Forging Ploughshares

Paul Axton argues that in chapter 9 of Romans Paul is not talking about a double predestination of the Calvinist type. He is speaking of the way in which Israel’s vocation to be the people of the creator God, including specifically its calling to be the “vessels of wrath,” was the focal point of the plan to save the world. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The defining doctrine of evangelicalism, Calvin's penal substitution, subverts the biblical meaning of the work of Christ, trading a God of love for a wrathful pagan-like deity. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Matt, Alan, Tim and Paul, in this initial discussion on Ro 9-11 discuss the mystery of Christ and the approach of David Bentley Hart and N.T, Wright to these chapters. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - John Calvin, by tying the place of the dead to eternal punishment and then linking this with the punishment inflicted on Christ on the Cross so as to achieve forgiveness, invented the doctrine of penal substitution. The correct translation of Isaiah 53 and the right understanding of the Apostles' Creed are set forth to counter Calvin's innovation with the biblical understanding of atonement. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton lectures on Romans 8, depicting the contrast with Romans 7, as now love, life, Abba Father, the Holy Spirit, hope, prayer, and a new depth of communion and communication appear which were absent in chapter 7. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The significance of recognizing the cosmic work of Christ as the predestined purpose and fulfillment of creation is that this is the only understanding adequate to overcoming the meaning generated by evil. To picture the work of Christ as a response to sin is to fit this work to an evil frame. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton lectures on Romans 7 and discusses the identity of the "I" and the problem this "I" has with deception in regard to the law, which is definitive of sin. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - On this Mother's Day, the theological significance of John's privileging of women is portrayed. John seems to be narrating for us the theological point that to be joined to Christ will mean that we pass beyond stereotypical male/female roles in order to put on Christ – in order to be the bride of Christ.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.  

Paul Axton lectures on Romans 6, explaining the "likeness" we share, through baptism, with Christ and how this eliminates the false orientation of the "body of death" and gives us access to being, and not simply having, a body. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - Churches indigenous to the U. S. follow the pattern of the early church - acknowledging nonviolent peace and then forsaking this original commitment. The key to maintaining this original peace stance is to correctly understand and implement a nonviolent atonement.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

In this PBI course discussion Matt, Tim, David, Trenton, and Paul discuss the way in which the false foundation of conservative faith, reflected in the treatment of women, has missed the foundation of Christ.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - Churches of the Restoration Movement once held to the doctrines of the historic peace churches as part of what was to be restored in the authentic church. By this measure, churches of this Movement do not meet the qualification of authentic Christianity, and as outlined by David Lipscomb, Alexander Campbell, and Barton W. Stone, Restoration Movement Churches are of the whore of Babylon described in Revelation.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The turn from Christ as ethical model also entails a turn from Christ as the full revelation of God. Abstractions about God's nature, apart from Christ, devolve to pure power and evil. The resolution is Christ's depiction of himself as revealing the will of God. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.  

Paul Axton untangles the problem of the mistranslation in the Latin Vulgate taken up and incorporated into Augustinian theology. A straightforward explanation of the reign of death, at the root of sin, and the defeat of this reign is set forth. 

Jason and Paul look back over the past 5 years and 500 podcasts to the beginning of Forging Ploughshares and the founding of Ploughshares Bible Institute and discuss where we have been and plans for the future. In celebration we introduce our new intro and outro. 

Paul Axton Preaches - The world challenging nature of the Gospel was itself challenged by the Constantinian shift, which seemed to have made the former enemy the support of the church. But the question is, if this Roman violentization of church and theology can be uncritically accepted? Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, David, Allan, Matt, and Paul discuss the impact of Constantinianism on what was presumed to be the unbiased  consensus, the shared natural understanding, reached in the church councils. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton preaches - Mary demonstrates the human temptation to linger at the tomb. Human culture and religion, along with contractual theology, would reify death but the Easter story empties the grave and the law of sin and death. Only in turning from the tomb can we see the risen Jesus. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, Allan, Austin, Trenton, Matt, and Paul discuss how contractual or justification theory has captured the Western understanding of Romans interpreters and a practical alternative is discussed.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - In the Triumphal Entry Jesus not only reverses the crowds nationalistic expectations but reverses the myth of death denial by which the Prince of this world enslaves. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound