What Are the New Testament Gospels and Why Should We Trust Them? + “We Are the World” (USA for Africa)

According to bestselling religious scholar Reza Aslan, the New Testament Gospels “are not, nor were they ever meant to be, a historical documentation of Jesus’s life." The Gospels are, Aslan claims, fictional compositions from early Christians who re-imagined a Jewish revolutionary named Jesus as an ethereal Christ of faith.

But is it really reasonable to read the New Testament Gospels as fiction? And, if the Gospels aren't fiction, what genre are they?

In the first half of this week’s program, New Testament scholar Jonathan Pennington joins Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones to explore these crucial questions: What literary genre best describes the New Testament Gospels? And are these compositions believable as history?

Michael Jackson, the king of pop, is the star of the second half of this week’s program as Garrick and Timothy go looking for signs of grace the bestselling single of the 1980s, “We Are the World” by U.S.A. For Africa. Along the way, Timothy reveals how he would still be single if it weren’t for REO Speedwagon, Garrick divulges his deep childhood fixation on Michael Jackson’s jacket, and Jonathan Pennington just can’t fight the feeling that he belongs in the band Pink Floyd.

The dilemma drawn from the bowels of the Infinity Gauntlet this week leads to a showdown between Wakanda and Hogwarts that threatens to rend the space-time continuum. The resulting clash of ideas nearly leads to a breaking of the fellowship that binds Garrick, Timothy, and Jonathan together. In the end, a reference to REO Speedwagon becomes the potion that saves their friendship.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Jonathan T. Pennington, Ph.D., is associate professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is also director of the Ph.D. program. Pennington is the author of The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, Reading the Gospels Wisely, and Heaven and Earth In the Gospel of Matthew. He is also on the preaching staff at Sojourn East in Louisville, Kentucky and the host of the YouTube show, "Cars, Coffee, Theology". Follow Dr. Pennington on Twitter at @DrJTPennington.

Questions to Discuss

1.  What is the genre of a particular piece of literature?

2. What does the genre of books in Bible matter? Why should Christians care about their genre?

3. What genre are the New Testament Gospels? How do we know?

4. Were works in the bios genre always nonfiction or were they sometimes fictional? Why do we think that the New Testament Gospels aren't fictional?

5. Suppose someone listening to this program has a friend who is a skeptic and completely rejects the truth of the Gospels. What should a Christian do to help a skeptic see the truth of the Gospels?

6. Can you think of a particular time when God worked through the Gospels to convince you of the truth of his promises and his Word?

Links to Click

If you want to dig deeper into the historical integrity of the New Testament, one great place to start is In Defense of the Bible, edited by Terry Wilder and Steven Cowan. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

B and H Academic

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth: book by Reza Aslan

What Are the Gospels?: book by Richard Burridge

The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ: book by Martin Hengel

Reading the Gospels Wisely: book by Jonathan Pennington

"Cars, Coffee, Theology": YouTube show by Jonathan Pennington

"Can't Fight This Feeling": song by REO Speedwagon

"We Are the World": song by U.S.A for Africa

"Do They Know It's Christmas": song by Band Aid 20

"Thriller": song by Michael Jackson

"The Fly": song by U2

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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).

What’s the Relationship Between Evidence and Faith? + “Jack and Diane” (John Cougar Mellencamp)

It's the hotly-anticipated Hoosier Edition of Three Chords and the Truth!

In this episode, we celebrate the moderately-great state of Indiana. Timothy Paul Jones, a committed Louisvillian who dusts off his feet each time he returns from Indiana, is joined by Doug Blount and Garrick Bailey—two residents of Indiana who were transplanted into the Midwest after being uprooted from the kingdom of Texas—to discuss why so many New Atheists assume that faith and evidence stand in opposition to each other. Atheist writer Richard Dawkins has defined faith, for example, as “a state of mind that leads people to believe something—it doesn’t matter what—in the total absence of supporting evidence.” Bestselling biologist Jerry Coyne echoes this understanding and describes faith as “the acceptance of things for which there is no strong evidence.” “Faith is,” according to Christopher Hitchens, “the surrender of reason.” But is faith actually the antithesis of reason and evidence? That's the question Garrick and Timothy explore in the first half of this week's episode with Doug Blount, who completed master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, an institution that may be found—according to some reports—within the borders of Indiana.

In the second half, Timothy and Garrick take a look at John Mellencamp and James Dean, two Indiana natives who are almost as popular among Hoosiers as Garrick Bailey and Doug Blount. Along the way, we analyze the hit song "Jack and Diane," solve the mystery of John Mellencamp's many names—Johnny Cougar? John Cougar? John J. Mellencamp?—and discover how psychology, economics, and the rise of the New Left created what we know today as the "teenager." Then, we consider what all of this means for student ministries in local churches today. This week's question from the Infinity Gauntlet forces a choice between Captain America's shield and one of the three Deathly Hallows. As we discuss this difficult question, we are shocked to discover that—if Garrick ever obtains a vibranium shield—his children will need invisibility cloaks to have any hope of surviving into adulthood.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Douglas K. Blount, Ph.D., is professor of Christian Apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and previously served on the executive committee of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He is currently working on a book manuscript entitled Apologetics and the Death of Modernity. Follow Dr. Blount on Twitter at @dougblount.

