Doth Protest
Doth Protest is a podcast on church history and how the theology of the 16th-century Reformers can inform us today. It is hosted by Anglican priests the Rev. Andrew Christiansen and the Rev. James Rickenbaker along with occasional co-host Stephen Burnett, a Roman Catholic layman. It also features interviews with theologians and scholars of church history. Show music is done by Aaron Shows. We can be listened to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.
Follow us on X @DothProtestPod, FB & Instagram @doth.pro_ref.pod
Episodes

Jul 11, 2026
Jul 11, 2026
1hr 11 min
Special guest Dr. Jack Kilcrease returns to the podcast today joining Andrew, James, and Connor to discuss the 16th-century humanist Desiderius Erasmus, his contribution to the Reformation, and Luther's theological treatise against him. Read more about Jack on his website.Shownotes:-Bondage of the Will can be found in Luther's Works, Volume 33
-We also mention the J.I. Packer translation
-the Gerhard Forde quote on the hermeneutical difference between Luther and Erasmus comes from The Captivation of the Will: Luther vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage

Jul 1, 2026
Jul 1, 2026
1hr 22 min
Andrew, Kyle, and James discuss Johann Eck's theses against Luther and other Reformers, Luther's sharp polemics, the burning of the papal bull, the Diet of Worms, Luther's stay at Wartburg Castle, and his translating the New Testament into German. Shownotes:-Johann Eck's 404 Theses-Go to this website to let Luther insult you-Herman Selderhius' book Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography-The phone app game mentioned is "Luther-- The Journey"-Luther's Preface to the New Testament can be found in Luther's Works Volume 35
We refer to two previous episodes of our podcast:-Our episode with Stephen Chester, on the Reformers, the New Perspective on Paul, and Pauline Interpretation-Our episode with Volker Leppin on the Leipzig Debate

Jun 17, 2026
Jun 17, 2026
1hr 6 min
1518 is a pivotal year for Luther, and when things start to get serious. James and Andrew discuss the meeting of Luther's Augustian order in Heidelberg where Luther articulates a "new" theology of sin and grace and his 'Theology of the Cross' and the meeting of Luther with Cardinal Cajetan that reveal a difference in their understanding on papacy. Shownotes:-Both the Heidelberg Disputation and Luther's writing on his meeting with Cajetan (titled "The Proceedings at Augsburg") can be found in Luther's Works, Volume 31
-The theses from the Heidelberg Disputation can be read online here
-Andrew references the Mockingbird article "Theologians of Glory versus Theologians of the Cross: An Intro and Definition"
-Scott Hendrix's book Luther and the Papacy: Stages in a Reformation Conflict
-James mentions the book Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings (where the work "Disputation Against the Scholastics") can be found in, and is a good introduction to the key primary works from Luther
-A compilation of works by Cardinal Thomas Cajetan: Cajetan Responds: A Reader in Reformation Controversy, edited by (and with an introduction from) Jared Wicks

May 27, 2026
May 27, 2026
1hr 31 min
Andrew and Kyle tackle development from the pre-Reformation Luther to the, let's say, 'half-Reformation' Luther who posts the 95 Theses. Enjoy!Please feel free to reach out to us at dp.pod2020@gmail.comWe appreciate your thoughts of our show. Shownotes: -Robert Kolb's book Luther's Wittenberg World: The Reformer's Family, Friends, Followers, and Foes
-The quote about Spalatin was from Lyndal Roper's book Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet
-Amy Mantravadi's historical-fiction novels Broken Bonds and Face to Face
-Look here to see artwork of Lucas Cranach
-Luther's commentary on the Psalms can be found in Luther's Works, Volume 10
-Brian T. German's book Psalms of the Faithful: Luther's Early Reading of the Psalter in Canonical Context
-Andrew discusses his own article "Between Two Testaments: Luther’s Shift in Attitude Toward the Book of Revelation" which was published in Logia Vol. 32, No. 3
-The article above referenced Scott Hendrix's “Luther against the Backdrop of the History of Biblical Interpretation" found in the journal Interpretation vol. 37 and Erik Herrmann's article “Luther’s Absorption of Medieval Biblical Interpretation,” from The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther’s Theology
-R.C. Sproul's book Luther and the Reformation: How a Monk Discovered the Gospel
-Lowell Green's book How Melanchthon Helped Luther Discover the Gospel
-Ernst Bizer's book Fidex ex audita
-The book on the Finnish interpretation of Luther that we mentioned is Union with Christ
-

