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Distinctive Christianity

Distinctive Christianity

Written by: Brendon Scoggin and Skyler Hamilton
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Comparing Mormon and Creedal Christian Thought

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  • 245. Peter Gentry on The Mother of the Infant King, Isaiah 7:14

    245. Peter Gentry on The Mother of the Infant King, Isaiah 7:14
    Oct 4 2026
    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Peter Gentry to discuss the book, co-authored with Dr. Christophe Rico, The Mother of the Infant King, Isaiah 7:14: ‘alma and parthenos in the World of the Bible: A Linguistic Perspective. Isaiah 7:14, especially given the quotation in Matthew 1:23 – is considered one of the most controversial passages in the Old Testament. Translated traditionally as “virgin”, and yet in modern translations typically rendered “young woman” – what is the actual meaning of the world ‘alma and how do we know? Whether from arguments from etymology, to the argument of “duplicate use”, to the alleged counter-point in Proverbs 30:19, to even broad claims regarding Jewish tradition – Dr. Gentry takes us into each of these arguments, why they are made, and what is wrong with them. Focusing quite a bit on linguistic analysis, both of ‘alma and the Greek translation of “parthenos” – Dr. Gentry answers the question of whether or not Genesis 24:43 is a counter-point. What is the context of Isaiah 7, the textual evidence regarding Isaiah 7:14 specifically – and how does it tie into the larger context of Isaiah’s book as a whole? We then ask about whether or not the evangelist Matthew rightly reads and understands Isaiah 7:14 in his quotation in Matthew 1:23? Contrary to the modern consensus, Dr. Gentry explains to us some of why a close study of Isaiah suggests that the Prophet did actually predict a virgin birth in the distant future – and that Jesus of Nazareth does indeed fulfill that specific prophecy.Book: The Mother of the Infant King, Isaiah 7:14: ‘alma and parthenos in the World of the Bible: A Linguistic PerspectiveOther resources by Dr. Gentry:- “Does Isaiah Predict the Virgin Birth?”- How To Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets- Kingdom Through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants- Text History of the Greek Ecclesiastes- Check out the Hexapla InstituteOther resources:Biblical Words and Their Meaning by Moises SilvaExegetical Fallacies by D.A. CarsonThe Virgin Birth of Christ by J. Gresham Machen- Check out our interview with Dr. Bernard Aubert about this bookScourby: Isaiah, Matthew, LukeLDS resources:1 Nephi 11:15, 18; Alma 7:10CFM Diagram“The Father and the Son” (Q15)Prophet-President Brigham Young: JD 1.46-53; 4.217-218; 8.115; 11.268Elder Heber C. Kimball: JD 8.211The Seer by Elder Orson Pratt (also JD 19.319)Jesus the Christ by Elder James TalmageDoctrines of Salvation (3 vol.’s) by President Joseph Fielding Smith (also here)Mormon Doctrine; Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vol.’s); “The Mystery of Godliness” by Elder Bruce R. McConkie (also here, and here)
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • 244. Vern Poythress on Redeeming Philosophy

    244. Vern Poythress on Redeeming Philosophy
    Sep 28 2026
    In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Vern Poythress to discuss his book Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions. Starting with the question of what is philosophy – and contrasting the commitment to “wisdom” we find contrasted between Athens and Jerusalem. Calling for a redemption of philosophy, we ask Dr. Poythress about what is a distinctively Christian approach to philosophy. Indeed, is the Bible able to truly teach man philosophy? Writing “Genesis 1-2 provides foundational instruction to guide human learning about the world,” the Bible gives man a programmatic perspective, much larger than a shallow reading may catch. Along those lines, the fall of man into sin in Genesis 3 provides a crucial perspective into the mind of man – and it’s tendency toward the lust for autonomy, which comes in many various philosophical forms. What is the Problem of “the One and the Many”, and why don’t the approaches of brilliant thinkers such as Thales, Plato and Aristotle struggle to account for the unity and the diversity of the cosmos? Indeed, how may the Trinity actually provide a basis for both the unity and diversity in a way that avoids reduction and illusion? Why should Christians avoid the false alternatives of Idealism and Empiricism, or Modernism and Postmodernism? Listen in, as Dr. Poythress takes us through this and more – including a response to, with philosophy in mind, the question of how Christ Jesus is the wisdom of God, even “the way, the Truth, and the life”.Book: Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big QuestionsOther resources by Dr. Poythress:- Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach (hear our previous interview here)- The Mystery of the Trinity: A Trinitarian Approach to the Attributes of God- Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of Western Thought- Biblical Typology: How the Old Testament Points to Christ, His Church, and the Consummation- The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation- Making Sense of Man: Using Biblical Perspectives to Develop a Theology of Humanity- Mediator: A Biblical Theology- Redeeming Mathematic: A God-Centered Approach- Interpreting Eden: A Guide to Faithfully Reading and Understanding Genesis 1-3- In the Beginning Was the Word: Language: A God-Centered ApproachOther resources:The Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til (also here)The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God; The Doctrine of the Word of God by John FrameBiblical Critical Theory by Christopher WatkinPaul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics by William D. DennisonFrom Darwin to Hitler; Darwinian Racism by Richard Weikart From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race by J. Daniel Hays (and here)American Awakening by Joshua MitchellCheck out our previous interviews about Colossians: here and hereCheck out our previous interviews about Plato: here, here and hereMind and Cosmos by Thomas NagelGalileo’s Daughter by Dava SobelGalileo Revisited by Dom Paschal ScottiInfinitesimal by Amir AlexanderThe Origin of Science and the Science of Its Origin; The Savior of Science by Stanley JakiThe Territories of Science and Religion; The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science; The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science by Peter HarrisonPersonal Knowledge by Michael PolanyiScourby: 1 CorinthiansPlato’s Euthyphro (and here, here)LDS sources mentioned:D&C 93; Abraham 3, 4Founding Prophet/President Joseph Smith’s “King Follett Discourse”; “Sermon in the Grove” (also here, here, here – and here, here, here)A Rational Theology; Joseph Smith as Scientist by Elder John A. Widtsoe“Nature of Man” (July 3, 1859) by President/Prophet Brigham Young (also JD 7.277)“Our Great Potential” (April 1977) by President Spencer W. Kimball
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    2 hrs and 14 mins
  • 243. Andrew Malone on Biblical Priesthood

