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88 episodes
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Date created
2024/05/23
Latest episode
2026/02/05
Average duration
93 min.
Release period
8 days
Description
A philosophy podcast exploring the issues of today.
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Check latest episodes from The Nathan Jacobs Podcast podcast
Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God?
2026/02/05
What do we mean when we say "God"? This week’s episode is part 2 of tracing the concept from ancient pagan philosophy through Plato and Aristotle to uncover how modern assumptions about God emerged—and why many of them are far from obvious. This sets the stage for exploring deeper East–West differences in how God, goodness, and divine knowledge are understood. Part 1 is recapped in the first 10 minutes.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/soThpk45aI0
Listen to part 1: Defining "God" | The Evolution of a Word: https://youtu.be/MU0CFOFOq-A?si=tbzaT4PSiR1nm7Qf
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Recap
09:36 - The ancient view of God
35:34 - Disagreement among the pagans
01:02:16 - Why this is important for us today
01:21:12 - Essence and energy
01:42:59 - Conclusion and ramifications
======================================
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Defining "God" | The Evolution of a Word
2026/01/29
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com In this week's episode, Dr. Jacobs looks at how the term "God" has evolved throughout Western intellectual history, from ancient Platonism through medieval scholasticism to contemporary religious pluralism. He walks through the development of divine simplicity and perfect being theology in Latin Christianity, showing how Augustine's engagement with Neoplatonism and the scholastic tradition that followed shaped the assumptions we still carry today about divine nature. The episode considers how this theological inheritance continues to influence debates about religious pluralism, rational religion, and the question of whether different faith traditions are actually referring to the same being when they use the word "God."All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro00:04:27 Augustine and God 00:15:46 Divine simplicity & perfect being theology 00:36:19 The rise of rational religion 00:53:55 Religious pluralism & the transcendent God
Did Greek Philosophy Corrupt Christianity? On Greek, Jewish, and Christian Theologies
2026/01/22
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Today, Dr. Jacobs tackles the common objection: Was ancient Christianity infiltrated by Greek philosophy, such that it required a reformation or restoration? The answer is a resounding no. Follow Dr. Jacobs as he tracks the history through Old and New Testaments, German Idealism, and of course, a little realism and nominalism dusted on top for good measure.
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00:00:00 Intro
00:02:05 The case for Hellenistic or Platonized Christian baggage
00:06:49 German idealism
00:15:21 Hegel and the Church Fathers
00:20:08 The leftist Hegelians, atheism, and Christianity
00:26:18 The protestant application
00:30:42 Open theism
00:35:16 Hebrew ideas vs Greek ideas
00:42:00 Mathematical truth vs Philosophical truth
00:50:07 Realism and nominalism
00:56:03 The Septuagint and the Jewish shift away
01:03:58 Are the Church Fathers platonists?
01:19:19 Idealism in Old Testament studies
01:25:11 Cases in the New Testament
That Trinity Analogy is Heresy | Nicene Trinitarianism Explained
2026/01/15
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Dr. Jacobs delivers a lecture on Nicene Trinitarianism, examining the metaphysical foundations established by the Cappadocian Fathers at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople. He explains the Greek terms ousia and hypostasis, addresses common analogies and heresies, and clarifies the eternal generation of the Son and procession of the Spirit. Jacobs contrasts the Eastern approach with Western developments in Augustine and medieval scholasticism, particularly regarding divine simplicity, the filioque, and the nature-person distinction. He concludes by discussing how these theological differences continue to shape East-West Christian relations.
