As ancient Christians followed Jesus’s instruction to spread the gospel, the word spread across the globe to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Far-flung believers developed local traditions using their own cultural resources, developing Jesus’s message in fascinating ways. As a specialist in medieval thought, Dr. Miranda Wilcox says the light of Jesus’s gospel was kept burning through the ages by people who Latter-day Saints can understand as our spiritual forebearers. Wilcox wrote “Medieval Christians,” the Afterword to the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Miranda Wilcox is an associate professor of English and earned her PhD in Medieval Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on early medieval religious culture in Western Europe. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Early Christians believed the return of Christ was imminent. When his return seemed delayed, Paul reassured them that Jesus would return soon, that the righteous would be lifted up, and that the dead would be raised to meet him. As the years continued to pass, Christians developed different interpretations about when Jesus would return and what that return would look like. Here we discuss Frederick’s chapter, “Facing the End: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Millennium” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Nicholas J. Frederick is an Associate Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD in the History of Christianity with an emphasis in Mormon Studies from Claremont Graduate University. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Early Christians were preoccupied with death and what comes after. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was affirmed in scripture, which also contains interesting insight into what they could expect. But they were also let to puzzle through many questions, like why did Jesus descend into hell? What was the nature of eternal punishment and how could it be squared with God’s love? What awaited the righteous after death? In this episode, we discuss Kirby’s chapter, “Living In the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell, and Places Between,” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints. 

Share

About the Guest

D. Jill Kirby is an associate professor of Religious Studies at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She earned her PhD at The Catholic University of America. She specializes in apocalyptic literature and the intersection of science and religion. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

When Latter-day Saints think of “work for the dead,” we immediately think of performing ordinances on their behalf in temples. Dr. Catherine Gines Taylor shows that ancient Christians had a much more expansive understanding of what work for the dead could include, in ways that can resonate to the present. Through prayer, good works, memorial meals, vigil keeping, and in beautiful works of art, early Christians stayed connected to loved ones who had passed on. We discuss Taylor’s chapter, “Inclining Christian Hearts: Work for the Dead,” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Catherine Gines Taylor was the Hugh W. Nibley Postdoctoral Fellow at BYU’s Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. She specializes in late antique Christian art history and iconography. She earned her PhD in art history at the University of Manchester. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

What does it mean to become like God? Dr. Daniel Becerra says early Christians thought of that question in terms of the past, present, and future. Looking back they thought of Jesus bridging the gap between human and divine. In the future they looked forward to reunion with God in a glorified state. They also thought about how they could become like God in the present, through small acts of spiritual discipline that would help them develop a Christlike character. Becerra wrote the chapter, “Becoming Like God: Incarnation, Moral Formation, and Eternal Progression” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Daniel Becerra is an Assistant Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He received a PhD in religion (early Christianity) and an MA in religious studies from Duke University, a MTS in New Testament/early Christianity from Harvard Divinity School, and a BA in ancient Near Eastern studies from Brigham Young University.

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

One of the most frequently discussed themes in Christian history concerns the relationship between grace, salvation, and human behavior. How does Jesus’s atonement work? How are we saved by grace? What role do human works play? Dr. Cecilia M. Peek takes us back to the early days of Christianity to take a look at these questions again. She also lays out different ways Christians understood Jesus’s saving work–from illuminator, to restorer, to victor, to victim and sacrifice. We discuss her chapter, “Receiving Christ: Atonement, Grace, and Eternal Salvation” in the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Cecilia M. Peek is an associate professor of Classical Studies and the coordinator of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies program at Brigham Young University. She earned her master’s and PhD in Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology from the University of California, Berkeley.

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Ancient Christians were faced with an incomprehensible puzzle: Jesus was human, and Jesus was divine. How was that possible? They put some of their best thought into solving that mystery. Dr. Jason R. Combs says for Latter-day Saints, there is value in learning how our ancient Christian ancestors talked about these questions—even when they differ from us. We discuss his chapter, “Divine Nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Jason R. Combs is assistant professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He earned his PhD in religious studies from UNC Chapel Hill, focusing on the history of early Christianity. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Early Christians were fascinated by the nature of God and God’s relationship to humans. They had stories from the scriptures, but they didn’t have a clear or unified explanation about humanity, human nature, and their exact relationship to God. Dr. Gaye Strathearn takes us through the history of Christian thought in response to the question, what makes humans human? We’re looking at her chapter in the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints, called “Human Nature: Creation and the Fall.”

