data offers me comfort in knowing that the loved ones I have lost were welcomed into their eternal home with feelings of rapturous joy, exhilarating excitement, and overwhelming love. Conclusion Some have asked me how it is possible to serve as a hospice chaplain where death is seen nearly every day. This morning, I officiated a funeral for 14 unclaimed persons in a common grave. One of the social workers told me that many have a difficult time with those kinds of services. So, how is it that hospice chaplains and ministers are able to lend such care? For me, it stems from the promise of eternal life. NDEs confirmed for me something that the Word of God promises—that is, on the other side of eternity, there awaits a greater reality for the child of God.   Therefore, when my time comes to leave this world, I have better reasons for believing that I will experience the same emotions of love, grace, and joy in my eternal home. The apostle Paul said it best when he wrote, “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17–18, CSB). About the Author Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. He has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and serves as a clinical chaplain. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104  https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687   Notes [1] Referenced in Rainn Wilson, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution (New York, NY: Hachette Go, 2023), 55. [2] Brian G. Chilton, Conversations about Heaven: Difficult Questions about Our Eternal Home (Eugene, OR: Resource, 2023), 118; Melvin Morse and Paul Perry, Closer to the Light: Learning from the Near-Death Experiences of Children (New York, NY: Random House, 1990), 3-9; Gary R. Habermas and Moreland, Beyond Death (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2004), 158. [3] Jeffrey Long and Paul Perry, Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences (New York, NY: HarperOne, 2011), 6-7; John Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2015), 46; Chilton, Conversations about Heaven, 130-131. [4] Chilton, Conversations about Heaven, 119–120.   If you liked the content of this article, we think you will like this one. https://bellatorchristi.com/2018/03/27/podcast-3-27-18-message-questions-about-ndes-2-cor-121-10/ © 2023. Bellator Christi. The post What Happens When We Die? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D., M.Div. | June 9, 2023 As we travel down the road of life, we often come across events that cause us to stop and ponder, such as observing the beauty of a mountainside or taking in the calm of the rhythmic patterns of the ocean waves. But on other occasions, we take off-ramps that force us to consider deeper-level ideas that have pervaded our communities and church life. Recently, I took one of those off-ramps when I heard some folks say something that seemed quite bizarre. Within the same week, I heard two or three people assert that a preacher should not study for their message on Sunday. Should a preacher be well-studied? According to this logic, a preacher should not consider what message to bring prior to standing up in the pulpit. No notes should be used, and no outside study should be employed. According to this viewpoint, a preacher should just stand up and let the Spirit speak through them. The idea is especially fluent in Appalachian culture, particularly in some independent Baptist and charismatic circles—but certainly not all.1 The viewpoint comes from a flawed interpretation of Jesus’s messages, where Jesus said that a person should not focus on what one will say, but rather the person should depend on the Spirit for guidance. But did Jesus intend to say that a preacher should be ill-prepared for their message? Most assuredly, he did not. We will speak more on a proper interpretation of this message a little later. Nevertheless, when we examine the totality of Scripture, we note that a preacher—and really every child of God—should be well-studied in the Word of God for three important reasons.   A Preacher Should Be Well-Studied to Proclaim Accurate Messages I cannot stress enough the vast importance of being fully prepared for a message. Paul writes, “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, and their teaching will spread like gangrene” (2 Tim. 2:14–17a).2 This text alone shows the vast importance of being well-studied in preparation for a message and anytime the Word of God is expounded. In Paul’s day, those who had not been faithful to the proper exposition of God’s Word had allowed godless teaching to spread like a virus. Paul used the descriptive term γάγγραινα—meaning gangrene—to illustrate the toxicity that false teaching causes. Gangrene is an infection that spreads to the point that the limb becomes useless and needs to be amputated. If the infection is not stopped, it will spread, poisoning the entire system. Paul was one who certainly placed a high value on being a well-studied man. 2 Timothy is likely the last letter that Paul wrote before his execution. Even facing the potential of death, Paul placed a high value on his studies, as he requested that his friends bring “the scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 2:13). The scrolls and parchment were likely Old Testament Scriptures along with personal books and writing papers that Paul held in his possession.3   A Preacher Should Be Well-Studied for Deeper Devotions I attended a leadership seminar in which a CEO asserted a leadership principle that is especially pertinent for Christian discipleship. The CEO said, “To be