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In this episode of Weighed in the Balance, we take a deep dive into the historical and theological relationship between the Reformer John Calvin and the early church father Ignatius of Antioch.

Recently, Roman Catholic creator Cameron Rieker claimed that Protestants "fear" Ignatius and that Calvin attempted to "erase him from history." But is that an accurate representation of the facts? We go straight to the primary sources—specifically Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion—to see who Calvin was actually arguing against and why he was skeptical of the Ignatian corpus in the 16th century.

In this video, we discuss:

• Context Matters: Why Calvin’s critique of Ignatius was aimed at Unitarians like Michael Servetus, not Roman Catholics.
• The Forgery Crisis: How Renaissance Humanism and the "Ad Fontes" movement led scholars to question spurious documents like the Donation of Constantine and the longer recension of Ignatius' letters.
• The Real Servetus Story: The complicated relationship between Calvin and Servetus, and the truth behind the Geneva trial.
• Apostolic Succession: Why Protestant ministers (including myself) hold to a biblical view of apostolic succession and the office of "overseer."
• The Eucharist: Why Ignatius' views on the Lord's Supper are entirely consistent with a Reformed understanding of the Real Presence by faith.

If you enjoy charitable theological discussion that prioritizes historical accuracy over clickbait claims, please like this video and subscribe to the channel. It truly helps more people discover these conversations.

What do you think? Does Ignatius' writing prove the Roman Catholic position, or is it being read out of context? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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I received five all-caps comments from a skeptic that demanded a response. Today, we're putting those claims—from the trial of Jesus to the dating of the Gospels—under historical scrutiny.

Was Jesus a failed Revolutionary executed by the Romans for sedition?

Did Augustine change Christian doctrine to make it Manichaean and Neoplatonist?

Are the Gospels just “fan fiction”?

Why didn’t “everyone” see Jesus rise from the dead?

We tackle each of these topics, providing answers grounded in the facts of history and (just as important) the truth of Scripture.

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Is the King James Version the only trustworthy English Bible? How should Christians think about textual criticism, Bible translations, and the doctrine of preservation?

In this episode of Weighed in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks is joined by Rev. Don Baker to bring the King James Onlyism series to a close. Having both grown up in Independent Fundamental Baptist churches, they discuss their experiences, common arguments made by KJV-Only advocates, and why faithful Christians can confidently trust God's Word without insisting on one English translation.

Topics include:

• Growing up in King James Only churches
• The value of a shared theological vocabulary
• Formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence
• Translation philosophy and readability
• Greek and Hebrew in Bible study
• The longer ending of Mark and the woman caught in adultery
• The Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7)
• Textual criticism and the preservation of Scripture
• Why scholarship must remain subordinate to God's Word
• Common parallels between King James Onlyism and Roman Catholic claims of infallibility

Our goal is not to attack those who love the King James Version. In fact, we both deeply appreciate the KJV and recognize its enormous influence on the English-speaking church. Rather, we seek to encourage Christians to trust God's providential preservation of Scripture and to approach these questions with charity and humility.

If you enjoy careful and charitable theological discussion, please like this video, subscribe, and share it with others.

00:00 Introduction to King James Onlyism

02:41 Personal Backgrounds in Fundamentalism

04:38 Debate Insights and Perspectives

07:18 The Impact of King James Onlyism on Faith

07:46 The Value of Shared Translations

09:52 Cultural and Linguistic Perspectives on Translation

12:52 Translation Philosophy: Formal vs. Dynamic Equivalence

15:19 The Importance of Context in Translation

18:13 Textual Variants and Their Implications

20:05 Authority in Translation: King James Onlyism vs. Scholarly Consensus

23:07 The Role of the Church in Transmission and Interpretation

25:00 Understanding Textual Evidence and Its Significance

27:22 Final Authority: Scholars vs. Original Texts

40:53 The Impact of Scholarship on the Church

41:10 Navigating Theological Liberalism and Scholarship

45:55 The Role of Pastors and Authority in Teaching

52:16 The Preservation of Scripture Through History

57:08 Understanding Bible Translations and Their Interpretations

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