A Podcast All About Christianity
The idea that Adam’s sin somehow affected the moral condition of all later human beings developed gradually. Before 700 CE, Jewish and Christian writers offered several different explanations for humanity’s universal tendency to sin, mortality, and alienation from God. The important point is that there was no single doctrine of original sin shared by all … Read More “Original Sin Before 700 CE: Jewish and Christian Views of Adam’s Sin” »
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 controversy, Maximus became one of the most important defenders of orthodox Christology in the Eastern Christian tradition—and paid a heavy price for it. Historical and Religious Context Maximus lived in … Read More “Who Was Maximus the Confessor?” »
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 shaped Western theology, especially doctrines of sin, grace, and free will. To understand Pelagius is to understand one of the most formative theological disputes of late antiquity. Historical Context: The Late … Read More “Pelagius: The Monk Who Challenged Augustine” »
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 moved from being a persecuted minority within the Roman Empire to becoming a legally recognized and eventually imperially supported institution. This transformation reshaped Christian theology, ecclesial structures, worship, and the … Read More “The Fourth Century: A Turning Point in Christian Church History” »
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 introduces him as the architect of the Latin Vulgate and one of the most formidable biblical scholars of late antiquity. This companion post expands that portrait by exploring Jerome’s personality, lesser-known … Read More “Jerome: The Man Behind the Vulgate and the Making of the Latin Bible” »
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 New Testament, it was one of the most widely read and respected Christian works of the second century. It offers valuable insight into how early believers understood sin, repentance, and … Read More “The Shepherd of Hermas: A Window into Early Christian Faith and Practice” »
Few figures in early Christianity have inspired as much admiration — or controversy — as Origen of Alexandria. A towering intellectual of the third century, Origen was both a philosopher and theologian whose writings profoundly shaped Christian thought for centuries to come. Though later generations debated his orthodoxy, his influence on biblical interpretation, theology, and spirituality … Read More “Origen: The Brilliant and Controversial Church Father” »
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 is still a very old poem. The words are powerful. Whoever you are who approach, and are entering the precincts of the middle of the temple, stop a little and … Read More “A Poem on the Passion of the Lord” »
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 the most significant controversies in church history and remains a point of division between Eastern and Western Christianity to this day. The Meaning of the Filioque The Filioque refers to a phrase that … Read More “What is the Filioque?” »
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 nuianced. Many years ago, German theologian Adolph von Harnack wrote a short work called Militia Christi (Amazon affiliate link) in which he worked out what was actually said about military … Read More “Militia Christi – Review” »
