Christ Over All

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Join David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview Dr. Donald Fairbairn on his COA Longform Essay, "Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge In History".
Sponsor
This month’s sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor’s to a Doctor of Ministry.
To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.
Timestamps
1:00 – Intro
04:44 – How Dr. Fairbairn Got Interested in Eastern Orthodoxy
07:33 – Was Dr. Fairbairn Ever Interested in Joining the Orthodox Church?
09:08 – The Conversations Dr. Fairbairn Has Had with the Orthodox?
11:12 – Where Has There Been Familiarity in Studying Eastern Orthodoxy?
13:33 – An Introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy Through Western Eyes
16:34 – The Four Stages of History of the Eastern Church
20:32 – How Do the Eastern Orthodox See Themselves Connected to Church History?
27:00 – How Does Tradition Function in Eastern Orthodoxy?
30:32 – What Happens in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries?
33:23 – Chalcedon, Nestorianism, and The Effects of Islam
36:26 – Persecution and Movement During the Modern Era
37:47 – The Footprint of the East in the West
39:22 – Sponsor: Grimke Seminary
40:22 – The Persian Split and Oriental Orthodox
42:42 – Cyril’s Mea Fuscous
44:33 – Recommendations for These Periods of Time
47:27 – 1054 and the Division of the East and the West
52:57 – How Did the Filioque Controversy Contribute to the Division?
56:43 – Was There Unity with Protestants Against the Papacy?
59:30 – ‘Orthodoxies’ Rather than a Universal Orthodox Church
1:05:22 – What Actually Unites the Different Orthodox Churches?
1:08:17 – Augustine in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition
1:10:13 – Three Major Trajectories in the Early Church
1:13:11 – Intrepreting the Fathers Through Origen
1:16:05 – Encouragements to Men Considering Eastern Orthodoxy
1:20:48 – Closing Thoughts
1:21:33 – Outro
Resources to Click
“Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge in History?” – Donald Fairbairn
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work
Books to Read
The Global Church–The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam – Donald Fairbairn
The Story of Creed and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan Reeves
Eastern Orthodoxy through Western Eyes – Donald Fairbairn
The Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey – Ronald Roberson

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Young Protestants are reportedly departing for Eastern Orthodoxy in droves. What are the major differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelical Protestant Christianity?
Sponsor
This month’s sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor’s to a Doctor of Ministry.
To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.
Resources to Click
“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa
“Frank Schaeffer, Former Evangelical Leader, is a Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes in God” – Huffington Post
“’The Bible Answer Man’ Turns East: An Unlikely Conversion” – Erwin Lutzer
“Young Men Leaving Traditional Churches for ‘Masculine’ Orthodox Christianity in Droves” – Rikki Schlott
“Evangelical Pastors and the Challenge of Eastern Orthdoxy” – Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schlimm
“Reality: Questions regarding the Authenticity of the Sigillion of 1583” – Joshua Schooping
“The Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024”
“Service of the Small Paraklesis”
“Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple” – Orthodox Christianity
“Debatable, Unnecessary, or Essential? The Virgin Birth and Mary as the Mother of God” – Michael Pereira
“Confession of Dositheus”
“What is Salvation?” – Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon
“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy’s Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox Brown
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work
Books to Read
Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion – Frank Schaeffer
The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Timothy Ware
Through Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy, A Reformed Perspective – Robert Letham
Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism – ed. James J. Stamoolis
Disillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church – Joshua Schooping
Eastern Orthodoxy: Through the Lens of Sola Scriptura – Samuel S. Farag
The Holy Standards: The Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Joshua Schooping
The Filioque: History of a Doctrinal Controversy – A. Edward Siecienski
Vindicating the Filioque: The Church Fathers at the Council of Florence – Thomas Crean, O.P.
The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship – Robert Letham
Early Christian Creed and Hymns, What the Earliest Christians Believed in Word an Song: An Exegetical-Theological Study – Tony Costa
The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority – Lee Martin MacDonald
The Canon Debate – Lee Martin MacDonald and James A. Sanders
The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis – Edmon Gallagher and John D. Meade
The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition – Eugen J. Pentiuc
The Acts of the Second Council of Nicaea (787) – Richard Price
Icons and Power: the Mother of God in Byzantium – Bissera V. Pentcheva
The Orthodox Study Bible – eds. Joseph Allen and Michel Najim
Protestant Patriarch: The Life of Cyril Lukaris (1572-1638) Patriarch of Constantinople – G.A. Hadjiantoniou

