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Was Peter really the first pope? Or have we misread one of the most famous passages in the Gospels?

In this episode, Jonathan and Alex take a deep dive into Matthew 16 and the Roman Catholic argument for papal authority. They unpack the grammar, explore the Greek, and show why the “keys of the kingdom” may not mean what you’ve been told. Along the way, they compare Matthew 16 to Matthew 18 and the Great Commission, argue that Christ—not Peter—is always the focus, and offer a distinctly Reformed take on ecclesial authority and church discipline. If you've ever wondered what Jesus really meant when he said, “I will give you the keys,” this episode is for you.

This is part 3. If you haven't seen part 1 or 2 look for them in previous episodes!

Scripture references:
- Matthew 16:13–20
- Matthew 18:15-20
- Matthew 28:16-20
- 1 Peter 2:4–9
- John 20
- Philippians 2
- Acts 1–10

Resources:
Cameron's Original Video
John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 54
John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16

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What really happened on the floor of the 2025 PCA General Assembly? Was Teaching Elder Timothy Brindle unfairly cut off? Did Moderator Kevin DeYoung cross a line—or keep things from crossing it?

In this special edition of Weighed in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks is joined by Ryan Biese and Nathan Xanders to unpack the clash between parliamentary order and rising tensions around the reelection of Dr. Irwin Ince. Along the way, we respond to Doug Wilson, CrossPolitic, and the growing conversation about race, power, and polity in the PCA. Was it a kerfuffle... or a crisis? You decide.

Check out their podcasts!

Ryan Biese: The Westminster Standard
https://open.spotify.com/show/0W12Hy3Rszfwwt9iClDlDm

Nate Xanders: Reforming Men
https://www.thereformingmenpodcast.com

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In this second installment of our three-part series on Matthew 16 and the Roman Catholic claim to papal authority, Jonathan Brooks and Alex Lott take a deep dive into the controversial question: Is Peter really the rock on which Christ builds His Church?

Drawing from Scripture, grammar, and the writings of early Church Fathers like John Chrysostom, they unpack what Jesus meant in His famous words to Peter: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”

You'll hear:

• Why Petros and Petra are grammatically different but semantically identical
• Why Chrysostom and Calvin reject the idea that Peter alone is the “rock”
• A pastoral look at 1 Peter 2 and the priesthood of all believers
• Why Protestants may overcorrect in response to Rome
• And yes…a few Christian rock jokes (Petra does rock)

Featured passages:

• Matthew 16:13–20
• 1 Peter 2:4–9
• John 20
• Philippians 2
• Acts 1–10

Resources and References:

• John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 54:
  https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200154.htm
• John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16:
  https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lii.html
• Original Claim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959s

Whether you’re Reformed, Roman Catholic, or just wrestling with the text, this episode invites you to ask: What is Jesus really trying to teach us here?

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In this episode, Jonathan Brooks and Alex Lott begin a three-part series responding to a video by Cameron Riker, who argues that Matthew 16 supports the Roman Catholic claim to papal authority. While acknowledging Riker’s sincerity and catechetical background, Jonathan and Alex take a close look at what the text actually says—starting with the foundational question Jesus asks His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"

They explore the historical and theological weight of Peter’s confession, discuss the significance of the title “Son of Man,” and contrast biblical teaching with popular but flawed interpretations of eschatology and ecclesiology. This first episode lays the groundwork by focusing on Christ as the center of the passage—before engaging with the Catholic claims.

Along the way, they reference early Christian commentary and Reformed exegesis, including:

• John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16:
  https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lii.html
• John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 16:
  https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200154.htm

Responding to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959s

Key Topics:

• What Jesus meant by “Son of Man”
• The significance of Peter’s confession
• Why this passage is Christ-centered, not Peter-centered
• Problems with reading Matthew 16 through a Roman Catholic lens
• The Berean model of testing claims against Scripture

Scripture Explored:

• Matthew 16:13–20
• Daniel 7
• Matthew 28:18–20
• Luke 24 (Road to Emmaus)

Let me know if you'd like a shorter version, or one tailored for podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Weighed in the Balance returns with a critical response to Cameron Rieker’s so-called “insuperable” argument against Protestantism. Rieker claims that without an infallible magisterium (i.e., the Roman Catholic Church), all of Protestantism collapses under the weight of interpretive chaos. But is that actually true?

In this episode, we walk through:

• The heart of Rieker’s claim: “Who gets to use the rule of faith?”
• A biblical and confessional answer from the Reformed tradition.
• A close reading of Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, and the Westminster Confession of Faith.
• Why Cameron’s three so-called Protestant “options” don’t even acknowledge the historic Reformed view.
• How church authority works in Presbyterian polity without collapsing into either chaos or papal infallibility.

Whether you're Reformed, Catholic, or just curious, this episode offers clarity on how Protestants think about the Church, authority, and the Scriptures.

Referenced texts:

• Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapters 25 & 31
• Ephesians 4:1–16
• 1 Corinthians 12:27–31
• Acts 15

Find Cameron's original video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959s

Let us know your thoughts below—but please keep the conversation respectful and charitable.

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In this episode, I respond to Joe Heschmeyer’s recent presentation of what he sees as the best and worst arguments made against the Catholic Church. As a Presbyterian pastor, my goal isn’t to attack but to engage—graciously, clearly, and with a heart for truth. I hope this video helps Protestants think more carefully about how we represent our convictions, and helps Catholics better understand where we’re coming from.

▶️ You can watch Joe’s original video here!

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
I welcome dialogue from Catholics, Protestants, and anyone interested in these important theological discussions. Feel free to comment below—but please keep it respectful and charitable.

Like and subscribe for more Reformed analysis of theology, church history, and culture.

Thank you for watching. May Christ be glorified as we seek His truth together.
Soli Deo Gloria.

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In this episode, Jonathan Brooks is joined by cohosts Josh Goodwin and Alex Lott to respond to a recent video from the Catholic Truth channel (watch it here). The original video claims that Protestants avoid discussing the biblical canon and that, lacking infallible certainty, they cannot truly know what belongs in Scripture.

Josh Goodwin, who holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, brings a philosophical lens to the discussion—highlighting the epistemological flaws in Catholic Truth's argument. Together, we critically engage with the claims made, but we don’t stop at rebuttals. We also begin building the positive case from a Reformed Protestant perspective: How do we know what belongs in the canon of Scripture?

Whether you're Protestant, Catholic, or just curious about the canon debate, this conversation aims to be thoughtful, respectful, and grounded in theology, philosophy, and history.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more discussions like this!

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In this episode, we respond to a recent video by Cameron Rieker (watch it here) in which he argues that Roman Catholics can "win" the Sola Scriptura debate by demonstrating Catholic doctrine from Scripture via "good and necessary consequence." Cameron claims that if Protestants reject these arguments, it proves Scripture's insufficiency.

We take a closer look at what “good and necessary consequence” actually means and how it's been historically understood. We examine what the Westminster Confession of Faith really teaches on this subject, and whether Cameron accurately represents the Protestant position.

Ultimately, we find that Cameron’s critique fails to grasp the doctrine he's attempting to refute—and that far from winning the debate, he misunderstands its terms entirely.

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