The History of the Christian Church - 2000 Years of Christian Thought.
A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of it's greatest thinkers.Season 1 – A.D. 1 – A.D. 500 Plato and Greek philosophy.Apostolic fathersJustin MartyrIrenaeus Clement of AlexandriaOriginCyprianEusebius of Caesarea.Council of NicaeaAthanasies.Ephraim the Syrian.The Cappadocian fathers.The Council of ConstantinopleAmbroseJohn Chrysostom.Jerome.AugustineCyril of Alexandria.The Council of EphesusTheodor of CyrusLeo the great.The Council of Chelsea and.The Apostles Creed.
The History of the Church (Part 42) Francis of Assisi Part 2
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Episode Notes:
In our last episode, we stood in Rome in the year 1215. Bishops had gathered from across Western Europe, and the papacy stood at the height of its influence. The Church possessed enormous institutional, political, and spiritual power. Theology was becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the medieval Christian world appeared strong.
But while all of this was happening, something else was taking place. But not in the palaces of Rome this time, not in the chambers of bishops. Not even in the lecture halls of the great universities. But...
The History of the Church (Part 41) Francis of Assisi Part 1
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This month's episode is a massive bonus triple episode. Parts 2 and 3 will follow over the next two weeks.
Please note that this episode is a complete 2026 rewrite and expansion of an essay I first wrote in 1995 as part of a module on Church History under L.B.C.
Part 2 will include the episode Notes.
Part 3's Episode Notes will include a full List of all references used to prepare the script.
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A History of The Christian Church (Part 40). The Fourth Council of the Lateran. (1215 A.D.)
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SPECIAL NOTE:
This episode was extensively developed from an essay I wrote in 1994 as a conclusion to a module on the Medieval Church that I was studying under distance learning through London Bible College. I always hoped it would become useful one day.
It was the year 1215. And if you could have stood in Rome that year, you would have witnessed something extraordinary. Thousands of churchmen gathered together. Bishops and abbots. Theologians and representatives of the great religious orders. And presiding over them all was...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 39) Joachim of Fiore - The Father of the ‘New Age’.
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It was an age of order, logic, and structure. The great questions of faith were increasingly discussed in the schools and universities, and theology was becoming a disciplined science.
But not everyone believed that God was working primarily through classrooms and theological systems. Some believed He was about to do something entirely new. Some believed history itself was reaching a dramatic turning point. And among those voices, none was more influential or more controversial than Joachim of Fiore.
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The History of the Christian Church (Part 38) Peter Lombard -The Man Who Built Medieval Theology.
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Episode Notes:
Some people change history through dramatic events. Others change it through ideas. And then there are those rare figures who quietly reshape the way an entire civilization thinks. Peter Lombard was one of those men. You may not recognize his name immediately. He did not lead crusades, he did not stand before kings, and he did not become a martyr. And yet, for centuries, almost every theologian in Western Europe would sit under his influence.
Because Peter Lombard did something extraordinary. He took the scattered...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 37) Bernard of Clairvaux - The Voice That Called the Church Back.
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Welcome:
What happens when the church becomes too clever? What happens when faith is no longer something to be lived, but something to be analysed? That is the world we stepped into with Peter Abelard in our last episode.
But not everyone welcomed that change, because, amid that rising tide of intellectual confidence, another voice began to speak. His name was Bernard of Clairvaux. And these two worldviews would collide. The world of the philosopher…. and the world of the monk.
Their conflict would not just...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 36) Peter Abelard - When Reason Takes the Stage.
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This episode goes live on all podcast platforms on the 1st May 2026
What happens when the human mind refuses to stay quiet?
Today as we move further into the medieval world, that careful balance begins to shift. Because in the next generation, a new voice emerges. Brilliant, bold, and uncompromising.
A man who would not simply reflect on the faith but would challenge it….
His name was Peter Abelard.
For further reading and a complete list of all references & sources fo...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 35) Anselm, Part Two - Faith Seeking Understanding.
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A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of its greatest thinkers.
Anselm of Canterbury Part Two.
References and Sources for This Episode:
Below are reliable academic and historical sources supporting the material used in this episode on Anselm of Canterbury.
Primary Sources (Anselm’s Writings)
Cur Deus Homo
Proslogion
Monologion
Compilation: Anselm of Canterbury, The Major Works, Oxford World’s Classics.
