Stunned by Scripture

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
  • 4.9 (87)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Renowned Scripture scholar Dr. John Bergsma teams up with special guests to unpack the rich mysteries of Sacred Scripture. In Stunned by Scripture—a bi-weekly podcast from the St. Paul Center—Dr. Bergsma and his expert guests tackle the challenging questions of biblical interpretation with clarity, passion, and a healthy dose of Catholic wit. From the historical and cultural background of the Old Testament to biblical apologetics to practical biblical wisdom for everyday living, Stunned by Scripture will bring Scripture to life like never before. So grab your Bible and let’s get started.

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    Defining the Deuterocanon

    The terms “deuterocanonical,” “apocryphal,” and “pseudepigraphal” get thrown around frequently in theological debates—especially amongst Catholics and Protestants. So what do they actually mean? In this seventh episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma unpacks the significance of these terms and lays out the key distinctions between them. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture.  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #bible #deuterocanonical #apocryphal #pseudepigraphal

    13 min

  2. SEP 13

    Experiencing Eastern Religions & Thomas Aquinas | Dr. Michael Sirilla

    In this sixth episode of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma sits down with fellow colleague at Franciscan University, Dr. Michael Sirilla. Dr. Sirilla shares his story of his reversion and rediscovery of Jesus Christ. From leaving the faith to his journey through the New Age Movement and Eastern religions, Dr. Sirilla shares how life events, spiritual encounters, and the pursuit for meaning and truth brought him back home to the Catholic Faith. For more on Dr. Sirilla and his theological work, check out his course on Christology: https://my.stpaulcenter.com  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #michaelsirilla #conversion #theology

    2h 22m

  3. AUG 16

    Does Science Prove God Exists?

    Leaders in the New Atheist movement have always made the claim that God doesn’t that science explains everything. However, as we progress in our knowledge of the natural world, the evidence for an intelligent, all-powerful creator also becomes greater. In this new installment of Stunned by Scripture, Dr. Bergsma takes on this atheist belief by examining the science. In this episode Dr. Bergsma unpacks cosmic fine-tuning, exploring how the cosmic constants of the universe provide strong evidence for the existence of God. Science does not contradict Scripture or the existence of God, but rather proves it.  ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #science #atheism #cosmicfinetuning

    27 min

  4. AUG 2

    The Relentless Pursuit of Truth | Dr. Shane Owens

    In this fourth episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma interviews fellow biblical scholar Dr. Shane Owens about his personal faith journey. Shane shares how he kept his faith amidst a secular college culture—holding fast to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Drs. Bergsma and Owens unpack a wide range of topics, including American Catholic education, secular college culture, the historical impact of St. Augustine and the Church Fathers, and practical approaches to studying scripture. Watch this latest installment of Stunned by Scripture to learn how to better read the Bible, following the guidance of trusted scholarship and the teachings of the Church Fathers. For more content on St. Augustine and the Church Fathers, start your free trial below: https://stpaulcenter.com/memberships ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stunnedbyscripture #johnbergsma #shaneowens #churchfathers #augustine

    1h 45m

  5. JUL 19

    Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger

    Did Catholics add books to the Bible or did Protestants remove books? Who determines the Canon of Scripture? In this third episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma tackles this question head-on, explaining the origins of the Biblical canon, its development throughout Salvation History from the time of Moses, and how the Catholic Church agreed upon an official list of inspired books in 382 A.D. Furthermore, Dr. Bergsma explains the history behind the Protestant Bible as well as the changes that were made following the Reformation. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture. 00:00 Introduction ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #podcast #indulgences #bible #scripture #biblicaltheology #canon #churchcouncils #councilofrome #booksofthebible #salvationhistory #pharisees #saducees #essenes #protestantreformation #theology #judaism #protestantism #catholicism #christianity

    28 min

  6. JUN 21

    The Biblical Roots of Indulgences | An Interview With a Jewish Convert

    In this second episode of Stunned by Scripture, John Bergsma sits down with fellow Bible scholar Dr. Jeff Morrow to discuss his own conversion story as well as the history and validity behind Indulgences. Growing up in a culturally Jewish but agnostic household, Jeff Morrow shares how his skepticism and academic studies led him to ultimately converting to Catholicism. Furthermore, they discuss Evangelical Protestantism, historical criticism, the role of Scripture, Indulgences, Purgatory, and addressing the Protestant claim of Catholics "adding" books to the Bible. Dive deeper into your knowledge of the Bible with John Bergsma in Stunned by Scripture. ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #drjeffmorrow #podcast #indulgences #purgatory #scripture #biblicaltheology #historicalcriticism #deuterocanonicalbooks #politics #science #evolution #agnostic #philosophy #theology #judaism #protestantism #catholicism #christianity

    1h 47m
  7. How I Was Stunned By Scripture

    JUN 6

    How I Was Stunned By Scripture

    In this first episode of his new podcast, Stunned by Scripture, Dr. John Bergsma invites us into his journey from Protestantism to Catholicism. Having grown up in a Dutch Calvinist home, Bergsma began his career as a pastor only to come face-to-face with the weaknesses of the various Protestant theologies. Today he shares how his struggles with sola Scriptura and sola fide challenged his core beliefs, setting him on a path that led inevitably into the Catholic Church. Like him, you will be stunned by the enduring Catholic truths present in the Scriptures. ✨ Want the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for FREE? Sign up for our annual All Access Membership: ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.co/bible Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconferences 📖 Start a Bible study with the St. Paul Center: https://stpaulcenter.co/biblestudies ✈️ Go on a pilgrimage with us: https://stpaulcenter.co/pilgrimages 🛒 Browse our bookstore: https://stpaulcenter.co/emmausroadpublishing 🔥 Support our mission: https://stpaulcenter.co/donate #stpaulcenter #johnbergsma #stunnedbyscripture #conversion #catholicism #protestantism #christianity #solafide #solascriptura #eucharist #churchfathers #podcast #newseries

    1h 10m
  • 7 Episodes

4.9
out of 5
87 Ratings

About

Renowned Scripture scholar Dr. John Bergsma teams up with special guests to unpack the rich mysteries of Sacred Scripture. In Stunned by Scripture—a bi-weekly podcast from the St. Paul Center—Dr. Bergsma and his expert guests tackle the challenging questions of biblical interpretation with clarity, passion, and a healthy dose of Catholic wit. From the historical and cultural background of the Old Testament to biblical apologetics to practical biblical wisdom for everyday living, Stunned by Scripture will bring Scripture to life like never before. So grab your Bible and let’s get started.

Information

  • Creator
    St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Stunned by Scripture

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