The church has a biblical research problem.

James 3:1 puts leaders under a stricter standard of judgment, and that standard has no exemption for “I was taught this way.” Biblical research is not optional for anyone handing theology to other people. It is an obligation.

In this episode, Leah and Malaine lay out the case for Christian education as an act of obedience. They trace the political history of Bible canonization, examine what Papyrus 66 reveals about textual changes in Scripture, and investigate what the Ethiopian Bible, including the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Enoch, contains that Western Christianity quietly set aside.

They also walk through the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and broader biblical apocrypha, examining early theology and eschatology that shaped the church long before modern denominations decided what counted as canon.

Christian discernment and spiritual discernment both require source material. False doctrine spreads when leaders skip the research. This episode is the case for doing the work and handing people something you have actually investigated.

“Historical context does not weaken Scripture. It helps us understand what was actually being said.” -Malaine Lea Butler

Key Takeaways

• James 3:1 places Bible teachers, pastors, and spiritual leaders under a stricter standard of judgment, making biblical research an obligation for anyone teaching doctrine.
• Many Christians defend inherited theology, Bible translations, and end-times positions without knowing where those beliefs came from or who shaped them.
• Bible canonization, the Ethiopian Bible, the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, and biblical apocrypha raise serious questions about what Western Christianity quietly set aside.
• Papyrus 66 raises important questions about textual transmission, including the Mary and Martha issue in the Lazarus narrative and why manuscript history matters.
• Healthy Christian discernment requires Scripture, prayer, source material, humility, historical context, and direct dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Featured Scripture

James 3:1

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Application: James 3:1 should sober every believer who teaches, preaches, pastors, mentors, or interprets Scripture for others. Leadership in the body of Christ is not a platform for borrowed theology or inherited certainty. Teachers carry responsibility before the Lord for what they hand to His people. That means doctrine should be researched, tested, prayed through, and handled with fear of the Lord rather than confidence in tradition alone.

Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome to Faith on the Fringe
0:48 – Listener Pushback on Our Substack Content
1:06 – Leaders Must Educate Themselves
3:49 – Your Pastor Only Knows What They Researched
4:39 – Pre-Adamic Theories: How We Do the Work
10:24 – Our Research Process and Open-Door Policy
15:12 – Changing Your Mind Isn’t Weakness
17:57 – James 3:1: Teachers Face a Stricter Judgment
21:14 – When Education Became Indoctrination
25:24 – Why Strong Reactions Reveal Deeper Programming
28:42 – We’re Not Anti-Church. We’re Pro-Discernment
32:32 – Go Directly to Jesus, Not Just Your Leader
35:32 – Papyrus 66: The Mary/Martha Textual Change
40:16 – Malaine’s Bible Translation Revelation
43:54 – Inspired by God, Handled by Humans
47:03 – Laodicea and the Power of Historical Context
56:49 – Engage With Curiosity, Not Offense
1:01:35 – Pray for Discernment About What’s for You

Resources and Connect

Faith on the Fringe:

Substack: https://faithonthefringe.substack.com
The Fring on Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefringeonfb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithonthefringepodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithonthefringepodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithontheFringe
Email: help@faithonthefringepodcast.com

Leah Steele Barnett:

The Cul✞ure Cast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-cast/id1797035500
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleahsteele
A House of Health: https://www.instagram.com/ahouseofhealth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsteeleofficial
X: https://x.com/theleahsteele

Malaine Lea Butler:

Kingdom Talk Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kingdom-talk-podcast-with-malaine/id1813854951
Eden House: https://www.theedenhouse.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malaine_lea_butler
Eden House IG: https://www.instagram.com/xoedenhouse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15kz1zU1XL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Historical and Theological References

Papyrus 66. An early manuscript of the Gospel of John discussed in connection with the Mary and Martha textual issue in the Lazarus narrative and the importance of studying manuscript history.

The Ethiopian Bible. Referenced as a broader biblical canon that includes texts Western Protestant Christianity does not include in its 66-book canon.

The Book of Enoch. Discussed as part of the Ethiopian biblical tradition and as an important text for conversations around ancient theology, watchers, supernatural worldview, and Pre-Adamic questions.

The Book of Jubilees. Referenced as one of the books included in the Ethiopian Bible that provides additional historical and theological context.

The Book of Judith. Mentioned as a powerful text, especially for women, and as part of the wider biblical tradition preserved outside the Protestant canon.

The Book of Maccabees. Referenced as one of the texts included in some Christian traditions but excluded from the Protestant canon.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Discussed in connection with early Christian theology, the role of Mary Magdalene, and questions around why certain texts were pushed out of the canon.

Laodicea. Referenced from Revelation 3 as an example of why historical and geographic context matters when interpreting Scripture.

The Bereans. Referenced as the biblical model for believers who receive teaching with eagerness but search the Scriptures for themselves.

Blue Letter Bible. Mentioned as a tool for pronunciation, biblical language study, and deeper Scripture research.

Scriptures for Further Study

James 3:1. James warns that not many should become teachers because those who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Acts 17:11. The Bereans received the word with eagerness and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether what they were being taught was true.

Revelation 3:14-22. Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea, using language connected to the local context of lukewarm water, wealth, blindness, and eye salve.

Philippians 2:12. Paul tells believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, reminding Christians that obedience requires reverence before the Lord.

1 John 4:1. Believers are commanded to test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

2 Timothy 2:15. Paul instructs Timothy to rightly handle the word of truth.

John 10:27. Jesus says His sheep hear His voice, reminding believers that discernment is rooted in direct relationship with Him.

Hosea 4:6. The Lord says His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, exposing the danger of spiritual ignorance.

Proverbs 25:2. It is the glory of God to conceal things and the glory of kings to search them out.

Jeremiah 33:3. The Lord invites His people to call to Him and promises to answer and show great and hidden things.

If you teach it, preach it, prophesy it, build doctrine around it, or hand it to the body of Christ, you need to have researched it.

Take your theology to the Lord. Open the Word. Look at the source material. Study the history. Ask where the doctrine came from, who shaped it, what was removed, what was preserved, and what assumptions you may have inherited without ever testing.

The Holy Spirit is not threatened by honest research. Jesus is not offended by sincere questions. And truth does not need fear, offense, or religious control to defend it.

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Share this episode with the believer, pastor, teacher, Bible nerd, or spiritually curious friend who knows it is time to stop repeating inherited theology and start doing the work.

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