Christ Over All

ABOUT THE EPISODEChristianity hinges on history: if the Gospels are not trustworthy accounts of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, the faith collapses. But are they myth shaped by early belief, or historical testimony grounded in eyewitness experience and apostolic oversight? This question is not peripheral—it is foundational.Timestamps00:36 – Intro02:18 – Guy Waters’ and Stephen Wellum’s Introductions05:43 – Christianity Stands or Falls Upon Historical Facts11:10 – Four Gospels and No More15:48 – What About Gnostic or Apocryphal Gospels?17:32 – Why is the Idea of ‘Myth’ Appealing?23:00 – The Gospels Are Reliable Accounts26:33 – The Gospels Are Historical Accounts by Eyewitnesses30:46 – The Synoptic Problem34:03 – Three Proposals to This Problem38:00 – When to Turn to a Passage in Another Gospel?44:35 – Why Is John Just Different?49:12 – Concluding Thoughts53:47 – OutroResources to Click“The Reliability of the Gospels: Rock or Sand?” – Guy WatersTheme of the Month: One Gospel, Four WitnessesGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadJesus and the Word – Rudolf BultmannJesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence – Robert E. Van VoorstThe Canon of Scripture – F.F. BruceThe Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance – Bruce MetzgerThe Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission and Authority – Lee Martin McDonaldThe Gospel and the Gospels: Christian Proclamation and Early Jesus Books – Simon J. GathercoleThe Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs: New Testament and Apocryphal Gospels – Simon J. GathercoleJesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey – Craig BlombergThe Life of Jesus Critically Examined – David F. Strauss ed. Peter C. HodgsonJesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony – Richard BauckhamMatthew (BECNT) – David L. TurnerThe Gospel According to John (PNTC) – D.A. CarsonStudying the Synoptic Gospels – E.P. Sanders and Margaret DaviesThe Synoptic Problem: An Introduction – Robert H. SteinThe Reliability of the Gospel Tradition – Birger GerhardssonJohn: The Maverick Gospel – Robert KysarThe Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John – Richard BauckhamThe History of the Church – Eusebius“Why Four Gospels,” in Selected Shorter Writings, Vol. 2. – B.B. Warfield ed. John Meeter

ABOUT THE EPISODEChristianity hinges on history: if the Gospels are not trustworthy accounts of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, the faith collapses. But are they myth shaped by early belief, or historical testimony grounded in eyewitness experience and apostolic oversight? This question is not peripheral—it is foundational.Resources to Click“The Reliability of the Gospels: Rock or Sand?” – Guy WatersTheme of the Month: One Gospel, Four WitnessesGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadJesus and the Word – Rudolf BultmannJesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence – Robert E. Van VoorstThe Canon of Scripture – F.F. BruceThe Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance – Bruce MetzgerThe Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission and Authority – Lee Martin McDonaldThe Gospel and the Gospels: Christian Proclamation and Early Jesus Books – Simon J. GathercoleThe Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs: New Testament and Apocryphal Gospels – Simon J. GathercoleJesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey – Craig BlombergThe Life of Jesus Critically Examined – David F. Strauss ed. Peter C. HodgsonJesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony – Richard BauckhamMatthew (BECNT) – David L. TurnerThe Gospel According to John (PNTC) – D.A. CarsonStudying the Synoptic Gospels – E.P. Sanders and Margaret DaviesThe Synoptic Problem: An Introduction – Robert H. SteinThe Reliability of the Gospel Tradition – Birger GerhardssonJohn: The Maverick Gospel – Robert KysarThe Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John – Richard BauckhamThe History of the Church – Eusebius“Why Four Gospels,” in Selected Shorter Writings, Vol. 2. – B.B. Warfield ed. John Meeter

