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As mentioned on last week’s program, most commentators tend to argue that Genesis 32 is about Jacob’s refusing to let go of God until he received his desired blessing, which of course is something that all believers should strive to do as well. Or is it?
As Jacob returns to the promised land in Genesis 32, he’s attacked in the middle of the night. As the two men struggle until the breaking of day, it slowly begins to dawn on Jacob that there’s something special about his wrestling partner.
Rachel believes that she has “wrestled with God and her sister and prevailed.” But if, according to Paul, Sarah and Hagar represent covenants of grace and works, what are we to think about the events recorded here?
Many people today think of religion as a metaphorical stairway that leads to heaven. In Genesis 28, however, Jacob encounters a great stairway between heaven and earth, but he’s not invited to climb it. What’s the point of this chapter and how does it foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ?
As we saw last week, difficulties arise when we attempt to read the story of Jacob and Esau as a traditional morality tale. In reality, the book of Genesis does not present Jacob as a hero to be emulated, but as a great sinner in whom God’s mysterious grace is richly on display. And as we’ll see in Genesis 27, Jacob actually deceives his father by clothing himself in his brother’s garments and calling himself “Esau.” So then, why does God allow him to receive his brother’s blessing? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace.
The story of Jacob and Esau raises a number of important questions. Why did God choose Jacob in favor of Esau? Was it due to some kind of foreseen virtue on Jacob’s part? In reality, that approach fails on a number of levels, since Jacob is presented throughout Genesis as a schemer, deceiver, and master-manipulator. In Romans 9, Paul argues that ultimately, the story of Jacob and Esau is about “God’s purpose in election—not because of works, but because of him who calls.” Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac & Jacob.
Why did God call Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? Why would he ask a loving parent to even consider such a thing? Is this story a kind of object lesson meant to show us how much we should be willing to give up for God, or is something else being revealed in this unsettling account? What if the focus of the narrative actually centers on that which God is promising to sacrifice for us in the fullness of time? Shane Rosenthal discusses the significance of this scene from Genesis 22 with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn, co-authors of The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study.
In his Genesis commentary, Walter Brueggemann notes that in chapters 16 to 18, Abraham and Sarah “are not offered as models of faith but as models of disbelief.” In this part of the narrative, he says, “the call is not embraced, but is rejected as non-sensical.” This helps to explain why the couple sought to fulfill God’s promise with Hagar’s assistance. But as Paul explains in Galatians chapter 4, this entire narrative is a tale of two covenants: one of grace, and another of works. Shane Rosenthal talks with Mike Brown about these issues and more as we continue our series on the Gospel in Genesis.
The story of Abraham is a record of both faith and doubt. While we’re told in Genesis 15 that “Abraham believed the Lord and it was counted to him as righteousness,” in the very next chapter we find him agreeing with his wife Sarah to attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promises by impregnating her maidservant Hagar. Later in the story, Abraham actually falls on his face and laughs at God as he reiterates the promise that his wife Sarah, even in her advanced age, would conceive and bear a son. What is the point of this narrative, and how does it help us to better understand both the complexity of sin and the grandeur of God’s grace? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Mike Brown, co-author of Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored.
In Genesis 3:15, God promises that one day a seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. What would happen if we began to read the rest of Scripture in the light of this promise? What would result if we stopped to consider whether subsequent Bible characters and heroes qualified to be the one promised who would ultimately defeat God’s enemy and restore order to his creation? Reading the story this way helps us to see with greater clarity the ways in which other Bible characters are presented as failed heroes, as well as why Christ alone is able to triumph. On this episode Shane Rosenthal discusses this approach to reading the Bible with Justin Holcomb.
In the beginning God created man in his image and likeness. What are the implications of this important truth, and how was that image twisted and distorted after the fall? What was so significant about Adam and Eve’s transgression in the first place, and how do the effects of that original sin continue to echo and reverberate throughout the rest of Scripture? Finally, how is the gospel of Christ hinted at and foreshadowed in these early chapters of Genesis? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Anglican theologian Justin Holcomb.
