FACTS

In this co-recorded discussion with Susan Sonna, we take a careful, historically grounded look at Origen of Alexandria, cutting through centuries of caricature and polemics to ask a more basic question: Who was Origen actually, and how should the Church understand his legacy?Rather than treating Origen as either a misunderstood saint or a condemned heretic, this conversation focuses on primary sources, historical context, and reception history. We explore Origen’s role as a foundational biblical exegete, his influence on the Nicene Fathers, and the crucial distinction between Origen’s own theology and the later Origenist controversies that erupted centuries after his death.Special attention is given to: • Origen’s method of biblical interpretation • His Christology and doctrine of the eternal Word • How figures like Athanasius and the Cappadocians engaged him • The difference between speculative exercises and settled doctrine • And why later condemnations often reflect sixth-century debates, not third-century realitiesThe goal of the discussion is not to rehabilitate Origen uncritically, but to redeem the historical conversation—to read him as the early Church read him: critically, appreciatively, and with theological discernment.This episode is for listeners who want a more precise, historically responsible account of Origen, beyond soundbites and inherited assumptions.If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

I joined John DeRosa on Classical Theism to discuss the reliability and authorship of the Pastoral Epistles—1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus—and why the traditional view that St. Paul wrote them remains historically strong.

In this conversation we walk through:

How I got into New Testament textual criticism and early patristic sources

What the “Pastorals” are and why scholars group them together

Modern scholarly views on the Pauline corpus

The earliest evidence for Pauline authorship (and why it matters)

Major objections: vocabulary, church structure, and “developed theology”

Additional lines of evidence often ignored in popular treatments

Permission granted to share this interview on my channel. Here is the interview on John's Channel: https://www.classicaltheism.com/facts/

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Was England’s break with Rome really about religious freedom—or about power and authority?

In this controversial episode, Pat and Stephen uncover what actually happened between the English monarchy and the papacy during the Reformation. Drawing on the scholarship of Eamon Duffy, we challenge the familiar narrative of “Bloody” Mary I and tolerant Elizabeth I, showing instead that Catholic faith in England remained vibrant and deeply rooted long after the Reformation began.

We examine Elizabeth I’s Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, the suppression of the Catholic Mass, and the enforcement of religious conformity—revealing a slow, reluctant reform imposed from above. At the center of the episode is Pope Pius V’s 1570 bull, Regnans in Excelsis, which formally excommunicated Elizabeth I, declared her a heretic, and released her subjects from allegiance.

Finally, we explore how the bull backfired—strengthening Elizabeth’s rule, hardening persecution of Catholics, and cementing the schism between England and Rome that still exists today.

Link to the Papal Bull: https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius05/p5regnans.htm

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Why did 2 Peter face more resistance than nearly any other New Testament book—and how did it ultimately secure its place in the Christian canon?

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Boyce traces the long and contested journey of 2 Peter, one of the most debated epistles in early Christianity. From early doubts about authorship and style, to its uneven reception in the East and West, we examine why this letter stood on the margins for centuries while others were quickly received.

We explore:

Early patristic hesitation and silence surrounding 2 Peter

How figures like Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome evaluated the letter

The role of apostolic authority, theological content, and ecclesial usage

Which church councils and canonical lists ultimately included 2 Peter—and why

What this controversy reveals about how the canon was actually formed

Far from being a simple rubber-stamp process, the inclusion of 2 Peter exposes the rigor, caution, and theological criteria employed by the early Church when discerning Scripture.

This episode challenges modern assumptions about the canon and asks a deeper question:
What does it really mean for a book to be “Scripture,” and who decides?
A must-listen for anyone interested in biblical canon, early church history, and the complexities behind the New Testament we hold today.

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7

Why was King Henry VIII excommunicated, and was it really just about divorce? In this episode of FACTS, we examine the full historical record behind Henry VIII’s break with Rome—from his marriages and annulment request to the final papal sentence issued by Pope Paul III.

This episode covers:
• Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the papal dispensation
• Why Pope Clement VII never granted the annulment
• How royal supremacy, not marriage alone, caused the schism
• Rome’s repeated warnings and delayed judgment
• The bull of excommunication issued by Pope Paul III in 1538

Drawing on primary sources and early modern papal records, Stephen Boyce and Pat May challenge the claim that Henry VIII was never truly excommunicated or that the English Reformation began as a theological reform. Instead, it shows how questions of authority, jurisdiction, and ecclesiology shaped the break with Rome.

#HenryVIII #PopePaulIII #Excommunication #BreakWithRome #EnglishReformation

If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7