Pastors Talk - A podcast by 9Marks On Eastern Orthodoxy Part 1 (Ep. 326)
Mar 31, 2026
Joshua Schooping, a former Eastern Orthodox priest and author, explains why he left the priesthood and church. He traces his path into Orthodoxy, seminary formation, and the theological concerns that grew there. Conversations cover contested teachings on atonement, councils like the 1672 Jerusalem meeting, disputes over justification language, authority structures, and how to evaluate Orthodox parishes.
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Conversion Driven By Philokalia And Desire For Depth
- Joshua Schooping described moving from a non-denominational background into Eastern Orthodoxy after reading the Philokalia and finding its approach to prayer and sanctification compelling.
- He and his wife began attending a local Eastern Orthodox church in Central Florida, drawn by its deep historical theology compared to contemporary evangelical emotion-driven worship.
Modern Orthodoxy Has Downgraded Penal Substitution
- At seminary Joshua found modern Western Orthodoxy often rejects penal substitution and permits universalist-leaning views like David Bentley Hart's as acceptable options.
- He traced this shift to the influence of Christus Victor revival by some Anglicans and modern theologians who downplayed earlier patristic atonement language.
Patristic Sources Often Affirm Penal Substitution
- Joshua discovered extensive patristic support for penal substitution across centuries, contradicting much contemporary Orthodox teaching.
- He used fathers like Cyril of Alexandria and hymns (which are canonically binding) to argue the historical tradition affirms substitutionary atonement.
