The Nathan Jacobs Podcast

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  How Could the Angels Fall? | Why Satan Turned Against God 13.08.2026 28min

  If the angels existed in the presence of God and beheld His divine glory, how could Satan—or any angel—possibly choose to turn away from Him?We explore what the Eastern Church Fathers teach about the nature of angels, their free will, the angelic hierarchy, and the fall of Satan. Nathan​ examines five factors that help explain how beings created in communion with God could nevertheless rebel against Him, including pride, envy,​ intellectual passions, and the possibility of God's pedagogical withdrawal.Along the way, Nathan discusses the nine orders of angels, competing patristic explanations for Satan's rebellion, why some Fathers connect his fall to​ the creation of humanity, and what angelic freedom can teach us about our own relationship with God.======================================Timestamps00:00 How Could an Angel Fall?00:47 What Is an Angel?02:09 Angels as Created Beings03:21 Free Will and Self-Determination04:23 Angels as Ministering Spirits05:10 How Angels Mediate God's Energies07:18 How Creatures Participate in God08:39 The Hierarchy of Angels09:06 The Nine Orders of Angels10:23 What Does the Fall of Angels Mean?13:13 How Could Angels Reject God?15:50 Five Factors Behind the Fall16:38 Not All Angels Experience God Equally17:32 The Intellectual Passions18:33 Pride, Envy, and Satan's Rebellion19:38 Did Satan Fall Because of Humanity?21:15 How Satan Led Other Angels into Rebellion22:39 Divine Hiddenness and Free Will24:56 Do Angels Leave God's Presence?25:17 Why God May Withdraw His Presence26:58 How the Angels May Have Been Tested27:26 Final Thoughts======================================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:C​an the Devil be Saved? https://youtu.be/1nIJhti5hqw​ ​​Is Rational Unbelief in God Possible? https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThY​Is Non-Resistant Unebelief in God Possible? https://youtu.be/9B1G44hywd0​Is God Truly Hidden: https://youtu.be/R4Y0JBZtrRMAll 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
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  Does Science Contradict Genesis? | ft. Drs. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone (Part 1) 11.08.2026 1u 40min

  Must a Christian reject modern science to hold a faithful view of Genesis? In Part 1 of this two-part collaborative episode, Dr. Chris Firestone (The Firestone Files) sits down with Dr. Nathan Jacobs (The Nathan Jacobs Podcast) in Nashville to tackle the contentious, heavily polemical debate surrounding creation, Young Earth Creationism, and evolution.Moving past the rigid false dichotomies often found online, Firestone and Jacobs draw from their shared philosophical training and the rich history of the early Church—including the Eastern Church Fathers like St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Irenaeus. They explore how theology categorizes dogma versus theologoumena (theological opinion), how the Alexandrian school of allegorical reading functioned, and whether ancient authors like St. Paul accepted the science of their era without making it a test of orthodoxy.Timestamps00:00 Introduction & Framing the Debate 03:08 Evolution, Creation, and the Modern Online Polemics 05:18 Personal Backgrounds: Hugh Ross, Genesis, and Modern Science 10:25 The High Demand: Does Faith Require Rejecting All Science? 14:15 Moving Beyond the False Dichotomy (Young Earth vs. Evolution) 18:00 The Dogmatism of Secular Science vs. Unyielding Fundamentalism 21:50 Dogma, Heresy, and Theologoumenon (Theological Opinion) 27:18 Protestant Fundamentalist Assumptions in Modern Creationism34:38 Philosophy of Creation: Divine Omnipotence and Divine Deception 42:33 Did Physics and Biology Function Differently Before the Fall? 48:48 Alvin Plantinga, Modal Logic, and Disarming Polemical Objections01:00:18 Substantive Consensus vs. Ancient Scientific Views in the Fathers 01:15:24 Storytelling, Inerrancy, and How the Bible Approached History 01:31:08 The Alexandrian School, Genesis Oddities, and the "Eighth Day"======================================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​Why I Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/IBwZBDlu8CAGod's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg All 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
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  Why Would God Create Someone He Knows Will Be Damned? 06.08.2026 30min

