Theology on the Go

God to Us   Jonathan and James welcome Stephen Myers to the podcast. He’s associate professor of Historical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.  Stephen explains that Covenant Theology is a wonderful, essential study. It reveals God’s character and how He binds Himself to us. It’s a helpful means of understanding how God’s other covenants are irreplaceable in the progressive unfoldi...

The title of the most recent Blue Ridge Bible Conference seems an appropriate descriptor for today's episode of Theology on the Go. Jonathan and James discuss the biblical, familial, and social implications of the latest manifestation of gender dysphoria: transgenderism. Why is a decision to reject one's "sexual assignment" at birth an example of covetousness? And if, as a recent Supreme Court can...

Jesus and the God of Classical Theism In Jonathan’s absence, James is flying solo as host, welcoming author and seminary professor Steven Duby to the podcast. Steven’s new book, Jesus and the God of Classical Theism: Biblical Christology in Light of the Doctrine of God, provides the foundation for today’s conversation and the discourse is as weighty as the book’s title suggests.  The issue is clea...

Is your prayer life merely a lengthy list of requests that so often seem to go unanswered? Sarah Ivill never tires of considering the Christian’s privilege to pray directly to the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. Equally amazing is the fact that God initiates that relationship with us, made possible by Jesus’ finished work on the cross.  You’ll hear the wonder in her voice as Sarah pon...

In the Shadow of the Rock Geoff Thomas is our guest for the 200th episode of Theology on the Go. He’s a seminary professor and conference speaker who served over 50 years behind a pulpit in Aberystwyth, Wales. Geoff’s outstanding autobiography recalls the friendships gained and lessons learned over decades of ministry.   Thomas recalls (and recommends) some of his favorite Bible teachers, recounts...

Arminius and the Reformed Tradition Was Jacob Arminius a Reformed theologian who held to the basic tenets of Reformed soteriology? Today’s guest skillfully dissects his writings on predestination, union with Christ, justification, and more to effectively prove that Arminius’ views on salvation differed significantly from confessional norms. J.V. Fesko serves as professor of Systematic and Historic...

Calls to Worship, Invocations, and Benedictions Pastors and worship leaders recognize the significance of every liturgical element in the organization of a worship service. Today’s guest offers both a guide to Scripture-filled worship and some historical background on the use of these all-important elements. Ryan Kelly is an associate professor of music at West Chester University, and—as an experi...

The Works of God and the Fall of Man Dutch theologian Petrus van Mastricht ministered in a time much like our own. Emerging scientific methods, the politics of the day, and other 16th century issues were bringing into question accepted beliefs concerning the origins of the created order and sin. Mastricht’s masterful four-part treatment of these essential doctrines has been translated for the Chur...

Under God, Over the People We live in an era of growing governmental interference and intervention in the life of the local church. So what is the proper Biblical relationship between the civil magistrate and the church? Our hosts reach across the pond to discuss the topic with Oliver Allmand-Smith. He’s a trustee of the International Reformed Baptist Seminary, a pastor for more than 20 years, and...

The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and His Church  Believers tend to regard our union with Christ as a merely spiritual or even mystical bond. But 16th-century Italian priest-turned-Protestant theologian Gilorama Zanchi maintained that our spiritual marriage with Jesus joins us as one flesh with the Savior.   Patrick O’Banion taught history at the university level for two decades and now trains...

On Our Bookshelves Every college professor, theologian, and pastor takes on a substantial load of book study in the daily performance of his duties. Most, however, enjoy a bit of leisure reading whenever possible, and our hard-working hosts are no exception. Today Jonathan and James discuss the books each is currently enjoying as time permits in their busy schedules.  Does Jonathan tuck a 10-pound...

Today’s guest asserts that natural revelation is like a work of art. And what it shows us about the Artist is Natural Theology. That’s the title of David Haines’ latest book, a biblical and historical introduction and defense of an essential element of Christian theology throughout history. Haines is the assistant professor of Philosophy and Theology at Bethlehem College & Seminary, an associate p...

