Recently Published

Q&A#55 More on Two Kingdoms

September 23, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Responding to questions raised about this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKXN318EZ-g. Brad Littlejohn, 'The Two Kingdoms: A Guide for the Perplexed' - https://amzn.to/2MRufFH. 'Richard Hooker

Q&A#54 The Two Kingdoms

September 22, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Could you say more about the Two Kingdoms theology—especially how it need not fall back into a narrow pietism?" Brad Littlejohn, 'The Two Kingdoms: A Guide for the Perplexed' - htt

Q&A#53 Echoes of the Eucharist?

September 21, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What would be a text that you would go to demonstrate the multifaceted elements of the Eucharist? Can you recommend any books or resources that explore the many symbolic and typolog

Q&A#52 Does Baptism Save Us?

September 20, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "In Q&A#46, you seem to say that baptism (with water) is necessary for salvation. Am I interpreting your perspective correctly, and if so, what do you think about the man on the cros

Q&A#51 Ten Stimulating Bible-Related Books

September 19, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What are the ten most stimulating Bible-related books that you have read?" 1. James B. Jordan, 'Through New Eyes' - https://amzn.to/2plfUrN 2. Meredith Kline, 'Images of the Spirit

Summary and Discussion of Matthieu Pageau 'The Language of Creation'

September 18, 2018

Alastair Roberts

This is a summary and discussion of Matthieu Pageau's 'The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis' - https://amzn.to/2NkGxMa. If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Ca

Q&A#50 Is Abortion to be Solved by Controlling Male Sexual Behaviour?

September 16, 2018

Alastair Roberts

This video is a response to a widely-shared, much discussed, and controversial Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/i/moments/1040468130433097728. Within the discussion, I reference a few articles and

Q&A#49 Appeals to Natural Law and Scripture and the Effectiveness of Jordan Peterson

September 15, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "I guess I'm intrigued about a couple of things. First, do you really think it's the case that there is actually any kind of moral consensus in principle among people? The kind of t

Is Perception Reality? | William Newsome & David Eagleman

September 15, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

The advances of neuroscience have given us unparalleled knowledge of the human brain, but as any neuroscientist will tell you, we’re just scratching the surface of the brain’s potential. At a Veritas

Q&A#48 The Story of Cain and Abel

September 14, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "I was wondering if you would comment on the Cain and Abel story and possibly develop some of the symbols, foreshadowings, etc. It is a rich passage that I would love to get your tak

Q&A#47 To What Extent Should We Approach Scripture With Completely Open Minds?

September 13, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Should we come to the text with completely open minds, or should we hold some ideas and convictions with certainty? This may be a poor example to help illustrate my question, but in

Q&A#46 What Does Baptism Do For a Person?

September 12, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What does baptism do for a person?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged. If you have enjoyed these videos, pl

Q&A#45 Paedocommunion?

September 11, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Do you hold to paedocommunion? If so, how would you reconcile this with Paul's warning in 1 Cor 11:29, and that chapter more generally?" If you have any questions, you can leave th

Q&A#44 Thoughts on the Social Justice Statement

September 10, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today I am responding to the various people who have asked for my opinion on the recent Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel (https://statementonsocialjustice.com/). If you have any questions,

Q&A#43 How Should We Understand Formal Leadership Within the Church?

September 9, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What is "ordained", formal, leadership in the Church? How do you understand the NT's "episkopoi" and "diakonoi"? What is the connection between these offices/roles/functions and bot

Summary of John Hughes 'The End of Work: Theological Critiques of Capitalism'

September 8, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Within this video, I discuss John Hughes' exceedingly stimulating book, 'The End of Work'. I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy: https://amzn.to/2wVyjPk If you would like more book su

Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles? | Ian Hutchinson

September 8, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

For over 25 years, Ian Hutchinson (MIT) has been a speaker at Veritas Forums across the country. Throughout those years, he’s answered countless student questions about science, theology, and his Chri

Q&A#42 What is the Case Against Women's Ordination?

September 7, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "How would you summarize the argument against the ordination of women?" If you found this video interesting, you might be interested in the videos from the recent THINK conference o

Q&A#41 Are Young Elders a Contradiction in Terms?

September 6, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What are your thoughts on 'young elders' in the church? Is there an age restriction for the office of elder?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat accoun

Q&A#40 Why is the Tribe of Dan Excluded in Revelation 7?

September 5, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Why is the tribe of Dan excluded in Revelation 7's list of Israel?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged. If y

Q&A#39 Should We Be Using the Lectionary?

September 4, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Do you commend the use of a lectionary for preaching? If so, what advantages does this approach have over preaching through whole books of the Bible? How should we think about preac

Q&A#38 What Does Jesus' Abstention From Wine Mean?