Questions to Discuss

1. “Faith is,” Christopher Hitchens once declared, “the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason.” According to Oxford University biologist Richard Dawkins, “faith is a state of mind that leads people to believe something—it doesn’t matter what—in the total absence of supporting evidence.” Bestselling biologist Jerry Coyne echoes this understanding and describes faith as “the acceptance of things for which there is no strong evidence.” What is the basis for claims like this?

2. What is the relationship between faith and evidence?

3. In his bestselling book Faith Versus Fact, Jerry Coyne—professor emeritus at the University of Chicago—makes this further claim about faith and evidence: “Religious claims are empirical claims, and although some may be hard to test, they must, like all claims about reality, be defended with a combination of evidence and reason.” What’s the problem with his declaration that religious claims are empirical claims that must be empirically tested?

4. In 2007, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris gathered at Christopher Hitchens’ home in Washington, DC, for a two-hour discussion. These four atheists became known as The Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse and as representatives of a New Atheism. What impact do you think that this New Atheism has had on the culture and on apologetics?

Links to Click

If you're interested in learning more about how to help children and college students keep their faith, one great place to start is Perspectives on Family Ministry, edited by Timothy Paul Jones. To learn more about this book, visit https://www.bhacademic.com/product/perspectives-on-family-ministry-2/

B and H Academic

Faith Versus Fact: book by Jerry Coyne

Adolescence: book by Granville Stanley Hall

One-Dimensional Man: book by Herbert Marcuse

Soul Searching: book by Christian Smith

Sweet Bird of Youth: play by Tennessee Williams

What is a Hoosier?: article by the State of Indiana

The Four Horsemen Hour 1: documentary by Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science

The Four Horsemen Hour 2: documentary by Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science

"Summer of '69": song by Bryan Adams

"Jack & Diane": song by John Mellencamp

"Money for Nothing": song by Dire Straits

"Glory Days": song by Bruce Springsteen

"Eden is Burning": album by John Mellencamp

”Faith”: song by George Michael

John Mellencamp: album by John Mellencamp

Rebel Without a Cause: movie by Nicholas Ray

ThreeChordsApologetics.com

How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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).

What Christian Beliefs Do College Students Struggle to Defend? + “Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey)

Over the past few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Christian students have started their first semester of college. But how strong will these students' Christian faith be when they leave college? Or will they still see themselves as Christians at all? Even if these students' faith remains intact, what beliefs will be the hardest for them to believe and to defend? In this special back-to-school episode, Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones are joined by Dr. Grady Adkins and Dr. Joshua Swindall, two researchers who have spent the past year exploring which specific Christian beliefs are the most difficult for college students to believe and to defend. Now, Grady and Joshua are broadcasting the results of their research for the first time in the first half of this week's program. In the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy dig deeper into the nature of faith by looking at biblical faith through the lens of one of the greatest rock hits of all time, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. Along the way, your intrepid hosts search unsuccessfully for south Detroit, contemplate what sort of people “streetlight people” might be, and discover a strange and mysterious link between the band Journey and prosperity preacher Paula White. As if this week's back-to-school episode wasn't strange enough already, the Infinity Gauntlet pits midichlorians against mutant powers, forcing a showdown between the Jedi and the X-Men that you won't soon forget.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Grady Adkins, Ed.D., is Executive Pastor of Coram Deo Bible Church in Davenport, Iowa. Grady has been married to Alissa since 1998 and they have four lively, red-headed children: Landon, Reagan, Griffin, and Rowen. Joshua Swindall, Ed.D., is the headmaster at Cullman Christian School in Cullman, Alabama. Joshua and his family attend Crosshaven Church, where he serves as the student minister.

Questions to Discuss

1. What Christian beliefs do college students struggle most to believe and to defend?

2. Why does college seem to have a corrosive effect on students' faith?

3. How can churches prepare children and students to persist in their faith in college, in light of what you have learned in this episode?

Links to Click

If you're interested in learning more about how to help children and college students keep their faith, one great place to start is Perspectives on Family Ministry, edited by Timothy Paul Jones. To learn more about this book, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

B and H Academic

The Institutes of the Christian Religion: book by John Calvin

Soul Searching: book by Christian Smith

"Don't Stop Believin'": song by Journey

"Like a Rolling Stone": song by Bob Dylan

"All Along the Watchtower": song by Jimi Hendrix

"Sweet Child O'Mine": song by Guns N' Roses

"Highway to Hell": song by AC/DC

Trial by Fire: album by Journey

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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).