All the links:
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Has Science Disproved Free Will? | A Conversation With James Joiner
2026/01/08
Enroll in Dr. Joiner’s class: https://myprofer.com/coursesContribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. James Joiner joins us again to take a hard look at the scientific studies claiming to disprove free will and asks whether they actually hold up under scrutiny. He and Dr. Jacobs will walk through the various science experiments and their interpretations, pointing out the methodological problems and conceptual missteps that weaken determinist arguments. All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs
Free Will & Moral Responsibility | A Conversation with Dr. James Joiner
2026/01/01
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Dr. James Joiner discusses libertarian free will, contrasting it with compatibilist and determinist positions through the lens of patristic theology and developmental psychology. The conversation examines Gregory of Nyssa's theological anthropology, the concept of synergistic cooperation in theosis, and cross-cultural evidence for the universality of free choice. Dr. Joiner argues that both ancient Christian thought and contemporary research support the view that human beings possess genuine self-determination, exploring implications for moral responsibility, bioethics, and the differences between Eastern and Western theological frameworks.
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Other words for the algorithm…
free will, libertarian free will, compatibilism, determinism, Gregory of Nyssa, Cappadocian Fathers, patristic theology, Eastern Orthodox theology, church fathers, theological anthropology, theosis, deification, synergy, moral responsibility, praise and blame, developmental psychology, moral agency, self-determination, Christian anthropology, Christian East, Christian West, philosophy of religion, free will debate, moral psychology, bioethics, applied philosophy, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, patristics, Orthodox Christianity, Byzantine theology, ancient philosophy, Christian philosophy, systematic theology, philosophical theology, Aristotelian ethics, virtue ethics, moral philosophy, conscience, moral intuition, Augustine, Pelagianism, divine sovereignty, human freedom, image of God, imago Dei, salvation, soteriology, grace, divine grace, sanctification, spiritual formation, Desert Fathers, Maximus the Confessor, Origen, Irenaeus, moral development, character formation, passions, will and intellect, Thomas Aquinas, Thomism, Kant, autonomy, phenomenology, David Bentley Hart, Kallistos Ware, Vladimir Lossky, ecumenical councils, Nicene Creed, liturgical theology, mystical theology, apophatic theology, hesychasm, spiritual senses, nous, William James, neuroscience and free will, agent causation, Peter van Inwagen, Alvin Plantinga, natural law theory, Neoplatonism, Plato, metaphysics, causation
How the Devil Tried to Steal Christmas | The True Story of the Nativity
2025/12/18
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You're to be familiar with the popularized details of the Mary and Nativity stories—the manger, the shepherds, the star. But this week, Dr. Jacobs takes you beyond the familiar Sunday school narrative to explore the robust early Christian tradition surrounding Mary's birth, her betrothal to the elderly widower Joseph, and the supernatural drama unfolding behind the scenes. This episode examines what the Church Fathers believed about the devil's frantic attempts to thwart the Incarnation, from his watchful surveillance of Israel's virgins to Herod's demonic massacre of the innocents. Dr. Jacobs traces the cosmic war between the powers of light and darkness, revealing how God orchestrated an elaborate divine ruse to veil the Messiah from Satan's gaze. Drawing from sources like the Gospel of James, Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom, this deep dive recovers the fuller Christmas story that shaped Christian understanding for centuries.
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The Cosmic Longing of Christmas | All Creation Groans
2025/12/11
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This episode explores the Eastern patristic understanding of Christmas through the doctrines of divine energies, synergy, and man as microcosm. Drawing on Aristotle, Philo of Alexandria, and Church Fathers like Athanasius, the discussion examines why all creation groans for the incarnation and how Christ's becoming creature rebuilds the bridge between God and cosmos. The incarnation is presented not merely as a legal transaction but as the initiation of cosmic healing—a "good infection" that restores humanity's mediating role and allows all creation to partake of divine nature.
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The Christian East & West Divide
2025/12/08
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Entertaining Angels | Tales of Christian Hospitality
2025/12/04
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https://www.keipirestaurant.org/first-things-foundation
Dr. Jacobs delivers a talk on hospitality in the ancient world, exploring three stories: Abraham entertaining angels, John Cassian learning from Egyptian monks, and Abba Agathon's encounter with a divine visitor. The presentation examines the theological significance of hospitality in Hebrew and Christian traditions, particularly focusing on Eastern Orthodox patristic interpretations. Delivered at a Georgian Supra event hosted by the First Things Foundation in Greenville, South Carolina. Visit Keipi in Greenville for traditional Georgian cuisine.
