Bridging the Great Gulf: Reclaiming the Triune God (with Dr. Steve Tsoukalas)

In this compelling episode of Seminary Unboxed, host Dr. Matt Ayars welcomes back theologian and comparative religion expert Dr. Steven Tsoukalas to expose and unpack a subtle but pervasive theological error: “Great Gulfism.” Also known as cosmological dualism, Great Gulfism refers to the mistaken belief—often unconsciously held—that there is a fixed chasm between God and the material world. Drawing deeply from the work of T. F. Torrance, Dr. Tsoukalas challenges this worldview by arguing that many Christians unknowingly adopt Neoplatonic assumptions that separate God from His creation, despite the scriptural and creedal insistence on God’s immanence.The conversation traces how this dualistic thinking seeps into popular worship practices, language, and theological constructs such as immutability and impassibility. Ayars and Tsoukalas wrestle with questions of God’s transcendence versus His presence, offering nuanced theological correctives rooted in Nicene and Chalcedonian Christology. The discussion underscores the vital importance of rightly articulating the Trinity, avoiding vague references to “God,” and instead anchoring worship and prayer in the revelation of the triune God made known in Christ.Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how the incarnation reveals God’s presence in space and time, how worship is meant to be shared with Christ—not just directed toward Him—and why careless theological language can unintentionally reinforce heretical assumptions. With pastoral sensitivity and theological depth, this episode is a must-hear for anyone eager to think and speak more faithfully about the God who is not distant, but fully present in Christ through the Spirit.