Is Jesus Like Superman?

We answer this question by answering the following:

Who is Superman?

Is Superman or Clark Kent human?

What is Gnosticism and Docetism?

What are three flavors of Docetism?

1. The Phantom theory
2. The Alien Body theory
3. The Divine Blood theory

What are problems with Docetism?

1. It denies substitutionary atonement
2. It denies the eschatology of Jesus' reign on earth

What are some verses against Docetism?

Sources Cited:

The Gnostic Society Library, "The Acts of John."

Phillip R. Johnson, "What's All the Controversy About John MacArthur and the Blood of Christ?" romans45.org, 2000.

Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 9:4

Luke 11:17

Galatians 3:16

Hebrews 2:16

Acts 2:29-30

Romans 1:3

2 Timothy 2:8

Hebrews 10:4-6

Isaiah 53:5

1 Peter 3:18

Romans 5:6

Hebrews 9:28

Luke 1:32

1 John 4:2-3

2 John 1:7

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Is Jesus Like Batman

We answer this question by answering the following:

Who is Batman?

What are things that Jesus and Batman somewhat have in common?

Is Batman divine or human?

Does he have any superpowers?

What did the Ebionites believe about Jesus?

What do the Socinians believe about Jesus?

Why does Jesus have to be fully divine as well as fully human?

What are problems with Ebionism/Socinianism?

1. A great human teacher cannot be our substitute (Gal 4:1-5).
2. A human who is merely subject to the law cannot be our substitute (Mat 12:8; 9:6).
3. A human-only Jesus cannot bear the penalty for the sins and capital offenses of many people (Lev 24:19-21; Joh 1:29; 1Pe 2:24; Heb 9:28; 2Co 5:21)

What are some verses against Ebionism/Socinianism?

1. Jesus is called "God" (Joh 20:28-29 c.f. Psa 35:23; Psa 45:6 c.f. Psa 145:13 and Heb 1:8)
2. Jesus is ascribed the attributes of God (Col 2:9; Psa 102:24-27 c.f. Heb 1:10-12; Isa 44:6 c.f. Rev 1:17-18)
3. Jesus is worshiped as God (Isa 45:12-23 c.f. Php 2:10; Rev 4:10-11, 5:12-14 c.f. Rev 19:10, 22:8-9)

Sources Consulted:

"What is Ebionism?" Got Questions Ministries.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., "What is Ebionism?" Third Millennium Ministries.

"Ebionites," Wikipedia.org.

"Socinianism," Wikipedia.org.

Other Scriptures Referenced:

Mathew 22:46

Mark 12:34

Luke 20:40

Matthew 8:20

Luke 9:58

Luke 4:30

John 8:59

John 10:39

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Is Jesus Like Ant-Man?

We answer this question by answering the following:

Who is Ant-Man?

What are things that Jesus and Ant-Man seem to have in common?

How does Ant-Man's different sizes reflect the way people view the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

What is Modalism?

Who was Sabellius?

How does Oneness Pentecostalism continue modalism today?

How does modalism differ from the doctrine of the Trinity?

What are problems with modalism/Sabellianism/Oneness?

1. If Jesus is not distinct from the Father, to whom was he praying?
2. If Jesus is not distinct from the Father, to whom did he submit?
3. If we have a modalist understanding of Jesus, what are two versions of this error? (a.) Jesus is just God the Father animating a human body. He could not be our substitute if he were putting on a show and not be fully human. (b.) Jesus is actually a fully distinct human being possessed by God. This is not an incarnation. He could not be our substitute because God merely drove a human to die.

What are some verses against modalism/Sabellianism/Oneness?

1. The Father and Son are co-existent (Mat 3:16-17; Joh 17:3-5)
2. The Father and Son are both divine (Joh 5:17-23)
3. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perform different roles at the same time (Joh 16:7; Heb 1:3)
4. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit drive eschatology (Act 2:32-36)

Sources Consulted:

"Sabellianism," Wikipedia.org.

"Sabellius," Wikipedia.org.

"The Roman Pontifex Maximus," Ministry Magazine, 1943.

