Podcasts about kavin rowe

Show Notes:Chris and Eddie are joined by previous guest Greg Jones for a spirited conversation about leaning into hopeful imagination: looking for places where the Holy Spirit is at work and where we can see a future that's different from the past and the present. What does it mean to be formed in God's imagination? How can we use that formation to find security in a fractured, uncertain world? How can we bring resurrection hope--the surety of a risen Christ to heal the world--to our institutions, our communities, and our daily lives?Greg is the President of Belmont University as well as the former Dean of Duke Divinity School and the author of several books, including Navigating the Future (co-authored with Andrew P. Hogue), Christian Social Innovation, and Thriving Communities (co-authored with Kavin Rowe). His hope for his time at Belmont is to make it a leading Christ-centered university in the world, radically championing the pursuit of life abundant for all people. Resources:Listen to Greg's previous episode on The Weight here.Learn more about his books and buy them online here.Learn more about Dr. Jones here.

“What we think about God will determine what we think about everything else. To speak of ‘God' is to invoke the context for all understanding, that to which all life and thought are related: to the extent that we live and think at all, therefore, we do so in light of our understanding — whether explicit or implicit — of God. Theology, that is, is never merely ideation. It is always and inherently a total way of life.”— Kavin Rowe, World Upside Down Luke 1:5-25

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Sermon Outline What story do we belong to? What does this story claim about us? What does this story require of us? Sermon Questions In your small group or on your own, rehearse the story of everything. What are its major movements, the "acts" in the biblical drama? Sam said that there is a pattern and a point to the biblical story. What were they? How do we see the appetite for power — expressed both among religious and irreligious people, especially amongst ourselves, corporately and individually — today? Are you a mountain or a valley? What challenge did you take away from encountering John the Baptist? Resources Consulted Alasdair Macintyre, "The Virtues, the Unity of a Human Life and the Concept of a Tradition," in After Virtue (Bloomsbury Academic, 2007), 237–61 C. Kavin Rowe, Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope (Abingdon, 2020) Lesslie Newbigin, "The Bible: God's Story and Ours," Reform (Jan. 7, 1990) Christopher J.H. Wright, Great Story, Great Commission: Participating in the Biblical Drama of Mission (Baker Academic, 2024) "Refugee," by Malcom Guite Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker ( ).

Is your vote a tool for change or simply participation in a corrupt system? Do you feel a tension between engaging with a broken world and protecting your faith from its influence? This episode of Found (the second in the "Faith in Politics" series) grapples with these very questions as hosts Linda Tokar and Brandon Bathauer explore the idea of "separation as faithfulness." Discover why a growing number of Christians are choosing to disengage from the political sphere, citing reasons like distrust in candidates, a sense of powerlessness, and concern about the world's corrupting influence. Through insightful analysis of recent studies and statistics, the hosts unpack the motivations behind this perspective and what it means to live faithfully in a world that often feels at odds with Christian values.Journey through the history of Christianity and discover how groups like the Essenes, monastic movements, and Anabaptists embraced separation as a means of preserving their faith. Explore the writings of influential thinkers like Menno Simons, John Howard Yoder, Rod Dreher, and C. Kavin Rowe, and see how their ideas have shaped the modern understanding of this approach. The hosts examine key biblical passages that both support and challenge the idea of separation, sparking a thought-provoking discussion about the role of Christians in the public square. Is withdrawing from the world the best way to protect one's faith and live according to Christ's teachings, or is there a path to engage meaningfully without being corrupted?Suggested Resources for further study:Menno Simons: A good starting point is The Complete Writings of Menno Simons translated by Leonard Verduin.John Howard Yoder: His most famous work is The Politics of Jesus, which explores pacifism and Christian engagement in the world.Rod Dreher: His book The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation advocates for building resilient Christian communities in response to a perceived decline in Western culture.C. Kavin Rowe: The World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age examines the early Church's response to Roman power and provides a framework for understanding Christian witness in a challenging world.For updates on important events, visit https://saddleback.com/found and join the Found community! For any questions, email us at formation@saddleback.com .

