The Postscript is a podcast and YouTube series that invites believers into in-depth theological and ministry conversations with pastors, Bible scholars, missionaries, and professors from the Living Faith Bible Institute.
Living Faith Bible Institute (LFBI) serves as an advanced equipping arm of like-minded churches whose mission is to mold every member into the image of Christ and mobilize them to minister the Word of God to the world. To this end, LFBI utilizes experienced pastoral leaders to equip men and women of the church to function as shepherds of God’s people through a structured curriculum that is centered on the Word of God. Our goal is to offer, at a reasonable cost, a practical study that develops biblical leadership in an environment conducive to learning to live God’s Word.
The Postscript is a podcast and YouTube series that invites believers into in-depth theological and ministry conversations with pastors, Bible scholars, missionaries, and professors from the Living Faith Bible Institute.
Living Faith Bible Institute (LFBI) serves as an advanced equipping arm of like-minded churches whose mission is to mold every member into the image of Christ and mobilize them to minister the Word of God to the world. To this end, LFBI utilizes experienced pastoral leaders to equip men and women of the church to function as shepherds of God’s people through a structured curriculum that is centered on the Word of God. Our goal is to offer, at a reasonable cost, a practical study that develops biblical leadership in an environment conducive to learning to live God’s Word.
Whether you're familiar with Augustine or not, chances are you've encountered Calvinism and its core doctrines—especially the idea of unconditional election. Perhaps you have Reformed friends who hold to the belief that God has sovereignly chosen some individuals for salvation and others for damnation, entirely apart from their will or actions. This deterministic view of salvation has become deeply embedded in much of Western Christianity. But what if we could trace this theological development to a specific moment in church history? What if we could say, with confidence, when and how this view was introduced—and argue that it was not part of the original Christian faith?
On today’s show, we take a critical look at one of the most influential figures in Christian history: Augustine of Hippo. We’re joined by Dr. Ken Wilson, Oxford-trained scholar and author of The Foundations of Augustinian Calvinism. In his historical research, Dr. Wilson demonstrates how Augustine’s later theology— particularly his embrace of determinism and unilateral grace — marked a significant departure from the teachings of earlier Church Fathers and laid the foundation for what would become Calvinistic theology.
To learn more on the topic, please read the notes included for this week’s episode.