"The Catholic Encyclopedia." ReligionFacts.com. 22 Nov. 2016. Web. Accessed 11 Jan. 2021. <www.religionfacts.com/library/catholic-encyclopedia>

Dr. Bob Thiel, "Callistus of Rome," COGwriter.

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Is Jesus Like Thor?

We answer this question by answering the following:

Who is Thor?

What are things that Jesus and Thor seem to have in common?

What does it mean for Jesus to be the "Son of God"?

What is Arianism and Subordinationism?

This episode is part 1 of answering this question because there is a lot of history to cover. This episode discusses the following:

1. The major Christian persecutions from the first through the fourth centuries
2. The rise of Constantine as emperor of the whole Roman empire
3. Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
4. The conflict between team Alexander and team Arius over Christology in Alexandria, Egypt
5. Arius' teachings in his poem Thalia.
6. Constantine's letter to Alexander and Arius to stop arguing
7. The start of the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

Scriptures Referenced:

John 16:2

John 3:16

1 Corinthians 13:8,13

Matthew 11:27

John 6:46

John 10:15

John 14:9

Hebrews 1:3

Sources Cited:

Scott Smith, "Is the Thor Myth Based on Jesus?"

Wisconsin Lutheran College, "Arius - Thalia," "Fourth Century Christianity."

Ibid., "Documents of the Early Arian Controversy – Emperor Constantine to Alexander of Alexandria and Arius," "Fourth Century Christianity."

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Is Jesus Like Thor?

Is He a created Son of God Who had a beginning and is a separate lesser being from the Father?

This episode covers the following aspects of history:

1. The council of Nicea in 325 A.D. (what it wasn't about and what it was about)
2. Athanasius early life and role as deacon at the Council
3. The return and death of Arius
4. The rise of semi-Arianism against the Nicene faith
5. Constantine's death and the divided empire under his three sons and nephew
6. Athanasius' five exiles

Sources Cited:

Christian History Institute, "#109: Council of Nicea"

Wisconsin Lutheran College, "Emperor Constantine to Arius," "Fourth Century Christianity."

Ibid., "Arius and Euzoius to the Emperor Constantine."

Ibid., "Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicaea to a later council of Nicaea."

Ibid., "Fragment of a letter from Emperor Constantine to Alexander of Alexandria."

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Is Jesus Like Iron Man?

How are Jesus and Iron Man (Tony Stark) similar?

1. They are both fully human.
2. They are both highly intelligent.
3. They both sacrificed the wealth they have to save the world.

How are Jesus and Iron Man different?

1. Iron Man is a human person driving a super ("divine") suit.
2. Jesus is a divine person driving a human suit...or, wait...is that right?

Who was Apollinaris the Younger and what is Apollinarianism?

1. Apollinaris let his philosophy define his theology.
2. Apollinaris fought Arianism so hard that he sacrificed the full humanity of Jesus.
3. He basically believed that Jesus was "God in a bod"--that Jesus replaced the rational mind of his human nature with His own divine Logos.

Who were the Cappadocian fathers?

1. Basil of Caesarea
2. Gregory of Nyssa
3. Gregory of Nazianzus

How did Gregory of Nazianzus argue against Apollinarianism?

1. "What is not assumed is not healed"
2. Assuming a human rational soul does not subject Jesus to corruption any more than a body would.
3. Jesus is not "man" or the "Son of Man" if He didn't take on the whole human nature.

Are there problems with apologist William Lane Craig's "neo-Apollinarianism"?

Sources Cited:

Early Church Texts, "Gregory of Nazianzus - Critique of Apollinarius and Apollinarianism"

Reasonable Faith, "Does Dr. Craig Have an Orthodox Christology?"

Scriptures Referenced:

2 Corinthians 8:9

Hebrews 2:6-9, 17

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Is Jesus Like the Green Lantern?

Who is the Green Lantern?

1. There are 7200 Green Lanterns in the intergalactic corps.
2. They each have a ring that gives them their power.
3. Hal Jordan was the first human being from earth to become a Green Lantern.
4. The 2011 DC film wasn't successful.