Shownotes:In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity's groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity's Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God's promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe's insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.Check out Kavin Rowe's book Christianity's Surprise here:https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/ Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe

Join Sam Fornecker for a conversation with C. Kavin Rowe (George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Vice Dean for Faculty, Duke Divinity School). Drawing on Rowe's recent book, Leading Christian Communities (Eerdman's, 2023), this conversation focuses on how the New Testament enables the communities it shapes to envision a faithful and compelling vision of Christian leadership.

Join Sam Fornecker for a conversation with C. Kavin Rowe (George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Vice Dean for Faculty, Duke Divinity School). Drawing on Rowe's recent book, Leading Christian Communities (Eerdman's, 2023), this conversation focuses on how the New Testament enables the communities it shapes to envision a faithful and compelling vision of Christian leadership.

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 Timothy 3:1–16; John 1:14–18. Sermon Outline Gospel constitutes Church Stewardship requires order Order serves mission Application Questions What has been your experience of church leadership? Has it included both the upward dimensions and downward dimensions considered in this sermon? Have you experienced these when being led? Have you demonstrated these when leading in any capacity? What three words describe the evangelistic pattern we find in 1 Timothy 3:16? When others ask why you "go to church", how do you respond? Of the three patterns of church life mentioned in this sermon — care for the least, healthy conflict, and gospel articulacy — where do you need to grow? How will you respond to this recognition? Select Resources Consulted Alistair Stewart-Sykes, The Original Bishops: Office and Order in the First Christian Communities (Baker, 2014) C. Kavin Rowe, Leading Christian Communities (Eerdman's, 2023) Robert H. Gundry, “The Form, Meaning and Background of the Hymn Quoted in 1 Timothy 3:16,” W. Ward Gasque & Ralph P. Martin (eds.), Apostolic History and the Gospel. Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F.F. Bruce (Exeter: Paternoster, 1970), 203-222. You can listen to the sermon by using the player below or via the St Andrew's Sermon Podcast. Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker (SFornecker@StAndrews.Church). Audio & Video

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Acts 2:37–47; Mark 12.41–44. Sermon Outline A Church alive in the Spirit lives at the intersection of proclamation and demonstration doesn't "hand a bit out," but puts it all in shatters the shame of its members keeps its praise on target Sermon Questions If these four elements were points on a compass—apostolic teaching (N), fellowship (E), humble service (W), and praise (S)—how would you map your spiritual position today? Would you be off in a particular quadrant? Do some elements feel fainter than others? What is the difference between "handing a bit out" and "putting it all in"? Have you ever experienced healing? Do you believe God heals today? What makes genuine friendship—koinonia, or fellowship—possible? What does it mean to you to belong the body of Christ? Resources Consulted Craig Keener, Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World Luke Timothy Johnson, The Literary Function of Possessions in Luke Acts C. Kavin Rowe, World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker (sfornecker@StAndrews.Church). Audio & Video You can listen to the sermon by using the player below or via the St Andrew's Sermon Podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

In this episode, I talk with Kavin Rowe about some of his work in Hermeneutics, NT studies, and the history of Early Christianity. In our conversation, we discuss his 2002 article on "Biblical Pressure and Trinitarian Hermeneutics," his 2022 article on the question of Truth and NT Studies, as well as his recent book, Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope.    Dr. Rowe is Vice Dean for Faculty and Distinguished Professor of NT at Duke Divinity School. He is also the author of many books and articles including World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age (Oxford) and Early Narrative Christology (de Gruyter).   This podcast is hosted by Ched Spellman (https://linktr.ee/chedspellman). Thanks for listening! Clarifying Note: The views of special guests are their own & do not necessarily reflect my own or the organizations with which I am formally and informally affiliated.

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Sermon Outline A Great Reversal Who is freed Whose is freed A Radical Rethink A reason for a radical rethink A model for a radical rethink Initiative Humility Praise A Real Response Habakkuk 2:20 Sermon Questions What is the main theme of Luke's gospel being explored in this message? What circumstances in life make it most difficult for you to remember that Jesus is on the throne? What is the difference between an "n" shaped dynamic and a "u" shaped dynamic? Of the three acts/attitude of the heart discussed in point 2 — initiative, humility, praise — in which cases are your spiritual muscles strongest (or weakest)? Reflect on Jesus' challenge to the Pharisees who opposed Him. Is there some area of life where you may be trusting in a great iron eyrie — even a religious or spiritual version of one — rather than in Jesus? Select Resources Consulted David Prior, The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk (The Bible Speaks Today) C. Kavin Rowe, Early Narrative Christology: The Lord in the Gospel of Luke  Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker (SFornecker@StAndrews.Church).

