Use this tag for questions about the history of Christianity and the church.
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1answer
37 views
Status of the New Testament in the Church of the East in the ancient times
Which books from the current New Testament were used in the ancient Church of the East in, say, Mongolia in the days of Genghis Kahn?
The books in the New Testament were fixed after the Church of ...
7
votes
1answer
207 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 ...
12
votes
1answer
312 views
Does Joseph Smith fail the test of a prophet? [closed]
The test of a prophet.
Deuteronomy 18 NKJV
21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the
LORD has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the
LORD, ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Did Arminias believe in Adam's actual guilt imputed against all humanity?
All early reformers believed in the imputation of 'actual guilt' as far as I know. I am fairly certain, however, that Arminians of the 16th century did not believe in the 'imputation of guilt' as ...
3
votes
2answers
306 views
For what human reason was Christ crucified?
I know that from God the Father's perspective, Christ had to die for the sins of the elect.
However, from a secular perspective, why was Christ crucified?
I know that the Jews were unhappy with ...
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
126 views
Resources to learn about Bible canonization
I am interested in researching the history behind the Bible's canonization. I am particularly interested in writings of early historians, or books that compile facts from these historians in an ...
3
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1answer
77 views
The Servetus Controversy: What was Calvin's involvement?
I recently watched this YT video that talks about Calvin and Servetus.
The "Servetus Controversy" tells of a man named Michael Servetus who was burned at the stake for heresy -- not by Roman Catholic ...
4
votes
2answers
255 views
From where did the Book of Abraham come and how did it become part of LDS Scripture?
According to the answers to this question, the Pearl of Great Price contains a work of antiquity called the Book of Abraham. Where exactly did the Book of Abraham come from and how did it become ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Is it true the term 'pontifex maximus' was the name of the high priest of the Roman Cult of Emperor Worship, before being adopted by the Pope?
This has always seemed strange to me that the Pope would not want to distance himself with emperor worship as much as possible. If pointifex maximus was a term used by the government of Rome in its ...
4
votes
1answer
232 views
From where did the Pearl of Great Price come and how did it become recognized as Scripture in the LDS church?
The LDS church recognizes, among other writing, a book called The Pearl of Great Price. What is the origins of this work and how did it become accepted as Scripture by the LDS church? Also, do any ...
4
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1answer
102 views
Was the Apostolic Tradition of rejecting soldiers from the church ‘permanent’, or was this ‘tradition' briefly enforced?
In the Bible Jesus encounters Roman soldiers but does not tell them to 'quit their day job'. Jesus encountered a centurion with 'great faith' as recorded in Matthew 8. Peter as well baptized a ...
4
votes
1answer
160 views
Does any church follow the Apostolic Tradition of Baptism ‘in the nude’, or was that never the tradition?
The Apostolic Tradition was the work of Hippolytus, written somewhere between 215 and 400 AD. Recent scholars seem to take the later date (source). The whole writing can be found here: Apostolic ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
251 views
Diocletian's four decrees & Persecution of christians
I am looking for a link or reference to the four decrees from Diocletian in 303 re the Roman Persecution?
5
votes
1answer
115 views
Who in the fourth century had milk instead of wine at communion?
While reading up on intinction I found a reference to an early practice of using milk instead of wine at communion. This was condemned in a decree of 340AD by Pope Saint Julius I:
For we have ...
9
votes
3answers
197 views
Biblical Prophecy and Fulfillment
I often hear the argument that the veracity of Christ's claims in the gospels can be considered reliable based upon two things: miracles and fulfilled prophecy. This pre-supposes the validity of the ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
208 views
How should a Christian deal with destructive higher criticism of the Bible?
In recent times authorship of Biblical books has been called into question by modern scholars.
It is believed that Isaiah didn't write Isaiah, John didn't write John, Matthew didn't write Matthew, ...
2
votes
2answers
302 views
Old testament accuracy of God's Word
As has been discussed before there are differences between the old and new testament.
What I wish to know is this: How accurate is the word of God written in the old testament? How much of it is/was ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Historicity of which Biblical characters is recognized by Archaeology/History?
I know that Historicity of certain Old testament Kings is recognized.
However some like Jonah or Job aren't know to fields of Archaeology or History.
What information, evidence do we have and for ...
19
votes
5answers
433 views
What is the history of the concept of a “personal relationship with Jesus”?
It is common these days to hear questions like:
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?
Or...