Three Chords Live: Questions and Answers about Creation, Resurrection, the Canon of Scripture, and the Problem of Evil

In this special episode of Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast, Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey join the student ministry at Five Oaks Church, which gathers near the metropolis of Minneapolis in the wild and crazy land of Minnesota. Students from Five Oaks ask questions about how God created the cosmos, how Moses found out about the creation of the world, whether Jesus was really raised from the dead, how the books of the Bible were selected, and how a good God can allow evil. Timothy allows one question from someone who may not be a Minnesotan, which leads to a heated debate over the popularity of the name “Agnes” in the vast tracts of trees, tundra, and lakes that constitute America’s Great North. Along the way, the student minister from Five Oaks answers a question from the Infinity Gauntlet, and the students are shocked to discover that their leader likes Superman, "Baba O'Riley," and "Bohemian Rhapsody" but can't stand America.

A new giveaway in partnership with Kyser Musical Products provides you with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win one of four limited-edition capos---unless you're not a guitar player, in which case these are not capos but the most amazing clips for your family-sized bags of tortilla chips that you could ever imagine. Whether you choose to use them as capos, chip clips, hair clips, or computer cable organizers, you'll need to listen to this episode to find out how to win one. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS. 

Questions to Consider and Discuss

1. What is apologetics and why does it matter?

2. Is the creation story metaphorical or did Moses describe it exactly the way it happened? How do we know the Bible's creation story is true if it is written by someone who did not witness it?

3. How can we know that Jesus actually died on the cross and rose from the dead? What about the hallucination hypothesis?

4. How is Christianity different from other religions?

5. Who chose which books and letters that would comprise the Bible? Why is it that the Roman Catholic Old Testament is different from the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles?

6. How can we still believe that God is a loving God when tragedies occur?

Links to Click

If you’re interested in learning more about how to engage people who are skeptical about the truth of the Bible, one great place to start is Truth in a Culture of Doubt by Josh Chatraw and Darrell Bock. To learn more about this book, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

B and H Academic

"Baba O'Riley": song by The Who

"Bohemian Rhapsody": song by Queen

"The Star Spangled Banner": song by Jimi Hendrix

"My Passion": song by Hollis Berry and Timothy Paul Jones, performed by Encomia and Smudge

Reformed Dogmatics : Volume 1: Prolegomena: book by Herman Bavinck

The City of God: book by Augustine of Hippo

Annals: book by Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Homilies on Joshua: book by Origen of Alexandria

"Biblical Reasons to Doubt the Creation Days Were 24-Hour Periods": article by Justin Taylor

Kyser Musical Products

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast thanks B and 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). 

Did the Apostles Really Die for Their Faith? + “Dust in the Wind” (Kansas)

One of the strongest evidences for the truth of the resurrection of Jesus is the martyrdom of his apostles in the decades that followed his death---or at least that's what many Christian apologists have claimed. But is this claim sustainable on the basis of historical evidence? Did nearly all of the first followers of Jesus really give their lives rather than turn away from what they professed and proclaimed? The answer to this question is complicated, but it's crucial for every Christian to know the facts. In the first half of today's program, Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones explore this difficult question with Sean McDowell---apologist, professor, and author of the book The Fate of the Apostles. In the second half, Garrick and Timothy go searching for divine truth in the classic hit from Kansas "Dust in the Wind." Along the way, Garrick and Timothy talk about the book of Ecclesiastes, the best and the worst high school graduation songs ever, and how Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure introduced Garrick to Kansas and Socrates. As always, your intrepid hosts dare to plunge a fist into the Infinity Gauntlet to draw forth one of humanity's most perplexing dilemmas; this week's challenge forces Obi-Wan Kenobi to face Albus Dumbledore in a duel that only one white-bearded warrior can survive. The battle also reveals a shocking gap in Sean McDowell's knowledge that could irreparably undermine his geek credibility.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Sean McDowell, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Christian apologetics program at Biola University and the resident scholar for Summit California. He earned his doctorate in apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. McDowell is the author, co-author, or editor of many books including So The Next Generation Will Know (David C. Cook, 2019); Sharing the Good News with Mormons (Harvest House, 2018); and, Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Harper Collins, 2017). Follow Dr. McDowell on Twitter at @Sean_McDowell

Questions to Discuss about the Fate of the Apostles

1. What was the fate of the apostles?

2. What are some stories related to the deaths of the apostles that Christians might sometimes believe without adequate evidence?

3. Why does it matter that some people who walked and talked with Jesus may have died for their faith in him?

Links to Click

If you’re interested in learning more about how to engage people who are skeptical about the truth of the Bible, one great place to start is Truth in a Culture of Doubt by Josh Chatraw and Darrell Bock. To learn more about this book, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

B and H Academic

The Fate of the Apostles: book by Sean McDowell

So The Next Generation Will Know: book by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace

Moral Letters (101:14): epistle by Seneca the Younger

To Marcia on Consolation (20:3): composition by Seneca the Younger

Martyrdom of Polycarp (8—9): epistle from the church in Smyrna

“Summer of ‘69”: song by Bryan Adams

"Unwritten": song by Natasha Bedingfield

"I Hope You Dance": song by Lee Ann Womack

"Right Now": song by Van Halen

"Firework": song by Katy Perry

"Photograph": song by Nickelback

"What's This Life For": song by Creed

"Good Riddance": song by Green Day

"My Last Semester": song by The Wonder Years

"Friends": song by Michael W. Smith

"Dust in the Wind": song by Kansas

"Sweet Child O' Mine": song by Guns N' Roses

"Carry On Wayward Son": song by Kansas

“I Believe I Can Fly”: song by R. Kelly

“One”: song by U2

"Vinyl Confessions": album by Kansas

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure: movie from 1989

“The Search for the Shining Face”: exposition of Ecclesiastes 7 by Timothy Paul Jones

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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).