Christianity is full of surprises, and Christmas is no exception. Out of that idea, The Surprise of Christmas, our Advent sermon series was born. What's surprising about Christmas? Listen in to today's episode to hear David and Leandra share!Listen to all sermons from this series here.Mentioned in today's episode:Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope by C. Kavin Rowe

En la primera parte (0- 14:05) Pablo era un ferviente fariseo antes de convertirse en seguidor de Jesús. Tim dice que ese "celo" que Pablo mostraba como fariseo es un hipervínculo a una historia del Antiguo Testamento en Números 25 donde el sacerdote Finees mostró "celo" por preservar la ley judía. Jon dice que el celo o fervor es una emoción curiosa que es complicada de entender en los movimientos religiosos. Tim dice que Pablo nunca perdió su celo; simplemente lo redirigió cuando se convirtió a Jesús. En la segunda parte (14:05-26:10) Jon y Tim hablan de Hechos 13 y los viajes misioneros. Tim explica que hubo más viajes misioneros que los que se mencionan en el libro de Hechos. Hace referencia a un libro llamado "The Lost History of Christianity" (La historia perdida del cristianismo) de Philip Jenkins. Con respecto a los viajes misioneros de Pablo, Tim cuenta que Pablo cerró la brecha entre judíos y gentiles; Lucas lo cuenta con historias cortas sobre conversos como Lidia, la gentil comerciante de púrpura, Timoteo, hijo de madre judía y padre griego, el carcelero de Filipos, de carácter tosco y fuerte, y Dionisio Areopagita, un antiguo intelectual aristócrata. Lucas quiere retratar a Pablo como una persona que llega a un grupo diverso de personas con el mensaje de Jesús. En la tercera parte (26:10-37:26) Jon y Tim hablan sobre la controversia de la circuncisión retratada en Hechos 15. ¿Se les debe exigir a los gentiles convertidos al cristianismo que cumplan las costumbres tradicionales judías? Esa es una de las preguntas fundamentales que forman la base de todo el Nuevo Testamento, pero hoy en día se pasa por alto, porque la mayor parte de los cristianos no son judíos. Tim dice que los discípulos determinaron qué hacer utilizando un pasaje del Antiguo Testamento del profeta Amós, que se encuentra en Amós 9:11-15. En la cuarta parte (37:26-54:19) Tim y Jon hablan de cómo era la antigua Roma y por qué el cristianismo era considerado una amenaza para el Imperio romano. La economía romana estaba compuesta en gran parte por siervos y esclavos. La religión romana era politeísta. Tim cita a los estudiosos Kavin Rowe y Larry Hurtado, que plantean que los cristianos representaban una amenaza económica y religiosa para la sociedad romana. ¿Por qué? Porque se negaban a participar en el culto comunal a los dioses romanos o en la economía construida sobre un nacionalismo violento. Tim dice que eso es evidente en las historias que comparte Lucas, como la del platero Demetrio en Hechos 19. Él ve al cristianismo como una amenaza para todo el sistema religioso y económico mundial e incita una revuelta en Éfeso contra Pablo. En la sexta parte (54:19-60:20) Tim comparte algunas citas de NT Wright. Jon y Tim hablan de cómo la vida de los occidentales modernos se parecen a las vidas de los romanos. En nuestra cultura tendemos a adorar al sexo y el dinero pero sin la mitología que los rodea. Los occidentales modernos, ¿somos muy diferentes de nuestros históricos predecesores romanos? Quizás somos más parecidos de lo que creemos. En la séptima parte (60:20-70:51) Tim y Jon analizan Hechos 17. Dondequiera que se extendía el cristianismo, tendía a haber revueltas a medida que las comunidades locales sentían que los cristianos estaban perturbando su forma de vida. Tim dice que Lucas estaba retratando intencionalmente el movimiento de Jesús en curso de colisión con el mundo romano. Pablo y otros cristianos generaban perturbación dondequiera que fueran, pero predicaban el evangelio de paz. En la octava parte (70:51-final) Tim y Jon hacen una interesante observación histórica sobre el fundamento de la libertad religiosa y la separación entre iglesia y estado que proviene de los padres de la iglesia antigua, como Tertuliano, quienes abogaban por su derecho de adorar al Dios judío, pero servir a un emperador romano.¡Gracias a todos los que nos apoyan!Mostrar recursos:• The Lost History of Christianity (La historia perdida del cristianismo) de Philip Jenkins• World Upside-Down: Reading Acts in a Graeco-Roman Age (El mundo al revés: leer Hechos en una edad greco-romana) de Kavin Rowe• Destroyer of the Gods (Destructor de los dioses) de Larry Hurtado• Why on Earth Did Anyone Become a Christian in the First Three Centuries?(¿Por qué motivo alguien se convertiría al cristianismo en los primeros tres siglos?) por Larry Hurtado• Paul and the Faithfulness of God (Pablo y la fidelidad de Dios) de N.T. Wright Música:• Latin Music por Full Voice Studio (presentando a Braian Quevedo y Bernabé Torres)• Cello from Portland por Beautiful Eulogy• Acquired In Heaven por Beautiful Eulogy• Blessed Are the Merciful por Beautiful Eulogy• Day and Night por Aiguille• Mid Summer por Broke in Summer• Música de Tensión - Sin Copyright (Streaming)Producido por Full Voice Studio. Este podcast es una versión localizada del podcast de BibleProject, originalmente grabado por Jon Collins y Tim Mackie. Desarrollado y distribuido por Simplecast.

