
Church Grammar
The Church Grammar podcast engages theology and the church in a fresh way, centered on wide-ranging conversations with scholars and Bible teachers.
Latest episodes

May 5, 2025 • 1h 11min
Matthew Levering on the Pope, Mary, and Justification in Catholic-Protestant Dialogue (Repost)
This episode is a repost of our conversation with Dr. Matthew Levering of Mundelein Seminary. We discuss becoming a Christian and his path to Catholicism (4:40), major doctrines Catholics and Protestants agree on (14:22), what Catholics believe about justification by faith (15:50), the veneration of Mary (22:13), and the role and authority of the Pope (40:15), the necessity of the Reformation and where we can find unity among disagreement (55:06), and more. Buy Matthew’s books.
*Note: Dr. Levering mentioned “final cause” during the justification portion of the discussion but meant, of course, formal cause.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
This episode was presented by B&H Academic and the Christian Standard Bible.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Mar 31, 2025 • 45min
Steven Duby on Habakkuk and Theological Commentary
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Steven Duby of Phoenix Seminary. We discuss writing a theological commentary with various disciplines involved (2:30), insights from biblical studies and authorial intent(s) (9:50); history of interpretation and theological debates in Habakkuk (16:54); tips for preaching Habakkuk (39:40), and more. Buy Steven’s new commentary on Habakkuk.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Mar 7, 2025 • 58min
Baptist Q&A with Matthew Emerson
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Matthew Emerson of Oklahoma Baptist University. We discuss paedobaptism and catholicity, changing liturgy in the church, Baptists and the state, and more. Buy Matt’s new book with Luke Stamps, The Baptist Vision.
This episode is sponsored by Logos. Try the newest version for free for two months(!): www.logos.com/cg.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Feb 11, 2025 • 56min
Thomas Joseph White on Theological Interpretation, the Book of Exodus, and Catholic-Protestant Dialogue
This episode is a conversation with Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P. of the Angelicum. We discuss biblical and theological interpretation in the 20th century (2:32), the relationship between literal and spiritual senses in interpreting Exodus (12:33), metaphysics and Scripture (34:56), Catholic-Protestant dialogue (47:44), and more. Buy Fr. Thomas Joseph’s commentary.
This episode is sponsored by Logos. Try the newest version for free for two months(!): www.logos.com/cg.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Jan 20, 2025 • 1h 7min
Scott Williams on Divine Self-Knowledge, Reception of Nicaea, and Philosophical Theology
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Scott Williams of the University of North Carolina–Asheville. We discuss divine self-knowledge (3:30), Nicaea and the Trinity in the Sixth Ecumenical Council (36:02), Henry of Ghent’s contribution to trinitarian theology (58:30), and more. Read Scott’s book and visit his website.
This episode is sponsored by Logos. Try the newest version for free for two months(!): www.logos.com/cg.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Jan 8, 2025 • 54min
Sam Emadi on Joseph in Biblical Theology and the History of Interpretation
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Samuel Emadi of Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church. We discuss Joseph in the history of interpretation (4:44), Joseph in biblical theology and typology (9:59), advice for preaching (48:31), and more. Read Samuel’s books.
This episode is sponsored by Logos. Try the newest version for free for two months(!): www.logos.com/cg.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Dec 12, 2024 • 41min
Rhyne Putman on the Virgin Conception and Birth of Jesus
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Rhyne Putman of Williams Baptist University. We discuss the importance of Jesus’s genealogies and his role as the “virgin-born king” (3:48), the virgin birth in the Christian tradition (11:54), the biblical and theological importance of the virgin birth (14:31), Protestants and Mary (22:42), the importance of the virgin birth today (30:20), and more. Buy Rhyne’s books.
This episode is sponsored by Logos. Try the newest version for free for two months(!): www.logos.com/cg.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Oct 17, 2024 • 48min
Ryan Fields on Ecclesiology, Catholicity, and the Free Church
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Ryan Fields of Faith Evangelical Free Church. We discuss becoming a free church pastor (2:14), a definition of catholicity (7:02), a definition of and argument for a free church (11:38), catholicity in the free church (24:43), the local and eschatological implications of catholicity (37:37), and more. Buy Ryan’s book.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also order his latest, Beholding the Triune God, written with Matthew Emerson.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Aug 1, 2024 • 43min
Kevin Vanhoozer on Hermeneutics, Theology, and the Transfiguration
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. We discuss his new book on hermeneutics (2:24), reflections on decades of studying hermeneutics (26:57), issues that still need to be tackled in the study of hermeneutics (35:36), and more. Buy Kevin’s books.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also preorder Beholding the Triune God by Brandon and Matthew Emerson.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Jul 10, 2024 • 50min
Allegory, Asceticism, and Early Christian Biographies with Winston Hottman
This episode is a conversation with Winston Hottman originally posted at the Center for Baptist Renewal podcast. We discuss Athanasius’s Life of Antony and two works by Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses and The Life of Macrina.
Check out Brandon’s recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (B&H Academic, 2024).
You can also preorder Beholding the Triune God by Brandon and Matthew Emerson.
Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary, which seeks to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase.
Producer: Ryan Modisette. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl.
Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University, a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.
*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.