The Westminster Podcast

This week Nate Shannon speaks with Westminster doctoral student Jeremy Menicucci about his journey to Westminster, his pastoral background, and his doctoral research on the Book of Lamentations. They focus on Jeremy’s dissertation work on Hebrew poetry, focusing especially on deviations from unmarked word order in Lamentations. He explains how poetic structure, acrostic form, and word order function not merely as literary devices but as vehicles for theological meaning. Lamentations, he argues, is carefully structured as a chiasm with chapter 3 at its center—a chapter that uniquely holds out hope through a profound declaration of God’s sovereignty and a strikingly Christological portrait of “the man” who bears God’s wrath. The episode closes with a rich pastoral reflection on suffering, comfort, and the sovereignty of God, offering listeners guidance on how to read Lamentations faithfully and how its theology equips believers to grieve, hope, and minister wisely in the midst of profound loss. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

Göksel Erdoğdu, a Turkish pastor and the first Westminster Theological Seminary graduate from Turkey, shares his compelling journey as a second-generation Christian in a predominantly Muslim nation. He discusses the cultural challenges and social pressures that shaped his faith and ministry. Göksel highlights the current state of the church in Turkey, noting the need for sound theological resources and the excitement among younger believers for meaningful biblical engagement. He invites listeners to pray and partner in supporting the gospel work in Turkey.

In this episode of The Westminster Podcast, Brandon McLean Smith is joined again by Brian Selby for a wide-ranging theological conversation on Herman Bavinck, Christology, and the enduring significance of the infralapsarian–supralapsarian debate. Selby explores recent developments in Bavinck scholarship, arguing that Bavinck is far more decisive than often assumed in ordering creation, fall, and redemption with a view to Christ as the telos of all things—while firmly rejecting problematic forms of “incarnation anyway.” Drawing on Bavinck’s engagement with Scripture, the Reformed tradition, and his 19th-century theological context, the conversation situates Bavinck as a critical foil to later neo-orthodox developments, particularly Karl Barth. The discussion also broadens to consider theological retrieval and method. Selby and Smith reflect on how Bavinck models a distinctly Reformed approach to engaging modern questions without surrendering confessional commitments—retrieving the tradition without mere repristination, and advancing dogmatics in service of the church’s witness in every age. Along the way, they address Christocentrism, revelation, apologetics, and the task of theology in a changing intellectual landscape, offering a compelling vision of how historic Reformed theology can remain faithful, catholic, and intellectually alive today. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

Recorded at the Nicaea Conference in Istanbul, this episode of The Westminster Podcast features a wide-ranging and incisive conversation with Pastor Leo de Chirico, a Reformed Baptist pastor serving in Rome, Italy. Drawing on his unique experience and years of evangelistic and theological engagement in a Roman Catholic context, Leo reflects on the significance of the Council of Nicaea, the purpose of the Nicene Creed, and what it really meant to confess Christ’s divinity in the face of Arianism. Rather than treating the creed as a sentimental or purely ecumenical touchstone, Leo argues that Nicaea functioned as an exegetical workshop—a Scripture-driven response to heresy grounded in the authority of the Bible. From there, the conversation explores how different Christian traditions interpret the same creedal language within very different theological frameworks. Leo traces the divergent trajectories of Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism, contending that the Reformation did not reject Nicene Christianity but sought to recover what Nicaea assumed: the supremacy of Scripture as the norma normans. The discussion also turns to contemporary issues, including the renewed attraction of Roman Catholicism among evangelicals, the legacy of Vatican II, and the challenge of engaging a Catholicism that is adaptive, plural, and often misunderstood. Throughout, Leo presses a consistent theme: Christians may use the same words, but they often inhabit very different worlds—and faithful dialogue requires clarity, historical awareness, and a renewed confidence in Scripture alone. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

Jordan Bush, executive director of Thank God for Bitcoin, discusses the intersection of Bitcoin and Christian stewardship. He explores how Bitcoin can empower missions in areas with unstable banking systems, protect against financial censorship, and serves as a hedge against central bank digital currencies. Bush also connects biblical principles to economic practices, suggesting practical strategies for churches to embrace cryptocurrency. With insights on Bitcoin's evolving role in donations and ministry finance, he presents a compelling case for rethinking resources in today’s economy.

Sharif Fahim, a New Testament scholar and minister from Alexandria, Egypt, shares his compelling journey from nominal Coptic Christian to a leading voice in Reformed theology. He discusses the urgent need for Arabic Reformed literature and the complexities involved in translating such theological works. Sharif dives into his PhD focus on Romans, highlighting the interplay between justification and sanctification. He emphasizes the historical significance of Alexandria and the hope for revival in the region's church amidst current challenges.

Dr. Blake Franze, a New Testament scholar and faculty member, shares insights on his PhD research focusing on the intriguing connection between grace and divine reward in Paul's letters. He discusses how modern perspectives often separate these concepts, yet Paul weaves them together seamlessly. Franze also explores Paul's reinterpretation of Israel's reward language, revealing its roots in Old Testament scripture. Listeners will discover how Paul uses grace to redefine vindication and offers fresh perspectives on faith and rewards.

Dr. David Garner, Chief Academic Officer and future president of Westminster Theological Seminary, dives deep into the nuances of spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy. He emphasizes the moral imperative of how we engage in theological discourse, the importance of church authority, and the need for tenderness in disagreements. Garner highlights the significance of balancing personal experiences with scriptural authority and stresses the seminary's mission to navigate these conversations within a global context. A thoughtful exploration of faith and community awaits!

This week Brandon McLean Smith speaks with Dr. James Baird. His book "King of Kings: A Reformed Guide to Christian Government" presents a case for the government's responsibility to promote and protect Christianity as the true religion. While this topic has become controversial, James stakes his claim in the soil of Reformed theology, redemptive-historical hermeneutics, while avoiding the pitfalls of premillenialism and theonomy. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

Nate returns to the home of Dr. Edgar this week to continue their discussion of the role of persuasion in Christian Apologetics. This time they are talking about the point of contact, where the rubber meets the road. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!