Why was Karl Barth’s commentary on Romans so disruptive? This seminal work is still marked by its profound impact on the German liberal theological tradition. His commentary emerged in the shadow of the Great War, but more fully reflected a crisis in his own pastoral ministry where traditional theological frameworks seemed inadequate. Dr. Mark S.… Download Audio ..read more

Would Dietrich Bonhoeffer be comfortable signing the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy? To quote the man himself, “The theory of verbal plenary inspiration will not do.” Isn’t that confusing? He has such a high view of the authority of the Bible. Bonhoeffer left German liberalism and combated theological and political error all around him. He… Download Audio ..read more

If you rely on backgrounds for Biblical interpretation, what do you do if you do not know the author or date? How much of Paul’s biography should we use to interpret Paul’s writing? Dr. Ched Spellman says, “The Bible is ontologically a theological text before it is a historical text.” In this second half of… Download Audio ..read more

How should Bible students and scholars engage with backgrounds when interacting with the Scriptures? Are historical background the backbone of biblical interpretation? Do backgrounds provide deeper, richer, fuller applications of the biblical text? Dr. Ched Spellman says, “History is necessary, but not sufficient for the study of the Biblical book.” In the first half of… Download Audio ..read more

How would you define Biblical Theology? This is a sticky question with many answers that diverge quickly from each other. Sam Bierig and Mitchell Chase establish a helpful definition and argue for a maximal approach. Biblical Theology happens when we are attentively reading and understanding a biblical passage in light of the progressive revelation, trajectory,… Download Audio ..read more

Is there some level of dissonance between the origins of Biblical Theology and how it is practiced today by Evangelicals? Could figures like Irenaeus, Augustine, and Calvin be properly said to be doing “Biblical Theology.” Sam Bierig and Craig Carter explore origins and definitions of Biblical Theology while establishing a working timeline of the discipline.… Download Audio ..read more

Is it possible to have too much exegesis in your theology? Is it possible to have too much theology in your exegesis? In this podcast, the Drs. Pennington and Bierig argue that these disciplines are distinct but inseparable. Our theology informs, guides, and guards our exegesis and vice versa. This dance between theology and exegesis… Download Audio ..read more

The language of the five solas is commonplace to us today. We use the phrases faith alone or grace alone all the time, but we may never think about the actual origin of these phrases. Martin Luther, in his commentary on Galatians, teaches how critical the right grammar of the gospel is and provides foundational language for Christianity today.… Download Audio ..read more

This is the first episode in the brand new Biblical Theology podcast!  We all use a theological key to interpret Scripture. The question is, is it a good one? John Calvin wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion, a summary of Christian doctrine, to give us a “key” to better read and understand the Scriptures. Drs. Bierig… Download Audio ..read more