The Old Roads Podcast

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the historic Protestant teaching of justification by faith alone (sola fide). In contrast to any view of justification that makes our own works a contributing factor to our standing with God, sola fide affirms that Christ alone is our hope. But is “faith alone” a biblical teaching, and is it compatible with James’s notion of jus...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the meaning of the biblical doctrine of justification. Catholics understand this term to mean one thing, and Protestants another. The differences between them get to the very heart of the gospel and the basis on which our standing with God depends.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about whether or not it is appropriate, in light of the second commandment, to view films with Jesus in them and about book recommendations based on his reading from 2025.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley continues pondering the mysteries of the Incarnation, this time addressing the question of whether or not it ended at Jesus’ ascension to Heaven or continues forever. Is God the Son still the God-man, or was that state only for the time of his earthly mission of redemption? And why would that matter for us?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley ponders the mysteries of the Incarnation by raising the question of whether or not God the Son departed from Heaven when he entered the world as Jesus of Nazareth. Can one who is God “leave” one place and go to another? If so, how? If not, what does it mean to say that the Son of man has descended to us from Heaven (John 3:13)?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about what is and is not the sin of gluttony and whether or not a Christian school should ever observe the Lord’s Supper in a chapel service. Reference: Kevin DeYoung, “ But What About Gluttony? ”

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores how Calvinism, when rightly and biblically applied, affects real life. Do the doctrines of Calvinism lead to a lack of motivation for prayer, evangelism, and the pursuit of holiness? Far from it. In fact, Calvinistic doctrine, drawn from Scripture, fuels our motivation for these things and more.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into biblical teaching on the so-called “five points of Calvinism.” Do these five points (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints) reflect the Bible’s teaching about our sin and the grace of God in salvation?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the topic of Calvinism, providing an overview of the history of this theological movement. What is Calvinism, and is it a fringe teaching that we should fear and oppose? Or does it have a home in the mainstream Christian tradition?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about the proper context for administering the Lord’s Supper, advice for Christians going into the field of acting, and why people in the Bible were sometimes arrested for preaching.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley raises the question of non-Christian religions. Are they alternative paths to salvation? Or are they nothing but demonic lies? How does Scripture guide us to evaluate them?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the topic of inclusivism, the view that while Jesus is the only Savior of humanity, some may be saved by him without hearing the gospel verbally proclaimed. Is this view compatible with the teachings of Scripture?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the topic of pluralism, the view that all religions lead ultimately to the same place. How does pluralism measure up to the Bible’s teachings? Is Jesus Christ the only savior of humanity, or are there other pathways to God as well?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions about whether or not Jesus ever faced discouragement and the importance of studying the Bible in the original languages.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the paradox of grief for the death of believing loved one. On the one hand, we rejoice for what our believing loved ones now experience in the presence of the Lord. But on the other hand, death itself remains something to lament. Is the death of a believer something we should view as good or bad?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley follows the topic of death to its ultimate conclusion: resurrection. What is the final hope to which believers can look in the face of death? And what about unbelievers? Understanding death in the context of God’s plan to raise the dead gives us a fuller picture of his saving work in Christ.

In this special edition of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley reflects on recent violent events in America, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As Christians think through these events, how should we respond? More specifically, how should we pray?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into the biblical teaching on what human beings experience after death, a condition theologians call the “intermediate state.” While we are accustomed to speaking of death being followed by Heaven or Hell, the Bible actually speaks in more nuanced ways about this important topic.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the topic of death from a theological perspective. What are the various dimensions of death that have been imposed on humanity, and what has God done in Jesus Christ to deliver us from them?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions about the Bible’s teaching on slavery, on the ethics of cussing, and on the “three days and three nights” reference to Jesus’ time in the tomb in Scripture. References: “ Does the Bible Support Slavery? ” (a lecture by Peter Williams)

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley connects theology to the modern geopolitical issue of the existence of the modern state of Israel and its conflicts with its Arab neighbors. Should Christians support Israel for theological reasons, or for political reasons, or both? Or should Christians remain indifferent or even stand in opposition to Israel’s national aims? References...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley dives into the key biblical passage that addresses the question of Israel’s place in God’s plan: Romans 9-11. Is Israel still God’s chosen people? As Paul’s teaching demonstrates, that question cannot be answered in a simple way, but once you see God’s plan for Israel and the Gentiles unfolded in these key biblical chapters, the result i...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the diversity of views among Christians about the nation of Israel. Dispensationalism offers one perspective, and covenant theology offers a range of other perspectives. Tied into this question are different approaches to interpreting the Bible and different ways of fitting Old and New Testaments together, each leading to differ...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley continues last week’s discussion about the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 by looking into two New Testament passages that mention angels and have been interpreted by some as a reference to Genesis 6. These two passages are 1 Peter 3:18-22 and Jude 5-7. Does either one of these New Testament texts, or both, give us a definitive interpretation...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into three different interpretations of the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4. Were these “sons of God” fallen angels who intermarried with human women? Or is there a better way to understand this passage?