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Bryan Litfin on his Christ Over All essay: "From Nicaea to the “Nicene Creed”: Sixty Years of Confusion and Controversy"Timestamps00:48 – Intro04:15 – Introducing Dr. Litfin’s Book on the Trinity05:30 – What Has Helped Dr. Litfin to be a Good Storyteller?07:18 – What Is10:44 – Why Does the History Around the Nicene Creed Matter?13:08 – Did the Council of Nicaea Anticipate the Fight that was Going to Come?15:10 – The Legend of Saint Nicholas17:13 – The Demise of Arius19:35 – How Did Athanasius Become a Main Figure in the Fight for Orthodoxy?24:38 – Athanasius’ Two Volumes Against the Arians26:25 – The Different Theological Groups Around the Time of Nicaea30:26 – How Athanasius Made His Arguments32:20 – History of the Political Influence Between 325-38134:24 – The Cappadocians37:56 – Why Was There Less Participation in the Time of Theodosius?39:57 – What Changes Took Place in the Statements Between 325 and 381?42:38 – Why Was There Not as Much Said about the Holy Spirit?48:14 – The Pneumatomachians50:27 – What Conception Did They Have in Terms of the Spirit’s Saving Power?53:08 – The Nicene Fathers’ Understanding of the Church and Baptism56:08 – Should We Go Back to the Apostolic Fathers to Clarify Our Doctrine?1:00:57 – A Trinitarian Approach to the Gospel1:03:57 – The Trinity and Salvation1:06:21 – OutroResources to Click“From Nicaea to the “Nicene Creed”: Sixty Years of Confusion and Controversy” – Bryan Litfincom – Bryan LitfinRufinus of Aquileia: Historia Ecclesiastical, Book 10, chs. 1-6 (Excerpt on the First Council of Nicaea)Letter of Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicaea to a Council – Fourth Century ChristianityThe Death of Arius (Post Nicene Fathers Excerpt) – Philip SchaffThe Dialogue Against the Luciferians – Jerome; Philip SchaffThe Nicene Creed – Book of Common PrayerTheme of the Month: The Nicene Creed: 1700 Years of HomoousiosGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadThe Story of the Trinity: Controversy, Crisis, and the Creation of the Nicene Creed – Bryan LitfinThe Church History of Rufinus of Aquileia: books 10 and 11 – Rufinus of Aquilea trans. Philip R. AmidonThe Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions – Clyde Pharr

Dive into the captivating struggle between the early church and the rise of Arianism. Discover how Bishop Athanasius defended the doctrine of the Trinity amidst fierce opposition. Learn about the intense theological battles following the Council of Nicaea that shaped the Nicene Creed. Explore the pivotal moments that defined Trinitarian orthodoxy and the implications for salvation and Christian unity. This tale reveals the bravery of those who stood firm in their faith during a time of controversy.

ABOUT THE EPISODE Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Donald Fairbairn on his Christ Over All essay: "Creeds and the Gospel: From the Beginnings to the Council of Nicaea (325)"Timestamps00:23 – Intro03:23 – Misconceptions about Creeds & Confessions06:15 – Responding to The Restorationist Movement09:50 – We Are Influenced by Something as We Read Scripture12:49 – The Authorities of Scripture and Tradition in Systematic Theology16:24 – Dr. Fairbairn’s Interest in Church History & the Patristics18:54 – The History Up to 325A.D.24:09 – The Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed28:50 – Denials of Arianism31:55 – The Political Background to the Creed38:37 – Eusebius’ Exaggeration of Constantine41:37 – The Article on the Father46:12 – Language of the Son being ‘Of’ or ‘From’ the Father51:43 – The Arian Moral Exemplar View56:24 – Nicene Cosmology59:33 – Final Thoughts1:01:28 - OutroResources to Click“Creeds and the Gospel: From the Beginnings to the Council of Nicaea” – Donald Fairbairn30 Kyle Claunch, David Schrock, Stephen Wellum • Interview • “God the Father: Namesake of all Fatherhood” – Christ Over AllTheme of the Month: The Nicene Creed: 1700 Years of HomoousiosGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadThe Story of Creeds and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan M. ReevesLetter to Alexander of Alexandria in The Trinitarian Controversy (Sources of Early Christian Thought) – ed. William G. RuschDefense of the Nicene Definition – AthanasiusThe History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine - Eusebius

ABOUT THE EPISODEShould we abandon man-made confessions of faith and instead have "no creed but Christ"? Enter the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. Resources to Click“Creeds and the Gospel: From the Beginnings to the Council of Nicaea” – Donald FairbairnTheme of the Month: The Nicene Creed: 1700 Years of HomoousiosGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadThe Story of Creeds and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan M. ReevesLetter to Alexander of Alexandria in The Trinitarian Controversy (Sources of Early Christian Thought) – ed. William G. RuschDefense of the Nicene Definition – Athanasius