September 3, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Does Christ's abstention from wine until the consummation of the Kingdom have any connection to Lemuel's mother's counsel in Proverbs 31 regarding the kingly use of alcohol? If so,

Q&A#37 Bumper Q&A Episode!!

September 2, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's questions: 1. Does the Scripture teach that the Holy Spirit indwells believers individually or corporately? 2. What do you think about ghosts, UFOs, bigfoot, etc? 3. You mentioned you like to

Faith is Not a Sideshow | Ross Douthat

September 1, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

What would it look like for universities to take religion seriously? For New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, it starts with the recognition that religion will continue to influence the way we see t

Q&A#36 Was Israel Wrong to Ask for a King?

September 1, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Was it a sin for Israel to ask for a king? 1 Sam 8 makes it seem so. But then Deut 17 seemingly gives permission for Israel to ask for a king. How should we think about Israel's mon

Q&A#35 Was Jesus a Fruitful Eunuch?

August 31, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Some have described Christ as a sort of "fruitful eunuch." Others have pointed out that he in fact has a bride. While these would be mutually exclusive in a literal sense, does the

Q&A#34 Should We Read the Story of David and Goliath Primarily as an Underdog Narrative?

August 30, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Was David’s victory over Goliath a miracle? Was he really an underdog or was this a case of misperception as to who was the favorite? We know it is not uncommon for smaller people t

Q&A#33 Why are there so many 'Binitarian' Formulations in the NT?

August 29, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Why are so many references to God in the NT binitarian (Father and Son) rather than trinitarian (Father, Son and Spirit)? I'm thinking of Paul's greetings, Stephen's vision, Jesus'

Q&A#32 Should the Lord's Supper Have a Sombre Tone?

August 28, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "I am wondering about your take on whether the Lord's supper should be a somber event of introspection or a joyous meal of celebration. My understanding is that throughout church his

Q&A#31 How Does Proverbs Fit in With the Rest of the OT?

August 27, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "How does the book of Proverbs fit in with the rest of the OT? It seems so general and universal, and hardly draws upon Israel's particular covenant history. It rarely if at all appe

Religion at the Cineplex | Alissa Wilkinson

August 25, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

Alissa Wilkinson (Vox) is a film critic, professor, and cultural commentator, who works at the intersection of art, postmodernism, and theology. On our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Alissa

Living Well in the Light of Death | N.T. Wright & Shelly Kagan

August 18, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

It’s the one universal on which we all agree: everyone dies. How we deal with death determines much of what we spend our lives trying to accomplish and become. At a Veritas Forum from Yale, theologian

Q&A#30 Is the Widow with the Two Mites a Positive Example of Sacrificial Giving

August 8, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "The story of the widow and her two mites (Luke 21:1-4) is often used to commend sacrificial giving. However, the immediate context contains Jesus condemning the Scribes for “devouri

Q&A#29 How Can Peter Describe False Teachers as Having Been 'Bought' By Christ?

August 7, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Why does Peter say that the Lord "bought" false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1? How can Christ be said to have "purchased" or "bought" those who are unsaved?" If you have any questions, y

Q&A#28 What Are the Benefits and Dangers of Bible Software?

August 6, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Do you use any Bible software (e.g., Logos) to support your studies? Do you have any thoughts on how they might help or hinder our study and perception of the written word?" Here i

Q&A#27 What Does it Mean to Call Marriage a Natural Institution?

August 5, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "If marriage is a pre-political institution then none of the measures laid down by the state (e.g. registration, marriage certificates etc.) make a marriage legitimate in God's eyes.

Q&A#26 Does New Creation Undermine Natural Law?

August 4, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What implications does the promise of new creation have for Christian ethics? Specifically does new creation undermine natural law ethics since we are now to orientate our lives, no

Q&A#25 Are We Living in the Last Days?

August 3, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "How should we understand the description of bad behavior in the "Last Days" in 2 Timothy 3? For one, isn't the list of sinfulness characteristic of a great many ages and time period

Q&A#24 How Should We Understand the People Who Fall Away in Hebrews 6?

August 2, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "How do we properly understand what Hebrews 6 refers to as those who "fall away" and the impossibility of their redemption?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curi

Q&A#23 Why Doesn't Paul Say More About Evangelism?

August 1, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Given that Paul is the most prominent evangelist / church planter in the Bible, why are exhortations to evangelize seemingly so rare in his work? In many parts of the evangelical ch

Q&A#22 Why Does Figural Preaching Matter?

