Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Gavin Ortlund examines John Calvin’s role in the execution of Michael Servetus and considers what this dark episode in church history can teach us about religious coercion, humility, and the Christian call to respond to error with witness rather than violence.

Videos Mentioned:
The Real Reason Jan Hus Was Burned (When Church History Gets Dark): youtu.be/YVYB_bsluJo?si=tI9tTkBjXmDuHbOG
Did Protestantism Cause Secularization?: youtu.be/5asTACoqEeI?si=qoMDWNSbao8tdIw2

Books Mentioned:
Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History: amazon.com/Bullies-Saints-Honest-Christian-History/dp/0310119375/truthunitesbo-20

Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.

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amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204
amazon.com/What-Means-Be-Protestant-Always-Reforming/dp/B0CNFFP6LK
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243

00:00 - Introduction
01:59 - 1) What Happened?
07:19 - 2) Is Calvin Responsible?
11:37 - 3) How Could This Happen?
20:20 - 4) What Can We Learn?