Best Ecclesiastical History Podcasts (2025)

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Understanding the Story of Scripture — with Jonathan Linebaugh 1:02:25

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8d ago1:02:25

1:02:25

If you’ve ever wondered how the Bible fits together—or how its story leads us to Jesus—this episode is for you. I sit down with Dr. Jonathan Linebaugh, New Testament scholar and expert on Paul’s theology, to explore how the law, grace, and gospel fit within the grand narrative of Scripture. We talk about how Paul reads the Old Testament, why the go…

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Eyes Wide Open: Using Secular Wisdom to Achieve Ministry Goals 43:11

10d ago43:11

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Recently, I had the joy of spending time with some ministers in an area of Sydney where Anglican churches are growing and thriving. Several of the ministers had participated in church consultations that used an outcomes-oriented framework based on solid gospel convictions and utilising organisational systems theory. The consultations had helped the…

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Matthew V. Novenson, "Paul and Judaism at the End of History" (Cambridge UP, 2024) 43:23

12d ago43:23

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The apostle Paul was a Jew. He was born, lived, undertook his apostolic work, and died within the milieu of ancient Judaism. And yet, many readers have found, and continue to find, Paul's thought so radical, so Christian, even so anti-Jewish – despite the fact that it, too, is Jewish through and through. This paradox, and the question how we are to…

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Peter Arzt-Grabner "Letters and Letter Writing" (Brill U Schoningh, 2023) 50:14

13d ago50:14

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New Testament letters are compared with private, business, and administrative letters of Greco-Roman antiquity and analyzed against this background. More than 11,800 Greek and Latin letters – preserved on papyrus, potsherds, and tablets from Egypt, Israel, Asia Minor, North Africa, Britain, and Switzerland – have been edited so far. Among them are …

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Ambra Suriano, "Narrative Paths Through Mamre and Sodom" (T&T Clark, 2025) 20:32

18d ago20:32

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What is the narrative of Mamre and Sodom (Genesis 18-19) really about? Surprisingly, Ambra Suriano says the main topic has to do with the knowledge of good and evil. Tune in as we speak with Ambra Suriano about her recent monograph, Narrative Paths Through Mamre and Sodom: The Oak and The Gate (T&T Clark, 2025). Ambra Suriano studied philology and …

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Markus Vinzent, "Christ's Torah: The Making of the New Testament in the Second Century" (Routledge, 2023) 1:18:06

19d ago1:18:06

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This volume explores the creation of the collection now known as the New Testament. While it is generally accepted that it did not emerge as a collection prior to the late second century CE, a more controversial question is how it came to be. Markus Vinzent, who had held the H.G. Wood Chair in the History of Theology at the University of Birmingham…

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From the Archives: Protestants vs. Roman Catholics on Justification — with Guillaume Bignon 1:17:38

22d ago1:17:38

1:17:38

From the Archives: Revisiting an old favorite! Think you know the Reformation? Most Protestants reject Catholic teaching—but do we really understand what was at stake? In this episode, Dr. Guillaume Bignon unpacks the real debates between Catholics and Protestants and shows why they still matter for our faith today. Support the Podcast Support us o…

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The Life Of King Saul pt 2 1:08:12

23d ago1:08:12

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Join us as we continue this fascinating journey!

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Hyun Ho Park, "Intergroup Conflict, Recategorization, and Identity Construction in Acts: Breaking the Cycle of Slander, Labeling and Violence" (Bloomsbury, 2023) 29:37

24d ago29:37

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In Intergroup Conflict, Recategorization, and Identity Construction in Acts: Breaking the Cycle of Slander, Labeling and Violence (Bloomsbury, 2023) Hyun Ho Park employs social identity to create the first thorough analysis via such methodology of Acts 21:17-23:35, which contains one of the fiercest intergroup conflicts in Acts. Park's assessment a…

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Francesca Stavrakopoulou, "God: An Anatomy" (Knopf, 2022) 44:50

1M ago44:50

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The scholarship of theology and religion teaches us that the God of the Bible was without a body, only revealing himself in the Old Testament in words mysteriously uttered through his prophets, and in the New Testament in the body of Christ. The portrayal of God as corporeal and masculine is seen as merely metaphorical, figurative, or poetic. But, …