    243. Andrew Malone on Biblical Priesthood
    Sep 21 2026
    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Andrew S. Malone to discuss his book God’s Mediators: A Biblical Theology of Priesthood. What is the Priesthood, according to the Bible? Moreover, what is a priest – and how do we understand their “two-way role”? Even in the era of Moses, how do we understand Exodus 19:6 relative to the Aaronic Priesthood being introduced later in Exodus 28? What was the Aaronic Priesthood – and how does it relate and overlap with the Levites? What was their origins – and what are some thoughts on the distinctive nature of Israelite priesthood, as well as the how we better understand the change in what we see of priestly activity across the Old Testament? Who was the High Priest, what was his relation to Moses, his distinctive attire – and his unique role and responsibility in the cult of Israel? Listen in as Dr. Malone takes us into this, and more as we hear about how we should balance the significant continuity and discontinuity across the Bible. Was Jesus of Nazareth a (High) Priest, and how should we understand that relative to his authority as presented in the New Testament? Taking us into the rich theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we ask Dr. Malone how to best understand the parallel and substantive connection of the relationship of the Aaronic Priest and corporate Israel – as well as Christ Jesus and the church, both aiding us in seeing the identity and work of Christ our Priest, as well as better understanding the priesthood of all believers in regard to both the church, and the world.Book: God’s Mediators: A Biblical Theology of PriesthoodSome other resources by Dr. Malone:- To Walk and To Please God: A Theology of 1 and 2 Thessalonians- Knowing Jesus in the Old Testament?: A Fresh Look At Christophanies- “John Owen and Old Testament Christophanies” (Reformed Theological Review)- “God The Illeist: Third-Person Self-References and Trinitarian Hints in the Old Testament” (Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society)- “Drawing Near to God: Spatial Metaphors for Salvation” (Southern Baptist Journal of Theology)- “Acceptable Anachronism in Biblical Studies” (The Bible Translator)Other resources:“Roman Catholic Theology and Practice of the Priesthood Contrasted with Protestant Theology and Practice of the Priesthood” by Rachel Ciano and and Gregg AllisonThe Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology; “You are a Priest Forever: Psalm 110 and the Melchizedekian Priesthood of Christ” by Matthew EmadiWho Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus; “The Levitical Priesthood” by L. Michael MoralesJesus The Priest by Nicholas PerrinThe Temple and the Church’s Mission; Colossians (BECNT) by G.K. Beale“A Critical Examination of the Roman Catholic Definitions of Dulia and Latria” by Lauren MontenegroLDS resources:D&C 20; 42; 68; 84; 107; 121; 124; 132; Articles of Faith 1.5True to the Faith: A Gospel ReferenceGospel Principles A Rational Theology; Evidences and Reconciliations; Priesthood and Church Government by Elder John A. WidtsoeThe Words of Joseph Smith:- At one place, Smith distinguishes between Melchizedek and the “Aaronic or Levitical” priesthoods (p. 38-39). Yet, at other places, Smith distinguishes between “Aaron, Abraham, and Melchizedek” – Levitical, Abraham’s “patriarchal power”, and the “three grand orders of priesthood” as “the King of Shalom”, “patriarchal authority”, and Levitical. (pp. 244-246) – (also here, here, here); “King Follett Discourse”; “Sermon in the Grove” (also here, here)“Priesthood is the means to exaltation. The priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things pertaining to the salvation of men. It is the means whereby the Lord acts through men to save souls. Without this priesthood power, men are lost. Only through this power does man ‘hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church,’ enabling him to receive ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened’ unto him (see D&C 107:18-19), enabling him to enter the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and to have his wife and children bound to him in an everlasting tie, enabling him to become a patriarch to his posterity forever, and enabling him to receive a fullness of the blessings of the Lord.” - President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.494; “Our Great Potential” (also here)President Brigham Young: JD 2.179-191; 3.191-196; 4:77; 7.201-206; 9:86-93, 279-281; 12.56-64; 16.185-189; 17.113-115, 19.45-50President John Taylor: JD 2.40-41; 19.51-57; 21.358-372; 22.193-204 (also here – as well as The Goverment of God)Gospel Doctrine by President Joseph F. SmithThe Way to Perfection; Doctrines of Salvation (3 vol.’s) by President Joseph Fielding Smith“The Cornerstone of Our Faith” by President Gordon B. Hinckley“Honoring the Priesthood”; “The Price...
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    1 hr and 35 mins
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