The most important thing is your personal relationship with Jesus.
The Bible never ...
5
votes
1answer
171 views
Why did the Commonwealth Parliament ban theatre?
I've known for a while that theatre was banned under Cromwell, because the Puritans disapproved of it. What was their objection?
Wikipedia adds this information:
Pastimes such as the theatre and ...
8
votes
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?
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
65 views
What biblical and historical support is there for the practice of child communion.
About seven years ago my wife and I (who are childless) left our old church and set out to find the best church we could in the area. We ended up in a church that practices paedo (child) communion. ...
10
votes
3answers
171 views
How did the monastic tradition evolve?
In the 4th Century there was a strong monastic tradition, which usually involved living in solitude or small groups in the wilderness. By the 12th Century the monastic life was being lived in large ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
What was the debate at the Reformation concerning “non extra carnem” vs. “extra calvinisticum”?
In the debate concerning the "hypostatic union" and the "kenosis" the Lutheran church stood opposed to the majority position. I can not seem to find a good resource to explain the distinctives of the ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
What is known (and/or alleged) about the moral character of the 12 disciples?
I've been following some (often less than civil) conversations about the character of pastors lately in which how morally upstanding a church leader should be expected to be is questioned. At several ...
5
votes
1answer
105 views
What was the Christian response to death-loving practices of Ancient Roman society?
In Ancient Rome, gladiators would fight to the death for the amusement of the crowd. What did Christians do to stop this?
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2answers
187 views
How is it that sinful people who do not believe, still get the blessings of the Lord?
Why do great things happen to unbelievers and even bad people?
In Church there is talk about blessings of the Lord for those who love Him, etc.
But what about those that are blessed that don't love ...
7
votes
1answer
169 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 ...
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 ...
7
votes
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
219 views
Why and when did allegorical interpretations of Scripture lose their appeal?
Gregory of Nyssa's book The Life of Moses is, if nothing else, a very interesting read. He goes through Moses' account in Exodus and ascribes spiritual meanings to every little detail, although it is ...
10
votes
1answer
156 views
What is the basis for the solicitation of prayers from dead saints?
How did the practice of soliciting the prayers of dead saints originate? Is it in the bible? The apocrypha? A papal decree?
On a side note, which groups practice this type of prayer?
I am ...
3
votes
3answers
203 views
Exclusion of some people from Heaven
Will Jews, Buddhists, and all others who truly believe in God but not that Jesus is God, and who adhered to the Ten Commandments and who have done charitable acts throughout their lives,
be excluded ...
6
votes
2answers
584 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
205 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
130 views
What did Brigham Young teach regarding Blood Atonement, and is that doctrine still held today in the LDS/Mormon Church?
Brigham Young taught the doctrine of Blood Atonement that indicated the blood of Christ was insufficient to provide forgiveness for some sins. What are the specifics regarding the doctrine of Blood ...
9
votes
1answer
154 views
How long has the church been observing Lent?
At what point in church history did the Lenten season become a significant part of the church year?
Obviously Easter came first, but I don't see the biblical basis for 40 days of preparation for ...
10
votes
4answers
497 views
Are Dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?
In response to this question How does the bible explain the existence of fossils that are millions of years old?
I'm curious to know if Dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible.
I understand that the ...
12
votes
4answers
212 views
What evidence do we have today about Christian groups not represented at the first four ecumenical councils?
Were there any Christian groups that existed during the time of the first four ecumenical councils and that were not represented at them either because they chose not to attend or they were not ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
Why did John Wycliffe oppose papal authority in the 14th century?
He's been called the "Eosphoros of the Reformation", but how did he come to realise that it was the Bible which spoke against papal authority above government authority?
7
votes
2answers
191 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
203 views
What is the Biblical and historical basis for Christian pacifism?
My understanding is that early Christians were generally pacifists. Today (at least in the U.S.) Christian pacifists are a bit hard to come by. Many quote Romans 13:1-3 to support Christian ...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
Voltaire and his house being used by the biblical society?
His there any valid source that one of Voltaire house have been used by the Bible Society? I heard many times the illustration, but I never read a valid source of this.
10
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3answers
186 views
3
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1answer
65 views
Which languages did Huldrych Zwingli know? [closed]
Which languages did Huldrych Zwingli know?
As far as I know, he knew Latin and, of course, he knew his own mother tongue (which was German or Romanch?), but did he know some other languages? I am ...
