The Early Christian Writings
Posted: November 30, 2024
LIGHT FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS (95-325 AD), PART 1 The period of the early church, particularly the first three centuries (up to the Council of Nicaea, 325 AD), can be… Read More
Christianity’s Contributions to World Culture, by Paul Herrick
Posted: November 2, 2024
Oct 30 READ IN APP It is seldom noted today, but both [experimental science and modern mathematics] were born in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries within institutions of… Read More
Armenia’s Oldest Church Discovered
Posted: October 22, 2024
Archaeologists uncover fourth-century church in Armenia’s ancient capital Nathan Steinmeyer October 21, 2024 A preliminary reconstruction shows the late antique church of Artaxata. Courtesy Armenian-German Artaxata Project. Excavators with the University of… Read More
When Politics Turn Hostile Toward Christianity / The Gospel of Peter
Posted: September 25, 2024
THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 25 September 2024 Good morning from Lancashire! I flew in yesterday from Sri Lanka and the Far East. It’s good to be… Read More
Epistle of Barnabas / Joanna & the Zombies / Dinosaurs / Creation & Evolution Webinar
Posted: September 18, 2024
THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 18 Sept 2024 Good morning from the island nation of Sri Lanka! Due to mechanical problems with the aircraft from the UK,… Read More
Narcissists & Sociopaths / the Martyrdom of Ignatius
Posted: September 11, 2024
The Newsletter of IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 11 September 2024 . Good morning! Do you like to travel? I do, and have been to lots of countries—but not Sri… Read More
Deconstruction & Reconstruction
Posted: September 4, 2024
THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM With Douglas Jacoby . 4 September 2024 Good morning from Northern England! Do you enjoy the outdoors? One of our new favorite things to do is to head… Read More
Mutilated by Beasts / Light-hearted Limericks / Aramaic Bible?
Posted: August 28, 2024
THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM with Douglas Jacoby. 28 August 2024 Good morning from Northern England. Psalm 118:24! Today’s offerings include a Q&A on the original Scriptures, another glimpse at the… Read More
“Becoming” a Disciple—Before Conversion or After? / Let Go?
Posted: August 21, 2024
The Newsletter of IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 20 August 2024 Good morning from Northern England! We hope you are well, and enjoying the final weeks of summer (or winter,… Read More
Why John Owen and Richard Baxter Didn’t Like Each Other, by Tim Cooper
Posted: August 19, 2024
August 1, 2024 How People See Us When I first entered full-time pastoral ministry many years ago, there was someone in the congregation who, I’m sorry to say, I did… Read More
Antioch’s Silent Guardians (Bible History Daily)
Posted: August 15, 2024
How early Christians viewed the ancient city Robert Edwards, August 14, 2024 John Chrysostom on a gold medallion inlayed with enamel (10th–11th century). Photo in public domain, via Metropolitan Museum… Read More
Jesus Contradicted / Polycarp / Common Bible Study Mistakes
Posted: August 14, 2024
The Newsletter of IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 14 August 2024 Good morning from Bare, England! It’s been an interesting (and very good) month. Seven days ago I attended a… Read More
1 Clement, Diognetus, and the Atlanta Braves
Posted: August 7, 2024
The newsletter of IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 7 August 2024 Good evening from Atlanta! I’m back from an excellent family visit to St. Augustine, FL and an encouraging friendship… Read More
I Was Hungry! (free book) / Early Christians series
Posted: July 31, 2024
The Newsletter of IBTM with Douglas Jacoby . 31 July 2024 Good morning from St Augustine, Florida. I’m staying a few days with my brother and his wife—and their new… Read More
Is Christianity Oppressive?
Posted: May 4, 2024
By Bobby Conway MAY 03, 2024 Unfortunately, there are overly zealous people out there who oppress others in the name of Christianity—though thankfully it’s not the norm. Sadly, people like… Read More
Christianity and the So-Called “Dark Ages”
Posted: March 14, 2024
Christianity and the So-Called “Dark Ages” By Melissa Cain Travis MAR 9 READ IN APP In his famous essay, “The Age of Reason,” American Founding Father and deist, Thomas Paine,… Read More
Christmas Origins: “The Man Who Came in from the Cold”
Posted: December 6, 2023
I wrote the following piece in the mid-1980s. The audio talk (14 mins) is based on the original paper. The Man Who Came in from the Cold I remember the… Read More
Unity in the Sub-Apostolic Church (Steve Staten)
Posted: October 15, 2023
Unity in the Sub-Apostolic Church WAS THERE UNITY IN THE SUB-APOSTOLIC CHURCH? AN INVESTIGATION OF THE TUNNEL PERIOD (~A.D. 62-150) Stephen Francis Staten Wheaton College, 1997 In this masters thesis… Read More
Hidden Origins of the Campbell Movement: Cooperating across denominational boundaries (James L. Gorman)
Posted: September 5, 2023
Article appearing in the newsletter of Common Grounds Unity, 19 Aug 2023, used by permission Origin stories deeply shape our identity, theology, and practice. The stories we tell ourselves about… Read More
Cordell Christian College | Resurrected Living
Posted: April 21, 2023
RESURRECTED LIVING “What are you going to do with your new resurrected life? This is the heroic question.” Richard Rohr Continue reading.
