Advertise on podcast: Selling Jesus

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Many say they aren't selling teaching, only their labor. Conley Owens shows how medieval theologians, Hus, Wycliffe and the Puritans rejected that excuse, and argues that ministry should be supported, not sold: honor and sustenance for the minister, not a wage for services. (00:00) "I'm just selling my labor" (01:25) Four views of how ministers are supported (09:19) Hus and Wycliffe: "Simon's little cap" (13:21) Labor is only valued for its fruit (17:15) The Puritans: not wages but honor (21:48) Support as sustenance of the laborer Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Nine short talks from Doreancon 2026 (Tuesday, September 29), the conference on simony and on giving the things of God freely. Speakers share the free tools, translations and resources they are building for the church: Bible translation tools, AI and Scripture, an open English Bible, a watch list of Bible organizations, free sermon hosting, catechisms and Bible games, and a free hymnal. Conley Owens closes with a word on AI and the future of the movement. (00:00) Case Johnson - Friendship, Community, and Reform (04:12) Andrew Case - Global Bible Tools (12:17) Sang Tian - Can We Free Scripture with AI? (25:20) Robert Hunt - A Free and Open English Bible Translation (34:41) Jon - Bible Org Watch (46:52) Ken Powers - Let's Church (56:54) Michael Coughlin - All My Free Stuff (1:11:10) Jason - Free Hymnal Project (1:13:38) Conley Owens - Closing: AI and Our Movement Links mentioned: Global Bible Tools: https://globalbibletools.com/ Open English Translation: https://oet.bible/ Bible Org Watch: https://copy.church/watch/ Let's Church: https://lets.church/ Michael Coughlin: https://michaelcoughlin.net/links Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Conley Owens tells how 13th-century friars took over the University of Paris, preaching and begging outside the church's offices. Following William of St. Amour, Wycliffe and Calvin, he argues that the right to support belongs to the office, with lessons for today's parachurch ministries. (00:00) The rise of the friars in 13th-century Paris (05:13) Friars take over the university chairs (08:06) Apocalyptic fears and William of St. Amour (10:51) The right to receive comes with the office (20:36) Wycliffe, Tyndale, and Calvin carry the argument (23:57) Today's parachurch ministries Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Conley Owens shows how the first universities treated theological teaching as something that could not be sold. From medieval Paris to Aquinas, Wycliffe and Luther, he argues that charging tuition for the teaching of theology is simony, and only recently became acceptable. (00:00) Seminary tuition is simony (01:33) The first universities and Lombard's Sentences (05:38) Paris: selling teaching licenses (10:07) Teaching theology must be free (14:43) Aquinas, Paludanus, and Auriol (18:16) Wycliffe and Luther Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Conley Owens explains why the sin of Simon Magus is still with us: biblical teaching is words taught by the Spirit, so selling it is simony. He applies this to counseling, conferences, seminaries, and books sold under copyright. (00:00) "Simony doesn't exist anymore" (02:35) Recap: what a spiritual thing is (03:53) Why selling biblical teaching is simony (07:25) Stewards of the mysteries of God (11:41) Counseling, conferences, and seminaries (13:52) Books and copyright Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Michael Coughlin walks through Acts 8, where Simon the sorcerer offers money for the apostles' power and Peter rebukes him. His goal is that we would hate simony as God does, seeing how it devalues God, while holding out real hope of forgiveness. (00:00) The goal: hate simony (01:06) Acts 8: Simon the sorcerer believes (13:13) Simon's offer and Peter's rebuke (24:37) God does not use graceless ministers (40:21) Simony devalues God (45:59) Forgiveness, repentance, and free givers Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info Conley Owens opens Doreancon 2026 by explaining what simony is and why the church has nearly forgotten it, tracing how the doctrine rose through the early church and Middle Ages and faded after the Reformation. He argues it's time to retrieve it, and explains why Protestants can still learn from the medieval sources that addressed it. (00:00) What simony is, and why it's forgotten (01:10) The early church: God's word goes out freely (02:34) How simony spread through the Middle Ages (07:22) The Reformation began over simony (08:33) Five reasons the doctrine faded (12:25) Why we can learn from medieval sources Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info (00:00) Opening remarks and debate analysis (10:41) Why leave out the Didache? It warns that one who talks much about money is a false prophet. (12:20) If this must be approached from a Reformed perspective, what stops a Roman Catholic from doing the same? (13:59) If a heretical group co-opted the Dorean principle, would you still rejoice? (14:43) The debate centered on obligation. How relevant is that to the Dorean principle and simony? (18:22) Tanner said you can't buy prayer but you can buy books. What exactly is “the gift of God”? (21:13) Which arguments carry the most weight, yet a layman may agree without seeing what they imply? (28:14) How do you decide whether something is truly a gray area, without binding consciences? (35:55) Many dismiss this as too complicated to discern. How do we graciously prod them into the discussion? (39:38) Are Reformed Baptist associations an ideal replacement for much of what seminaries do? (online question) (41:15) How would you advise someone already under contract not to share their content freely? (47:44) Is simony the unforgivable sin? Can someone who monetizes ministry be forgiven? (50:50) Jesus taught through stories. Would you repackage this to be more palatable to the public? (56:48) Someone accepts the Dorean principle but says calling violations “simony” goes too far. How do you answer? (1:00:16) Jesus called anger in the heart murder. Can simony likewise be narrowed to a sin of the heart? (1:04:25) Cruises with a gospel presentation: is there a morally permissible way to do them? Learn more: https://2026.doreancon.org/ https://simony.info/ https://sellingjesus.org/