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Ronald D. Price, "Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion" (Gefen, 2025) 42:22

1M ago42:22

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Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory (1927–2022), was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusal…

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Baptists, Fundamentalism, and the Path of Retrieval — with Wyatt Graham 55:07

1M ago55:07

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In this episode, I sit down with Wyatt Graham, Executive Director of The Davenant Institute and TGC Canada, to explore what it means for Baptists to embrace Protestant retrieval today. We trace how Baptists began as a renewal movement within the wider church, seeking to recover biblical faithfulness, and how that story speaks into our present momen…

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Benjamin J. Segal, "Kohelet's Pursuit of Truth: A New Reading of Ecclesiastes" (Gefen, 2016) 37:14

1M ago37:14

37:14

The Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes—full of poetry and enigmatic imagery, these are among the most challenging books of the Bible to understand. Well take heart, because we have some help coming your way! Tune in as we speak with Rabbi Benjamin Segal about his Gefen publications on the Ketuvim. We’ll talk with Rabbi Segal about his transl…

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Daniel I. Block, "Hearing the Gospel According to Moses: Chapters 24-34" (Inspirata, 2024) 31:44

2M ago31:44

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For renowned scholar Daniel Block, Deuteronomy is the “Gospel according to Moses.” In his farewell addresses, Moses calls God’s people to remember divine grace in salvation and their covenant relationship with him, as well as his revelation of a way of blessing in a lost world. Tune in as we speak with Daniel Block about the third and final volume …

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Talking with... Professor Andrew R. Holmes 15:58

2M ago15:58

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On this episode, we're joined by Andrew R. Holmes, Professor of History at Queen’s University Belfast. Specialising in the history of religion in Ireland from the seventeenth century to the present, Andrew has authored significant works, including his most recent contribution is co-editing The Oxford Handbook of Religion in Modern Ireland (2024) wi…

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Recovering the Art of Catechesis — with Dr. Alex Fogleman 55:07

2M ago55:07

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In a time when discipleship often feels like a buzzword, how do we actually form Christians who know and love the faith? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Alex Fogleman, author of Making Disciples: Catechesis in History, Theology, and Practice. We dive into how the ancient practice of catechesis can revitalize discipleship today. From the early ch…

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Michael Niebauer, "Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion" (Lexham Press, 2025) 34:20

2M ago34:20

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How can war stories, farming proverbs, and strange visions draw you closer to Jesus? In Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion, Michael Niebauer shows how to see the Bible's big story and meet with God in his word. Four mountain-top encounters with God (Eden, Sinai, Tabor, and Zion) unify the Bible's grand story. The earlie…

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The Life of King Saul Part 1 1:09:31

2M ago1:09:31

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Join us a we take a focused look on the rise and fall of Israel's first king.

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Gabriella Gelardini, "Deciphering the Worlds of Hebrews: Collected Essays" (Brill, 2021) 26:54

2M ago26:54

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In her book, Deciphering the Worlds of Hebrews, Gabriella Gelardini reads Hebrews within its context of Second Temple Judaism, writing about the structure and intertext of Hebrews, sin and faith, atonement and cult, as well as space and resistance. Join us as we speak with Gabriella Gelardini about the Book of Hebrews! Gabriella Gelardini is Profes…

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Beth M. Stovell, "Mapping Metaphorical Discourse in the Fourth Gospel: John’s Eternal King" (Brill, 2012) 26:31

2M ago26:31

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How does the metaphor of Jesus as king unify the message of the Gospel of John? Tune in as we speak with Beth Stovell about her monograph, Mapping Metaphorical Discourse in the Fourth Gospel. Beth's study shows how John’s Gospel describes the just character of Jesus’ kingship, the subversion of power implicit in his crucified form of kingship, and …

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Why Baptist History Still Matters w/ Dr. Matthew Bingham 1:00:51

2M ago1:00:51

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What if the Baptists weren’t just a pragmatic breakaway movement—but a theologically rich tradition born out of deep conviction? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Bingham, Associate Professor of Church History at Phoenix Seminary and author of Orthodox Radicals: Baptist Identity in the English Revolution. We talk about the real origins o…

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Daniel C. Matt, "Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation" (Yale UP, 2022) 31:46

