The Old Roads Podcast

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley reports on the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June of 2025. What were the highlights of the event? What were the greatest disappointments? And what do both mean for Southern Baptists moving forward?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley raises the question of the place of patriotism in the Christian life. What is patriotism? Is it a virtue Christians should cultivate? Can it be taken too far? As we navigate life in this world of nations while also belonging to a heavenly kingdom, this subject merits careful thought.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners regarding the biblical command that women should not speak in church (1 Cor. 14:33), the nature of biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility, and whether or not we will know our grandparents as grandparents in Heaven, or only as brothers and sisters.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley compares and contrasts the Roman Catholic teaching on justification with the Protestant (and biblical) teaching. This historic debate between Protestants and Catholics helped clarify for us the central teaching of the gospel, namely, that we are declared right with God by faith in Christ alone, and not by anything we do.

In this special edition of The Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley responds to  an essay by Jason Edwards, published in Baptist News Global , arguing for LGBTQ inclusion in the church. What hidden assumptions lie behind the argument of this essay, and how should Christians think through this issue? Mentioned in the podcast are three previous episodes that address the issue of homosexuality in th...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the Roman Catholic teaching on Mary. What do Catholics believe about her, and why do they pray to her? Are there any theological problems with the Catholic teachings and practices related to Mary?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explains the Roman Catholic teaching on the nature and authority of Scripture and Tradition. Why does this issue matter so much, and why do Protestants affirm that Scripture alone (sola Scriptura) is our infallible source of authority?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the Roman Catholic teaching about the office of the Pope. What is his role and authority, according to Roman Catholic doctrine? And how does it line up with the teaching of Scripture?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners regarding when a human being receives a soul, demon possession in the Gospels, and the biggest issues coming up at this year’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explains the meaning of the Reformation slogan sola gratia, “by grace alone.” We do not arrive at a true doctrine of salvation by grace alone unless we first understand the full extent of sin’s power over us and its effects on us. The Bible’s radical doctrine of sin corresponds to its radical doctrine of grace.

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In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores two doctrines in relation to sin: hereditary guilt and hereditary corruption. Does the Bible teach that we are born into the world already guilty? Does it teach that we are already predisposed to sin? If we don’t understand Adam’s sin rightly, we will miss important truths about Christ’s redemptive work for us.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley raises the question of what makes us sinners: is it that we actually commit sins, or is it a condition we inherit that then leads us to sin? On the way to answering this question, he explores different views of sin from the history of the church. Understanding the nature of sin is essential to understanding who we are in Adam and what Go...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley answers questions from listeners regarding how we should morally evaluate self-deprecating speech (is it good ofr bad?), details about Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and various views of the end times and the millennium.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley explores practical implications of the resurrection of Jesus for our lives. If Christ has been raised, what does that mean about the extraordinary claims he made for himself? How should we evaluate those claims? And what does the resurrection of Christ say to us in our own confrontation with death?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley interviews a colleague, Dr. Lee Tankersley, on the meaning of Paul's statement that Christ was raised "on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." Where does the Old Testament predict Christ's resurrection on the third day? How can exploring this question open up for us insights into how to read the Bible on its own terms? (Arti...

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley addresses the question of the rationality of believing in the resurrection of Jesus. If dead men don't (normally) rise, can a rational person honestly believe that on the first Easter Sunday, one man actually did? How do worldview considerations, historical evidence, and the witness of Scripture help us answer this question?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley answers questions from listeners regarding the ethics of euthanasia, whether or not generational curses are real, and the issue of whether or not new covenant believers may use musical instruments in the gathered worship of the church.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley addresses the theological meaning of Christ's sinless, obedient life. Does Christ's life have any significance for our salvation, or was it merely a prelude to the cross? Answering this question gives us a deeper insight into the wonder of the gospel and the hope of our right standing with God by faith alone.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley seeks to adjudicate between a general atonement (the Arminian view of Christ's death) and particular redemption (the Calvinist view of Christ's death). Did Christ die to make salvation possible for everyone, or did he die to make salvation certain for some?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley takes note of seven objections that have been raised against the teaching that Christ bore God's wrath in our place. In each case, he finds them biblically and theologically wanting. This discussion seeks to explain why many people are offended by the biblical teaching about the cross and why that offense is misguided.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O'Kelley discusses the meaning of the cross. How does the death of Jesus Christ actually save us? The answer to that question depends on how you understand the nature of the threat that stands against us, and from which we need saving. There are multiple views on this question, but Scripture guides us toward one in particular.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners regarding whether or not pro-life people bear moral responsibility for abortions in their society, whether abuse is grounds for divorce, saltwater and freshwater fish during the time of Noah’s flood, and the extent of Christian liberty.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores Paul’s prayer in for strength to know the love of God in Ephesians 3:14-21 and draws out some implications for our lives on experiencing the love of God for us. Is knowing God’s love for us a supernatural gift of grace? Or is it something we must pursue? Or is it both?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the question of whether we should speak of God’s love as “unconditional” or not. Is the notion of unconditional love one that should encourage us? Are there ways in which we might say that God’s love is even better than unconditional love?