Published by Nathan Jacobs
A philosophy podcast exploring the issues of today.
Listen on Apple Podcasts35 min
Can the devil be saved? While many Christians assume the answer is obvious, the Eastern Church Fathers offer a far more nuanced discussion than most people realize. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs explores the five major positions found within the Christian East on whether Satan and the fallen angels can ultimately be redeemed—and what these views reveal about God's goodness, providence, and the nature of salvation. Rather than focusing on speculation, this conversation examines how the Fathers reasoned through the question and why their answers consistently point back to the infinite love of God. ====================================== Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:00:50 Theology vs. Theological Opinion 00:01:32 Five Views on the Devil's Salvation 00:03:04 Why Most Fathers Say No 00:03:19 St. Paisios and Praying for the Devil 00:04:37 St. Ammonios on God's Will 00:06:21 St. John Chrysostom and the Unpardonable Sin 00:07:21 St. Maximus the Confessor 00:08:54 St. Symeon the New Theologian 00:10:19 Why John of Damascus Says It's Impossible 00:11:23 Death as Mercy 00:16:46 Why Angels Cannot Be "Remade" 00:19:53 Can the Devil Be Saved? 00:20:18 Pseudo-Dionysius on Corruption 00:22:55 Origen and Universal Salvation 00:26:51 Gregory of Nyssa and St. Isaac the Syrian 00:28:26 The Five Positions Summarized 00:30:25 What the Fathers Agree On 00:31:09 God's Providence and Love 00:35:29 The Common Thread 00:36:13 A Final Story from St. Sophronius ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links: God's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
1 hr 46 min
Thomas Thorogood interviews Dr Nathan Jacobs about his work on the Amazon series 'House of David', the principles of writing a good story, the role of storytelling in theology and some mind-bending quick-fire questions.More from Nathan Jacobs...The Nathan Jacobs Podcast on YouTube: / @thenathanjacobspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUt... Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ MUSIC'Keep Climbing' by The SoundingsTIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Trailer 00:01:29 House of David 00:17:28 What Makes a Good Story? 00:31:28 The Writing Process 00:46:18 The Role of Storytelling in Theology 00:57:16 Storytelling Approaches to the Problem of Evil 01:12:11 Quick-Fire Questions 01:12:28 What are Ghosts? 01:15:42 What does Nathan Like/Dislike About Protestantism? 01:23:04 What are UFOs? 01:31:43 What is Remote Viewing and is it Dangerous? 01:42:30 Keeping Up With Nathan's Work-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Copyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as... Criticism, review, quotation and news reporting Caricature, parody or pastiche I believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.
53 min
In my previous episode, I explored whether the Eastern Church Fathers actually reject the theory of evolution. In this follow-up, I answer a different question entirely: Do I reject evolution—and if so, why? Rather than appealing to the age of the earth or death before the Fall, this discussion examines the philosophical foundations of evolution through the lens of realism, a metaphysical framework embraced by the Eastern Church Fathers. Along the way, I respond to common objections, clarify my views on Young Earth Creationism, and explain why these conversations matter for Orthodox theology. ====================================== Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:00:53 Two Questions About Evolution 00:01:58 Why I Reject Evolution 00:02:40 Realism vs. Nominalism 00:05:01 Essential vs. Accidental Properties 00:06:31 The Problem with Evolutionary Change 00:12:20 Why Nominalism Undermines Science 00:16:14 The Church Fathers and Realism 00:19:11 "According to Their Kind" 00:20:55 Responding to Common Objections 00:22:18 Old Earth vs. Young Earth 00:27:06 The Consensus of the Fathers 00:31:48 What Kind of Consensus Matters? 00:36:01 Theology vs. Science 00:42:15 The Orthodox Mind and Philosophy 00:45:14 What the Fathers Actually Handed Down 00:47:20 Can You Be Orthodox and Young Earth? 00:49:08 Responding to More Objections 00:57:12 Is Young Earth Creationism Possible? 01:00:03 The Real Danger ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links: Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/4BugOwStHqg The Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4 The Truth About Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday: https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg Misunderstanding Mystery: https://youtu.be/VlWiYFfHTeY The True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils: https://youtu.be/sFWp2QQzUFA All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
