Higher criticism of the late 1800s questioned the Bible's authorship and reliability, fueling liberal theology and provoking the fundamentalist response through Spurgeon's Downgrade Controversy and R. A. Torrey's The Fundamentals.
Category: Church History
Discover the rich history of Christianity, from the early church fathers to the Reformation and modern era. Learn how historical events and figures have shaped the faith we practice today.
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.
Why You Cannot Understand Christianity without the Intertestamental World
The four hundred years between the Testaments shaped the language, theology, and world into which Jesus was born. Persian mystery, Greek philosophy, and Roman law still shape Christian thought today.
Why Scotland Embraced the Reformation So Quickly
Scotland's rapid embrace of the Reformation was no accident. Celtic Christianity had planted deep instincts for local governance and scriptural authority that made John Knox's Reformed teaching feel like a homecoming.
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.
How Celtic Christianity Preserved the Faith
When the Roman Empire fell and learning collapsed across Europe, Irish and Scottish monks preserved Scripture, copied classical literature, and re-evangelized the Continent.
The Pre-Reformers: Forgotten Voices before Luther
Before Martin Luther, men like Peter Waldo, Peter de Bruys, John Wycliffe, and Jan Hus challenged the medieval church and called for biblical authority -- and paid dearly for it.
Where Did the Baptist Church Come From?
Trace the Baptist tradition from its roots in the English Reformation through Puritan Separatism, John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, and the rise of believer's baptism and congregational self-governance.