by Sam Leiper
LogosLeaper Podcast explores Christian history, early Christianity, the historical Jesus, biblical scholarship, and the development of Christian belief through conversations with leading scholars and researchers. Hosted by Sam Leiper, teacher of Religious Studies in the UK and creator of the LogosLeaper YouTube channel, the podcast features in-depth interviews with experts in New Testament studies, early Christianity, theology, archaeology, and the history of religion.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/29/2026
Verified contact details for this show aren't on file yet — sign up to get notified when they land.
July 20, 2026
<p>Elaine Pagels is one of the most influential scholars of early Christianity of the last fifty years. Her groundbreaking work on the Nag Hammadi discoveries transformed how many people understand the origins of Christianity and the remarkable diversity of the early Christian movement.</p><p>In this conversation, we explore the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and other ancient Christian writings that have fascinated scholars for decades. We discuss whether these texts preserve authentic traditions about Jesus, why they were excluded from the New Testament, and what they reveal about the earliest followers of Christ.</p><p>We also examine some of the most controversial passages found in the Gnostic Gospels, whether there was any such thing as orthodoxy before the fourth century, and why these texts continue to provoke debate nearly eighty years after their discovery.</p><p>Whether you are interested in biblical history, the historical Jesus, or the origins of Christianity, this conversation offers an accessible and thought-provoking introduction from one of the world's leading scholars in the field.</p><p></p>
July 13, 2026
<p>Who was the historical Jesus? Did he really expect the end of the world? How did a small Jewish movement become the religion of the Roman Empire?</p><p>In this episode, I speak with renowned historian <strong>Paula Fredriksen</strong> about the origins of Christianity and her new book, Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years. We explore the historical Jesus, Paul, the dating of the New Testament, the diversity of the earliest Christian movements, the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, Constantine, martyrdom, persecution, proto-orthodoxy, celibacy, and the development of Christian doctrine.</p><p>We also discuss why the first centuries of Christianity were far more diverse than many people realise, and I finish by asking Paula what she believes is the single most significant discovery in the history of biblical studies.</p><p>Whether you're interested in the historical Jesus, early Christianity, biblical scholarship, or church history, this conversation offers a fascinating introduction to one of history's most influential religious movements.</p><p></p>
July 4, 2026
<p></p><p>I sat down with Dr Richard C. Miller.</p><p>Richard is one of the most thought-provoking historians working in New Testament studies today. His research has challenged long-held assumptions about the origins of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus, and the world in which the Gospels were written.</p><p>We begin with some of the biggest questions in biblical scholarship. Who wrote the Gospels? When were they written? What does Richard make of Q, Marcion, and the growing debates over Gospel dating?</p><p>From there, we explore Mark's Gospel in depth. Does Jesus actually claim to be God in Mark? Who was Mark writing for, and what was he trying to communicate?</p><p>The conversation then turns to the resurrection—a subject Richard has spent years researching. We discuss his book Resurrection and Reception in Early Christianity, the striking parallels between the Gospel resurrection accounts and stories from the Greco-Roman world, figures such as Romulus, and why early Christian writers like Justin Martyr acknowledged these similarities while maintaining that Jesus' resurrection was unique.</p><p>Finally, we tackle one of the biggest historical questions of all: can the resurrection be defended as a historical event? Richard offers a perspective that challenges many traditional assumptions and invites us to think more carefully about what historians can—and cannot—say about the origins of Christianity.</p><p>Whether you agree with Richard's conclusions or not, this is a fascinating conversation that explores some of the most important debates in New Testament scholarship today.</p><p></p>
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
LogosLeaper Podcast explores Christian history, early Christianity, the historical Jesus, biblical scholarship, and the development of Christian belief through conversations with leading scholars and researchers.
Hosted by Sam Leiper, teacher of Religious Studies in the UK and creator of the LogosLeaper YouTube channel, the podcast features in-depth interviews with experts in New Testament studies, early Christianity, theology, archaeology, and the history of religion.
This podcast updates daily.
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.