Christian History Magazine’s Post

In this insightful piece, the author reflects on her journey as a Catholic #feminist theologian, grappling with the pressures of empowerment and the desire to do it all. Drawing on #Orthodoxtheology, she explores human finitude not as a limitation but as a gift. Through personal experience and theological reflection, she highlights how Orthodox teachings on the communion of saints and #theosis have deepened her understanding of human limits, offering a more holistic and empowering approach to faith and community. https://lnkd.in/eYQgtMiW

"A proper study of history can keep us rooted in the essentials of our faith: belief in the Triune God and the atoning work of Christ on the cross for our redemption." Read more from President Sunquist on how studying history can inform spiritual development.

New review of John of History, Baptist of Faith. Here's a taste: "The strength of this work lies in its meticulous historical analysis. The author draws upon a wide range of primary sources, including the Synoptic Gospels, the writings of Flavius Josephus, and other ancient texts, to reconstruct a historically grounded portrait of John the Baptist. The book takes care to place John within the social, political, and religious milieu of first-century Judea, exploring how his message of repentance and his practice of baptism resonated with and challenged the Jewish communities of his time. The author employs historical-critical methods with precision, avoiding anachronistic assumptions and focusing on the complexities of the sources. By carefully navigating the differing depictions of John across the Gospels and other early writings, the book sheds light on the tensions between historical memory and theological construction. The result is a balanced portrayal that neither mythologizes John nor reduces him to a mere footnote in the larger narrative of early Christianity..." Read the rest here:

Richard Rohr promotes the view that penal subustitutionary atonement is only a “theory.” A theory of which “the early church had never heard.” 📙The Universal Christ, p.140. Is Rohr accurate when he advocates that the early church did not view Jesus’s crucifixion as atonement for sin? Is it merely a theory invented after the Reformation (as Rohr surmises). Christian theologian and author J. Gresham Machen wrote the following: “And this Bible doctrine [atonement] is not intricate or subtle. In the contrary, though it involves mysteries, it is itself so simple that a child can understand it. ‘We deserved eternal death, but the Lord Jesus, because He loved us, died instead of us on the cross’ - surely there is nothing so very intricate about that. It is not the Bible doctrine of the atonement which is difficult to understand - what are really incomprehensible are the elaborate modern efforts to get rid of the Bible doctrine in the interests of human pride.” 📙Christianity & Liberalism, p. 100. What speaks the loudest on this topic, however, are the Scriptures. The earliest eyewitness accounts were documented within only 20-30 years of Jesus’s earthly ministry, death around 33AD, and subsequent bodily resurrection. This is incredible news when referring to ancient documents! For example, the first written copy of Caesar’s Gaelic Wars had a time gap of ~950 years! (1) These historical accounts provide evidence that the early church viewed Jesus’s atonement as foundational to Christianity. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 📕 And if Paul’s testimony wasn’t enough, Jesus said the following: “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28 📕 Compelling evidence that the earliest followers of Jesus viewed his death as an payment for our sins is found in first Corinthians 15. Paul penned a creed (teaching) within first Corinthians 15 which had been sung and taught by the followers of Jesus just days or months after his bodily resurrection. To say that the early church was unaware of Jesus’s atonement for sin is misrepresenting both history and Christianity. “‘Christ died' --- that is history; 'Christ died for my sins' --- that is doctrine. Without these two elements, joined in an absolutely indissoluble union, there is no Christianity." - J. Gresham Machen. "Christianity & Liberalism." page 23.📙 🎞️Shared here Dr. Gary Habermas and Christian Apologist Alisa Childers (53m) provide more information regarding the early creeds (memorized essential teachings) of early Christians as documented within Scripture, and why this matters! (1)The Biographical Test Updated, by Dr. Clay Jones:

Explore the foundations of first-century Christian faith through the lens of paleo-orthodoxy—a journey back to the roots of early Christian teachings and practices. This article delves into the timeless principles that shaped the early Church, offering insights that resonate in today's faith communities. Whether you're a history enthusiast or seeking a deeper understanding of Christian traditions, this exploration bridges ancient wisdom with modern reflections. https://lnkd.in/exMn_SBB

The Nicene Creed, foundational to Christian doctrine, notably omits explicit references to Israel, the Jewish people, and the Church's Jewish origins. This absence can obscure the rich, intertwined heritage of Judaism and Christianity, potentially fostering a disconnect from the faith's roots. Recognising this, it's crucial for believers to delve deeper into Scripture and history, understanding the Jewish foundation of Christian beliefs. Embracing this connection enriches our faith, offering a more comprehensive appreciation of our spiritual lineage and the broader narrative of redemption. Visit 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d-4_E74w to learn more about replacement theology!

On this day in Christian history, Huang Guangcai died in Shanghai. Before his death, he was the first Chinese deacon and the first Chinese clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church in China. Read more about today in Christian History. https://lnkd.in/dKMkqVY5 Please share❤️ #thenewmanng #christianblogging #christianhistory #christianblogger

The issue of Jesus's sinfulness is an example of the petty Sunday School Pro-Life morality of the Salvation Gosple of Calvinism and the TULIP doctrine Hegel rejects along with Calvinism. Jesus was a naughty little boy, growing up, if the Gsopel of Thomas has any veracity at all. I happen to beleive that most of it is like the Muslim Hadith's: living memories of Jesus in Nazareth. It's useful to remember that the congregation of Nazareth wanted to throw Him off a cliff for pay backs from lingering resentments after being triggered by Jesus in a sermon mocking their seifl-righteousness. Jesus was a bastard, growing up, which is referred to obliquily in this pericope and it was no day at the beac for His mother, being the mother of the Son of God and all. The evidence is from Mark 3 and the wedding at Cana that Jesus and His mother's relationship was somewhat fraught. That should not be lost on the discerning Christian, But Jesus transformed the theory of sinfulness with Mark 3:29 when He declares that the only unforgivable sin is to deny the Holy Spirit. This is an example of the odd Jewish method of inquiry that determines what God is not in order approximate what God IS. At that time, the Mishnah and Talmud had 613 laws, including the original Commandments, that were precluded by the essence of God, which Jesus abrogates in a number of ways throughout the Gospels. For example, the abrogation of the Dietary Laws in the parenthetical clause in Mark 7:19 , (which is reinforced in Acts 10:16 and Peter's vision regarding what is and isn't unclean". Jesus is saying the only imporant sin to avoid is not employing the Holy Spirit is the pursuit of the Great Commission, The Holy Spirit is a major player thorughout the Biblical narrative, but Jesus spceifically promotes a working relationship with the Holy Spirit in the navigation of life. And the great sin of Calvinism as it manifests in Campus Crusade for Christ is the denial of the Holy Spirit as a practical application of the supernatural in the persoanl walk with Jesus. For Jesus, the Holy Spirit is more important than He is, And that is what is missing from Christian Nationaism and the Pro-Life chaplains pumping Christian Nationalism into the military community that is driving the suicide rate of cambat veterans and sexual assuat in the barracks.