Gospel Simplicity Podcast

Austin Suggs
  • 4.9 (78)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Gospel Simplicity Podcast is centered around the conviction that the gospel is really good news. Here you will find conversations with Christians from various traditions as we seek to unpack the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel. Gospel Simplicity is known for ecumenical dialogue that is charitable and open to learning from people with whom you might disagree. We believe that God desires for his Church to be one, united in love for God and neighbor, and on mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

  1. 2d ago

    An Anglican Guide to Re-Enchantment

    In this episode, I'm joined by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Plant to discuss his new book, King Oswald's Heirs, which is a meditation on the 1662 BCP Catechism applied to the questions of re-enchantment and Christianity in a modern/post-modern world. It's a fascinating combination and well-worth reading. In this discussion, Fr. Thomas discusses the importance of embracing the traditions we've been given, whether the Reformation caused secularism, and much more. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com Guest Links: Read the book: https://amzn.to/4x16Esi 00:00 The Reformation and Modernity 11:00 Post-Christianity 22:00 The Saints 27:00 Particular and Universal 47:30 Identity Support the show

  2. Aug 26

    Where Aquinas Went Wrong: Debates between St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure | Dr. Brendan Case

    In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Brendan Case to discuss his new book, Doubting Thomas (UND Press), which covers a host of debates between St. Thomas Aquinas and his Franciscan counterparts, especially St. Bonaventure. In this discussion, Dr. Case shares a few instances where he thinks Bonaventure got the better of Thomas. Moreover, he shares why these debates matter and how they might better help us understand the place of Thomas in modern theology. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com About the Guest: Brendan W. Case, Th.D., serves as the Associate Director for Research at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. A Christian theologian by training, Case’s work brings theology and philosophy into conversation with the empirical social sciences to understand the nature, distribution, and determinants of a good life. Dr. Case is the author or co-author of five books: The Gentleness of Wisdom: A Christian Ethics of Charity, Anger, and Enmity (Routledge, 2026); Doubting Thomas: Early Franciscan Disputes with Aquinas (University of Notre Dame Press, 2026); The Justification of the Sinless: Supralapsarian Christology and the Goodness of the Incarnation (Baker Academic, 2026); The Accountable Animal: Justice, Justification, and Judgment (T&T Clark, 2021), and (with William Glass) Least of the Apostles: Paul and His Legacies in Earliest Christianity (Pickwick Press, 2022). Guest Links: Read the book: https://amzn.to/3UnrxQQ The Justification of the Sinless: https://amzn.to/4ccbZFP Learn more: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/team/brendan-case Chapters 00:00 The Place of St. Thomas in Theology 04:46 St. Bonaventure's Approach 10:01 Reception of Thomas in his time 20:04 The Trinity and divine relations 25:12 The Ontological Argument 30:07 Implications of different theological emphases 35:05 Bonaventure today 39:55 Beyond the Summa 45:13 Mystical theology in Bonaventure 49:48 Historical and contemporary views on Thomas and Bonaventure 54:57 The future of theological study Support the show

  3. Aug 24

    Marian Doctrine and Devotion: The First 300 Years

    What did the earliest Christians believe about the Virgin Mary? That's what I'll cover in this video, looking at both orthodox and heterodox groups, as well as written and material evidence. This is the longest and most detailed video yet in my ongoing series on the history of Marian doctrine and devotion.  Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com Videos Referenced:  Protevangelium: https://youtu.be/rgHV-leh6P8?si=cseP3b3EpdPoSqCk Dormition/Assumption: https://youtu.be/0ylKNQmE1oE?si=DSHGJLl_yXO75-4J Rejecting Mary? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCZ-ZK8e17c&list=PLPYmFzsNDDO-WMGWwl6gTofsw_J-k_Bcd&index=4 Recommended Secondary Sources:  Yale Dura Europos Website: https://duraeuropos.artgallery.yale.edu/ Stephen Shoemaker, Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion Miri Rubin, Mother of God 0:00 Introduction 012:28 Ascension of Isaiah 06:03 St. Ignatius of Antioch 07:38 St. Justin Martyr 09:52 Protevangelium of James 13:52 St. Irenaeus of Lyons 20:23 Gnostics on Mary 24:44 Tertullian 26:35 St. Clement of Alexandria 27:48 Origen of Alexandria 30:53 Third Century Summary 31:23 Sub Tuum Praesidium 36:37 Mary in Early Christian Art 40:49 The Book of Mary's Repose 43:19 Concluding Thoughts Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase. Support the show

