The so-called “deuterocanonical” books of the Catholic Old Testament include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. But what makes a book deuterocanonical? How did these books become part of the Scriptural canon in the first place? In this short-form episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma addresses three common misconceptions about the Deuterocanonical books and the Old Testament Biblical canon. If you’ve ever heard of the “Alexandrian canon,” wanted to learn more about the Septuagint, or wondered why Catholic Bibles are bigger, this episode of Stunned by Scripture is for you.

In this new episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma sits down with friend, confirmation sponsor, and fellow theologian Dr. Michael Dauphinais. From a range of emotions to serious and sincere conversation, the two discuss the pursuit of truth as it relates to both Thomas Aquinas and Sacred Scripture. Dauphinais shares the powerful story of his journey home to the Catholic Church and what led him to the study of theology. Further, through a guided conversation, Bergsma and Dauphinais also explore the place of Sacred Scripture in the Church, Aquinas' Summa Theologica, and the role of the theologian in our modern age. Join us for an intense and unforgettable conversation you won't want to miss. ✨ Join the largest group Bible Study in America—Bible Across America ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.com/america Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #aquinas #scripture #religion #christianity #catholic

Many people today speak of the "Big Bang Theory" as being opposed to belief in God. However, they this is an uninformed thing to say. Ironically, the theory was opposed for decades by scientists because of its theistic implications. If the universe had a beginning, this implies that the universe has a creator. In this episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma examines the origin of the “big bang theory” and the shocking reason that atheist and agnostic scientists—including Albert Einstein—vehemently opposed it. From its development and early opposition to the philosophical and logical arguments that support it, you’ll come away with a better understanding of the origins of the “big bang” and its impact on science and theology. ✨ Join the largest group Bible Study in America—Bible Across America ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.com/america Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #science #bigbangtheory #atheism #christianity

In this episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma is joined by his good friend Joan Watson to talk about pilgrimages, prayer, and the impact of women in the Bible. Joan talks about her new book, Making a Pilgrimage, exploring the biblical roots of pilgrimages, what makes a pilgrimage, and why it matters to go on one—especially during this year of Jubilee. Get your copy at the link below: https://stpaulcenter.com/watson From saving Israel to being part of the genealogy of Christ, Dr. Bergsma and Joan explore the various heroines of the Bible and how we can follow their example today. Join the largest group Bible Study in America—Bible Across America ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.com/america Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #joanwatson #womeninscripture #pilgrimages

The terms “deuterocanonical,” “apocryphal,” and “pseudepigraphal” get thrown around frequently in theological debates—especially amongst Catholics and Protestants. So what do they actually mean? In this seventh episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma unpacks the significance of these terms and lays out the key distinctions between them. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture.  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #bible #deuterocanonical #apocryphal #pseudepigraphal

In this sixth episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma sits down with fellow colleague at Franciscan University, Dr. Michael Sirilla. Dr. Sirilla shares his story of his reversion and rediscovery of Jesus Christ. From leaving the faith to his journey through the New Age Movement and Eastern religions, Dr. Sirilla shares how life events, spiritual encounters, and the pursuit for meaning and truth brought him back home to the Catholic Faith. For more on Dr. Sirilla and his theological work, check out his course on Christology: https://my.stpaulcenter.com  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #michaelsirilla #conversion #theology

Leaders in the New Atheist movement have always made the claim that God doesn’t that science explains everything. However, as we progress in our knowledge of the natural world, the evidence for an intelligent, all-powerful creator also becomes greater. In this new installment of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma takes on this atheist belief by examining the science. In this episode Dr. Bergsma unpacks cosmic fine-tuning, exploring how the cosmic constants of the universe provide strong evidence for the existence of God. Science does not contradict Scripture or the existence of God, but rather proves it.  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #science #atheism #cosmicfinetuning

In this fourth episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma interviews fellow biblical scholar Dr. Shane Owens about his personal faith journey. Shane shares how he kept his faith amidst a secular college culture—holding fast to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Drs. Bergsma and Owens unpack a wide range of topics, including American Catholic education, secular college culture, the historical impact of St. Augustine and the Church Fathers, and practical approaches to studying scripture. Watch this latest installment of Stunned by Scripture to learn how to better read the Bible, following the guidance of trusted scholarship and the teachings of the Church Fathers. For more content on St. Augustine and the Church Fathers, start your free trial below: https://stpaulcenter.com/memberships ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #shaneowens #churchfathers #augustine

Did Catholics add books to the Bible or did Protestants remove books? Who determines the Canon of Scripture? In this third episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma tackles this question head-on, explaining the origins of the Biblical canon, its development throughout Salvation History from the time of Moses, and how the Catholic Church agreed upon an official list of inspired books in 382 A.D. Furthermore, Dr. Bergsma explains the history behind the Protestant Bible as well as the changes that were made following the Reformation. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture. 00:00 Introduction ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #podcast #indulgences #bible #scripture #biblicaltheology #canon #churchcouncils #councilofrome #booksofthebible #salvationhistory #pharisees #saducees #essenes #protestantreformation #theology #judaism #protestantism #catholicism #christianity

In this second episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma sits down with fellow Bible scholar Dr. Jeff Morrow to discuss his own conversion story as well as the history and validity behind Indulgences. Growing up in a culturally Jewish but agnostic household, Jeff Morrow shares how his skepticism and academic studies led him to ultimately converting to Catholicism. Furthermore, they discuss Evangelical Protestantism, historical criticism, the role of Scripture, Indulgences, Purgatory, and addressing the Protestant claim of Catholics "adding" books to the Bible. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture. ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #drjeffmorrow #podcast #indulgences #purgatory #scripture #biblicaltheology #historicalcriticism #deuterocanonicalbooks #politics #science #evolution #agnostic #philosophy #theology #judaism #protestantism #catholicism #christianity

In this first episode of his new podcast, Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma invites us into his journey from Protestantism to Catholicism. Having grown up in a Dutch Calvinist home, Bergsma began his career as a pastor only to come face-to-face with the weaknesses of the various Protestant theologies. Today he shares how his struggles with sola Scriptura and sola fide challenged his core beliefs, setting him on a path that led inevitably into the Catholic Church. Like him, you will be stunned by the enduring Catholic truths present in the Scriptures. To learn more please visit www.stpaulcenter.com