ABOUT THE EPISODE

In an effort to steer well-meaning Christians’ sympathies, some leaders in the church have cited the life of our Lord as evidence for their progressive political agenda. But are they getting their facts straight? Read as Alex Kocman dispels the emotional trump-card, “Jesus was a refugee.”

Resources to Click

• “Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for the Immigration Issue” – Alex Kocman
• “Jesus Was a Refugee” – He Gets Us
• “Yes, Jesus Was a Refugee” – Russell Moore
• “Jesus Was a Refugee and an Immigrant” – Lindsay Popperson
• “Jesus Was a Refugee” – Salt
• “Pastor Defends Illegal Alien by Saying the Bible is about “God saving us through immigration”” – Not the Bee
• “U.S. Code, Title 8, Aliens and Nationality ẞ1101(a)(42)” – Legal Information Institute
• “Refugees: 2024” – Amanda Yap, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
• “Desecrations, threats, and silence: anti-Christian violence grips France” – Gavin Mortimer
• “Arson Attacks on Christian Churches Rise to Record High in Germany” – Kurt Zindulka
• “Some migrant groups are ‘disproportionately criminal’ due to cultural factors, claims renowned Swiss forensic psychiatrist” – Thomas Brooke
• “Dublin protestors clash with police, burn vehice after migrant accused of sexually assaulting Irish girl” – Michael Dorgan
• “Police accused of covering up alleged asylum seeker child rape for fear of ‘Inflaming community tensions’” – Kurt Zindulka
• “British Parliament rejects inquiry in the ongoing pedophile rape-gang scandal (by a wide majority)” – Edward Teach
• Theme of the Month: Christmas Buffet
• Give to Support the Work

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Deuteronomy 17 shows that kings stand under God’s law. This article explores how rulers rise to power, why they must obey the law, and whether these truths apply beyond Israel.

Resources to Click

• “Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” – Levi Secord
• Theme of the Month: Christmas Buffet
• Give to Support the Work

 Books to Read

• Servant Not Savior: An Introduction to the Bible’s Teaching about Civil Government – Levi Secord
• Defending the Declaration: How the Bible and Christianity Influenced the Writing of the Declaration of Independence – Gary Amos
• A Christian Manifesto – Francis Schaeffer
• How Should We Then Live? – Francis Schaeffer
• He Is There and He Is Not Silent – Francis Schaeffer
• Lex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel Rutherford
• The Origins of American Constitutionalism – Donald Lutz
• Colossians and Philemon (ZECotNT) – David W. Pao
• The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) – R.T. France
• The Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society – Joseph Boot

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Listen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview Marc Minter on his Longform essay, "Liberty Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State"

Timestamps

• 00:48 – Intro
• 05:52 – Marc Minter and His Academic Aspirations
• 10:30 – The State of Political Theology in the SBC
• 14:48 – Influences on Political Theology
• 19:00 – The Significance of Everson v. Board of Education 1947
• 21:42 – How This Case Shaped Subsequent Generations’ Worldviews
• 24:27 – Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists
• 30:10 – How Much Did Jefferson’s Views Change Between 1776-1802?
• 33:37 – The Distinction Between Reformation and Enlightment Traditions
• 37:55 – The Two Notions of the Term ‘Separation’
• 43:05 – Have We Adopted an Anabaptist Tradition of Church & State?
• 45:47 – E.Y. Mullins’ Views on the State
• 49:10 – Mullins’ Interjection into the Baptist Faith & Message
• 58:48 – What Should Pastors Do In Light of All This?
• 1:04:24 – Readings for Baptist Political Theology
• 1:06:10 – Outro

Resources to Click

• “Liberty, Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State” – Marc Minter
• “Views of Individuals in Southern Baptist Congregations on Baptist Political Theology” – Lifeway Research
• “The Impotence of Secular Conservatism” – R. Albert Mohler Jr.
• Comparison Chart of the Baptist Faith and Message
• Theme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• Ecclesiology: A Study of the Churches – Edwin Charles Dargan
• Baptist Political Theology – eds. Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, & Andrew T. Walker
• Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State – Daniel Dreisbach
• Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience – Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnell
• Separation of Church and State – Philip Hamburger
• More Than Just a Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity – Stan Norman
• The Axioms of Religion: A New Interpretation of the Baptist Faith – E.Y. Mullins
• The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement – Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, & Michael A.G. Haykin
• Demanding Liberty: An Untold Story of American Religious Liberty – Brandon J. O’Brien
• Let Men Be Free: Baptist Politics in the Early United States (1776-1835) – Obbie Tyler Todd
• Baptist Confessions, Covenants, and Catechisms – John A. Broadus, ed. Timothy George
• Baptist Theology: A Four-Century Study – James Leo Garrett
• Baptist Confessions of Faith – William L. Lumpkin
• Christianity & Liberalism – J. Gresham Machen
• Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture – Barry Hankins

ABOUT THE EPISODE

A historical exploration showing that Baptists long affirmed religious liberty without requiring a separation of church and state, tracing the shift in the 20th century.

