Through the Church Fathers

By C. Michael Patton

Join Through the Church Fathers, a year-long journey into the writings of the early Church Fathers, thoughtfully curated by C. Michael Patton. Each episode features daily readings from key

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How many episodes does Through the Church Fathers have?

The podcast currently has 646 episodes available.

Through the Church Fathers episodes:

July 26, 2026 Introduction to Tertullian, Against Marcion and Against Heretics
Today we turn from Cyprian to Tertullian, one of the most fiery and forceful polemicists of the early Church. After working through Cyprian’s battles over the lapsed and heretical baptism, we now move into the larger landscape of early Christian heresies, beginning with Marcionism and the question of whether the God of the Old Testament is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ. In this new section, we will read an abridged version of Tertullian’s Against Marcion, Book 1, with selected supplemental passages, along with the whole of Prescription Against Heretics. Together, these works show the Church defending the unity of God, the unity of Scripture, and the apostolic rule of faith against teachings that threatened to cut Christianity loose from creation, Israel, prophecy, and the God of Abraham.
Today’s Readings:
Introduction — Tertullian, Against Marcion, Book 1, with Selected Supplemental Readings, and Prescription Against Heretics
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#ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Marcion #Marcionism #ChurchHistory #Theology #Heresy #Scripture #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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11min
July 25, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 25
Today’s readings move from the Church’s discipline to the soul’s inner struggle against spiritual weariness. Cyprian continues Epistle 73 by challenging Stephen’s position on heretical baptism, arguing that baptism cannot be separated from the Spirit, the Church, and the truth of Christ; for Cyprian, to recognize baptism outside the Church is to grant heresy what belongs only to Christ’s bride. Augustine then rises beyond the senses and enters the vast chambers of memory, where images, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures are stored and recalled, showing how deeply mysterious the human soul is even to itself. Aquinas closes by treating sloth as sorrow over spiritual good—not mere tiredness, but the heart’s heaviness toward God Himself, where prayer, holiness, and communion begin to feel like burdens instead of joy. Together, these readings call us to guard the truth, examine the soul honestly, and resist the quiet danger of treating God’s good gifts as weight rather than life.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 73: To Pompeius, Against the Letter of Stephen Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 6–9
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 7 (Section 11); Chapter 8 (Sections 12–13)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 35 (Articles 1–4 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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12min
July 24, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 24
Today’s readings press us to distinguish truth from custom, creation from Creator, and love from hatred. Cyprian continues Epistle 73 by arguing that heresy cannot bear sons to God because the Church alone is the spouse of Christ, and he warns sharply that “custom without truth is the antiquity of error.” Augustine then asks creation itself about God, and heaven, earth, sea, air, sun, moon, and stars all answer that they are not God, but were made by Him; yet only the soul that judges rightly can hear their witness. Aquinas closes by treating hatred as the corruption of charity, showing that while evil and sin may rightly be hated, God and neighbor must never be hated as persons made for goodness and blessedness. Together, these readings remind us that truth must not yield to inherited error, creation must lead us beyond itself to the Maker, and charity must resist the temptation to turn righteous opposition into hatred.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 73: To Pompeius, Against the Letter of Stephen Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 6–9
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 6 (Sections 9–10)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 34 (Articles 1–6 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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13min
July 23, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 23
Today’s readings bring together baptism, self-knowledge, and charity in action. Cyprian concludes Epistle 72 by arguing that past errors should not become permanent customs, and that those coming from heresy should be drawn into the Church through the clarity of truth rather than confirmed in what he sees as false baptism. Augustine then confesses that man does not fully know himself, since even the depths of the human spirit remain partly hidden from us but fully known to God. Aquinas closes by describing almsgiving as charity working through mercy, relieving both bodily and spiritual need according to wisdom, duty, and right order. Together, these readings remind us that truth must correct custom, self-knowledge depends on God’s light, and love must become visible in concrete acts of mercy.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 23–26
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 5 (Section 7)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 32 (Articles 1–10 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #Mercy #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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13min
July 22, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 22
Today’s readings bring together baptism, self-knowledge, and charity in action. Cyprian concludes Epistle 72 by insisting that earlier mistakes do not justify continuing in error, and that those coming from heresy should not be kept from the Church by the demand for true baptism, but drawn toward the Church by the clarity of truth. Augustine then confesses that man does not fully know himself: even when we are more present to ourselves than to God, there are depths within us known only to the Lord who made us. Aquinas closes by describing almsgiving as an act of charity through mercy, relieving both bodily and spiritual need according to duty, ability, and right order. Together, these readings call us to correct error without stubbornness, confess our weakness before the God who knows us completely, and let charity become visible in practical mercy.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 23–26
