Bellator Christi Podcast

Steven Spielberg's movie "Disclosure Day" claimed that if sentient alien life forms were ever discovered, then Christianity and the major religions of the world would either be disproved or would need major revisions. But is this true? In this episode, Dr. Brian Chilton argues that the necessity of God's existence as the Creator of everything, the image of God found in humanity,...

The latest episode of the Bellator Christi Podcast is now available on YouTube. I discuss the dangers of the occult, list some biblical prohibitions against the practice, and show that the occult ultimately places our faith in something other than God. The occult leads to problems and angst, whereas our faith in God leads to peace and trust in God's sovereign plan for our lives. To see the You...

Dr. Brian Chilton discusses near-death experiences, better known as NDES. What are NDEs? What evidence do we have for NDEs? Does the Bible support NDEs? If a person does not have an NDE, does that contradict the experiences of others? Additionally, what precautions should we take with NDEs?

In Genesis 3, we are told of a talking serpent. Was the serpent really a talking animal, or what is something else? Dr. Brian Chilton argues that the event was historical, but that the entity that is called the talking serpent was someone much more sinister. Join us for our October series as we dive into spiritual beings and paranormal topics.

In this episode, Dr. Brian Chilton answers a question posed to Bellator Christi. The questioner wants to know, "Is God personal? Do we have evidence that God is personal? And why would God care about us in the first place?" Dr. Chilton offers three reasons why we can believe that God is personal and suggests that God cares for us because of His love and our ability to love.

Some of our listeners have asked, "Do you have to attend church to be saved? If not, is church attendance important? How do you know it's time to change churches?" All these questions are addressed from a thoroughly biblical perspective, as we discuss salvation, the role of fellowship, and how to assess when it's time to leave your church.

Dr. Chilton discusses a test for orthodoxy that was first coined by the late Dr. Norman Geisler. The test, called the 12345 Standards of Orthodoxy, shows that the authority of orthodoxy is built on 1 Bible, 2 Testaments, 3 creeds, in 4 councils, over the first 5 centuries.

Dr. Brian Chilton interviews author Jason Oakes about his latest book "Why Does My Bible Say . . . ?: A Translational Commentary on Paul's Letter to Philemon." They discuss translation issues, the differences between the dynamic and formal equivalence styles, and discuss the church's role in educating people on the importance of literacy. Be sure to order your copy of "Why D...

This season, Dr. Chilton answers questions listeners have submitted to Bellator Christi. Are all worldviews the same? Furthermore, are all worldviews true? Dr. Chilton discusses various worldviews before looking at three fundamental laws of logic and comparing each worldview to them. In the end, he shares why the Christian faith makes the best sense of the good, the true, and the beautiful.

Dr. Brian Chilton discusses the three Biblical grounds for divorce, all of which begin with the letter A. What are the three A's, and how is such a case built? Listen in to find out.

Some people struggle to believe in God because God cannot be observed with the human eyes. This apologetic problem is often called the hiddenness of God. However, Dr. Brian Chilton offers three reasons to believe in God's existence, even though we cannot see him. Dr. Chilton offers ontological and epistemological reasons for believing in God, along with a relational matter that reveals why God...

This episode concludes what has been a wild and tumultuous season. The 14th episode discusses the biblical theologies of the epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude. It also covers the theology of the book of Revelation.

Dr. Brian Chilton discusses three major themes in the book of Hebrews. He also mentions his latest book, Stewarding AI: Faithfully Using Creation Resources.

Do we know the date of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection? Dr. Chilton explains that we have good, solid reasons for accepting a specific date for both Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. He also notes that these dates pan out quite interestingly for 2026. Listen to discover much more about the date of the original Good Friday and Easter.

1.      What was Paul’s background? 2.      What was Paul’s Christology? 3.      How did Paul view salvation and justification? 4.      How does Paul view the law and grace? 5.      Did Paul’s theology conflict with James's? 6.      What was Paul’s focus on the Gentiles? Brian G. Chilton, M.Div., Ph. D. Dr. Brian G. Chilton (PhD, Liberty University) is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministrie...

1) What is the central theme of Acts? 2) How does Acts continue the story of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke? 3) Why is the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost considered a turning point in salvation history? 4) How does Acts balance divine sovereignty and human freedom? 5) What role does the Holy Spirit play in the empowering of the apostles and the shaping of the church? 6) How does the Holy Spir...

As we consider the theology of the Bible, perhaps no other field is as important as the theology of Jesus Himself. What did Jesus teach concerning God and His kingdom? In this episode, we will cover the following three questions. 1) What do we know historically about Jesus of Nazareth? 2) What were the main themes of Jesus's message? 3) Why do we have 4 Gospels, and who wrote them? Happy Thank...

1.      What did “return” mean to the Jewish peopleafter exile—physically, spiritually, and communally? 2.     How did the rebuilding of the Temple shapeexpectations of divine presence and national identity? 3.     In what ways did prophetic silence feel likeabandonment—or preparation? 4.     How did the memory of exile influence thelonging for a Messiah? 5.     How did the rise and fall of empire...

Questions for Podcast 1. How does Lamentationsfunction as a theological response to the Babylonian Exile? 2. What does the Exile reveal about God’s covenantal justice and mercy? 3. How does the destruction of Jerusalem reshape Israel’s understanding of God’s presence and promises? 4. In what ways does Lamentations echo Deuteronomic theology (“blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience”)? 5....

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Amy Downey. Dr. Downey is one of the Vice Presidents of Bellator Christi and the President and Founder of Tzedakah Ministries. To learn more about Tzedakah Ministries, go to tzedakahministries.org. • What made the Davidic Covenant distinct from previous biblical covenants? • How did Israel’s longing for a king reflect deeper theological or existential desires?...

The Theology of Joshua Divine presence and leadership (Josh. 1:5; 3:7) Covenant renewal and obedience (Josh. 1:7-8; 8:30-35;24). Divine judgment (Josh. 6:1-2) Other themes: leadership, Law, covenantal identity, divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and God's faithfulness The Theology of Judges Covenantal faithfulness vs. idolatry (Judg. 2:10-12) Cycle of sin and deliverance God's amazi...

The Theology of Leviticus 1. Holiness 2. Sacrifices and worship 3. Priesthood 4. God's Tabernacle The Theology of Deuteronomy 1. The Love of God 2. Yahweh is the Only True God 3. The Centralization of Worship 4. Walking in Divine Obedience For more, visit BellatorChristi.com at https://bellatorchristi.com .

1.      What is the Exodus motif, and why does it recurso frequently throughout the pages of Scripture? 2.      How does the Exodus story function as aframework for redemption, both historically and theologically? 3. How does God’s self-revelation in the burning bush of Exodus reveal divine compassion and action? 4.      What is the significance of God giving the Lawat Sinai in the shaping of Isra...

S9E2 Creation and Covenant (Gen. 1-3) w. Tony Williams 1) Define what we mean by a covenant. 2) In the opening chapters of Genesis, we are told about God’s involvement with creation. What do these chapters teach us concerning God’s creation and God’s creative work? 3) In these opening chapters, we are also told about the Fall. What is the Fall, and what does it mean for humanity? 4) Some have clai...

S9E1 What is Biblical Theology? 1.      What is biblical theology? 2.      How does biblical theology differ fromsystematic theology? 3.      How does biblical theology differ fromhistorical theology? 4.      Describe the story-shaped nature of Scripture. 5.      Christ is at the epicenter of the grand biblicalnarrative. 6.      What are some key themes throughout biblicaltheological study? 7.    ...