The Fall and Redemption of Conscience

We welcome Andrea Ferrari to discuss his book The Fall and Redemption of Conscience: A Reformed Biblical Theology. Ferrari, pastor of the Chiesa Riformata di Perugia in Italy, explains why conscience has received comparatively little attention in modern Protestant theology and considers the influence of psychology, Karl Barth, John Webster, and John Calvin on contemporary accounts of conscience. The conversation develops a biblical and theological account of conscience from creation to new creation. Ferrari addresses whether Adam possessed a conscience before the fall, the Old Testament vocabulary of heart, kidneys, and clean hands, Calvin’s sensus divini judicii, the Trinitarian basis of human self-awareness, and the effects of justification and sanctification upon a guilty conscience. The episode concludes with practical implications for preaching, counseling, and the Christian life, along with an update on Ferrari’s ministry in Perugia. Links Episode page The Fall and Redemption of Conscience Chiesa Riformata di Perugia Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Andrea Ferrari’s Ministry in Perugia 12:43 A New Study Center near the University 19:11 The Fall and Redemption of Conscience 24:33 Why Conscience Disappeared from Modern Theology 28:41 Karl Barth and General Revelation 32:12 Did Adam Have a Conscience before the Fall? 49:27 Conscience in the Old Testament 58:53 Defining Conscience as Perceptual Awareness 64:23 Calvin’s Sensus Divini Judicii 65:27 The Trinitarian Context of Conscience 74:23 The Fallen Conscience and the Imagination 80:10 Training the Senses in Hebrews 5:14 81:47 The Justified Conscience 86:43 Sanctification and the Healing of Conscience 93:23 Pastoral Counseling and Preaching to the Conscience 100:02 Ministry Reflections and Conclusion Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX Christ the Center 1000 Summit Christ the Center 1000 Christ the Center 1000 Summit