Category Archives: History

How We Got Our Bible

An Eastern Orthodox apologist, lampooning Protestants, described us as opening “a Bible compiled by fourth-century bishops at councils he does not recognize.” I am relatively certain that most educated Eastern Orthodox believers know that the Bible was not compiled in … Continue reading

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Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment (Acts 24:25)

As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” (Acts 24:25) Shortly after I was saved … Continue reading

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Is This the Great Apostasy? Here’s what caused it.

There is a reason that Christian history is divided into a pre-Nicene era (before the Council of Nicea in AD 325) and post-Nicene eras. Before the Council of Nicea, the churches were quick to announce the righteousness and virtue that … Continue reading

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Understanding the Trinity: How Proverbs 8:22-31 Harmonizes Scripture and Personalizes Creation

Scripture quotes today are from  the ESV, which was an accident. Usually I use the World English Bible because it is not copyrighted. Lately, though I have been reading the ESV, and I forgot to switch my Bible app back … Continue reading

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Interpreting Romans by Believing What it Says: Chapter 1, Part 3 (a history of the Roman church)

Note: I used to have links open in a new tab per advice I got 20 years ago. Today I quit doing that. I’m going to assume that all of you know to right click if you want a link … Continue reading

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Church History 3: The Faith Once For All Delivered to the Saints

If you missed Church History Focused on the Parts that Interest You 2, it’s because I didn’t know when I started the post that it would be a Church History lesson. Thus, the title does not have “Church History” in … Continue reading

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The Rest of the Old, Old Story: What Does It Mean To Be Catholic?

Note: I made this part 2 of my “Church History Focused on the Parts that Interest You” series. Part 1 has links to the entire series. This is a response to “Restless Pilgrim’s” post, “Before 300: Pre-Constantinian Christianity.” There he has … Continue reading

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Jesus Prefers Unity of Spirit to Unity of Bishops and Popes

So someone commented on my YouTube video on the rise of the pope on YouTube with “So in your view, Christ had no plan for how His Church would survive for the rest of time and unending? How old is … Continue reading

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The Day of Atonement and the Goat for Azazel

I looked up the Kyle-Delitzsch commentary on Lev. 16:8, where a lot is cast for two goats on the day of atonement, one for Yahweh and one for Azazel. Kyle-Delitzsh is, or at least used to be, a prince among … Continue reading

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Today’s Hodge-Podge: Messengers, Large Church Meetings, Archippus, and Apostolic Succession

For those interested, I wrote this in an email in response to questions concerning Colossians 4:14, 16-17: For at least 150 years, perhaps longer, it was perfectly okay that the Sunday morning meetings grew large enough to need big meeting … Continue reading

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