John Bergsma grew up with a military chaplain as a father and his family were Dutch Calvinists. As an adult he went on to become a Protestant pastor but later felt the call to join the Catholic church which he joined in 2001.

He's now Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio in his academic life has specialised in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

In his latest book Jesus and the Jubilee, he explores the roots of the idea of the year of jubilee, showing how historically it was established to preserve freedom, family, and the fullness of God’s blessing for the ancient Israelites.

In this episode of The Profile Premier Christianity's Tony Wilson talks to him about his move from Protestantism to Catholicism, what the 2025 year of Jubilee really meant in Jewish law and the importance of the Church fathers.

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Released on 7 Mar 2025