Use this tag for questions about the history of Christianity and the church.
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549 views
Where did Baptists get their name and what do they believe?
Where and when did the Baptists get their name and what do they believe that sets them apart from the rest of Protestant denominations?
I realize there are different divisions among Baptists as well, ...
9
votes
1answer
170 views
Origin of “The Marks of the True Church”
In Reformed Theology, "the marks of a true church" are often delineated, to the effect of:
Church discipline
Teaching/preaching
Administration of the sacraments
(These are the marks often denoted ...
9
votes
1answer
167 views
Where was Jesus' tomb?
We can be pretty sure it isn't in Japan. The two most referenced sites are:
The Aedicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and
The Garden Tomb.
However, both stake their claims by virtue of ...
8
votes
4answers
195 views
Why is the KJV frequently said to be the “true” translation?
This question actually centers on the KJV translation itself. It's not hard to find a church in America (particularly in the south) where they believe that the KJV is the one true translation and that ...
8
votes
4answers
352 views
Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?
I cannot find in the New Testament an obligation on Christians to tithe 10% of their income. Instead I read that it is up the individual to decide:
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV1984)
Each man should ...
8
votes
4answers
343 views
Why did Christianity survive at all?
I was reading about ... hold on, what was I reading about? Nevermind, I was URL surfing. Jumping around from one link to another I somehow got to this -
He [Nero] was known for having captured ...
8
votes
3answers
150 views
Writing / recording capabilities around Jesus's time
I'm wondering if there is any historical information or references that describe the ability to write and record information around the time of Jesus and his disciples. I.e. to what extent were they ...
8
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3answers
123 views
Are there any Biblical prophecies that were understood before they were fulfilled?
In a recent discussion on this site, someone told me that the nature of Biblical Prophecy is such that it cannot be understood prior to its fulfillment; that this is essentially the point of a ...
8
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4answers
255 views
Ancient nations in a young earth
How do "Biblical literalists" and other Young Earth Creationists account for the fact that some cultures have been continuously measuring the years for almost five millenia?
8
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3answers
103 views
Why did the conclave elect Pope Stephen I, when he died prior to taking office?
According to Wikipedia, Pope Stephen I was elected to the papacy in March of 752 A.D., but died a few days later, prior to being installed. As I understand it, Catholic teaching indicates that God's ...
8
votes
1answer
47 views
Where did the dates at the bottom of the pages in the Book of Mormon come from?
From these images of an original copy of the Book of Mormon, it appears that the dates and chapter summaries that appear in modern printings do not appear in the original.
When exactly did these ...
8
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2answers
149 views
According to reformed theology, why are certain important doctrines not “obvious”? [i.e. why does the Westminister Confession even exist?]
Consider the important doctrines of:
divinity of Christ
doctrine of Trinity
doctrine of predestination
Consider in general, that the Westminister Confession is shorter than most books of the ...
8
votes
1answer
112 views
How many witnesses are there who physically saw and/or touched the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was reportedly translated?
I understand the Book of Mormon has a list of witnesses. However, I have heard that these witnesses may not have actually ever seen the gold plates that contained the original manuscripts for the ...
8
votes
2answers
355 views
Is it true that early Christians were baptised naked?
I was told that people were baptised naked in the early Christian church. Is this true? If so, could you provide references please? I would like to investigate this for myself.
Regards,
Walid
8
votes
1answer
140 views
Are there any references to “four canonical Gospels” prior to 100 AD?
According to the "Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung" eleven manuscripts of NT are from within the second century alone, which include: P52 (100-150), P90, 104 (2nd century), P66 (c. AD ...
8
votes
1answer
192 views
What are the arguments for the Exodus occuring in 1440BC or 1290BC?
There are two schools of thought on when the Exodus occurred, the "early" date of 1440BC, and the "later" date of 1290BC. How was each date arrived at, and what is the evidence for each?
