In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Michael Peppard, Professor of New Testament, Early Christian Studies, Religion and Public Life at Fordham University, to discuss his new book, How Catholics Encounter the Bible. Over the course of the interview, we talk about why Catholics don't read the Bible the way Protestants do, the interplay of liturgy and Scripture, and what's great, and not so great, about the Catholic lectionary. Dr. Peppard's book: https://amzn.to/4jkPmBp Dr. Peppard...

In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Brandon Smith to discuss his book, Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church. We talk about how Christians have read Scripture over the course of history, what we can learn from the way the Fathers, the Reformers, and others read Scripture. We also talk about what this looks like in a Protestant context. Smith earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University, an M.A. in Theological and Biblical Studies from Criswell College...

In this interview I'm joined by Craig Truglia to discuss his book, The Rise and Fall of the Papacy, in which he goes through the evidence for and against the papacy century by century throughout the first millennium of the church. Over the course of the conversation, we discuss the nature and extent of the Bishop of Rome's role in the early church, whether there was a bishop in Rome during the first century, and much more. Read the Book: https://amzn.to/4pXQJYw Craig's Channel: @Ortho...

In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Richard DeClue, Professor of Theology at the Word on Fire Institute, to discuss Catholic ecclesiology. Specifically, we dive into the idea of eucharistic ecclesiology which looks at ecclesiology through the lens of the eucharist. Along the way, we discuss what implications this has for ecumenism, and how this illuminates why Orthodox churches are considered churches while Protestant churches are "ecclesial communions" according to Catholic teaching. Dr. D...

In this interview I'm joined by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser to discuss how our Christian spirituality changes with age, and what we need most in our final years of life. Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., is President-Emeritus of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas, where he remains a full-time faculty member and Professor of Spirituality. In 1982, he began writing a column “In Exile” which is carried in Catholic newspapers worldwide. He is the author of many award-winning books includi...

In this episode, I'm joined in-person by Casey Chalk, author of The Obscurity of Scripture, to discuss the topic of perspicuity. Along the way, we examine what the doctrine means, how much it covers, and whether the Catholic paradigm works better. Get the book: stpaulcenter.com/obscurityofscripture Want to support the channel? Here's how! Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: ...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Barnabas Aspray, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary's Seminary, to discuss his recent book, On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy. Over the course of the topic, we touch on Christian Nationalism, Catholic Social Teaching, and why Christians today disagree on the topic of immigration. Read Dr. Aspray's Book for Free: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/106156 Dr. Aspray's Article on Jesus as a Refugee: h...

In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Myles Werntz to discuss the nature of the church with special attention given to some of the significant developments in ecclesiology that occurred during the 20th century. We touch on Vatican 2, the World Council of Churches, the rise of Pentecostalism, and much more. Furthermore, we pay special attention to methodology, noticing how our methodological starting point in ecclesiology often shapes our conclusions. Contesting the Body of Christ: Eccles...

In this interview, I'm joined by Colleen Dulle, Vatican Correspondent for America Magazine, to discuss how reporting on Catholic Scandals affected her faith. Over the course of the interview, we discuss the finances behind canonization, the treatment of nuns at the Vatican, and, of course, the sex abuse crisis. Colleen's Book: Struck Down, Not Destroyed: https://amzn.to/4nzAb7O Inside the Vatican Podcast Episode on Canonization: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/deep-dive-how-saint...

In this interview, I'm joined by Andrew Likoudis, editor of the new volume, Faith in Crisis, which deals with the ongoing questions of submission to the pope and the magisterium in the Catholic Church. We discuss when (if at all), a Catholic can disagree with the pope, and how that can be done. Along the way, we dive into questions about the death penalty, freedom of conscience, Vatican 2, and what happens with a heretical pope. Support the channel: Patreon: patreon.com/gospelsimplicity ...

The Great Western Schism is one of the most fascinating and dramatic stories in the history of the church. And yet, many people have never heard of it. This is a story of saints against saints, councils against popes, and rival popes vying for power. For skeptics, it's proof the emperor has no clothes. For committed Catholics, it's a reminder that the church has been through far worse in its past than in its present. For everyone, it's a story worth knowing. Videos like these are some ...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. James Kelly to discuss the Catholic Reformation. We cover why "Catholic Reformation" is a better name than "Counter Reformation," the Council of Trent, the spread of Catholicism during colonialism, and the impact of the Catholic Reformation on daily life. Dr. James Kelly is Associate Professor in the History of Catholicism in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. Read his full bio: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/james-kelly3/...

In this interview, Dr. Joshua Sijuwade returns to the channel, but this time from a different church. About a year ago, he and I discussed his a priori argument for the papacy. This time, he's sharing what ultimately led him to change his mind on the papacy and become Orthodox. The conversation focuses on the structure of the church, and whether Catholics or Orthodox have retained the church structure of the first millennium. In a future episode, we may dive into the differences in the...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Ian Christopher Levy to discuss freedom of conscience in medieval Catholic theology. We pay special attention to how this medieval theology showed up in the trial of Jan Hus, the Great Western Schism, and the condemnation of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. Dr. Ian Christopher Levy (Ph. D. Marquette University) is Professor of Historical theology at Providence College. He is a leading expert in medieval biblical exegesis, sacraments, and ecclesio...

Vatican 1 represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic Church. It was there that Papal Infallibility was proclaimed as dogma, and the Christian world is still feeling the reverberations of that declaration. And yet, even for most well-informed Christians, this is all they know about the council. But the full story reveals much more. Yes, Vatican 1 declared papal infallibility as dogma, but it also had important things to say about faith, reason, and dogma in general. More th...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Beth Felker Jones, Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary, to discuss her recent book, Why I am Protestant, which is part of IVP's ecumenical dialogue series, including Dr. Matthew Levering's corresponding book, Why I am Roman Catholic. Dr. Jones shares her reasons for being Protestant, including some arguments that I think will be brand new to you. If you're a Protestant who's wondering if staying Protestant is worth it, this video is for you. Get ...

Recently, I visited Church of the Nativity, a cutting-edge Catholic megachurch outside of Baltimore, MD. After I posted the video, the team at Nativity reached out to me and asked if I wanted to learn more about the story of the church and their philosophy. I was thrilled. So, a few weeks ago, I sat down with Tom Corcoran, one of the people behind turning this dying church into one of the fastest growing, most interesting Catholic parishes in the country. Learn more: https://www.rebuilt...

In this interview, I'm joined by Fr. Ben Crosby, an Episcopal priest and Ph.D. student at McGill university, to discuss the 39 articles, Anglican theology, and how to restore the Episcopal Church to its theological roots. Along the way, Fr. Ben shares the fascinating story of how liberals and conservatives have both opposed the 39 articles, whether "via media" is a good way to describe Anglicanism, and why being more Protestant makes Anglicans more Anglican. It's a fascinating discussion, and...

In this interview, I discuss ethics, beauty, and Orthodoxy with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. In doing so, we get to what he sees as the heart of the divide between the Christian East and the Christian West. It's a wide-ranging discussion that had me on the edge of my seat. Want to support the channel? Here's how! Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with...

n this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Andy Messmer to discuss the Spanish Reformation--which, if you're anything like me, you might have never heard about. In our wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Messmer shares some of the key figures and ideas that came out of the Spanish Reformation as well as why it ultimately failed to take hold. To understand that, we dive into the Spanish Inquisition as well as what the church in Spain looks like today. Dr. Messmer is at the forefront of studyin...