The Nathan Jacobs Podcast

Join Dr. Jacobs’ membership for all kinds of perks and access: thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership (use code LEWIS for a discount on the Fellows tier!) Today Dr. Jacobs takes a look at the challenge of genocide in the Old Testament, particularly the commanded extermination of the Amalekites and Canaanites. We’ll critique divine command theory from a realist metaphysical framework and explores how Eastern patristic theology understood divine providence, justice, and redemption in relation to these narratives. Dr. Jacobs will dig into cultural practices of ancient Near Eastern peoples, the distinction between race-based genocide and practice-based judgment, and how concepts like Christ's descent into Hades inform a coherent theological reading of these difficult passages.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:00:19 Series context & the question 00:05:27 Divine Command Theory is not the answer00:38:13 A thought experiment about evil 00:41:05 Cultural examples: Game of Thrones & black death00:47:40 Lord of the Rings & the Orcs 00:51:48 Understanding the Amalekites00:56:20 What Genocide really means01:05:40 A horror movie scenario01:13:02 The story of Saul & Samuel 01:17:34 The story of Jonah01:26:08 Christ's descent and redemption 01:31:38 Death as gift and mercy01:35:08 The broader narrative context01:39:03 Addressing the epistemological worry

This episode examines the moral case against polygamy from a natural law and Eastern Orthodox perspective, then addresses why polygamous practices appear in the Old Testament. Dr. Jacobs distinguishes between biological and psychological dimensions of sexual ethics, critiques Thomistic approaches for neglecting reason's role in human sexuality, and argues that ancient Near Eastern circumstances created conditions where polygamy functioned as a lesser evil tolerated but never endorsed by God. The Eastern patristic framework is presented as recognizing concessions to human weakness while maintaining monogamy as the scriptural ideal from Genesis through the early Church.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:00:25 Recap 00:08:50 Four levels of discourse 00:18:24 Natural law analysis00:27:41 Reason & psychological reality 00:45:39 Orthodox framework 01:04:24 Providence through missteps 01:09:40 Ancient Near East context

Enroll for Jacobs Premium Fellows (book club) <<use code LEWIS at checkout for the founder’s discount!>>: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout Enroll for Jacobs Premium Scholars: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/CC4Z229F/checkoutEnroll for Jacobs Premium Supporters: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/HPjzX2Lk/checkoutThis episode examines the biblical problem of slavery through a natural law framework, distinguishing between immoral slavery and morally permissible servitude. Dr. Jacobs argues that what the Bible describes as "slavery" more closely resembles contractual servitude arrangements, lacking the five essential traits that make slavery immoral: abduction, coercion, brutality, squalor, and dehumanizing treatment. Using Eastern Orthodox theological anthropology and classical realism, he demonstrates how true slavery violates human nature by denying the fundamental freedom that defines rational beings. The analysis shows that both Old Testament law and early Christian teaching consistently condemned actual slavery while permitting voluntary service arrangements that preserved human dignity and self-determination.00:00:00 Introduction00:04:35 Let's talk about slavery00:07:28 Providentialists00:11:00 Good and evil as pleasure and pain00:17:10 Level 400:24:58 Moral responsibility00:31:37 The natural law case against slavery00:36:30 The features of slavery00:41:18 Discipline for one's formation00:45:28 The great chain of being00:50:12 Slave/master relationship00:53:00 Are the 5 traits of slavery essential?00:56:47 "Slavery" scenario #201:00:31 Defining our terms01:01:36 Is servitude immoral?01:06:03 The early Christian viewAll the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Dive into the fascinating world of Eastern Orthodox theology, exploring essential terms like pope, bishop, and the significance of the Pentarche. Discover the historical roots of apostolic succession and how church structures evolved post-persecution. Unpack the East-West divide and the causes behind the Great Schism of 1054. Delve into theological concepts like Theosis and predestination, and understand how language shifts can clarify rather than alter doctrine. Great insights await for anyone interested in bridging Protestant and Orthodox beliefs!