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Kyle Claunch on his Christ Over All essay: "God the Father: Namesake of all Fatherhood" Timestamps00:26 – Intro03:45 – Dr. Wellum’s Highlights of Travel to the UK and Ireland05:56 – Kyle Claunch’s Forthcoming Book07:48 – Where are the Challenges of Feminist Language for God Coming From?17:41 – Analogical, Univocal, and Equivocal Language20:34 – What Does Amy Peeler Argue about God?26:17 – Is there Ever a Non-Metaphorical Language that is Used for God?31:59 – Does EFS Theology Drive Amy Peeler’s View of the Trinity and Metaphorical Language?35:42 – Proper and Figurative Language42:13 – The Value of Being Precise in Our Language Towards God47:31 – The Essential and Personal Nature of God the Father54:57 – How Do These Things Help Us Begin to Reflect the Fatherhood of God?57:49 – Final Thoughts from Dr. Wellum59:41 – Outro Resources to Click“God the Father: Namesake of All Fatherhood”– Kyle Claunch“Theological Language and the Fatherhood of God: An Exegetical and Dogmatic Account” – Kyle Claunch“On the Improper Use of Proper Speech: A Response to Ronald W. Pierce and Erin M. Heim, ‘Biblical Images of God as Moter and Spiritual Formation’” – Kyle ClaunchTheme of the Month: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great AgainGive to Support the WorkBooks to Read Post Reformation Reformed Dogmatics – Richard MullerTheoretical Practical Divinity, Vol. 2: Faith in the Triune God – Petrus Van MastrichtReformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2: God and Creation – Herman BavinckSumma Theologiae Book 1 – Thomas Aquinas“Baptists, Sola Scriptura, and the Place of Christian Tradition,” in Baptists and the Christian Tradition – ed. Matthew Emerson, Christopher Morgan & R. Lucas StampsJohn Gill’s Commentary of the First Letter of John – John GillShe Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse – Elizabeth A. JohnsonWomen and the Gender of God – Amy PeelerDiscovering Biblical Equality: Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives – eds. Ronald W. Pierce, Cynthia Long Westfall, et. alThe Father and the Feminine: Exploring the Grammar of God and Gender – Spencer Miles BoersmaThe Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology – Adonis ViduOn Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God – eds. Matthew Barrett and Todd Billings

About the EpisodeWill the real complementarians please stand up? Why it's time for thick/broad/natural complementarians to embrace the label of "biblical patriarchy" to differentiate themselves from the declining thin/narrow/ideological complementarians. Resources to Click“After Complementarianism, What? Why Egalitarians Are (Still) Winning the Evangelical Gender Debate” – Doug Ponder“Slaying Feminism: Ending the Impossible Quest for Sexual Interchangeability” – Doug Ponder“Male and Female He Created Them: The Implications of a Paradigmatic Reading of Genesis 1-3 for the Complementarian-Egalitarian Debate” – Doug Ponder“Newsletter #13: The Lost World of American Evangelicalism” – Aaron RennRomeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2“A Biblical Vision of the Sexes: Harmonious Asymmetry” – Doug Ponder“Mere Complementarianism” – Denny Burk“What’s In a Name? The meaning and origin of “Complementarianism”” – Denny Burk“Is Complementarianism a Man-Made Doctrine?” – Denny Burk“What is Biblical Patriarchy?” – Hard Men Podcast“Reformed Resourcement: Recovering Biblical Patriarchy with Zach Garris” – The King’s Hall Podcast“The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism” – Aaron Renn“Newsletter #30: Complementarianism is a Baby Boomer Theology That Will Die with the Baby Boomers” – Aaron Renn“Who Should Read the Scriptures in Worship?” – O. Palmer Robertson“SBC Says Women Not Barred From Presidency, Pastor Dwight McKissic Suggests Beth Moore” – Leonardo Blair“Andrew Wilson says the Church Needs to Rethink Gender and Complementarianism” – Sam Hailes“A Word of Empathy, Warning, and Counsel for “Narrow” Complementarians” – Jonathan Leeman“Four Clarifying (I Hope) Thoughts on the Complementarian Conversation” – Kevin DeYoung“Empathy, Feminism, and the Church” – Joe Rigney“Does Anyone Need to Recover from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood?” – Andy Naselli“Complementarians and the Rise of Second-Wave Evangelical Feminism” – Doug Ponder and Bryan LaughlinThe Danvers Statement“Male-Only Ordination is Natural: Why the Church is a Model of Reality” – Steven Wedgeworth“What About the Term ‘Patriarchy’? – CBMW Podcast“Russell Moore’s ETS Paper: The Best Yet” – Denny Burk“Rehabilitating Patriarchy” – Peter J. Leithart“After Patriarchy, What? Why Egalitarians Are Winning the Evangelical Gender Debate” – Russell D. Moore“Death to the Patriarchy?” – Kevin DeYoung“Loss of a Good Word (Again)” – Zephram FosterTheme of the Month: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great AgainGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadJesus, Justice, and Gender Roles: A Case for Gender Roles in Ministry – Kathy KellerWomen, Authority and the Bible – ed. Alvera MickelsenRecovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism – eds. John Piper & Wayne GrudemDiscovering Biblical Equality: Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives – eds. Ronald Pierce, Cynthia Westfal, et al.God’s Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey – Andreas J. Köstenberger & Mararet Elizabeth KöstenbergerThe End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us – Carrie GressSexual Politics – Kate MillettBeyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women’s Liberation – Mary DalySoft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands – W. Bradford Wilcox

