A Generous Ecclesiology with Myles Werntz
Mere Fidelity
Hosts Derek Rishmawy and Brad East are joined by Myles Werntz to discuss his Christianity Today Award of Merit-winning book, . Rather than systematic argument, Werntz uses narrative case studies examining how diverse Christian communities—from African Pentecostals to Korean Presbyterians—have embodied and contested the classical marks of the church. His starting premise: assume the Holy Spirit is at work in churches confessing Christ, then investigate what's happening. The conversation tackles tough questions about theological boundaries, ecumenical charity, and faithful disagreement...
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Paul and the Resurrection of Israel with Dr. Jason Staples
Mere Fidelity
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts and Brad East talk with Dr. Jason Staples about his book 'Paul and the Resurrection of Israel.' The discussion explores the themes of restoration eschatology, the role of Gentiles in Paul's theology, and the nature of Israel's restoration. Staples argues that Paul's understanding of Israel is broader than just ethnic Jews, emphasizing the inclusion of Gentiles in the restoration narrative. The conversation also touches on the concept of infectious holiness and the church's role as the assembly of Israel, highlighting the theological implications of these ideas...
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The World Is The Wrong Shape For Women with Leah Sargeant
Mere Fidelity
Derek, Brad, and Alastair talk with Leah Sargeant about her book The Dignity of Dependence. They discuss why the world is built for male bodies, how pregnancy exposes universal human dependence, whether artificial wombs would help anyone, what's wrong with workplace dynamics, and why autonomy is a dangerous cultural idol. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Dignity of Dependence 01:07 Unpacking the Feminist Manifesto 03:15 The Intersection of Feminism and Dependence 06:24 Christian Perspectives on Feminism 08:06 Navigating...
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Post-Liberalism: RETVRN, Retrieval, or Revolution?
Mere Fidelity
Post-liberalism has escaped the internet and entered mainstream politics—but what does it actually mean? Derek, James, and Alastair map three competing visions: nostalgic return to pre-modern order, retrieval of Christian liberalism, or genuine revolution forward. Retry
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What Is A Sermon, Anyway?
Mere Fidelity
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East discuss the nature of preaching, exploring its purpose, context, and the role of the preacher. They discuss the importance of engaging the heart and conscience of the audience, the need for contextualization in sermons, and the common pitfalls that preachers face. The conversation emphasizes the collective nature of engaging with scripture and the significance of avoiding jargon to ensure accessibility for all listeners.
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How Do We Change Our Minds?
Mere Fidelity
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts discuss how minds actually change—through paradigm shifts, careful arguments, or accumulated experience. They explore why steel-manning opponents and engaging charitably with the strongest versions of opposing views is more persuasive than antagonistic debate. The key insight: the best positions emerge when you're willing to incorporate real strengths from other viewpoints and make warranted concessions, which requires moving beyond polarized combat toward genuine good-faith dialogue.
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Jesus and The Law of Moses with Paul T. Sloan
Mere Fidelity
Derek Rishmawy and Brad East engage with Paul T. Sloan, an expert in early Christianity, to discuss his book 'Jesus and the Law of Moses.' The conversation explores the relationship between Jesus, the law, and the restoration of Israel, challenging popular views on legalism and emphasizing the importance of understanding the law as a gift. They delve into the concept of nomism, the significance of Jesus' authority, and the implications of his death as a ransom for liberation. The discussion also touches on the role of faith, the misunderstandings of the Pharisees, and the enduring relevance of...
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Replay: Reading Advice
Mere Fidelity
Most of what we talk about on Mere Fidelity presupposes a lot of reading. What is the real use of reading? Is what we read more important than how we read? Why do some people who read for years never develop the habits of reading well? Alastair, Matt, and Derek discuss these questions as well as summer reading on this episode.
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Welcome, Reality Respecters
Mere Fidelity
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and James Wood engage in a deep conversation about the evolving landscape of evangelism and contextualization, particularly focusing on the concept of 'reality respecters'—individuals who are open to the gospel due to their recognition of certain truths in a world increasingly alienated from reality. They discuss the cultural shift towards a more right-leaning openness to Christianity, the importance of understanding individual contexts in evangelism, and the need for a balanced approach that acknowledges both right and left...
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The Bible: A Technology
Mere Fidelity
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts explore the Bible as a technological medium, discussing its historical context, the impact of the Reformation on biblical engagement, and the shift from oral to written culture. They delve into the implications of modern technology on scripture interpretation and the importance of internalizing the word of God. The conversation also touches on eschatology and the balance between technology and tradition in the church's life. Chapters 00:00 Bible as Technology 04:25 From Performance to Page to Pixels 12:50 The Reformation 20:16 Eschatology 28:16 Steel...
info_outlineThis episode of Mere Fidelity is about the boundaries and controls on theological and typological biblical interpretation - essentially asking "what are the brakes on theological exegesis?"
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This month: The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory by Robert Smith - a weighty volume addressing crucial contemporary issues with biblical faithfulness.
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Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East explore the tension between:
The Promise: Rediscovering richer, deeper ways of reading Scripture that go beyond simple historical-grammatical methods - finding typological patterns, narrative connections, and symbolic meanings that link Old and New Testament figures and events (like seeing Jesus as the new David, or Joseph as a type of Christ).
The Problem: The legitimate concern that once you start reading Scripture typologically or allegorically, where do you stop? What prevents interpretation from becoming purely subjective, limited only by the interpreter's imagination?
Key Discussion Points:
- Steelmanning the critics - Derek asks Alastair to acknowledge valid concerns about "wax nose" interpretations that can be twisted to support any position
- Historical precedent - How the apostles themselves read the Old Testament in ways that seem to go beyond original authorial intent
- Different paradigms for meaning - Brad argues for multiple faithful readings within proper bounds, using his "infinite sets" mathematical analogy, while Derek pushes back with concerns about authorial intention
- Practical controls they suggest:
- Alastair emphasizes grounding readings in the text's own literary patterns and connections
- Reading within the "rule of faith" (basic Christian orthodoxy)
- Alastair's "tree" metaphor - distinguishing between core interpretations (strong branches) and speculative ones (thin branches you don't put weight on)
- Reading in community rather than in isolation
- Alastair's key point - Understanding meaning as something that unfolds through time, not just locked in original context
- Brad advocates for reading Scripture with multiple paradigms (not just Paul's argumentative style, but also narrative like Song of Songs)
The conversation shows Derek wrestling with concerns about going beyond authorial intention, while Brad takes a more "maximalist" approach and Alastair provides detailed textual grounding for typological readings. They ultimately argue that while there are real dangers in uncontrolled typological reading, the solution isn't to abandon these deeper interpretive methods but to practice them more carefully and responsibly.
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Chapters
01:21 Grammatical Historical vs. Typological Exegesis
03:40 Steel Man Strikes Again
06:07 If This Were Wrong, How Would We Know?
09:05 Wax Nose
11:07 Gifted Interpreters and Accessibility
13:01 The Gigi Rule
16:48 Infinite Ways to Get It Right
19:08 Stories and Arguments
22:05 It's Alive!
26:19 Choose Your Own Adventure
29:14 More Anachronism Please
30:23 Anachronism and Authorial Intention
34:39 How Meaning Works
40:10 Asking the Text a Question
43:02 Practice Safe Reading
51:32 Resources