church-history
Historical studies on the development of Christian doctrine, early church writings, councils, and controversies.
Creed of the Council of Antioch 325 AD Paid Members Public
The following is adapted from this post: Creed of the Antioch Council of 325. All emphasis will be mine. 8. Ἔστιν οὖν ἡ πίστις, ἣ προετέθη ὑπ’ ἀνδρῶν, πνευματικῶν καὶ οὺς αὖθις οὐ δίκαιον νομίφειν κατὰ σάρκα τῆν ἢ νοεῖν, ἀλλὰ ἐν πνεύματι ταῖς τῶν θεοπνεύστων βιβλίων ἁγίαις γραφαῖς συνησκῆσθαι,
Origen: Monarchia & the Filioque Paid Members Public
The following excerpts are from Origen’s Commentary on the Gospel of John. In this section, Origen will argue for the Father being stronger and greater than the Son, and the Spirit owing his existence/essence to the Son, and not just the Father alone. However, Origen makes it clear
Linus Rome's First Bishop, Clement’s Letter, Scriptures & Miracles Paid Members Public
The following extracts are taken from Eusebius’ Church History. All emphasis is mine. Book III Chapter 2. The First Successor to St. Peter in Rome. 1. After the martyrdom of Paul and of Peter, Linus was the first to obtain the episcopate of the church at Rome. Paul mentions him,
Athanasius on the Ancient Basis for the Nicene Formula Paid Members Public
This excerpt is taken from St. Athanasius who claims that the language adopted by Nicaea to describe the Son’s essential equality with the Father isn’t new but quite ancient, going back to at least 130 years earlier. Athanasius exposed the Arian heretics by appealing to an unbroken chain
Chrysostom: St. Ignatius & Peter as the Master of the World Paid Members Public
The following is taken from St. John Chrysostom’s Homily on St. Ignatius. All emphasis will be mine. 4. And I will speak of a fourth crown, arising for us out of this episcopate. What then is this? The fact that he was entrusted with our own native city. For
Early Church, the Cross, Deut. 28:66 & Jer. 11:19 Paid Members Public
In this post I will be looking at two OT texts, which the early Christians saw as foreshadowing Christ’s crucifixion. These early writers employed these particular verses as prophesying or prefiguring Christ’s death on a cross. First Prophecy I begin with the following reference from the Jeremiah: “and
9th Century Assyrian Bishop, Psalm 110:1 & God's Name Paid Members Public
In this post I quote the commentary of Mar Ishodad of Merv (Mari Ishoʿdaḏ Maruzaya), who was the bishop of Hdatta (circa 850 AD), which is near current-day Mosul, Iraq. Ishodad is considered a very important and prominent theologian of the Assyrian Church of the East, who wrote some very
Ambrose, Augustine, Peter of Lombard on Gen. 1:26 Paid Members Public
In this post I will cite the works of three intellectual and spiritual giants of the Faith to show how they interpreted Genesis 1:26-27, particularly verse, where God uses plural pronouns when speaking of making man in the image and likeness of God. The readers will see that these