Ch...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 34) Anselm, Part One - Faith Seeking Understanding.
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A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of its greatest thinkers.
Anselm of Canterbury Part One.
There are moments in church history when the Christian faith is forced to answer difficult questions.
Not questions of persecution or survival, but questions of understanding. Questions that arise when thoughtful believers begin to ask what it means to believe, and whether faith can be explained? Questions like, can the truths of the gospel even be understood by the human mind...
A History of The Christian Church (Part 33) John Scotus Erigena – The Theologian of the Dark Ages.
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Welcome back to The History of the Christian Church — where we journey through the shadows and the light of Christian history to discover how faith has been shaped, tested, preserved, and proclaimed across the centuries.
Today, we step into one of the most misunderstood periods of Western history — the so-called Dark Ages. A time often portrayed as intellectually barren, culturally collapsed, and spiritually stagnant. A time when empires had fallen, learning had fragmented, and civilization itself seemed to flicker like a dying candle in the wind.
But history is neve...
A History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 4 (Part 32) Gregory the Great -Shepherd of a Collapsing World.
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When Gregory the Great became bishop of Rome at the end of the sixth century, the Western world was pretty much in ruins and standing on the edge of an era that would become known as the Dark Ages. The Roman Empire in the West had collapsed. Cities were crumbling. Plagues swept through the population. Invasions came not in isolation, but in waves. Civil authority was weak, unreliable, and sometimes absent altogether. and into that chaos stepped Gregory.
He never sought power. In fact, he tried to flee it. Gregory preferred...
The History of The Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 3 (Part 31) The Council of Orange (529) The Triumph of Grace.
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In the year 529, long after the fall of Rome and amid the turmoil of a fractured Europe, a small gathering of bishops met in the southern town of Orange. Their purpose? To settle one of the most important theological questions in Christian history: Is salvation the work of God alone, or do we play a part in earning it?
In this episode, I explore the dramatic story of The Council of Orange — how it stood between the extremes of fatalism and self-salvation, and how it reaffirmed the gospel of grace first pr...
The History of the Christian Church. Season 3 Episode 2 (Part 30) Boethius – Christianity in Conversation with Philosophy.
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In this episode we meet Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius — a Roman scholar, philosopher, and Christian who lived at the twilight of the ancient world. From his prison cell, awaiting execution under Theodoric the Ostrogoth, Boethius wrote The Consolation of Philosophy, one of the most influential works in Western history.
This episode explores the life, context, and thought of Boethius — a man standing between two worlds: the fading classical order of Rome and the rising Christian civilization of medieval Europe. Through the figure of Lady Philosophy, Boethius sought comfort in r...
The History of the Christian Church (Season 3, Episode 1 - Part 29) The Medieval West. 500-1500 A.D.
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Episode Notes:
The History of the Christian Church – Season 3, Episode 1 (Part 29)
Title: The Medieval West: 500–1500 A.D.
When you think of the Middle Ages, what comes to mind? Knights in shining armour? Castles and crusades? Or perhaps plagues and superstition? In this opening episode of Season 3, we step into the thousand-year story of the Western Church during the so-called "Dark Ages."
We’ll trace how the collapse of the Roman Empire gave way to chaos and invasion...
The History of the Christian Church (Part 28) The Eastern Confession of Cyril Lucaris & The Synod of Jerusalem
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Welcome to this final episode in our season on the history of the Eastern Church. Today, we arrive at the threshold of the modern era, where the clash of ideas between East and West is no longer only about emperors, councils, and icons, but about doctrine itself. In the seventeenth century, the Orthodox world faced one of its most profound internal challenges when Cyril Lucaris—Patriarch of Constantinople—penned what came to be known as The Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith.
The response came swiftly and decisively in T...
The History of the Christian Church. (Part 27). Finding God in the Silence. Gregory Palamas.
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Episode Notes:
Finding God in the Silence: Gregory Palamas
In this episode of the History of the Christian Church podcast, we turn to the 14th century and meet one of the most influential voices of Eastern Christianity: Gregory Palamas. A monk, mystic, and defender of Hesychasm, Palamas taught that the path to God is found not only in theology and doctrine, but in prayer, silence, and communion with the divine. His distinction between the “essence” and “energies” of God became a cornerstone of Ortho...
The History of the Christian Church (Part 26) Symeon – Having a Personal Relationship With God.