July 31, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "I would like to ask a two-part question: (a) could you give a defense from the Scripture for figural preaching and typological reading; (b) how would you respond to the criticism of

Q&A#21 What to Make of the Curious Numbers of Acts?

July 30, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "What is the significance of the book of Acts recording the number of people being saved (3000 in Acts 2, 5000 in Acts 4)?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curio

Q&A#20 Why Did the Gadarene Villagers Ask Jesus to Leave?

July 29, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Why did the inhabitants of the Gadarene village ask Jesus to leave after he healed the demoniac?" If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://c

Q&A#19 Tips for Reading Your Bible Better

July 28, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's questions: "How do you go about noticing intertextual links? Is is mostly intuitive based on large exposure to the Bible? Do you do particular searches? Is it just checking cross-references (i

Q&A#18 What is Paul's Allegory of Sarah and Hagar About?

July 27, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's question: "Why does Paul say that Sarah and Hagar represent two covenants in Galatians 4:21-31? Where can we see this reality in the Old Testament?" James Jordan's articles on the subject: ht

Q&A#17 What Does Jesus Mean When He Speaks About Being Born Again?

July 26, 2018

Alastair Roberts

My new Soundcloud account is here: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. Today's question: "What's your reading of the Nicodemus story in John 3? Why does Jesus tell him that he must be born aga

Q&A#16 Why is Lot Called 'Righteous' When He Offered His Daughters to the Men of Sodom?

July 25, 2018

Alastair Roberts

My new Soundcloud account is here: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. Today's Question: "How are we to interpret Lot's offering of his two virgin daughters to the men of Sodom when they surro

Q&A#15 What Should We Make of Jeremiah's Prophecy of a New Covenant

July 24, 2018

Alastair Roberts

My new Soundcloud account is here: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. Today's Question: "As a paedobaptist, I am curious how would you respond to the credobaptist argument from the nature of

Q&A#14 How Does Genesis Anticipate Later History?

July 22, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: "I loved your observations on how Gen 12-14 traces out the history of Israel (in advance of that history!). Fascinating stuff! Could you kindly elaborate some more on that? For examp

Q&A#13 How Do We Reconcile the Differing Accounts of Judas' Death?

July 21, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: "How do you deal with the seemingly contrasted accounts of how Judas dies?" I've discussed some of this in a recent piece here: https://politicaltheology.com/the-habitation-made-des

Q&A#12 The Meaning of Rachel's Tears in Matthew 2

July 19, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: "What does the conception of Issachar have to do with Matthew 2:16-18?" For Rabbi David Fohrman's reading, see https://www.alephbeta.org/course/lecture/tisha-bav-2015. If you have

A Must-Read Book!

July 18, 2018

Alastair Roberts

I recommend James Jordan's book 'Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World' (https://amzn.to/2NoYVPs). His Reading the Bible series of lectures can be found here: http://www.wordmp3.co

Q&A#11 What Should We Make of the Sign Gifts?

July 16, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: What is your view of the miraculous gifts (like prophecy and the gifts of tongues) in the New Testament period? Did these discontinue with the closing of the Scriptural Canon or, may

Unravelling the Mysteries of the Book of Esther

July 15, 2018

Alastair Roberts

An attentive reading of the book of Esther will raise various important questions that most of its readers miss. In this video, I discuss some of the insights of Rabbi David Fohrman's book, The Queen

Q&A#10 The Significance of Melchizedek

July 13, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: Why is Melchizedek so important to the author of Hebrews? What's the biblical-theological significance of Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek? Please leave your own

Q&A#9 Is Ecclesiastes Nihilistic?

July 1, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: Ecclesiastes is a book that has long confused me. Its descriptions of all of life as vanity come off nihilistic and despairing. And yet it also speaks of God, of being grateful to hi

Why Alvin Plantinga Still Matters with Meghan Sullivan

June 29, 2018

The Veritas Forum - The Veritas Forum

In January, The Veritas Forum convened 170 student writers to learn from leading Christian scholars and to write essays for their campus publications, and we devoted one writing track to the legacy of

Looking for supporters for more regular videos!

June 28, 2018

Alastair Roberts

You can now support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged

Q&A#8 The Chronology of Genesis 38

May 21, 2018

Alastair Roberts

See this article for context: https://alastairadversaria.com/2006/12/08/the-judah-and-tamar-story-in-its-context/ Today's Question: The story of Judah and Tamar, Chapter 38 of Genesis. You have writt

Q&A#7 Ruth the Moabitess and the Moabite Women of Nehemiah

May 20, 2018

Alastair Roberts

Today's Question: Having recently read both Ruth and Nehemiah, I was struck by the very different ways they relate to the recurring entanglement of Moabite women and Israelite men. Nehemiah seems to r

View More