Does the idea of the multiverse provide a good explanation for all the fine tuning we see throughout our universe? Is there any way to test the multiverse hypothesis or does it operate as a kind of unquestioned dogma? How do naturalistic scientists explain the origin of life, or the complex amount of information that exists in our own genetic code? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Stephen Meyer as they continue their conversation begun last week related to the release of Dr. Meyer’s latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis.
How do contemporary physicists and cosmologists explain the origin of the universe? If in the very beginning there was no space, time, or matter, then what could have caused the Big Bang? Also, as scientists have studied the exquisite nature of our finely-tuned universe, some have concluded that this points us toward the existence of some kind of divine “super-intellect” who is responsible for the laws of nature and the origin of life. On this edition of the program, Shane Rosenthal discusses these issues with Dr. Stephen Meyer, author of The Return of the God Hypothesis.
Many Christians find it difficult to understand the Old Testament. Not only is it full of obscure rituals and strange laws, but it also includes a mixture of inspiring and horrifying stories. So how are we to make sense of all these narratives, laws, and rituals? What rules are still in effect, and how should we apply them to our lives today? More importantly, since Jesus taught that all Scripture bears witness to himself (Jn. 5:39), how are we to authentically find Christ throughout the Old Testament? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Iain Duguid, author of Is Jesus in the Old Testament?
After their exodus from Egypt, God announced to the people of Israel that he would “send an angel to guard them on the way and to bring them to the place he has prepared” (Ex. 23:20). Who was this angel, and how are the words of this passage echoed and alluded to throughout all of Scripture? What does this text, as well as others like it, end up revealing about God’s triune nature? On this program, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn about their new book, The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study.
What are we to make of all those passages in the Old Testament in which “the Angel of the Lord” appears on the scene and proceeds to speak and act as God himself? In their new book, The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study, Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn argue that this mysterious Angel appears much more frequently than many people realize, since he is called by a variety of names including the Angel, the Name, the Glory, the Face, the Right Hand, and the Word. Shane Rosenthal talks with Matt and Doug about their research into this important topic, and its implications for our understanding of God’s self-revelation.
In Luke’s account of the resurrection, we are told of two disciples who encountered Jesus as they walked from Jerusalem to the nearby village of Emmaus. Though their eyes were kept from recognizing him, Jesus revealed why it was necessary that the Christ should suffer, and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:26-27). What Old Testament passages would Jesus likely have discussed with these disciples? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Jason DeRouchie, Research Professor of Old Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
On this episode we’ll be concluding our brief series through the Servant Songs by taking a look at the song of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah 53. Where exactly does this famous hymn begin, and is there any evidence that readers of Isaiah believed it pointed to the coming Messiah? Are there any references to a suffering messiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls or other ancient Jewish texts? Shane Rosenthal discusses these issues with Dr. Craig Evans, author of The Holman Quicksource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and, more recently, Jesus and the Manuscripts.
In Isaiah chapter 43 God reveals that he alone is the redeemer of his people, and that “there is no other savior.” So what are the implications of these words for the way we think about religion in general, and our view of Jesus in particular? How does Isaiah’s prophecy help us to better understand the significance of Christ’s person and work? On this program Shane Rosenthal continues his discussion of the Servant Songs of Isaiah with Dr. Andrew Abernethy, author of Discovering Isaiah and God’s Messiah in the Old Testament.
On this edition of White Horse Inn, we’re beginning a new three-part series on the Servant Songs of Isaiah. Who was Isaiah and what were the circumstances in which he wrote his prophecy? Was this book written by more than one author? What are the Servant Songs, and how do these prophecies point ahead to the coming of Christ and his work of redemption? Joining Shane Rosenthal to discuss these questions and more is Dr. Andrew Abernethy, author of The Book of Isaiah and God’s Kingdom.
