Apologetics 315 Podcast

🎙️ Show Notes: The Deity of Christ with Robert BowmanThis is a summary of the Apologetics 315 podcast episode featuring an interview with Rob Bowman. Bowman is the president of the Institute for Religious Research (IRR) in Cedar Springs, Michigan, and the author or co-author of 15 books on topics including apologetics, Christology, and the Trinity.This conversation, hosted by Brian Auten and Chad Gross , explores the evidence for the deity of Christ and how believers can be equipped to explain this core doctrine.🔑 Key Takeaways & TopicsGuest Information: Rob Bowman is the president of the Institute for Religious Research (IRR) and has written or co-authored 15 books, including works on Christology and the Trinity.Book Focus: The discussion is based on two of Bowman's books:Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of ChristThe Incarnate Christ and His Critics, a Biblical DefenseThe Deity of Christ: The hosts note that this is a critical topic. Bowman emphasizes that the goal for Christians is to have a "real tool" to use in conversations to explain why the New Testament teaches Jesus was God incarnate.🤔 Addressing Skepticism: Did Jesus Explicitly Claim to Be God?A common skeptical question is why Jesus never explicitly said, "I am God". Bowman responds by noting that Jesus also avoided making other direct claims, such as:He never claimed to be Michael the Archangel or an angel of any sort.He generally avoided saying, "I am the Messiah".His favorite title for himself, "the Son of Man," is never used by him in a first-person singular claim ("I am the Son of Man").Bowman suggests that Jesus' reticence was because his identity needed to be shown, not just told. He let his words and deeds "add up in people's minds" so that the full picture would be clear after his resurrection. Critics often commit the fallacy of appealing to silence (carpeting what the Bible doesn't say) instead of dealing with what the texts do say.🚨 Theological Confusion in the ChurchBowman highlights a concerning issue: how many evangelical Christians are actually confused about who Jesus is, with many believing he is a created being. The main reason for this lack of understanding is a serious lack of theological education in congregations. Many pastors avoid "stronger teaching" that challenges people's minds , but a lack of sound doctrine makes Christians vulnerable to "any wind of false doctrine" and skepticism.🙏 The Apologetic Role of Christ's DivinityThe doctrine of Christ's divinity plays a crucial role:Personal Enrichment: Understanding Jesus' person and work is meant to enhance and enrich a Christian's personal relationship with Him, fostering appreciation and love for Christ.Honoring Jesus: Jesus is worthy of the same honor that is given to God the Father (John 5:23).Answering Skepticism: The evidence of Jesus' resurrection is "overwhelming historical evidence" that validates his claims and the claims of the early church. The incarnation shows that God is not distant, as he got involved in the world to "feel the pain of the world".🖐️ The HANDS Acronym: A Case for Christ's DeityBowman and his co-author, Ed Komoszewski , created the HANDS acronym as an effective and easy-to-remember way to categorize the lines of argument for the deity of Christ found in the New Testament.H - HonorsJesus receives divine honors such as worship, prayer (e.g., Maranatha, "Oh, Lord, come," a prayer used by the first Jewish Christians in Aramaic ), and glory. Jesus commanded disciples to love him more than their parents, which in an honor/shame culture, puts him at the level of God.A - AttributesJesus possesses divine attributes like being eternal (not a created being) and omniscience (knowing the hearts of people to judge them fairly ). He also exhibits human attributes in the Incarnation.N - NamesJesus is given divine names such as God (sparingly, but used) , Lord (in the context of the Old Testament name Yahweh/Jehovah) , Savior, and the First and the Last. Thomas called Jesus "my Lord and my God" after the resurrection (John 20:28).D - DeedsJesus performs divine deeds that only God can do. These include: Creation (all things came into being through him) , Forgiving sins on his own prerogative (not merely as a delegate) , Casting out demons and healing with effortless, direct authority, unlike the apostles who did so in the name of Jesus Christ , and Judging humanity at the end of the age.S - Seat of God's ThroneJesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, ruling over all creation from the very throne room of God. This is considered a "crowning point" in the overall case.The cumulative weight of all five points is what makes the case powerful, arguing that Jesus must be God, as no one else is permitted to do all these things. These points are not superimposed, but are found coordinated together in single passages of scripture, such as Matthew 28:16-20, John 1:1-18, and Colossians 1:12-20.🔗 Connect with Robert BowmanPersonal Author Website: robertboman.netMinistry Website (IRR): IRR.org for hundreds of free articles on Christianity and other religions

Summary:In this episode, Brian and Chad talk with Christian apologist and evangelist **Eric Hernandez** about his book *The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Non-Believers*. Eric discusses how evangelism and apologetics intersect, why every believer is called to defend the faith, and how to engage with skeptics effectively and biblically.Key Topics Covered:* Eric’s philosophy of evangelism and how apologetics fits into it* The danger of emotion-based evangelism vs. truth-based evangelism* Understanding “strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10) as false ideas that block people from knowing God* Identifying and addressing major worldviews: postmodernism, scientism, and naturalism* Paul’s example of adapting to the audience (1 Corinthians 9:20–23)* “The Lazy Approach”: asking the right questions instead of having all the right answers* The importance of theological triage—keeping the main thing the main thing* Understanding the **burden of proof**, **rebuttals vs. refutations**, and **logical fallacies*** Using Colossians 4:5–6 as a biblical foundation for gospel conversations* How Jesus modeled effective apologetics with both compassion and precision* Encouragement for Christians who feel intimidated by evangelism or apologetics* Why apologetics isn’t optional—it’s commanded and part of loving God with all your mindQuotes:“If you’re not engaging in apologetics, you are in rebellious disobedience to the Word of God.” – Eric Hernandez
“You don’t need to know all the right answers; you need to learn how to ask the right questions.”
“Evangelism isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about tearing down strongholds.”Mentioned in This Episode:* *The Lazy Approach to Evangelism* by Eric Hernandez* Previous Apologetics315 episode: *Eric Hernandez on the Soul** Greg Koukl – *Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions** J. Gresham Machen on false ideas as the greatest obstacles to the gospel* 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5; Colossians 4:5–6Resources:* Book: *~[The Lazy Approach to Evangelism on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/)~** Eric Hernandez’s YouTube Channel: ~[Eric Hernandez Ministries]* Support Eric’s Ministry: Details and updates available via his upcoming newsletter and website relaunchTakeaway:
Apologetics isn’t for specialists—it’s for every Christian. The “lazy” approach isn’t about being passive; it’s about being wise. Ask questions, listen well, keep the main thing the main thing, and let truth do the heavy lifting.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

