Episode Details

Gandalf the wizard as an Old Testament prophet? Hobbits as intercessory priests? Aragorn as a messianic king? Dr. Philip Ryken, president of Wheaton College, joins Brian in the studio to uncover the rich Gospel themes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. While Tolkien famously insisted his work was not an allegory, Dr. Ryken explains how the author’s faith and theological imagination imbued the text with profoundly Christian motifs—most significantly, “the threefold office of Christ” depicted through several of the story's central characters.

Check out Dr. Ryken’s book, The Messiah Comes to Middle-Earth: Images of Christ's Threefold Office in The Lord of the Rings:

https://www.ivpress.com/the-messiah-comes-to-middle-earth-ebook?srsltid=AfmBOoqIanzXkiPyRO2X4rIxKb0kBGrYOE-fWxYlRUj0R3WN1_0knL92

Dr. Ryken has published more than 50 books and he serves as president of Wheaton College: https://www.wheaton.edu/about-wheaton/leadership/president-ryken

Dr. Brian Doak is an Old Testament scholar and professor: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/doak.html

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