Few figures in early Christianity combine intellectual brilliance, spiritual depth, and personal courage quite like Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662). Living during a time of intense theological…
Few figures in early Christian history have had as paradoxical a legacy as Pelagius. Though condemned as a heretic, his controversy with Augustine of Hippo profoundly…
The fourth century stands as one of the most decisive periods in the history of Christianity. In the space of one hundred years, the church…
This post is a companion piece to my podcast episode on Jerome. It is not the transcript for the episode. The podcast episode on Jerome…
Among the fascinating writings that emerged in the early centuries of Christianity, The Shepherd of Hermas holds a special place. Though it never became part of the…
Few figures in early Christianity have inspired as much admiration — or controversy — as Origen of Alexandria. A towering intellectual of the third century, Origen…
This early poem was for a time thought to be have written by the Church Father Lactantius. That authorship is no longer accepted but it…
Few theological phrases have had as much historical impact as the Filioque. This short Latin word, meaning “and from the Son,” was at the heart of one of…
You will frequently hear claims that the church unanimously rejected military service for Christians right until the time of Constantine. The reality is much more…
IntroductionThe question of whether Christians could serve in the military was a topic of serious theological, ethical, and practical debate in the first five centuries…