  If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?This is one of the deepest questions in Christian theology, and one that was asked by a 15​-year-old Orthodox Christian. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs​ reads one of his favorite theological letters, exploring how the Eastern Church Fathers—especially St. John of Damascus—approach God's​ foreknowledge, human freedom, divine goodness, and the mystery of damnation.Rather than offering a simplistic answer, this discussion challenges many common assumptions​ about God's knowledge of the future and reveals a​ profoundly hopeful vision of God's unwavering love for every person He creates.======================================Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:48 A Letter to Agatha02:39 The Common Assumption About Damnation04:20 The Eastern Church Fathers' Answer05:10 Why We Exist07:03 God's Knowledge and Creation08:51 Why God Doesn't "Choose the Saved"09:27 Why Not Simply Avoid Creating the Damned?11:04 God Always Chooses the Good12:08 Outcomes vs. Goodness14:44 King Saul and Divine Justice16:26 The "Future Hitler" Thought Experiment18:11 Free Will and God's Omnipotence19:27 Can God Make a Square Circle?21:55 Abraham and Isaac24:20 Damnation Is the Creature's Choice25:20 Christ's Victory Over Hades27:18 A Prison Without Bars29:01 Hope for Universal Salvation?30:30 St. Sophrony's Final Reflection======================================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 ​From Heretic to Orthodox: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM​ On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=webAll 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
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  Can the Devil Be Saved? | What the Church Fathers Actually Taught 30.07.2026 35min

  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.======================================Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:00:50 Theology vs. Theological Opinion00:01:32 Five Views on the Devil's Salvation00:03:04 Why Most Fathers Say No00:03:19 St. Paisios and Praying for the Devil00:04:37 St. Ammonios on God's Will00:06:21 St. John Chrysostom and the Unpardonable Sin00:07:21 St. Maximus the Confessor00:08:54 St. Symeon the New Theologian00:10:19 Why John of Damascus Says It's Impossible00:11:23 Death as Mercy00:16:46 Why Angels Cannot Be "Remade"00:19:53 Can the Devil Be Saved?00:20:18 Pseudo-Dionysius on Corruption00:22:55 Origen and Universal Salvation00:26:51 Gregory of Nyssa and St. Isaac the Syrian00:28:26 The Five Positions Summarized00:30:25 What the Fathers Agree On00:31:09 God's Providence and Love00:35:29 The Common Thread00:36:13 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=webAll 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
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  The REAL Reason Movies Go Wrong 28.07.2026 1u 46min

  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 SoundingsTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 Trailer00:01:29 House of David00:17:28 What Makes a Good Story?00:31:28 The Writing Process00:46:18 The Role of Storytelling in Theology00:57:16 Storytelling Approaches to the Problem of Evil01:12:11 Quick-Fire Questions01:12:28 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 reportingCaricature, parody or pasticheI 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.
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  Why I Reject Evolution | An Orthodox Christian Perspective 23.07.2026 53min

  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.======================================Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:00:53 Two Questions About Evolution00:01:58 Why I Reject Evolution00:02:40 Realism vs. Nominalism00:05:01 Essential vs. Accidental Properties00:06:31 The Problem with Evolutionary Change00:12:20 Why Nominalism Undermines Science00:16:14 The Church Fathers and Realism00:19:11 "According to Their Kind"00:20:55 Responding to Common Objections00:22:18 Old Earth vs. Young Earth00:27:06 The Consensus of the Fathers00:31:48 What Kind of Consensus Matters?00:36:01 Theology vs. Science00:42:15 The Orthodox Mind and Philosophy00:45:14 What the Fathers Actually Handed Down00:47:20 Can You Be Orthodox and Young Earth?00:49:08 Responding to More Objections00:57:12 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/nVmPIMg4St4The Truth About Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday:  https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZgMisunderstanding Mystery: https://youtu.be/VlWiYFfHTeYThe True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils: https://youtu.be/sFWp2QQzUFAAll 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
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  Can You Trust Your Mind | Thomas Thorogood Clip 21.07.2026 27min

  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.======================================Timestamps00:00 — A Debate About Objective Morality06:24 — Why Our Faculties Matter09:21 — Properly Functioning Faculties09:48 — Hard vs Moderate Foundationalism10:19 — Descartes and Radical Doubt13:09 — Why Skepticism Cannot Be Lived14:24 — Trusting Our Faculties16:26 — The Most Important Question in Philosophy17:26 — Realism vs Nominalism19:14 — Why Perception Depends on Realism20:34 — Why Logic Depends on Realism22:17 — Why Everyone Lives Like a Realist23:14 — Realism and Providence24:07 — Morality, the Numinous, and Human Experience25:52 — Every Argument Presupposes Realism26:56 — 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=tNu3mGq6HhUThe Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4All 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
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  Why I Became Orthodox (Part 2) | Discovering the Church Fathers 16.07.2026 31min