Resources to Click

• “Liberty, Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State” – Marc Minter
• “Views of Individuals in Southern Baptist Congregations on Baptist Political Theology” – Lifeway Research
• “The Impotence of Secular Conservatism” – R. Albert Mohler Jr.
• Comparison Chart of the Baptist Faith and Message
• Theme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• Ecclesiology: A Study of the Churches – Edwin Charles Dargan
• Baptist Political Theology – eds. Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, & Andrew T. Walker
• Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State – Daniel Dreisbach
• Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience – Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnell
• Separation of Church and State – Philip Hamburger
• More Than Just a Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity – Stan Norman
• The Axioms of Religion: A New Interpretation of the Baptist Faith – E.Y. Mullins
• The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement – Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, & Michael A.G. Haykin
• Demanding Liberty: An Untold Story of American Religious Liberty – Brandon J. O’Brien
• Let Men Be Free: Baptist Politics in the Early United States (1776-1835) – Obbie Tyler Todd
• Baptist Confessions, Covenants, and Catechisms – John A. Broadus, ed. Timothy George
• Baptist Theology: A Four-Century Study – James Leo Garrett
• Baptist Confessions of Faith – William L. Lumpkin
• Christianity & Liberalism – J. Gresham Machen
• Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture – Barry Hankins

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Brad Green on his Longform Essay "Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology"

Timestamps

• 00:20 – Intro
• 05:50 – What’s the Place for Reading in the Life of the Christian?
• 07:40 – When Did Dr. Wellum Start Thinking about Serious Reading?
• 10:20 – What’s the Importance for Reading Books in the Life of a Pastor?
• 15:54 – How Do We Think About the Reading of Old and New Books?
• 19:29 – Political Issues in the Apostolic Fathers
• 22:08 – How Do These Apologists Maintain the Defense of the Faith?
• 24:54 – Augustine’s City of God
• 31:19 – Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
• 37:20 – Why Should Dante Be on the List for Political Theology?
• 41:50 – Luther and Calvin’s Political Theologies
• 49:50 – Stephen Junius Brutus Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos
• 55:45 – Samuel Rutherford’s Lex Rex
• 1:01:15 – Althusius’ Politica
• 1:04:37 – Oliver O’Donovan
• 1:08:40 – R.J. Rushdoony
• 1:15:47 – Outro

Resources to Click

• “Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology” – Brad Green
• Theme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• From Irenaeus to Grotius: A Sourcebook in Christian Political Thought – Oliver O’Donovan
• Apostolic Fathers – J.B. Lightfoot ed. Michael Holmes
• City of God – Augustine of Hippo
• Summa Theologica – Thomas Aquinas
• The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso – Dante Alighieri
• Luther: Selected Political Writings – Martin Luther; ed. J.M. Porter
• Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles
• Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos: A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants – Stephen Junius Brutus
• Politica – Johannes Althusius
• Leviathan – Thomas Hobbes
• Lex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel Rutherford
• The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World: The Influence of Calvin on Five Governments from the 16th-18th Centuries – Douglas F. Kelly
• The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine – eds. Karla Pollman and Willemien Otten
• The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology – Oliver O’Donovan
• The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent and Other Essays – John Erskine
• The Institutes of Biblical Law – R.J. Rushdoony
• The Myth of Overpopulation – R.J. Rushdoony
• Revolt Against Maturity – R.J. Rushdoony
• The Messianic Character of American Education – R.J. Rushdoony

ABOUT THE EPISODE

A curated survey of ten seminal works in Christian political theology—from Justin Martyr and Augustine to Calvin, Rutherford, and Oliver O’Donovan—highlighting the development of theological reflection on church, state, and authority across the centuries.

