FACTS

Stephen Boyce
  • 4.8 (71)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

FACTS is a podcast that was started by Dr. Stephen Boyce from Greenville, South Carolina. The primary focus of this program is to cover historical content about the early church Fathers, the Apocryphal accounts, the canon, textual criticism, and the scripture itself. Most episodes are co-hosted by Pat May, among other special guests who are invited on the program. For those who would like to donate to our podcast, here is the link. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your all of your support. Grace and Peace https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

  1. 7H AGO

    Was the Pope Hidden in Ignatius’ Letter to Rome?

    Did Ignatius of Antioch believe there was a bishop in Rome? One of the most common arguments against early Roman primacy is that Ignatius never explicitly mentions a bishop in his Letter to the Romans while repeatedly emphasizing bishops everywhere else. But is the argument really that simple? In this episode, Stephen Boyce examines the historical context surrounding Ignatius’ journey to Rome under arrest during the reign of Trajan, the unique language Ignatius uses for the Roman Church, and whether the silence surrounding the bishop of Rome may actually reflect the dangerous political realities facing Christians in the imperial capital. We will also examine:• Ignatius’ famous “presiding” language• The significance of Peter and Paul in Romans 4• Whether Rome already possessed a recognized authority distinct from other churches• The possible identity of the bishop of Rome during Ignatius’ imprisonment• Why Ignatius treats the Roman Church differently from every other church in his corpus• Whether the “no bishop mentioned” argument creates more problems than it solves Was the pope hidden in Ignatius’ Letter to Rome? Or does the letter actually undermine later claims about Roman primacy? Join us as we walk carefully through the historical, textual, and theological evidence surrounding one of the most debated letters in early Christianity. If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 My paper on Ignatius: https://www.academia.edu/129081682/The_Quest_for_Ignatius_of_Antioch_Untangling_History_and_Tradition #IgnatiusOfAntioch #ChurchHistory #JamesWhite #JoeHeschmeyer #Papacy #EarlyChurch #ChristianHistory #Catholic #Orthodox #Patristics #Episcopacy #Rome

    55 min

  2. MAY 2

    The Making of the Rosary

    What is the Rosary—and where did it actually come from? In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce and Pat May break down the real history behind one of the most misunderstood devotions in Christianity. Was the Rosary invented in the Middle Ages? Did Saint Dominic really receive it in a vision? And how do the The Gospel According to Luke, early monastic prayer, and centuries of Christian tradition all come together to form what we know today? We walk through the development step-by-step—from the Desert Fathers and repetitive prayer, to the formation of the Hail Mary, to the rise of the mysteries, and the global spread of the Rosary through figures like Pope Pius V and Saint Louis de Montfort. This isn’t surface-level history. This is the making of the Rosary. If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #Rosary #ChurchHistory #Catholic #FACTSPodcast #StephenBoyce #PatMay

    1h 10m

  3. APR 25

    Was Augustine Catholic or Calvinist?

    Did John Calvin faithfully follow Augustine of Hippo, or did he selectively use him for Reformation purposes? In this episode of FACTS, we examine the real historical relationship between Calvin and Augustine on grace, justification, the Church, apostolic succession, the Eucharist, prayer for the dead, and purgatory. Many claim Augustine was basically Protestant before the Reformation. But is that anachronistic? The better question may be whether Calvin was truly a good Augustinian. We walk through direct quotations, historical context, and where Calvin aligns with Augustine—and where he sharply departs. Topics include: Augustine on grace and free will Calvin on predestination and human inability Justification: made righteous or counted righteous Authority of the Catholic Church The Eucharist and sacramental realism Prayer for the dead Purgatorial purification Was Augustine closer to Catholicism or Calvinism? If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #Augustine #JohnCalvin #Reformation #ChurchHistory #Catholic #Protestant #Calvinism #Theology #Eucharist #Purgatory #EarlyChurch #FACTSPodcast

    1h 13m

  4. APR 18

    John Calvin’s Dilemma: The Church is Ancient, Universal… and ‘Corrupt’?