The Seven Sacraments
Posted: January 16, 2023
Note: The following was constructed from an 8-part series in our 2022 newsletter. Catholicism’s Seven Sacraments The Council of Trent (1545-1563) affirmed: “If anyone says that the sacraments… are not… Read More
History, Hermeneutics & Church Polity – Courtney A. Bailey
Posted: December 1, 2022
Here is my self-published thesis, available on Amazon at the following link: History, Hermeneutics & Church Polity in the International Churches of Christ in Jamaica amazon.com And at Barnes and… Read More
AIM UK & Ireland – next module this Saturday 3rd December
Posted: November 30, 2022
Hi everyone, Just in case you hadn’t heard, the next AIM UK & Ireland module is round the corner – this Saturday in fact. The sessions will be both in-person… Read More
Persecution & Martyrdom
Posted: November 23, 2022
This message (32 mins) covers the various ways in which Christians of the first few centuries were persecuted (slander, exile, confiscation, etc). Following is a study of persecution and martyrdom… Read More
From Five Fingers to Five Steps – Jack R. Reese
Posted: February 26, 2022
From Five Fingers to Five Steps Written by Jack Reese – Excerpt from “At the Blue Hole,” Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, 2021. Reprinted with permission. Scott (Walter… Read More
Christian Unity—An Interview with Common Grounds
Posted: February 15, 2022
Listen to an interview with Common Grounds, a terrific ministry focused on unity within the Stone Campbell Movement. The theme: CHRISTIAN UNITY. Enjoy this important conversation by clicking here.
Q&A 1616—Santiago de Compostela
Posted: January 7, 2022
Do you think the remains of James the Just are in the church of St. James of Compostela (Santiago de Compostela) in Spain? Reply from Joseph Harris (Augusta, GA): No,… Read More
The Sinner’s Prayer (with updated reflections), by Stephen Staten
Posted: December 27, 2021
Introduction C.S. Lewis used the term ‘a great cataract of nonsense’ to describe how people use a modern idea to construe Bible theology. One such example, perhaps the best example,… Read More
Greetings from the Lands of St. Nicholas; Myra, Patara, St. Nicholas Island
Posted: December 15, 2021
The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on… Read More
The Nature of Christian Unity: Historical Understandings of Churches of Christ
Posted: September 27, 2021
The Nature of Christian Unity: Historical Understandings of Churches of Christ Written by Douglas A. Foster, The below are excerpts from a paper presented at the Stone-Campbell Dialogue in June… Read More
The ancient Christian creed (4th century)
Posted: September 9, 2021
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only… Read More
Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Posted: March 24, 2021
I. FOUNDING In the wake of the Second Great Awakening, many sects emerged in 19th century America. A combination of religious liberty and a strong spirit of individualism fostered numerous… Read More
“COC & ICOC: The Rift and the Repair – Revisited”
Posted: March 18, 2021
Join us for a conversation. Common Grounds Unity presents this conversation with Dr. Nick Zola & Dr. Douglas Jacoby on Saturday, March 20. Details on the flyer. Zoom meeting link… Read More
This Day in History: St. Patrick Dies
Posted: March 17, 2021
On March 17, 461 A.D., Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. Today he is honored with the annual holiday of St. Patrick’s Day. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saint-patrick-dies
Patrons, Prophets, and Preachers, by Rob Kranz
Posted: August 31, 2020
Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Stepping into the Jordan Patrons, Prophets, and Preachers by Rob Kranz One of the advantages of teaching is that I always… Read More
Interview with Douglas Foster: Alexander Campbell Biography
Posted: August 17, 2020
Our DNA: An Interview With Douglas A. Foster I grew in Michigan, in a county with roughly 500 lakes. I spent a good portion of my childhood, barefoot with friends,… Read More
Church History Insights – Christian Ray interviews Daryl Reed
Posted: July 27, 2020
Daryl Reed is the Lead Minister of DC Regional Christian Church in the Washington DC area. We had an enlightening conversation about Church History and Race. Daryl is a third… Read More
The divided legacy of Alexander Campbell
Posted: July 8, 2020
