Reformed Forum

In this episode we welcome church historian Stephen Presley to explore the life, theology, and enduring relevance of Irenaeus of Lyons. Writing in the latter half of the second century, Irenaeus emerges not merely as a polemicist against Gnosticism but as a deeply pastoral theologian—one whose doctrine, biblical interpretation, and ecclesial commitments were inseparably bound to the life of the church. Presley highlights Irenaeus's vision of Scripture as a unified, Christ-centered story, summed up in his doctrine of recapitulation: all things find their meaning, coherence, and redemption in Christ, the true head of humanity. Against both ancient Gnosticism and modern disembodied spiritualities, Irenaeus affirms the goodness of creation, the integrity of the human person, and the necessity of catechesis rooted in the rule of faith. For today's church—navigating doctrinal confusion, cultural fragmentation, and questions of discipleship—Irenaeus offers a compelling model of theological method that is biblical, confessional, pastoral, and profoundly Christ-centered. Dr. Stephen O. Presley is Director of Education and Engagement and Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:47 The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy 04:48 How to Pronounce Irenaeus 08:48 The Early Church 13:31 Irenaeus as a Church Theologian 16:00 The Rule of Faith 20:36 Reading Scripture 26:11 Recapitulation 30:18 Against Gnosticism 33:38 Christ as the New Adam 44:07 Surprises While Writing the Book 46:39 Conclusion

A close reading of Daniel chapter 4 unfolds Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream about a mighty tree felled and stripped. They explore divine sovereignty over rulers and how pride leads to humiliation and strange restoration. The conversation touches on repentance, preaching to all people, and debates over the duration and nature of the king's madness.

A theological tour of heavenly imagery in Hebrews and related texts. The talk coins 'incoronation' alongside the Spirit's action and explores Colossians’ expansion of Genesis 1:1 to include thrones and angelic orders. Isaiah 6 is read as a vision of the primordial temple with the Son enthroned. The lesson outlines three key features of the heavenly temple and a Trinitarian rationale for its character.

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton discuss a deceptively brief but theologically weighty section of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology, exploring Jesus' critique of first-century Jewish ethics. Far from addressing merely surface-level moral failures, Vos shows that Jesus exposes a deeper religious collapse—one marked by practical deism and pervasive self-centeredness. When God's glory is displaced as the center of ethical life, obedience becomes external, fragmented, and ultimately irreligious. This conversation presses the listener to consider how these same distortions reappear across church history and into the present—whether in moralistic fundamentalism, liberal Protestant ethics, or debates surrounding the New Perspective on Paul. The antidote Vos commends is not tighter rules or refined casuistry, but a recovery of true religion: life coram Deo, grounded in union with Christ, animated by delight in God himself as our supreme reward. In Christ, obedience is restored to its proper place as worship, flowing from grace rather than self-reliance. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 07:32 Jesus's Critique of Jewish Ethics 18:07 Common Distortions of Ethics 32:55 Modern Expressions of the Same Error 40:46 Von Harnack and the Essence of Christianity 44:08 The New Perspective on Paul 49:35 The Antidote 52:28 Conclusion

Jim Cassidy, pastor of South Austin Presbyterian Church and careful exegete, walks through Mark 2:1–12. He traces the crowded roof rescue, Jesus’ notice of faith, and the clash with the Pharisees. The conversation highlights how healing points to forgiveness, Christ’s authority, and the contrast between living faith and hardened unbelief.

This is the first lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the following topics: 00:00 Vos on the Relation and Distinction Between Heaven and Earth 10:32 Vos on Heaven as the Supreme Reality 14:21 Kline on the Endoxation of the Holy Spirit Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/th... Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/ #heaven #hebrews #reformedtheology #biblestudy

In this episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Josiah Leinbach to discuss William Whitaker's A Disputation on Holy Scripture—a monumental sixteenth-century defense of sola Scriptura, newly edited and republished by Prolego Press. Written in 1588 against leading Roman Catholic theologians such as Robert Bellarmine, Whitaker's work offers a comprehensive treatment of Scripture's authority, canon, clarity, and sufficiency. Leinbach explains how Whitaker combined Renaissance humanism with scholastic rigor, engaging Scripture, church history, and patristic sources to show that Protestant convictions about Scripture were neither novel nor reactionary, but deeply rooted in the catholic tradition of the church. The conversation also explores the modern relevance of Whitaker's work—especially amid contemporary debates over authority, tradition, and ecumenism. Leinbach reflects on how advances in historical and textual scholarship have confirmed many of the Reformers' arguments, while Rome's own positions have shifted over time. Whitaker's insistence on the perspicuity of Scripture, the singular infallibility of God's Word, and the Spirit's inward testimony offers not only apologetic clarity but deep pastoral comfort. This episode invites listeners to recover confidence in Scripture as God's clear and sufficient means of revealing Christ to his people. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:08 William Whitaker's A Disputation on Holy Scripture 07:25 Leinbach's Transition from History to Machine Learning 18:10 Whitaker's Polemical Approach 22:03 The Canon of Scripture 25:50 The Perspicuity of Scripture 28:29 Biblical Authority 32:02 The Testimony of the Holy Spirit 35:27 Ecumenical Dialogue Yesterday and Today 48:10 Future Works 52:25 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Josiah Leinbach

In this engaging discussion, Dr. James Cassidy, a Reformed theologian and instructor at Reformed Academy, delves into essential topics regarding church governance. He tackles the contentious issue of gender roles in church offices, citing biblical texts like 1 Timothy 2. Furthermore, Cassidy explores the concept of the Connected Church, highlighting the importance of accountability among congregations. He emphasizes the limited jurisdiction of the church, the significance of preaching, and the regulative principle of worship, all crucial for preserving doctrinal truth and church order.

In this episode, Camden Bucey and Marcus Mininger reflect together on Resurrection and Redemption by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.—a work that has profoundly shaped Reformed biblical theology over the past half century. Rather than offering a technical review, the conversation unfolds as a guided meditation on the book's central claim: that Christ's resurrection is not a theological afterthought but the controlling center of Paul's soteriology and eschatology. Gaffin's careful exegesis helps readers see how redemption is inseparable from resurrection life in union with the risen Christ. This discussion is part of Reformed Forum's broader effort to offer conversational commentaries on formative Reformed texts—books that have formed us as pastors and theologians. Bucey and Mininger highlight why Resurrection and Redemption remains so enduringly fruitful: it teaches the church to think biblically about salvation, not as a static transaction, but as participation in the resurrected life of Christ. The result is theology that serves the pulpit, strengthens assurance, and orients the Christian life toward the hope of glory already secured in the risen Lord. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00:07 Introduction 00:01:56 International Cohorts and Reading Guides 00:10:31 Encountering Resurrection and Redemption 00:16:15 The Title and Purpose of the Book 00:26:18 The Discipline of Biblical Theology 00:32:56 Paul as Theologian 00:51:23 Redemptive-Historical Epochs 00:59:44 The Occasional Nature of Paul's Writings 01:08:27 Conclusion

Dive into the fascinating structure of church government, exploring how authority is exercised within the congregation. Discover the roles of elders and deacons, with insights on their biblical foundations. Learn about the importance of congregational recognition in selecting officers, and the distinction between ordinary and extraordinary ministers. Uncover the debate on church offices and how the roles of overseers and elders intertwine. This lesson also highlights qualifications for pastoral roles, turning conventional checklists on their head!