Artist’s 16th century sketch of the Apostle Paul writing in the home of Priscilla and Aquila (This file comes from Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom.) COGwriter Priscilla and Aquila were early converts to Christianity that were married and who worked together. I have […]
Category: Church History
“I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Did Jesus teach eternal fiery punishment? James Tabor, Bart Erhman, and Bob Thiel respond
COGwriter A reader sent me the following: Bart Ehrman’s View In his book “Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife,” Ehrman outlines the following regarding Jesus’ teachings: The Teaching of Annihilation: Ehrman argues that when Jesus spoke of eternal fire or a furnace, he meant that the wicked would be burned up and cease to exist—not that […]
Pope Leo XIV excommunicates SSPX bishops–but was Latin Mass original?
Priest conducting Latin Mass (Photo Boston from via Wikipedia) COGwriter Although Pope Leo XIV warned them not to do it, a ‘Latin Mass’ group consecrated some to be bishops: Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicates bishops July 2, 2026 VATICAN CITY — The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist society […]
Real Christians have been called names for striving to be faithful
(UnSplash photo) COGwriter Jesus said: 25 If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! (Matthew 10:25, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted) Yes, Jesus said that His faithful followers would be called all kind of names. Satan wants you to not be part of […]
Is what the CCOG teaches about the first hundred years of Christianity accurate?
(Photo of Ancient Ephesus by Joyce Thiel) COGwriter Former Church of God (COG) member Lonnie Hendrix, now a frequent anti-COG critic, posted the following: The Real Story of the First One Hundred Years of the Church Shortly after Herbert Armstrong became affiliated with the Church of God, Seventh-Day in Oregon, two of his associates collaborated […]
Roman Catholic scholars recognize that the original Christian faith differs from their religion as well as Protestantism
COGwriter Was the Christian church originally Greco-Roman-Catholic or like the Protestant churches or did it more resemble what has been called Jewish-Christianity as is practiced in the Continuing Church of God? Was it more ‘Jewish’ than many think or was the early Christian church led by a pontiff from Rome? If the Apostle Peter was […]
Gospel writer Mark and Apostolic Succession
The Casket Claimed to be that of Mark of Alexandria in Venice (Photo by Joyce Thiel) COGwriter My wife Joyce and I have visited St. Mark’s Square and the related church in Venice, Italy on several occasions. People in Venice repeatedly have been told, and often believe, that they have the body of Mark, the […]
Sermon: Pionius: Martyred Faithful Leader
(ChatGPT illustration of Roman Gibbet/Gallows) COGwriter Are you familiar with the third century martyr Pionius of Smyrna and what he taught? To assist with that as well as being a faithful enduring Christian, the Continuing Church of God put together the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel: 1:19:06 Pionius: Martyred Faithful Leader Pionius was a […]
What church has laying on of hands succession?
(Photo by BibleHub) COGwriter The Church of Rome is claiming laying on of hands apostolic succession has again occurred in their church: The apostolic succession continues May 22, 2025 Since bishops have no children, though one could sarcastically point to more than a few exceptions in church history, apostolic succession refers not to a legal […]
Did any Sabbatarian/Church of God leaders try to confront the Bishops of Rome?
COGwriter Growing up as a Roman Catholic, although I recall being taught about the Protestant movement against the Church of Rome, I do not recall ever being told about Sabbatarians who confronted the leadership of that church. Did any Sabbatarian/Church of God leaders try to confront the Bishops of Rome? Yes. But not at first. […]