Critical biography examines the ‘gifted but flawed’ leader of the American Restoration Movement. By John Mark Hicks When Alexander Campbell died in 1866, he left his legacy in a divided… Read More
A Life of Alexander Campbell – Douglas A. Foster
Posted: June 15, 2020
Recently, my wife and I took the “Emotionally Healthy Relationships” course developed by Peter and Geri Scazzero. During one session we did a genogram. A genogram maps out a… Read More
A Dream Worth Resurrecting, by Ben Brewster
Posted: May 30, 2020
A Dream Worth Resurrecting: by Ben Brewster Ben Brewster wrote the below for Common Grounds in 2018. His book “Torn Asunder” is a must-read! The below is a re-post…. Read More
Restoration or Reformation?, John Teal
Posted: May 2, 2020
Yesterday, I received an email from a friend who shared a copy of “The Stone-Campbell Reformation: Its Roots and Ideals” from July 1994 with an article by Leroy Garrett…. Read More
How Churches of Christ responded when the 1918 ‘Spanish flu’ killed millions
Posted: March 22, 2020
Many congregations canceled services, and some Christians focused on feeding and nursing the poor. By John Mark Hicks NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville saw its first case of the “Spanish flu” in… Read More
Delving into the history of black churches
Posted: February 18, 2020
Delving into the history of black churches | The Christian Chronicle Edward J. Robinson’s newest book, “Hard-Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ,” takes its title from… Read More
Are You an American Church? (London, 1986)
Posted: February 10, 2020
The article I wrote back in 1986 about the origins of the Churches of Christ in the U.K. May be of some interest to some readers.
Racism: Twisted reasoning
Posted: January 7, 2020
Douglas Jacoby, Washington DC (1993) (recommended by Russ Ewell, San Francisco) Prejudice is ugly and widespread, knowing no borders. Yet even more detestable is the use of biblical authority to justify… Read More
TheHistoricFaith.com by Sattler College and Scroll Publishing
Posted: June 17, 2019
We are excited to introduce you to TheHistoricFaith.com . The Historic Faith is the result of a partnership between Sattler College and Scroll Publishing. This project seeks to promote the precepts… Read More
COC & ICOC: The Rift & The Repair-Audio & Notes
Posted: May 9, 2019
Two classes given by Douglas Jacoby & Nick Zola at “The Harbor” Pepperdine Bible Lectures, on May 3, 2019. The two audio lessons are followed by the Powerpoint presentation with… Read More
The Luther Legend, by Marilynne Robinson
Posted: December 29, 2018
Martin Luther shattered Christendom and transformed the West, making the modern world possible and inevitable. This is the consensus among historians, whether they see this sixteenth-century monk as an epochal… Read More
Q&A 1542 – John boiled in oil?
Posted: December 7, 2018
At my church this morning it was preached that the apostle John survived being boiled in oil before he was exiled on Patmos. Is this true? It is certainly true… Read More
Download Bercot classes (1 Dec 2018)
Posted: December 1, 2018
EARLY CHURCH HISTORY WITH DAVID BERCOT Saturday, December 1, 2018 Download the PowerPoint from https://www.athensinstitute.org This will be available to all paying students until midnight 2 Dec ET only.
PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER, by Bob Koivisto
Posted: September 24, 2018
Jesus spoke out often about the very things which lead to a misguided understanding of God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures. Those influences are ignorance, apathy, religion, tradition and open… Read More
Brother Lawrence
Posted: April 25, 2018
Introduction We may be tempted to conceive of Christian history as a vast wasteland stretching from the post-apostolic period till fairly modern times; yet this is not quite accurate. Even… Read More
The Staurogram
Posted: March 27, 2018
The earliest images of Jesus on the cross How and when did Christians start to depict images of Jesus on the cross? Some believe the early church avoided images of… Read More
Jesus and the Cross
Posted: March 27, 2018
How the cross became Christianity’s most popular symbol Throughout the world, images of the cross adorn the walls and steeples of churches. For some Christians, the cross is part of their daily… Read More
Tomb of Christ
Posted: November 29, 2017
The archaeological exhibit on the tomb of Christ is on display at the National Geographic Museum through August, 2018. Click here. Articles: click here.
