In this episode of Ryan & Brian’s Bible Bistro, Brian flies solo (no co-host required!) and sits down with Dr. Matthew Bates, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and award-winning author of Why the Gospel?, Gospel Allegiance, and Beyond the Salvation Wars.

Together, they explore:

• What it really means to say “Jesus is the Christ” — and why it’s a royal proclamation, not just a religious label.
• How the Greek word pistis reshapes our understanding of “faith” as allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness to King Jesus.
• Why salvation and discipleship can’t be separated — and how this changes the way we practice our faith.
• The difference between the gospel itself and the benefits of the gospel.
• How the incarnation, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of Jesus each form essential parts of the good news.
• Insights from Bates’s latest work, Beyond the Salvation Wars, and the push for a unity-centered, truth-rooted vision of the church.

You’ll also hear stories of how Bates’s academic journey (from Notre Dame to teaching at a Catholic university, and now Northern Seminary) shaped his theology, plus a look ahead at his upcoming book, Christ Formed.