Sign up for Jacobs Premium: thenathanjacobspodcast.comIn this postscript to his anthropology and ethics series, Dr. Jacobs examines why people experience discomfort when confronted with moral assessments that challenge their preferred behaviors or beliefs. He draws parallels between objective aesthetics and ethics, arguing that humans possess default intuitions about justice and fairness that create psychological tension when their actions conflict with moral reality. Dr. Jacobs discusses the problems of confirmation bias and social pressure in ethical reasoning, advocating for beginning moral inquiry with foundational metaphysical questions rather than applied ethics. The episode concludes with practical considerations for personal ethical development, distinguishing between philosophical assessment, political implications, and pastoral guidance in the gradual cultivation of virtue.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:01:24 Objective aesthetics 00:05:25 The human yearn for justice 00:15:39 Resisting confirmation bias 00:23:26 Analyzing at level 4 00:26:59 The cognitive minority 00:36:52 Deciding how to live00:40:19 Politics and morality 00:43:06 Forming in virtue 

We dive once more into the differences between Eastern and Western Christianity. This time, Dr. Jacobs tackles the nature-grace divide. He’ll trace how Augustine's anti-Pelagian framework created a nature-grace divide in the Latin West, where human nature is seen as inherently incapable of pleasing God without supernatural assistance. In contrast, the Eastern tradition maintains that humans as icons of God possess a natural connection to divine grace through the image-archetype relationship. The analysis covers how these differing anthropologies lead to distinct understandings of total depravity, synergy, and the relationship between creature and Creator.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro00:01:22 Recap & roadmap 00:10:08 The Pelagian controversy00:15:55 Hierarchy of loves00:20:22 Augustine's pursuit of truth00:28:19 Adam & Eve (original sin)00:35:45 The root of total depravity00:40:02 Divine volunteerism00:51:09 Monistic views emerge00:54:40 Medieval "faculty psychology"01:08:22 Imago Dei (Image of God) nuances01:11:30 Divine essence and energies01:23:36 Insights from Plato01:29:50 Man as icon of God01:39:14 Grace in the Christian West01:54:48 The faculty psychology problem02:12:40 Doctrine of the Logoi02:25:40 Idiosyncratic teleology02:30:52 Wrapping up the series

Dive into the complexities of LGBT ideology as dissenting views clash with cultural fundamentalism. Explore historical perspectives that separate personal inclinations from identity, revealing shifts in moral understanding. Examine how ancient Greek philosophy influences modern ethics, especially on contentious topics like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Challenge traditional morals with insights from various philosophical frameworks, emphasizing the importance of societal stability and family structures in today's discussions.

In this fourth installment of our series on Ethics & Anthropology, Dr. Nathan Jacobs traces the evolution of Realism from ancient philosophy through John Locke and even Woody Allen, asking what this tradition missed about the true nature of reality. How does Christianity reframe the conversation on Realism, and why does it matter for ethics, anthropology, and our understanding of the world?Please Like and Subscribe! Follow Dr. Jacobs and his work: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

In this third installment of our four-part (or 5-part 😬) series on Ethics & Anthropology, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores Moral Philosophy and the enduring debate over Providence vs. Chaos in the history of philosophy and metaphysics. Is history guided by a divine hand, or is it nothing more than accident and chance?All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

What happens when morality is unmoored from its metaphysical foundations? In part two of the Anthropology series, Dr. Nathan Jacobs traces the slow unraveling of moral philosophy—from its classical roots in virtue and teleology to its modern preoccupation with utility and consequence.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:05:22  Pagan philosophy and human polarities00:35:38 Augustine and the Nature-Grace Divide00:55:06 Medieval faculty psychology: intellect and will01:04:52 From Medieval Scholasticism to Modern Philosophy01:11:56 The rise of empiricism and materialism01:29:46 The empiricist challenge to Providence 01:41:18 Contemporary culture's nominalist foundation01:47:53 The hedonistic definition of happiness 01:52:47 Modern anomalies in historical perspective 02:02:05 Passion over reason