“Christless Christianity” continues to be a problem in many churches around the world. Too often, though, even in places where Jesus’ name is frequently mentioned, he’s presented as a divine therapist or motivational speaker who encourages us to “be all we can be.” In other cases, he’s a kind of political organizer who calls us […]
Though evangelicals and liberals are often at each other’s throats in the culture wars, this division is best understood as a kind of “sibling rivalry.” Whereas liberals tend to focus on creating “our best world now,” evangelicals talk about having “your best life now.” But either way, the focus is on what we are doing […]
According to a recent Pew study, less than 30% of evangelicals were able to identify Protestantism as the faith which embraces the doctrine of “justification by faith alone.” On this program the hosts will attempt to demonstrate that most contemporary Protestants, whether liberal or conservative, actually have more in common with radical Anabaptist beliefs than […]
In his bestselling book The Universal Christ, progressive theologian Richard Rohr claims that the doctrine of original sin was invented by Augustine and that the Bible actually teaches the “inherent goodness of human nature.” So what are the implications of this view on the way progressive Christians think about salvation in general and the atonement […]
In her new book, Another Gospel, Alisa Childers argues that “progressive Christianity is not simply a shift in the Christian view of social issues. It’s not simply permission to embrace messiness and authenticity in Christian life. It’s an entirely different religion—with another Jesus and another gospel.” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with Alisa about […]
How did so many people in our day come to believe that sexuality is at the core of a person’s individual identity? And how is it that inner psychology and subjective feelings came to have more cultural authority than a person’s actual biology? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Carl Trueman, author of […]
What is a covenant? Is there a difference between the Abrahamic covenant and the Sinai covenant, or are they basically the same? What is the relationship between the old and new covenants? On this program the hosts reveal how the study of ancient near-eastern treaties helps us to better understand all the different covenants we […]
Who was Abraham and why did God choose to bless him along with his descendants? Was it because he was a particularly holy and righteous man? What was the nature of God’s promise, and what did Abraham need to do in order to make it happen? Also, how does the covenant ritual described in Genesis […]
In Genesis, Abraham was told that in his seed, all the nations would be blessed. So why then did God later command the Israelites to be separate from the nations? In Galatians, Paul argues that the Mosaic covenant was a temporary Gentile-excluding covenant that served to guard the Abrahamic promise until the true seed, Jesus […]
Scholars such as James Dunn and N.T. Wright have argued that both Old and New Testament saints were members of one and the same covenant, and that believers are justified on the basis of their faithfulness to that covenant. But is this what the Apostle Paul really taught? Shane Rosenthal discusses this important issue with […]
Has smartphone technology changed the way we live and relate to others? Is there a relationship between social media usage and increased suicide rates among teens and preteens? How do images and short video clips affect the way we think about news stories and the world around us? On this program Shane Rosenthal discusses these […]
Christmas is the time we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Word who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). But as it turns out, this same Word, who was with God and was God (Jn 1:1-2), actually made a number of appearances throughout Israel’s history. On this episode the hosts will take […]
Was Jesus merely a nice Jewish teacher who over time began to be worshiped as a kind of god by later generations, or was he thought of as a divine from the earliest days of Christianity? What can we learn about this by examining the earliest documents of the Christian faith? On this program the […]
Why did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of Man? Did he ever specifically make the claim that he was God? Why did the world need “God in human flesh” to rescue us in the first place, and was this idea of a divine descent ever mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament? The hosts […]
When objective truth is no longer valued, subjective experience fills the void, and we end up being guided by internal feelings and emotions. The result of this is that even what Scripture refers to as sinful passions and desires (Rom. 7:5) are no longer seen as things to be resisted, but in many cases have […]
What is “woke capitalism,” and how is it changing contemporary American culture? What are the beliefs and values of this new ideology, and how do they differ from the beliefs and values of historic Christianity? Where did these ideas originate and why are they so attractive, particularly to so many young people, in our time? […]
