In this episode, we welcome Dr. Bernard Aubert to discuss his article “J. Gresham Machen’s The Virgin Birth of Christ: Then and Now”. What is the context of Machen’s The Virgin Birth of Christ and why was the book so important? Taking us through the overlapping contexts of the Fundamentalism-Modernist Controversy, the Presbyterian Controversy, and a context in the academy where the Hellenization Thesis and the “History of Religion School” was prominent - Dr. Aubert helps us understand this book, in context. Moreover, he takes us through how Machen’s confessional Presbyterian background and classical education, in which historical context and authorial intent are emphasized, aided Machen’s work in New Testament studies. Bringing it all together, Dr. Aubert shows why the topic was key when it came to standards for ministers, in his Presbyterian context – and was a key defense of the historical reliability of the New Testament, the integrity of the Gospels’ presentation of Jesus’ birth, and indeed - the Incarnation, itself. Further aiding our understanding of Machen’s book, we also ask about how the book was received, in its time, as well as how the book’s arguments stood up over time.

Article: “J. Gresham Machen’s The Virgin Birth of Christ: Then and Now”

The Virgin Birth of Christ by J. Gresham Machen

Other resources by Dr. Aubert:

- “Calvin and the Interpretation of Scripture”, Verbum Christi

- The Sheperd-Flock Motif in the Miletus Discourse (Acts 20:17-38) Against its Historical Background

- Reformed Standards of Unity: The Historic Confessions of Faith Confessed by the Presbyterian Churches

Also: check out a database Dr. Aubert did work on that is a comprehensive list of prooftexts in key Reformed confessions: standards.wts.edu

In this episode, Skyler flies solo with some thoughts on the contrast between The Gospel of Mark and Plato's Allegory of the Cave - specifically in regard to what the problem is, who and what the solution is, and what it means to "see". Instead of one's own acquisition of knowledge being a basis of the soul's ascent out of the world, perhaps the Gospel is Truth coming to us and healing us (embodied) in the world, trusting his eyes to see, with hope and patience for a Kingdom to be received by the very Grace who saved us.

One wise and informed warning against some of the symbolic interpretation of the passage is found in the brilliant work of Dr. Lydia McGrew here, here, here and here.

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Bill Dennison to discuss his article “The Christian Academy: Antithesis, Common Grace, and Plato’s View of the Soul”. Starting with the “tension between common grace and human depravity”, how do we understand the Antithesis in relation to subject-matter that seems like neutral ground for believer and unbeliever alike? Given the seriousness of sin upon our hearts and minds, how do we approach unbelieving systems in an informed manner that doesn’t compromise what Scripture has revealed? Doesn’t Plato and the Bible both teach the immortality of the soul, and thus that particular insight serve as a bridge of agreement? Taking Plato as a test case, Dr. Dennison takes us through the depth and structure of Plato’s system (especially as found in the Phaedo) and takes us into the context of the particular view of the soul and its immortality. Having properly understood Plato (as Plato), we can then analyze the level of agreement that is truly there between the Bible and Plato. Once both Plato and the Bible are adequately understood, therein lies a striking example of the danger of unwarranted synthesis, and the syncretism that has always plagued the Israel of God. Listen in as Dr. D gives us both the context of this paper, as well as the current significance of understanding this kind of analysis. Instead of nostalgia driving people simply back to earlier forms of errors, perhaps its time to systematically understand the destructive potential of an emphasis on common grace when unaccompanied by a robust Biblical view of the Fall and of man in his sinful state, including Christians. As Dr. D writes: “antithesis must precede common grace”.

Article: “The Christian Academy: Antithesis, Common Grace, and Plato’s View of the Soul”

Book: In Defense of the Eschaton: Essays in Reformed Apologetics

Also check out as basically a “part two” of the article discussed: “Dutch Neo-Calvinism and the Roots for Transformation: An Introductory Essay”

Hear our past interviews with Dr. Dennison:

- Karl Marx

- Cornelius Van Til on the Problem of Evil

-Also check out Dr. D’s sermon series on Revelation

Other resources:

Plato’s Phaedo

Plato by R.M. Hare

The Westminster Confession of Faith (esp. chapters 6, 9, 32)

The Defense of the Faith; Common Grace and the Gospel by Cornelius Van Til

In this episode, we welcome missionary and a church planter Lauren Montenegro to discuss her chapter in the recent book The Nicene Creed titled: “The Virgin Mary”. What is Mariology, and what are the four Marian dogmas? What is the basis and defining logic of Mariology, and does Protestant have one? What is the Rosary, and do Roman Catholics worship and pray to Mary? Listen in as Lauren takes us into this and more – as she takes us into the global world of Marian apparitions, visions and images. There are around 2,400 claims of Marian apparitions in the world, even though few than 20 are officially recognized by the Vatican; moreover, in 184 of these claims, “Mary allegedly requested that a chapel be built” in order to attain blessings from her. How should Protestants understand the place of these personal revelations of Mary, the ongoing revelation of Mariology – and the place of sincerity when it comes to evaluating faithful Christianity? Lauren takes us through this and more as we try to understand and evaluate something at the heart of global Roman Catholicism.

Book: The Nicene Creed: The Nature of Christian Unity and the Meaning of Gospel Words edited by Mark Gilbert and Leonardo De Chirico

Some other articles by Lauren Montenegro:

• "A Significant Change in the Roman Catholic World of Apparitions"
• "Mary: An Evangelical Review of Netflix's Somewhat-Catholic Film"

Other resources:

See chapter 8 of Lumen Gentium (Vatican II)

The Cult of the Saints by Peter Brown

Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion by Stephen Shoemaker

A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Mary: Mother of God?; Same Words, Different Worlds: Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel?; Engaging Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach by Leonardo De Chirico

Who Is My Mother? by Eric Svendsen

The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells