FACTS

The Heretic Who Tried to Rewrite Christianity: The Story of Marcion

In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce and Pat May explore the life and controversy surrounding Marcion of Sinope—one of the most influential and dangerous figures in the history of early Christianity. Arriving in Rome in the mid–second century, Marcion brought with him wealth, influence, and a radical theological proposal. He argued that the God of the Old Testament was not the same God revealed by Jesus Christ. Rejecting the Hebrew Scriptures entirely, Marcion promoted an edited version of the Gospel of Luke and a shortened collection of Paul’s letters as the only legitimate Christian writings. His teachings quickly sparked a crisis within the Church. Around A.D. 144, the Roman church formally expelled Marcion and returned the large donation he had given to the Christian community. Yet the impact of his ideas did not end there. Marcion went on to establish a rival movement that spread throughout the Roman world, forcing early Christian leaders to more clearly articulate the unity of Scripture and the authority of the apostolic writings. In this episode, we examine Marcion’s background, his theology, the events leading to his expulsion from Rome, and why the controversy surrounding him became one of the most important moments in the development of the New Testament canon. #ChurchHistory #Marcion #EarlyChristianity #NewTestament #FACTS If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 Tertullian on Marcion: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/03121.htm Irenaeus on Marcion: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103304.htm [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103304.htm]

Reconsidering the Resurrection Narratives

Were the resurrection accounts contradictory, or are we reading them with the wrong expectations?In this episode, we take a careful look at the resurrection narratives in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Rather than forcing harmonization or dismissing differences as errors, we examine how ancient historians wrote, how eyewitness testimony was preserved, and how narrative compression, selective naming, and staggered arrivals help make sense of the details.We explore the role of the women at the tomb, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, and consider why their consistent presence across the Gospels matters historically. We also look closely at Peter and John’s visit to the tomb and the significance of the burial cloths described in John’s account.When read within their ancient context, the resurrection narratives do not collapse under scrutiny. Instead, they reflect the texture of remembered events told from distinct but overlapping perspectives.Join us as we reconsider what the Gospels are, and how they should be read.Here's a link to Stephen's newest paper: https://www.academia.edu/164899261/Reconsidering_the_Resurrection_NarrativesIf you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

A Letter from the Second Century That Shames Modern Christianity

In this episode of FACTS, Dr. Stephen Boyce explores one of the most beautiful and overlooked writings of the early Church — the Epistle to Diognetus. Written in the second century, this anonymous apology offers a stunning portrait of early Christian identity before Constantine, before the great councils, and before Christianity held cultural influence. What did Christians actually believe about their place in the world? How did they explain themselves to pagan critics? And what does it mean that Christians are described as “the soul in the body” of the world? We’ll examine the historical background of the letter, its theology, its apologetic strategy, and its powerful vision of Christians living as citizens of heaven while dwelling among the nations. Long before Christendom, this text shows us a faith that was confident, distinct, and radically countercultural. If you want to understand how the earliest Christians saw themselves — and what that means for the Church today — this episode is for you. #ChurchHistory #EarlyChristianity #EpistleToDiognetus #Patristics #Apologetics #FACTSPodcast If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 Link to the Letter: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0101.htm

Dust and Development: The Historical Roots of Ash Wednesday

Is Ash Wednesday apostolic? Medieval? Biblical? Or something in between? In this special Ash Wednesday episode of FACTS, Dr. Stephen Boyce examines the historical development of the imposition of ashes, tracing its roots from the biblical symbolism of dust and repentance to the public penitential practices of the early Church, and finally to its formal codification in the medieval West. Were ashes universally practiced in the early centuries? How did Lent develop into a 40-day fast? Why does the East not observe Ash Wednesday in the same way as the West? And does later liturgical development undermine theological legitimacy? Rather than sentimentality or polemics, this episode offers careful historical analysis—grounded in Scripture, the Fathers, and liturgical history. Ash Wednesday may not be apostolic in its fixed form, but its symbolism is deeply biblical and its theology profoundly Christian: we are dust, and we stand in need of repentance. Join Dr. Boyce for a historically grounded exploration of how dust became devotion.

Sola Traditio (Tradition Alone): The Missing Sola of the Reformation

Stephen Boyce and Pat May examine Against Heresies Book III, chapters 3–4 from Irenaeus of Lyons to explore a bold claim: that the early Church could have sustained itself in faith and practice even if the apostles had never left written texts.According to Irenaeus, the apostolic tradition was deposited in the successors of the apostles and preserved publicly in the churches. So much so that even illiterate “barbarians,” without a Bible in hand, were able to refute heretics by holding fast to the rule of faith they had received.#SolaTraditio #TraditionAlone #MissingSola #ReformationDebate #ChurchHistory #EarlyChurch #Irenaeus #AgainstHeresies #apostolictradition Link to Irenaeus: https://ccel.org/ccel/irenaeus/against_heresies_iii/anf01.ix.iv.v.htmlIf you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7