A Podcast All About Christianity
Two of the most influential preachers of the 18th century were John Wesley and George Whitefield. They were both revivalists but they had very different theologies. Still, there was mutual respect. John Wesley preached at Whitefield’s funeral. You can read the sermon here. You can find out more about their relationship here. You can also … Read More “John Wesley and George Whitefield” »
Early Christianity is closely tied to the history of the Roman Empire. Whether as the victims of persecution or as those rising to positions of power, the church could never ignore the empire and vice versa. So some knowledge of the empire and the emperors is important for Christian history. A great resource for this … Read More “Emperors Don’t Die in Bed – Review” »
It is impossible to say exactly how many people in the early church were considered apostles. We can say with certainty that it was more than twelve. The original twelve were these: These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and … Read More “How Many Apostles Were There?” »
The beatitudes, part of the Sermon on the Mount (Plain), are some of the most beloved parts of the New Testament. Christians have loved them, whether in Matthew or Luke’s version, whether they agreed on the meaning or not. The Beatitudes Through the Ages by Rebekah Eklund is a priceless contribution to the study of … Read More “The Beatitudes Through the Ages – Review” »
Many Christians today look back to the church of the first century, the church we find in Acts and the letters of Paul, as the model to emulate. Some denominations aim to be “restorationist,” that is they seek to restore the purity of that early church. Whether or not that should be the aim of … Read More “Five Things to Know About the First Century Church” »
Baptists have been around for a long time in Canada. In fact the congregation where I currently pastor began thirty-four years before Confederation. Baptists in Canada: Their History and Polity tells that story. The book gives a short history of Baptists in general, talking about where they came from and how they began. It includes … Read More “Baptists in Canada: Their History and Polity” »
Cyprian was a bishop of Carthage in the third century and was a prolific writer. One of his treatises was on the Lord’s Prayer. In this passage from that treatise, we get a sense of how some early Christians understood both prayer and community. For we say not “My Father, which art in heaven,” nor … Read More “Cyprian on the Lord’s Prayer” »
I have loved history for as long as I can remember. When my friends were reading superhero comic books, I was reading comic books about World War Two (Sgt Rock was my favourite). My interest in military history has continued but has also expanded. There are many areas of history that I enjoy, both ancient … Read More “5 Reasons Why I Love History” »
The quick answer that question is: Yes. However, it is a bit more complex than that. When we look at events of the past our confidence in how closely our understanding is to the reality with vary case by case. Much of it comes down to the nature of the evidence. What kind of archaeological … Read More “Can We Know Anything About History?” »
I always have mixed feelings when I read books by Bart Ehrman. He is a respected scholar and he is a gifted communicator. Those things don’t always go together. However, his books are also often heavily shaped by his reaction to his former evangelical faith. This is true for The Triumph of Christianity as well. … Read More “The Triumph of Christianity – Review” »