Resurrection, Sacrifice, and Why Sean McDowell Didn’t Love Avengers: Endgame + “Hotel California” (The Eagles)

Avengers: Endgame has now passed James Cameron's Avatar and claimed second place on the list of highest-grossing films of all time in North America. In the previous episode of Three Chords and the Truth, Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones focused on the metanarrative and the ethical foundations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this episode, apologetics professor and superhero super-fan extraordinaire Sean McDowell joins Garrick and Timothy to talk about love, sacrifice, superheroes, and resurrection. In the process, Sean McDowell reveals why he didn't love Avengers: Endgame and why Garrick and Timothy might both be wrong about what would happen if Batman went to war against Iron Man. In the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy go looking for transcendent truth in the Grammy Award-winning classic "Hotel California." Along the way, they talk about Sehnsucht, plagiarism, and that one time when Timothy was looking for the founder of the Church of Satan but couldn't find him.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode with Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Christian apologetics program at Biola University and the resident scholar for Summit California. He earned his doctorate in apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. McDowell is the author, co-author, or editor of nearly twenty books including So The Next Generation Will Know (David C. Cook, 2019), Sharing the Good News with Mormons (Harvest House, 2018), and Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Harper Collins, 2017). Follow Dr. McDowell on Twitter at @Sean_McDowell.

Questions to Discuss

1. Why does the theme of sacrifice and resurrection recur in so many superhero films?

2. What has been the most significant moment from the perspective of the themes of sacrifice and resurrection in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

3. What was the most significant moment from the perspective of the themes of sacrifice and resurrection in the film Avengers: Endgame?

4. How will the rise of secularity shape the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Links to Click

B and H Academic

Superheroes Can’t Save You: book by Todd Miles

So The Next Generation Will Know: book by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace

The Weight of Glory: book by C. S. Lewis

Confessions: book by Augustine of Hippo

The Magus: novel by John Fowles

"Hotel California": song by the Eagles

"We Used to Know": song by Jethro Tull

"Desperado": song by the Eagles

"Life's Been Good": song by Joe Walsh

"Running on Empty": song by Jackson Browne

"Tumbleweed": song by Joan Baez

"Comfortably Numb": song by Pink Floyd

"Spider-Man": song covered by the Ramones

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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 the second half of 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). 

Three Chords Goes to the Movies: Avengers: Endgame

In the 1960s, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby began creating comic book storylines that were interconnected in a shared universe and told a single story through many individual stories. In the early twenty-first century, that's what Marvel Studios decided to do through the films that became the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first of these films was released in 2008. Now—eleven years and twenty-two films later—all of these storylines have culminated in a single film, Avengers: Endgame. In this special episode of Three Chords and the Truth, Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones take a careful look at Avengers: Endgame. The resulting discussion covers everything from humanity's inescapable yearning for a metanarrative to the philosophical foundations that undergird the ethics of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. A bizarre link between the Infinity Gauntlet and the bones of the sixteenth-century nun Teresa de Jesus also makes an appearance. This week's question from the Infinity Gauntlet pits Sting—the elven blade borne by Bilbo and Frodo—against Mjolnir, the mythical hammer carried by Thor.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

Questions to Discuss

1. What does the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe tell us about ourselves and about the stories we tell?

2. How specifically does Avengers: Endgame elicit an awareness of the goodness of God’s creation?

3. In this film, what is it that’s broken and fallen that the heroes are seeking to repair? 

4. How does Avengers: Endgame intersect with a biblical understanding of redemption?

5. Are there any places in Avengers: Endgame that we glimpse fragments of God’s truth about the end of time?

Links to Click

B and H Academic

"Spidey Meets the Prankster": from the 1974-1977 feature on the PBS program The Electric Company

Superheroes Can’t Save You: book by Todd Miles

After Virtue: book by Alasdair MacIntyre

The Inklings: book by Humphrey Carpenter

A Secular Age: book by Charles Taylor

Reformed Dogmatics: Volume 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation: book by Herman Bavinck

How (Not) to Be Secular: book by James K.A. Smith

Our Secular Age: book edited by Collin Hansen

"A Super Group Takes the Screen": article by Tom Russo

"Kissing the Hand of Saint Teresa in Ronda": article with photographs about the reliquary for the hand of Teresa of Avila

"Comic-Book Superheroes in a Christian Worldview": article by Timothy Paul Jones

Avengers: Endgame: music by Alan Silvestri

Encomia: song by Encomia

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 Is

Support 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 on 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 Credits

Three 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 this 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).

