Outlaw God

The Outlaw God podcast is about moving from theological speculation to proclamation. Featuring Dr. Steven Paulson and co-hosted by Caleb Keith.

Out of the Cave 04/15/2025

Out of the Cave God's word is not just a guide, making you desire to leave the cave and enter the world of real things. Dr. Paulson dives into how the construction of the Gospel as enabling guide confuses God's two words. Scripture is not just another Plato leading you out of the darkness but actually brings new life. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/36153635

Plato's Cave 04/07/2025

Plato's Cave Dr. Paulson discusses Plato's analogy of the Cave. He emphasizes how Erasmus used this analogy to confuse God's words of law and gospel. This construction is considered the word of God and the enlightening power that can draw us out of the Cave. But the word of God is not just a tantalizing light but the actual creative power of God to save. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/36039150

Judging the Spiritual Man 03/26/2025

Judging the Spiritual Man How do you know when spiritual claims are true or the result of enthusiasm? Dr. Paulson outlines the difference between the external certainty from Christ being delivered to you extra nos and the "internal" revelations of the enthusiast. The true spiritual man is not the one with internal revelations but with the external Chris preached to him. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35873115

Ecclesiastical and Doctrinal Authority 03/14/2025

Ecclesiastical and Doctrinal Authority Erasmus and Luther struggle over the question of church authority. Erasmus makes an appeal to doctrinal authority based on ecclesial order. Luther counters by appealing to doctrine driven out of Scripture alone. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35703030

Who Is A Saint 03/07/2025

Who Is A Saint In this episode, Dr. Paulson discusses what it means to be a Saint. This extends our conversation, responding to Erasmus's accusations of novelty against Luther. Does Luther stand against the Saints? Does God hide things from those he calls? Dr. Paulson covers these questions and more this week. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35569490

What is the Remnant? 02/24/2025

What is the Remnant? In what way is the Church a remnant? Luther uses God's preservation of a remnant of faithful teachers and preachers throughout scripture and the Church against Erasmus and his argument that Luther stands alone. This deals with the doctrine of hiddenness and how God does not make his will desirable and evident to us. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35409300

What Is The Church? 02/11/2025

What Is The Church? What is the Church, and who belongs to it? Erasmus assails Luther with an attempt to place him outside of the Church. Luther responds with Scripture and shows that consensus and works are not how the Church is formed but that God gathers the faithful and makes them the Church. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35243780

Luther and the Trojan Horse 01/29/2025

Luther and the Trojan Horse In this episode, Dr. Paulson examines Luther's response to being accused of standing alone in church history. Luther uses the example of Elijah to demonstrate how feeling alone does not mean God has abandoned his Gospel. Likewise, Luther explains that the church embraced free will not because of Scripture but just as the Trojans embraced the Greek's wooden horse. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/35064460

Did Luther Stand Alone? 01/20/2025

Did Luther Stand Alone? In this episode of The Outlaw God Podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson examines the accusation against Luther that he was the only person in church history to take a stance on the bondage of the will. Dr. Paulson demonstrates that Erasmus was not only in error but also that this type of "church history" can not be leveraged against scripture. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34925090

Preaching vs. Tradition: Erasmus' Dilemma 01/11/2025

Preaching vs. Tradition: Erasmus' Dilemma In this episode, Dr. Paulson addresses the next set of acusations against Luther. Erasmus accuses Luther of rejecting church history and tradition. He proposes that Luther is teaching that God hid the truth from the Church. Luther responds by showing Erasmus that even the tradition of the Church is unable to find God apart from the place where He wants to be found—namely, the preaching of the Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34817300

What Is Hiding? 01/01/2025

What Is Hiding? Paulson introduces chapter 3 of Luther's Outlaw God Volume Two. To understand more precisely what it means for God to hide, we look at different types of hiding that are common and ordinary to us. Paulson examines hiding from the law, hiding for safety, and hiding as play. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34683320

Christ Born Under the Law 12/24/2024

Christ Born Under the Law Dr. Paulson teaches about preaching the incarnation of Christ. Paulson hones in on the distinction between under and above the law. The incarnation of Christ is God becoming flesh, but that is where God is put under the law for us. Merry Christmas. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34600150

The Incarnation of Christ 12/20/2024

The Incarnation of Christ Dr. Paulson begins a two-episode special on the incarnation of Christ. Paulson examines the development of this doctrine and its importance to Christian theology. These episodes serve as a break from our regular programming. Merry Christmas. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34558060

Jonah Must Preach 12/12/2024

Jonah Must Preach God has given Jonah His Word. Jonah was spit out of the belly of the whale and sent to preach this word to Ninevah. God is not asking Jonah to be transformed or giving him a second chance; instead, he is fulfilling his promise. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34422985

The Word of God in Opposition 12/05/2024

The Word of God in Opposition The Law and the Gospel are not just distinct words from God but words in opposition. Here, Paulson discusses what it means for God's word of the Gospel to come and overturn the work of the law. The law is good and necessary, but the Gospel overcomes the death it delivers. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34305110

