The History of the Christian Church - 2000 Years of Christian Thought.

Jeremy
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A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of it's greatest thinkers.Season 1 – A.D. 1 – A.D. 500   Plato and Greek philosophy. Apostolic fathers Justin Martyr Irenaeus  Clement of Alexandria Origin Cyprian Eusebius of Caesarea. Council of Nicaea Athanasies. Ephraim the Syrian. The Cappadocian fathers. The Council of Constantinople Ambrose John Chrysostom. Jerome. Augustine Cyril of Alexandria. The Council of Ephesus Theodor of Cyrus Leo the great. The Council of Chelsea and. The Apostles Creed.  

  1. A History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 4 (Part 32) Gregory the Great -Shepherd of a Collapsing World.

    FEB 1

    A History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 4 (Part 32) Gregory the Great -Shepherd of a Collapsing World.

    Send us a text When Gregory the Great became bishop of Rome at the end of the sixth century, the Western world was pretty much in ruins and standing on the edge of an era that would become known as the Dark Ages. The Roman Empire in the West had collapsed. Cities were crumbling. Plagues swept through the population. Invasions came not in isolation, but in waves. Civil authority was weak, unreliable, and sometimes absent altogether. and into that chaos stepped Gregory. He never sought power. In fact, he tried to flee it. Gregory preferred the quiet life of a monk to the burden of public leadership. Yet history would remember him as one of the most influential figures of the early medieval Church—the man who more than any other bridged the ancient world and the medieval West. In this episode, we’ll explore Gregory’s life, his writings, and his lasting influence on Western Christianity. We’ll see how he helped shape what would later become medieval spirituality, missions, church leadership, and even the way pastors understand their calling, a way in which we still understand it today.  So, today we’ll ask the question: What can Gregory still teach the modern Church about humility, authority, and faithfulness in uncertain times? Because Gregory the Great reminds us that sometimes the most important theologians are not those who build systematic theologies—but those who quietly keep the flame of faith burning when the night grows long and all around them things are going cold… Support the show

    29 min
  2. The History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 3 (Part 31) The Council of Orange (529) The Triumph of Grace.

    JAN 1

    The History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 3 (Part 31) The Council of Orange (529) The Triumph of Grace.

    Send us a text In the year 529, long after the fall of Rome and amid the turmoil of a fractured Europe, a small gathering of bishops met in the southern town of Orange. Their purpose? To settle one of the most important theological questions in Christian history: Is salvation the work of God alone, or do we play a part in earning it? In this episode, I explore the dramatic story of The Council of Orange — how it stood between the extremes of fatalism and self-salvation, and how it reaffirmed the gospel of grace first proclaimed by Augustine and Paul. We’ll discover how this quiet council helped to shape the Western church’s understanding of original sin, free will, and divine grace — truths that would later echo through the Reformation and remain vital for us today. Key themes: Grace as the first and final cause of salvation The ongoing influence of Augustine’s theology The rejection of Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism Why the Council of Orange still matters for the modern church Takeaway: Even in the Dark Ages, God was at work. The Council of Orange reminds us that grace is not a doctrine to be debated — it’s the heartbeat of the Christian life. Support the show

    23 min
  3. The History of the Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 2 (Part 30) Boethius – Christianity in Conversation with Philosophy.

    12/01/2025

    The History of the Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 2 (Part 30) Boethius – Christianity in Conversation with Philosophy.

    Send us a text In this episode we meet Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius — a Roman scholar, philosopher, and Christian who lived at the twilight of the ancient world. From his prison cell, awaiting execution under Theodoric the Ostrogoth, Boethius wrote The Consolation of Philosophy, one of the most influential works in Western history. This episode explores the life, context, and thought of Boethius — a man standing between two worlds: the fading classical order of Rome and the rising Christian civilization of medieval Europe. Through the figure of Lady Philosophy, Boethius sought comfort in reason, providence, and virtue. But as we’ll see, the book also reveals the limits of reason and the longing for the fuller revelation found only in Christ. Join us as we consider: ·         How Boethius bridged the gap between Plato and the early Church Fathers ·         Why The Consolation of Philosophy shaped medieval theology for centuries ·         The tension between philosophical reason and Christian revelation ·         What Boethius’s search for peace teaches us about faith in times of suffering ·         The story of Boethius reminds us that philosophy may point the way to truth — but only grace can open the gate. Support the show

    25 min
  4. The History of the Christian Church (Season 3, Episode 1 - Part 29) The Medieval West. 500-1500 A.D.

    11/01/2025

    The History of the Christian Church (Season 3, Episode 1 - Part 29) The Medieval West. 500-1500 A.D.

    Send us a text Episode Notes:  The History of the Christian Church – Season 3, Episode 1 (Part 29) Title: The Medieval West: 500–1500 A.D. When you think of the Middle Ages, what comes to mind? Knights in shining armour? Castles and crusades? Or perhaps plagues and superstition? In this opening episode of Season 3, we step into the thousand-year story of the Western Church during the so-called "Dark Ages."  We’ll trace how the collapse of the Roman Empire gave way to chaos and invasion, but also how the monasteries preserved learning and kept faith alive. We’ll meet thinkers like Anselm, Abelard, and Aquinas who wrestled with the relationship between faith and reason. And we’ll see why this long, often-neglected period still speaks powerfully to our questions today. Season 3 begins here: The Medieval West, 500–1500 A.D. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why the "Dark Ages" weren’t completely dark.How monasteries became oases of faith and learning.The rise of scholastic theology and the new role of reason.The clash—and attempted harmony—between philosophy and revelation.Why the medieval wrestle with faith and reason still matters for us today.Support the show

    23 min

  5. 10/02/2025

    The History of the Christian Church (Part 28) The Eastern Confession of Cyril Lucaris & The Synod of Jerusalem

