5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols

Today, David Hume is known primarily for his skeptical philosophy. But in his own day, Hume received more recognition for his historical writings. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines Hume's account of the Westminster Assembly. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/david-hume-the-historian/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Minist...

For 35 years, James Strong labored to catalog more than 14,000 Hebrew and Greek words into the exhaustive concordance that bears his name. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines Strong's influence on biblical studies and Bible translation. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/who-is-strong/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministr...

Is the Jesus of the Gospels different from the Christ taught by the Apostle Paul? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols outlines the controversy that drove J. Gresham Machen to write his monumental book on the origin of Christianity. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/pauls-religion/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate:...

The more Isaac Newton studied God's universe, the more he was led to worship the Creator. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the father of modern science. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/isaac-newton/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

The great cathedrals of Europe have witnessed centuries of church history, and each has stories of its own to tell. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols takes us on a journey to five of these iconic structures. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/5-cathedrals/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinch...

While Europe was embroiled in World War II, brilliant essays flowed from the pen of C.S. Lewis. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines some of the other writings that came from the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/c-s-lewis-essayist/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https...

When we hear the word "dispensational," our thoughts might turn to discussions of prophecy and the rapture. But there's far more to this theological movement. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols defines four major features of dispensationalism. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/dispensationalism/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Mini...

When a health crisis ravages the land, God's people are presented with a unique opportunity to take inventory of their spiritual lives. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols observes how Francis Grimke guided his congregation through the Spanish flu of 1918. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/faith-in-times-of-plague-grimke/ A donor-supported...

Ours is not the first age in which Christians have faced the danger of viruses and infectious disease. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols assesses how Martin Luther advised his church to trust in God during a deadly outbreak of the bubonic plague. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/faith-in-times-of-plague-luther/ A donor-supported outreac...

In a time of crisis, will we give up all hope? Or will we trust that God is orchestrating all things to accomplish His good purposes in the world? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols turns to Augustine of Hippo as an example of steadfast faith amid challenging circumstances. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-church-in-times-of-crisis/...

How good is your Latin? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols defines five Latin terms that have been used by Christians through the ages to describe key theological truths. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/5-latin-words/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Every one of the Psalms is about Christ, so every psalm has something to say to the church. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols highlights five Protestant Reformers who wrote commentaries on the book of Psalms. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/5-reformers-on-the-psalms/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://ww...

In 1932, a report was issued declaring that the church needed a new mission that represented the realities of the 20th century. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols explains why J. Gresham Machen's commitment to the gospel required him to part ways with a changing denomination. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/re-thinking-missions/ A donor...

Can you explain the difference between Augustinianism, Pelagianism, and Semi-Pelagianism? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols outlines three overarching views in church history of the relationship between sin and grace. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/3-types-of-theology/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https:/...

Just as the existence of a wristwatch requires a watchmaker, so the cosmos necessitates the existence of God. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols walks through William Paley's teleological argument for God's existence. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-watchmaker/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5...

What is disestablishmentarianism? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols surveys the relationship between church and state throughout the centuries. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/a-very-long-word/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

As a brand-new pastor just out of college, Augustus Toplady wrote those memorable words, "Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling." On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols retells the short life of this London pastor and poet. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/augustus-toplady/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries....

"Pascal," the name of a programming language and a unit for measuring internal pressure, were both named after Blaise Pascal. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols discusses this French mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and theologian. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/blaise-pascal/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Do...

In 1885, seven British aristocrats committed themselves to delivering the gospel to the ends of the earth. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols presents the men who have been called the Dream Team of Missions. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-cambridge-seven/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minut...

Through his study of Scripture and archeology, Sir William Ramsay stunned his liberal colleagues by concluding that the New Testament is reliable. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces this biblical scholar from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/sir-william-ramsay/ A donor supported outreach...

What are some of your favorite moments from 5 Minutes in Church History? On this special bonus episode, Dr. Nichols, Lee Webb, and Nathan W. Bingham reflect on the past six years of this podcast. For a limited time, you can download Dr. Nichols' ebook 5 Minutes in Church History for free. Visit https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/freeoffer to receive your copy.

At the end of the fourth century, the church father Jerome led a team of translators to produce a Latin edition of the Bible. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines the Vulgate. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-vulgate/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1041/5-minutes-in-church-...

In 1550, Robertus Stephanus published what has come to be known as the Textus Receptus, the edition of the Greek New Testament that would form the basis of Bible translations for centuries. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Stephen Nichols conveys the importance of this giant in Bible printing history. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/robertus-stephanus A...

From the birth of Christian rock to the rise of the Christian bookstore industry, American evangelicalism was significantly shaped by the Jesus People in the 1970s. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Stephen Nichols discusses this unique and influential movement. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-jesus-people/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Minis...

Prior to his twentieth birthday, Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions to guide and guard the direction of his life. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols analyzes some of Edwards' resolutions related to time management, Bible reading, and growing in self-control. Read the transcript. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries.