The Old Roads Podcast

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the question of how God demonstrates his wrath against sin in various ways, according to Scripture. Some argue that divine wrath is nothing more than the natural cause-effect order of a moral universe, but does Scripture uphold such a minimalist view? Or should we think of God’s wrath as his personal, active response to sin?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the biblical teaching on God’s wrath, offering not only a definition of it but also a survey of how Scripture presents it as the primary threat to humanity from Genesis to Revelation. A proper understanding of this doctrine is not optional for coherent Christian theology. It is essential.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers a range of questions froma listener on the topic of disciplining children, including common mistakes in discipline, theplace of spanking, and how to keep the gospel central in parental discipline.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into the biblical teaching on resistance to authority. What examples from Scripture can we point to that show legitimate resistance to authority, and what can we learn from them? How does resistance theory apply properly in our own setting today?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley reflects on authority in society, specifically with regard to the institution of the state. What is the biblical purpose of the state? What happens when a governing authority goes wrong? What is the biblical vision for a government that operates well for the good of society?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the question of how lines of authority should operate biblically in a church, specifically from a congregational perspective. What is the biblical authority of a congregation, and how do church officers, pastors and deacons, exercise authority properly within that congregational structure?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the issue of authority in the home. What is authority? How has it been misunderstood and misused in our day? How does Scripture define the authority of husbands with respect to wives and parents with respect to children, and what are the implications for how we should wield authority and live under authority in our families?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about what it means for pastors to give an account for the souls of church members they oversee (as mentioned in Hebrews 13:17) and on the relationship of predestination and faith.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the biblical teaching on the gift of tongues/languages. Cessationists believe this gift had narrow purposes that now no longer apply, and thus the gift is no longer given to the church. Continuationists take an opposing view, arguing that many believers today are gifted with tongues for prayer. Which view best fits the evidence of the Bible, and what are the implications for us as believers?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley evaluates the Pentecostal teaching that baptism in the Spirit is a second blessing for believers some time after conversion, marked by speaking in tongues. This doctrine is based on stories from the book of Acts, but does Pentecostal teaching rightly interpret Luke’s purpose in recording those stories in Acts?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the differences between the old covenant and the new with reference to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of new covenant believers. What privileges do we have today that Old Testament saints did not have? How does this magnify the redeeming work of Christ on our behalf?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about how Christians can speak truthfully about the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality without being harsh, how we can know God is there for us during hard times, and what Jesus means when he speaks of Elijah coming in Matthew 17:10-12.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into the controversial passage describing a 1,000 year period during which Satan is bound and Christian martyrs reign with Christ. This passage has long divided theological camps into premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial. What do these differing views argue, and what is the best approach to interpreting Revelation 20?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the interesting ways the book of Revelation uses numbers: seven and multiples of seven; three and one-half (or its equivalents), twelve and multiples of twelve, and the mysterious number 666. Do these numbers carry symbolic meaning that can give us deeper insight into what the book is telling us?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley gives an overview of the entire book of Revelation, arguing that the center of it is found in the vision of the Lamb in chapter 5, and then showing how the storyline of the book unfolds from there. When understood rightly, Revelation does not give us details for a prophecy chart, but rather a new way of seeing the world.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley gives an overview of four different interpretive approaches to the book of Revelation and argues that one of them makes the book much easier to understand and read profitably.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about how Christians can keep our minds quiet and focused in a world of so much noise, the limits of religious liberty, and Paul’s use of the past tense verb “glorified” in Romans 8:30.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley offers some basic principles for how Christians should think about AI and use it profitably. With any new technology, finding the ethical boundaries for using it in light of Scripture is essential for any Christian believer, and AI has now opened up a world of exciting possibilities as well as previously unforeseen pitfalls.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley offers guidance, drawing from Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism, on how to use smartphones, social media, and other digital technologies with intentionality rather than allowing them to shape us in destructive ways.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the question of what the Bible teaches us about technology. Is technology good, bad, or capable of both? What role does it play in God’s plan for us, and what dangers might it pose?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about how Christians who live and work primarily around other Christians can fulfill the Great Commission, whether or not Baptist churches should allow paedobaptist Christians into membership, and how we can guard our hearts from thinking that God owes us blessings for our faithfulness.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the differences between those who call themselves “pro-life” and those who describe themselves as “abortion abolitionists.” Although both groups oppose abortion, they have found themselves at odds with one another in recent times. What are the issues that divide them, how should we evaluate those issues, and can we forge unity between these groups?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the current state of American society on the issue of abortion after the Dobbs decision of 2022 struck down Roe v. Wade. Did that court decision end the need for the pro-life movement, or are there still battles to be fought for the sake of human life in America?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the question of what it means to be pro-life. Is the mission of the pro-life movement focused on a narrow set of issues, or is it right to say that it expands into matters such as healthcare, public welfare, etc.? And why does it matter?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about whether or not sacrifice is essential to all true worship, the mysterious origin of Cain’s wife, and how we can define sin when believers have different personal convictions.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley talks through a final rule for accurate biblical interpretation, one that helps us see each passage in light of the whole Bible. Protestants believe that the Bible is its own best interpreter, so how can we read the Bible with that principle in view?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley continues walking through a set of rules for accurate biblical interpretation to help listeners grow in their ability to read the Bible well and submit their lives to the voice of God in Scripture. Part 2 focuses on how we can determine what key words in a passage mean, how we can look for important grammatical connections, and how some passages of Scripture help us interpret others.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley begins walking through a set of rules for accurate biblical interpretation to help listeners grow in their ability to read the Bible well and submit their lives to the voice of God in Scripture. Part 1 focuses on the importance of different kinds of literature in the Bible, the context of a passage, and its historical background.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses an important question in biblical interpretation, namely, whether a passage of Scripture can have more than one legitimate meaning. When we read certain passages with fresh eyes and feel like it has communicated something new to us, does that mean the Bible’s meaning can be different for different people? Or is every passage limited to one single meaning?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about apparent inconsistencies in the Bible, the possibility that the gospel might be heard through dreams and visions, and whether or not God’s plan can ever be delayed by lack of human obedience.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores some specific biblical texts on Christian growth, or sanctification, in conversation with the Wesleyan and Keswick views of this subject discussed in previous episodes. What does Scripture say growth in the Christian life actually looks like?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into another popular model of sanctification known as “higher life theology,” which came from Bible conferences held in Keswick, England. In this view, some Christians may have Jesus as Savior only, but not as Lord.Is that a legitimate understanding of the biblical teaching on sanctification?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley dives into the topic of sanctification, beginning with an explanation and critique of John Wesley’s unique doctrine of “Christian perfection.” This discussion raises questions related to the nature of God’s work in our lives and how much progress we can expect to see during our earthly life.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about whether or not God’s love for all people is the same, a Christian view of self-defense, and the origin of John’s baptism.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the practical implications for the doctrine of justification by faith alone. How does this teaching affect our relationship with God, our grasp of his love for us, and our sense of security in him? How does it affect the way we relate to others, especially considering that they, like us, are sinners?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the historic Protestant teaching of justification by faith alone (sola fide). In contrast to any view of justification that makes our own works a contributing factor to our standing with God, sola fide affirms that Christ alone is our hope. But is “faith alone” a biblical teaching, and is it compatible with James’s notion of justification by works (James 2:24)?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the meaning of the biblical doctrine of justification. Catholics understand this term to mean one thing, and Protestants another. The differences between them get to the very heart of the gospel and the basis on which our standing with God depends.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about whether or not it is appropriate, in light of the second commandment, to view films with Jesus in them and about book recommendations based on his reading from 2025.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley continues pondering the mysteries of the Incarnation, this time addressing the question of whether or not it ended at Jesus’ ascension to Heaven or continues forever. Is God the Son still the God-man, or was that state only for the time of his earthly mission of redemption? And why would that matter for us?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley ponders the mysteries of the Incarnation by raising the question of whether or not God the Son departed from Heaven when he entered the world as Jesus of Nazareth. Can one who is God “leave” one place and go to another? If so, how? If not, what does it mean to say that the Son of man has descended to us from Heaven (John 3:13)?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about what is and is not the sin of gluttony and whether or not a Christian school should ever observe the Lord’s Supper in a chapel service.Reference: Kevin DeYoung, “But What About Gluttony?”

