The Puritan Pulpit

Minicast: The Puritans vs. The Pope

Was identifying the Pope as the "Man of Sin" just a 17th-century insult, or a technical theological necessity? This week on The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the radical convictions that defined a movement. We’re diving into why the Puritan divines viewed any human claim to supreme authority over the Church as "spiritual high treason" and why they branded the Roman system a "spiritual Egypt". From Jonathan Edwards’ imagery of the Papacy being consumed like a garment by a "moth" to John Owen’s "practical love of truth" as the only lasting defense against superstition , we uncover the redemptive-historical vision that shaped the Puritan worldview.

Special Episode: The Crescent and The Cross - A Primer on Islam

In this special episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin moves beyond the 17th-century perspective to trace the long, turbulent history of the encounter between Christianity and Islam. From the desert sands of seventh-century Arabia to the besieged gates of Vienna, this episode explores the fundamental theological and historical wedges that have defined thirteen centuries of conflict. Join us as we pull back the curtain on the garbled gospel of the East, the mechanics of stealth oppression, and the brave spiritual warriors who sought to win the soul of the Sultan with the Word rather than the sword. It is a journey through shadows and light, ultimately pointing toward the only Truth that offers a certain hope.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Islam

In this minicast episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the sophisticated and often apocalyptic worldview of the 17th and 18th-century Puritans regarding the global rise of Islam. Far from seeing it as a mere political force, figures like John Owen and Jonathan Edwards integrated the Ottoman power into a meticulous "History of the Work of Redemption." Join us as we examine how the Puritans used the lenses of Trinitarian theology and the "Historicist" interpretation of prophecy to navigate a world in upheaval, viewing every geopolitical shift as a landmark on the road to a final, divine conclusion.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Women Pastors

What happens when the "priesthood of all believers" meets the "Law of Nature"? On this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the meticulously constructed world of conservative Puritan ecclesiology. We’re moving beyond modern soundbites to examine how figures like Thomas Goodwin and Jonathan Edwards reconciled the absolute spiritual equality of the soul with a strictly gendered pastoral office. From the "extraordinary" exceptions of the biblical record to the radical social upheavals of the 17th century, we uncover why the Puritans viewed the pulpit not as a seat of power, but as a boundary of creation itself. Discover the theology behind the order in an episode that asks: is the church a reflection of a divinely ordered cosmos, or merely a product of its time?

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Modern Preaching

Has the modern pulpit traded its spiritual fortress for a performance stage? In this episode, Nick Reddin explores the meticulous and fiery world of the Puritan divines. We’re drawing a line between the “Tinseled Trappings” of today’s casual church and the "Plain Style" of the 17th century, a method designed not just to inform the mind, but to put God’s truth into the very soul. It’s time to move past the summarical and the shallow. Join us as we conduct a theological audit of the modern pulpit through the lens of the men who viewed preaching as a matter of life and death.