Where should someone start studying church history? Many people jump straight to Augustine, the Creeds, or the Councils — but the real starting point is with Eusebius of Caesarea, the first great historian of the Church.In this episode of The FACTS Podcast with Dr. Stephen Boyce, we explore: • Who Eusebius was and why he matters. • How his Ecclesiastical History preserves documents we would otherwise have lost. • Why he gives the best “map” of Christianity from the apostles to Constantine. • How to read him critically, seeing both his strengths and biases. • A recommended pathway for continuing after Eusebius with the Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, and Nicene defenders.If you’ve ever asked, “Where should I begin my study of church history?” — this is the episode for you.👉 Subscribe for more episodes on the early Church, theology, and history.👉 Comment below: Where did you start your journey into church history?#ChurchHistory #Eusebius #EarlyChurch #ChristianHistory #ChurchFathers #TheologyPodcast #EcclesiasticalHistory #ApostolicFathers #Constantine #Christianity #TheFACTSPodcast #StephenBoyce #DrStephenBoyce

Will there really be a Third Temple in Jerusalem? Or has the Temple already been fulfilled in Christ?

In this episode, Stephen Boyce and Pat May examine one of the most debated questions in Bible prophecy. We’ll explore why a physical third temple is unnecessary and how Jesus Himself is the final Temple, as revealed in John’s Gospel (John 2:19-21) and Revelation (21-22).

We’ll also expose how Dispensationalist interpretations of Ezekiel’s Temple and Revelation often miss the point of the New Covenant. Ezekiel’s visionary temple and John’s apocalyptic imagery are not blueprints for future construction—they’re prophetic symbols fulfilled in Christ and His Church.

What we’ll cover:

• Why Christ is the ultimate Temple of God (John 1:14, John 2:19-21)

• Problems with rebuilding a Temple under the Law of Moses today

• How Ezekiel’s Temple points to a spiritual reality, not a future building

• Misinterpretations of Revelation by Dispensationalists

• The Church as God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 3, Ephesians 2)

• Why focusing on Christ as the Temple transforms worship and prophecy

Join us as we bring clarity to one of the most misunderstood eschatological topics.

#BibleProphecy #ThirdTemple #Eschatology #Dispensationalism #BookOfRevelation #EzekielTemple #ChristTheTemple #NewCovenant #EndTimesDebate #FACTSPodcast #StephenBoyce

Isaiah 7:14 declares, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” But was Isaiah pointing to Mary and the birth of Jesus—or someone else in his own day? In this episode, we explore the historical context of Isaiah’s prophecy, King Ahaz’s crisis, the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘almâh, and the different interpretations that have been offered throughout history. Was the sign fulfilled in Isaiah’s time through Hezekiah, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, or the remnant of Israel? Or is Matthew correct in applying it directly to the virgin birth of Christ?In this episode of FACTS, Dr. Stephen Boyce unpacks Isaiah’s prophecy, exploring both its immediate context and ultimate fulfillment, and shows how the New Testament identifies Mary—the mother of Jesus—as the true fulfillment of the promise of Immanuel, ‘God with us.'🔑 Topics Covered: • Historical background: Ahaz, Assyria, and the Syro-Ephraimite War • The sign of Immanuel in Isaiah’s day • The debate over ‘almâh (“young woman” vs. “virgin”) • Ancient translations: LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate choices • Double fulfillment: immediate sign + ultimate prophecy • Why Matthew applies Isaiah 7:14 to Mary and Jesus👉 Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most debated prophecies in Scripture!If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #VirginBirth #Isaiah7 #Immanuel #Mary #BiblicalProphecy #OldTestament #NewTestament #Apologetics #BibleStudy #ProphecyFulfilled #MessianicProphecy #JesusChrist #Theology #ChristianPodcast #GospelTruth #StephenBoyce #DrStephenBoyce #FACTSPodcast

The Book of Enoch has fascinated Christians, historians, and conspiracy theorists alike. Quoted in the New Testament and preserved in ancient manuscripts, it raises the question: If it’s so important, why isn’t it in the Bible?

In this episode, Stephen Boyce will break down the three major Enochic writings—1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch—exploring their origins, contents, and influence. We’ll cover why the Ethiopian Orthodox Church includes 1 Enoch in its canon, why the rest of Christianity does not, and what early Jewish and Christian communities thought of these books.

Drawing from historical evidence, manuscript studies, and centuries of canon debates, we’ll look at:

• The difference between canonical Scripture and pseudepigrapha

• The limited and regional reception of Enoch

• Why its absence from the Hebrew Bible matters

• How the New Testament uses 1 Enoch without affirming it as Scripture

• Theological and textual reasons for its exclusion

If you’ve ever wondered about the Watchers, Azazel, or why Jude quotes Enoch, this episode will give you the historical and theological clarity you need.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

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#BookOfEnoch #Enoch #BiblicalCanon #BibleHistory #Apocrypha #Pseudepigrapha #Watchers #Azazel #1Enoch #2Enoch #3Enoch #AncientManuscripts #EthiopianOrthodox #BiblicalStudies #ChurchHistory #DeadSeaScrolls #BiblePodcast #ChristianPodcast #TheologyPodcast #CanonDebates #StephenBoyce

Did the earliest Christians believe that salvation was permanent and irreversible? In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce, with special guest Jack Bull, examines what the Apostolic Fathers actually taught about eternal security, falling away, and the necessity of perseverance in the faith.