    Send us a text Welcome to this final episode in our season on the history of the Eastern Church. Today, we arrive at the threshold of the modern era, where the clash of ideas between East and West is no longer only about emperors, councils, and icons, but about doctrine itself. In the seventeenth century, the Orthodox world faced one of its most profound internal challenges when Cyril Lucaris—Patriarch of Constantinople—penned what came to be known as The Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith. The response came swiftly and decisively in The Confession of Dositheus—issued at the Synod of Jerusalem in 1672. This was no mild correction, but a thundering declaration that Orthodoxy would remain firmly opposed to Protestant innovations, reaffirming the authority of tradition, the necessity of the sacraments, and the enduring role of the Church’s magic and mystery. In this episode, we’ll trace the dramatic story of these two rival confessions, explore what was really at stake, and reflect on how these texts reveal the deep fissures and convictions of a church caught between East and West. And, as always, we’ll ask the question: What can I, as an evangelical Christian, learn from this moment in history today? Support the show

    35 min
  6. The History of the Christian Church. (Part 27). Finding God in the Silence. Gregory Palamas.

    09/01/2025

    The History of the Christian Church. (Part 27). Finding God in the Silence. Gregory Palamas.

    Send us a text Episode Notes: Finding God in the Silence: Gregory Palamas In this episode of the History of the Christian Church podcast, we turn to the 14th century and meet one of the most influential voices of Eastern Christianity: Gregory Palamas. A monk, mystic, and defender of Hesychasm, Palamas taught that the path to God is found not only in theology and doctrine, but in prayer, silence, and communion with the divine. His distinction between the “essence” and “energies” of God became a cornerstone of Orthodox theology. But how should evangelical Christians view Palamas today? Can we learn from his emphasis on prayer and communion with God while still holding firmly to the sufficiency of Scripture and the finished work of Christ? Join us as we explore his life, his teaching, and why he still matters. Support the show

    21 min
  7. The History of the Christian Church (Part 26) Symeon – Having a Personal Relationship With God.

    08/01/2025

    The History of the Christian Church (Part 26) Symeon – Having a Personal Relationship With God.

    Send us a text 🎙️ Welcome In today’s episode — Symeon: Having a Personal Relationship With God — we turn to one of the most radical and profound voices of the 10th century: Symeon the New Theologian. Long before the Reformation, Symeon challenged the formalism of the institutional church, insisting that every believer is called to a personal, experiential relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. He was exiled, rejected, and branded controversial — yet his writings, visions, and hymns continue to ignite hearts even today. Join us as we unpack the life, teachings, and legacy of a mystic who burned with divine love and called the Church back to its first love. ✍️ Episode Notes Title: Symeon – Having a Personal Relationship With God 🔑 Key Themes: The necessity of direct encounter with God in the Christian lifeSymeon’s teaching on the visible light of divine presenceHis critique of spiritual formalism and institutional complacencyThe tension between mystical experience and biblical authorityRelevance of Symeon’s passion for holiness, repentance, and transformation🧠 Reflect: Do I seek a living relationship with Christ, or just religious routine?How can spiritual experience be pursued without neglecting Scripture and sound doctrine?What does it mean to live a life marked by repentance, holiness, and intimacy with God?Thanks for listening! Subscribe, share, and stay with us as we continue our journey through Christian history — rediscovering voices that shaped the Church and still speak today. Let’s not settle for religion without fire. Let’s pursue God Himself. Support the show

    31 min

  8. 07/01/2025

    The History of the Christian Church (Part 25) Three More Councils.

    Send us a text Welcome In today’s episode, we’re stepping once again into the drama of early church history — a time when emperors, bishops, and theologians gathered not only to settle fierce theological debates but to shape the foundations of Christian belief for centuries to come. We’ll explore three pivotal church councils that took place in the great imperial cities of Constantinople and Nicaea. Each one left a lasting legacy on what Christians believe, how we speak of Christ, and even how we worship Him. We begin with the often-overlooked Second Council of Constantinople in 553 AD — a council caught in the aftershocks of Chalcedon as it tried to balance orthodoxy with political unity. Next, we turn to the Third Council of Constantinople in 681, which tackled a crucial Christological question: Did Christ have one will or two? Finally, we arrive at the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 — where the Church faced a different kind of controversy: not over Christ’s nature, but over the role of sacred images in Christian worship. So, what do these three councils teach us? Together, these councils remind us that Christian faith is not a static creed but a living, often contested, conversation — shaped by Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and tested over time. Some of the outcomes were faithful and helpful. Others raise serious concerns. They show a church striving to be faithful — often succeeding in doctrine, but failing in method. They reveal moments of theological clarity, but also times when politics, tradition, and coercion overshadowed the Word of God. But we also remember that councils are not infallible. Scripture alone remains our final authority. And our worship must be in spirit and truth — not shaped by images or state power, but by God’s revealed Word. Thanks for listening. In this episode, we’ve journeyed from 553 to 787 AD — and seen how the early church tried to clarify the faith. Some of their conclusions still serve the global church today. Others, we must test — and at times, reject — in the light of Scripture. Support the show

    28 min
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A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of it's greatest thinkers.Season 1 – A.D. 1 – A.D. 500   Plato and Greek philosophy. Apostolic fathers Justin Martyr Irenaeus  Clement of Alexandria Origin Cyprian Eusebius of Caesarea. Council of Nicaea Athanasies. Ephraim the Syrian. The Cappadocian fathers. The Council of Constantinople Ambrose John Chrysostom. Jerome. Augustine Cyril of Alexandria. The Council of Ephesus Theodor of Cyrus Leo the great. The Council of Chelsea and. The Apostles Creed.  

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