  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 Introduction01:18 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers04:20 A Different Vision of God08:20 A Christianity Unlike Anything I’d Known09:21 Discovering the Theology of the Fathers14:42 Deification and the Divine Energies18:09 Eastern and Western Christianity Compared23:28 Tracing the Orthodox Tradition25:21 My First Visit to an Orthodox Church26:18 The Beauty of Divine Liturgy30:08 Wrestling with My Final Questions31:04 Entering the Orthodox Church32:12 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=U4Y8eOXsEB9q5DAhEssence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ?si=8OOfJZxFUu3-CRDbAll 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
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  He Was Making a Horror Film... Until THIS Happened 14.07.2026 2u 54min

  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=eeVQhaVEBEtu0VocSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastSubstack (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/videos⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thorogood.thomas⁠Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThomasThorogood⁠Copyright 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.
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  From Heretic to Orthodox: Everything I Thought About Christianity Was Wrong 09.07.2026 36min

  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 Introduction00:29 Turning East and My Story01:33 Growing Up Lutheran07:56 A Spiritual Awakening17:17 Studying Philosophy and Christianity27:42 Discovering Process Philosophy45:09 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers01:16:45 My First Orthodox Church Experience01:23:15 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/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
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  Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution? 02.07.2026 43min

  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 Opposed01:19 The Two Biggest Objections to Evolution04:09 Why the Eastern Church Fathers Matter05:41 What “Death” Really Means10:41 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 Earth31:13 Are the Days of Genesis Literal?37:15 What the Church Fathers Actually Believed40:57 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/lO1rAzvK3lQRessurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kDo All Dogs Go to Heaven? https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4?si=BwTMvHqJ5ye3PXmKWhy Do Christians Worship on Sunday? https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg?si=7UUKhaIMZK1YSQHF Substack on EvolutionPart 1: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation Part 2: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation-fd5All 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
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  Are Icons Idolatry? 25.06.2026 38min

  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/lO1rAzvK3lQRessurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kArticles on John of Damascus:https://www.academia.edu/41586795/John_of_Damascushttps://www.academia.edu/41586562/John_of_Damascus_and_His_Defense_of_IconsLetter on Early Christianity and Icons: https://theologicalletters.com/p/were-the-earliest-christians-iconoclasts?utm_source=publication-searchAll 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
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  From LSD to Orthodoxy: From Artist to Scholar to Filmmaker | ft. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone 23.06.2026 2u 14min

  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/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: / nathanandrewjacobs Academia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobsDr. 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
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  The Essential Doctrine the West Lost: On Divine Energies 18.06.2026 55min

  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
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  Can the Non-Orthodox Be Saved? A Dialogue | ft. Drs. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone 17.06.2026 2u 1min

  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
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  Resurrection Makes NO SENSE without Deification 11.06.2026 26min

  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/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-podcastRead on Substack, "Why Resurrection is Incoherent without Deification": https://theologicalletters.com/p/why-resurrection-is-incoherent-without?utm_source=publication-search 
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  The LIE about Modern Philosophy 09.06.2026 1u 34min

  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=DkFzbRVsTWEDr. 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
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  Was The Virgin Mary Sinless? The Answer May Surprise Protestants 04.06.2026 28min

  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/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSRelated Episodes & Material Mentioned:Episode 30 The Virgin Mary Grinch Slayer: https://youtu.be/bTHlv06p9U8?si=43KLlOYXc2QjAVE4Episode 33: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Story Telling: https://youtu.be/H7X4Df-KEEc?si=7OV6N3SXStXia9fwTheological Letter on Mary: https://theologicalletters.com/p/on-mary-the-mother-of-god-1-of-2?utm_source=publication-searchFrederica Mathewes-Green: https://substack.com/@fredericamg/note/c-167315534
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  The Truth About Why Christians Worship on Sundays 30.05.2026 27min

  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/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
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  Can Dogs Go to Heaven? Theology Explained 21.05.2026 30min

  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/HlAk0Jm8xd4Do 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