Iron and Myth 46: The Sibylline Oracles

CHRISTIAN ORACLES. Is that even a thing? Apparently there were Christians who adapted writings attributed to the Sibyls, prophetesses who channeled messages from the “gods.” What do we make of this? Our esteemed panel, Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview With the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea, discuss the historical context, significance, and the interplay between pagan and Christian thought found in the Sibylline Oracles.  We discuss the role of the Sibyls as ancient prophetesses, the legend of Nero Redivivus, and the implications of women as prophets in these texts. We also examine the cultural dynamics of the early church and how the Sibylline Oracles reflect messianic expectations and the incarnation of Christ.  Overall, the discussion highlights the complexity and richness of these ancient writings and their relevance to understanding early Christian theology.