Resources to Click“God the Father: Namesake of All Fatherhood”– Kyle Claunch“Theological Language and the Fatherhood of God: An Exegetical and Dogmatic Account” – Kyle Claunch“On the Improper Use of Proper Speech: A Response to Ronald W. Pierce and Erin M. Heim, ‘Biblical Images of God as Moter and Spiritual Formation’” – Kyle ClaunchTheme of the Month: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great AgainGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadPost Reformation Reformed Dogmatics – Richard MullerTheoretical Practical Divinity, Vol. 2: Faith in the Triune God – Petrus Van MastrichtReformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2: God and Creation – Herman BavinckSumma Theologiae Book 1 – Thomas Aquinas“Baptists, Sola Scriptura, and the Place of Christian Tradition,” in Baptists and the Christian Tradition – ed. Matthew Emerson, Christopher Morgan & R. Lucas StampsJohn Gill’s Commentary of the First Letter of John – John GillShe Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse – Elizabeth A. JohnsonWomen and the Gender of God – Amy PeelerThe Father and the Feminine: Exploring the Grammar of God and Gender – Spencer Miles BoersmaThe Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology – Adonis Vidu

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Trent Hunter interview Aaron Rock on his Christ Over All essay: "Wisdom for Fathers: Raising up Children in a Fallen Down World"Timestamps00:35 – Intro04:33 – What Happened to Aaron’s Church During Covid? How Did this Affect His Children?09:56 – What Influenced Aaron Rock’s Article?14:10 – What Were Some of the High Leve Things That Stood Out?17:40 – What Encouragement Would You Give to a Father Who Feels He has ‘Blown It’?24:26 – Fathers Shepherding Teenagers into Adulthood30:18 – How Important is it to Have a Right Doctrine of God’s Fatherhood?35:10 – Five Duties for Fathers46:57 – Counsel for those Who Wish to Have More ‘Form’ in Their Family52:09 – More on Form and Freedom in Marriage & Family59:30 – How are Fathers Helped By Assessing Their Family?1:05:22 – Books to Recommend for Fathers1:08:38 – OutroResources to Click“Wisdom for Fathers: Raising up Children in a Fallen Down World” – Aaron Rock“Actor Christopher Walken’s brutally honest answer about choosing to be childfree resonates with many” – Angelina Dsouza“Seth Rogen Gets Candid About Not Wanting Kids” – Chanel Vargas“Bill Maher Lobbies for New Holiday: ‘I Didn’t Reproduce Day’” – Rosemary RossiTheme of the Month: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great AgainGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadTender Warrior: Ever Man’s Purpose, Every Woman’s Dream, Every Child’s Hope – Stu WebberDuties of Parents – J.C. RyleKnowing God – J.I. Packer