From Jerusalem’s Fall to Constantine’s Rise | Jonathan Edwards

An episode of the Reformed Thinking podcast, hosted by Edison Wu, titled "From Jerusalem’s Fall to Constantine’s Rise | Jonathan Edwards" was published on January 6, 2026 and runs 34 minutes.

January 6, 2026 ·34m · Reformed Thinking

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Summary

Deep Dive into A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards - From Christ's Resurrection to the End of the World - The Success of Redemption from the Destruction of Jerusalem, to the Time of ConstantineThe history of the gospel from the destruction of Jerusalem to the reign of Constantine is defined by intense opposition and miraculous growth. Following the fall of Jerusalem, the Roman Empire became the primary adversary of the church. This opposition took two forms: intellectual ridicule from philosophers who viewed a crucified Savior as foolishness, and physical violence through ten general persecutions. Despite millions being martyred and tortured, the church flourished, proving the adage that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."By the third century, Christianity had permeated every level of Roman society, from the army to the senate. This era saw the silencing of famous pagan oracles and the eventual rise of Constantine, who embraced the faith after a vision of a celestial cross. His reign marked a massive revolution; he abolished heathenism, dismantled idols, and granted the church unprecedented peace and authority. This shift was so profound that it was likened to the fall of Satan’s kingdom and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.The author contends that the success of the gospel provides an irrefutable argument for its divine origin. Human philosophy and reason had failed for ages to bring mankind to the knowledge of the true God, yet the gospel succeeded where they could not. Furthermore, the fact that a few unlearned fishermen were able to conquer the world’s most powerful empire through patience and suffering, rather than military force, demonstrates the power of God. This historical triumph was not a matter of chance but the fulfillment of specific predictions made by Christ and his apostles, confirming that the scriptures are the authentic word of God.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730

Episode Description

The history of the gospel from the destruction of Jerusalem to the reign of Constantine is defined by intense opposition and miraculous growth. Following the fall of Jerusalem, the Roman Empire became the primary adversary of the church. This opposition took two forms: intellectual ridicule from philosophers who viewed a crucified Savior as foolishness, and physical violence through ten general persecutions. Despite millions being martyred and tortured, the church flourished, proving the adage that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."

By the third century, Christianity had permeated every level of Roman society, from the army to the senate. This era saw the silencing of famous pagan oracles and the eventual rise of Constantine, who embraced the faith after a vision of a celestial cross. His reign marked a massive revolution; he abolished heathenism, dismantled idols, and granted the church unprecedented peace and authority. This shift was so profound that it was likened to the fall of Satan’s kingdom and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

The author contends that the success of the gospel provides an irrefutable argument for its divine origin. Human philosophy and reason had failed for ages to bring mankind to the knowledge of the true God, yet the gospel succeeded where they could not. Furthermore, the fact that a few unlearned fishermen were able to conquer the world’s most powerful empire through patience and suffering, rather than military force, demonstrates the power of God. This historical triumph was not a matter of chance but the fulfillment of specific predictions made by Christ and his apostles, confirming that the scriptures are the authentic word of God.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainer

Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdw

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730