Resources to Click

• “Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology” – Brad Green
• Theme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• From Irenaeus to Grotius: A Sourcebook in Christian Political Thought – Oliver O’Donovan
• Apostolic Fathers – J.B. Lightfoot ed. Michael Holmes
• City of God – Augustine of Hippo
• Summa Theologica – Thomas Aquinas
• The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso – Dante Alighieri
• Luther: Selected Political Writings – Martin Luther; ed. J.M. Porter
• Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles
• Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos: A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants – Stephen Junius Brutus
• Politica – Johannes Althusius
• Leviathan – Thomas Hobbes
• Lex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel Rutherford
• The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World: The Influence of Calvin on Five Governments from the 16th-18th Centuries – Douglas F. Kelly
• The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine – eds. Karla Pollman and Willemien Otten
• The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology – Oliver O’Donovan

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Listen in as Trent Hunter and David Schrock interview Brad Green on his Christ Over All Essay, "The State of Biblical Theology Today"

Timestamps

• 00:24 – Intro
• 02:13 – An Embarrassingly Short Definition of Systematic and Biblical Theology
• 05:38 – Getting to Know Dr. Brad Green
• 8:00 – How Does Church History Feed Into Teaching Biblical Theology?
• 10:50 – Who is Thomas Aquinas? What Debates Should We Be Aware Of?
• 15:10 – Frame, Muller, and Wells
• 18:48 – Trueman and Goldsworthy
• 22:18 – Past Discussions, The Players, and Books
• 25:52 – Different Debates and Confessional Standardsd
• 31:07 – Language for God’s Anthropomorphisms
• 35:05 – The Debate Between Classical Theists and Biblical Theologians on the Doctrine of God
• 39:55 – Preaching the Doctrine of God
• 44:00 – What is Dr. Green Working Toward Now?
• 46:48 – Proper Retrieval and Modifications
• 48:22 – The SBC Needs to Have Scriptural and Theological Grounding
• 51:45 – David Schrock’s Journey with Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology
• 53:27 – Closing Thoughts and Outro

Resources to Click

• “The State of Biblical Theology Today” – Brad Green
• “Geerhardus Vos: The Recovery of Biblical Theology from Its Corruptors (Part 1)” – Ardel Caneday
• “Biblical Theology and Theological Interpretation of Scripture” – Colin Smothers
• “Has Biblical Theology Had Its Day?” – Peter Nesbitt
• “What is the Relationship Between Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology” – Stephen J. Wellum
• “Caution! The Dangers of Biblical Theology in Preaching” – David Schrock
• “Postmoderns Don’t Care About Your Resurrection Evidence: A Call for Biblical-Theological Evidence: A Call for Biblical-Theological Apologetics” – Chris Prosser
• “”The Study of Theology” Revisited: A Response to John Frame” – Richard Muller
• “In Defense of Something Close to Biblicism: Reflections on Sola Scriptura and History in Theological Method” – John Frame
• “On Being Framed” – David F. Wells
• “Reply to Richard Muller and David Wells” – John Frame
• “Ontology and Biblical Theology. A Response to Carl Trueman’s Editorial: A Revolutionary Balancing Act” – Graeme Goldsworthy
• What Can Protestants Learn from Thomas Aquinas? – Credo Magazine
• “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology–Part One” – Michael Allen
• “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology–Part Two” – Michael Allen
• Theme of the Month: Essential Not Optional: Retrieving Biblical Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• The Study of Theology: From Biblical Interpretation to Contemporary Formulation – Richard Muller
• Aquinas, Calvin, and Contemporary Protestant Thought: A Critique of Protestant Views on the Thought of Thomas Aquinas – A. Vos
• Aquinas Among the Protestants – eds. Manfred Svensson & David VanDrunen
• All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism – James Dolezal
• God in Himself: Scripture, Metaphysics, and the Task of Christian Theology – Steven J. Duby
• Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms: Drawn Principally from Protestant Scholastic Theology – Richard A. Muller
• Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments – Geerhardus Vos
• According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible – Grame Goldsworthy
• Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics – Richard A. Muller
• Biblical Words and Their Meaning: An Introduction to Lexical Semantics – Moises Silva
• God Language and Scripture – Moises Silva

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Dr. Benjamin Gladd on the new CSB Connecting Scripture Study Bible and the current state of Biblical Theology

