The Nathan Jacobs Podcast

Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with Fr. Joseph Lucas to discuss penal substitution atonement. The discussion examines the claim that penal substitution is the biblical and historic view of the atonement. Drawing on the writings of Cyril of Alexandria and other early Christian sources, Fr. Joseph Lucas explains how the Church Fathers understood sacrifice, sin, and the work of Christ very differently from later Western models.The discussion looks at the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, typology, and the meaning of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. The result is a picture of atonement centered on purification, victory over death, and the transformation of human nature—not a transfer of punishment.This conversation also explores how differences in biblical interpretation led to very different conclusions about what the Cross accomplishes.Support the East West Series: https://theeastwestseries.com/ Bio: Archpriest Joseph Lucas is an Orthodox Christian priest, theological scholar, college professor, and practical philosopher. He received his PhD in Theology at Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Netherlands) and his MDiv with Distinction in Church History and Patristics at St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Pennsylvania). He specializes in research pertaining to patristic exegesis and historical theology.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lt40zf4KpV8Fr. Joseph’s parish in Miami: https://www.oca.org/clergy/Joseph-Lucas/ - His blog, Prudence and Piety: https://prudenceandpiety.com/ - His parish podcast, Apostolic Tradition: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlnsUX0xxfCfBWmQmrrQ8w - Fr. Joseph Lucas’ book: How to Read the Holy Fathers: A Guide for Orthodox Christians: https://store.ancientfaith.com/how-to-read-the-holy-fathers-a-guide-for-orthodox-christians/ - Another episode Dr. Jacobs and Fr. Lucas did together: https://youtu.be/3Yt5fItpy7U?si=0BRySP8VEQgv-9I9 Mentioned:- East Vs. West (Part 1) - Dr. Nathan Jacobs, Orthodox Miami: https://youtu.be/kVGkrtzx1DY?si=hmCwdH5YTN3hcpQn- Fr. Joseph’s appearance on The Symbolic World: https://youtu.be/0FuO88QVlN0?si=8UmUZF4Cc5ZmHD1X - Fr. John Behr’s book, The Case Against Diodore and Theodore: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Diodore-Theodore-Oxford-Christian/dp/0198800215 Dr. Nathan’s series on penal substitution:Part 1: https://youtu.be/WHx21LQncFI?si=Y-WaG636sATOZ03S Part 2: https://youtu.be/-MXLs6J2JBw?si=XxHHcXmqnjhx4G95 Timestamps:00:00 - Coming up00:18 - Start01:27 - Introduction03:11 - Fr. Joseph's work05:24 - What is penal substitution atonement?07:41 - Fr. Lucas' background13:44 - Approaching St. Cyril of Alexandria on atonement18:00 - St. Cyril's influences23:09 - An incorrect exegesis25:08 - The Father looking away from the Son34:04 - Origen35:18 - Christ acting in the Old Testament39:39 - A discussion on the term sin56:58 - Passover01:00:28 - Substitution01:03:20 - Presuppositions: early vs modern Christians01:11:31 - Assuming our nature01:15:19 - The blameless passions01:24:35 - Testing vs temptation01:29:59 - Justification and vindication01:46:33 - Salvation is a mystery==========================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/All the links:The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

This is part 3 of 3 talks by Dr. Nathan Jacobs about the "nones", the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades and about which Dr. Jacobs has done research, culminating into the documentary called Becoming Truly Human.Watch part 1: https://youtu.be/vun_XtxDt5E?si=8uHdje7CpTHNAa8v Watch part 2: https://youtu.be/XPlTK33zmcs?si=sY32QQCva2QGPpCK In this talk, Dr. Nathan A. Jacobs discusses how we, as believers, can engage the “nones” and “dones”. He explains why the religiously unaffiliated don't talk about religion, and argues that the real crisis isn’t simply atheism, but disillusionment and cultural hypnosis. A major threat to our faith, as with so many aspects of human life, is our technology and the sense it can create of being a cognitive minority. How can we talk about religion with people who are disaffiliated? How can we help families and members of our own church to prevent disillusionment?Do you want to watch the Becoming Truly Human documentary? Watch it along with other exclusive content on Jacobs Premium. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount on the highest tier of support: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5_LcdMbopjgTimestamps:00:00 - Preview01:43 - Introduction to this series01:50 - Start of talk02:32 - The secret believer05:59 - A safe space to talk08:26 - Nones rarely talk about religion11:51 - Ask them about their journey16:45 - Addressing their presuppositions22:43 - Taste and see25:48 - The dones27:50 - Keeping Orthodox folks from leaving the church29:27 - A reading from Narnia39:28 - A cognitive minority43:56 - Digital experience48:24 - Approaching research about the dones55:54 - Q&A and discussion56:16 - Q: On resources58:45 - Q: Why does the Orthodox also produce nones and dones?01:07:23 - Q: Why people leave church despite believing01:12:37 - Q: Open to differences01:15:43 - Q: Humility and listening01:16:41 - Q: Catechesis01:19:39 - Q: Moral problems with the Bible======================================All the links:The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

A deep look at why many people leave Western forms of Christianity without rejecting God. Short contrasts between Western theological trajectories and Eastern Fathers surface themes like grace, freedom, fatalism, and human nature. The talk highlights ideas such as essence and energies, a porous spiritual world, and practical paths like liturgy, pilgrimage, and holy conduits.

