Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund examines John Henry Newman’s famous claim that “to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant,” arguing that historic Protestantism is deeply rooted in the earliest Christian tradition.
Videos Mentioned:
Clerical Celibacy: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/D_r3BYsSgOc?si=pbwrdN4CWlNOgLaZ
How Many Sacraments Are There? 2, NOT 7!: youtu.be/l4ePRXGVu9Y?si=I1jm-Z51dCRB5HJL
Indulgences: Patristic to Medieval Changes: youtu.be/mQUKYM6rIn8?si=Fb334zA5E781YNan
Why Mary’s Assumption Is Indefensible: youtu.be/skuBFLns8WA?si=EpKv8la9jVUU5MVW
The Most Misused Verse Against Protestantism: youtu.be/qq1DTLsdloM?si=o0DK1t5D3pGhff5n
How To Find the One True Church™ (You Need Faith): youtube.com/watch?si=RrP25FLvDym5xcFN&v=XvoHIrgnEvM&feature=youtu.be
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.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - 1) Protestantism Aims to Recover Historical Depth
13:52 - 2) Historical Depth Is Not About How Much History You Accept
24:59 - The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail
26:02 - How Protestants Engage With Church History
28:30 - Conclusion
Gavin Ortlund examines John Henry Newman’s famous claim that “to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant,” arguing that historic Protestantism is deeply rooted in the earliest Christian tradition.
Videos Mentioned:
Clerical Celibacy: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/D_r3BYsSgOc?si=pbwrdN4CWlNOgLaZ
How Many Sacraments Are There? 2, NOT 7!: youtu.be/l4ePRXGVu9Y?si=I1jm-Z51dCRB5HJL
Indulgences: Patristic to Medieval Changes: youtu.be/mQUKYM6rIn8?si=Fb334zA5E781YNan
Why Mary’s Assumption Is Indefensible: youtu.be/skuBFLns8WA?si=EpKv8la9jVUU5MVW
The Most Misused Verse Against Protestantism: youtu.be/qq1DTLsdloM?si=o0DK1t5D3pGhff5n
How To Find the One True Church™ (You Need Faith): youtube.com/watch?si=RrP25FLvDym5xcFN&v=XvoHIrgnEvM&feature=youtu.be
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.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - 1) Protestantism Aims to Recover Historical Depth
13:52 - 2) Historical Depth Is Not About How Much History You Accept
24:59 - The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail
26:02 - How Protestants Engage With Church History
28:30 - Conclusion
