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A Journey into Early Christian History

A Journey into Early Christian History

by Nicole

History Christianity

Season 1

The Great Apostasy

Step into the past, challenge the myths, and discover Christianity in full color. Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/NicoleHills

What Happened to the Original Christian Faith?

The first Christians lived in a world without formal creeds, councils, or denominational lines. Their faith was shaped by Scripture, by the teachings of Jesus, and by the shared life of small, scattered communities trying to follow him in a challenging world. In this opening episode, we explore what those earliest believers actually faced, how they understood their identity, and how their first major crisis tested their unity and trust in God. This is a simple, historical look at the beginnings of Christian belief—without assumptions, without pressure, and with respect for the diverse ways people today approach the Bible and early Church history.

Who Compiled the Bible? The Story Most People Never Hear

Who actually gave us the Bible? In this episode, we trace the real historical process behind how the Scriptures were written, preserved, copied, and recognized by the early Church. Instead of myths or oversimplified timelines, we explore the lived reality of the first Christians and the communities that safeguarded these texts long before any councils or committees appeared. Special thanks to Jimmy Akin, whose clear explanations and careful scholarship continue to inspire thoughtful conversations about Scripture, history, and how the Bible came to be.

Did Early Christian Beliefs Slowly Shift Over Time?

A look at how subtle ideas can drift into the early Church and quietly reshape belief. This episode explores the slow rise of a creeping heresy, why it took root, and how early Christians learned to recognize and respond to teachings that seemed harmless at first glance.

Did the First Christians Face a Crisis We Rarely Talk About?

A clear look at the earliest Christian community as it faced its first major crisis. This episode explores how the first believers navigated conflict, preserved unity, and laid the foundations that would shape the Church long before later controversies erupted.

Some Early Christian Groups Disagreed About Jesus

A concise look at two early Christian movements; the Ebionites, who redefined Jesus’ identity, and the Docetists, who claimed He only seemed human and how these competing views shaped the Church’s earliest debates about who Jesus truly was.

Some Early Christians Had Very Different Ideas About Jesus

A clear look at Adoptionism’s claim that Jesus was only God’s chosen man and Gnosticism’s alluring “secret knowledge,” and how both movements challenged the early Church’s understanding of who Jesus truly is.

When Beliefs Shifted: Modalism and the Rise of Trinitarian Thought

A clear, narrative look at Modalism—the early Christian belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were simply different “modes” of one divine Person. This episode explores why the idea spread, why it created confusion, and how the early Church responded to protect its understanding of Jesus.

Did Some Early Christians Believe Differently Than the Rest?

A clear look at Montanism, the prophetic movement that swept through the early Church with bold claims of new revelations and a stricter moral vision. This episode explores why it spread, why it alarmed early Christian leaders, and how the Church ultimately responded.

Did an Early Bishop Really Change How Christians Understood Jesus?

A clear look at Paul of Samosata, the 3rd‑century bishop whose teachings redefined the identity of the Son and sparked one of the earliest Christological crises. This episode explores why his ideas spread, how the early Church responded, and what his story reveals about the struggle to understand who Jesus truly is.

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