Fueling the Mission: Supporting 1517 to Proclaim the Gospel 12/03/2024

Fueling the Mission: Supporting 1517 to Proclaim the Gospel This is Caleb Keith, director of the 1517 Podcast Network. Today, as many of you may know, is Giving Tuesday. On this special day, I have a question for you: Does this podcast bring Jesus and His Gospel of peace into your life on a regular basis? At 1517, our mission—and the mission of the 1517 Podcast Network—is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free through the death and resurrection of Christ alone. Because of Jesus, God has made peace with you and continues to actively give you His peace. You can give by visiting or by following the link in the show notes. /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34266425

The Limits of Human Nature 11/30/2024

The Limits of Human Nature Dr. Paulson follows Luther's lead into discussing the limits of human nature. Is human nature a force to be formed towards God? Luther's follows Jonah into the belly of the whale to see that God is not perfecting human nature by trial but putting it to death with the Law. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34212120

Ascension of the Heart 11/21/2024

Ascension of the Heart Dr. Paulson continues discussing Jonah's time in the belly of the whale. Jonah is not on a journey to overcome a trial but is being put to spirtual death by God. As Jonah sits in the belly of the whale there is no work he can do, he must simply wait for a word from God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/34080196

Struggle in the Belly of the Whale 11/14/2024

Struggle in the Belly of the Whale The whale has swallowed Jonah. Paulson emphasizes Luther's analysis of this text, asserting that this is not a metaphorical pilgrim's journey. Instead, this trial brings on tentatio or the struggle between man and God. Here in the whale, Jonah is confronted with the reality that he cannot escape God's law by means of his own works or even his sacrifice. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33932152

Jonah Can't Satisfy the Law 11/07/2024

Jonah Can't Satisfy the Law Dr. Paulson discusses the events that follow the sailor's discovery that Jonah is responsible for the perils of their voyage. He suggests that Jonah being sacrificed to the sea is an attempt to alleviate the Law of God and restore balance to the trespass. However, Jonah is unable to satisfy the Law through his own death, and instead, God swallows him up in the belly of the fish. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33841692

An Outlaw God For The Church 10/24/2024

An Outlaw God For The Church This episode of the Outlaw God podcast was recorded live at Here We Still Stand 2024. The theme of the conference was Long live the church. Paulson answers the question, what does it mean for the church to have an outlaw God? Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33603642

Sleeping Jonah 10/21/2024

Sleeping Jonah As the Storm rages on, how can Jonah remain asleep? Paulson explains how Jonah continues to attempt to hide from God. First Jonah belives he can run from God and then tries sleep as a form of silencing the law. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33548652

Sacrificing Jonah 10/11/2024

Sacrificing Jonah The Sailors and Jonah decide that the wrath of the Law deserves a sacrifice. Jonah comes clean in an attempt to earn redemption before the Law. However, a sacrificial death will not be the last word. Dr. Paulson helps navigate the significant theological implications of this sacrifice. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33420547

Worship and Idolatry 10/04/2024

Worship and Idolatry The Law of God accuses Jonah, and everyone around him is affected. Yet, as the sailors try to appease God, they are met with silence. In this episode, Dr. Paulson talks about the worship produced out of men's hearts when God remains silent. This worship is nothing short of idolatry. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33333787

Reverting to an Ancient Religion 09/23/2024

Reverting to an Ancient Religion Dr. Pauslon continues to examine the book of Jonah. This week, we observe the sailors' behavior and their reversion to a religion of making sacrifices. The sailors identify that the law of God is judging them but do not know how to silence its accusation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33171817

God Hurled A Great Wind 09/10/2024

God Hurled A Great Wind The wrath of God is thrown upon Jonah and all those around him as he attempts to run from God. These events allow Dr. Paulson to analyze the response of sailors to demonstrate how one approaches the wrath of God when all they have is the law and not the gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32992927

Jonah Runs Away 08/31/2024

Jonah Runs Away Dr. Paulson focuses on Jonah's runaway response when God calls him to preach. As Jonah is called to Ninevah, he attempts to escape God. Paulson walks through the text to show how Jonah cannot escape the Word of God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32817862

God Calls a Preacher 08/23/2024

God Calls a Preacher God calls Jonah to preach the Gospel, but Jonah attempts to hide from God and his call. Dr. Paulson opens this episode by giving us a brief overview of how the distinction between law and the Gospel is worked out in the preacher's call. That is, the demand on the preacher to proclaim is a law, but the particular word they are sent to deliver is the promise of the Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32713662

God Calls Jonah 08/16/2024

God Calls Jonah Dr. Paulson introduces the story of Jonah by focusing on what it means to get a call from God to preach. Dr. Paulson and Caleb Keith discuss the distinction between an internal and external call to ministry and then examine Jonah's frightful response to God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32615227

Incomprehensible Wrath and Suffering 08/07/2024

Incomprehensible Wrath and Suffering Dr. Paulson discusses the need for preachers to preach in a world that experiences suffering and war. That is, for the comfort of souls, preaching often requires an address to specific and particular problems in our world. However, this preaching regularly goes sideways by turning into pure advice or situation analysis rather than a proclamation of the Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32484292

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