Shownotes:In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity's groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity's Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God's promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe's insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.Resources:Check out Kavin Rowe's book Christianity's Surprise here:https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/ Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe

Dr. C. Kavin Rowe currently serves as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School. He is also the author of "Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope." Music by Coma-Media.

The Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative (TMC) at Duke Divinity School and the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine at Duke held a seminar on November 5th, 2021 with Ellen Davis, PhD, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology and C. Kavin Rowe, PhD, George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament. They led a seminar entitled "Biblical Narratives of Healing." TMC Seminars are a semi-monthly gathering of faculty, students, clinicians, and others interested in the intersections of theology, medicine, and culture. For more information and recordings, visit https://tmc.divinity.duke.edu/seminar/​.

I recommend an excellent work on the Book of Acts, Kavin Rowe's World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age (Oxford University Press), and I talk about Paul's opening rhetorical move in Romans 1:18-32.

Episode Type: Book Discussion (x3) This description contains links to books on Amazon of which I earn a small commission if you purchase. In this Book Discussion episode of the Share Life podcast, I'm excited and grateful to be speaking with C. Kavin Rowe, an author, John Templeton Prize winner, Fulbright Scholar, a Lilly Faculty Fellow, Associate Dean of the Faculty, and a George Washington Ivey distinguished professor of New Testament at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. In February 2020, per the direction of my good friend, I read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius as my first serious dive into stoicism. Wanting a systematic understanding of the stoic tradition, I stumbled across Kavin's book, One True Life: The Stoics and Early Christians as Rival Traditions. It not only gave me what I was looking for but opened up a new world to me. I quickly picked up a copy of your previously published book, World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age, before finding out you secretly (and surprisingly) published another book at the end of last year called Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. In this discussion, we'll dive into questions regarding all three works as well as the connections between them. Connect With Kavin C. Kavin Rowe is a professor and associate dean of Faculty at Duke Divinity School. You can check out his Duke Divinity School faculty page and access his contact information here. You can also check out his Duke University faculty page here. Explore numerous articles scribed by C. Kavin Rowe on Faith and Leadership here. For the video version and additional resources, visit the following URL --> https://www.jasonscottmontoya.com/personal/faith/573-c-kavin-rowe --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sharelife/support

The Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative at Duke Divinity School and the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine at Duke held a seminar on February 24, 2021 with C. Kavin Rowe, PhD, MDiv and Bradley Gregory, PhD. Dr. Rowe is the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Associate Dean of the Faculty at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Gregory is the Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Their talk is entitled, "Saved by Grace through Pharma? The Bible and Preventative Medicine".

