Learning from the persecuted Church
The ‘Seize the Day’ podcast for August is now online. In it, John Ayrton is talking to Andy Dipper, the CEO of Release International, about what we can learn from the persecuted Church. Last in series. Go here to listen.
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The new atheism and ‘God: new evidence’
The ‘new atheists’ have succeeded in obtaining a high profile in the media: Richard Dawkins’ book ‘The God Delusion’ sold more than two million copies, and spent a year on the NY Times best-seller list. His latest book, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ is now being widely promoted. A few years ago, UK Channel 4 [...]
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What’s different about the ‘new atheism’?
Is the ‘new atheism’ just the same old same old, but with a different skin? Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says not, according to a recent blog post by Michael Patton. Mohler identifies the following key differences (my words, not his, nor Patton’s): It celebrates atheism, rather than mourning the loss of [...]
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What the Roman historian Suetonius says about the first Christians
Suetonius was a
Roman historian and an official under the emperor Hadrian.
In his 'Life of Claudius',
he says (25:4):
As
the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation
of Chrestus [= Christ?], he [Claudius] expelled them from
Rome.
This expulsion
took place in AD 49, and is identified with the event described
by Luke in Acts
chapter 18 verse 2.
Then, in
his 'Lives
of the Caesars', Suetonius says (26:2) of the fire of Rome
in AD 64, that:
Punishment
by
Nero
was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a
new and mischievous superstition.
Although Suetonius does not provide direct historical evidence for
Christ, he does provide evidence for the existence of a significant
Christian community in the capital of the empire by the 60s AD (i.e.
just after the end of the book of Acts). He also provides possible
evidence for the existence of a Christian community there as early as
AD 49.
Back to 'Written sources outside the Bible'
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