The Premillennialism of Methodius

Methodius or Eubulius lived from 260-312 A.D. and served as bishop of both Olympus and Patara in Lycia.  Jerome records that he was transferred to the See of Tyre in Phoenicia.  He suffered martyrdom at Chalcis in Greece or possibly in Syria.  Methodius is best known as a critic of Origen and his allegorical method […]

The Premillennialism of Tertullian

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, referred to by Jerome as Tertullian, was the father of Latin Christianity and of western theology.  He was born somewhere between A.D. 145 to 160 in Carthage and died somewhere between A.D. 220 to 240.  Tertullian was a skilled theologian, with an aptitude for apologetics and polemics against various heresies.  His […]

Tertullian Reported that the New Jerusalem Appeared During His Lifetime

The Ante-Nicene Church Fathers as a whole are believed to have taught some unusual or bizarre doctrines.  Quite often this reputation stems from readers neglecting to understand the material carefully in its given context and not taking into account the different writing styles that were common to the ancients.  However, there are times when something […]

Tertullian Does Not Want You to Baptize Your Babies

John MacArthur has written a powerful work entitled “A Scriptural Critique of Infant Baptism.” My own awareness of this teaching came from an almost visceral anger toward it from paedobaptists (advocates of infant baptism). MacArthur has effectively given new life to the old debate on the practice of infant baptism. Both seminary trained theologians and […]

The Ante-Nicene Church and Non-Systematized Eschatology

INTRODUCTION A high percentage of the Ante-Nicene church fathers held to a premillennial return of Christ.  At times a given father made prima facie contrary statements regarding the timing and nature of this advent.  The inquiry here considers how these contrary statements may actually be in harmony when the father’s writings and historical setting are […]