a good leader, you must first learn how to be a good follower.” He went on to say, “Everyone has to answer to someone. Even as a CEO, I answer to my board members.” This is a principle of such magnitude that it cannot be over-emphasized. A pastor is not the ultimate authority over the church. Christ is. Even then, Christ, while coequal with the Father in essence, is under the Father’s authority. Thus, God is the ultimate authority of the church. If a pastor is not under the direct authority of God, then that pastor is not qualified to lead the church. Understanding this principle makes it even more necessary for a pastor to be well-studied. Throughout the pages of Scripture, the biblical writers highlighted the magnitude of one’s meditation on God’s Word. For instance, Joshua asserts that the “book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do” (Josh. 1:8). The psalmist illustrates the importance of being well-studied in God’s Word when it comes to devotional life in saying, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, I will rejoice in the Lord” (Psa. 104:34). The psalmist also states that “I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways” (Psa. 119:15). When preachers and the Christian world understand their subjection to the Father’s authority, then it becomes even more important to learn from God. The best way to learn from God is to spend time in God’s Word.   A Preacher Should Be Well-Studied to Answer Challenges I once heard it said that a law enforcement officer loses the right to be out of shape due to the nature of the job. In like manner, I think it should be said that a preacher of God’s Word loses the right to be uneducated in the truths of Scripture. By this, I am not saying that everyone should earn a Doctor of Philosophy or a Doctor of Ministry. There is a special calling for that. I am honored to be one of those who were called to pursue higher academia. However, not everyone has that calling, and neither should they. Those who pursue post-graduate studies should have a calling to specialize in a particular area so that they can advance scholarship in that area. Answering Challenges about the Faith While not everyone has a calling to specialize in higher education, everyone does have a calling to prepare themselves so that they can provide an answer to those who ask about their faith. This is Evangelism 101. Simon Peter admonishes his readers not to fear those who may try to persecute them for their faith. Rather, they should be prepared to answer those who ask about the faith they hold so dear. In what has become the apologetic mantra of our day, Peter writes, “Do not fear them, or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame” (1 Pet. 3:14–16). Answering Challenges Requires Study in Scripture How can a person be prepared to give a defense of their faith if they do not know what they believe? And how can they know what to believe if they do not know what the Scriptures teach? And how can they know what the Scriptures teach if they are not well-studied in the Scriptures? It seems fairly self-explanatory.   Conclusion: A Preacher Should Be Well-Studied Some contend that a person should just rely on the Holy Spirit without any formalized study of God’s Word. They will then refer to the Scripture mentioned at the outset of this article where Jesus said that a person should only rely on what the Holy Spirit tells them to say (Lk. 12:12). As this article has shown, there are numerous reasons for a preacher—and really any saint of God—to be well-studied in the Word of God. However, two additional points need to be made concerning Luke 12:12. The View is Biblically Flawed First, Jesus is not speaking about whether a preacher should be prepared for a Sunday sermon. Rather, when the verse is kept in its proper context, one sees that Jesus references what a person says in one’s defense if that person is brought to trial for their faith. Jesus taught, “Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said” (Lk. 12:11–12). Instead of worrying about what you will say, a person should instead trust in the Spirit’s leadership and direction in the moment of trouble. Nothing in this teaching says anything about a preacher’s preparedness for a message. Instead, it speaks to the importance of a person’s trust and dependence on God, especially in tumultuous times. Even the use of the verse in that manner illustrates the incredible importance of rightly handling the Word of Truth. The View is Historically Flawed Second, early Jews knew nothing about biblical illiteracy. In first-century Israel, every boy was required to attend Hebrew school. Rabbis and scribes would regularly commit the entire Old Testament to memory. In Jewish schools, boys would learn Hebrew, memorize Scripture, and learn biblical stories. By 75 BC, Rabbi Shimon ben-Shetach declared elementary education compulsory for young children. Rabbinic teachers even observed four kinds of learners: the sponge—one who retains everything but is unable to distinguish between true and false points, or significant and insignificant information; the funnel—one who lets information go in one ear and out the other; the strainer—the one who forgets significant material and retains the unimportant information; and the filter—the one who retains important information and discards that which is of unimportant.4 Rabbinic Training So, in ancient Israel, there was no such thing as a young Jewish person who was not at least partially studied in God’s Word. Unfortunately, the level of our biblical training is often subpar compared to