Foundations of Covenant Theology Several songs of the 60s refer to man’s need to “get back to the Garden.” Lane Tipton reminds us of a much greater place: a heavenly temple made holy by the presence of the glory of the triune God. It’s the starting place for Lane’s latest book, Foundations of Covenant Theology: A Biblical-Theological Study of Genesis 1-3.  Dr. Tipton is pastor of Trinity Orthodox...

Dr. Carl Trueman visits from that “other” Alliance podcast (Mortification of Spin) to discuss his latest book: Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution. More than an abridged version of his 2020 bestseller The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Trueman’s new release offers additional insights not explored in the larger work with a more ac...

This World Is Not My Home We long for the end of the current pandemic and the opportunity to gather freely with old friends face-to-face. For now, our hosts make do with an online meeting with pastor, church planter, and author Mark Johnston. Mark has curated a series of his articles posted at PlaceForTruth.org into a compelling guidebook for pilgrims on the way entitled This World is Not My Home....

When you hear the title Expository Preaching, you may expect to find a “how-to” manual written for pastors. But David Strain’s contribution to the Blessings of the Faith series speaks instead to the congregation, providing a stout defense for expositional preaching in your Reformed church. David joins Jonathan and James on this episode to discuss the unique power and role of the preached Word and...

Today Jonathan and James welcome—not just any old theologian—but an Adonis! That’s Dr. Adonis Vidu, author and associate professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Seminary. His latest book describes the Trinity and, more specifically, the doctrine of inseparable operations. Unfortunately, the Church has begun to view the Father, Son, and Spirit as three distinct beings, each with a different missio...

Old Testament Use of Old Testament - Part 2 Jonathan Master and James Dolezal are beginning the new year with one of their favorite chats of 2021! So, Gary Schnittjer returns this week to conclude a fascinating and vital conversation about his book Old Testament Use of Old Testament. Released just a few months ago, the book has already proven to be an essential tool in the hands of Bible scholars,...

Old Testament Use of Old Testament - Part 1 NOTE: To begin the new year, Jonathan and James have chosen to repost one of their favorite interviews of 2021. This two-part conversation concludes on our next episode on 1/24/22.     Our hosts are delighted to welcome a friend and former colleague Gary E. Schnittjer. Gary joins them to discuss one of the most anticipated books of the year, Old Testamen...

Manual of Christian Doctrine   Working in close proximity for years provided many opportunities for conversation between Jonathan and James. An annual topic of concern: choosing the theology curriculum for undergraduate students, particularly those in their first year at the university. What’s the best single-volume introduction to theology? On this, our professors would agree: Manual of Christian...

Do Calvinists believe in free will? Jonathan and James point to the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 9 to help us tackle this turbulent topic. The Confession is very careful to qualify what it means for man to have free will while establishing the boundaries of human freedom. What does it mean to be “bound,” or to experience the loss of free will? If we affirm that man is free, well…what is...

Jonathan and James welcome Caleb Cangelosi. He’s the senior pastor of Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland, MS, and the director and curator of Log College Press, an online archive of mostly 18th and 19th century documents of American Presbyterian writings. Log College Press is a free resource offering thousands of PDFs written by more than seventeen hundred authors from all flavors of Am...

Though they now reside thousands of miles from one another, Jonathan and James are face-to-face today, broadcasting from the West Coast and discussing the Donatist Controversy.  In the early fourth century, the Roman emperor authorized a final wave of persecution of the Church that caused some bishops and pastors to leave their churches, while some gave in to pressure from Rome. When Constantine b...

Chief Scottish Man Jonathan's and James' special guest is a friend with whom they share good memories. Sandy Finlayson is library director and professor of Theological Bibliography at Westminster Theological Seminary and the author of Chief Scottish Man: The Life and Ministry of Thomas Chalmers.  What makes this 18th-century man such an extraordinary figure, both then and today? As a recently conv...

Questions Women Asked (and Might Still Be Asking)   Simonetta Carr returns to the podcast to share highlights from her new book. Simonetta is a contributor at PlaceForTruth.org through her column Cloud of Witnesses and an acclaimed author known for the series Christian Biographies for Young Readers published by Reformation Heritage Books.    In her latest book, Simonetta shares the stories of wome...