What is Adoptionism (or Dynamic Monarchianism)?

1. Monarchianism is unitarianism--only one God Who is only one Person
2. Dynamic monarchianism allows for this divinity to change (adopt a Son).
3. Modalistic monarchianism is God manifesting in three modes.
4. Adoptionism teaches that Jesus became divine either at his baptism

Who were the early adoptionist teachers?

1. Theodotus the tanner of Byzantium (late 100's) taught that Jesus became the Christ at his baptism and became divine at his resurrection.
2. Paul of Samosata (bishop from 260-268) taught that Jesus had God indwell him from his baptism.

Questions for adoptionism:

1. Did man become the Son of God, or did the Son of God become man? (John 1:1,14; 8:58)
2. Was the Son sent to earth or adopted from the earth? (Heb 2:14; 1Jn 4:9)
3. Doesn't this deny monotheism and worship of one God? (Isa 43:10; 45:21-23; Phi 2:6-11)

What is the main problem with adoptionism?

It denies substitutionary atonement by denying the problem of original sin. (Rom 5:12; Heb 2:14; 4:15)

Sources Cited:

DC Universe Infinite, "Team Green Lantern Corps"

Scriptures Referenced:

John 1:1

John 1:14

John 8:58

Hebrews 2:14

1 John 4:9

Isaiah 43:10

Isaiah 45:21-23

Philippians 2:6-11

Romans 5:12

Hebrews 4:15

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Is Jesus Like the Incredible Hulk?

Who is the Incredible Hulk?

1. The first issue was in 1962.
2. The Incredible Hulk comics underwent quite a few changes and series.
3. Dr, Banner was exposed to gamma radiation that released the Hulk whenever he gets angry.

How is Jesus like the Incredible Hulk?

1. Both Dr. Banner and Jesus are intelligent humans.
2. Both represent two natures: divine and human.

How is Jesus not like the Incredible Hulk?

1. Dr. Banner and the Incredible Hulk are different persons.
2. Two persons share the one body.
3. This makes Dr. Banner essentially schizophrenic.
4. Jesus is not two persons. He is one person with two natures.

What is Nestorianism?

1. Nestorius was bishop of Constantinople from 428-431.
2. His rival, Cyril of Alexandria, believed Nestorius taught that Jesus was two persons: the human and the Logos.
3. The Council of Ephesus in 431 condemned Nestorius for teaching heresy.
4. Many of Nestorius' followers had to split and became the Assyrian Church of the East.
5. Nestorius may not have taught the heresy for which he was accused.
6. Nestorianism still remains a problem, teaching that Jesus is like the Incredible Hulk.

What is the main problem with Nestorianism?

1. It denies substitutionary atonement by separating the divine Son of God from the atonement.
2. The communicatio idiomata is clear in Scripture (1Co 2:7-8; Act 20:28; Heb 1:3)

Sources Cited:

Wikipedia, "Nestorius"

The UnOfficial Nestorian Church WebSite

Scriptures Referenced:

1 Corinthians 2:7-8

Acts 20:28

Hebrews 1:3

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This is part 1 of 2 of "Is Jesus Like Captain America?"

Who is Captain America?

1. Comic book history and story
2. Some mention of the Marvel movies
3. An honorable mention of Chris Hohnholz and his "Cap" outfit

What are Captain America's superpowers?

How are Jesus and Captain America similar?

1. They are both human and "divine."
2. They are both an individual person.

How are Jesus and Captain America different?

1. Jesus divinity and humanity are two distinct natures.
2. Captain America has a single nature that has humanity and divinity mixed together.

What is Eutychianism?

1. Eutyches was head of a monastery in Constantinople.
2. Eutyches taught that Jesus had one nature as a product of humanity and divinity.
3. Eusebius of Doryleum accused him of heresy.
4. A synod in Constantinople found him guilty and deposed him.
5. A second Council of Ephesus was rigged to find him innocent and depose his accusers.
6. Leo of Rome called this the "robber council."