In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity's groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity's Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God's promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe's insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.Check out Kavin Rowe's book Christianity's Surprise here:https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/ Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe 

In part one (0:00-13:30), Tim and Jon discuss the motives Paul had for putting himself in harm's way. Tim says that Paul's priority was to show a unified world between Jew and Gentile through belief in Jesus. Tim then outlines Paul's time in Jerusalem and his arrest. Tim points out that there are six cycles that begin with Paul being arrested, then Paul is given a platform to speak, then the authority figure saying that Paul doesn't deserve death, but he is never released. Tim says Luke is portraying Paul as a model for how Christians should relate to the powers and cultural structures of the world. Christianity is not a movement that is political, or social, or anything else, but it does encompass those things. It is an entirely different movement of an entirely different nature. In part two (13:30-30:00), Tim continues to outline Paul's trials. Tim quotes from Kavin Rowe: "The Christians are not out to establish Christendom. A new culture, yes, a new political movement, no." Tim points out that Paul submitted to the Roman authorities despite the flaws. It's a stance of loyalty and subversion. Tim points out that Luke is laying Paul's story on top of Jesus' story of also being on trial by the Jewish and Roman authorities. Luke wants the reader to think intelligently about how Christians should relate to the government. God's Kingdom is not a human kingdom; it is a vision of a new and better humanity. There is no such thing as being a Christian in private in the ancient world, nor should there be that option today. In part three (30:00-35:00), Jon points out that Christianity is a movement that doesn't need the same type of power that the Romans had. It's a groundswell, not a top-down approach. Tim says that Luke is trying to communicate that the Jesus movement is its own thing that doesn't fit any other type of movement in human history. In part four (35:00-end), Tim points out that Paul always seemed to interact with corrupt Roman politicians. But when he did, Paul encouraged that official to follow the road of high integrity that they aspire to. Show Resources: World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco Roman Age by Kavin Rowe https://www.amazon.com/World-Upside-Down-Reading-Graeco-Roman/dp/0199767610/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=kavin+rowe&qid=1551724935&s=gateway&sr=8-2 Show Produced by: Dan Gummel, Jon Collins

Our modern world is bursting with angst. News of an impending environmental crisis, worldwide political turmoil, gratuitous violence, wars, and human suffering are delivered instantaneously, twenty-four hours a day, to the smart devices in the palms of our hands. It seems there is no escape from the incessant stream of allegedly newsworthy catastrophes short of ignoring the news, abandoning all forms of social media, and sequestering ourselves in some form of safe space, far away from the mayhem of human society. That was the solution offered by the ancient Epicureans. They retreated from social and political life to their garden where they tried to live tranquil lives among like-minded friends. There were exceptions; some Epicureans engaged in society when they thought the benefit of doing so was significant enough to risk their tranquility. However, the primary Epicurean strategy was to retreat from society and thereby avoid the people and events that can cause psychological distress. The Stoics provided an alternative solution. It appears the Epicurean garden did provide a place to develop tranquility for some ancients, and it seems reasonable to assume a similar approach to life can do the same for moderns. However, the Epicurean garden is no place for Stoics. To become a Stoic, one must avoid the alluring walls of the Epicurean garden that separate us from society. The Stoic path does not lead to any peaceful, secluded garden. Instead, it leads us out of the garden and into the clamor of society, where we can fulfill our roles and duties as rational, social creatures. Fortunately, Stoicism provides us with the psychological tools and training methods that will enable us to thrive and experience tranquility, even amid this seemingly hostile environment. Stoics are a different breed; they can flourish in whatever sociopolitical circumstance they find themselves while they simultaneously work to create a society and world that exemplifies courage, justice, wisdom, and moderation. The Stoic prepares to handle the best and worst of human nature within their homes, marketplaces, cities, boardrooms, political forums, and battlefields, while the Epicurean prefers to remain in their garden to escape those potentially disturbing environments. While both pursue virtue, the Epicurean seeks inner tranquility (ataraxia), in part at least, by controlling their external environment; the Stoic, on the other hand, creates inner resilience that allows for psychological well-being (eudaimonia) regardless of external circumstances. Stoics realize how easy it is for the hordes of externals to trample and burn the walls of the Epicurean garden. In contrast, the formidable walls of the Stoic’s inner citadel can withstand the siege of Fortuna and the crashing waves of inexorable fate. Therefore, it is not surprising that many ancient Romans from the political class adopted Stoicism as a way of life. In fact, two of our surviving textual sources come from a Roman emperor (Marcus Aurelius) and a Roman senator (Seneca), and a third comes from the lectures of a freed slave turned philosopher (Epictetus). These writings resonated with people throughout history because these three Stoics lived their philosophy in the real world. They were not academic philosophers expounding on hypothetical scenarios. Instead, each of these ancient Stoics lived and thrived in the tumultuous, chaotic, sweaty, and occasionally bloody world of humanity because they relied on their inner resilience, cultivated by Stoic practice, to live virtuously. The Stoic builds his retreat inside his psyche, not in a garden retreat. The Stoic inner citadel provides an ever-present fortress and retreat, where the Stoic’s soul remains untouchable amidst the vicissitudes of life. As a result, the ancient Stoics possessed the inner strength to engage in social and political life. As C. Kavin Rowe points out, In contrast to the Epicureans, for example,