Read the free book on the topic at https://simony.info. In this debate, Conley Owens defends the proposition that the sale of biblical instruction is simony, the sin named after Simon Magus’s attempt to purchase spiritual power in Acts 8. Tanner challenges that conclusion, arguing that payment for a teacher’s finite labor does not necessarily constitute the sale of God’s gifts. Both affirm that ministers should receive financial support and that spiritual blessings must not be sold. Their disagreement concerns where that boundary lies and how Scripture teaches us to identify it. This was the pre-conference event from Doreancon 2026. Learn more at https://doreancon.org. CHAPTERS (00:00) Welcome & introduction (03:36) Affirmative opening – Conley Owens (12:09) Cross-examination of the affirmative (18:52) Negative opening – Tanner Cartwright (27:36) Cross-examination of the negative (33:43) Affirmative rebuttal – Conley Owens (39:25) Negative rebuttal & closing – Tanner Cartwright (45:48) Affirmative closing – Conley Owens (50:17) Audience Q&A (51:14) Q&A: How do you interpret Romans 15:27 and its language of debt and reciprocity? (53:01) Q&A: If sharing the gospel is just planting a seed, why is selling the gospel forbidden? (59:06) Q&A: Philippians 1:15–18: why does motive matter, as long as Christ is proclaimed? (59:56) Q&A: Tim Keller's church sold his sermons online. Was that sinful? (1:02:54) Q&A: If selling at cost is simony, who should cover the costs? (1:07:23) Q&A: In 1 Corinthians 9:11–12, why assume Paul's rhetorical questions expect “no”? (1:08:44) Q&A: If the answer is “yes, it is too much,” doesn't that undercut your case? (1:13:55) Q&A: What is the difference between reciprocity and co-labor? (1:18:04) Q&A: Does prayer take labor? Would it be wrong to charge for prayer? (1:24:18) Q&A: If a 25¢ counseling e-book isn't a holy thing, what am I buying? (1:25:57) Q&A: Is it simony to sell Bibles at different prices for nicer editions? (1:26:37) Q&A: Is it simony to sell gospel tracts to Christians who give them away for free? (1:30:32) Q&A: You've never charged an unbeliever for a tract, correct? (1:31:03) Q&A: Isn't requiring attribution sometimes useful, e.g. to catch outdated copies of a translation? (1:33:56) Q&A: What does Numbers 18:21–31 teach about the Levites' tithe? (1:37:44) Q&A: What is 2 Corinthians 2:17 (“peddlers of God's word”) commanding us? (1:40:17) Q&A: Is a $25 book different from the same book at $100? (1:43:01) Q&A: Am I duty bound to drop out of seminary? What if my church is paying for it? (1:44:25) Q&A: How is “redeeming the vexation” any different in practice? (1:44:43) Q&A: How do book profits actually let someone like Joel Beeke do more ministry? (1:46:20) Q&A: How should those profits be used? (1:47:50) Q&A: Is a $100 book still simony if the author gets no royalty? (1:48:22) Q&A: If copyright is fake, is the content really being sold? (1:49:28) Q&A: Should Christians just copy the books they already own? (1:52:41) Q&A: If planting is God's means of growth, isn't selling the means selling the Spirit's work? (1:56:42) Q&A: So simony depends on obligation, not on what's sold: face to face no, online yes? (2:00:16) Q&A: So the question is whether I'd neglect an obligation for money? (2:01:52) Q&A: What are real, modern examples of simony? (2:04:56) Q&A: Is teaching theology at a tuition-charging school simony? (2:05:44) Q&A: Between your 17 children, whose bedtime Bible stories are free? (2:06:54) Q&A: Why is a believer obligated to the person on the street, but not to a website visitor? (2:08:46) Q&A: Isn't publishing a book online an implicit request to share the gospel? (2:10:26) Q&A: Is a paid Alistair Begg cruise simony, and is buying a ticket simony too? (2:18:12) Q&A: Is giving the Lord's Supper before baptism simony? (2:19:24) Q&A: Would you call these practices something other than “the sin of Simon”?

