The Protestant Libertarian Podcast

In this episode I talk with Dr. Mark Goodacre, professor of religious studies at Duke University, about his brand-new book The Fourth Synoptic Problem: John’s Knowledge of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, where he argues that John knew and used the Synoptic narratives when composing his gospel. Mark explains the problems with the Q theory and why so many scholars have built a firewall between John and the Synoptics. We then explore why he ...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Jeffery Degner, economist at Cornerstone University and fellow at The Mises Institute, about the impact of inflation on American society. He explains how inflation is the artificial expansion of the money supply and is controlled by the Federal Reserve. This leads to higher prices and the business cycle but benefits the wealthiest asset holders. He describes the United States as having an ‘inflation ...

In this episode I talk with Phil Christman. Phil teaches writing at the University of Michigan and is author of the brand-new Why Christians Should Be Leftists, out now on Eerdmans Press. In this book he argues for the compatibility of left-wing politics and Christianity, making the case that Christians should be naturally inclined to leftism. We discuss his journey into leftist thought, deconstruction, the problems with both the C...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Beth Felker Jones. Dr. Jones teaches theology at Northern Seminary and is the author of the brand-new book Why I am a Protestant, out now on IVP. In this book she defends the Protestant tradition, explaining both its strengths and challenges. We discuss Sola Scriptura, debates between Catholics and Protestants, how many people get Protestantism wrong, and why she believes the label still matters. We ...

In this episode I talk to Jacob Winograd about covenant theology and its impact on Biblical interpretation. We discussed my recent conversation with Stephen Angliss about dispensationalism, and Jacob argues for the alternative of covenant theology. He explains how God works through various covenants and their fulfillment, how it provides a hermeneutical framework for reading the Bible, how it is different than dispensationalism, an...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Mark Nanos about his recent contribution on Philippians to the book Judeophobia and the New Testament, out now on Eerdmans. Dr. Nanos is the leading proponent of the ‘Paul Within Judaism’ school which reads Paul as a Jew who continues to understand his mission as an apostle within the framework of Judaism. He argues that the Christian interpretive tradition has marginalized and disparaged Judaism in ...

In this episode I talk with Jason Fry, author of National Divorce: A Plan for Peace, about how Christians should respond to everything going on in the news cycle today. We talk Israel/Palestine, the Trump economy, flag burning, and how Christians should interact with political leaders. Jason also explains how national divorce can solve many of these problems and why Christians should think critically about current events. 

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In this episode I talk with Dr. Christy Cobb and Dr. Katherine Shaner about the new book they coedited entitled Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts, out now on Eerdmans. They explain the institution of slavery in antiquity, its pervasiveness in Greco-Roman society, and how Romans and Jews alike thought about slavery. Dr. Cobb explains her chapter on gender roles, noting how men and women experienced slavery differently, ...

In this episode I discuss how the gospel writers develop both the messianic and divine identity of Jesus, building up from their sources. I discuss my preferred theory to the Synoptic problem, the Farrer Hypothesis. It postulates that Mark was the first written gospel, Matthew used Mark as a source and added his own material, and Luke used both Mark and Matthew as a source. I then explore a recent proposal made by James Barker who ...

In this episode I talk with economist Dr. Bob Murphy about the Federal Reserve. Murphy argues that the Federal Reserve should be abolished. We explore the history of the Fed and how it has not only failed to produce economic stability but causes great economic harm. Murphy explains how the Fed devalues the currency, the impact Fed policy has on average Americans, and why Christians should be critical of the Fed. He also discusses w...

In this episode I explore Matthew 17:24-27, in which Peter is asked if Jesus pays the temple tax. After talking to Peter about this question, Jesus says the sons of kings are exempt from taxes, but “so that we do not offend them” Peter is to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth and pay the tax anyway. We explore the literary and historical context of this passage, showing that Matthew uses it to develop Jesus’ messianic identity. ...

In this episode I talk with pastor Stephen Angliss about Biblical dispensationalism. He is both reformed and a dispensationalist, and he makes the Biblical and theological case for dispensational theology. He argues that dispensationalism is a hermeneutical posture towards Scripture which enables Christians to see how God acts through different periods of history. He explains the main tenets of dispensationalism, its theological di...

In this episode I talk yet again with the great anarchist anabaptist Cody Cook. He is the author of two recent books on Anabaptism, The Anarchist Anabaptist and The Pocket Anabaptist. In this episode we explore what makes anabaptism unique and how it fits in with the wider protestant tradition. Cody explains how anabaptist have always been uncomfortable with state power, how anabaptists understand controversial theological issues s...

Kevin Burr and I discuss my article at LCI entitled ‘Progressive Christian Nationalism’ in which I explain how Christian nationalism and progressive Christianity are structurally identical. Despite wide disagreements regarding particular policy issues, both sides believe that the state should impose Christian values on society by force for the ‘good’ of the public. Enjoy this episode, and give Kevin and his podcast a follow!

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On Blair Lee’s show ‘Bibleworthy’, I revisit Romans 13, the most controversial political passage in the New Testament. I explore how it functions in its historical and rhetorical context, how it relates to Paul’s wider theology, and how we should apply it today. I consider this to be my most definitive statement on the topic to date. Enjoy, and give ‘Bibleworthy’ a follow!

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Bibleworthy Website: https://bibleworthy.c...

In this second installment of a two-part series on Kevin Burr’s podcast ‘Faith in the Folds’, I explain how Christian libertarians understand taxation, drugs, and foreign policy. These are three issues that are of extreme importance to liberty-minded Christians, and we discuss each of them in detail. Enjoy this episode and give Kevin and his show a follow!

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Kevin Burr Twitter: @kbburr

Faith in the Folds Twitter: @fai...

This episode is the first of a two-part series on Kevin Burr’s podcast ‘Faith in the Folds’ where I explain the relationship between Christianity and libertarianism. I discuss how I became a libertarian, the basics of libertarian philosophy, and how Christianity and libertarianism are compatible. Enjoy the episode and please give Kevin and ‘Faith in the Folds’ a follow!

Media Referenced:

Kevin Burr Twitter: @kbburr

Faith in the Folds...

In this episode I review a recent ZeroHedge article that discusses the shifting religious landscape of the United States. While Christians, and evangelicals in particular, still make up the largest religious demographic, nearly 30% of American adults are unaffiliated with any particular religious tradition. I discuss why I believe this has happened, how we should think about it theologically, and what the American church needs to d...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Cornelis Bennema, professor of New Testament at the London School of Theology. He has written several books, including his brand-new Imitation in Early Christianity: Mimesis and Religious-Ethical Formation, out now on Eerdmans. In this book he explores the concept of mimesis or imitation in early Christianity and how imitation is central to Christian ethics and discipleship. We discuss the prevalence...