The Apostolic Classroom

In this episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven Gill and Andrew Herbst turn to one of the most foundational questions in Christian apologetics: Who decided what books belong in the Bible?

Rather than beginning with church councils or popular internet theories, the discussion starts where it must—with theology. The hosts explore the meaning of “canon,” clarifying the difference between recognizing Scripture and creating it. They address common misconceptions about the Council of Nicaea, the role of church authority, and the claim that the Bible was assembled cafeteria-style by powerful leaders centuries after the apostles.

Key themes include apostolic authority, internal biblical evidence for canonicity, the early church’s recognition of Scripture, and why quotations from books like Enoch or references to extra-biblical writings do not automatically grant them scriptural status. The conversation also examines how forged gospels and pseudonymous writings were identified and rejected in the early centuries, demonstrating that early Christians were neither naïve nor careless in handling sacred texts.

Far from being a product of ecclesiastical politics, the canon emerges as something received, preserved, and defended—grounded in apostolic witness and affirmed by the church rather than invented by it.

This episode advances the apologetics framework of Season 2, equipping believers to respond thoughtfully to questions about the Bible’s formation and to articulate why the sixty-six books of Scripture stand with enduring authority.

This episode of The Apostolic Classroom was sponsored by Liv Hill Nutrition. Visit them at livhillnutrition.net

In this episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven Gill and Andrew Herbst tackle one of the most persistent questions in modern apologetics: Is Christianity compatible with science?
Rather than rehearsing caricatures or surface-level talking points, the conversation reframes science as a method of inquiry—not a rival worldview—and explores how scientific discovery and Christian theology have historically informed one another. Drawing from philosophy, church history, and well-documented scientific developments, the hosts examine how figures such as Galileo, Newton, Boyle, and Maury understood their work not as a challenge to Scripture, but as an outgrowth of belief in a rational, ordered Creator.
Key themes include the limits of scientific certainty, the difference between observability and metaphysics, the misuse of poetic and literary biblical texts in anti-Christian arguments, and why appeals to “settled science” often reveal philosophical assumptions rather than empirical conclusions. The discussion also addresses common objections surrounding evolution, thermodynamics, cosmology, and biblical interpretation—showing how many modern critiques of Christianity rest on misunderstandings of both science and Scripture.
This episode advances the apologetic framework of Season 2 by equipping believers to respond thoughtfully to claims that science has disproven the Bible—and by demonstrating that faith and reason, rightly understood, are not enemies but allies in the pursuit of truth.
This episode of The Apostolic Classroom was sponsored by Testament Coffee Roasters. Visit them at testament.coffee

In this episode, Steven, Jeremias, and Andrew move from the existence of God to the issue of revelation—examining how and why God makes Himself known. Rather than assuming the authority of Scripture, the conversation explores the necessity of revelation for any meaningful Christian worldview and why the Bible stands at the center of the faith.
The hosts distinguish between general and special revelation, discussing what creation reveals about God and why Scripture is essential for knowing Him personally. Along the way, they address common misunderstandings surrounding biblical authority, inspiration, and interpretation, showing how revelation forms the backbone of Christian theology, worship, and practice.
This episode advances the apologetics framework of Season 2, equipping believers to understand, articulate, and defend why Scripture matters—and why revelation is essential to the Christian faith.
This episode of The Apostolic Classroom was sponsored by Full Armor Training. Visit them at https://www.facebook.com/Fullarmortrainingllc/.

Semester 2 of The Apostolic Classroom begins with a new focus: apologetics.
In this season premiere, Steven, Jeremias, and Andrew lay the foundation for why defending the Christian faith matters in the modern church. Rather than beginning with debates or objections, the conversation centers on the purpose, posture, and responsibility of apologetics in a skeptical age.
The hosts discuss common misunderstandings of Christianity, the dangers of shallow answers, and the need for believers to be grounded in Scripture, history, and sound reasoning. Drawing from biblical and historical examples, they explore how apologetics serves the church—not as a tool for winning arguments, but as a means of preserving truth, strengthening faith, and faithfully representing Christ.
This episode sets the tone for Season 2, establishing a thoughtful, apostolic framework for engaging questions, challenges, and objections to the Christian faith.
This episode of The Apostolic Classroom was sponsored by Exousia Group. Visit them at exousiagroup.com.

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Christian world—but it’s also one of the most debated.
In this special Christmas episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven Gill, Jeremias Zuniga, and Andrew Herbst take a thoughtful, biblical look at the question: Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
The discussion explores the historical development of Christmas, common objections surrounding its origins, and—most importantly—how Scripture guides Christian worship, conscience, and liberty. Rather than approaching the topic polemically, the hosts aim to bring clarity, balance, and biblical grounding to a conversation that often generates more heat than light.
Whether you’ve celebrated Christmas your whole life, questioned it, or avoided it altogether, this episode invites believers to think carefully, biblically, and charitably about how Christ is honored.