27 min
Can we trust our minds to know reality? This clip is taken from Nathan Jacobs' most recent interview with Thomas Thorogood and features a reaction to a discussion between Destiny and T.K. Coleman on The Minimalists podcast. Their exchange raises a profound philosophical question: what makes our reasoning faculties trustworthy in the first place? Nathan explores properly functioning faculties, Descartes' skepticism, moderate foundationalism, and the crucial distinction between realism and nominalism. Along the way, he argues that every act of perception, reasoning, language, and scientific inquiry already presupposes realism, making it impossible to consistently live or argue as a nominalist. If you've ever wondered whether we can genuinely know reality—or what our ability to reason tells us about the nature of the world—this discussion offers a compelling introduction to some of philosophy's deepest questions. ====================================== Timestamps 00:00 — A Debate About Objective Morality 06:24 — Why Our Faculties Matter 09:21 — Properly Functioning Faculties 09:48 — Hard vs Moderate Foundationalism 10:19 — Descartes and Radical Doubt 13:09 — Why Skepticism Cannot Be Lived 14:24 — Trusting Our Faculties 16:26 — The Most Important Question in Philosophy 17:26 — Realism vs Nominalism 19:14 — Why Perception Depends on Realism 20:34 — Why Logic Depends on Realism 22:17 — Why Everyone Lives Like a Realist 23:14 — Realism and Providence 24:07 — Morality, the Numinous, and Human Experience 25:52 — Every Argument Presupposes Realism 26:56 — Living Consistently With Your Worldview ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links: Thomas Thorogood Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNu3mGq6HhU The Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4 All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
31 min
Part 2 of Nathan Jacobs’ journey into Eastern Orthodoxy. After years of studying philosophy and theology, Nathan began reading the Eastern Church Fathers for the first time. What hediscovered completely transformed his understanding of Christianity, leading him to explore the Orthodox Church and ultimatelyembrace the faith. In this episode, Nathan continues his personal story, explaining how the writings of St. Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, andthe broader Orthodox tradition reshaped his understanding of God, salvation, deification, and the Christian life. ====================================== Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers 04:20 A Different Vision of God 08:20 A Christianity Unlike Anything I’d Known 09:21 Discovering the Theology of the Fathers 14:42 Deification and the Divine Energies 18:09 Eastern and Western Christianity Compared 23:28 Tracing the Orthodox Tradition 25:21 My First Visit to an Orthodox Church 26:18 The Beauty of Divine Liturgy 30:08 Wrestling with My Final Questions 31:04 Entering the Orthodox Church 32:12 The East and West Series ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links: Part 1: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM?si=U4Y8eOXsEB9q5DAh Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ?si=8OOfJZxFUu3-CRDb All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
2 hr 54 min
In this special collaboration episode, Thomas Thorogood sits down with Nathan Jacobs for an in-depth conversation. They dive into Nathan's experience making a horror film, the horror genre in general, Satan and demons in the Bible and church history, the nature of evil, and more. Opening music is 'Cinematic Time Lapse' by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay. Connect with The Nathan Jacobs Podcast: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenathanjacobspodcast?si=eeVQhaVEBEtu0Voc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Substack (The Theological Letters): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ Connect with Thomas Thorogood (The Stir and Fry Podcast): YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCleEvOcQVTb5y2CeIixj0Gg/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorogood.thomas Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThomasThorogood Copyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as criticism, review, quotation, news reporting, caricature, parody, or pastiche. I believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.
