The Biblical Unitarian Podcast

In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus describes what he regards as the greatest commandment, and in doing so, he reinforces the famous Jewish monotheistic creed. This episode explores the interaction between Jesus and a friendly scribe that results in a reaffirmation of the crucial truth that the true God, Yahweh, is only one person.   In this video, I incorrectly state that Targum Ps. Jonathan regards the LORD...

This episode examines the writings, theology, christology, and pneumatology of the late second-century bishop, Melito of Sardis. Melito is often cited as proof of a very high christology, but did he believe in the doctrine of the Trinity? No, Melito is not a Trinitarian; instead, he appears to subscribe to the Two-Stage Logos Theology. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://yo...

This week's episode closely examines Isaiah 44:24, a passage renowned for defining the Creator as a single person who made all things without the aid of any conscious agent. After giving attention to the nine singular references in the Hebrew text of Isaiah 44:24, we discuss the qere/ketiv reading, the interpretation of the verse in Targum Isaiah, and the implications for whether Christ served as...

The results are in from the 2025 State of Theology survey, and things are not looking good for Trinitarians. This week's episode unpacks what the survey found about what Americans believe about the Trinity, the deity of the Son, and the personhood of the Holy Spirit. We also look at the fallout among evangelicals who are embarrassed by how few understand the specifics of the doctrine of the Trinit...

On our 400th episode, we continue our ongoing exploration of the earliest Trinitarian. This week, we study the massive work written by a Roman Christian named Hermas, titled "The Shepherd." After demonstrating that Hermas believed God to be one person (the Father alone), we attempt to make sense of the work's obscure Christology and Pneumatology. Spoiler alert: the Shepherd of Hermas does not teac...

Psalm 110:1 was the go-to passage in early Christianity to describe God, Christ, the exaltation, and the promised return to defeat evil. This episode explores Psalm 110:1 in order to see what it has to say about the early Church's understanding of the one true God and his human son, Jesus the Messiah. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/jegZnLoW9QI   Visit Amazon t...

Within the collection of Apostolic Fathers is the lesser-known work entitled The Epistle to Diognetus. This episode explores what this second-century AD letter has to say about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, particularly to see if the author was a trinitarian. We also explore the composite nature of this letter, noting that whoever wrote chapters 11-12 was probably a biblical unitarian. To view...

1 Timothy 2:5 is one of those simple and straightforward passages addressing the one God and the identity of Jesus Christ. This episode unpacks this verse, sets it in its context, and argues that the passage is best compatible with a biblical unitarian christology.  To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/LoCiNHw2Ykg   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of The AI Critical N...

Polycarp was the bishop in the Church at Smyrna, a friend of Ignatius, and an early Christian martyr. But did Polycarp believe and teach the doctrine of the Trinity? This episode examines Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians to discern his theology of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Spoiler alert: Polycarp was a unitarian.   To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/Qq...

It is often incorrectly assumed that the phrase "I am [he]" in Scripture is a claim to be Yahweh, the God of Israel. This presentation demonstrates that this phrase is a casual, self-declaration, and that it was uttered by God and by several human figures who were not claiming to be Yahweh himself. This topic was presented at the 2025 Unitarian Christian Alliance UK conference (July 2025).  To vie...

The writers of the New Testament gospels all cite Isaiah 40:3 ("Prepare the way of the LORD") to introduce the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. Some have argued that this quotation proves that the Gospels believe that Jesus is Yahweh. This week's episode will examine the merits and weaknesses of this interpretation, arguing that a more charitable reading is that the son of God functions a...

The authors of the New Testament not only distinguish Jesus and God, but they also portray the relationship between the two in terms of Jesus obeying God. This episode explores Christ's obedient relationship with Yahweh, the only true God, by looking at the teachings of Jesus, the theology of Paul, and the portrayal of the son of God in Hebrews. To view the video version of this episode, go here:...

This episode explores the christology of Hebrews, 1 Peter, and Revelation, particularly as these books illustrate Christ having faith in God. The portrayal results in an early Christian understanding that Jesus relied on God, he trusted in God, and he was faithful to God. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/x9ZYpxUocFc   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book, Wi...

The Apostle Paul taught his churches that Jesus, the human Messiah, demonstrated faithful obedience to God. This week's episode will explore the christological implications of the human Jesus' obedience and faithfulness in the books of Galatians, Romans, and Ephesians. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/uymWXt3k6uY   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book, Wisdo...

All four Gospel writers portray Jesus demonstrating faith in God. This week's episode will explore the christological implications of the human Jesus' obedience, his prayer life, and his confidence that God would vindicate him from death. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/TEHXvk7Fjy0   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book, Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of...

Is Colossians 1:15-20 about the original creation, the new creation, or both? In what way is Jesus involved in the creation of all things? This episode sets the christological hymn of Col 1:15-20 firmly in the context of Pauline theology, the argument of the Letter to the Colossians, and Jewish wisdom speculation before offering answers to these crucial questions. To view the video version of this...

Later scribes altered and expanded Bishop Ignatius' letter to the Romans to elevate its christology. This week's episode will examine four of the most controversial additions to Ignatius' authentic letter to see how later editors corrupted his views of the person of Jesus Christ. To view the video version of this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/GDN19SYTewU   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my...

Did you know that scribes altered and expanded Bishop Ignatius' letter to the Ephesians to over twice its original size? This week's episode will examine four of the most controversial additions to Ignatius' authentic letter to see how later editors corrupted his views of the local bishop and Christology.  Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John: https://a...

In what ways did later scribes modify and alter the authentic letter from Bishop Ignatius to Polycarp? This week's episode explores some of the additions, focusing on the development of the hierarchy of bishops, the elevated role of the bishop, and the description of Jesus as "our God Jesus Christ." We also examine what it might mean to refer to Christ as "God" in light of the principle of agency...

Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch in the first decade of the second century, making him one of the earliest Church Fathers. What did he believe about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit? These crucial questions are tackled after addressing the controversy surrounding which of his letters were authentically written by him. By drawing on the latest scholarship of Ignatian textual criticism, we can rec...

Recently, it has been argued that the double use of the title Lord in reference to Jesus ("Lord, Lord") is a claim to be the person of Adonai Yahweh. This week's episode examines such a claim, first by examining the Hebrew texts in question, then by exploring how the Gospel writers use the title "Lord" in different ways, and finally by interpreting the passages in question. In sum, Jesus is not cl...

Is Christ a genuine member of the human race? Some Catholic and Protestant apologists say, no, Jesus is not a real human person. The biblical authors, however, are adamant that Jesus is, in fact, a real human person. This week's episode explores the reasons behind the significant divide between New Testament theology and the Christology of apologists. Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book Wisdo...

It is often erroneously claimed that the early Church preached the doctrine of the Trinity from its inception. The Book of Acts is evidence to the contrary. This week's episode examines the sermons in the Book of Acts to see how Luke portrayed christology and Jesus' relationship to God. Spoiler alert: There is no Trinity in the Book of Acts.  Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book Wisdom Christo...

How was Jesus able to perform so many miracles, teach boldly, and even forgive sins (an act typically reserved for God alone)? Answer: he possessed authority from God, which enabled and empowered him to do all these wondrous feats. This week's episode examines how the Gospel of Matthew illustrates Christ as a human being with whom God has shared his authority.  Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my...

The early Christians did not relate to the Holy Spirit in trinitarian terms, and this observation can be confirmed along several lines of evidence. This week's episode examines how acts are offered to God (e.g., worship, prayer, sacrifice, praise, singing, talking) and draws attention to how no one in Scripture performs these same acts to the Holy Spirit. The resulting conclusion is that the bibli...