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores how Calvinism, when rightly and biblically applied, affects real life. Do the doctrines of Calvinism lead to a lack of motivation for prayer, evangelism, and the pursuit of holiness? Far from it. In fact, Calvinistic doctrine, drawn from Scripture, fuels our motivation for these things and more.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley looks into biblical teaching on the so-called “five points of Calvinism.” Do these five points (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints) reflect the Bible’s teaching about our sin and the grace of God in salvation?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the topic of Calvinism, providing an overview of the history of this theological movement. What is Calvinism, and is it a fringe teaching that we should fear and oppose? Or does it have a home in the mainstream Christian tradition?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions from listeners about the proper context for administering the Lord’s Supper, advice for Christians going into the field of acting, and why people in the Bible were sometimes arrested for preaching.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley raises the question of non-Christian religions. Are they alternative paths to salvation? Or are they nothing but demonic lies? How does Scripture guide us to evaluate them?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley addresses the topic of inclusivism, the view that while Jesus is the only Savior of humanity, some may be saved by him without hearing the gospel verbally proclaimed. Is this view compatible with the teachings of Scripture?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the topic of pluralism, the view that all religions lead ultimately to the same place. How does pluralism measure up to the Bible’s teachings? Is Jesus Christ the only savior of humanity, or are there other pathways to God as well?

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley answers questions about whether or not Jesus ever faced discouragement and the importance of studying the Bible in the original languages.

In this episode of the Old Roads Podcast, Dr. Aaron O’Kelley explores the paradox of grief for the death of believing loved one. On the one hand, we rejoice for what our believing loved ones now experience in the presence of the Lord. But on the other hand, death itself remains something to lament. Is the death of a believer something we should view as good or bad?