36 min
Why would a philosopher become Orthodox? In this deeply personal episode, Nathan Jacobs shares the story of his journey from a Lutheran upbringing, through philosophy, skepticism, art, and years of intellectual searching, to discovering the Eastern Church Fathers and ultimately embracing Eastern Orthodoxy. This is not simply a conversion story—it is an account of how questions about truth, God, beauty, morality, and the nature of reality led to the Orthodox Church. Along the way, Nathan reflects on his spiritual awakening, his study of philosophy and theology, his encounter with the Church Fathers, and the profound impact of experiencing the Divine Liturgy for the first time. If you’re exploring Orthodoxy, interested in philosophy, or wondering why so many scholars and thinkers are finding their way to the ancient Christian faith, this conversation is for you. ====================================== Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Turning East and My Story 01:33 Growing Up Lutheran 07:56 A Spiritual Awakening 17:17 Studying Philosophy and Christianity 27:42 Discovering Process Philosophy 45:09 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers 01:16:45 My First Orthodox Church Experience 01:23:15 Entering the Orthodox Church ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
43 min
Is the theory of evolution truly incompatible with Christianity? Many assume the Church Fathers rejected evolution outright — but is that what they actually taught? In this episode, Nathan Jacobs examines the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers on creation, death, Genesis, and the age of the earth. Rather than asking whether evolution is scientifically true, this discussion explores whether Orthodox Christianity actually requires Christians to reject it. Drawing from figures such as St. John of Damascus, St. Irenaeus, St. Basil the Great, and other early Christian writers, Nathan explores what the Fathers believed about creation, corruption, the Fall, the image of God, and the purpose of humanity. If you’ve ever wondered whether evolution and Orthodox Christianity must be in conflict, this discussion offers a historical and theological perspective that is often missing from the conversation. ====================================== Timestamps: 00:00 Why Evolution and Christianity Are Seen as Opposed 01:19 The Two Biggest Objections to Evolution 04:09 Why the Eastern Church Fathers Matter 05:41 What “Death” Really Means 10:41 Was Death Present Before the Fall? 13:28 Are Animals Naturally Mortal? 22:15 Did Animal Death Exist Before Adam? 27:14 The Age of the Earth 31:13 Are the Days of Genesis Literal? 37:15 What the Church Fathers Actually Believed 40:57 Final Thoughts ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links: Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ Ressurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2k Do All Dogs Go to Heaven? https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4?si=BwTMvHqJ5ye3PXmK Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday? https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg?si=7UUKhaIMZK1YSQHF Substack on Evolution Part 1: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation Part 2: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation-fd5 All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
38 min
Are the icons actually idols that violate the biblical prohibition on images? In this episode, Jacobs explores the historical debate surrounding this practice, highlighting how John of Damascus defended the use of images based on the Incarnation, along with his distinction between venerating holy objects and worshiping them. Finally, we look at whether these iconic practices were later deviations or deeply rooted within early Christianity. ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Relevant Links:Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ Ressurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2k Articles on John of Damascus: https://www.academia.edu/41586795/John_of_Damascus https://www.academia.edu/41586562/John_of_Damascus_and_His_Defense_of_Icons Letter on Early Christianity and Icons: https://theologicalletters.com/p/were-the-earliest-christians-iconoclasts?utm_source=publication-search All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
2 hr 14 min
What happens when a profound, perspective-shifting experience forces a young artist to completely re-evaluate everything? In this deep-dive, long-form interview, Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend and mentor-turned-colleague, Dr. Chris Firestone, to unpack his journey from artist to philosopher, and ultimately to the world of filmmaking and mainstream Hollywood. ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: / thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: / nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobs Dr. Chris Firestone & The Firestone Files: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFiles Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFiles X (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFiles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefiles Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
55 min