Review of Terry Whalin’s Billy Graham: A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist
Posted: November 4, 2017
When I was a teenager, I remember how my heart was moved by Billy Graham’s Peace with God. The simple way in which Graham is able to express profound truths has enabled him to connect with… Read More
An online trove of Biblical manuscripts
Posted: September 26, 2017
An extraordinary collection of 68 New Testament and other Biblical manuscripts dating from the fourth to the twentieth centuries has been digitized and made available for study online. Continue reading… Read More
Q&A 1505 – What was the Inquisition? (Torture, witches, Galileo… and lessons for today)
Posted: September 10, 2017
What exactly was the Inquisition? (If you prefer to listen to my reply, click on the arrow for the podcast, The Inquisition (20 min). If you want to save and… Read More
Q&A 1497 – What were the Crusades, and why does it matter?
Posted: June 30, 2017
Our church is initiating a “Crusade” to take our city for Christ. This makes we wonder, what about the Crusades in the Middle Ages. What were they? As a Christian… Read More
Why I Am Not an Evangelical (or am I?), by Douglas Jacoby
Posted: June 21, 2017
To listen to the third podcast in the series on Christian identity, Why I Am Not an Evangelical—or Am I? (32 min), click on the arrow. To download and listen… Read More
Why I Am Not a Fundamentalist, by Douglas Jacoby
Posted: June 14, 2017
To hear the podcast (44 mins), Why I Am Not a Fundamentalist, click on the play arrow. To download and listen to it later, right click here and then on ‘save link as’… Read More
Why I Am Not a Protestant, by Douglas Jacoby
Posted: June 7, 2017
To hear the podcast (54 mins) titled Why I Am Not a Protestant, click on the arrow. To download and listen to it later, right click here and then on ‘save… Read More
Bercot lessons at YouTube
Posted: November 3, 2016
Listen to David Bercot’s lessons (Scroll Publishing) through its YouTube channel. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL6qGDn7Nnd84-UgURpw8Dw Description Welcome to the Scroll Publishing YouTube channel. We are a small publisher of Christian books… Read More
Background to the Sinner’s Prayer, by David Platt
Posted: July 2, 2016
Click here to read this article. See also Steve Staten’s article on the Sinner’s Prayer here.
Alexander Campbell Documentary
Posted: November 25, 2015
This presentation (2:40:00), hosted By David Kenney, covers the life and influence of Alexander Campbell, probably the most influential leader in the Stone-Campbell Movement, better known as the Restoration Movement…. Read More
Lessons from the Protestant Reformation
Posted: November 8, 2015
Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was “Finding God When the Church is Adrift,” and the teaching took place in… Read More
The Great Ptolemaic Smackdown
Posted: September 10, 2015
My next door neighbor, enjoying the recent articles on evolution in which I reference the slowness of the academic world to accept heliocentricity (earth orbiting sun), sent these links. The… Read More
America’s Changing Religious Landscape
Posted: May 12, 2015
http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/
7 Startling Facts: An Up Close Look at Church Attendance in America
Posted: February 2, 2015
Click for a most illuminating study.
The Lord’s Supper: from Table to Altar
Posted: August 13, 2014
Your Ex Still Wants You The following podcast, the title of which is inspired by Lipscomb scholar John Mark Hicks’ recent work, examines the evolution of the “supper” from actual… Read More
Christ Through the Ages, 27: 500 Years of Alternative Christs (Reformation onward)
Posted: January 27, 2014
To download, right click on the link and click “Save Link As” or “Save target As” – Download Podcast In this final lesson in the sub-series on Christ as understood… Read More
Christ Through the Ages, 26: The Later Middle Ages
Posted: January 26, 2014
When you listen to Christ Through the Ages lesson 26 (19 minutes), you’ll learn how the changes that occurred from the 2nd to 4th centuries (our last podcast) accelerate in… Read More
Christ Through the Ages, 25: The Early Middle Ages
Posted: January 25, 2014
To download, right click on the link and click “Save Link As” or “Save target As” – Download Podcast The 25th podcast in this series (21 minutes) is entitled Christ… Read More
Christ Through the Ages, 24: Christ in the Apostolic Age
Posted: January 24, 2014
Beginning with this podcast, we turn our attention to perceptions of Christ as he was preached throughout the course of church history. Lesson 24, Christ in Church History: The Apostolic… Read More
The Restoration Hermeneutic & Fractures of the Church (Ron Petter)
Posted: July 31, 2013
Click here to download the .pdf file. Ron Petter is a respected Canadian evangelist and teacher in Hamilton, Ontario. Ron is working on his PhD at McMaster Divinity College, (www.macdiv.ca)… Read More
Linguistic Insight: Christmas & Santa Claus
Posted: July 31, 2013
The Origin of the word Christmas The modern word Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes mæsse, or Christ’s mass. In Medieval Catholicism, this was the Mass. The word mass… Read More
EASTER
Posted: July 31, 2013
Did you know that there are two dates for Easter? One follows the Jewish Passover and is lunar, the other determined by solar calculation. This disagreement dates back to at… Read More
Restoration Movement Website
Posted: July 31, 2013
You may be interested in this website, which seeks to promote common ground among Restoration Movement churches.http://www.restorationunity.com/
Receiving Christ
Posted: April 16, 2013
Here is a study of the popular evangelical doctrine of Receiving Christ (22 minutes). To download the podcast, right click on “download” and select “save link as” or “save target… Read More
Paul’s grave claimed found by the Vatican
Posted: December 19, 2006
The tomb of Paul was discovered just outside the old city walls of Rome, in the area of the Church of St Paul Outside the Walls. Excavation of the grave… Read More
The Stone-Campbell Journal
Posted: November 9, 2006
There’s a great resource on the Stone-Campbell Movement. Visit the website of the Stone-Campbell Journal.
