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Where Lutheranism Disagrees with Thomas Aquinas

Release Date: 11/25/2025

Thinking Fellows

The Thinking Fellows examine a common question about the Christian life and God’s power and plans. What are common mistakes made when talking about God ordaining or planning the events and conditions in our lives? In what ways is it true that God has a plan for you? The conversation leads people toward the finished work of Christ and God’s means of communication to his people. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Do I Have A Guardian Angel?

Thinking Fellows

The Bible is clear that angels exist. The question for Christians is: what does the Church need to confess about angels? What do popular depictions of guardian angels or miraculous encounters with angels get right and wrong? The Fellows outline the biblical depiction of angels and present a positive picture of how God uses them to accomplish His purposes. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Demons Are Real But Christians Don’t Need to Be Afraid

Thinking Fellows

Contemporary Christianity often ignores or understates the realities and existence of spiritual warfare and spiritual beings. The naturalistic Western world views these things as superstitious. How can Christians talk about the existence and work of demons without being sensationalized? The Thinking Fellows discuss demons in plain and simple terms, encouraging fellow believers to do the same. Yes, demons are real, but Christians do not need to be afraid because we already possess victory over them. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the...

Just War Theology and the Christian Conscience

Thinking Fellows

Adam Francisco, Bruce Hilman, and Caleb Keith discuss just war theology. Just war attempts to give Christians a framework within which their conscience can find comfort as rulers, soldiers, and citizens carrying out their vocations. Just war theology can be a useful tool, but it also has limits. Most importantly, participation in a just war does not justify the sinner. Justification happens apart from any just fulfillment of our vocations. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Go To Church

Thinking Fellows

What is the difference between habitually missing church or removing it from your life, and simply missing a service? In this episode, the Thinking Fellows discuss the essential nature of gathering together as the Church while also considering how to admonish attendance without attacking faithful members who occasionally miss services. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Did Jesus Claim to Be God?

Thinking Fellows

Did Jesus, in his ministry and preaching, ever claim to be God? Many anti-Christian voices today promote the false idea that Jesus neither claimed divinity nor sought to convince his followers of it. This video offers a clear, accessible overview of how the Gospels present Jesus’ divine nature—and how his words and works fulfill that claim. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Confessional, Evangelical, and Catholic with Magnus Persson

Thinking Fellows

Scott and Caleb are joined by Magnus Persson to talk about what it means to be confessional. Magnus discusses the importance of the Lutheran Confessions and how the church is called to be both evangelical and catholic in its mission. A confessional church proclaims the Gospel while upholding the universal truths and gifts God gives to the church to proclaim and teach. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Thinking About a Post-Christian West

Thinking Fellows

The Thinking Fellows discuss various projects, essays, and books they have been working on. The connecting theme is how to proclaim and teach the Gospel in a post-Christian society: comforting and sustaining the members of the Church while announcing the death and resurrection of Christ to a world in need. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

Reasons To Be Lutheran

Thinking Fellows

The Thinking Fellows list and discuss reasons to embrace Lutheranism in 2026. The hosts take turns outlining the compelling distinctives of the Lutheran confession of faith, from the Christ-centered nature of Lutheran theology to the shape and content of worship, the place of children in the life of the Church, and the doctrine of vocation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

A Reasoned Defense of the Faith

Thinking Fellows

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Bruce Hillman, Adam Francisco, and Scott Keith discuss the new book 'A Reasoned Defense of the Faith' from 1517 publishing. The conversation explores the role of apologetics in addressing contemporary religious challenges, particularly focusing on Islam and the importance of positive apologetics. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts:

More Episodes

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows, we take a closer look at the growing interest in Thomas Aquinas especially among younger evangelicals and even many Lutherans. We talk through why Aquinas is appealing to so many today, but also why the Lutheran Reformers pushed back on key parts of his theology. That includes the big questions of grace, salvation, and whether human effort plays any role in standing before God.

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What’s New from 1517:

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