We are living in a day when the Christian church faces challenges both inward and outward. Outwardly, we see Islam advancing as a world religion. Inwardly, we are experiencing a divisive period in our church regarding doctrine of orthodoxy like the Trinity. In this episode, Matthew Barrett and David and Jennifer McNutt, the authors of the book Know the Theologians, introduce the eastern theologian John of Damascus who is sometimes called the last of the church fathers. He faced unique challenges from both outside and inside the church. Outwardly, the church in 8th century was facing the advance of Islam and its conquest of Constantinople. Inwardly, the church was divided on the issue of icons in worship, asking tough questions like, Is it acceptable to use icons since Christ has become incarnate? Through it all, John of Damascus had one desire: to remain faithful in his context. So he wrote one of the most enduring books of theology: The Fount of Wisdom. Matthew Barrett and David and Jennifer McNutt meet to ask why John of Damascus is still so relevant to the church today.
