The History of the Early Church

In the aftermath of the Decian Persecution, two factions emerge over the issue of the lapsed. The laxists favor leniency and reconciliation, while the rigorists consider apostasy the unforgivable sin. The result of this divide are schisms which threaten the unity of Christian Church...

In the aftermath of the Decian Persecution, two factions emerge over the issue of the lapsed. The laxists favor leniency and reconciliation, while the rigorists consider apostasy the unforgivable sin. The result of this divide are schisms which threaten the unity of Christian Church...

In 250 A.D., the Roman Emperor Decius unleashed the first empire wide persecution of Christianity

In 250 A.D., the Roman Emperor Decius unleashed the first empire wide persecution of Christianity

We introduce the two principal Christian leaders during the mid-third century, Dionysius of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage...

We introduce the two principal Christian leaders during the mid-third century, Dionysius of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage...

We conclude our discussion of Origen of Alexandria by first looking at his refutation of the pagan critic Celsus, followed by a discussion of Origen's highly influential and controversial legacy within Christianity...

We conclude our discussion of Origen of Alexandria by first looking at his refutation of the pagan critic Celsus, followed by a discussion of Origen's highly influential and controversial legacy within Christianity...

In the later years of his life, Origen would continue in his role as presbyter and professor at Caesarea, while also combating heretics in Arabia, intervening in Church councils, writing to the Roman emperor and empress, and authoring one of the most important apologetic works in the early church.

In the later years of his life, Origen would continue in his role as presbyter and professor at Caesarea, while also combating heretics in Arabia, intervening in Church councils, writing to the Roman emperor and empress, and authoring one of the most important apologetic works in the early church.

We continue the story of Origen by looking at his life in his new home of Caesarea Palestine as a both a presbyter and a teacher of a Christian academy. Among his students were famous men such as Firmilian of Cappadocia and Gregory the Wonder Worker...

We continue the story of Origen by looking at his life in his new home of Caesarea Palestine as a both a presbyter and a teacher of a Christian academy. Among his students were famous men such as Firmilian of Cappadocia and Gregory the Wonder Worker...

In the early third century, the Church of Rome was engulfed in factional debates over Christology, which even led to schism. Along the way, important theological questions would be raised, and even more important answers would developed. In particular, the theology put forward by Hippolytus, the first "antipope" of the Roman Church, and the last Greek Church Father of the West...

In the early third century, the Church of Rome was engulfed in factional debates over Christology, which even led to schism. Along the way, important theological questions would be raised, and even more important answers would developed. In particular, the theology put forward by Hippolytus, the first "antipope" of the Roman Church, and the last Greek Church Father of the West...

From Alexander Severus to Alexander of Jerusalem, the time of Origen was a lively one for Christian intellectuals living both within and outside the Roman Empire...