Church History for Chumps

As we comb through history's ranks of church fathers, we tend to take something for granted. Many of these people had a natural desire for leadership. Augustine, Athanasius, Antony, they all had a natural penchant to address the crowds and stir up courage. 

This was not the case with our next Cappadocian Father, Gregory of Nazianzus. Gregory had a monastic soul, he longed for a quiet and peaceful life of prayer and contemplatio...

Do you know what happens when you combine the trauma of growing up as a PK (pastor's kid, of course) with the Game of Thrones-esque violence of the Roman Empire?

Well, you sort of get Julian the Apostate. 

Born in the era of Constantine's great conversion to Christianity, Julian was the last emperor not to be wooed by the Empire's new religious convictions. Raised on the classics and fascinated by a mix of cult religio...

We asked for Q's, and you guys delivered. So now we're back with the A's. 

Who's our favorite heretic? Are we Calvinist, Arminian, or something else? Do we have any advice for someone considering pastoral ministry?

We answer those questions and many, many more. 

As fun as this episode was to record, we honestly just enjoy any chance we get to interact with the folks who listen to our show. We really, genuinely appr...

We're back in the 4th century, baby. 

And it's time we finally talk about the Cappadocian Fathers. Two brothers and one lifelong friend, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus were three of the most pivotal figures in the history of Eastern Christianity. And today, we begin with Basil. 

During a thyme of heretical emperors, he was a voice of Nicene wisdom. When the east was peppered with poor and need...

This week, we're taking a short break on our early church series, mostly because Taylor put "I get to lead an episode on Baptist missions every once in a while" in his contract when he joined the show :(

Isaac McCoy was a Baptist missionary in the early 19th century who endeavored to bring the Gospel to the American Indians that lived throughout the Midwest. Historically, he's known for attempting to form a westw...

Imagine you're writing a letter to the President (or Emperor, depending on what era you live in).

Point by point, you bring up each idol of that day and age, and refute it thoroughly. Then you explain, it clear and compassionate terms, that the reader should submit themselves to the God of Christianity, repent of their sins, and commit to a Christian life. 

Actually, the more I talk about it, the less crazy it sounds. 

But this i...

Persecutions are tough. I think we can all agree with that. 

But an issue that doesn't get as much attention is what the church does after a time of persecution. Specifically with the Christians who may or may not have caved under the threat of harm or violence. 

The 3rd Century in Rome (as we've discussed on the show before) was a tough time to be a Christian, and while the persecution wasn't long, the problems that i...

For the past few weeks, we've been covering the stories of the Apostles after the biblical narrative concludes. 

And...we can be honest. This series has gone over like watching a jaded old magician spoiling a handful of classic magic tricks in front of an unsuspecting child's birthday party.

But sometimes that's just how history is. 

But what about Saint Peter? We all know the story: at his hour of martyrdom, he begs hi...

The lore surrounding the lives of the Apostles never ceases to amaze. People getting boiled alive (and surviving). Dudes getting thrown off the top of the Temple. Crazy stuff. 

But what if most of these crazy things are actually false? And what if nobody had a cool martyrdom? And what if Santa Claus is a FRAUD?

Well, you'll just have to listen to find out. Join Taylor and John as we continue our journey through the lives of the ...

When you think of the persecution of the Christians in the early church, it doesn't take long for the mind to naturally think of the Colosseum. 

But how involved was the Roman Colosseum in the practice of executing Christians in the first 4 centuries after the life of Christ? And what about the other stadiums built around that time? 

Join us as Tommy leads us through a rabbit trail for the ages. 

Also, the guys discuss what brand...

James the Greater. James the Lesser. James the brother of Jesus. 

Three stories. Three mysteries. Three Jameses. 

Join Jay, Tay, and Tray as we uncover more of the apostolic legacies after the biblical narrative. 

Also, we discuss Taylor's keto-tastic weight loss journey, and some harsh words he has for the Chump Nation if he doesn't get the fan mail encouragement he needs to stay on track. 

If you like our stuff, don't ...

We all know how the story of the Apostles went down. They all went on missions to different regions of the world, and everyone but John was martyred. Right?

...Right?

MAYBE NOT! 

Join us as we dive into a mini-series within our "Early Church Gets the Worm" series, where we'll discuss what history says about the disciples of Jesus beyond the biblical narrative. 

This week we kick things off with two disciples on the oppos...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PREPARE YOUR BALLOTS.

Few church fathers have a legacy as controversial as Origen of Alexandria. From rumors of self-mutilation, heresy, and crooked bishops, the story of Origen somehow only got more complicated in the years following his death. 

So this week, we're gonna take this controversial topic and duel it out. 

Each of our hosts has researched this topic, and will bring forth an argument about whethe...

"Hey! I'm walkin here!"

 St. Ignatius, probably

Not much is known of the 1st Century early church father known as Ignatius of Antioch. His early life, conversion, and place of origin are steeped in mystery. 

What we do know is this: after serving as the Bishop of Antioch for many years, Ignatius was captured during the persecution of Trajan. Rather than offer him a merciful execution, the old man was forced to march fro...

"F is for friends who do stuff together"

-St. Peter, about Clement, probably

You know what we love about the early church? 

That with a couple of history books and a number 2 pencil, you can sketch a nice, neat line right from the Book of Acts to the first wave of church fathers. Apostolic succession is a heck of a drug. 

And chief of these early church leaders was Clement of Rome, author of some neat epistles, and widely rev...

Imagine if you were a really cool guy. 

Like, a really cool guy. You helped all your friends know Jesus better. Wrote all these interesting theological ideas. Came up with all these fun words in Greek. Everybody liked you. 

And then in 500 years, someone read your journal and became a heretic, so now everyone hates you. And even now, everyone hates you. They think you're the worst. 

That's what happened to Origen. Okay, not ...

Imagine going to a country with one of the oldest expressions of Christian faith...as a BAPTIST?!?!?

Just kidding. But really, Taylor just got back from a week-long mission trip in Ethiopia, eastern Africa's historic den of Christianity. 

So how did it go? What is the relationship between the Ethiopian Protestants and the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians? Are mission trips something that the church needs to invest more in? Does Tay...

"Nice pagan temple. Be a shame if someone...Christianized it."

-Constantine, probably

The conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity was one of the most groundbreaking events to occur in the history of Rome. The single most influential political figure in the world had official changed divine allegiances. 

But as we'll talk about today, the implications for this change would be felt in the religious spheres of th...