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🎙️ Welcome
In today’s episode — Symeon: Having a Personal Relationship With God — we turn to one of the most radical and profound voices of the 10th century: Symeon the New Theologian.
Long before the Reformation, Symeon challenged the formalism of the institutional church, insisting that every believer is called to a personal, experiential relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He was exiled, rejected, and branded controversial — yet his writings, visions, and hymns continue to ignite hearts even today. Join us as we unpa...
The History of the Christian Church (Part 25) Three More Councils.
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Welcome
In today’s episode, we’re stepping once again into the drama of early church history — a time when emperors, bishops, and theologians gathered not only to settle fierce theological debates but to shape the foundations of Christian belief for centuries to come.
We’ll explore three pivotal church councils that took place in the great imperial cities of Constantinople and Nicaea. Each one left a lasting legacy on what Christians believe, how we speak of Christ, and even how we worship Him.
We begin wi...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 24) John of Damascus. A Voice of Truth in the Rise of Islam.
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Welcome to The History of the Christian Church – Episode 24
John of Damascus: A Voice for Truth in the Rise of Islam
In today’s episode, we explore the remarkable life and enduring influence of John of Damascus, the last of the great early Church Fathers. Living in the heart of the Islamic world yet shaped by deep Christian conviction, John stood at a critical juncture in church history. Amidst imperial decrees and theological upheaval, he became a bold defender of Christian doctrine and a powe...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 23) Maximus the Confessor (c. 580 – 662) The Man Who Wouldn't be Silenced
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Maximus the Confessor – The Father of Byzantine Theology
[Part 23] Season 2, Episode 2
👋 Welcome
Welcome back to The History of the Christian Church! In Season Two, we continue our journey through the always vibrant and sometimes violent world of the Eastern Church. In today’s episode, we meet one of the most courageous and influential figures in Christian theology: Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662). Philosopher, mystic, monk, and martyr in all but name, Maximus dared to defy emperors and resist compromise...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 22) Introduction to Season Two - Dionysius the Areopagite. Telling Us What God is Not.
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Welcome to Season Two of the History of the Christian Church Podcast!
In Season One, we traced the journey of the early church—from its apostolic foundations through persecution, the rise of Christian doctrine, and the establishment of Christianity as the dominant faith of the Roman Empire. We explored the theological battles that shaped orthodoxy and followed the church’s expansion through the first five centuries.
Now, in Season Two, we turn our attention eastward. While much of Western Christianity evolved under the influence of R...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 21) The Council of Chalcedon (451) and The Apostles Creed.
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Welcome to the Season Finale of Season One in My History of the Christian Church. This is the climax of our journey together through the first 500 years of the Christian Church.
Episode 21: The Council of Chalcedon (451) and The Apostles’ Creed.
Have you ever wondered how the foundational beliefs of Christianity were forged? How the early church grappled with defining the nature of Christ, or how the Apostles’ Creed came to summarize the faith of countless generations?
In this season finale, we’re looing at one...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 20) Leo 'The Great'(c. AD 400 –461) The Establishment of Rome
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A History of the Christian Church (Part 19) Theodoret of Cyrus (c. AD 393–c458-466)
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A History of the Christian Church (Part 18) Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 B.C.) Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God.
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A History of the Christian Church (Part 17) Augustine of Hippo (c.354–430 AD) The Basis of Our Faith
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Welcome to "My History of the Christian Church Podcast," where I look at the lives of the most influential figures in Christian history. In this episode, we're turning our attention to one of the most...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 16) Jerome (c.340–420 AD) Translating the Bible into Latin
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Welcome to "My History of the Christian Church Podcast," where we dive deep into the lives of the most influential figures in Christian history. In this first season, we've been exploring the lives, works, and...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 15) John Chrysostom - Preaching the Bible.(347-407AD)
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Welcome:
"Welcome to another episode of 'My History of the Christian Church.' Today, we embark on a journey back in time to explore the life of one of the most influential figures...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 14) Ambrose of Milan.(c339-397)
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Episode 14: Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-397)
Podcast: My History of the Christian Church
Welcome to Episode 14 of "My History of the Christian Church Podcast." In this episode, we look...
A History of the Christian Church (Part 13) The Council of Constantinople (382 AD)
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Episodes Notes.
Introduction
A History of the Christian Church (Part 12) The Capadocian Fathers - Defining and Refining the Trinity
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Episodes Notes.