8
votes
1answer
138 views
When did Christmas (the birth of Christ) first begin as a Christian celebration?
I remember hearing something about a true Saint Nicholas who maybe helped poor children or something, but to be honest, I really don't know much about when Christmas began to be celebrated by ...
8
votes
1answer
271 views
Did the Church Fathers advocate celibacy?
What were the Church Fathers' views on celibacy? Did they see celibacy as a higher or more spiritual calling than marriage? Did they see marriage as incompatible with a spiritual life? Was there ...
8
votes
1answer
174 views
What has the LDS Church (Mormons) historically taught about the Curse of Cain and dark skin?
I have heard that people with black skin had been denied certain things in the Mormon Church until the past 30 years or so and that this has something to do with the Curse of Cain. What has been the ...
8
votes
1answer
56 views
What is the earliest point in history where the cross icon started showing up on artifacts related to Christianity?
I can’t imagine the cross would have become an art-piece while the Romans were still killing Christians. The cross symbol during the persecutions must have in some way seemed similar to the Nazi ...
7
votes
5answers
238 views
Was Jesus a poor man, in economic sense?
I saw a video of Cesar Vidal and he said, that probably, Jesus was a middle-high class in economic sense, during the period of life before public ministry. I need historical references.
7
votes
2answers
211 views
Why are the books of the Protestant Bible in the order that they are in?
I am curious why the books of the Protestant Bible are in the order that they are in?
Someone told me they thought the books were in some sort of chronological order - is that true? (I know the ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Why was Thomas More canonized?
Thomas More has been canonized in 1935 by the Catholic Church. During his chancellorship between 1525 - 1529 in the campaign against the reformation people were killed and tortured in his name, for ...
7
votes
3answers
234 views
What is the historical reason the King James Version was created?
Many years ago, I heard someone say that the KJV came about because King James I wanted a version of the Bible that supported him getting a divorce. Nowadays, I can't help but wonder how true this is. ...
7
votes
3answers
117 views
Was Peter part of a militant sect?
John 18:10 (NLT)
10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.
The pastor at a church I used to go to once said1 that Peter was ...
7
votes
2answers
154 views
History of the “three” wise men
From Matthew 2, NIV:
1bMagi from the east came to Jerusalem...
11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their ...
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votes
3answers
575 views
How was the Old Testament compiled?
While this question is similar to this question, I'm certain the answer will be very different, and far more complex....
How was the Old Testament compiled?
7
votes
2answers
189 views
What was it like in the Temple at the time of Jesus?
In the New Testament, there are many stories of Jesus and the apostles spending time in the Temple teaching and preaching. The apostles also do this after the resurrection.
What was the structure of ...
7
votes
1answer
307 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
7
votes
1answer
54 views
How much time did medieval Christians devote to prayer?
I was critiqued on this answer concerning it taking less time out of the day for someone to be a Muslim than a Christian, and that may be untrue for a majority of Christians today.
But how much ...
7
votes
2answers
147 views
What evidence is there that the Apostle Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin?
I remember hearing someone make the claim that Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin prior to his conversion to Christianity. Is there any evidence for this claim? If so, what is it?
7
votes
1answer
167 views
What was Martin Luther King, Jr.'s understanding of salvation?
I've been reading A Testament of Hope which is a compilation of sermons by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. I also know he's a Baptist. (I even got to stand and preach for a minute in his pulpit last ...
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2answers
189 views
Where do Catholics believe the historical narrative of the Bible begins?
I heard on the Relevant Radio recently that the Genesis account of the deluge is prehistorical. Meaning, it wasn't really recorded in histories the way other more specific accounts of historical ...
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votes
1answer
204 views
How did Christians of WW1/WW2 view the book of Revelation?
I do not know of a single time period where Christians did not believe that "the end time was near."
For many people in the centuries immediately after Christ's death, it's not unthinkable that they ...
6
votes
4answers
225 views
Must a Christian accept the Bible to be infallible and/or inerrant? [closed]
Related question: What is the difference between "infallible" and "inerrant"?
