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.
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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

On today's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 4, we read of the dream given to Nebuchadnezzar wherein a large protective tree bearing much fruit is chopped down, it's branches lopped off, it's leaves stripped, and it's fruit scattered. What's all this about? Well, Daniel provides yet another interpretation for Nebuchadnezzar.

This is the second 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 Colossians
1:16 and the Expanded Interpretation of Genesis 1:1
08:36 Encoronation and Endoxation Related
10:16 Encoronation in Isaiah 6:1–4
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...
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#heaven #hebrews #reformedtheology #biblestudy

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.
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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

The story of the healing of the paralytic is a picture of God's work of redemption through Jesus Christ. We are healed—saved—not because we merit favor, but because of the grace of God. Their faith is demonstrated by their works, but their works do not save them. True saving faith is an instrument of justification.