Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.
In this EpisodeTimothy Paul Jones, Ph.D., is C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He teaches in the areas of family ministry and applied apologetics. He has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including Why Should I Trust the Bible?; The God Who Goes Before You; Perspectives on Family Ministry; and Christian History Made Easy. Follow Dr. Jones at @DrTimothyPJones.
Questions to Discuss1. Skeptics claim that the story of Jesus is not only false; it is actually borrowed from earlier pagan beliefs. What do we mean when we say that the pagan parallels aren't really parallel?
2. What about the parallel of Mithras? Are there other supposed parallels between Jesus and Mithras?
3. In what ways do pagan parallels sometimes confuse the historical claims of the New Testament with later Christian practices?
4. Let’s suppose for a moment that some patterns that were present in the life of Jesus could be found in some previous religion. Would this weaken the historical foundations of the Christian faith, as critics claim?
5. Why shouldn't we worry that the date of Christmas may have pagan origins?
Links to ClickIf you want to learn more about pursuing kingdom diversity and racial reconciliation, one great place to start is For God So Loved the World: A Blueprint for Kingdom Diversity, written by Walter Strickland and Dayton Hartman. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com
B and H Academic
The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire: book by Roger Beck
The Roman Cult of Mithras: book by Manfred Clauss
God in the Dock: book by C. S. Lewis
Contra Celsum: book by Origen of Alexandria
"We Didn't Start the Fire": song by Billy Joel
"She's Got a Way": song by Billy Joel
"Piano Man": song by Billy Joel
"Smells Like Teen Spirit": song by Nirvana
"Celebration at the Berlin Wall": clip from ABC News
ThreeChordsApologetics.com
If you are interested in earning a master’s degree online or on campus that will equip you with the most comprehensive apologetics training available anywhere, go to http://www.sbts.edu/bgs/degree-programs/mdiv/apologetics/
How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already IsSupport the show and spread the word! Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.
2. Leave a rating and review on iTunes to encourage other people to listen to the show.
3. If you purchase any of the books mentioned in Three Chords and the Truth, consider using the Amazon links provided in the show notes. The show will receive a small percentage of each sale.
4. Visit our Patreon site where you can support the podcast, suggest future songs or topics, and order Three Chords and the Truth merchandise.
5. Make contact with us on Twitter: @DrTimothyPJones @GarrickBailey @ApologeticsPod
The Closing CreditsThree Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast thanks B&H Academic for their sponsorship.
Music for the podcast has been licensed through Artlist.io and performed by the band Vegan Friendly—even though neither Garrick nor Timothy has ever been vegan friendly.
Brief excerpts of music played in each program are included solely for the purposes of comment and critique as allowed under the fair-use provision of U.S. copyright law. "The fair use of a copyrighted work ... for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, ... scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright" (U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).
Josh Chatraw: Apologetics at the Cross + "Word on a Wing" (David Bowie)
Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey: Is the Coronavirus Evil? + “Sympathy for the Devil” (The Rolling Stones)
Three Chords and the Truth Goes to the Movies: Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Robert Plummer: The Perplexing Problem of When Quirinius Governed Syria + "The Living Years" (Mike + the Mechanics)
Dan DeWitt: Why Do the Apologetics of C.S. Lewis Matter? + “All Along the Watchtower” (U2)
Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey: Why Everyone Needs Creeds + “Where the Streets Have No Name” (U2)
Eric Johnson: How Can a Good God Allow Evil in the World? + “Free” (Stryper)
Peter Gurry and Elijah Hixson: Mistakes Apologists Make About Textual Criticism + "Learning to See" (Van Halen)
Peter Gurry and Elijah Hixson: Was the Bible Copied Accurately? + "You Belong to the City" (Glenn Frey)
Jonathan Pennington: What Are the New Testament Gospels and Why Should We Trust Them? + "We Are the World" (USA for Africa)
Doug Blount: What's the Relationship Between Evidence and Faith? + "Jack and Diane" (John Cougar Mellencamp)
Joshua Swindall and Grady Adkins: What Christian Beliefs Do College Students Struggle to Defend? + "Don't Stop Believin'" (Journey)
Three Chords and the Truth Live: Questions and Answers about Creation, Resurrection, the Canon of Scripture, and the Problem of Evil
Sean McDowell: Did the Apostles Really Die for Their Faith? + “Dust in the Wind” (Kansas)
Sean McDowell: Resurrection, Sacrifice, and Why Sean McDowell Didn't Love Avengers: Endgame + "Hotel California" (The Eagles)
Three Chords and the Truth Goes to the Movies: Avengers: Endgame
Robert Plummer: How Did Judas Iscariot Really Die? + "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Blue Öyster Cult)
Tom Schreiner: The Earliest Christian Confession about the Resurrection + "Cat's in the Cradle" (Harry Chapin)
Robert Plummer: Historical Evidence for Supernatural Signs at the Death of Jesus + “American Pie” (Don McLean)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Everything Everywhere Daily