Today, we continue our journey through church history with a focus on the Cappadocian Fathers, a trio of influential Byzantine Christian leaders who shaped early Christianity. These remarkable figures p...
A History of the Christian Church - (Part 11) Athanasius - Contending For the Deity of Christ (AD c293-376 )
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Episodes Notes.
Welcome to "Athanasius - Contending For the Deity of Christ"
Biography:
J...
A History of the Christian Church - (Part 10) The Council of Nicea (AD 325) The Nicean Creed
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Welcome to Episode Notes: The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
In this episode, we look at the historical and theological significance of the First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD. Led by Emperor Constantine, this council addressed the theological controversy sparked by Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, and his teachings on the nature of Christ.
We explore the origins of the theological debate...
A History of the Christian Church (Pt 9) Eusebius (AD 260 339) From Empire to Ecclesiastical History
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Episode Notes:
1. Welcome and Introduction.
2. Biography.
2.1 Overview.
2.2 Early Life.
2.3 Bishop of Caesarea.
3. Works (His Literary Legacy)
3.1. Biblical Textual Criticism:
3.2. The Chronicle:
3.3. Church History:
3.4. Life of Constantine:
3.5. Minor Historical Works:
3.6. Apologetic and Dogmatic Works:
3.7. Exegetical Works:
4. His Doctrine.
5. Legacy.
6. Summary and Conclusion.
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To re...
A History of the Christian Church (Pt 8) Cyprian (AD 258-310) The Martyr Bishop.
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Cyprian (c210-258 AD)
The Martyr/Bishop.
1. Introduction
2. Biography.
2.1 Overview.
2.2 Early Life.
2.3 The Decian Persecution and the Controversy over the lapsed
3. Writings.
4. Theology.
4.1 Sacraments:
4.2 The Church:
5. Final Persecution under Valerian.
6. Summary and Conclusion.
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A History of the Christian Church (Pt 7) Origen (AD 185 -253) Christian Philosophy For the Masses.
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Origen (AD 185 -253) Christian Philosophy For the Masses.
Episode Contents:
1. Welcome
2. Introduction and Overview.
3. Biography.
3.1 Early years
3.2 Mid- Life Adventures..
3.3 Later life.
4. Works.
4.1 Exegetical writings.
4.2 Commentaries
4.3 On the First Principles.
4.4 Against Celsus.
4.5 Other writings
5. Origins Theological Views.
5.1 The Position...
A History of the Christian Church (Pt 6) Clement of Alexandria.- Christian Philosopher and Theologian. (c150-215 A.D.)
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Welcome to Episode Six:
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215 A.D.): Greek Born Christian Philosopher and Theologian
Introduction
In today's episode, I look at the life and teachings of a remarkable figure in early Christian thought, Clement of Alexandria. Born into a Pagan Greek family in the middle of the 2nd century, Clément's journey from paganism to Christianity was both profound and influential.
A History of the Christian Church (Pt 5) Irenaeus (AD 130 -202) Taking a Stand Against the Heretics.
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Episode Notes:
Welcome to todays episode where we explore the Life and Wisdom of Irenaeus." In this podcast, we delve into the profound insights and enduring legacy of one of the most influential figures in early Christianity, Irenaeus of Lyons.
Join us as we journey through the life, writings, and thought of this ancient theologian, whose profound reflections on theology, spirituality, and the Christian faith continue to resonate with relevance in the contemporary world.
A History Of the Christian Church (Pt 4) Tertullian - The Father of Latin Theology. (c155 220 AD)
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Season One - Episode Four.
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Episode Notes:
Tertullian, an influential Christian theologian and apologist from the early church period (circa 155-240 AD), made several enduring contributions to the modern Christian church through his life and beliefs.
Theological Formulation: Tertullian's theological writings, such as his formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity, have had a lasting impact on Christian theology. His precise articulation of core Christian beliefs continues to inform the doctrines of many...
A History of the Christian Church (Pt 3) Justin Martyr. (c. AD100-165) The Defender of the Faith.
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Episode Notes Page:
In today’s episode of "A History of the Christian Church," we explore the life and teachings of Justin Martyr, also known as Justin the Philosopher. Living from around AD 100 to AD 165, Justin played a significant role as an early Christian apologist and philosopher.
Despite most of his works being lost to...