the training of our biblical ancestors. Even for those who did not have a formal education, the community afforded an important didactic using oral traditions. The community made biblical training part of their cultural identity. They would pass along stories from one generation to another. The community ensured that their stories remained intact. Additionally, rabbis—the official teachers of the day—were often expected to have memorized the book from which they were teaching before they could teach from it—rabbinical schools moved from the midrashic stage to the mishnaic before moving to the Talmudic phase.5 Therefore, the argument that a person should not study the Word of God to proclaim a message finds no accurate parallel in antiquity or in Scripture. In the end, we can simply say that such an accusation is guilty of intellectual laziness at best, and spiritual irresponsibility at worst. Our final assessment must be that the idea that a person should not study and prepare oneself to present a biblical message should be wholeheartedly dismissed and rejected. About the Author Brian G. Chilton earned his Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction). He is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast and the founder of Bellator Christi. Brian received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and plans to purse philosophical studies in the near future. He is also enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education to better learn how to empower those around him. Brian is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and currently serves as a clinical hospice chaplain as well as a pastor. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104 Click here to order Conversations about Heaven   © 2023. Bellator Christi. Notes1My appreciation goes out to Dr. Mark Phillips for pointing this out to me in an online forum. 2 Unless otherwise noted, all quoted Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman, 2020). 3Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, Jr, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, New American Commentary, vol. 34, David S. Dockery, ed (Nashville, TN: B&H, 1992), 254. 4Robert E. Sutton, “Ancient Jewish Education,” AMITchildren.org, https://amitchildren.org/ancient-jewish-education/. 5Birger Gerhardsson, Memory and Manuscript: Oral Tradition and Written Transmission in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1961), 90–91. Notes1    My appreciation goes out to Dr. Mark Phillips for pointing this out to me in an online forum.2     Unless otherwise noted, all quoted Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman, 2020).3    Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, Jr, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, New American Commentary, vol. 34, David S. Dockery, ed (Nashville, TN: B&H, 1992), 254.4    Robert E. Sutton, “Ancient Jewish Education,” AMITchildren.org, https://amitchildren.org/ancient-jewish-education/.5    Birger Gerhardsson, Memory and Manuscript: Oral Tradition and Written Transmission in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1961), 90–91.The post Should a Preacher Be Well-Studied? appeared first on Bellator Christi.

By: Brian Chilton, Ph.D., and “The Cowboy Apologist” Curtis Evelo | May 25, 2023 In this final episode of Season 6 (S6E30 Semitic Residue), Curtis “The Cowboy Apologist” Evelo interviews Dr. Brian Chilton about the contents of his dissertation. Afterward, they preview what lies ahead in Season 7. What is “semitic residue”? Tell us about the three models of oral tradition. What do you set out to prove in your dissertation? Why is this work important? What were the 7 tests used to evaluate the different sections of Matthew’s Gospel? Did the tests reveal anything to you about the nature of the Jesus traditions behind the Gospel of Matthew? Why is this important to both theology and apologetics? Moving forward, what do you hope to do with this work? Since this is the last episode of Season 6, give us a preview of what lies ahead in Season 7. S6E30 Semitic Residue on YouTube About the Hosts Brian G. Chilton earned his Doctor of Philosophy in the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast and the founder of Bellator Christi. Brian received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Also, he is enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education to better learn how to empower those around him. Brian is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years and currently serves as a clinical hospice chaplain and serves as an interim pastor in northwestern North Carolina. https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104   Curtis Evelo is a cattle rancher at the E6 Hereford Ranch in St. Ignatius, Montana. Curtis is the Co-Host and Producer of the Bellator Christi Podcast. He often teaches and speaks at his church Cornerstone Faith Center in St. Ignatius. Curtis provides a common-sense approach to Christianity as he contemplates the wonders of God’s creation in Big Sky Country. Curtis serves as the Vice-President of Bellator Christi Ministries, a contributor, and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. His research interests include Jewish studies in the New Testament, Old Testament typologies, and studies on free will.   If you enjoyed this episode, check out the last episode of the Bellator Christi Podcast at https://bellatorchristi.com/2023/05/04/s6e29-does-god-still-speak/.   Copyright, 2023. Bellator Christi. The post S6E30 Semitic Residue appeared first on Bellator Christi.