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Discover where Eastern Orthodoxy came from and how it differs from other Christian traditions.
Sponsor
This month’s sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor’s to a Doctor of Ministry.
To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.
Resources to Click
“Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge in History?” – Donald Fairbairn
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work
Books to Read
The Global Church–The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam – Donald Fairbairn
The Story of Creed and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan Reeves
Eastern Orthodoxy through Western Eyes – Donald Fairbairn
The Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey – Ronald Roberson

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum interview David Schrock on his COA Longform essay, "On the Third Day: Seeing Resurrection from Beginning to End"
Sponsor
This month’s sponsor: Indianapolis Theological Seminary (indysem.org).
For men interested in pastoral training, take a look at the Shepherd’s Fellowship. This church-embedded, pastorally-mentored, fully-funded MDiv is beginning Fall 2026.
For more information, check out indysem.org/shepherdsfellowship.
Timestamps
00:32 – Intro
03:05 – Resurrection in the New Testament
05:40 – Where Can We Start With the Pattern of Resurrection?
08:16 – The List of the Third Day Patterns
11:30 – Observing the Creation Patterns in the Days of Genesis
14:35 – What Should We See in Day 2?
19:12 – The Type of the Third Day Starts in Day 3 of Creation
23:20 – Pauline Thought Linked to Creation
26:26 – Creation Provides the Foundation for New Creation
30:08 – John 2 & the Third Day
35:04 – Textual Warrant and Allegory
40:42- Closing Thoughts and Outro
Resources to Click
“On the Third Day: Seeing Resurrection From Beginning to End” – David Schrock
“From Slight Peg to Cornerstone to Capstone: The Resurrection of Christ on ‘the Third Day’ according to the Scriptures,” – Stephen Dempster
“Raised on the Third Day according to the Scriptures”: Resurrection Typology in the Genesis Creation Narrative” – Nicolas P. Lunn
“Creation & Covenant: Genesis 1-3” – Occoquan Bible Church
“The First Day of the Lord (Genesis 3): Seven Reasons the Fall Occurred on the Seventh Day” – David Schrock
Theme of the Month: Resurrection in the Old Testament
Give to Support the Work
Books to Read
Genesis 1–11, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture – Andrew Louth and Marco Conti
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 1 – Matthew Henry
“Typology,” in Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – eds. G.K. Beal, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli
Leviticus (NAC) – Mark F. Rooker

ABOUT THE EPISODE
The theme of resurrection is prominent in scripture from its very first pages until the end. See how it is present in the creation account of Genesis.
Sponsor
This month’s sponsor: Indianapolis Theological Seminary (indysem.org).
For men interested in pastoral training, take a look at the Shepherd’s Fellowship. This church-embedded, pastorally-mentored, fully-funded MDiv is beginning Fall 2026.
For more information, check out indysem.org/shepherdsfellowship.
 Resources to Click
“On the Third Day: Seeing Resurrection From Beginning to End” – David Schrock
“From Slight Peg to Cornerstone to Capstone: The Resurrection of Christ on ‘the Third Day’ according to the Scriptures,” – Stephen Dempster
“Raised on the Third Day according to the Scriptures”: Resurrection Typology in the Genesis Creation Narrative” – Nicolas P. Lunn
“Creation & Covenant: Genesis 1-3” – Occoquan Bible Church
“The First Day of the Lord (Genesis 3): Seven Reasons the Fall Occurred on the Seventh Day” – David Schrock
Theme of the Month: Resurrection in the Old Testament
Give to Support the Work
Books to Read
Genesis 1–11, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture – Andrew Louth and Marco Conti
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 1 – Matthew Henry
“Typology,” in Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – eds. G.K. Beal, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli
Leviticus (NAC) – Mark F. Rooker