Dr. A.J. Swoboda and Dr. Nijay Gupta are co-hosts of Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times. We talk Bible, theology, and anything and everything else under the sun that gives our lives meaning.
AJ and Nijay finally get to the Spirit's Gift of Tongues in their Holy Spirit series. This is one where there is a lot of theological discussion and sometimes heated debate. And a lot of confusion about what speaking in tongues is all about. Slow Theology offers an accessible discussion to an often perplexing issue and difficult conversation. Check it out. Support the show
AJ and Nijay talk about AJ's brand new book: A TEACHABLE SPIRIT: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone (Zondervan Reflective, 2025). Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series with a frequently asked question from students and church folks: "Can you lose the Holy Spirit"? Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series. In this ep. they discuss "Spiritual Gifts," what they are and what they are for. They emphasize that the gifts from the Spirit are not "no strings attached." They come with a calling to serve one another and build up the church. Support the show
Nijay and AJ continue the Holy Spirit series, focusing on the question: What does it mean to walk with the Spirit? You'll have to listen in to answer the questions: (1) Who is the "Speedo Guy" and (2) What does he have to do with walking in the Spirit versus the flesh? Support the show
AJ and Nijay kick off a series on the Holy Spirit. Do you find yourself confused by the second person of the Trinity? Can you pray to the Spirit? What do you call the Spirit? What exactly is the Spirit? In this first episode AJ and Nijay introduce the conversation and talk about how we talk about the Spirit, and why it matters. Subscribe to make sure you are up to date on all the episodes. Support the show
Does God speak to us through prophets and prophecy today? Or is that a thing of the past? And how can you discern false prophecy from true prophecy? AJ and Nijay have an important conversation. Support the show
AJ and Nijay talk about Nijay's brand new book: THE AFFECTIONS OF CHRIST JESUS: LOVE AT THE HEART OF PAUL'S THEOLOGY (Eerdmans): released Feb 20, 2025. Support the show
Nijay and AJ reflect on Scripture's emphasis on attending to the quartet of the vulnerable (orphans, widows, foreigners, the poor; see Zech 7:9-10). Support the show
Are some parts of the Bible inherently more important than others? AJ and Nijay reflect on this important question. Listen in. Support the show
What can the earthly life of Jesus teach us about healthy relationships? Nijay and AJ explore this important question thinking about Jesus as a prophet sent from God the Father with an urgent mission. Support the show
Nijay and AJ cap off their series on the Ten Commandments with "Do Not Covet." Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series: Do Not Bear False Witness/Do Not Lie. Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series with "Do Not Steal." Support the show
*Explicit Conversation Warning* AJ and Nijay continue their conversation about the Ten Commandments and practicing Slow Theology. They use the language of sex and lust frequently in this episode, so be mindful of who is listening. Support the show
Nijay and AJ interrupt their Ten Commandments series to offer a one-off discussion of the problem of spiritual pride; Western Christians today need to cultivate a "poverty of spirit," a deep realization and ownership of our personal neediness, incompleteness, and brokenness. Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue with the sixth commandment, "Do not murder." Now, at first glance that seems like an easy thing, but Scripture and Christian theology have a lot to say, not only about the evil of ending life, but also about the responsibility of protecting and blessing life. Explore this important subject further and listen in. Support the show
AJ and Nijay dive into the commandment to "honor your father and your mother." What does this mean? Not just for children, but for adults as well? In a time where there is generational conflict over politics, this could be a very urgent message for healing divides today. Support the show
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series; this time: Remember the Sabbath. Much of their discussion derives from insights from AJs bestselling book SUBVERSIVE SABBATH. Support the show
We often think that not taking the Lord's name in vain means not blurting out "Jesus Christ!" Or "God d*** it!" It's good to respect God's name, but this commandment is far deeper and more pervasively important than watching your tongue when you stub your toe. Check out AJ and Nijay's discussion about what it means to honor God's name in our words and our whole lives. Support the show
AJ and Nijay get into the the first set of commandments, which form the fountainhead for the rest: singular allegiance to YHWH and rejection of idols. The Ten Commandments is much more than a list of don'ts, it is a mini-theology, pointing to a rich life within the healthy boundaries God has established for image-bearing creatures. Support the show
Slow Theology is excited to introduce a new series on the Ten Commandments (10C). Join AJ and Nijay as they process this foundation text in Scripture and how it forms our spirituality, theology, ethics, and life together. In this first episode they introduce the background and context of the 10C, and discuss the prescript statement, "I am YHWH, your God, who brought you out of Egypt" (Ex 20:2). Support the show
It's all too easy to doomscroll news about "church evil," the harrowing revelations regarding issues of abuse and corruption in Christian communities. In the past, AJ and Nijay have discussed the theological, moral, and philosophical implications of this dark reality coming to light, but in this new episode they discuss the emotional textures of facing this disheartening and horrifying news on a constant basis. Support the show...
Do you have people in your life that you can share your darker struggles with, and confess your sins to? AJ and Nijay talk about being very selective and careful about finding your "confessors" and confidants; people that are not only safe, but also wise and care about your faith and relationship with Jesus. Support the show
**Possible Trigger Warning** AJ and Nijay discuss the limitations of "righteous suffering" today. Jesus took abuse and harm upon himself from others for the salvation of the world. Is Jesus a model for abuse victims today? Are there areas of life where WWJD doesn't apply—where we shouldn't or can't imitate Jesus? Support the show
In Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." This verse has perplexed many readers, because on the surface it appears that Paul is talking about earning salvation, so what happened to justification by grace?? AJ and Nijay love talking about reading the Bible well in context, check it out. UPDATE: Nijay mentions in this episode a messaging feature, but we decided to turn it off because we can't message you back! So, contact us on social media to relay any...
Jesus is remembered as a great teacher, but he also had many conversations with people he met and he asked a lot of questions (well over 100 questions from the lips of Jesus in the Gospels). What can we learn about Jesus from his questions? What can we learn about the Gospel? What can we learn about our faith? AJ and Nijay reflect on these questions. Support the show
AJ and Nijay talk about a common question they get in the church and classroom: What's the best Bible translation? If you're curious, listen in on their conversation. Support the show
" We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves " (Rom 15:1) Knowledge is good - the more you know the further you'll go (as they say). But it can also lead to pride, arrogance, and judgmentalism. AJ and Nijay chat about the dangers of spiritual pride and how to build up the other and not puff up oneself (1 Cor 8:1). Support the show
What happens when your theological heroes change their mind, let you down, or leave the faith? It can be uncomfortable, sometimes devastating. In keeping with the theme of "slow theology," AJ and Nijay address this struggle and encourage a non-reactive theology. Support the show