A chapter from God's Word Is Not Bound. ⁠Read the text.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Get the free book.⁠ In this episode, we examine the idea that Christian organizations are immune to temptations common to man.Drawing on decades of firsthand testimony and documented scandals, we examine the darker side of Christian publishing, from ruthless business practices and corporate profiteering to ghostwriting, manufactured celebrity, fake bestseller campaigns, and the commodification of the Church. We consider how the desire for money, influence, and a seat at the table keeps many silent, while the presence of genuinely godly people lends credibility to institutions whose practices contradict the teachings of Christ. Can good intentions or charitable donations justify dishonest and exploitative methods? And why have we entrusted the exclusive control of God's Word to an industry plagued by these very problems? Ultimately, we confront the ancient sin of simony in its modern forms and call the Church to reject institutional idolatry, expose corruption, and recover the biblical command to freely give what God has freely given. The same institutional corruption has profound implications for Bible translation, where publishers and translation organizations claim exclusive control over Scripture through copyright, licensing restrictions, and commercial distribution. When God's Word becomes an institutional asset to be protected, monetized, and controlled, the Church must ask whether these organizations are worthy of this sacred trust.

Read or download this chapter or the whole work: God's Word Is Not Bound.⁠ Is copyright really a form of property, and is copying actually theft? In this chapter of God’s Word Is Not Bound, I examine copyright through Scripture and natural law and argue that intellectual property turns justice on its head. Biblical property rights exist to prevent conflict over tangible things: if someone takes your sheep, land, or money, you no longer possess what was taken. But ideas and words work differently. They can be copied and shared without depriving anyone of them. The chapter argues that Scripture nowhere treats copying words or ideas as theft and even presents the copying of God’s Word as something to be encouraged. When copyright is applied to Scripture, the problem becomes especially serious: human beings use state power to restrict the copying, translation, recording, and distribution of revelation that ultimately belongs to God. Rather than accepting copyright simply because it is legal or customary, Christians are challenged to ask whether the state has any God-given authority to manufacture ownership rights over information in the first place, and whether placing “all rights reserved” over God’s Word is really stewardship or a perversion of justice.

Read the text.⁠ ⁠Get the free book.⁠ As Paul sits in a Roman prison cell, he writes, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound in chains as a criminal. But God’s Word is not bound” (2 Tim 2:8-9). Even though he may be imprisoned, God’s Word cannot be. Put all the preachers in chains, but the message of Christ remains free. Unshackled. Little did Paul know that the schemes of the Enemy would one day shift from binding the hands and feet of Christians to binding the Word—with legal fetters. Evil emperors who cast saints into dungeons would be replaced centuries later by Christians who imprison the Word behind bars of jurisprudence. And no matter the stated reason for this imprisonment of Scripture, the outcome remains the same: the Word does not run freely. The Church can no longer declare with Paul, “God’s Word is not bound!” Instead, followers of Christ cower before copyright claims, subservient to man’s restrictions on what God himself authored. It may be God-breathed, but men have arrogated it, threatening anyone who might want to unbind it and let it fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Preachers call it “God’s Word,” but mere humans insinuate that it is theirs with the phrase “all rights reserved.” In our modern Church, Paul might have said the opposite of what he wrote so long ago. Looking around at the Bible publishing landscape, he may have written, “Remember Jesus Christ, as I preached in my gospel, which I am free to proclaim. But God’s Word is bound in chains as a criminal.”

In a 2008 podcast, John Piper discusses whether it is appropriate to sell the Bible for profit and explains the role copyright can play in protecting Bible translations. In this video, Conley Owens responds by presenting the case that Scripture can—and should—be freely distributed without copyright restrictions, offering a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between Bible translation, stewardship, and free access to God's Word. Source: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-it-wrong-to-copyright-and-sell-the-bible0:00 Introduction00:46 Piper: The Word of God vs. paper and ink01:21 Response: Copyright covers content, not paper and ink01:57 Piper: It comes down to profit02:14 Response: Profit was never the biblical issue04:08 Piper: A publisher covering costs05:00 Response: Translation is a different thing08:53 Piper: Giving Bibles away09:14 Response: Paper can be sold, the content cannot09:58 Piper: Copyright as protection from distortion10:46 Response: Copyright blocks good modifications 13:35 Piper: Copyright is protection14:12 Response: Copyright vs. trademark15:56 Final pleaLEARN MOREhttps://sellingjesus.orghttps://thedoreanprinciple.orghttps://copy.church

Read the book for free. This episode provides an overview of an anonymous work from 1700 called The Anatomy of Simon Magus. It's an examination of simony, defining it as the corrupt practice of buying or selling spiritual things or church offices. The author offers a "surgical exposure" of how corruption manifests through bribery, social favors, and self-interested service, warning that such actions invalidate the spiritual authority of the clergy. By dissecting both the historical context of the 1700s and modern analogs, the work serves as a moral autopsy intended to preserve the purity of the Church. It cautions that those who enter the ministry through financial or deceptive means are usurpers rather than true servants of Christ. Generated by NotebookLM, curated by Andrew Case. sellingjesus.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedoreanprinciple.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠copy.church

Read here. Does the application to freely give include restrictions to teachings behind a paywall? In a world full of commercialized teachings, this article presents a personal story and a biblical response to how we should freely give despite the modern restriction of paywalls. ⁠⁠⁠sellingjesus.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedoreanprinciple.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠copy.church