In this episode, we explore one of the most crucial events in Christian history: the Great Schism of 1054. This schism separated the church into two halves: Roman Catholicism in the west, and Orthodoxy in the east. We focus on the building tensions which contributed to the Great Schism.

This episode summarizes the rise of the Holy Roman Empire and shows how it often served as a thorn in the side of the papacy.

Augustine was quite possibly the greatest thinker in the early Christian church, and maybe the best theologian history has ever known. This lesson examines the main controversy of his career. Augustine’s debates with the Pelagians helped him articulate his views on original sin, grace, predestination, free will, and the sacraments. While not adopting his schema wholesale, Protestants have long found him a friend and ally.

Now a tolerated (and even favored) religion, Christians began contemplating the greatest doctrines of their faith, striving for greater clarity. They especially sought to cast light on the doctrines of the Trinity and incarnation.

After his ascent to the Roman throne, Constantine wielded his power to try and help the Christian church, particularly by suppressing two heresies. We consider the dangers of these heresies and how Constantine’s actions reflect the state of his spirituality.

This episode summarizes early Christian persecutions from the Romans and how the advent of Emperor Constantine changed the church’s place in the empire.

As the church tried to understand its relationship with Judaism, another tension emerged. Gnostics — and particularly Marcion — believed the Old Testament should be fully rejected, as should things related to the material world, including the body. This episode explores how early Christians responded to these ideas and challenges.

How did the early church understand its relationship with Judaism given that the apostles taught both continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants? We especially consider the early Christian writer Justin Martyr and his *Dialogue with Trypho.*

Evangelicalism

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