We explore key texts from the Didache, 1 Clement, 2 Clement, the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, and the Shepherd of Hermas—highlighting how the early Church warned believers about the real danger of apostasy and the importance of obedience, repentance, and endurance.

If you’ve been told that the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” has historical roots, this episode may surprise you. The message from the early Church is consistent and clear: Salvation is not a free pass. It’s a call to a lifelong, faithful walk with Christ.

#OnceSavedAlwaysSaved #EternalSecurity #ApostolicFathers #Didache #IgnatiusOfAntioch #ShepherdOfHermas #Polycarp #ChurchFathers #EarlyChurch #ChristianTheology #ConditionalSecurity #SalvationDoctrine #FallFromGrace #StephenBoyce #FACTSPodcast #ChristianHistory #BiblicalTruth #PerseveranceOfTheSaints #FaithAndWorks #Patristics #JackBull

Stephen's writings: https://independent.academia.edu/StephenBoyce4

Here is a link to Dr Bull's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Patristica

👉 Don’t forget to like and share if you want more historical and biblical theology from the early Church!

In this episode of FACTS, Stephen Boyce and Pat May explore one of the most striking Marian images in all of Scripture—Revelation 12. Was the Apostle John given a heavenly vision of the bodily assumed Virgin Mary? And is the Queen of Heaven not merely a title, but a reality rooted in biblical prophecy and fulfilled in Christ’s glorified Mother?

Stephen and Pat walk through the imagery, theology, and early Church interpretations of this apocalyptic vision. They also address common Protestant objections and show how the assumption and queenship of Mary harmonize with Scripture, not contradict it.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

#FACTSPodcast #StephenBoyce #PatMay #QueenOfHeaven #AssumptionOfMary #Revelation12 #BiblicalMariology #CatholicTheology #MaryInTheBible #Theotokos #JohnsVision #Apocalypse #ChurchFathers #HeavenlyLiturgicalVision #MarianDoctrine

In this episode, Pat and Stephen continue their deep dive into the Book of Revelation by exploring one of its most misunderstood passages—Revelation 7 and 14. Dispensationalist interpretations have long treated the 144,000 as a literal number of ethnic Jews, but this reading misses the rich, symbolic, and liturgical meaning rooted in the Church’s historic understanding. Join us as we unpack the heavenly vision given to John and show how the imagery of sealed servants, white-robed multitudes, and Mount Zion reveals far more than end-times speculation—it reveals the worship of heaven made manifest on earth.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

#BiblicalSymbolism #CatholicTheology #OnEarthAsItIsInHeaven #Apocalypse #HeavenlyWorship #TheologyPodcast #FACTS #Numerology

In a recent video, Gavin Ortlund argues that the universal Church’s understanding of infant baptism is largely built on Augustine’s influence, suggesting that earlier views were inconsistent and unstable. In this episode, I challenge that claim head-on. By examining Pelagius’s letter to Pope Innocent I and the Council of Carthage’s response to the Donatists, we’ll see that the Church’s commitment to infant baptism was already clear and theologically grounded. Ironically, even Pelagius, Augustine’s theological opponent, affirms the necessity of infant baptism and that arrogant heretics wouldn't even deny the redemptive necessity of issuing baptism to children.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Here is a link to Gavin's video: https://youtu.be/3WE0Ea2ke_c?si=iVcISjh7AVoesgJG

#Pelagius #Augustine #InfantBaptism #ChurchHistory #GavinOrtlund #BaptismDebate #EarlyChurch #CouncilOfCarthage #PopeInnocent #CatholicTheology #Patristics #BaptismMatters #UniversalChurch #ContraGavin #PelagianControversy #ApostolicFaith #theFACTSPodcast

In Episode 2, Pat and Stephen turn to both the Old Testament and New Testament to explore John’s breathtaking vision of heaven in the Book of Revelation. They discuss how this scene reveals the heavenly liturgy—the worship of God by angels, elders, and living creatures—and how it reflects the reality of the communion of saints. From incense-filled prayers to the Lamb at the center of the throne, this episode unpacks the connection between heaven and earth, showing how our worship joins the eternal praise of the heavenly assembly.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Here is a link to the shorts shared at the beginning: https://youtu.be/5QV0LNIGVWc?si=4Xr_riu9RBksX3ST

#HeavenlyLiturgy #CommunionOfSaints #FACTS #ChristianWorship #ChurchFathers #LiturgicalTheology #ApocalypticVision #OnEarthAsItIsInHeaven #WorshipInHeaven #ChristianPodcast #DeepDiveBibleStudy #EarlyChurch #TheologyTalk #ScriptureAndTradition

In this episode, Stephen and Pat dive into Revelation chapters 1–3 and explore the rich liturgical themes woven throughout the text. From the doxologies and priestly imagery of chapter 1 to the structured exhortations and heavenly promises in the letters to the seven churches, these chapters reveal early Christian worship in action. We discuss how the text reflects not just prophecy, but a vision of the Church gathered in reverence, repentance, and praise—uniting earthly worship with the heavenly assembly.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

#Revelation #EarlyChurch #ChristianWorship #LiturgicalTheology #SevenChurches #ScriptureAndTradition #ChurchFathers #ApocalypticTheology #NewTestamentStudies #FaithAndLiturgy #WorshipMatters #DeepDiveBibleStudy #LiturgicalWorship #FACTS