Why Easter Moves: The Computus Controversy and the Synod of Whitby
Easter moves because a Nicene rule ties it to the moon, and rival tables for predicting that moon divided the church until Whitby in 664.
Early Church (1st–5th Century)Category: Early Church (1st–5th Century)
Studies in Scripture, theology and church history.
Search all formatsTwo-Track Diffusion of Christian Doctrine
Christianity spread along two intellectual tracks: a Jewish textual/covenantal stream and a Greco-Roman philosophical stream. Their collision in early councils shaped doctrine for centuries.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century) / Historical TheologyGnosticism: The Ancient Heresy That Co-Opted Christianity
Gnosticism was a pre-Christian mystical worldview that co-opted Christian language. Explore its emanation theology, the Demiurge, and how the apostle John confronted it.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century)The Council of Nicaea: When the Church Defined the Faith
Explore the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the Arian controversy, the Nicene Creed, and why this pivotal moment in church history still matters for every Christian today.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century) / Historical TheologyHow East and West Shaped Christian Theology
Eastern mysticism and Western legal clarity shaped two distinct theological traditions. Understand how these mindsets influenced Scripture, governance, and the East-West split.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century) / Historical TheologyNero and Paul: Power Fades, Character Remains
Nero sat in judgment over Paul. Today men name dogs after Nero and sons after Paul. A study in how power fades while character endures across the centuries.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century)What Happened to Jewish Christianity?
The first Christians were overwhelmingly Jewish, yet within two centuries Jewish Christianity had virtually disappeared. Explore how the Jewish revolts of AD 70, 115, and 132-135 shattered Jewish-Christian leadership and shifted the church to Gentile dominance.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century)Why the Council of Nicaea Changed Everything
The Council of Nicaea affirmed the deity of Christ but also inaugurated the union of church and state. Explore how Constantine's presence reshaped the church and set the stage for the medieval papacy, the Inquisition, and the Reformation.
Church History / Early Church (1st–5th Century) / Historical Theology