Category: Early Church History

516 Sean Finnegan on Restoring Authentic Christianity (Tom Huszti)

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Recently Tom Huszti interviewed me for his YouTube channel, the Unitarian Anabaptist. We talked about the importance of geography, archeology, and Greco-Roman history for interpreting the bible, especially the New Testament. Next we delved into early church history, starting with the earliest forms of Jewish Christianity Read more about 516 Sean Finnegan on Restoring Authentic Christianity (Tom Huszti)[…]

504 Early Church History 22: Byzantine Empire from Constantine to Justinian

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 22 of the Early Church History class. This episode aims to wrap up our early church history class. We’ll cover relics and pilgrimage, emperors Zeno and Justinian, as well as the theological battles that continued to rage in the 5th and 6th centuries. Unsurprisingly the christological controversy of the 5th century did Read more about 504 Early Church History 22: Byzantine Empire from Constantine to Justinian[…]

503 Early Church History 21: The Dual Natures Controversy of the Fifth Century

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 21 of the Early Church History class. In the fifth century Christians waged a theological civil war that ended in a massive church split. The issue was over the dual natures of Christ. How was he both divine and human? Did he have a human soul and a divine soul? Did his Read more about 503 Early Church History 21: The Dual Natures Controversy of the Fifth Century[…]

502 Early Church History 20: Early African, Armenian, and Asian Christianity

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 20 of the Early Church History class. So far we’ve been focusing primarily on Christianity within the Roman Empire in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East–the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, Christianity also spread south to Africa, north to Armenia, and east to Asia where it reached Persia, India, and Read more about 502 Early Church History 20: Early African, Armenian, and Asian Christianity[…]

501 Early Church History 19: Arian Kingdoms from Ulfilas to Clovis

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 19 of the Early Church History class. Even though the Roman Empire chose Nicene Christianity as it’s “orthodoxy,” subordinationist Christianity continued to exist, especially outside among the Germanic tribes. In this episode, you’ll learn about Ulfilas the Missionary to the Goths who not only brought Christianity to these “barbarians,” but also made Read more about 501 Early Church History 19: Arian Kingdoms from Ulfilas to Clovis[…]

500 Early Church History 18: The Gifts of the Spirit in Early Christianity

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 18 of the Early Church History class. I wonder how many Christians in the world today believe the gifts of the spirit ceased in the time of the apostles? I know there are quite a few. Many others, however, believe they are available today and make time for them in their worship Read more about 500 Early Church History 18: The Gifts of the Spirit in Early Christianity[…]

499 Early Church History 17: The Kingdom of God in Early Christianity

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 17 of the Early Church History class. Throughout the first five hundred years of Christian history, a significant shift occurred in what we believed about our ultimate destiny. The New Testament and the early church fathers repeatedly expressed belief in God’s kingdom coming to earth. Over time, however, this idea gave way Read more about 499 Early Church History 17: The Kingdom of God in Early Christianity[…]

498 Early Church History 16: Jerome and Augustine

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 16 of the Early Church History class. Jerome and Augustine are two of the most influential Latin Christians of the first millennium of Christianity. This episode will introduce you to their lives, personalities, and some of their most important ideas. You’ll see how significantly asceticism affected their lifestyles as well as how Read more about 498 Early Church History 16: Jerome and Augustine[…]

497 Early Church History 15: Monasticism from Anthony to Benedict

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 15 of the Early Church History class. We are shifting gears away from Christology to talk about the desert fathers and mothers. These were people that decided to leave the city and go off alone or in communes to practice spiritual disciplines and asceticism. They denied themselves pleasure in their pursuit of Read more about 497 Early Church History 15: Monasticism from Anthony to Benedict[…]

496 Early Church History 14: Paul of Samosata and Photinus of Sirmium

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 14 of the Early Church History class. We’ve been learning about the controversy over Christ’s origins in the last couple of episodes. This battle raged between groups of Christians who agreed that Jesus pre-existed for sixty years. But today we are taking a break from that and looking instead at the early Read more about 496 Early Church History 14: Paul of Samosata and Photinus of Sirmium[…]

495 Early Church History 13: Trinity Controversy in the Fourth Century

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 13 of the Early Church History class. Between the year 325 and 381 titanic shifts occurred that changed Christianity forever. Rather than ending conflict and ushering in a golden era of lasting peace, Constantine’s Council of Nicea ignited a theological civil war within Christianity that raged for six more decades. In today’s Read more about 495 Early Church History 13: Trinity Controversy in the Fourth Century[…]