How Did Judas Iscariot Really Die? + “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (Blue Öyster Cult)

Welcome to the Death and Cowbells episode of Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast! One of the most difficult dilemmas in the entire Bible has to do with how Judas Iscariot actually died. According to Matthew’s Gospel, Judas hanged himself, and priests purchased the field where he died for thirty pieces of silver. But, according to the book of Acts, Judas fell headfirst in a field that he had acquired and his intestines burst out. So which is it? And what does this mean for how we read the New Testament? Today, in the Three Chords segment of the program, Dr. Robert Plummer joins Timothy and Garrick to discuss the fate of Judas Iscariot. In the Truth segment, your intrepid cohosts discuss a Christian theology of death by examining “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by the Blue Öyster Cult--which ends up leading to discussions about the Milford Oyster Festival and whether Eddie Money is still alive. This week’s question from the Infinity Gauntlet places the two greatest comic-book movie trilogies ever—DC’s Dark Knight trilogy and MCU’s Captain America trilogy—in the ring to face each other in a battle to the death. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Robert Plummer, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and host of the Daily Dose of Greek screencast. He is the author or editor of several books, including Going Deeper with New Testament Greek (B&H, 2016) and 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible (Kregel, 2010). Follow Dr. Plummer on Twitter at @dailygreek.

Questions to Discuss

1. According to Matthew 27, Judas hanged himself; according to Acts 1, he fell headfirst and his intestines burst out. How did Judas actually die, by falling or by hanging?

2. According to Matthew, it was the priests who bought the field where Judas bought the farm; according to Acts, Judas bought it himself. Who actually purchased the Field of Blood?

3. There is another account of the death of Judas that comes from an individual named Papias, who was a leader in the second-century. According to his account, Judas was cut down after trying to hang himself, and he was later run over by a wagon. Should these words from Papias have any impact on the way we approach this apparent discrepancy?

Links to Click

If you want to dig deeper into the historical integrity of the New Testament, one great place to start is In Defense of the Bible, edited by Terry Wilder and Steven Cowan. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

B&H Academic

40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible: book by Robert Plummer

Daily Dose of Greek: resource by Robert Plummer

Remember Death: book by Matthew McCullough

The Pornography of Death: article by Matthew McCullough

Swimming in a Sea of Death: book by David Rieff

The Myth of Sisyphus: novel by Albert Camus

Unanswered Prayers and the Love of God: article by Eduardo Echeverria

(Don't Fear) The Reaper: song by Blue Öyster Cult

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: song by Gordon Lightfoot

Black Sabbath: song by Black Sabbath

I Wanna Go Back: song by Eddie Money

Milford Oyster Festival: community event in Milford, Connecticut

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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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 the second half of 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).

The Earliest Christian Confession about the Resurrection + “Cat’s in the Cradle” (Harry Chapin)

Was Jesus really raised from the dead? Every aspect of the Christian faith hinges on this single claim. On this Holy Week episode of Three Chords and the Truth, New Testament scholar Dr. Thomas Schreiner joins Garrick and Timothy to talk about what Paul says about the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Then, in the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy review a song that’s almost always ascribed to the wrong artists. The dilemma drawn from the Infinity Gauntlet this week forces a painful choice between the Jedi Temple and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dr. Schreiner chooses an option that's completely different from Timothy's or Garrick's, which almost certainly means that Timothy and Garrick were wrong.

Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.

In this Episode

Thomas Schreiner, Ph.D., is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Professor of Biblical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as Associate Dean of the School of Theology. Dr. Schreiner is the author or editor of many books including, Romans (Baker: 2018); The Race Set Before Us (IVP Academic: 2001); and Spiritual Gifts (B&H: 2018). Follow Dr. Schreiner on Twitter at @DrTomSchreiner

Questions to Discuss

1. What is the context of 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, one of the earliest surviving Christian confessions about the resurrection?

2. What are the specific implications of the words "passed on" and "received" in 1 Corinthians 15:3?

3. What would you say to someone who is struggling to believe that Jesus was actually raised from the dead?

Links to Click

If you want to dig deeper into the historical integrity of the New Testament, one great place to start is In Defense of the Bible, edited by Terry Wilder and Steven Cowan. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com

* B&H Academic

* 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary: book by Thomas Schreiner

* Interpreting the Pauline Epistles: book by Thomas Schreiner

* Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: book by Thomas Schreiner

* Interview with Thomas R. Schreiner: an author interview from Books At a Glance

* Cars, Coffee, Theology 1:1: dialogue between Thomas Schreiner and Jonathan Pennington

* Father and Son: song by Cat Stevens

* Cat's In the Cradle: song by Ugly Kid Joe

* Cat's In the Cradle: song by Harry Chapin

* It'll Come Back: song by Red Sovine

* 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 Is

Support 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 Credits

Three 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 the second half of 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). 