A look at the fast-growing religiously unaffiliated and what shapes their spiritual lives. Short portraits and film clips reveal common intuitions like karma, a vague higher power, and therapeutic spirituality. The modern atheist versus apologist debate is argued to have lost its audience. Questions about afterlife, moral objections to traditional religion, and how people trust intuition over formal reason are raised.

A tour through ancient Greek and medieval ideas that shaped modern concepts of the divine. Short takes on how philosophers moved from many gods to a single highest being. A look at debates over divine attributes like necessity, omniscience, and providence. A focus on the person versus nature question and why that distinction matters for whether different faiths refer to the same deity.

A guided tour of how the word 'God' changed from ancient Platonism through Augustine and medieval scholasticism to modern religious pluralism. Discussion of divine simplicity, perfect being theology, and how those ideas shaped assumptions about divine nature. Exploration of rational religion, Kantian limits, and how these histories influence claims that different faiths point to the same transcendent reality.

Delve into the intriguing debate about whether Greek philosophy corrupted Christianity. The discussion highlights the influence of German idealism and critiques the label of Church Fathers as Platonists. It contrasts ancient approaches to truth with modern nominalism while exploring the Hellenization of Judaism. Discover how distinctive Christian doctrines evolved and the integrity of martyrs like Justin Martyr. Ultimately, the host argues that early fathers preserved, rather than tainted, the faith taught in the New Testament.

Dive into the fascinating world of Nicene Trinitarianism as Dr. Jacobs explores the metaphysical foundations set by the Cappadocian Fathers. He demystifies complex Greek terms like ousia and hypostasis while contrasting Eastern and Western theological developments. Discover the historic debates over divine nature with the Arian dispute and Augustine's significant influence. Jacobs also tackles modern misunderstandings of the Trinity and considers prospects for East-West reconciliation amidst deep philosophical divides.

Dr. James Joiner, a philosopher specializing in consciousness and free will, delves into the heated debate on whether science disproves free will. He critiques popular determinist narratives and dissects studies like Libet's to expose their methodological flaws. Joiner argues for the persistence of libertarian freedom against reductionism and discusses how belief in free will impacts moral behavior. By exploring historical roots and contrasting types of freedom, both he and Dr. Jacobs highlight the importance of aligning our will with truth and virtue.

Enroll in Dr. Joiner’s class: https://myprofer.com/coursesContribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. James Joiner discusses libertarian free will, contrasting it with compatibilist and determinist positions through the lens of patristic theology and developmental psychology. The conversation examines Gregory of Nyssa's theological anthropology, the concept of synergistic cooperation in theosis, and cross-cultural evidence for the universality of free choice. Dr. Joiner argues that both ancient Christian thought and contemporary research support the view that human beings possess genuine self-determination, exploring implications for moral responsibility, bioethics, and the differences between Eastern and Western theological frameworks.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/NathanAJacobsOther words for the algorithm… free will, libertarian free will, compatibilism, determinism, Gregory of Nyssa, Cappadocian Fathers, patristic theology, Eastern Orthodox theology, church fathers, theological anthropology, theosis, deification, synergy, moral responsibility, praise and blame, developmental psychology, moral agency, self-determination, Christian anthropology, Christian East, Christian West, philosophy of religion, free will debate, moral psychology, bioethics, applied philosophy, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, patristics, Orthodox Christianity, Byzantine theology, ancient philosophy, Christian philosophy, systematic theology, philosophical theology, Aristotelian ethics, virtue ethics, moral philosophy, conscience, moral intuition, Augustine, Pelagianism, divine sovereignty, human freedom, image of God, imago Dei, salvation, soteriology, grace, divine grace, sanctification, spiritual formation, Desert Fathers, Maximus the Confessor, Origen, Irenaeus, moral development, character formation, passions, will and intellect, Thomas Aquinas, Thomism, Kant, autonomy, phenomenology, David Bentley Hart, Kallistos Ware, Vladimir Lossky, ecumenical councils, Nicene Creed, liturgical theology, mystical theology, apophatic theology, hesychasm, spiritual senses, nous, William James, neuroscience and free will, agent causation, Peter van Inwagen, Alvin Plantinga, natural law theory, Neoplatonism, Plato, metaphysics, causation