Converting to Catholicism and The Year of Jubilee w/ Dr. John Bergsma

Godsplaining

Dominican Friars Province of St. Joseph

Religion & Spirituality

5 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What leads a Calvinist pastor to become a Catholic theologian? In this episode, Dr. John Bergsma joins Fr. Gregory to share his powerful conversion story—from a deep love of Scripture in the Reformed tradition to finding its fulfillment in the Catholic Church. They also explore the Biblical concept of the Year of Jubilee—a time of mercy, restoration, and freedom—and how it reveals the heart of Christ’s mission and the Church’s sacramental life. Topics include:Why Scripture led Bergsma to CatholicismThe role of the Eucharist and apostolic traditionHow the Jubilee points to confession, mercy, and spiritual renewal A must-watch for anyone interested in conversion, biblical theology, or the beauty of Catholic tradition. Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favorhttps://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Jubilee-Biblical-Roots-Favor/dp/1645854051 stpaulcenter.comstpaulcenter.com/jubileestpaulcenter.co/jubileecompanion Subscribe to our channelhttps://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our NEW merch store: https://godsplaining.org/store/ Shop Books Written by the FriarsSt. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/ Connect on Social MediaFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.orgTo support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Father Gregory Pine and welcome to Godsplining.
0:08.0	Thanks to all those who support us.
0:10.0	If you enjoy the show, please consider making a monthly donation on Patreon.
0:13.0	Be sure to like and subscribe to Godsplining wherever you listen to your podcasts.
0:18.0	I am excited. I am pumped for this guest episode to host Dr. John Bergman.
0:23.1	Thanks so much for joining. Yeah, it's great. It's delight to be on with a revered former student.
0:29.9	Hey. I hope that doesn't embarrass you. No. I had a very voluble mother, so I don't know that I
0:36.7	get embarrassed too terribly often.
0:38.8	She was always saying things.
0:39.9	I was like, nah, that's like, come on.
0:43.4	But as you alluded to, you teach at Franciscan University of Studentville, where I was a student.
0:49.3	You've been teaching there now for some 20 years, 25 years?
0:52.8	Yeah, since 2004. So whatever that math is, 21, I think is a
0:57.6	pretty close guess. Nice. That's awesome. And during your time there, you've taught a variety of
1:04.2	Bible courses and also have collaborated closely with the St. Paul Biblical Center and have
1:09.6	researched and published in a variety
1:12.7	of outlets, both academically and popularly. Things in the past 21 years, what would you say
1:19.4	it would be like highlights or things that you look back with a particular fondness?
1:23.6	Oh, my first several cohorts of students are legendary and they're out all over the country.
1:33.2	Many of them are deemed like yourself, both diocesan and religious and raising families.
1:39.8	So those folks are great. And then after about 10 10 years the big spring popped in my brain and
1:45.9	I couldn't remember anybody's name anymore and so the more recent students I can't remember who they
	...

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