I have heard lists of requirements to be considered Christian; among those, I find these the most ...
6
votes
4answers
240 views
Has God created anything since he rested on the 7th day?
Genesis 2 indicates that on the 7th day after creation God rested.
Genesis 2:1-3 NIV
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast
array.
2 By the seventh day God ...
6
votes
2answers
920 views
Did Paul write other letters that are not in the Bible?
I've heard it said that Paul wrote other letters that didn't make it into the Bible, including at least one more letter to the church at Corinth, and a letter to the church at Laodicea. What is the ...
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6answers
1k views
How does the Bible explain the existence of fossils that are millions of years old? [closed]
People have been finding fossils for many years. Millions of fossils fill museums and storage vaults around the world, and we've yet to find a single one of a human. This suggests that the animals and ...
6
votes
2answers
284 views
What language did Jesus speak?
As a young believer I was quickly turned on to the idea of learning some things about the "original languages" of the Bible. After all, how could you understand John 21:15-17 without understanding ...
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votes
3answers
174 views
What's the deal with oil?
If you look across the Bible, there are many instances where oil is used. The anointing of Saul and David; Jacob pouring oil over the rock where he had his dream of the staircase to heaven(?); Maria ...
6
votes
2answers
109 views
What is the meaning of the question Luther's companions shouted on his deathbed?
In Martin Luther's Biography, In his final hour, Justus Jonas and Michael Coelius who were his companions shouted loudly and asked this question:
"Reverend father, are you ready to die trusting ...
6
votes
2answers
97 views
Has the Church historically considered biblical texts concerning slavery to be transcultural or finite?
How have the Bible's passages concerning slavery been interpreted and applied throughout Christian history, especially passages such as Exodus 21:2-11, Leviticus 25:44-46, and 1 Timothy 6:1-2?
Have ...
6
votes
1answer
202 views
What role did the Donation of Constantine have on the development of the doctrine of Papal supremacy?
In the late Middle Ages, two documents arose which, together, are called the The Donation of Constantine. They made a large number of statements which would have had the effect of making the Pope the ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
Did John Wesley admire and learn from Arminias or did he just have a couple similiar ideas?
I do not know a lot about Wesley, but when I encounter him, I tend to like what he says, even though I am a Calvinist.
On the the other hand when I encounter people arguing for Arminian doctrines in ...
6
votes
1answer
45 views
To what are the scriptures referring when they speak of the books of the “chronicles of the kings”?
In the books of 1 and 2 Kings, there are quite a few places where the author refers to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" or "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel".
...
6
votes
1answer
138 views
Are there any secular historical references to the natural phenomenon that occurred at the crucifixion and resurrection?
The Scriptures record that there was three hours of darkness during the crucifixion of Jesus. This is a pretty significant meteorological event. Furthermore, the morning of Jesus' resurrection, the ...
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votes
2answers
142 views
Was Billy Sunday the first evangelist to equate the “altar call” with salvation?
According to this article from the The Society for Effective Evangelism:
Up until Billy Sunday, altar calls were invitations for seekers to come to an after-meeting or inquiry room where ...
6
votes
1answer
54 views
Were the “prophecies” in Montanism related to the paganistic oracles?
I was reading about Montanism and saw this passage (from Wikipedia):
The Montanist prophets did not speak as messengers of God but were described as possessed by God while being unable to resist.
...
6
votes
2answers
578 views
What does TS Eliot mean by “old dispensation” in The Journey of the Magi?
In T. S. Eliot's poem The Journey of the Magi he's offering a imaginative view into the interior experience of one of the wise men from the East who came to Jesus's birthplace.
The last few lines of ...
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votes
4answers
177 views
How literally is Romans 10:14 supposed to be taken?
I recently learned that St. Augustine held an extremely literal view of a particular verse in Romans...
Romans 10:14 (NLT)
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they ...