  4. Aug 15

    Mary's Bodily Assumption: A History

    Since its definition as a dogma in 1950, Mary's Bodily Assumption has been a point of tension between Protestants and Catholics. For some, it's the beautiful telos of the other Marian dogmas. For others, it's a bewildering act of dogmatizing something that seems unnecessary.  This video isn't about who's right. Instead, this video is a look at the historical development of Christian belief in Mary's Bodily Assumption through three sources: St. Epiphanius of Salamis, apocryphal Dormition/Assumption narratives, and liturgical history.  This video is deeply indebted to the work of Dr. Stephen Shoemaker. You can find the links for his work in the resources section below.  Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com References: Stephen Shoemaker, Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary's Dormition and Assumption: https://academic.oup.com/book/27239 Stephen Shoemaker, Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion: https://amzn.to/4zotIUo Matthew Levering, Mary's Bodily Assumption: https://amzn.to/4bLfP8E 0:00 Background 05:53 St. Epiphanius, 4th c. 13:32 Dormition/Assumption Apocrypha 29:19 Liturgy 31:55 Conclusion Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase. Support the show

  5. Aug 10

    Men Are in Crisis. Christian Virtue Can Help | Dr. Zachary C. Wagner

    In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Zachary Wagner, author of Men of Virtue, to discuss the crises men are facing, the problematic solutions being offered, and why embracing a Christian vision of virtue is the answer. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com About the Guest: Zachary Wagner is an author, ordained minister, and New Testament scholar. He earned a DPhil from Oxford in 2025. He published his first book, Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality, in 2023 with InterVarsity Press. His second book, Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World, will release from Brazos Press in May 2026. He is currently pursuing publication for his DPhil thesis, as well as a further writing and research projects on Christianity and Stoicism. Guest Links: Book: https://amzn.to/3TBoAfg Substack: https://substack.com/@zacharywagner Website: https://www.zacharycwagner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharycwagner Support the show

  6. Jul 16

    Why C.S. Lewis Believed in Purgatory

    You might have heard that C.S. Lewis believed in Purgatory, and that's true. But his vision of Purgatory is unique, combining Protestant and Catholic sensibilities. In this video, I unpack what Lewis taught about Purgatory in Letters to Malcom and The Great Divorce, looking specifically at the theological foundation for his views and what that means for us today. Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com Videos Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsyqFRVIh4&t=314s 00:00 Lewis on Purgatory 01:35 Letters to Malcolm 04:11 The Great Divorce 07:55 Theological Foundations 13:53 Implications for Protestants Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase. Support the show

  7. Jul 13

    Seeing All of Life through the Eucharist | Rev. Hannah Miller King

    In this episode, I'm joined by Rev. Hannah Miller King to discuss how understanding the Eucharist can change how we see the entirety of the Christian life. We talk about grief, community, and divisions in the church along the way as we explore what the Eucharist really means.  Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com About the Guest: Hannah Miller King is a priest and writer in the Anglican tradition. She has been a campus minister among conservatory musicians, an apartment minister in downtown Dallas, and a parish pastor in Northern Virginia and South Carolina. She currently serves as the Associate Rector at The Vine Anglican Church in Western North Carolina. She is a contributing writer for Christianity Today and Holy Post Media, and her work has appeared in Fathom Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The Living Church and Smoky Mountain News.  Her first book was published by InterVarsity Press in February 2026.  Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary. She is currently being schooled in the minutia of Star Wars (and other galactic battles between good and evil) by her three kids.  Find Rev. Hannah on Substack: https://hannahmillerking.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Support the show

  8. Jul 11

    The Logic of BOTH the SSPX and the Reformers

    Last week, the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X consecrated four bishops without papal mandate, and 24 hours later, the Vatican pronounced that the SSPX clergy had incurred excommunication and warned that laypeople who formally adhere to the SSPX could be guilty of excommunication as well. It was major news, but at first, I thought I'd just leave it to the Catholics and SSPX to sort this out. However, as I was tracking the discourse on this, I became intrigued by one particular thread of the conversation: the comparisons between the SSPX and the Reformation. As a Protestant, this interested me. It also put me in an odd situation. I disagree with the SSPX on a number of things, not least of which is their assessment of the theological emphases of Vatican 2. However, much of the structure of their argument, especially the idea of the state of necessity felt familiar. Indeed, it has interesting overlaps with the Reformation. And it's those overlaps that I decided to explore in this video. Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com SSPX Quotes referenced came from the following article: https://sspx.org/en/state-necessity-30464 00:00 The News 01:20 The SSPX 02:38 The State of Necessity 05:53 Reformation Similarities 07:40 Dissent from a Council 09:25 Rejecting Innovations 13:18 Appealing to a Higher Authority 15:39 The Crux of the Issue Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase. Support the show

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About

The Gospel Simplicity Podcast is centered around the conviction that the gospel is really good news. Here you will find conversations with Christians from various traditions as we seek to unpack the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel. Gospel Simplicity is known for ecumenical dialogue that is charitable and open to learning from people with whom you might disagree. We believe that God desires for his Church to be one, united in love for God and neighbor, and on mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

Information

  • Creator
    Austin Suggs
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    139
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Gospel Simplicity Podcast
  • Show Website
    Gospel Simplicity Podcast

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