Pre-order God's Kingship at https://publications.truthbook.co/godskingship

In this special launch episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven, Jeremias, and Andrew introduce God’s Kingship—the new companion volume developed alongside Semester 1 of the podcast.
Over the course of the semester, the hosts committed to writing essays that would parallel and expand upon each week’s discussion, resulting in a collection of forty-two essays tracing God’s kingship from Genesis through church history. In this conversation, they reflect on the vision behind the book, the decision to prioritize clarity and accessibility over exhaustive treatment, and the desire to create a resource valuable for students, pastors, teachers, and serious readers of Scripture.
Topics include the structure of the book, the balance between biblical theology and historical scholarship, the role of careful sourcing and footnoting, and the importance of engaging respectfully with both Apostolic and non-Apostolic scholarship. The hosts also discuss the significance of the cover design, the use of archaeological and historical evidence, and their hope that the book will serve as an entry point into deeper theological study rather than a final word on the subject.
This episode offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how God’s Kingship came together, why it exists, and how it is intended to be used—as a tool for learning, teaching, and continued conversation about the identity of Jesus Christ and the nature of God’s rule throughout Scripture.

In this bonus episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven and Andrew explore one of the most foundational disciplines in all theological study: hermeneutics—the principles and processes of interpreting Scripture. Drawing from years of classroom experience at Indiana Bible College, they discuss why every believer already uses a hermeneutic (whether they realize it or not), how interpretation shapes application, and why mishandling Scripture can lead even sincere readers toward serious error.
Key themes include the difference between faithful and harmful interpretive lenses, the importance of reading the New Testament through the Old, the danger of forcing Christological or allegorical meanings where the biblical authors did not place them, and the need for humility, context, and patience in studying God’s Word. The hosts also outline practical steps for better Bible reading—observation, correlation, interpretation, and application—and explain why preaching and teaching must stay rooted in the actual text rather than clever ideas or inspirational detours.
A timely and clarifying conversation for anyone who wants to handle Scripture with integrity, avoid common interpretive pitfalls, and grow in reading the Bible the way the apostles did. A valuable supplement to Semester 1 of God’s Kingship.

In this bonus episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Andrew and Jeremias step aside from the main semester arc to discuss a topic that affects every serious student of Scripture: how to engage the biblical languages wisely and fruitfully. Whether someone has formal training in Hebrew and Greek or has only used tools like concordances and interlinears, this conversation helps listeners understand both the benefits and the pitfalls of working with the original text.
Drawing from their academic backgrounds, the hosts explain how biblical languages can illuminate nuance, deepen confidence in translation, and sharpen a preacher’s understanding—while also stressing the importance of humility, context, and good hermeneutics. They discuss common mistakes (such as picking favorite definitions from a lexicon), the limitations of modern Hebrew/Greek for interpreting ancient forms, how grammatical features shape meaning, and why biblical languages are never meant to be mystical shortcuts to revelation.
The episode concludes by offering practical guidance: recommended tools, accessible starting points, trustworthy learning pathways, and examples of how even small steps—like learning the alphabet—can enrich one’s devotional and teaching life.
A thoughtful and encouraging bonus conversation reminding listeners that while biblical languages are valuable, God’s Word in faithful translation remains fully capable of forming, guiding, and transforming His people.

In this final episode of Semester 1, God’s Kingship, Steven, Jeremias, and Andrew revisit some of the most commonly cited “Trinitarian proof texts” and walk through how these passages have been understood across Scripture, history, and scholarship. Designed as a quick-reference guide, this discussion brings clarity to verses frequently raised in theological debates—particularly Genesis 1:26, the baptism of Jesus, and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.
The hosts explore how Old Testament background, Hebrew grammar, and early Jewish thought shape these texts, explaining why neither Jesus nor the New Testament authors present them as evidence of a triune Godhead. They unpack the plural language of Genesis, the royal-anointing imagery behind Jesus’ baptism, and the apostolic application of the name of Jesus in the early church. Together, they demonstrate how the New Testament uses distinction language within the framework of covenant, kingship, and Christ’s mission—not as metaphysical statements about multiple divine persons.
Far from fueling argument, this episode offers listeners a charitable, text-centered approach to some of the most frequently misunderstood verses in modern theological discourse—closing the semester with clarity, depth, and renewed confidence in the biblical revelation of one God.

In this episode of The Apostolic Classroom, Steven, Jeremias, and Andrew explore one of the most frequently misunderstood themes in the New Testament: the Father & Son language surrounding Jesus Christ. Rather than reading these passages through later philosophical frameworks, the hosts return to Scripture itself—tracing how the Gospels and Epistles use “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” and “Father” to reveal Christ’s mission, identity, and role as the last Adam.
Key topics include Jesus’ high-priestly prayer in John 17, the meaning of distinction language in the Gethsemane prayers, Paul’s Adam/Christ comparisons in Romans and 1 Corinthians, and why oneness theology takes Scripture’s sonship terminology seriously rather than explaining it away. The discussion also unpacks the biblical pattern of the firstborn, the Son’s obedience as the fulfillment of covenant fidelity, and how God was “in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.”
Along the way, the hosts address common Trinitarian objections, evaluate misunderstood proof texts, and show how the New Testament presents Jesus not as “God the Son,” but as the Son of God—God manifested in the flesh, the anointed King, and the obedient mediator who restores what Adam lost.
A foundational episode for understanding how the New Testament actually uses Father & Son language—and why it reinforces, rather than challenges, the oneness of God revealed in Jesus Christ.