Historical Evidence for Supernatural Signs at the Death of Jesus + “American Pie” (Don McLean)

According to the New Testament Gospels, the death of Jesus was accompanied by all sorts of signs and wonders, including supernatural happenings connected with the temple in Jerusalem. But is there any evidence outside the New Testament that any of these events really happened? As it turns out, there could be. That’s what Garrick and Timothy explore in this episode with renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Rob Plummer. In the second half, Garrick and Timothy go looking for God’s truth in Don McLean’s classic song “American Pie.”

In this Episode

Robert Plummer, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and host of the Daily Dose of Greek screencast. He is the author or editor of several books, including Going Deeper with New Testament Greek (B&H, 2016) and 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible (Kregel, 2010). Follow Dr. Plummer on Twitter at @dailygreek.

Questions to Discuss

1. When it comes to the events that accompanied the death of Jesus, the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—claim that the sun was darkened, the earth shook, and the veil in the temple was torn in two. What was this curtain and why can’t we go see it today?

2. Is there any evidence in Jewish rabbinic writings that any of these miraculous events really happened?

3. What about other sources outside the New Testament? Do they say anything about extraordinary events around the time of the death of Jesus?

Links to Click

B&H Academic

Josephus: The Essential Works: book by Josephus

NIV Archaeological Study Bible: study Bible by Zondervan

Something Awry in the Temple?: article by Robert Plummer

The Veil of the Temple in History and Legend: article by Daniel Gurtner

American Pie: song by Don McLean

That’ll Be the Day: song by Buddy Holly

'American Pie' Lyrics Sell for $1.2 Million: news by CNN

Under My Thumb: song by The Rolling Stones at Altamont '69

ThreeChordsApologetics.com

How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is

Support 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 Podcasts / 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 Credits

Three 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 the second half of 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).

Jesus, Superman, Captain America, and Other Resurrected Superheroes + “The Great American Novel” (Larry Norman)

So what do Superman, Captain America, Professor X, and Jesus Christ all have in common? According to the canonical accounts of their lives, each one has been raised from the dead. So why is it that, even in fiction, humans yearn for heroes who die and return to life? That’s one of the questions that apologist and bestselling author Timothy Paul Jones explores in this episode with cohost Garrick Bailey and guest Todd Miles. In the second half, Garrick and Timothy go digging for God’s truth in the music of Larry Norman, the father of Christian rock--and, as it turns out, someone that Garrick had never even heard about until recently. This week's dilemma from the Infinity Gauntlet leads to a deadly duel between Jedi Master Yoda and Gandalf the White.

In this Episode

Todd Miles, Ph.D. is professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of the B&H Academic titles Superheroes Can’t Save You (2018) and A God of Many Understandings? (2010).

Questions to Discuss

1. In Infinity War, Rocket Raccoon asks Thor about his brother Loki who has just died. Thor’s reply is, “Well, he’s been dead before” which is a reminder of how frequently death is temporary in comic-book universes. What are some of the best comic-book resurrection stories?

2. Why is there a recurrent theme of sacrifice, death, and resurrection in the comic books?

3. How might the rise of secularity reshape superhero stories now and in the future?

Links to Click

B&H Academic

Superheroes Can’t Save You: book by Todd Miles

A God of Many Understandings?: book by Todd Miles

The Gospel According to Superheroes: book with foreword by Stan Lee (Google Preview)

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: book by Greg Thornbury

The Great American Novel: song by Larry Norman

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: song by Larry Norman

Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?: song by Larry Norman

Jesus Sound Explosion: vinyl LP recorded at Explo '72

ThreeChordsApologetics.com

How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is

Support 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 Podcasts / 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 Credits

Three 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 the second half of 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).

Is There Enough Historical Evidence to Believe Jesus Was Raised from the Dead? + “Spirit in the Sky” (Norman Greenbaum)

Atheist Richard Dawkins has defined faith as “a state of mind that leads people to believe something—it doesn’t matter what—in the total absence of supporting evidence.” But is the evidence for Christian faith really that weak? On this week's episode of Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast, Timothy and Garrick explore historical evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ; then, in the second half of the show, they take a look at the theology of “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. This week's question from the Infinity Gauntlet pits J.K. Rowling's Elder Wand in a battle to the death against J.R.R.Tolkien's One Ring.

What Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode about Historical Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?

1. How is it that Richard Dawkins can claim there is a “total absence of supporting evidence” for faith?

2. What are some of the ways that historians determine what claims about the past are most plausible?

3. What are the results when we apply these approaches to historical evidence that relates to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?

What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper into apologetics, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com 

* N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God

* Michael R. Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus

* The Bible Project, "Heaven and Earth"

* Jonathan T. Pennington, Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew

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/

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

So what do Superman, Captain America, Professor X, and Jesus Christ all have in common? According to the canonical accounts of their lives, each one has been raised from the dead. So why is it that, even in fiction, humans yearn for heroes who die and return to life? In the next episode, Timothy explores these questions with cohost Garrick Bailey and Western Seminary professor Todd Miles. In the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy go digging for God’s truth in the music of Larry Norman, the father of Christian rock. This week's dilemma from the Infinity Gauntlet leads to a deadly duel between Jedi Master Yoda and Gandalf the White.