In part 1 (0- 14:00), Paul was a zealous Pharisee before he converted to following Jesus. Tim says this “zeal” that Paul showed as a Pharisee is a hyperlink to an Old Testament story in Numbers 25 where the priest Phineas exercised “zeal” to preserve the Jewish law. Jon comments that zeal is an interesting emotion that is complicated to understand in religious movements. Tim comments that Paul never lost his zeal; he just redirected it upon his conversion to Jesus. In part 2 (14:00-25:30), the guys discuss Acts 13 and the missionary journeys. Tim explains that there were more missionary journeys going on than just those recounted in the book of Acts. He references a book called “The Lost History of Christianity” by Philip Jenkins. Regarding Paul’s missionary journeys, Tim recounts that Paul bridged the gap between Jews and Gentiles, and Luke recounts this with all these short stories about converts like Lydia the Gentile purple merchant, Timothy the child of a Jewish mother and Greek father, the Philippian jailer, a rough and tough character, and Dionysius the Areopagite an ancient intellectual aristocrat. Luke desires to portray Paul as a person who reaches a diverse group of people with the message of Jesus. In part 3 (25:30-36:00), the guys discuss the circumcision controversy portrayed in Acts 15. Should Gentile converts to Christianity be required to observe traditional Jewish customs? This is one of the fundamental questions underpinning the whole New Testament, but it’s largely missed today because Christianity is now majorly non Jewish. Tim says the disciples determined what to do by using a passage from the Old Testament prophet Amos found in Amos 9:11-15. In part 4 (36:00-48:45), the guys discuss what ancient Rome was like and why Christianity was viewed as a threat to the Roman empire. The Roman economy was made up largely of indentured servants and slaves. Roman religion was polytheistic. Tim cites quotes by scholars Kavin Rowe and Larry Hurtado saying that Christians posed both an economic and religious threat to the Roman society. Why? Because they refused to participate in communal worship of the Roman gods or in the economy built on violent nationalism. Tim says this is evident in the stories Luke shares, like the one about the silversmith Demetrius in Acts 19. He views Christianity as a threat to the entire religious and economic system of the world and incites a riot in Ephesus against Paul. In part 6 (48:45-53:05), Tim shares a few quotes from NT Wright. The guys discuss how modern Americans’ lives look very similar to Roman lives. We tend to worship sex and money as a culture, but without the mythology wrapped around it. Are Americans or modern westerners that much different from our historical Roman predecessors? Perhaps we’re more alike than we care to believe. In part 7 (53:05-59:50), the guys cover Acts 17. Wherever Christianity spread, there tended to be riots as the local communities felt the Christians were disrupting their way of life. Tim says that Luke was purposefully portraying the Jesus movement on a collision course with the Roman world. Paul and other Christians would create disruption wherever they went, yet they were preaching a gospel of peace. In part 8 (59:50-end), the guys make an interesting historical observation that the foundation for religious liberty and the separation of church and state comes from the ancient church fathers like Tertullian arguing for their right to worship the Jewish God, but serve a Roman emperor. Thank you to all our supporters! Produced By: Dan Gummel, Jon Collins, Matthew Halbert-Howen Resources: Philip Jenkins, Lost Christianity Kavin Rowe, World Upside-Down: Reading Acts in a Graeco-Roman Age Larry Hurtado, Destroyer of the Gods Larry Hurtado, Why on Earth Did Anyone Become Christian? N.T. Wright, Paul and the Faithfulness of God Music: Beautiful Eulogy, The Fear of God Beautiful Eulogy, Come Alive (Hidden) Beautiful Eulogy, Come Alive Moby, Shot in the Back of the Head Shipwrecked, Noah Dixon KV, Wild Rosasharn Music, Defender Instrumental

