Church Grammar

About Church Grammar

The Church Grammar podcast engages theology and the church in a fresh way, centered on wide-ranging conversations with scholars and Bible teachers.

Publisher

Brandon D. Smith

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2018

Latest episode

11 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

25 of 137 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   11 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Scripture, Allegory, and Evangelicals (Oh My!)

   Host Brandon D. Smith explores scripture, allegory, and evangelical interpretation, offering insights into ancient hermeneutics for modern understanding in this interview.

2. 

   2 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The State of Hermeneutics and Christian Higher Education (with Kevin Vanhoozer)

   Brandon D. Smith interviews theologian Kevin Vanhoozer about hermeneutics and the future of Christian higher education.

3. 

   4 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   12 Misconceptions About Protestants and Baptists (with Gavin Ortlund)

   Brandon Smith and Gavin Ortlund discuss 12 misconceptions about Protestants and Baptists, including: Protestants invented a new church, sola scriptura is anti-tradition, Protestants removed books from the Bible, and Baptists reject sacraments. Check out Gavin’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthUnites (https://www.youtube.com/@TruthUnites) Watch this on YouTube at youtube.com/@churchgrammar (http://youtube.com/@churchgrammar) Resources: – What It Means to Be Protestant by Gavin Ortlund: https://amzn.to/4c8m2fq (https://amzn.to/4c8m2fq) – Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church by Brandon Smith: https://amzn.to/4t9yG3S (https://amzn.to/4t9yG3S) – Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands by Michael Haykin: https://amzn.to/4ckdLDR (https://amzn.to/4ckdLDR) – The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson: https://amzn.to/4taz565 (https://amzn.to/4taz565) – The Center for Baptist Renewal: https://centerforbaptistrenewal.com (https://centerforbaptistrenewal.com) – Conversation with Matthew Levering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34pwyhXiTsI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34pwyhXiTsI) Church Grammar is presented by the PhD and ThM programs at Gateway Seminary (https://info.gsdegrees.org/phd), which seek to blend the best of American and British programs by balancing a broad, robust education through seminars with close, one-on-one mentoring during the writing phase. Production and editing: Cody Barnhart. Brandon D. Smith is Chair of the Hobbs School of Theology & Ministry (http://www.okbu.edu/theology/) and Associate Professor of Theology & Early Christianity at Oklahoma Baptist University (http://www.okbu.edu), a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal (http://www.centerforbaptistrenewal.com/), and writes things (https://www.amazon.com/Brandon-D-Smith/e/B00L1VCU46/?tag=bdsmith-20). You can follow him on Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/brandon_d_smith) at @brandon_d_smith. Check out his recent books: The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Book-Revelation-Apocalypse-Christian/dp/1514004186/?tag=bdsmith-20) (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (https://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Trinity-Encountering-Father-Scripture/dp/1683596978/?tag=bdsmith-20) (Lexham, 2023), The Trinity in the Canon (https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Canon-Theological-Historical-Practical/dp/1535950242/?tag=bdsmith-20) (B&H Academic, 2023), and Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1087752736/?tag=bdsmith-20) (B&H Academic, 2024), and Beholding the Triune God (https://www.amazon.com/Beholding-Triune-God-Inseparable-Father/dp/1433577941/?tag=bdsmith-20) (Crossway, 2024). *** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Inside a recent episode

Scripture, Allegory, and Evangelicals (Oh My!)

Published 11 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] It says we can do that because the Bible does that, but we have to do it within biblical terms and with the literal sense as sort of the foundation of that. In fact, Luther will say, really, everything is wrapped up in the literal sense ultimately, right? Because if the Bible is speaking allegorically, then that's part of the literal sense. You should literally read the Bible allegorically because that's what it's telling you to do. So we can think about these four figures in church history and say, there's a lot of diversity in the church. But some of these figures give us some examples of really clear allegory that's not crazy or allegory that is rooted in the literal sense and in the biblical text. […]

Who has been a guest on Church Grammar

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brandon Smith
• Kevin Vanhoozer
• Mark Smith

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

96 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

32 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

93

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

95

Contact Church Grammar

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  OnScript

• 

  Mere Fidelity

• 

  Room for Nuance

• 

  Life and Books and Everything

• 

  Pastors Talk - A podcast by 9Marks

• 

  Mortification of Spin

Questions about Church Grammar