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod. If you want to subscribe to the podcast, click here. If you’re interested in supporting this podcast, in suggesting future songs or topics, or in ordering Three Chords and the Truth merchandise, visit https://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth.

What Else Do You Need to Know?

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. Music identified as having been composed by Timothy Paul Jones may not be reproduced, used, adapted, or performed in any other context without his express written permission, except for the purposes of review with acknowledgment of the source. Brief excerpts of music played in the second half of 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" (17 U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use). 

The Cross and the Lynching Tree + “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Jimi Hendrix)

So what happened to the body of Jesus after his death on the cross? According to the New Testament Gospels, his body was buried in a tomb and raised on the third day. And yet, according to some scholars, the body of Jesus was abandoned and consumed by wild beasts. How can we know that Jesus was actually buried? What was the meaning of the cross in the ancient world? And what does this mean for the ways that Christians understand the crucifixion today?

In the second half, Timothy and Garrick go searching for truth in a song that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock and discover a yearning for justice that God has placed in every human heart. Then, we'll reach inside the Infinity Gauntlet and pit Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters against Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

What Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode?

1. How did people in the ancient world perceive the practice of crucifixion?

2. Pastors and Bible teachers sometimes compare crucifixion in the ancient world to the electric chair today. What works in this analogy and what doesn’t?

3. According to the New Testament Gospels, the body of Jesus was buried in a tomb and raised on the third day. And yet, John Dominic Crossan and some other scholars claim that the body of Jesus was left on the cross or thrown in a communal grave to be consumed by animals. What is the evidence for Crossan's claim?

4. How do the perceptions and practices of crucifixion in the ancient world support what we read in the New Testament Gospels?

What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com 

* James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree. For an evenhanded review of the strengths of this book and of the problems with Cone's understanding of the death of Christ in relation to the gospel, see "When He Died Upon the Tree" by Bruce Fields.

* Martin Hengel, Crucifixion.

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/

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

Atheist Richard Dawkins has defined faith as “a state of mind that leads people to believe something—it doesn’t matter what—in the total absence of supporting evidence.” But is the evidence for Christian faith really that weak? In the next episode, Timothy and Garrick explore historical evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ; then, in the second half of the show, they take a look at the theology of “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum.

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod. If you want to subscribe to the podcast, click here. If you’re interested in supporting this podcast, in suggesting future songs or topics, or in ordering Three Chords and the Truth merchandise, visit https://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth.

What Else Do You Need to Know?

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. Music identified as having been composed by Timothy Paul Jones may not be reproduced, used, adapted, or performed in any other context without his express written permission, except for the purposes of review with acknowledgment of the source. Brief excerpts of music played in the second half of 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" (17 U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use). 

Truth and Testimony in the New Testament Gospels + “All Along the Watchtower” (Jimi Hendrix)

According to bestselling biblical scholar Bart Ehrman, the New Testament Gospels “were not written … by people who were eyewitnesses, but by people living later.” Many of the stories about Jesus were—as Ehrman sees it—fabricated in the context of early Christian communities. Ehrman goes on to say that “sometimes Christian apologists say there are only three options to who Jesus was: a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. But there could be a fourth option—legend.” And legend is the possibility for which Ehrman argues.

But is it true that the circulation of stories by word of mouth necessarily results in changes that turn testimony into legend?

That’s the dilemma that Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey discuss with New Testament scholar Jonathan Pennington on the Three Chords segment of the show.

Then, in the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy go looking for God’s truth in Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” This week’s encounter with the ever-dangerous Infinity Gauntlet pits Thanos with the Infinity Stones against Sauron with the One Ring.

What Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode?

1. What is eyewitness testimony and why does it matter to Christians?

2. How much does it really matter whether any of the claims in the Gospels can be traced back to eyewitness testimonies of truth?

3. According to Richard Bauckham, the Jesus traditions that we find in the New Testament Gospels originated with known and named witnesses that Christians in the first century knew personally. How should this shape the way that we read and receive the Gospels?

What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com 

* Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.

* Armin Baum, “Content and Form,” Journal of Biblical Literature.

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/

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

What happened to the body of Jesus after his death on the cross? How do we know that Jesus was actually buried? Timothy and Garrick explore these questions in the first half of the program. In the second half, they search for truth in a song that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock and discover a yearning for justice that God has placed in every human heart that leads us to protest injustice. Then, they reach inside the Infinity Gauntlet and pit Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters against Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod.

If you want to subscribe to the podcast, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/three-chords-and-the-truth-the-apologetics-podcast/id1454538161?mt=2&i=1000432573465.

If you’re interested in supporting this podcast, in suggesting future songs or topics, or in ordering Three Chords and the Truth merchandise, visit https://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth.

What Else Do You Need to Know?

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. 

Music identified as having been composed by Timothy Paul Jones may not be reproduced, used, adapted, or performed in any other context without his express written permission, except for the purposes of review with acknowledgment of the source.

Brief excerpts of music played in the second half of 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” (17 U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).

