What if you could sit across from someone who spoke with those who walked with Jesus, but everything he told you sounded almost too strange to believe? Papias of Hierapolis claimed to preserve eyewitness testimony from the apostolic generation, including bizarre sayings of Jesus about supernatural vineyards and a grotesque account of Judas' death that will haunt you. This bishop's writings have vanished from history, leaving only fragments that raise an urgent question: Was he a faithful guardian of apostolic truth, or a well-meaning collector of legendary embellishments? Tune in now to learn why the early Church couldn't decide either, and why it matters for how we understand the Gospels today.

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For nearly two millennia, Christianity's oldest instruction manual lay hidden in a dusty monastery until its explosive rediscovery in 1873 shocked the scholarly world. Written when some believers may have personally known the apostles, this lost text reveals how the earliest Christians prayed, worshiped, baptized, and protected their communities from infiltrators. What surprising practices did they observe that challenge our modern assumptions? And what urgent warning about Christ's return did they leave for us? Discover the ancient handbook that bridges the gap between the New Testament and the church we know today in this episode on The Didache.

Connect & Go Deeper

Join the ConversationHead over to our ⁠private Facebook community⁠, where listeners discuss episodes, grapple with historical questions, and share insights on how these ancient stories shape our faith today. It's a place for genuine conversation with fellow church history enthusiasts, from seasoned scholars to curious newcomers.

Get Episodes & More in Your InboxSubscribe to the free ⁠Substack ⁠and receive each podcast episode delivered directly to your email every week, complete with full transcripts. During off-weeks, you'll also receive a devotional blog post exploring spiritual themes connected to recent episodes—perfect for personal reflection or small group discussion.

Unlock Premium ContentBecome a paid ⁠Substack⁠ subscriber to access devotional/historical study guides for each episode. Your subscription directly supports the creation of more episodes and helps keep church history accessible to everyone.

Buy Me a CoffeeWant to support the podcast with a one-time gift or ongoing contribution? Head to ⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠, where you can encourage this work in whatever way makes sense for you. Every contribution helps cover production costs and makes future episodes possible.

For any other questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to Jared at thechurchhistoryproject@gmail.com.

What kind of pastor, arrested and chained for execution, spends his final journey not begging for mercy but writing letters to churches—urging them not to save him? Ignatius of Antioch embraced martyrdom with a strength that both inspires and challenges us today. In this episode, we follow his harrowing journey from arrest to the Roman Colosseum and explore the seven powerful letters he penned along the way. His story raises an uncomfortable question: what are we truly willing to sacrifice for Christ?

Connect & Go Deeper

Join the Conversation
Head over to our private Facebook community, where listeners discuss episodes, grapple with historical questions, and share insights on how these ancient stories shape our faith today. It's a place for genuine conversation with fellow church history enthusiasts, from seasoned scholars to curious newcomers.

Get Episodes & More in Your Inbox
Subscribe to the free Substack and receive each podcast episode delivered directly to your email every week, complete with full transcripts. During off-weeks, you'll also receive a devotional blog post exploring spiritual themes connected to recent episodes—perfect for personal reflection or small group discussion.

Unlock Premium Content
Become a paid Substack subscriber to access devotional/historical study guides for each episode. Your subscription directly supports the creation of more episodes and helps keep church history accessible to everyone.

Buy Me a Coffee
Want to support the podcast with a one-time gift or ongoing contribution? Head to Buy Me a Coffee, where you can encourage this work in whatever way makes sense for you. Every contribution helps cover production costs and makes future episodes possible.

For any other questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to Jared at thechurchhistoryproject@gmail.com.