Latest articles byDr. Zachary Porcu
Is “love conquers all” in the Bible?
There are a lot of little catchy sayings that may seem like they’re from the Bible, but actually aren’t. A great example is “hate the sin, love the sinner” which comes from one of the letters of St. Augustine: “cum dilectione h...
The Baptism of Poland: Unification and Christianization
Mieszko I was born around AD 930 and ruled from 960 until 992—over thirty years. He was baptized on Holy Saturday, April 14, 966, which serves as a good official date for the Christianization of Poland—at least the beginning of...
Tychicus of the Seventy Apostles: The Bishop of Colophon
Tychicus was one of the Seventy Apostles mentioned in the New Testament. While you might call the Twelve Apostles Jesus’ “inner circle,” the Seventy were something of an outer circle that was nevertheless important in the minis...
Missio Dei: A Protestant Movement Redefining the Church
Missio Dei is the name of a broad theological movement among several branches of Protestantism. It was popularized by Presbyterian and other Reformed churches, but there are examples from Lutherans and other traditional Protest...
What is a Pastor Emeritus? Should they exist?
“Emeritus” is a title that’s occasionally given to someone after they retire. It’s a way of giving honor to someone by allowing them to keep their title, especially if they continue to work in a smaller capacity. The word comes...
What is the meaning of Jehovah Shammah?
Jehovah Shammah is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase יְהוָה שָׁמָּה, which means “God is there.” The phrase is the same as “Yahweh Shammah” because “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are both variations of the same Hebrew word. Ancie...
“I Believe in God the Father”: Creeds and Controversies
If you’ve been around any older Christian traditions, such as Catholicism, or even some Lutheran or Methodist groups, you’ve probably heard them talk about “the Creed.” The general idea behind a creed is that it’s an official s...
Apollos in the Bible: Convert, Missionary, Bishop
Everyone knows about Jesus’ Twelve Disciples, but there were also a group called “the Seventy” who were also followers of Jesus. They came from a number of different backgrounds, and ended up playing pivotal roles in the format...