Guest: Braxton Hunter — President of Trinity College & Seminary, evangelist, apologist, host of Trinity Radio, debate partner with leading atheists including Matt Dillahunty and Dan Barker.Topics CoveredBraxton’s background and conversion• Son of a megachurch pastor, early ministry exposure• Initial desire to be a rock musician before surrendering to ministry• Seminary training, pastoral and itinerant evangelistic ministryShift toward apologetics• Need to answer skeptics in evangelism contexts• Classical apologetics and the “two-step” method (God → Christ)Family and priorities• Marriage, parenting teenage daughters• Intentional discipleship at home — prioritizing family over platformOrigins and growth of Trinity Radio• Started as a simple audio response blog• Growth through debates (Dillahunty, Barker), collaboration with other creators• Unique chemistry with Jonathan Pritchett (“good cop / blunt cop” dynamic)The “Core Facts” initiative for churches• A two-day on-site training weekend using Braxton’s book Core Facts• Designed for ordinary church members to gain confidence and competence• Goal: launch sustainable apologetics groups inside local churchesApproach to debate & online engagement• Winsome, pastoral tone—credible & charitable without compromise• “Win the person, not just the argument”• Strategic preparation and use of AI/thumbnails/titles for online ministry• Guidance for aspiring Christian content creatorsBehind the scenes of major debates• 8-month preparation for Matt Dillahunty debate• Note-taking strategy & rehearsing responses• Intentionally creating tone and rapport without ceding substanceReferenced ResourcesCore Facts — Braxton Hunter (2nd edition)Trinity Radio (YouTube / Podcast)“Five Views on Apologetics” — ZondervanTalkAboutDoubts.org — pastoral/apologetic care for doubters================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

SummaryIn this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross welcome back philosopher and author **Peter S. Williams** to discuss his book, *Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus*. This engaging conversation explores the intersection of worldview, epistemology, and historical scholarship in the search for the real Jesus.Topics Covered:The Structure and Purpose of Behold the Man
A collection of revised essays exploring various historical, philosophical, and theological dimensions of Jesus.Worldviews and Historical Inquiry
How modernism, postmodernism, and the emerging metamodern perspective affect approaches to the historical Jesus.Epistemology and Openness to Evidence
Why the worldview and theory of knowledge you bring impacts whether you can honestly assess historical claims about Jesus.An Early High Christology in James
Peter argues for early Christian belief in Jesus’ divinity based on linguistic and contextual clues in the Epistle of James.Dating the Gospels – Especially John
Examination of internal and external evidence supporting the traditional dating of the Fourth Gospel and its authorship by the Apostle John.Miracles and the Resurrection
Responding to philosophical objections to miracles, with particular focus on David Hume and the resurrection as a historically reasonable belief.Minimal Facts vs. Maximal Data Approaches
Comparison between Gary Habermas’s minimal facts method and broader evidential strategies in defending the resurrection.Responding to UFO and Ancient Alien Theories
Why Christian apologists should engage with these alternative explanations, and how to challenge them both philosophically and scientifically.Emotional Barriers to Belief
How personal experience and discomfort with change often block serious consideration of evidence—and how to engage that pastorally.The Role of Apologetics in Spiritual Formation
Why apologetics is a signpost, not a substitute, for commitment to Christ. Knowing *about* Jesus is not the same as *following* Him.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

SummaryChad Gross interviews Dr. Christopher Cloos about the challenging Old Testament violence texts and his recent debate with theologian Randal Rauser. They explore the complexities of interpreting these texts, the role of moral intuition, and the contrasting views of covenant virtue ethics and providential errancy theory. The conversation delves into how moral intuitions can inform biblical interpretation while also addressing the potential pitfalls of subjectivity in understanding scripture. They explore how moral intuition can be used to interpret scripture, the implications of difficult passages, and the importance of engaging with differing views charitably. The conversation also highlights resources for further learning in this area.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Apologetics and Old Testament Violence03:02 Dr. Cloos’ Background and Interest in Old Testament Texts06:06 Debate Overview: Rauser vs. Cloos on Biblical Violence08:47 Understanding Moral Intuition in Biblical Interpretation11:55 Covenant Virtue Ethics vs. Providential Errancy Theory14:54 The Role of Moral Intuition in Exegesis17:53 Concerns About Subjectivity in Interpretation20:50 Using Jesus as a Tool for Interpretation25:58 Epistemic Circularity and Moral Intuition32:28 Covenant Virtue Ethics and Difficult Texts40:02 The Role of Hyperbole in Ancient Texts48:10 Engaging with Different Views Charitably53:42 Resources for Further Learning================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]