    In this episode of the FACTS Podcast, Stephen Boyce and Pat May take a deep dive into a powerful 1551 letter from John Calvin—and uncover a major tension at the heart of the Reformation narrative.Calvin argues that the Church needed “reformation,” pointing to widespread practices like prayers for the dead and the intercession of saints as corruptions. But there’s a problem…He also admits those same beliefs are:1. deeply rooted2. widely spread3. long establishedSo which is it?Stephen and Pat walk through Calvin’s own words line by line and ask the question many avoid:If these practices were everywhere and early… how can they be dismissed as later corruptions?In this episode, we cover:• Calvin’s letter to the English crown and why it matters• The historical reality of early Christian practices• Whether “reform” assumes a lost Church• Prayers for the dead in the early Church• The intercession of saints—biblical and historical foundations• Why this debate ultimately comes down to authority and ecclesiologyThis isn’t just about Calvin—it’s about the credibility of the early Church, the development of doctrine, and whether Christianity can sustain the idea of a total early corruption.If the Church was wrong early… what does that mean for the Bible itself?Join us as we break it all down.Drop your thoughts in the comments:Can something be ancient, universal… and still be a corruption?If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7#FACTSPodcast #ChurchHistory #JohnCalvin #Catholic #Protestant #Apologetics

    1h 17m

  5. APR 10

    Anglican Patrimony Is Catholic Again: England’s Lost Tradition Returns Through the Ordinariate

    The Vatican’s 2026 document on Anglican patrimony reveals how elements of the Anglican tradition are now fully lived within the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate.In this episode, Stephen and Pat explore the history of Christianity in England—from the mission of Gregory the Great and the See of Canterbury, through the Reformation, to the modern restoration of Anglican patrimony under Anglicanorum Coetibus.Discover what was lost, what has been preserved, and why the Ordinariate matters for understanding unity, tradition, and the nature of the Church.Here is the link to the statement from the Vatican: https://www.doctrinafidei.va/en/documenti/characteristics-of-the-anglican-heritage-as-lived-in-the-ordinar.htmlIf you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

    1h 25m

  6. APR 3

    From Supper to Resurrection: Walking Through Holy Week

    From the Upper Room to the Empty Tomb, Holy Week reveals the full story of redemption. In this episode, we walk through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday—unpacking the institution of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the Cross, the silence of the tomb, and the victory of the Resurrection. This is not just history—it is the Gospel in motion.If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

    30 min

  7. MAR 28

    Septuagint vs Hebrew Bible: The Old Testament You Thought You Knew

    What if the Old Testament you grew up reading isn’t as fixed as you think? In this episode, we dive into the real evidence behind the Septuagint (LXX), the Masoretic Text (MT), and the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS)—and what they reveal about the state of Scripture in the first century. From Goliath’s height to the missing verses of Esther, from Genesis chronologies to Stephen’s speech in Acts of the Apostles, we uncover a world where multiple textual traditions existed side by side—and sometimes disagreed. Was the Septuagint just a translation… or does it preserve an older form of the Hebrew text? Did the New Testament authors rely on a different Bible than the one we use today? And what do the Dead Sea Scrolls actually prove? This episode challenges the assumption that the Old Testament was ever a single, settled text—and shows why that matters for how we understand Scripture today. If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

    1h 2m

  8. MAR 21

    The Jewish Canon Wasn’t Settled—Here’s the Evidence

    Most people assume that the Jewish canon of Scripture was already fixed and universally agreed upon in the time of Jesus—but the historical evidence tells a very different story. In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce and Pat May take a deep dive into the world of Second Temple Judaism to examine what different Jewish groups actually believed about Scripture. From the Pharisees and Sadducees to the Qumran community (Essenes), we uncover a landscape of textual diversity, competing authorities, and a canon that was still developing. Did the Sadducees really only accept the Torah? Were the Pharisees already using the full Hebrew Bible? Why were books like Enoch and Jubilees preserved at Qumran? And what does all of this mean for how we understand the Old Testament today? We’ll also explore the role of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the rise of rabbinic Judaism after 70 AD, and how the idea of a “closed canon” emerged over time—not before Christ. If you’ve ever been told that “the Jews had a settled canon,” this episode will challenge that assumption and walk through the actual historical evidence. Join us as we separate tradition from history and take a closer look at the formation of the Hebrew Scriptures. #DeadSeaScrolls #BiblicalCanon #OldTestament #SecondTempleJudaism #MasoreticText #Septuagint #BibleHistory #ChurchHistory #Apologetics #FACTSPodcast If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

    58 min
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4.8
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

FACTS is a podcast that was started by Dr. Stephen Boyce from Greenville, South Carolina. The primary focus of this program is to cover historical content about the early church Fathers, the Apocryphal accounts, the canon, textual criticism, and the scripture itself. Most episodes are co-hosted by Pat May, among other special guests who are invited on the program. For those who would like to donate to our podcast, here is the link. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your all of your support. Grace and Peace https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Information

  • Creator
    Stephen Boyce
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stephen Boyce
  • Show Website
    FACTS

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