What happened at the Council of Carthage?
There were several meetings regarding Christian doctrine held in the city of Carthage in northern Africa. Prior to the Council of Nicea, the councils mostly discussed issues such as how to handle apostates, whether or not to accept unorthodox baptisms, and so forth. None of the seven major councils, or “general councils,” was held in…
Who was Flavius Josephus?
Since their release in the first century AD, the writings of Flavius Josephus have become a primary source of Judeo-Christian history. According to The Life of Flavius Josephus, Josephus “was born to Matthias in the first year of the reign of Caius Caesar” (1:5), being AD 37. At “fourteen years of age, [he] was commended…
What is The City of God?
The City of God is a book written by St. Augustine of Hippo between the years 413 and 426. Also known as De Civitate Dei, The City of God is widely considered Augustine’s greatest work. He wrote the book in response to the charge by the Romans that the sack of Rome by the Visigoth…
What is the Apostles’ Creed?
The Apostles’ Creed is not found in the Bible. The Apostles’ Creed was not written by the apostles. Rather, it was written at least 150 years after the apostles had all died. It is called the Apostles’ Creed because it is supposed to be a record of what the apostles taught. The Apostles’ Creed is…
What does it mean that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”?
The second-century church father Tertullian lived in Carthage, North Africa, when persecution of Christians was at its apex. In those days, the blood of martyrs soaked the earth as believers were fed to the lions, beaten, whipped, sawed in half, put to death by sword, burned in the fire, and chained in prisons. Tertullian maintained…
What is Donatism?
Donatism was a heretical sect of Christianity that challenged the established church in the fourth century, as Catholicism was on the rise. Donatism, which began in North Africa, taught that Christians were called to asceticism and personal purity and that holiness was proved in one’s faithfulness in enduring persecution. Those whose faith wavered under threat…
What is the book known as Apostolic Constitutions?
The Apostolic Constitutions is an early Christian instruction manual for worship, doctrine, and practice. It claims an illustrious constellation of authors—all twelve apostles (Matthias replacing Judas), James, and Paul—and tradition claims the work was compiled and edited by Clement of Rome. However, the Apostolic Constitutions is pseudepigraphal, written, compiled, and redacted by an anonymous author…
Who was Martin of Tours?
Martin of Tours (335–397) was the Bishop of Tours in Gaul (modern France) and became the patron saint of France. He was the first non-martyr to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Much of what we know of Martin comes from the writings of Sulpicius Severus, who is said to have known…
What happened at the Second Council of Constantinople?
In AD 553, the fifth ecumenical council of the Christian church assembled by decree of Emperor Justinian and led by Eutychus, patriarch of Constantinople. Known as the Second Council of Constantinople, Pope Vigilius of Rome, who had been summoned to Constantinople against his will, showed his displeasure by taking sanctuary in a church for more…
What impact did Marcus Aurelius have on Christian history?
Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (AD 121—180) was a Roman emperor (161—180) and Stoic philosopher. He may be best known in pop culture as the father of the villainous emperor Commodus, the antagonist in the 2000 film Gladiator. He is known in other circles as the author of Meditations, a guide to self-improvement based on…