About the Guest

Gaye Strathearn is professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and associate dean in Religious Education. She earned her PhD in Religion, with an emphasis in New Testament and Christian Origins, from Claremont Graduate University.

Share

About the Guest

Gaye Strathearn is professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and associate dean in Religious Education. She earned her PhD in Religion, with an emphasis in New Testament and Christian Origins, from Claremont Graduate University.

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

The beliefs of early Christians are deeply woven together with their practices–the rituals they performed in worship of God. Mark D. Ellison takes us back to the first few centuries of Christianity, where believers recited the Lord’s prayer, followed a sacred calendar with feasts and celebrations, lit lamps at the close of each day, practiced baptism, and more. 

Share

About the Guest

Mark D. Ellison is associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s from BYU, a master’s in religious studies (Bible and Archaeology) from the University of Southern Florida, and a master’s and PhD in Early Christianity and Early Christian Art from Vanderbilt University. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Early Christians didn’t have wonderful or ornate buildings to gather in during the first decades. They met in small homes and living spaces. Matthew J. Grey takes us back to these early house churches and tells us what worship was like there. As Christianity spread, new buildings replaced the old, which reflected development in belief and worship. In this episode we discuss Grey’s chapter, “Sacred Spaces and Places of Worship: From House Churches to Monumental Basilicas,” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Matthew J. Grey is professor of ancient scripture and affiliate faculty member of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies program at Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD in ancient Mediterranean religions from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

“With too many people offering revelations, the message of the faith quickly spirals out of control [but] with too strict control over revelation, the institution suppresses the voice of the Holy Spirit.”

Early Christians loved scripture, particularly what became the Old Testament. But Thomas A. Wayment says they were also open to new revelation. With diverse views about doctrine spreading, the church sought to bring greater unity to the faith by selecting new scripture to add to the canon. We discuss Wayment’s chapter, “Creating Canon: Authority, New Prophecy, and Sacred Texts,” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Thomas A. Wayment is Professor of Classics in the Department of Comparative Arts and Letters at Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD in New Testament Studies from Claremont Graduate University in 2000. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

“Offices are constantly evolving in a living church, they're constantly adjusting to revelation and to the needs of the people, and that’s okay. It really does open possibilities for women in the future.”

In the Greco-Roman world of early Christianity, women were considered inferior to men. Dr. Ariel Bybee Laughton says Christianity offered new ways to think about the roles of women in society, and their power and authority waxed and waned over time. We discuss her chapter “Church Organization: Priesthood Office and Women’s Leadership Roles” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints.

Share

About the Guest

Ariel Bybee Laughton is an independent historian in Houston. She earned her bachelor’s in history from BYU, and her master’s and PhD in religion from Duke University. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Share

About the Guest

Kristian S. Heal is a Research Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University. He earned a PhD in Theology from the University of Birmingham. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie

Subscribe now

Welcome to Wayfare’s first podcast, Meet the Early-Day Saints, a limited series produced and hosted by Blair Hodges.

In Meet the Early-day Saints, Blair will take you on a journey through time to meet the earliest disciples of Jesus. You’ll learn from a wide range of esteemed Latter-day Saint scholars who reveal the similarities and differences between ancient Christian faith and ours today. Throughout the series, some of your common assumptions may be challenged and in the process you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each guest is a contributor to the new book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints, from the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship.

In our first episode, we ask what if the “Great Apostasy” wasn’t so great after all? Latter-day Saint scholar Jason R. Combs invites us to revisit our assumptions about the Christians who came before us. We discuss his chapter “Understanding Ancient Christians, Apostasy, and Restoration,” from the book Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and the series!

About the Guest

Jason R. Combs is assistant professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He earned his PhD in religious studies from UNC Chapel Hill, focusing on the history of early Christianity. 

About the Host

Blair Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (journalism) at the University of Utah and a master’s degree in religious studies at Georgetown University. He hosts Fireside with Blair Hodges and previously hosted the Maxwell Institute Podcast at Brigham Young University.

Cover art by Charlotte Condie