Hippolytus was a student of Irenaeus, and he spent his entire life trying to understand the meaning of the words written by those who knew Jesus. He thought he knew Jesus’s purpose. He read many of the ancient scrolls with great concern and was not afraid to challenge the decrees of the pope. For many years, he disagreed with the leniency of the church and challenged several popes concerning absolution granted to those who committed adultery or murder. He became known as the first antipope...

The Great Constantine was the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. His mother, Helena, set a great example for him, and they remained close even during Helena’s exile. Constantine allowed freedom of religion within the empire and was eventually baptized. He was a great warrior and tried diligently to please his mother. The convening of the bishops at Nicaea, the new creed, and the enforcement of orthodox religion resulted in many of the Christian documents used in Northern Africa t...

Polycarp was a priest and a professor. After his mentor died, he assumed the research project of locating and interviewing those who spent time with Jesus. When he located John, Jesus’ disciple, in Ephesus, he worked with him and learned about Jesus from John. He dedicated his life to accumulating scrolls and artifacts concerning Jesus’ life in an attempt to ensure Jesus’ message was correctly taught to future priests. His work led directly to the formation of the books that are contained ...

Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. His mother, Helena, was a great example for him. She endured exile by her husband but remained close to her son. Constantine brought freedom of religion to the empire and eventually was baptized. He was a great warrior and tried diligently to please his mother. The convening of the bishops at Nicaea, the new creed, and the enforcement of orthodox religion resulted in many of the Christian documents used in Northern ...

In an effort to stimulate your imagination, I have written a series of books concerning the formation of the Christian Church.Our understanding of Christianity was probably formed when we attended Sunday school. Hopefully, what we learned was based on the principles of the Bible. The Bible’s New Testament provides us with a disjointed series of stories about Jesus. The stories are incomplete and have caused me to be concerned about the incidents not preserved in history. Some will ...

Polycarp’s story originates in Philippi during the middle of the first century and concludes after the middle of the second century. The story involves birth, love, travel, religion, and death. Polycarp’s father Augustus was killed while serving in the Roman Army. His mother, Dianna, was a strong willed woman and didn’t remarry. She and her attendant, Rachael, raised Polycarp and his three sisters. Polycarp became a priest and a professor. He was a student of John’s and spent time with him...

When John joined his brother, James, and they traveled with John the Baptist, he was the youngest disciple. John and James were part of Jesus’ ministry for three years, and then they were instrumental in forming the early church. Long after Jerusalem was destroyed, John wrote Revelation while exiled on Patmos. Eventually, Nerva, the Roman Emperor, freed John and he was taken to Ephesus. During his last years, he taught, preached and wrote about his travels with Jesus. He was the last of Je...

When John joined his brother, James, and they traveled with John the Baptist, he was the youngest disciple. John and James were part of Jesus’ ministry for three years, and then they were instrumental in forming the early church. Long after Jerusalem was destroyed, John wrote Revelation while exiled on Patmos. Eventually, Nerva, the Roman Emperor, freed John and he was taken to Ephesus. During his last years, he taught, preached and wrote about his travels with Jesus. He was the last of Je...

Polycarp’s story originates in Philippi during the middle of the first century and concludes after the middle of the second century. The story involves birth, love, travel, religion, and death. Polycarp’s father Augustus was killed while serving in the Roman Army. His mother, Dianna, was a strong willed woman and didn’t remarry. She and her attendant, Rachael, raised Polycarp and his three sisters. Polycarp became a priest and a professor. He was a student of John’s and spent time with him...

Lucian was born on a farm in the upper Euphrates River valley during the middle of the third century. This book is a story about three priests: Paul, Eusebius, and Lucian. The story concerns birth, love, travel, religion, and death. The farm was owned by Thomas and his wife, Mary. They had many children, but Lucian was their youngest child. He lived in Samosata with his sister Ruth and her husband, Dr. Luke. Lucian was noted for his critical review of many early New Testament scriptures an...

John Mark was too young to travel with Jesus, but he met him. And after Jesus’s resurrection, he spoke with him on several occasions. He was related to many people who helped form the early stories of Jesus. He traveled extensively with Barnabas and Peter, and for a short time, he traveled with Paul.

Augustine was the son of wealthy parents and born in Northern Africa. He was educated in Africa and sought a teaching career in Rome. Eventually he relocated to Milan and met his mentor and great friend Ambrose. After his mother and son died, he returned to Africa, donated much of his inheritance to the church, and worked as a priest. He was named the Bishop of Hippo and wrote many theses that influenced the direction of the growth of the Christian Church.