God, Humanity, and Gender in Captain Marvel + “All Along the Watchtower” (Bob Dylan)

At first, Vers seems like an ordinary alien with an extraordinary power. But, in her dreams, she remembers that she was once something different---and perhaps even something greater. That's how Captain Marvel, the newest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins. In this special episode of Three Chords and the Truth, Garrick and Timothy take a look at Captain Marvel and the larger metanarrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then, in the second half, Garrick reveals his wrong opinions about Bob Dylan as he and Timothy examine the song that inspired this podcast in the first place, "All Along the Watchtower." This week, the Infinity Gauntlet throws the webslinging wonder Peter Parker into the ring against the mighty Shazam.

What Apologetics Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode?

1. What is the view of God in Captain Marvel?

2. What view of humanity does the movie portray?

3. What is the overarching metanarrative of the Bible?

 What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com 

* Superheroes Can't Save You by Todd Miles

* ”Repressive Tolerance” by Herbert Marcuse. This primary-source document will help you to understand the ideology that accompanied the rise of the New Left.

If you are interested in earning a master's degree online or on campus that will equip you with the most comprehensive training available anywhere, go to http://www.sbts.edu/bgs/degree-programs/mdiv/apologetics/

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

In the Three Chords segment, Timothy and Garrick discuss with New Testament scholar Jonathan Pennington on the nature of the New Testament Gospels. In the second half of the program, Garrick and Timothy go looking for God's truth in Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod

Subscribe to the podcast here.

Visit https://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth if you’re interested in supporting this podcast financially, suggesting future songs or topics, or ordering Three Chords and the Truth merchandise.

What Is Apologetics? + “Age of Aquarius” (Fifth Dimension)

What is “apologetics” and why should Christians care about this topic at all? That’s the issue that bestselling author Timothy Paul Jones and theologian Garrick Bailey tackle in this episode of Three Chords and the Truth—but that’s not all! No episode is ever complete until we draw a mystery question from the Infinity Gauntlet and talk about the the history of rock and roll. This week, the mystery question pits DC against Marvel, and we go searching for divine truth in an almost-forgotten song entitled “The Age of Aquarius” and in the early decades of rock and roll.

What Apologetics Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode?

1. What is apologetics?

2. What will look different in a church when the people begin to value apologetics?

3. Is it possible for a church to focus so much on apologetics that apologetics becomes a distraction from the gospel?

What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com 

* Urban Apologetics by Chris Brooks

* Apologetics at the Cross by Mark Allen and Josh Chatraw

If you are interested in earning a master's degree online or on campus that will equip you with the most comprehensive training available anywhere, go to http://www.sbts.edu/bgs/degree-programs/mdiv/apologetics/

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

In the Three Chords segment, Timothy and Garrick take a look at Captain Marvel and the larger metanarrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then, in the second half, Garrick reveals his wrong opinions about Bob Dylan as he and Timothy examine the song that inspired this podcast in the first place, "All Along the Watchtower."

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod

Subscribe to the podcast at http://ThreeChordsApologetics.PodBean.com

If you want to support the podcast, recommend songs for the podcast, or receive exclusive Three Chords and the Truth merchandise, go to http://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth

Why Apologetics Matters + “God Gave Rock and Roll to You” (KISS)

Welcome to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast, the new podcast that brings together apologetics, theology, and the history of rock and roll. In the Three Chords segment of this week’s program, Garrick Bailey and I talk about why apologetics matters to us; then, in the Truth segment, we learn about the doctrine of common grace as we consider Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey and the classic hit by Argent and KISS “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.” 

What Apologetics Questions Do We Discuss in this Episode?

1. Why does apologetics matter?

2. What are the primary apologetics dilemmas that every believer must face as their faith matures?

3. What is the doctrine of common grace?

4. How does the doctrine of common grace strengthen and support apologetics?

What Resources Do We Recommend?

If you want to dig deeper into apologetics, one great place to start is Reasons for Our Hope by H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. To download a sample chapter, visit http://www.bhacademic.com. A special thank you to B&H Academic for their support.

* Urban Apologetics by Chris Brooks

* Apologetics at the Cross by Mark Allen and Josh Chatraw

What Are We Discussing in the Next Episode?

In the Three Chords segment, Timothy and Garrick explore the question, "What is apologetics?" Then, in the Truth segment, they go digging for divine truth in "Age of Aquarius" and the early history of rock and roll. 

Do You Have Any Questions?

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future episode, ask us on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ApologeticsPod

Subscribe to the podcast at http://ThreeChordsApologetics.PodBean.com

If you want to support the podcast, recommend songs for the podcast, or receive exclusive Three Chords and the Truth merchandise, go to http://www.patreon.com/ThreeChordsandtheTruth

Three Chords and the Truth Trailer

Welcome to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast! In each episode of this engaging new podcast, bestselling apologetics author Timothy Paul Jones joins with cohost Garrick Bailey and top biblical scholars to wrestle with questions related to evidence for the truth of Christianity. Then, in the second half of the show, Garrick and Timothy take a theological look at a classic hit from the history of American rock and roll.