5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols

What did Martin Luther say to those who taught that salvation could be obtained through the merits of the saints? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols explains Luther's gospel-centered response. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/252-the-95-theses-part-2/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurch...

Martin Luther revered the whole book of Psalms, but there was one psalm that the German Reformer cherished most of all. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols and Dr. W. Robert Godfrey discuss Luther's "own beloved psalm." Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/242-luther-on-psalm-118/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: htt...

Where does the spiritual fruit that we bear in our Christian lives come from? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols discusses a noteworthy sermon that Martin Luther preached on two kinds of righteousness. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/236-two-kinds-of-righteousness/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5...

Martin Luther didn't plan on getting married, but that changed when he met Katharina von Bora. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols offers a glimpse into the marriage of this Reformation couple--one filled with love, respect, and intentionality. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/244-martin-and-katie/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier M...

After her missionary husband was martyred, she returned to serve the tribe that had killed him. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols recalls the extraordinary life of Elisabeth Elliot. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/344-elisabeth-elliot/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/do...

Sometimes God can use a single verse from His Word to draw us to Himself. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols looks at a verse that transformed the life of the English bishop J.C. Ryle: Ephesians 2:8. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/332-jc-ryle/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistor...

Many ancient Greeks and Romans believed that history is subject to the arbitrary governance of fate. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols considers how one scholar from old Princeton responded to this idea. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/400-what-governs-history/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5min...

Monica desired only one thing before she left this world: to see her son become a Christian. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the mother of Augustine--a woman faithful in prayer. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/30-monica-a-mothers-prayer/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesi...

While Europe was embroiled in World War II, brilliant essays flowed from the pen of C.S. Lewis. Today on our journey back through the archives, 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/384-cs-lewis-essayist/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: ht...

How did a devout monk become a Protestant on the run from the authorities because of his faith? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the life and work of Peter Martyr Vermigli, a daring Reformer. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/102-peter-martyr-vermigli/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://w...

We are witnessing a rise of professing atheists and practical atheism in the 21st century. Where did all this unbelief come from? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols traces the development of atheism in the modern world. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/404-history-of-atheism/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: htt...

The Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his compositions with the initials "JJ" and "SDG." Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols explains the significance of these letters. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/259-johann-sebastian-bach-jj/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhi...

Each translation of the Bible has a unique history of its own. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols visits the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, to take a look at the history of the English Bible. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/349-the-king-james-bible/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesi...

In this podcast, we've observed the history of God's faithfulness to His people over twenty centuries. Today, we begin a journey back through the archives as Dr. Stephen Nichols revisits our very first episode on Augustine's Confessions. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-first-episode/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinc...

The history of the Christian faith is a story for all generations. On this special 500th episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols is joined by Ligonier President Chris Larson to discuss the beginnings of this podcast and the importance of knowing our family history as Christians. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-500th-episode-with-chris-larson/ A...

For hundreds of years, Christians have benefited from the rich theological insights of the Puritans. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols gives special guest Dr. Michael Reeves the challenging assignment of naming one favorite Puritan. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/my-favorite-puritan-with-michael-reeves/ A donor-supported outreach of L...

Martin Luther's reputation as a lover of Scripture precedes him. And one of his favorite books of the Bible was Galatians. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols traces the history of Luther's writings and teachings on this book. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/luther-on-galatians/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate:...

John Newton is famously known for writing the hymn "Amazing Grace." On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols recounts how Newton's love of both music and God's Word prompted him to preach 50 sermons on Handel's Messiah. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/newton-on-handels-messiah/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https:...

Before English textbooks were common in American higher education, many were written in Latin. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols describes how Charles Hodge responded to linguistic shifts at Princeton by writing a three-volume work for his students. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/hodges-systematic-theology/ A donor-supported outreach...

Do you know the story of the only clergyman whose signature is on the Declaration of Independence? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols presents John Witherspoon: university president, esteemed preacher, and American patriot. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/john-witherspoon/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https...

F.F. Bruce was a biblical scholar who traversed the secular academy with devotion to the truth of the gospel. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces a theologian who was marked by his love of God's Word. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ff-bruce/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchur...

In his fervent study of God's truth, Louis Berkhof spent years crafting and refining his systematic theology. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols presents this theologian's life and work. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/louis-berkhof/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donat...

Do you find it challenging to choose a favorite book? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols invites special guest Dr. Michael Reeves to share which five books he would take with him on a deserted island and why. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/deserted-island-with-michael-reeves/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: h...

What five books would you take with you on a deserted island? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols interviews special guest Dr. Harry Reeder about several books that have impacted him. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/deserted-island-with-harry-reeder/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchh...

Upon his conversion to Christianity, William Perkins devoted his life to the preaching of God's Word. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols shares several of Perkins' influential writings, which later impacted many Puritan preachers. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/william-perkins/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate:...