Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund explores the ancient Christian idea that stars are bound up with the angelic realm, showing how Scripture, church history, and the imaginations of Lewis and Tolkien reveal a far more enchanted universe than we usually perceive.
Gavin's most recent article on angelic fall theodicy: thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/angelic-fall-theodicy-in-dialogue-with-tolkien-augustine-and-aquinas
Videos Mentioned:
Is The Lord of the Rings a "Christian Book?": youtu.be/ImJTKA3ePdA?si=mtJcgH5XrXoPksVo
Did Satan's Fall Corrupt Nature?: youtu.be/p0G-3eFHeq8?si=1T1yj6vJ2xgNa2BJ
Further Reading:
Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea: amazon.com/Origen-Life-Stars-History-Christian/dp/0198263619
Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present: amazon.com/Studies-Matthew-Interpretation-Past-Present/dp/080104913X
Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis: amazon.com/Planet-Narnia-Seven-Heavens-Imagination/dp/019973870X
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Introduction
02:54 - Augustine
07:05 - Thomas Aquinas
11:08 - Scripture
16:38 - Tolkien
21:02 - CS Lewis
26:31 - Outro
Gavin Ortlund explores the ancient Christian idea that stars are bound up with the angelic realm, showing how Scripture, church history, and the imaginations of Lewis and Tolkien reveal a far more enchanted universe than we usually perceive.
Gavin's most recent article on angelic fall theodicy: thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/angelic-fall-theodicy-in-dialogue-with-tolkien-augustine-and-aquinas
Videos Mentioned:
Is The Lord of the Rings a "Christian Book?": youtu.be/ImJTKA3ePdA?si=mtJcgH5XrXoPksVo
Did Satan's Fall Corrupt Nature?: youtu.be/p0G-3eFHeq8?si=1T1yj6vJ2xgNa2BJ
Further Reading:
Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea: amazon.com/Origen-Life-Stars-History-Christian/dp/0198263619
Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present: amazon.com/Studies-Matthew-Interpretation-Past-Present/dp/080104913X
Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis: amazon.com/Planet-Narnia-Seven-Heavens-Imagination/dp/019973870X
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Introduction
02:54 - Augustine
07:05 - Thomas Aquinas
11:08 - Scripture
16:38 - Tolkien
21:02 - CS Lewis
26:31 - Outro