Timestamps

• 00:28 – Intro
• 05:25 – Dr. Gladd’s Academic Biography
• 09:40 – Dispensationalism’s Biblical Theology
• 14:02 – The Origin of the Connecting Scripture Study Bible
• 22:15 – How Will This Help the Everyday Reader of Scripture?
• 23:57 – How Should You Read This Bible?
• 28:21 – Will There Be More Allusions Added in Future Editions?
• 30:47 – Is There an Intention for the Old Testament Version?
• 36:48 – Dr. Gladd’s and Dr. Wellum’s Vantage Points on the State of Biblical Theology
• 46:40 – There is Still More to Explore in Scripture
• 49:37 – Encouragement for Pastors as they Bring Biblical Theology to the Church
• 52:07 – Outro

Resources to Click

• The Carson Center for Theological Renewal
• Theme of the Month: Essential Not Optional: Retrieving Biblical Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• CSB Connecting Scripture Study Bible – eds. G.K. Beale & Benjamin Gladd
• From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God – Benjamin Gladd
• Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – eds. G.K. Beale, D.A. Carson, Benjamin Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Biblical Theology has a rich history. But is it driving us away from classic Christian Doctrine? A growing divide threatens evangelical theology—and the stakes are higher than you think.

Resources to Click

·  "The State of Biblical Theology Today” – Brad Green

· “Geerhardus Vos: The Recovery of Biblical Theology from Its Corruptors (Part 1)” – Ardel Caneday

· “Biblical Theology and Theological Interpretation of Scripture” – Colin Smothers

· “HasnBiblical Theology Had Its Day?” – Peter Nesbitt

· “What is the Relationship Between Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology” – Stephen J. Wellum

· “Caution! The Dangers of Biblical Theology in Preaching” - David Schrock

· “Postmoderns Don’t Care About Your Resurrection Evidence: A Call for Biblical-Theological Evidence: A Call for Biblical-Theological Apologetics” – Chris Prosser

· “”The Study of Theology” Revisited: A Response to John Frame” – Richard Muller

· “In Defense of Something Close to Biblicism: Reflections on Sola Scriptura and History in Theological Method” – John Frame

· “On Being Framed” – David F. Wells

· “Reply to Richard Muller and David Wells” – John Frame

· “Ontology and Biblical Theology. A Response to Carl Trueman’s Editorial: A Revolutionary Balancing Act” – Graeme Goldsworthy

· What Can Protestants Learn from Thomas Aquinas? – Credo Magazine

· “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology–Part One” – Michael Allen

· “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology–Part Two” – Michael Allen

· Theme of the Month: Essential Not Optional: Retrieving Biblical Theology

· Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

· The Study of Theology: From Biblical Interpretation to Contemporary Formulation – Richard Muller

· Aquinas, Calvin, and Contemporary Protestant Thought: A Critique of Protestant Views on the Thought of Thomas Aquinas – A. Vos

· Aquinas Among the Protestants – eds. Manfred Svensson & David VanDrunen

· All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism – James Dolezal

· God in Himself: Scripture, Metaphysics, and the Task of Christian Theology – Steven J. Duby

· Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms: Drawn Principally from Protestant Scholastic Theology – Richard A. Muller

· Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments – Geerhardus Vos

ABOUT THE EPISODE

“Typology” comes up frequently in discussions of Biblical Theology, but what does it mean? Read how David Schrock explains that typology is not merely another method of reading, but an organic structure of escalation and progression arising from God’s redemptive work.

Resources to Click

• “What is Typology?” – David Schrock
• “What Designates a Valid Type? A Christotelic, Covenantal Proposal” – David Schrock
• “From Beelines to Plotlines: Typology That Follows the Covenantal Topography of Scripture” – David Schrock
• “Measuring the Tabernacle in Hebrews: How to See Biblical Types on Earth as They Are in Heaven” – Ardel Caneday
• “Was Joseph a Type of the Messiah? Tracing the Typological Identification Between Joseph, David, and Jesus?” – James M. Hamilton
• Theme of the Month: Essential Not Optional: Retrieving Biblical Theology
• Give to Support the Work

Books to Read

• The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God (SSBT) – David Schrock
• Kingdom Through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants (Second Edition) – Peter J. Gentry & Stephen J. Wellum
• Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation – Graeme Goldsworthy
• Typology: Understanding the Bible’s Promise-Shaped Patterns – James M. Hamilton
• “Typology” by David Schrock & Sam Emadi in Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – eds. G.K. Beale, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, & Andrew David Nasellli
• Typos: The Typological Interpretation of the Old Testament in the New – Leonhard Goppelt
• Typology in Scripture: A Study of Hermeneutical Typos Structures – Richard M. Davidson