Through the Church Fathers: March 22

The apostles preached Christ to the ends of the earth—and nearly all of them paid for it with their blood. In today’s readings, we move from the outward courage of the apostles to the inward struggle of the soul, and then to the careful precision of Trinitarian theology. From John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, we hear the sobering accounts of Philip, Matthew, James the Less, Matthias, Andrew, Mark, Peter, Paul, Jude, Bartholomew, Thomas, Luke, Simon, John, and Barnabas. Their deaths differ—crucifixion, stoning, beheading, exile—but their witness is unified: the Gospel was worth their lives. Augustine then turns the spotlight inward in The Confessions, Book 5, Chapter 10, exposing his former Manichean error—imagining evil as a rival substance and even picturing God in spatial, material terms. His confession reminds us how easily piety can be distorted when imagination outruns truth. Finally, Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 36, Article 1, asks whether “Holy Ghost” is a proper name. He shows that while “spirit” and “holy” are common terms, by ecclesial usage they rightly designate the third Person who proceeds as love. Together these readings move from martyrdom, to repentance, to doctrinal clarity—reminding us that the faith is lived, examined, and confessed.Readings: John Foxe — Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Apostolic Martyrdom Accounts (Sections 3–17) Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 5, Chapter 10 (Section 20) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 36, Article 1Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#ThroughTheChurchFathers #Foxe #Augustine #Aquinas #ChurchHistory #TrinitarianTheology