church-history
Historical studies on the development of Christian doctrine, early church writings, councils, and controversies.
Why the Church is Called Catholic Paid Members Public
The oldest extant written mention of the term Catholic, as applied to the Church, is found in one of the letters of the holy martyr St. Ignatius, who was a disciple of the Apostles and the Bishop of Rome: Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop See that
Chrysostom, Baptism & the Gospel Paid Members Public
In this article I will be sharing St. John Chrysostom’s exposition on 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, a text which heretics abuse to disprove the necessity and centrality of water baptism for salvation. All emphasis will be mine. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided. What he says comes to
Chrysostom, 1 Cor. 8:6 & the Trinity Paid Members Public
I quote from the homilies of St. John Chrysostom, considered to be one of the greatest theologians and biblical exegetes of the Faith, in respect to 1 Corinthians 8:4-6. All emphasis will be mine. 1 Corinthians 8:4 4. Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we
Early Church Fathers & the Shema Paid Members Public
The inspired NT writings take the Greek rendering of the following OT text, which is considered to be the heart of the Jewish religion, “Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord (kyrios ho theos
Phil. 2:5-11, God’s Form & Novatian Paid Members Public
Paul seems to be quoting either an early Christian hymn, creed and/or poem, which celebrates Christ’s prehuman divine existence, subsequent human incarnation, and post-resurrection exaltation to divine status, thereby resulting in his being worshiped by the entire creation: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset
St. Augustine, the Trinity & the Filioque Paid Members Public
The following excerpt is taken from St. Augustine’s Tractates on the Gospel of John wherein he discusses the procession of the Holy Spirit from both the Father and the Son. All emphasis will be mine. Tractate 99 John 16:13 1. What is this that the Lord said of
St. Augustine on John 17:3 & Predestination Paid Members Public
In this post I will be citing from St. Augustine’s Tractates on the Gospel of John where he discusses our Lord’s statement to the Father being the only true God, and where he also explains our Lord’s words in v. 5 as referring to God having predestined
TATIAN ON THE HOLY TRINITY Paid Members Public
In this post I will be quoting from the works of Tatian who was a second century AD Assyrian Christian apologist and a disciple of St. Justin Martyr. Tatian taught that God is an immaterial Spirit, and that Christ is the Logos (Word) who always subsisted within God and then