There is an essential doctrine at the heart of historic Christianity that was famously preserved by the Eastern Church Fathers but completely lost to the Western tradition: the Essence-Energies distinction. This video traces the history of this concept, moving from its philosophical origins in Aristotle through its development in Alexandrian Judaism and into the New Testament, culminating in the Church Fathers of the Christian East. The distinction proves to be the indispensable key to how the East understands the gospel, the Trinity, and the Incarnation, while also shaping less obvious doctrines, including the sacraments, veneration, divine revelation, and the nature of the Church itself.======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Episode on Resurrection: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kJacobs article on revelation: https://www.academia.edu/34403154/The_Revelation_of_God_East_and_West_Contrasting_Special_Revelation_in_Western_Modernity_with_the_Ancient_Christian_EastAll 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
2 hr 1 min
Our apologies to listeners for the late upload on this Tuesday episode! Is there salvation outside the boundaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church? As the internet remains ablaze with the recent theological clash between Gavin Ortlund and Jonathan Pageau over historic Orthodox exclusivity, the answer remains heavily contested. In this deep-dive dialogue, Drs. Nathan Jacobs and Chris Firestone cut through the online noise to unpack the exact theological and historical nuances underlying this question. From the Protestant desire to be grafted back into the historic tree to the cognitive dissonance Orthodox converts face regarding the salvation of non-Orthodox loved ones, this conversation tackles the tension head-on. Recorded before the recent social media debate exploded, this episode provides a refreshing, uncompromised, and deeply scholarly look at what Eastern Orthodoxy actually teaches about the church, its boundaries, and who can be saved. Welcome to a special crossover episode of the Nathan Jacobs Podcast and the Firestone Files! NOTE: This interview is identified as the third in a three-part series of interviews, which it is. But given its relevance to the recent Ortland-Pageau debate, we have chosen to drop it early. Be watching for part 2 in the series next Tuesday. ======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast: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/NathanAJacobsDr. Chris Firestone & The Firestone Files:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFilesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFilesX (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFilesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefilesListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
26 min
What if everything you’ve been taught about life after death is completely wrong? The shocking truth is that without an ancient, forgotten concept known as "deification," the New Testament's entire promise of resurrection becomes totally incoherent. This episode exposes why true resurrection is not just about coming back to life, but a radical, qualitative metamorphosis achieved only by partaking in the divine nature. ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== All links: The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Read on Substack, "Why Resurrection is Incoherent without Deification": https://theologicalletters.com/p/why-resurrection-is-incoherent-without?utm_source=publication-search
1 hr 34 min
Welcome to a special crossover episode of the Nathan Jacobs Podcast and the Firestone Files! In this interview, Dr. Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend, colleague, and frequent co-author, Dr. Chris Firestone. For 27 years, these two have been collaborating, pushing intellectual boundaries, and challenging the status quo in the academic world. In this deep-dive conversation, they unpack a massive misconception: the myth that the Enlightenment was a purely secular movement that successfully killed off theological thinking. ====================================== Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/ Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ ====================================== Referenced content: Episode 5 of The Nathan Jacobs Podcast, titled "The Myth of Enlightenment | Dr. Chris Firestone": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkFzbRVsTWE Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast: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/NathanAJacobsDr. Chris Firestone & The Firestone Files:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFilesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFilesX (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFilesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefiles Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
28 min
Was the Virgin Mary sinless? While the Western debate often pits Catholic dogma against Protestant literalism, the ancient Christian East offers a completely different paradigm. In this episode, we explore how the Eastern Church Fathers view Mary’s unique holiness without the Western legal concepts of merit and original sin, and how the theology of the Dormition proves she still required Christ as her Savior. ============= Please support the East West series : http://theeastwestseries.com/ All the links : The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere : Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Related Episodes & Material Mentioned : Episode 30 The Virgin Mary Grinch Slayer: https://youtu.be/bTHlv06p9U8?si=43KLlOYXc2QjAVE4 Episode 33: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Story Telling: https://youtu.be/H7X4Df-KEEc?si=7OV6N3SXStXia9fw Theological Letter on Mary: https://theologicalletters.com/p/on-mary-the-mother-of-god-1-of-2?utm_source=publication-search Frederica Mathewes-Green: https://substack.com/@fredericamg/note/c-167315534