494 Early Church History 12: Arius and Alexander of Alexandria

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 12 of the Early Church History class. Today we begin a two part series on the Christological controversies of the fourth century. Our focus for this episode is the conflict between Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and his presbyter, Arius. You may be surprised to learn that Arius was not some youthful outsider Read more about 494 Early Church History 12: Arius and Alexander of Alexandria[…]

493 Early Church History 11: The Constantinian Shift

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 11 of the Early Church History class. Have you heard of the Roman emperor Constantine? He had a massive impact on Christianity. Not only did he end the brutal persecutions of his predecessors, but he also used the Roman government to actively support the Church. However, his involvement also resulted in significant Read more about 493 Early Church History 11: The Constantinian Shift[…]

490 Early Church History 10: Persecution of Early Christians

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 10 of the Early Church History class. The Roman government persecuted Christians for the first three centuries. In this episode, you’ll learn about various persecutions that flared up during the reigns of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian. We’ll also cover why Romans both despised and feared Christianity. Learning about the Read more about 490 Early Church History 10: Persecution of Early Christians[…]

489 Early Church History 9: Early Church Orders

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 9 of the Early Church History class. How did Christians organize themselves in the first few centuries? We’re taking a break from theology and switching to focus on practical matters of church offices, church governance, church discipline, conversion, and charity. As it turns out we have a surprising amount of information about Read more about 489 Early Church History 9: Early Church Orders[…]

488 Early Church History 8: Origen of Alexandria

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 8 of the Early Church History class. Origen of Alexandria is the man behind the curtain. Although few Christians today would recognize his name, most denominations are still on a trajectory he initiated eighteen hundred years ago. His influences in theology, christology, eschatology, apologetics, textual criticism, asceticism, hermeneutics, and Christian philosophy are Read more about 488 Early Church History 8: Origen of Alexandria[…]

487 Early Church History 7: Philo and Clement of Alexandria

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 7 of the Early Church History class. Philo of Alexandria was the most well-known representative of Hellenistic Judaism in the first century. His many books combine Platonism with scripture via allegory–a daring project that had a massive influence on Christian thinkers. Clement of Alexandria followed in Philo’s footsteps a century later, doing Read more about 487 Early Church History 7: Philo and Clement of Alexandria[…]

486 Early Church History 6: Apologists & Heresy Hunters

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 6 of the Early Church History class. In the latter half of the second century, two kinds of Christians arose to defend the faith. On the one hand, apologists wrote defenses of Christianity directed at the Roman government. They responded to rumors, arguing that Christians were decent people who should be shown Read more about 486 Early Church History 6: Apologists & Heresy Hunters[…]

485 Early Church History 5: Gnostics and Valentinians

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 5 of the Early Church History class. Have you heard of the Gnostics before? Gnostics of different types claimed to have secret knowledge of humanity’s true origins and destiny. They were intellectuals who combined the philosophical thinking of their day with Jewish and Christian scripture to produce a compelling alternative to biblical Read more about 485 Early Church History 5: Gnostics and Valentinians[…]

484 Early Church History 4: The Apostolic Fathers

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 4 of the Early Church History class. Our focus for this episode is the collection of second-century Christian literature known as the Apostolic Fathers. In total, there are 11 authors in this collection, 9 of whom we will briefly cover today. You’ll learn about the earliest Christian documents outside the New Testament, Read more about 484 Early Church History 4: The Apostolic Fathers[…]

483 Early Church History 3: Christianity in the Second Century

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 3 of the Early Church History class. Today we begin to look at the second century. We’ll start by considering Jewish Christian movements, including the Nazarenes and the Ebionites. Next we’ll shift gears and explore the cultural pressure of asceticism and how it began infiltrating Christianity. We’ll briefly survey the influence of Read more about 483 Early Church History 3: Christianity in the Second Century[…]

482 Early Church History 2: The Jewish-Roman War and Jewish-Christian Relations

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 2 of the Early Church History class. Before the great revolution of 66 in which the Jewish nation declared independence from the Roman empire, no fewer than five micro-revolution occurred between 4 BC and 58 AD. In the years that led up to the first Jewish-Roman war (66-73), incompetent Roman governors repeatedly Read more about 482 Early Church History 2: The Jewish-Roman War and Jewish-Christian Relations[…]

481 Early Church History 1: Christianity in the First Century

Posted on by Sean Finnegan

This is part 1 of the Early Church History class. Introducing Early Church History Get answers to questions, like: Did early Christians prophecy and perform miracles? How do I research church history for myself? How did heaven replace paradise on earth? What happened to the Jewish Christians? How did the Trinity become mainstream? How did Read more about 481 Early Church History 1: Christianity in the First Century[…]