christianity

Defense and explanation of Christian doctrine, practice, and worldview through rigorous biblical argumentation.

Rabbinic Cursing of Christians Members Public

There is an ancient Jewish prayer that seems to date back from a time shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem, where the Jews in their synagogues would curse the minim (heretics). The prayer is known as Birkat haMinim. The minim most definitely include Christians, since this was a title given

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
christianityjudaismhistory

Clement of Alexandria: The God of the Jews, Greeks & Post-Mortem Salvation Members Public

I quote a particular section from St. Clement of Alexandria’s The Stromata, or Miscellanies, Book VI. In it, he cites a writing attributed to Peter to show that the Jews and Greeks worship the same God of Christians, and also addresses the Lord’s descent into Hades to preach

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelschristianitychurch-history

Pope Leo & Petrine Primacy Members Public

The following sermon is taken from Leo The Great: Sermons (Fathers of the Church Patristic Series), published by The Catholic University of America Press Publication in 1996, pp. 25-29. All emphasis is mine. Sermon 4 29 September 444 I rejoice, dearly beloved, in the pious affection that arises from your

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
catholicismchurch-historychristianity

Early Church on Creatio Ex Nihilo Members Public

In this post I will cite some of the very early witnesses for the Church’s belief in the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo, that God created all things from nothing. All emphasis is mine. The Shepherd of Hermas (Book II) Commandment 1 On Faith in God. First of all,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historygodtheology

More 2nd Century Witnesses to Christ’s Deity Members Public

In this short post I will be citing excerpts from two early 2nd century writers on Christ’s Deity, the first will be from a Christian and the second from a pagan satirist. All emphasis will be mine. Aristides the Philosopher 2. Since, then, we have addressed you concerning God,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
jesusgodtheology

The Relatives of Jesus Members Public

The article that I am posting can be accessed here: The Relatives of Jesus. The Relatives of Jesus By Richard Bauckham Careful readers of the NT know that one of Jesus’ relatives, his brother James, played a prominent part in the early history of the church. Not so well known

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
jesuschristianitychurch-history

Syriac Recension of St. Ignatius’ Letters Members Public

The excerpts cited here are taken from The Antient Syriac Version of the Epistles of St. Ignatius to St. Polycarp, the Ephesians, and the Romans Together with Extracts from His Epistles, Collected from the Writings of Severus of Antioch, Timotheus of Alexandria, and Others: Edited with an English Translation and

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historychristianitygod

Bart Ehrman, Ignatius, the Trinity, & the True Church Members Public

In this post I will be quoting from the work The Apostolic Fathers, Volume I: I Clement. II Clement. Ignatius. Polycarp. Didache, edited and translated by Bart D. Ehrman, and published in 2003 by Harvard University Press. I will be citing Ehrman’s translation of St. Ignatius’ seven letters in

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
trinityholy-spiriteucharist
Get Updates