Christ Over All

ABOUT THE EPISODE
According to Eastern Orthodoxy, at death the soul ascends to various levels where Angels and Demons engage in a courtroom battle. What determines whether the soul goes up to heaven or down to hell? (Spoiler: it’s not Jesus)
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
“Aerial Toll Houses, or The Saving Weight of Works: The Soul’s Trial by Demons After Death According to Eastern Orthodoxy” – Joshua Schooping
“Octoechos” – Encyclopedia.com
“The Origins of Pascha and Great Week – Part II” – Rev. Alkiviadis C. Calivas
“The Icon FAQ” – Orthodox Christian Information Center
“Icons as Teachers” – Archpriest John Matusiak
“Exhortation to Baptism” – St. Basil the Great
“Aerial Toll Houses, Provisional Judgment, and the Orthodox Faith” – Stephen Shoemaker
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work
 Books to Read
After Death – Vassilios Bakoyiannis
The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition – Norman Russell
Eternal Mysteries Beyond the Grave – Archimandrite Panteleimon
The Departure of the Soul According to the Teaching of the Orthodox Church – St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery
Life After Death According to the Orthodox Church – Jean-Claude Larchet
The Soul, the Body and Death – Lazar Puhalo
Mount Athos: Microcosm of the Christian East – Graham Speake an Kallistos Ware
A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer – Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos
The Future Life According to Orthodox Teaching – Constantine Carvanos
The Soul After Death – Fr. Seraphim Rose
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding an Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind – Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou
Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View – Georges Florovsky
Early Christian Hagiography and Roman History – Timothy D. Barnes
Pythagorean Knowledge from the Ancient to Modern World – Almut Barbara Renger and Alessandro Stavru
Demons in Early Judaism and Christianity: Characters and Characteristics – Hector M. Patmore and Josef Lössl
The Life of the Virgin: Maximus the Confessor – Stephen J. Shoemaker
Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion – Stephen J. Shoemaker
Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption – Stephen J. Shoemaker

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Knox Brown on his COA essays, "Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most and Most Important Doctrine" and "All Protestants God to Hell": Eastern Orthodoxy's Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of Jerusalem
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
00:37 – Intro
04:43 – Knox’s Exposure to Eastern Orthodoxy
07:10 – Hans Boersma
10:46 – Knox’s Article on the Doctrine of God
13:10 – Essence and Energies
17:14 – Explaining How the Energies are Existing Enhypostatically
19:56 – What Does Being Canonized Mean?
21:40 – How Does This All Relate to the Economic Trinity?
24:12 – In EO, How Do We Share in the Energies?
29:27 – Sponsor: Grimké Seminary
36:37 – The Council of Jerusalem
38:57 – Is Cyril Lukaris Still a Saint?
40:10 – How Prominent is the Council of Jerusalem?
43:45 – Different Weights and Measures on Schism
53:40 – Reading the Councils to Know What You Gain and What You Lose in EO
57:35 – Outro
Resources to Click
“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy’s Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox Brown
“All Protestants Go to Hell: Eastern Orthodoxy’s Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of Jerusalem” – Knox Brown
“The Acts and Decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, Sometimes Called the Council of Bethlehem, Holden under Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1672”
“The Delayed Synodical Receptions of the Councils of Jasy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672)” – Craig Truglia
“Georgian Orthodox Church” – Wikipedia
“When Did Today’s Autocephalous Churches Come Into Being?” – Orthodox History
“Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox: What’s the Difference?” – Theoria
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Join David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview Tony Costa on his COA Longform "The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology"
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
00:31 – Intro
04:30 – Dr. Costa’s Ministry and Familiarity with Eastern Orthodoxy
07:51 – What Did Dr. Costa See That Made Him Know that EO Would Be a Problem Today?
09:40 – Has Dr. Wellum Had Any Engagement with EO?
12:13 – The Vibe Online
16:03 – What is the Protestant Way to Think through Tradition?
19:25 – How EO Thinks of Scripture and Tradition
26:40 – Who in the Church is the Final Authority?
35:00 – Sponsor: Grimke Seminary
36:10 – Is the Canon Closed for EO?
41:40 – Do EO and Antisemetic Sentiment Correlate to One Another?
43:27 – The Counsel of Jerusalem
46:15 – What Will the Priest tell Catechumens to Read as They Join the Church?
48:38 – The Doctrine of the Filioque
51:37 – Why Would EO Still Deny the Filioque Today?
55:25 – Understanding Justification in EO
1:01:12 – Assurance & Atonement
1:05:40 – Original Sin & Theosis
1:08:03 – Counsel to Those Considering EO
1:12:10 – Final Thoughts
1:13:26 – Outro
Resources to Click
“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa
“Masculinity, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Search for Stability” – Alexander Breytenbach
“A Protestant Appraisal of Rock & Sand: Sola Scriptura Properly Understood” – Tyler Cox
“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

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Many Christians assume that Eastern Orthodoxy does not deny the gospel like Roman Catholicism did at the Council of Trent (1545–1563). But the Eastern Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem (1672) has some very fiery words about Protestants.
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
“All Protestants Go to Hell: Eastern Orthodoxy’s Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of Jerusalem” – Knox Brown
“The Acts and Decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, Sometimes Called the Council of Bethlehem, Holden under Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1672”
“The Delayed Synodical Receptions of the Councils of Jasy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672)” – Craig Truglia
“Georgian Orthodox Church” – Wikipedia
“When Did Today’s Autocephalous Churches Come Into Being?” – Orthodox History
“Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox: What’s the Difference?” – Theoria
Theme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern Orthodoxy
Give to Support the Work

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