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Other words for the algorithm…
Abraham and the angels, Hebrew Bible hospitality, ancient Near East customs, stranger ethics, John Cassian, Desert Fathers, Abba Agathon, Egyptian monasticism, asceticism, monastic hospitality, fasting and feasting, Georgian Supra, Eastern Orthodox theology, patristic theology, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, church fathers, Orthodox ethics, Christian hospitality, biblical hospitality, sheep and goats parable, love of neighbor, theological virtue, practical theology, ancient world customs, virtue ethics, Christian ethics, moral theology, spiritual formation, monasticism, anachoresis, cenobitic monasticism, apophthegmata patrum, sayings of the Desert Fathers, patristic ethics, biblical interpretation, Old Testament theology, New Testament ethics, Hebrews commentary, Lot and the angels, Road to Emmaus, Tobit, Archangel Raphael, theophany, Christophany, angel visitation, divine testing, covenant theology, Abraham covenant, Sodom and Gomorrah, Job righteousness, ancient virtue, classical virtue, agape love, caritas, philoxenia, Christian hospitality tradition, early Christianity, Byzantine theology, Greek patristics, Eastern Christianity, Western Christianity, East-West theology, theological anthropology, imago Dei, image of God, Matthew 25, eschatology, heavenly feast, messianic banquet, bridegroom theology, joy and fasting, liturgical theology, sacramental life, communion, Eucharist theology, stranger as Christ, Matthew Mathewes, practical philosophy, applied ethics, charitable works, almsgiving, poverty theology, wealth distribution, social justice, Christian socialism, monasticism economics, voluntary poverty, detachment, ascetical theology, spiritual disciplines, prayer and fasting, desert spirituality, Egyptian desert, Palestinian monasticism, Scetes, monastic rules, obedience, humility cultivation, temptation, demonic warfare, spiritual combat, guardian angels, angelology, hierarchy of angels, divine messengers, supernatural encounters, mystical theology, contemplation, theosis, deification, divine energies, Gregory Palamas, hesychasm, Philokalia, nepsis, watchfulness, prayer rope, Jesus prayer, heart prayer, stillness, silentium
The Realism of Symbology | A Conversation with Jonathan Pageau
2025/11/25
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Dr. Jacobs is joined by guest Jonathan Pageau for an in-depth discussion on the nature of symbolic thinking and philosophical realism. They explore how symbols function in reality, the relationship between ancient worldviews and modern nominalism, and the distinction between genuine symbology and eisegesis. The conversation addresses the metaphysical foundations of symbolic interpretation, the role of idealism in understanding reality, and whether symbols are merely useful fictions or constitute the actual structure of the world.
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00:00:00 Intro
00:00:52 Jonathan’s Background
00:17:31 Symbology 101: What is Symbolic Thinking?
00:22:01 Philosophical Realism and Ancient Intuition
00:25:01 Are Symbols Real or Useful Fictions?
00:37:27 Idealism and the Structure of Reality
00:44:02 Christ-Shaped Reality and the Logos
01:12:20 How to Avoid Eisegesis in Symbolic Interpretation
01:23:45 The Danger of Gnostic and Esoteric Fascination
01:28:58 The Problem of Non-Realist Symbolism
The Lived Philosophy of Early Christianity | The Last Five Ecumenical Councils
2025/11/20
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This is part three of our three-part series on the seven ecumenical councils, focusing on the philosophical commitments embedded in the final five councils from Ephesus to Nicaea II. We examine the Nestorian controversy and Cyril of Alexandria's defense of moderate realism, the doctrine of complex natures, and the distinction between common faculties and idiosyncratic use in the monothelite debate. The episode concludes with the monoenergist controversy's codification of the essence-energies distinction and the ontology of image and archetype in iconography.