This is episode 3 in our series outlining the book of Acts! In part 1 (0-11:00), the guys briefly discuss the other Jewish messianic sects that were also in the ancient world. Jon comments that in his imagination, there were just two sects of Judaism, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Tim responds saying that in fact, Judaism was extremely diverse. There were more sects and messianic movements than just the ones that were explicitly covered in the Protestant Bible, and ancient Judaism had a whole spectrum of beliefs with nominal to radical followers. In part 2 (11:00-34:00), Tim outlines Acts chapter 8-11. This section is known as the persecution and scattering of the ancient church. Luke (the author) intentionally weaves stories of Peter and Saul/Paul together. Peter and Paul both wake up to the reality of the risen Jesus in two different ways. Peter’s vision on the rooftop, where God shows him that the kosher food laws no longer apply, would have been extremely offensive and destabilizing for ancient Jews. Jon says that it’s difficult for him to imagine the lives of ancient Jews and their customs. Jon asks if there are any modern cultural symbols that we hold to be true that could be equivalent to how the ancient Jews saw these laws. Tim comments that every culture has their norms, their accepted beliefs, and those who choose to break away or live outside of those cultural norms will be thought of as strange and potentially undermining the culture they live in. This is exactly how the early Christians were viewed. In part 3 (34:00-44:00), Tim outlines a few famous stories in Acts, like Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch and Paul visiting Antioch. Antioch was a melting pot city, a kind of San Fransisco of the ancient world. While Jerusalem was the symbolic center of Christianity, Antioch became the hub from which the first missionary journeys were launched. In part 4 (44:00-end), Tim explains that fundamentally Christianity is an ancient eastern, multiethnic religious movement. This is unique among other world religions. Christianity is the largest multiethnic religious movement in history. The guys discuss how this places Christians in a unique position in their respective cultures. Thank you to all our supporters! Resources: Rodney Stark: Cities of God. Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament Alan Thompson, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus, Kavin Rowe, World Upside-Down: Reading Acts in a Graeco-Roman Age Christopher Nolan: Dunkirk (The Movie) Produced By: Dan Gummel. Jon Collins. Matthew Halbert-Howen Show Music: Defender Instrumental: Rosasharn Music Reveur: Pyrus Lights: Sapphiros Ehrling: Typhoon

Explore that the Son is divine and the Spirit is divine. God is revealed in a three-fold yet united way as the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. This can be seen in Romans 8:14-17, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ..." We read in 1 Peter 1: 1-2, "To the exiles . . . who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood." And in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, "Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." Matthew 28:19 tells us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Consider that there is one Name and yet a three-fold distinction. The benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:13 is Trinitarian: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." Notice in the texts of 1 Corinthians, Matthew, and 2 Corinthians, that the order may be shifted such that 1 Corinthians mentions the Spirit first, Matthew mentions the Father first, and 2 Corinthians invokes the Son first. The accounts of Jesus’ baptism are particularly instructive. In Matthew 3: 16-17 we read, "And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Explore that there are Three and One. Early Christians were affected by Biblical pressures in Christian worship: the way God teaches us how to relate in prayer to Him is going to be the way we come to know who He is. They also were affected by the Biblical pressure of Christian salvation, and extra-biblical language to clarify what is in the Bible. Creedal language developed to help people understand the basic meaning of Scripture. As Robert W. Jenson puts it, "It is important to see that there is indeed a hermeneutical circle between Scripture and the doctrines of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Chalcedon. The doctrines are hermeneutical principles for the reading of Scripture, and Scripture displays the doctrines." Kavin Rowe agrees, "Scripture exerts a pressure upon its interpreters to understand the God of the entire Bible as the Trinity and that this pressure is felt most acutely at the point of the intersection of the Old and New Testaments . . . To interpret the Bible in light of the doctrine of the Trinity does not, therefore, distort its basic content but penetrates to its core with respect for the reality of the divine identity, the living God outside of the text known truly by Israel and fully in Jesus Christ."