church-history
Historical studies on the development of Christian doctrine, early church writings, councils, and controversies.
Gelasian Decree Pope Damasus & the Canon Paid Members Public
The Gelasian Decree (Decretum Gelasianum) is a Latin document dating from the 6th century AD, and is believed to be based on the decree of Pope Gelasius I (492-496 AD). The document mentions the canon list ratified by the Council (Synod) of Rome under the authority of Pope Damasus
Samuel Clarke’s Trinitarian Subordinationism Paid Members Public
Dr. Samuel Clarke (1675-1729) was a Church of England divine who became the rector of the parish church of St. James, Westminster, a position he held until his death in 1729. Clarke became the focus of intense and heated controversy due to his unorthodox, “heterodox” views of the Trinity,
Origen, Susanna & OT Canon Paid Members Public
I share Origen’s defense of the canonicity of the “History of Susanna,” which all the ancient apostolic communions accept as sacred Scripture. Origen refutes the objections raised against the book’s authenticity, and explains why the Jews rejected it. In his response, Origen shows his great familiarity with the
Martyrdom of Peter’s Wife Paid Members Public
According to Clement of Alexandria, there was a tradition which stated that Peter’s wife was martyred as the blessed Apostle looked and encouraged her: They say, accordingly, that the blessed Peter, on seeing his wife led to death, rejoiced on account of her call and conveyance home, and called
Justin Martyr on Isa. 42:8 & Christ’s Glory Paid Members Public
In this post I will be excerpting a section from St. Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, in which the blessed saint sets out to prove the following: 1. The Scriptures are inerrant, having no real contradictions. 2. The Jewish elders reject specific verses from the Greek version
Augustine on the Holy Eucharist Paid Members Public
According to noted Protestant historian J.N.D Kelly, St. Augustine did indeed affirm that the Eucharist does in fact become the actual flesh, body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: If Ambrose’s influence helped to mediate the doctrine of a physical change to the West,
Tertullian: Trinity is the Faith of the Ancient Church Paid Members Public
In refuting the modalist heretic named Praxeas, the second-third century AD North African Apologist Tertullian stresses the fact that belief in the Trinity has always been the ancient belief of the Church, much older than the hereies spewed by Praxeus and others. Here’s what he wrote: Chapter 2.
Polycarp, Pope Anicetus, Irenaeus & Easter Paid Members Public
Church historian Eusebius recorded the early controversy that arose among the faithful in respect to the celebration of Easter. Some Christians such as Polycarp insisted that the Church should follow the example within the Gospels by observing it on the fourteenth day of Nisan, which is the date fixed by