Sources Consulted:

Britannica, "Eutyches"

OrthodoxWiki.org, "Robber Council of Ephesus"

Wikipedia.org, "Captain America"

Honorable Mentions:

Voice of Reason Radio with Chris Hohnholz and Rich Story

"Dr. James White and His Creepy Elf Doll," episode from Voice of Reason Radio

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This is part 2 of 2 3 of "Is Jesus Like Captain America?"

We review the following:

1. Who is Captain America?
2. How are Jesus and Captain America similar?
3. How are Jesus and Captain America different?
4. What is Eutychianism?
5. What happened at the "robber council"?

Then, we answer these questions:

1. What was the Council of Chalcedon?
2. How does the Council of Chalcedon argue against papal primacy?
3. What did the Council of Chalcedon decree against prior heresies about Jesus?

Sources Consulted:

"Council of Chalcedon," Wikipedia.

"Chapter 6. Application of the First Note of a True Development—Preservation of Type," Newman Reader.

Richard Price and Michael Gaddis, eds., The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, vol. 1, (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2005).

Honorable Mentions:

Voice of Reason Radio with Chris Hohnholz and Rich Story

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This is part 3 of 3 of "Is Jesus Like Captain America?"

Why does Jesus have to be fully God and fully man to be our substitute?

Let's take a deep dive into Scripture to answer this question.

Scriptures Quoted:

Genesis 1:26

Galatians 4:4-5

Romans 3:19

1 Peter 3:18

John 1:1

John 1:14

John 8:58

Colossians 2:9

Romans 1:3-4

John 20:27-29

Philippians 2:6-7

Hebrews 2:16

Job 9:28-35

Honorable Mentions:

Voice of Reason Radio with Chris Hohnholz and Rich Story

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This is part 1 of 2 of "Is Jesus Like Doctor Octopus?"

Who is Doctor Octopus?

How are Jesus and Doctor Octopus similar?

1. They both seemingly have a distinct human and "divine" nature.
2. They are both a single person.

How are Jesus and Doctor Octopus different?

1. Doctor Octopus has only one active will: the will of the super arms.
2. Jesus has both an active human will and an active divine will.

Are there Scriptures that show the two wills of Jesus?

1. Jesus had the same divine will with the Father (Joh 5:17-23, see v.19)
2. Jesus had a distinct human will from the divine will of the Father (Mat 26:38-39; Heb 10:7-9)
3. God cannot be tempted, but man can be (Jas 1:13-16)
4. The Son was incarnate so that He can be tempted as a human (Heb 2:16-18)

Scriptures Cited:

John 5:17-23

Matthew 26:38-39

Hebrews 10:7-9

James 1:13-16

Hebrews 2:16-18

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This is part 2 of 2 3 of "Is Jesus Like Doctor Octopus?"

After a bit of review of our superheroes and the issues, we look at the intricate history of this conflict over monothelitism in the seventh century.

Monothelitism was political position that was intentionally constructed to reconcile the orthodox with the monophysites to unite and strengthen the Byzantine empire.

Some of the orthodox who opposed this compromise doctrine suffered tremendously for the truth. We owe them a debt of gratitude rather than let them slip through the cracks of history.

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This is part 3 of 3 of "Is Jesus Like Doctor Octopus?"

In this episode we cover two takeaways from the monothelite controversy that matter to us today:

1. Monothelitism compromises substitutionary atonement (Heb 2:14-18; 4:15; 5:7-9).
2. The barrage of anathemas against Pope Honorius I who was complicit in the error refutes the Roman Catholic dogma of papal infallibility.

Sources Consulted:

"Third Council of Constantinople," New Advent, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Philip Schaff, ed., "The Sentence Against the Monothelites." Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "Session XVI," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "The Definition of Faith," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "The Prosphoneticus to the Emperor," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "Letter of the Council to St. Agatho," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "The Imperial Edict Posted in the Third Atrium of the Great Church Near What is Called Dicymbala," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "The Canons of the Council in Trullo," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Ibid., "Excursus on the Condemnation of Pope Honorius," Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Accessed February 6, 2022.

Scriptures Cited:

Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15; 5:7-9

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