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 5 (Section 7)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 32 (Articles 1–10 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #Mercy #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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9min
July 21, 2026 Through Theology in a Year: July 21
Today’s readings connect the truth of Christ to the visible life of love. Cyprian continues Epistle 72 by arguing that baptism cannot be separated from the true confession of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that even the language of Christ’s name must not be used against the truth Christ Himself revealed. Augustine then explains why he confesses not only what he was, but what he now is, speaking before fellow pilgrims who share his joy, his mortality, and his need for grace. Aquinas closes by describing beneficence as charity in action: love does not remain only in affection, but moves outward to do good according to need, duty, and opportunity. Together, these readings remind us that truth must be confessed, weakness must be honestly brought before God and the Church, and charity must become visible in works of love.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 19–22
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 4 (Section 6)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 31 (Articles 1–4 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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11min
July 20, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 20
Today’s readings bring together truth, confession, and mercy. Cyprian continues Epistle 72 by arguing that not everything done “in the name of Christ” truly belongs to Christ, especially when it is separated from the truth of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the unity of the Church. Augustine then explains why he confesses before others: not to satisfy curiosity, but so that brotherly souls may rejoice over God’s gifts in him, grieve over what still needs healing, and pray that God would complete what He has begun. Aquinas closes by describing mercy as a virtue flowing from charity, by which we regard another’s misery as our own and act to relieve it. Together, these readings remind us that truth cannot be severed from Christ, confession should serve love rather than curiosity, and mercy is not mere feeling, but love stooping to heal.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 15–18
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 4 (Section 5)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 30 (Articles 1–4 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Mercy #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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11min
July 19, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 19
What does true unity in the Church look like when error and compromise threaten the faith?
Today we sit with three voices that refuse easy answers.
Cyprian of Carthage boldly insists that baptism belongs only to the one true Church and cannot be separated from living faith.
Augustine lays bare the honest struggle of self-knowledge, showing that real confession begins with God’s light, not human curiosity.
And Thomas Aquinas brings clarity and beauty to the virtue of peace, teaching us that genuine peace is never mere absence of conflict — it is the fruit of rightly ordered love in God.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian of Carthage — Epistle 72, To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics (Sections 10–14)
Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 3 (Section 4)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2-2, Question 29 — Peace (Articles 1–4 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#CyprianOfCarthage #Augustine #ThomasAquinas #BaptismAndUnity #OrderOfPeace #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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12min
July 18, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 18
Podcast Description
What does it really mean to belong to Christ — and can the Church’s unity ever be compromised by compromise? Today we wrestle with that urgent question through three powerful voices from the early Church and the medieval tradition. Cyprian of Carthage confronts the dangerous practice of accepting baptism from heretics, insisting that true faith and true Church cannot be separated. Augustine opens the depths of his own heart in confession, showing us that only God truly knows us and that honest self-knowledge begins with God’s light. And Thomas Aquinas brings luminous clarity to the order of charity, teaching us how to love God first, ourselves rightly, and our neighbors according to the bonds and duties God has given us.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian of Carthage — Epistle 72, To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics (Sections 5–9)
Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 3 (Section 3)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2-2, Question 26 — The Order of Charity (Articles 1–13 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#CyprianOfCarthage #Augustine #ThomasAquinas #OrderOfCharity #BaptismAndUnity #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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11min
July 17, 2026 Through the Church Fathers: July 17
Today’s readings ask where grace, confession, and love truly belong. Cyprian continues his argument in Epistle 72, insisting that baptism cannot be separated from the unity and truth of the Church, and that heretical imitation does not require the Church to surrender what belongs to Christ. Augustine then reminds us that confession before God is not merely spoken with the mouth, but cried out from the soul, since nothing in the conscience is hidden from the Lord who first speaks truth into us. Aquinas closes by explaining the object of charity: God is loved above all, and all others—self, neighbor, sinners, enemies, angels, and even the body—are loved rightly only in relation to God and eternal blessedness. Together, these readings press us to see that Christian life is not held together by outward forms alone, but by truth, inward confession, and love ordered toward God.
Today’s Readings:
Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 1–4
Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 2 (Section 2)
Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 25 (Articles 1–12 Combined)
Explore the Project:
Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton
Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com
Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org
#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers
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15min

FAQs about Through the Church Fathers:

How many episodes does Through the Church Fathers have?

The podcast currently has 646 episodes available.