27 min
Dr. Nathan Jacobs examines the claim that Christians worship changed from Saturday to Sunday because of pagan influence and the Roman Emperor Constantine. Tracing the practice from the New Testament through the early Church Fathers, he explores the Christian understanding of the Lord’s Day, the resurrection of Christ, and the profound theology of the “eighth day” that shaped early Christian worship. Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ 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/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
30 min
In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores the simple question: do animals merely live and die, or is there reason to think they share in something more? Drawing from Scripture, the Eastern Orthodox Church Fathers, and the Christian understanding of creation, he examines death, immortality, and humanity’s role within the cosmos, arriving at an answer that is more nuanced than many expect. Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4 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/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
25 min
In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores one of the most famous questions in philosophy and theology: If God is all-powerful, are there limits to what He can do? Can God create a rock so heavy that even He cannot lift it? Dr. Jacobs unpacks the classical Christian understanding of omnipotence, logic, and contradiction — drawing from thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and the early Church Fathers.Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/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
31 min
In this week's episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explains the Eastern Church Fathers’ view on the relationship between God and the world. The key to understanding the Eastern Christian position on whether the universe, or part of the universe, is equivalent with God lies with what's called the essence-energy distinction. Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ Leave a comment on Youtube: https://youtu.be/gJpY--74zfg 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/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
1 hr 58 min
Dr. Jacobs returns to the podcast with a personal update on his time away, news about the upcoming East West Series, and reflections from Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Week on Mount Athos. In this episode, he shares stories from Vatopedi Monastery, discusses miracles, relics, and monastic life, and offers insight into how these experiences challenge modern skepticism and deepen faith. Support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/ Leave a comment on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZVUy5v32M Breakwater Festival 2026 | 19–21 June | London: I’ll be speaking at Breakwater Festival 2026, a 3-day Estuary gathering focused on bringing online conversations into real-life dialogue and connection. This year’s theme, Cross Pollination: Conversing Across Religious Lines, explores how beliefs engage across difference in a pluralistic world. Join me and other speakers in London — Early Bird tickets are available now: https://www.thebreakwaternetwork.com/upcoming-event Chapters: 00:00 I'm back 00:13 Why I disappeared for Lent and Mount Athos 02:33 What this episode covers 03:00 East West Series update 04:53 Production timeline and release plan 05:54 Fundraising and pre-orders 07:16 Why the East West Series matters 09:35 Who the series is for: converts, inquirers, and online debate 11:45 Vatopedi Monastery endorsement announcement 14:05 Podcast facelift and rebrand 16:25 New 30-minute “Coffee with Dr. Jacobs” episodes 21:07 Topic requests, comments, and sharing 23:30 Website simplification and one-stop hub 24:20 Mount Athos reflections begin 25:45 Third trip to Mount Athos and Holy Week overview 28:05 Visiting Elder Paisios’ hermitage 30:32 Other monasteries and the capital of Athos 32:55 Daily monastic rhythm: Matins, Vespers, and Compline 35:19 Holy Week, Pascha, and the intensity of Athos 37:41 The washing of the feet service 40:09 Pascha procession and the all-night liturgy 42:31 Holy Week exhaustion and conversations with monks 45:00 Bright Week procession and blessing of the waters 47:25 Pizza on Mount Athos 49:48 Relics, miracles, and confronting modern skepticism 54:29 The Belt of the Virgin Mary 56:49 The True Cross and miraculous yeast 59:16 St. John Chrysostom’s incorrupt ear 01:04:00 The Panagia Paramythia miracle icon 01:08:44 Skepticism, belief, and re-enchantment 01:13:26 Why skepticism feels safe 01:15:41 Belief, faith, and how we live 01:20:23 Why people chase the paranormal 01:24:59 Culture, plausibility, and belief 01:34:40 Cyprus, Lazarus, and his relics 01:39:23 Great Lavra, John the Baptist, and Athanasius the Athonite 01:44:17 The bullet hole icon story 01:46:42 The disobedient monk and the blackened hand 01:53:46 Why Mount Athos belongs to the Virgin Mary 01:56:15 Final thoughts and East West Series support 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/thenathanjacobspodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Words for the algorithm: East West Series, Vatopedi, Mount Athos, Pascha, Holy Week, relics, miracles, church fathers, orthodoxy, monks.
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