May 6, 2026
May 6, 2026
1hr 4 min
Andrew, Connor, & James dive into a period critical for Luther's intellectual and spiritual growth. Shownotes
Diogenes Allen & Eric Springsted's book Philosophy for Understanding Theology
Jordan Cooper's Substack post Martin Luther's Relation to Aristotelian Ethics
Denis R. Janz's book Luther and Late Medieval Thomism
Website for the 'Luther stone' in Stotternheim
Berndt Hamm's book The Early Luther: Stages in a Reformation Reorientation
Jean Gerson's classic work The Consolation of Theology
Steven Ozment's book The Age of Reform, 1250-1550: An Intellectual and Religious History of Late Medieval and Reformation Europe

Apr 2, 2026
Apr 2, 2026
1hr 4 min
In this episode, Kyle, Andrew, and James look at young Luther in his student years in Eisenach and Erfurt. We discuss the history of those places (including some interesting 20th century history of those places under communism), Luther's thirst for clarity and certainty that his law studies didn't satisfy, and the penitential system of the medieval church. We hope you enjoy.Shownotes-Herman Selderhuis' book Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography-Robert Kolb's book Martin Luther as He Lived and Breathed-Ernest Becker's book The Denial of Death -Article: "Martin Luther's Germany" by John Dornberg, Washington Post, Oct. 2nd, 1983-Article: "Martin Luther" by Elizabeth Pond, Christian Science Monitor, April 20th, 1983.-Article: "The Luther Anniversary in East Germany" by Robert Goeckel, World Politics, Vol. 37, No. 1-the Wiki article on Johann Hilten

Mar 19, 2026
Mar 19, 2026
57 min
In the second episode of out Luther series, we continue our discussion on the middle ages (the good, the bad, and thing in between), the intellectual currents of Luther's time, and Luther's origins. (At this rate, we may be in for a longer series!) Enjoy.We are curious to hear your thoughts on the podcast, please reach out to us as dp.pod2020@gmail.comShownotes:-James mentions the book Long Before Luther by Nathan Busenitz- The quote about the "toughness and readiness" that Luther would have gained from his upbringing in Mansfield comes from Lyndal Roper's book Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet
- The argument from Aquinas is taken from the book Summa of the Summa (edited by Peter Kreeft)

Feb 26, 2026
Feb 26, 2026
1hr 20 min
Andrew is joined by friends of the show the Rev. Connor Longaphie and the Rev. Dr. Kyle Tomlin to discuss the life of Martin Luther. This is the first of a multi-part series. In this episode, we talk about the backdrop of the word that Luther was born into.Shownotes:The quote that Andrew refers to in the beginning is from H.H. Kramm's The Theology of Martin Luther
Andrew recommended the following biographies of Luther for further reading:Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet by Lyndal RoperMartin Luther as He Lived and Breathed by Robert KolbMartin Luther: A Spiritual Autobiography by Herman SelderhuisKyle recommended Martin Luther: A Life by James NestingenThe clip of the Eric Metaxas interview Andrew was referring to can be viewed here.

Feb 14, 2026
Feb 14, 2026
1hr 26 sec
James and Andrew finally get around to completing the English Reformation series, and also give updates on life and a peak at upcoming episodes of the podcast.Shownotes:Richard Hooker, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Vol. 1Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Later Reformation in England, 1547-1603

Jan 7, 2026
Jan 7, 2026
57 min
We are reposting our 2024 episode from our conversation with Volker Leppin. (The podcast will be on break through January and resuming in February with some exciting new content). Check out Volker Leppin's latest works that have come out since this episode originally aired: United with Christ: Martin Luther and Christian Mysticism and Francis of Assissi: The Life of a Restless Saint. Formally published Episode Details:Renowned Luther scholar Volker Leppin comes on the podcast to for a great discussion on his most recent book Sola: Christ, Grace, Faith, and Scripture Alone in Martin Luther's Theology from Lutheran Quarterly Books and the famous debate between Martin Luther and Johann Eck in June and July of 1519 known as the Leipzig Debate which proved to be a turning point in Luther's understanding of Scripture's authority.
Volker Leppin is the Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology at Yale Divinity School. Prior to Yale, he taught church history at University of Jena and University of Tübingen. He is the author of many books, monographs, and articles in church history, especially on the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and Martin Luther. He is especially known for his biography of Luther titled Martin Luther: A Late Medieval Life.
SHOWNOTES:
The works about Luther that Dr. Leppin mentions were significant for him were:
Karl Holl's "Luther", presented as a lecture on Oct 31st 1917.
Gerhard Ebeling's book Evangelische Evangelienauslegung: Eine Untersuchung zu Luthers Hermeneutik
Heiko Oberman's book Luther: Man Between God and the Devil
(Andrew also brought up Oberman's book The Dawn of the Reformation: Essays in Late Medieval and Early Reformation Thought)