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00:00:00 - Intro
00:05:36 Dogma vs. Kerygma: Basil's Distinction
00:10:26 The Council of Ephesus: Nestorius vs. Cyril
00:14:56 Moderate Realism and Complex Natures
00:23:18 Nestorius's Metaphysical Error
00:30:14 Why Mary Is Theotokos
00:45:02 The Monophysite Controversy After Ephesus
00:49:19 The Council of Chalcedon
00:57:00 Common Nature, Idiosyncratic Use
01:02:00 The Theandric Operations: John of Damascus's Analogy
01:07:56 The Essence-Energies Distinction in the Councils
01:13:34 Against Calling It "Palamite"
01:19:09 Nicaea II and the Ontology of Images
Other words for the algorithm…
ecumenical councils, Christology, Chalcedon, Council of Ephesus, Nestorius, Cyril of Alexandria, moderate realism, complex natures, theotokos, patristics, church fathers, early Christian philosophy, Byzantine theology, Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox theology, hupóstasis, essence-energies distinction, Gregory Palamas, Cappadocian fathers, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, John of Damascus, Maximus the Confessor, monothelite controversy, monoenergist controversy, monophysitism, Apollinarianism, hypostatic union, two natures one person, divine energies, theosis, deification, incarnation, Nicene Creed, Constantinople, Council of Chalcedon, hyalomorphism, Aristotle, Plato, realism, nominalism, universals, particular, form and matter, substance, accidents, common nature, Christian metaphysics, patristic theology, systematic theology, philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, Christian philosophy, Thomas Aquinas, scholasticism, medieval philosophy, ancient philosophy, Neoplatonism, divine simplicity, divine freedom, anthropology, theological anthropology, imago dei, image of God, iconography, Nicaea II, body and soul, will, free will, monothelitism, Apollinaris, Athanasius, homoousios, consubstantial, Trinity, divine nature, human nature, rational soul, theandric operations, dogma, kerygma, divine liturgy, anti-Chalcedonian, Council of Constantinople, moderate realist, extreme realism, archetypal ideas, common will, idiosyncratic use, Philippians 2, morphe, kenosis, inflamed blade analogy, David Bradshaw, essence and energies, Aristotle East and West, Gregory of Nazianzus, Chrysostom, ontology, metaphysics, formal properties, genera and species, specific difference
The True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils
2025/11/13
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This is part two of a three-part series examining the philosophical commitments embedded in the seven ecumenical councils of early Christianity. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explores the metaphysical foundations of Nicene and Constantinopolitan theology, including hyalomorphism, moderate realism, the doctrine of the hypostasis, and the distinction between creation and eternal generation. He’ll walk through how the early church fathers developed sophisticated philosophical positions on the nature of God, creatures, causation, and the individual that were integral to Christian theology rather than later Greek additions.
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00:00:00 Intro
00:02:15 The Seven Ecumenical Councils wverview
00:04:42 No ancient divide
00:21:42 Ancient Christians saw Christianity as philosophy
00:29:39 Dispelling the progress narrative
00:38:21 The Arian disput & metaphysical commitments
00:39:16 What it means to be "created"
00:43:12 Hylomorphism: form & matter
00:52:24 Metaphysical realism and the law of contradiction
01:03:07 Are creatures material?
01:04:38 Biblical foundations for these commitments
01:09:20 From Nicaea to Constantinople
01:11:51 The doctrine of the hypostasis
01:14:00 Moderate realism: Aristotle vs Plato
01:23:10 The individual as its own reality
01:32:15 On "Not Three Gods"
01:42:32 The distinction of causes: begotten, not made
01:51:27 Efficient vs formal cause
02:00:05 Per se vs per accidens causality
02:02:39 Eternal generation & procession
The Question Behind the Seven Ecumenical Councils | Who Do You Say I Am?
