How did the New Testament actually come to be?

In this episode, we explore the transmission of the New Testament—how early Christian communities preserved, shared, interpreted, and ultimately trusted these texts as Scripture. Rather than treating the Bible as something that appeared fully formed, this episode traces the long and careful process through which the New Testament was carried through oral tradition, written texts, communal discernment, and historical transmission.

We examine how Christian faith existed before the New Testament, how oral culture shaped the earliest Jesus movement, why variation does not undermine authority, and how the canon formed through use and recognition rather than decree. Along the way, we address common questions about manuscripts, textual variants, and what it really means to call Scripture “authoritative.”

This episode explores:

• Oral tradition and memory in the early church

• Inspiration and human participation

• Manuscripts, copying, and textual variation

• How and why the New Testament canon formed

• Authority that endures history rather than denying it

This is a long-form, teaching-style episode designed for listeners who want a historically grounded and theologically honest understanding of Scripture. Whether you’re studying theology, preparing for ministry, or rethinking how you’ve been taught to read the Bible, this episode invites you to see the New Testament as a living tradition carried faithfully through time.

In this short video I provide a brief exegetical look at the Christ Hymn in Philippians chapter 2 verses 1-11. We dive into the context, the language and the scholarly views and commentary on this passage.

A study tool for those of us who might be more auditory learners. This brief episode dives into the 59 some-odd vocabulary terms that we need to know for our second vocabulary quiz in Doctines and Themes with Dr. Thomas Currie III at Austin Seminary.

What if being faithful means being disruptive? In this episode of The Pastor in Training Podcast, Jeffery White sits down with Mark Sandlin — Presbyterian minister, co-founder of The Christian Left, and President & Co-Executive Director of ProgressiveChristianity.org.

Mark has spent years challenging toxic theology and championing a faith that is courageous, inclusive, and rooted in the teachings of Jesus. We dive deep into:
✅ The difference between following Jesus and following the religion built around him
✅ Deconstruction without losing faith
✅ LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church
✅ How progressive Christianity can move from ideas to real-world action
✅ The future of the American church

If you’ve ever wrestled with faith, church, or what it means to follow Jesus today — this episode is for you.

Follow Mark Sandlin:
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/marksandlin
📌 TikTok: tiktok.com/@marksandlin
📌 Website: progressivechristianity.org
📌 Newsletter & Blog: southernfriedheresy.com

Follow The Pastor in Training Podcast:
🎥 TikTok & Instagram: @thepastorintraining
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/thepastorintraining

🎙 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you never miss an episode!

What if being faithful means being disruptive? In this episode of The Pastor in Training Podcast, Jeffery White sits down with Mark Sandlin — Presbyterian minister, co-founder of The Christian Left, and President & Co-Executive Director of ProgressiveChristianity.org.

Mark has spent years challenging toxic theology and championing a faith that is courageous, inclusive, and rooted in the teachings of Jesus. We dive deep into:
✅ The difference between following Jesus and following the religion built around him
✅ Deconstruction without losing faith
✅ LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church
✅ How progressive Christianity can move from ideas to real-world action
✅ The future of the American church

If you’ve ever wrestled with faith, church, or what it means to follow Jesus today — this episode is for you.

Follow Mark Sandlin:
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/marksandlin
📌 TikTok: tiktok.com/@marksandlin
📌 Website: progressivechristianity.org
📌 Newsletter & Blog: southernfriedheresy.com

Follow The Pastor in Training Podcast:
🎥 TikTok & Instagram: @thepastorintraining
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/thepastorintraining

🎙 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you never miss an episode!

What does it mean to be the church in a digital world? In this episode, Jeffery White sits down with Rev. Anne Russ — pastor, digital disrupter, and sacred agitator — to talk about the evolving landscape of ministry beyond the pulpit. From TikTok theology to online community care, Anne brings wisdom, wit, and a prophetic voice to the conversation.

We cover:

• How to build authentic spiritual community online

• Why digital spaces are real ministry spaces

• The tension between tradition and innovation

• What pastors (and skeptics) need to know about faith in the algorithm age

Whether you're in ministry, deconstructing, or just curious about what church looks like in 2025 — this conversation is for you.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow @thepastorintraining for more real talk on faith, justice, and life beyond the steeple.

What does it mean to be the church in a digital world? In this episode, Jeffery White sits down with Rev. Anne Russ — pastor, digital disrupter, and sacred agitator — to talk about the evolving landscape of ministry beyond the pulpit. From TikTok theology to online community care, Anne brings wisdom, wit, and a prophetic voice to the conversation.

We cover:

• How to build authentic spiritual community online

• Why digital spaces are real ministry spaces

• The tension between tradition and innovation

• What pastors (and skeptics) need to know about faith in the algorithm age

Whether you're in ministry, deconstructing, or just curious about what church looks like in 2025 — this conversation is for you.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow @thepastorintraining for more real talk on faith, justice, and life beyond the steeple.

Would you like a shorter version for platforms with tighter character limits (like Apple Podcasts or Instagram captions)?

🎙️ Is God Violent? A Conversation with Greg Boyd

If God commanded genocide in the Old Testament but told us to love our enemies in the New… what kind of God are we actually worshiping?

In this episode, I sit down with theologian and author Greg Boyd (The Crucifixion of the Warrior God) to talk about:

• Cruciform theology and reading the Bible through the lens of the cross

• How to make sense of divine violence in Scripture

• Why Jesus reveals the true heart of God

• And how this view can bring healing to those hurt by fear-based faith

If you're deconstructing, reconstructing, or just asking honest questions—this episode is for you.

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