2M ago31:46

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Elijah is a zealous prophet, attacking idolatry and injustice, championing God. He performs miracles, restoring life and calling down fire. When his earthly life ends, he vanishes in a whirlwind, carried off to heaven in a fiery chariot. Was this a spectacular death, or did Elijah escape death entirely? The latter view prevailed. Though residing in…

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Daniel I. Block, "Hearing the Gospel According to Moses Volume 2: Chapters 12-23" (Inspirata, 2024) 32:17

3M ago32:17

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Some time ago, we spoke with Daniel Block about volume 1 of his Deuteronomy commentary, Hearing the Gospel According to Moses. Tune in as we hear from Dan now about his second volume, on chapters 12-23 of Deuteronomy, which he characterizes as “Responding to the grace of the LORD with righteous living.” Daniel Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Profe…

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Talking with... Professor David Fergusson 18:47

3M ago18:47

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In this episode, we speak with Regius Professor of Divinity David Fergusson (University of Cambridge) about his research on Christian doctrine, theological ethics, and the history of Reformed theology, particularly within the Scottish context. David is the author of many works, including his latest book Reformed Humanism: Essays on Christian Doctri…

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Understanding God’s Mercy with Ryan Hurd 1:05:09

3M ago1:05:09

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In this episode, we sit down with theologian Ryan Hurd to explore one of the most profound and often misunderstood attributes of God: His mercy. Drawing from his deep engagement with classical theism, scholastic theology, and biblical exegesis, Ryan walks us through the rich doctrinal framework that helps us understand how God's mercy is not in con…

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Ecclesiastes & The Struggle Within 1:24:23

3M ago1:24:23

1:24:23

The fight we all have and the choices we must all make

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Jonathon Stuart Wright, "Joseph and Aseneth After Antiquity: A Study in Manuscript Transmission" (de Gruyter, 2025) 59:34

3M ago59:34

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Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text ve…

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Yonatan Y. Brafman, "Critique of Halakhic Reason: Divine Commandments and Social Normativity" (Oxford UP, 2024) 1:01:20

3M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

For centuries, Jewish thinkers have asked two parallel questions. First, what is the reasoning behind an individual commandment and second, why bother heeding a command at all, something Dr. Brafman terms “reasons for” vs “reasons of” the commandments. In his newest book, Critique of Halakhic Reason: Divine Commandments and Social Normativity (Oxfo…

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Abeneazer G. Urga et al., "Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James" (William Carey, 2025) 52:06

3M ago52:06

52:06

While books on a New Testament theology of mission abound, most of them focus on tried-and-true Scripture passages from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles while ignoring the contribution of the General Epistles. Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey, 2025) addresses this gap in miss…

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Ecclesiastes, Joy, and Life Under the Sun with Bobby Jamieson 59:04

3M ago59:04

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In this episode, we sit down with Bobby Jamieson, senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Chapel Hill and author of the insightful new book Everything Is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes' Surprising Path to Resilient Happiness. Bobby draws on his scholarly background and pastoral heart to guide us through Ecclesiastes—not as a gloomy tragedy, but as a…

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Talking with... Professor Mary Laven 20:37

3M ago20:37

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In this episode, we are honoured to speak with Mary Laven, Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Jesus College. Mary is widely known for her influential work on the social and religious history of early modern Europe, particularly Italy. Her most recent book, co-authored with Abigail Brundin and Deborah Ho…

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Athanasius, Incarnation, and the Renewal of the World with Jeremy Treat 46:43

4M ago46:43

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In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Treat, pastor for preaching and vision at Reality LA and author of the new book, On the Incarnation: The Good News of Jesus for the Renewal of the World. Drawing from the brilliance of Athanasius—an early church father who defended the full divinity of Christ—Treat makes ancient theology come alive for modern…

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Girolamo Zanchi, "Confession of the Christian Religion" (Reformation, 2025) 31:04

4M ago31:04

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In response to the Lutheran Formula of Concord, representatives of Reformed churches commissioned Girolamo Zanchi to draft a confession of faith acceptable to all Reformed churches. Zanchi patterned his Confession of the Christian Religion after the Apostles' Creed, giving it a broadly Trinitarian and redemptive-historical structure that emphasizes…