2025/10/30
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This week we’re taking a look at the seven ecumenical councils of the early Christian church, from Nicaea (325 AD) to Nicaea II (787 AD). Dr. Jacobs traces how each council addressed Christological controversies while establishing foundational theological and philosophical positions. Topics include Trinitarian theology, the nature of Christ's divinity and humanity, the concept of eternal generation, and the distinction between essence and energies. The analysis demonstrates how seemingly disparate theological disputes form a unified narrative centered on the question "Who do you say that I am?"
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00:00:00 Intro
00:00:22 Christianity’s philosophical commitments
00:03:21 What are the Ecumenical Councils?
00:11:19 Keys for understanding the councils
00:20:59 The Council of Nicaea: is Christ fully God?
00:29:20 How is the Son begotten?
00:35:18 Council of Constantinople: three persons, one nature
00:48:32 Are Christians monotheists?
00:55:50 Is Christ fully human?
01:04:50 Council of Ephesus: one person with two natures
01:12:14 Council of Chalcedon: unconfused & unmingled
01:24:31 The remaining councils
01:26:39 The icon controversy
A Postscript on Slavery & Genocide | From Mosaic Law to the Church Fathers
2025/10/23
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This episode concludes a four-part series examining slavery, polygamy, and genocide in biblical texts. The discussion addresses remaining questions about the moral gap between Mosaic law and early Christian teaching, arguing that Scripture reflects a progressive moral pedagogy rather than an immediate ideal. The framework employs natural law theory and Eastern Orthodox theology to distinguish between morally impermissible slavery and morally acceptable servitude arrangements, while contextualizing Old Testament ethics within the Ancient Near Eastern cultural baseline from which God drew his people toward eventual Christian perfection.
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 Recapping the Slavery Episode
00:08:20 Recapping the Polygamy Episode
00:10:00 Recapping the Genocide Episode
00:11:27 Why a 4th Episode?
00:15:00 Slaying of Innocence
00:19:45 Possibility #1
00:20:30 Possibility #2
00:22:15 Possibility #3
00:23:40 The Rich Man and Lazarus
00:27:30 The Most Troubling Psalm
00:36:17 Lingering Concerns with Genocide
00:42:35 Are the Innocent Damned?
00:46:35 Loose Ends with Slavery
00:53:29 The Law and Moral Progress
01:00:50 Sensitivity of Moral Faculties
01:06:15 The Ideal of the Logos
Podcast reviews
Read The Nathan Jacobs Podcast podcast reviews
Jeffery the younger 2026/01/25
Great teacher
Just started listening to Dr Jacobs. Does a wonderful job in teaching philosophy and world views. He can talk for 90 minutes without taking a breath a...
cellojulia 2024/11/17
No other podcast like it
I like to say Dr. Jacobs is for people in their “post-Peterson eras.” There is no better podcast for substance and depth. Happy to say I’m an early ad...
Mike99999990 2024/10/26
One of the best
One of the only podcasts that I would care to listen to every episode. Dr Jacobs does a great job delving into topics of great interest for those want...
tinagoodfather 2024/09/28
Fantastic job
The podcast we all have been waiting for. Its just fantastic.
Yours truly, J Delaney 2024/09/08
Team Jacob
I’m naturally a disagreeable person, but I find myself questioning that about me when met with the syllogistic continuity of Dr. Jacob’s philosophical...
It's fine, thanks 2024/08/26
Understanding the Western tradition
Thank Nathan Jacobs for your understanding and explanation of where our world of ideas come from
OtisG. 2024/06/15
“The Most Important Question” Review
“The Most Important Question” is sooo good. Dr. Jacobs has a way pulling together points of knowledge I’ve learned over the decades into an easy to u...
BjornssonUlfric 2024/06/03
Fantastic.
I’d say this is darn near the shape of the perfect podcast. Very real.
On a serious note, Dr. Jacobs way of connecting ideas for the average listene...
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