(This is the transcription of an AI generated podcast, by Manu Rusu, summarising the interview with Dr Adonis Vidu in the book Transfigurari. 9 dialoguri întru devenire [Transfigurations. Nine Dialogues of Becoming], Oradea: Decenu.eu, 2025)

 Speaker 1:  Let’s start with Adonis Vidu, a theologian whose reflections on institutions and academic life offer particularly sharp insights. 

 Speaker 2:  Adonis shares how his initial, somewhat idealistic view of institutions evolved over time into a more pragmatic understanding. 

 Speaker 1:  Pragmatic in what sense? 

 Speaker 2:  He came to realize that even organizations with noble goals can develop inherent issues—what he aptly calls “pathologies.” 

 Speaker 1:  Pathologies? 

 Speaker 2:  Yes. And his hard-earned wisdom leads him to suggest that sometimes, rather than battling entrenched problems within an institution, it’s better to seek environments more aligned with your mission and values. 

 Speaker 1:  It’s about strategic effectiveness, not judgment. 

 Speaker 2:  These observations stem from Adonis’s personal experiences. He recounts his time at Emanuel University in Romania, detailing the challenges he faced. 

 Speaker 1:  These difficulties eventually prompted him to explore opportunities beyond Romania, advancing his work in theological education on a broader scale. 

 Speaker 2:  This brings us to a particularly concerning aspect of the dialogue: Adonis was a Langham scholar. 

 Speaker 1:  For those unfamiliar, Langham Scholars is a program initiated by John Stott to support theological education in the majority world. 

 Speaker 2:  It’s quite prestigious. 

 Speaker 1:  As part of the program, Adonis committed to returning to Romania to teach after his studies, which he fulfilled. However, circumstances became increasingly difficult—unsustainable, even. 

 Speaker 2:  In 2006, a pivotal meeting in Bucharest with Chris Wright from Langham International highlighted deeply rooted autocratic issues within Romanian evangelical theological institutions. 

 Speaker 1:  And the statistics discussed were striking. 

 Speaker 2:  Only two out of twelve Romanian Langham Scholars were actively teaching in the country at that time. 

 Speaker 1:  Two out of twelve. That signifies a significant loss of talent—a drain on Romania’s theological expertise. 

 Speaker 2:  Adonis’s challenges were central to this discussion. So what happened next? 

 Speaker 1:  Thankfully, an opportunity emerged. Adonis secured a position at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston—a prestigious institution—with strong support from Peter Kuzmič, a prominent scholar there. Yet, his move marked a considerable loss for theological education in Romania. 

 Speaker 2:  In the U.S., Adonis flourished academically, finding a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment at Gordon-Conwell. 

 Speaker 1:  He speaks highly of his colleagues—Douglas Stewart, Haddon Robinson, David Wells, Richard Lints—figures who profoundly shaped American evangelical theology. 

 Speaker 2:  Adonis valued the rigorous exchanges and critiques that were central to academic growth. 

 Speaker 1:  So, what’s next for him? 

 Speaker 2:  His upcoming work sounds captivating. He’s exploring the concept of Christian life through   union with the Trinity  , emphasizing   marriage with Christ   and developing what he calls   nuptial theology  . 

 Speaker 1:  Nuptial theology? 

 Speaker 2:  Yes—a fresh perspective that examines Christian living through this intimate union with Christ. It touches on prayer, sacraments, family life, sexuality, work, suffering, and even death. 

 Speaker 1:  It’s ambitious, drawing deeply from Christian mystical traditions. 

 Speaker 2:  Adonis also mentions a shift in his theological focus—from philosophical theology to dogmatic theology. 

 Speaker 1:  Why the change? 

 Speaker 2:  He attributes it partly to the practical needs of seminary students preparing for ministry. 

 Speaker 1:  That makes sense—the immediate concerns of pastors-in-training naturally shape the focus of theological education. 

 Speaker 1:  Did Adonis talk about specific doctrines? 

 Speaker 2:  He did. He mentioned his ongoing engagement with the doctrine of atonement, particularly the idea of penal substitution. 

 Speaker 1:  OK, that’s a big one, often debated. 

 Speaker 2:  Very much so. Penal substitution, in essence, understands Christ’s death as him taking the punishment we deserved for sin. Adonis actually wrote a book exploring the historical links between this theological idea and legal history, specifically our understanding of justice. 

 Speaker 1:  Interesting, that interdisciplinary approach again. 

 Speaker 2:  It’s also worth noting the contrast between Adonis, who identifies as theologically conservative, and the interviewer, Dănuț Mănăstireanu, who describes himself as more post-evangelical and socio-liberal. 

 Speaker 1:  Different trajectories, then. 

 Speaker 2:  Yes, and that difference is acknowledged. 

 Speaker 1:  But despite those differing perspectives, it seems they share a clear, palpable concern for the current state of evangelicalism. 

 Speaker 2:  Both in Romania and globally. This concern is especially pronounced in the aftermath of the Trump administration and the significant support it received from white American evangelicals. 

 Speaker 1:  That does highlight a broader, ongoing conversation within evangelicalism about identity, purpose, and the path forward. 

 Speaker 2:  Indeed. There’s quite a lot to unpack with Adonis Vidu. 

 Speaker 1:  Definitely.