In his recent book Live Not by Lies, Rod Dreher tells the story of a Czech professor who began noticing a shift taking place in the States about a decade ago. “Friends would lower their voices and look over their shoulders when expressing conservative views. I grew up like this,” he said. According to Dreher, […]
In response to the racial violence that he had witnessed back in the sixties, Os Guinness wrote that “Violence may be pragmatically successful in overturning an existing order that is corrupt, but it is utopian to imagine that the next order will be free of all such problems. All men are fallen.” He went on […]
“No one can understand the present crisis in the United States and the West without understanding the sixties.” So writes Os Guinness in the preface to a new edition of The Dust of Death, which he first wrote almost 50 years ago. On this program, Shane Rosenthal talks with Os about many of the themes […]
On this episode of White Horse Inn, Shane Rosenthal talks with Mike Brown about some of the forgotten figures of the short-lived Italian Reformation such as Peter Martyr Vermigli, Don Benedetto, and Juan de Valdes. During the second half of the program, Shane talks with Mike about some of the challenges he faces as a […]
In various places throughout Scripture, there are a few key moments in which God reveals himself to his people. In these important scenes, God reveals his presence, his name, and his character, and this is the way he is to be remembered throughout all generations. So what can we learn from these special encounters, and […]
Should we think of Jesus more as a model for living than as an object of worship? Did he die on the cross for our sins, or was he just some kind of martyr? Is life in this world more important than the afterlife? According to Michael J. Kruger, the liberal, progressive, or emergent answers […]
On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dennis Johnson on the content of the earliest Christian sermons that we find throughout the book of Acts. This week the discussion centers on the messages proclaimed by the Apostle Paul on his various missionary journeys. Dr. Johnson is the author of Let’s Study Acts, The […]
What kinds of sermons did the Apostles preach? Did they tell amusing stories while keeping the focus on practical matters such as how to have a better marriage? Did they give instructions about creating better communities through political activism? Or did they preach about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection? On this program Shane Rosenthal discusses […]
What happens if we compare the book of Acts with other historical works from the same period? What can we learn about the events recorded by Luke from the world of archaeology? On the last program we invited Lydia McGrew to discuss the issue of internal evidence for the authenticity of Acts. On today’s program […]
Does the book of Acts present an authentic narrative of the events that took place in the earliest days of the Christian church, or is it a fictional account of the lives of the apostles? On this program Shane Rosenthal discusses this important topic with Lydia McGrew, who has argued for the authenticity of Acts […]
Most people believe that Jesus was a real person who lived in first century Palestine. But what about the stories told of him in the four Gospels? Do they present an authentic account of Jesus’ life and teaching, or should we think of them as late and unreliable texts that have changed over time? On […]
When sharing the faith with others, should we primarily talk about Jesus, or our own religious experience? In other words, should we focus on the gospel of Christ as we find it unpacked in the New Testament with all its related facts and doctrines, or should we focus on our personal testimonies, explaining to others […]
Why do you believe Christianity is true? Shane Rosenthal put this question to attendees at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, and you’ll probably be surprised by the answers he received. During the first half of the program Michael Horton discusses the responses to this poll with Doug Powell, author of The Holman QuickSource Guide to […]
Contemporary culture is anything but neutral. In fact, it frequently promotes ways of thinking and behaving that are contrary to Scripture. If we’re not intentional about our faith, we will be conformed to the dogmas and values of our age. But in Romans 12:2 Paul instructs Christians saying, “Do not be conformed to this world, […]
Spending a day at the ocean can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be dangerous. Sometimes the undercurrents can be deceptive, and the waves punishing. As a result, parents must warn their children about these dangers, and watch them closely as they head into the water. According to Brett Kunkle, co-author of A […]
Artificial Intelligence is already changing the world as we know it, but how will it change the future? Is it possible that humans will one day be able to create a thinking machine that has a will of its own? And if so, will this machine become a kind of super-intellect that ends up controlling […]
