Undeceptions with John Dickson

On November 2, 2024, Chris Tomlin performed the world premiere of The First Hymn at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Ben Fielding joined him onstage that night to help gift this 1800-year-old song back to the world.
In this special, shorter episode, you get a front row seat to a fireside chat with Chris as he introduces the new First Hymn to the world, for the first time.

We attempt to make sense of the silly season, to explain why there really is “more to life”, and why the traditional Christmas story still holds the answers.

(00:00) - - Unwanted Christmas cards

(04:41) - - Diagnosing our festive illness

(08:49) - - Happiness or peace?

(10:35) - - Jesus the umpire

(13:10) - - The Prince of Peace

(18:55) - - Christmas and the Gulag Archipelago

(22:56) - - Christmas is good enough without Jesus, right?

(30:39) - - Jesus turns his face towards us

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. 

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. 

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. 

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were the Undeceptions Team - wishing you a happy Christmas!

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

It’s probably the most significant of all church history’s debates: Was Jesus fully human, fully divine, or a hybrid of some sort?

1700 years ago, bishops from across the Christian world gathered in the city of Nicaea to settle this once and for all.

The outcome was three paragraphs which went on to represent the core of Christianity, and spell out who Jesus is - and who he isn’t.

(00:00) - - Jesus: Man or something else?

(08:44) - - Why did the Creed happen?

(12:19) - - Constantine's influence

(17:18) - - The key players at the council

(29:45) - - The Arian controversy

(42:02) - - The Trinity

(56:49) - - Five Minute Jesus

(01:01:23) - - Faith and the Creed

(01:04:19) - - Why does the Creed matter?

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.
 
Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. 
Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. 
Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 
Editing by Richard Hamwi.
Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.
Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 
Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

The first-century historian Flavius Josephus is the oldest source we have for the historical Jesus outside of the Bible.

His 90-word paragraph about Jesus - where he calls Jesus “the Christ”, and says Jesus “appeared to them [the disciples] alive again on the third day", spending a third day restored to life - has sparked centuries of debate.

Most experts think this paragraph has an authentic core, but has been embellished by a later Christian scribe.

But new scholarly evidence has emerged that might turn our understanding of Josephus - and what he wrote about Jesus - on its head.

(00:00) - - 90 Words

(10:39) - - Flavius Josephus

(14:20) - - Traitor or pragmatist?

(22:09) - - Josephus and James

(26:22) - - Testamonium Flavianum

(41:43) - - "Would Josephus really write that?"

(55:43) - - Josephus' networks

(01:08:41) - - What did Josephus really say about Jesus?

(01:13:42) - - What did Josephus really think about Jesus?

(01:15:49) - - Rethinking history

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. 
Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.
Siobhan McGuiness is online librarian.
 
Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 
Editing by Richard Hamwi.
Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.
Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 
Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Why don’t Christians still follow the Laws of the Old Testament? Why did God create humans if so many are apparently destined for Hell? Is the ‘Golden Rule’ actually a Christian idea? John answers all these - and more - for our Season XV Q&A!

(00:00) - - Intro

(05:12) - - Why don't Christians still follow the Old Testament Law?

(14:49) - - Deep reading for non-readers

(19:41) - - Are Christians allowed to practise Old Testament laments post-Jesus?

(23:31) - - Why would God create a species destined for Hell?

(32:42) - - Why does the modern church look so different compared to the first-century church?

(38:47) - - Why did Joseph and Mary have to go to Bethlehem?

(49:55) - - The Golden Rule

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, and directed by Mark Hadley. 

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is the online librarian. 

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 
 
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.