history
Historical analysis of religious developments, events, and theological movements relevant to apologetics.
Rabbinic Cursing of Christians Paid 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
Bible Error: How Old was Ahaziah? Paid Members Public
The late Dr. Gleason L. Archer addressed the issue of Ahaziah’s reign and age, since 2 Kings. 8:26 states he was 22 whereas 2 Chronicles 22:2 states he was 42. When did Ahaziah ben Jehoram become king? 2 Kings 8:25 says that Ahaziah son of Jehoram
Josephus & the Divine Name Paid Members Public
The following quote is taken from Josephus’ The War of the Jews 5:5, translated by William Whiston. He states that the Divine Name consists of 4 vowels. All emphasis is mine. ז. ובני משפחת הכהֻנה, אשר לא יכלו לשָׁרֵת בקֹדש מפני מום אשר בבשרם, היו
Hippolytus: The First Antipope Paid Members Public
I upload the following post by Thomas V. Mirus: The First Antipope. The first four of the six popes covered in this installment found themselves in conflict with a priest named Hippolytus, the most brilliant intellectual of the Roman Church at the time. Hippolytus would become the first antipope in
Filioque, Petrine & Roman Primacy Paid Members Public
The following excerpt is taken from Francis Dvornik, Byzantine missions among the Slavs. SS. Constantine-Cyril and Methodius (F. Dvornik, Byzantine missions among the Slavs - 6), pp. 189-192. The citations deal with the letter of Pope St. Stephen (Latin – Stephanus V, died September 14, 891) where he mentions that the
The Talmud: Jesus is Burning in Dung! Paid Members Public
In this post I will be quoting from Peter Schäfer’s book Jesus in the Talmud, published by Princeton University Press in 2007. Here is what is written about him on Princeton University’s website: Peter Schäfer joined the faculty in 1998, appointed as the Ronald O. Perelman Professor of
Eusebius on Origen Paid Members Public
In this post I will be quoting excerpts from 4th century AD Church historian Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History the very controversial apologist and theologian Origen. Eusebius mentions the story of Origen castrating himself and also sought to refute the charge of Origen being a heretic. All emphasis will be mine. Chapter
Synod of Laodicea on the Sabbath Day Paid Members Public
The Synod of Laodicea has been dated by scholars anywhere between the years 343 and 381 AD, between the Sardican and the Second Ecumenical Council. I quote what this Synod wrote in respect to Sabbath keeping. Canon 16 The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath [i.e. Saturday]