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The Nicene Sessions

The Nicene Sessions

The Incarnation: Jesus, the Spirit & Virgin Birth with Daniel Block

Jul 7, 2026 · 24 min · 8 segments

“For us and for our salvation…”—the heart of the Christian gospel. In this episode, we explore the Incarnation in the Nicene Creed: why Jesus came down from heaven, what it means that He was born of…

“For us and for our salvation…”—the heart of the Christian gospel. In this episode, we explore the Incarnation in the Nicene Creed: why Jesus came down from heaven, what it means that He was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and how this fulfills the Old Testament hope of God dwelling with His people. ### In this episode: - What the Incarnation really means - Why both the Holy Spirit and Mary are essential - God’s presence from Eden to Jesus ### **About Our Guest** Daniel I. Block is a prominent Canadian-American Old Testament scholar and author. He is best known as the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College and has written extensively on biblical theology, covenant, and worship. ### Explore More Discover more books and resources from IVP: 👉 https://ivpbooks.com * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“For us and for our salvation…”—the heart of the Christian gospel. In this episode, we explore the Incarnation in the Nicene Creed: why Jesus came down from heaven, what it means that He was born of…

Speakers: Daniel BlockGuestTom CreedyHost

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music

Top entities: Jesus×25 Daniel I. Block×22 Mary×13 Holy Spirit×14 Isaiah 7:14×5

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈8k followers

Cold-Open & Show Kick-off0:00 – 1:34

Daniel BlockGuest

0:00

And Adam's response is, I'm hiding here from you.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:05

Which raises the question, what happens in Genesis chapter 3? We need this because incarnation is enfleshment of God.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:16

He didn't create the world for humanity.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:20

He created humanity for the world.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:22

The pagans all around created their own images of God.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:26

With big ears, because they were desperate for a hearing.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:30

Big eyes, they wanted to be seen.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:33

And big mouths, they wanted to hear the speech.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:36

Well, God has no ears, he has no mouth, and yet he speaks clearly.

0:47

Hello, and welcome to the Nicene Sessions, a special limited podcast series from InterVarsity Press, recorded live at the Evangelical Theological Society's annual meeting.

0:58

I'm Tom Creedy, the Publishing Director at IVP, and today I'm joined by Daniel.

1:02

Daniel, who are you and what do you do? I'm Daniel

Daniel BlockGuest

1:06

Bloch.

Daniel BlockGuest

1:07

I have spent almost 50 years in the classroom.

Daniel BlockGuest

1:11

teaching students the scriptures, particularly focused in the last 10 years on the only Bible Jesus had.

1:21

Excellent.

1:22

Thank you, Daniel.

1:23

It's great to have you with us.

1:25

Each episode of this podcast is diving deep into the Nicene Creed.

1:28

So we'll be looking at a specific line, which I'll read, and then I'll ask you some questions if that's okay.

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JesusPersonReligious leader
99%25 mentions
Daniel I. BlockPersonAmerican theologian
97%22 mentions
MaryPersonSaint ‧ Jesus' mother
94%13 mentions
Holy SpiritEntityDivinity
92%14 mentions
Isaiah 7:14Entity
90%5 mentions
IsraelCountryCountry in the Middle East
88%7 mentions
YahwehEntityDeity
86%8 mentions
EzekielPersonPriest
83%6 mentions
Old TestamentBookBook
81%10 mentions
Nicene CreedEntity
79%4 mentions
MosesPersonTeacher
77%3 mentions
ChristologyEntity
74%5 mentions
Hebrew BibleBook SeriesCanon
72%4 mentions
ChristianityEntityReligion
70%1 mention
Angel of the LordEntity
68%2 mentions
Son of manEntity
66%2 mentions
InterVarsity PressCompany
63%3 mentions
SeptuagintBookScripture
61%5 mentions
Inter-Varsity PressCompany
59%4 mentions
AcastCompanyAdvertising agency company
57%2 mentions
Exodus 34Entity
54%2 mentions
Matthew 1Entity
52%2 mentions
Book of DeuteronomyBookBook
50%3 mentions
AhazPersonFormer King of Judah
48%4 mentions
Wheaton CollegeCollege or UniversityCollege in Wheaton, Illinois
46%1 mention
Davidic lineEntityDynasty
43%1 mention
Luke 1EntityScripture
41%2 mentions
Ezekiel 1BookScripture
39%1 mention
New TestamentBookSacred scripture
37%3 mentions
John the ApostlePersonSaint
34%3 mentions
MessiahEntity
32%1 mention
IdolatryEntity
30%1 mention
Greek languageEntityHuman language
28%4 mentions
IsraelitesEntityPeople
26%1 mention
Evangelical Theological SocietyOrganization
23%1 mention
EgyptCountryCountry
20%1 mention
EgyptiansEntityEthnic group
20%1 mention
Garden of EdenEntity
17%1 mention
TorahBook SeriesScripture
14%1 mention
HoseaPersonProphet
12%1 mention
Tiglath-Pileser IIIPersonCommander
10%1 mention
JephthahPersonJudge
8%1 mention
EsauPersonHunter ‧ Isaac's son
6%1 mention
Jewish peopleEntityAdherents
3%1 mention
ChristophanyEntity
1%1 mention

TheologyReligion
Virgin BirthReligion > Christianity
TrinityReligion > Theology
Old TestamentReligion
Biblical StudiesReligion
IncarnationReligion > Theology
Covenant TheologyReligion > Biblical Studies
Religion
ChristianityReligion
Old TestamentReligion > Theology > Incarnation
Divine PresenceReligion > Theology > Incarnation > Old Testament
IsraelReligion > Biblical Studies > Covenant Theology
God's Relationship with HumanityReligion > Biblical Studies > Covenant Theology > Israel
MaryReligion > Christianity > Virgin Birth
Holy SpiritReligion > Christianity > Virgin Birth > Mary
ProphecyReligion > Old Testament
IsaiahReligion > Old Testament > Prophecy
Messianic ExpectationsReligion > Old Testament > Prophecy > Isaiah
God's NatureReligion > Theology > Trinity
Humanity's Relationship with GodReligion > Theology > Trinity > God's Nature

Cold-Open & Show Kick-off0:00 – 1:34

Daniel BlockGuest

0:00

And Adam's response is, I'm hiding here from you.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:05

Which raises the question, what happens in Genesis chapter 3? We need this because incarnation is enfleshment of God.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:16

He didn't create the world for humanity.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:20

He created humanity for the world.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:22

The pagans all around created their own images of God.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:26

With big ears, because they were desperate for a hearing.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:30

Big eyes, they wanted to be seen.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:33

And big mouths, they wanted to hear the speech.

Daniel BlockGuest

0:36

Well, God has no ears, he has no mouth, and yet he speaks clearly.

0:47

Hello, and welcome to the Nicene Sessions, a special limited podcast series from InterVarsity Press, recorded live at the Evangelical Theological Society's annual meeting.

0:58

I'm Tom Creedy, the Publishing Director at IVP, and today I'm joined by Daniel.

1:02

Daniel, who are you and what do you do? I'm Daniel

Daniel BlockGuest

1:06

Bloch.

Daniel BlockGuest

1:07

I have spent almost 50 years in the classroom.

Daniel BlockGuest

1:11

teaching students the scriptures, particularly focused in the last 10 years on the only Bible Jesus had.

1:21

Excellent.

1:22

Thank you, Daniel.

1:23

It's great to have you with us.

1:25

Each episode of this podcast is diving deep into the Nicene Creed.

1:28

So we'll be looking at a specific line, which I'll read, and then I'll ask you some questions if that's okay.