Church History: Baptismal theology in the past 2 centuries
Posted: July 28, 2006
Link to Restoration Quarterly Article: LINK
Bible versions – by Toney Mulhollan
Posted: July 5, 2006
In 1588, a Catholic priest, William Weston, a critic of the Puritans and their movement described for his readers a large gathering of them which he observed at Ely, England:… Read More
Alexander Campbell on War
Posted: May 17, 2006
To read his views, download AlexanderCampbellonWar.pdf (59 KB).
Church History: 381 AD. Rome’s Official Religion
Posted: February 28, 2006
381 AD. This is the date that Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Earlier in the same (fourth) century, it had become legal, but from this date… Read More
Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement
Posted: January 30, 2006
Here’s a useful volume on the Stone-Campbell Movement — from which sprang the Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, and Disciples of Christ. Click here
Church History Century by Century
Posted: December 4, 2005
This is the “handout” to accompany the church history powerpoint presentation made in Lagos, Nigeria (2005). In addition, the 7 lessons of church history are: 1. No clergy/laity distinction! 2…. Read More
Archaeologists Unveil Ancient Church Site
Posted: November 10, 2005
Check out this story if you haven’t seen it already. Link
AIM Session VII Report: Chuck Lucas Speaks
Posted: September 5, 2005
22-27 August 2005 we conducted AIM Session VII, with units on Church History (10 hours), World Religions (10 hours), and Campus Ministry (5 hours). Students converged from Georgia, California, Colorado,… Read More
Catacombs
Posted: July 22, 2005
The Roman catacombs are intricate labyrinths of burial chambers that were built roughly between the third and fifth century A.D. They are considered among the most important relics of early… Read More
The Anatomy of a Hybrid
Posted: June 25, 2005
An extremely thought provoking book, one that students of church history will be sure to want to read, is Leonard Verduin’s THE ANATOMY OF A HYBRID: A STUDY IN CHURCH-STATE… Read More
Instrumental Music: A Live Issue
Posted: September 24, 2003
“Instrumental Music: A Live Issue’ was written by Douglas Jacoby in 1993. It discusses what the Bible says about the use of instrumental music — an issue for the Restoration… Read More
Martin Luther and the Reformation, by James Greig
Posted: September 1, 2003
Here is a paper on the life and ministry of Martin Luther. It is written by James Greig: pdf file.
Oxford and the English Martyrs, by James Greig
Posted: August 5, 2003
The following are excerpts from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (published Ambassador, complete), first published Basle 1559. John Foxe studied at Oxford and was ordained by Nicholas Ridley in 1550. He… Read More
Gnosticism, by Andrew Kitchen
Posted: July 17, 2003
The word “gnosticism” comes from gnosis, Greek for “knowledge.” Esoteric or secret knowledge is meant. The Gnostics believed that only an elite few enjoyed special enlightenment. The Gnostic view of… Read More
Campbell Bible Study
Posted: July 17, 2003
Campbell Study MILLENNIAL HARBINGER, NEW SERIES. VOLUME III.—–NUMBER I. ================================================================= B E T H A N Y, VA. JANUARY, 1839. ================================================================= BIBLE READING NOTHING is more talked about amongst professors, and nothing… Read More
Freemasonry and Discipleship
Posted: July 17, 2003
Introduction In the twelve years I have been a Christian I have had the privilege of studying the Bible with five men who were active Freemasons. I know that throughout… Read More