Irenaeus of Lyons

Irenaeus was the bishop of Lugdunum (Lyons) and was one of the leading theologians of the 2nd century (AD 103-202). He was a student under Polycarp, who was a Christian bishop of Smyrna. Eventually, he moved to Rome and studied under Justin Martyr, who was an early Christian apologist. According to early church historian Eusebius, […]

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Athenagoras of Athens

Athenagoras was a noteworthy apologist from the Athenian Church who wrote in the late second century A.D. He is especially important to Christian theology because his works disclose a belief in two doctrines that have been questioned throughout the development of the  Christian Church. He details the belief in one God in three distinct persons—the […]

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Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch was one of the early church fathers. He grew up well educated in church doctrine because he was a disciple of the apostle John and Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna. Eventually, he became the second bishop of Antioch. In his role as bishop, he was a defender of orthodoxy, and he became […]

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Polycarp

Polycarp (c. AD 69-155) was the bishop of Smyrna (present day Izmir, Turkey) during the early part of the second century. A disciple of the apostle John, Polycarp is recognized as one of the Apostolic Fathers, a group of early church leaders directly connected with the apostles, who played a prominent role in preserving the […]

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Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Where Jesus Was Buried?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a Christian shrine and church in Jerusalem. Situated in the northwest quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Church is built on the purported site of Jesus’ burial. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was first built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, and was later expanded to […]

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How Did the Apostle Paul Die?

The Bible contains many details of Paul’s life, both in the book of Acts and in his own letters, but only hints about his death are included. For that reason, we cannot be sure about the details, but putting biblical clues together with writings from the early church, it appears that he died a martyr’s […]

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Was Peter the First Pope?

There is much controversy concerning whether Peter was the first pope. This question highlights how beliefs differ between the Roman Catholic Church and churches of the Reformation. Church bodies that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation, and after, deny the authority of the pope based on Scripture. So the answer based […]

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Justin Martyr (c. AD 100–165)

Justin Martyr (c. AD 100-165) was an early Christian apologist, philosopher, and teacher. Born in Samaria and raised as a pagan, Justin was acquainted with both Jewish and Roman culture. Justin later moved to Ephesus, where he studied Stoic and Platonic philosophy. Justin was first introduced to Christianity when he encountered an old man who […]

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apostle peter

How Did the Apostle Peter Die?

Although the Bible does not tell us how the apostle Peter died, there is tradition that tells us that Peter likely died by crucifixion during the reign of Nero in about AD 64. When considering the martyrs, it is perhaps more edifying to know why they died rather than how. They died to follow their […]

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donald trump

Is Donald Trump a Christian?

Donald Trump calls himself a non-denominational Christian, and his policies as President of the United States were friendly towards Christians, but if we compare Trump’s life and words to the Bible, it is clear that he is not in fact a true, regenerated, saved Christian. How do we know this? We Can Judge People by […]

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