What should we learn from Christian martyrs?
A Christian martyr is someone who died for his or her faith, rather than renounce Christ. Ever since Stephen was stoned to death outside Jerusalem (Acts 7), Christians around the world have suffered and died for the sake of Christ. There are many lessons we can learn from the testimony of the martyrs. Each person…
Who was Papias of Hierapolis?
Little is known about the life and death of Papias (c. AD 60–130) other than he was the bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor (now modern Turkey), and he recorded details regarding Jesus and the apostles in five books entitled Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord. Unfortunately, Papias’s books are now lost except for…
What is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (or Church of the Resurrection) is a church and shrine in Jerusalem that is supposedly built around the empty tomb of Jesus. It is possible that this church is built on the original tomb site, but it is also possible that the site of the tomb has been lost…
How did the apostle John die?
We know that the apostle John was exiled for his faith late in life (Revelation 1:9). The Bible does not give us details on how the apostle John died, but tradition gives us a few theories. The most plausible theory of John’s death states that John was arrested in Ephesus and faced martyrdom when his…
Who was Athanasius?
Athanasius’ fight against heresy in the fourth century is a wonderful example of contending for “the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 1:3). Athanasius was born around AD 298 and lived in Alexandria, Egypt, the chief center of learning of the Roman Empire. In AD 313 Emperor Constantine’s Edict…
Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
The Cappadocian Fathers were three important fourth-century theologians born in Cappadocia, now modern Turkey. The three were responsible for precisely defining the doctrine of the Trinity and clarifying the errors of semi-Arianism. The Cappadocian Fathers are Basil the Great (330–379), bishop of Caesarea; Basil’s younger brother Gregory of Nyssa (c. 332–395), bishop of Nyssa; and…
Who was Gregory of Nazianzus?
Gregory of Nazianzus (330–389) was one of the Cappadocian Fathers, along with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Gregory of Nazianzus was a religious hermit, theologian, and defender of orthodoxy. He was born in Arianzus, which is a small village near Nazianzus, a town in the territory or modern-day western Turkey. He was born…
What is the Martyrdom of Polycarp?
Polycarp (AD 69—156 or 157) was the bishop of Smyrna and one of the last living disciples of John the apostle. The only writing by Polycarp that has survived is his epistle to the Philippians. The Martyrdom of Polycarp is a letter written by one of Polycarp’s followers to the church at Smyrna where Polycarp…
What was the apostolic age?
The apostolic age is the initial formation, growth, and development stage of the early church. It is directly tied to the leadership of the twelve apostles. The apostolic age was characterized by great signs that validated the message of the apostles (Acts 2:43; 6:8; 8:6, 13; 14:8–10; 15:12; 20:7–12; 28:3–6). The apostolic age began after…
Who was Ambrosiaster?
Ambrosiaster, or Pseudo-Ambrosius, is the name ascribed to the unknown author of Commentaria in Epistolas Beati Pauli, an early commentary on the writings of the apostle Paul. The work had been attributed to St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, who died in 397; however, in 1527, the esteemed scholar, theologian, and philosopher Desiderius Erasmus questioned Ambrose’s…