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2026-06-06T00:46:00-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

St. Ambrose (c. 340-397) vs. Sola Scriptura

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:46 am By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information; the following material is not in this book] ***** Protestant apologists, in tackling this topic, very often argue as follows: Church Father X believes in sola Scriptura, because, look, see!: he praises Scripture in this place and that, and another over there, and says that Christians ought to read the Bible to learn theology! Obviously, then, he agrees with the formal Protestant principle of sola Scriptura! Who could possibly doubt it? But this is fallacious and illogical through and through. The proper approach... Read more

Fathers of the Church

apostolic succession

apostolic tradition

authoritative Bible interpretation

Church fathers & apostolic succession

Church fathers & Church authority

Church fathers & ecumenical councils

Church fathers & Scripture

Church fathers & sola Scriptura

Church fathers & the rule of faith

Church fathers & tradition

Fathers & sola Scriptura

infallible Christian authority

2026-06-06T00:46:00-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

King David and Archaeology

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:46 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: Jastrow (2006). Statue of King David (1609–1612) by Nicolas Cordier (1567-1612) in the Borghese Chapel of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Read more

Jews & Judaism & Old Testament

ancient Hebrews

ancient Israelites

ancient Jews

archaeology & the Bible

archaeology of the Old Testament

historical accuracy of the Bible

Khirbet Qeiyafa

King David

King David & archaeology

Mesha Stele

Old Testament

Tel Dan Stele

2026-06-06T00:46:00-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sola Scriptura as Defined by Historic Protestantism

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:46 am By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] Martin Luther (1483-1546) This is my answer to those also who accuse me of rejecting all the holy teachers of the church. I do not reject them. But everyone, indeed, knows that at times they have erred, as men will; therefore, I am ready to trust them only when they give me evidence for their opinions from Scripture, which has never erred. This St. Paul bids me to do in I Thess. 5:21, where he says, “Test... Read more

perspicuity of Scripture

Protestantism & sola Scriptura

2026-06-06T00:45:44-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sola Scriptura: Self-Refuting? (vs. Steve Hays)

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] This is a classic apologetics issue between Catholics and Orthodox on one side, and Protestants on the other, and one, I submit, that Protestants have not sufficiently answered, and, indeed, cannot answer. It’s a fatal objection to their position. Let me run through the logic of this devastating critique of sola Scriptura: 1) The question of sola Scriptura has to do with the rule of faith, which is the method by which Christians can know with... Read more

perspicuity of Scripture

2026-06-06T00:45:44-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Steve Hays, Onan, Bible Commentary, & Contraception

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am By Dave Armstrong

I have written about the issue of Onan and contraception five times: Why Did God Kill Onan? (Bible and Contraception) [2-9-04] Dialogue: Why Did God Kill Onan? (Contraception) [2-13-04] Onan, Contraception, & Two Protestant Bible Dictionaries [2-21-04] Biblical Data Against Contraception: Onan’s Sin and Punishment: a Concise “Catholic” Argument [3-7-14] Bible vs. Contraception: Onan’s Sin and Punishment [National Catholic Register, 5-30-17] It was brought up again today on my blog that the late Steve Hays, a Reformed anti-Catholic apologist, made a “response” to me regarding... Read more

Early Church & contraception

large families

motherhood

Natural Family Planning

2026-06-06T00:00:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hippolytus (Early 3rd c.) & a December 25th Christmas

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:00 am By Dave Armstrong

Two days ago I posted my article, Christmas & Dec. 25th: Not Derived from Saturnalia (Nor from Sol Invictus . . .). In it, I included one of the earliest (in the opinion of many, including Pope Benedict XVI, the earliest) written Christian confirmations that the birthdate of Jesus was believed to be on December 25th. It came from the Church father Hippolytus (c. 170 – c. 235): For the first advent of our Lord in the flesh, when he... Read more

Christmas

Fathers of the Church

Annunciation

Bethlehem

birth of Jesus

Birthday of the Unconquered Sun

December 25th Christmas

Hippolytus

Hippolytus & Christmas

Hippolytus & December 25th

2021-12-11T10:33:18-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pearce’s Potshots #56: Paul & Jesus’ Resurrection

Last updated on: December 11, 2021 at 10:33 am By Dave Armstrong

Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” This is a reply to his post, A Spiritual Body Resurrection vs Corporeal Resurrection (12-9-21). His words will be in blue. ***** I have had another interview with Derek... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

A Tippling Philosopher

alleged Bible contradictions

anti-theism

Atheism

atheist biblical exegesis

atheist-Christian discussion

atheists & the Bible

atheists & theology

Bible "contradictions"

Paul & Jesus' Resurrection

post-resurrection body

Resurrection

Resurrection of Jesus

spirits

spiritual bodies

2021-12-08T17:35:22-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christmas & Dec. 25th: NOT Derived from Saturnalia

Last updated on: December 8, 2021 at 5:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Nor from Sol Invictus . . . These are commonly repeated myths that have become part and parcel of those who like to speculate about history and the alleged connections between pagan Roman festivals and Christmas. I used to accept it myself — and spread it through my writing –, before I looked into it more deeply. In some cases, such “baptizing” of pagan customs do indeed happen, but it looks it’s not the case in this instance. First of... Read more

Christmas

Trinitarianism & Christology

Annunciation

Bethlehem

birth of Jesus

Birthday of the Unconquered Sun

2026-06-05T23:59:43-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seidensticker Folly #76: Resurrection Eyewitnesses

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He added in June 2017 in a combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian arguments, point that out. Show me where I’ve mischaracterized them.” For over three years, we have had (shall we say) rather difficult relations,... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

Trinitarianism & Christology

alleged biblical contradictions

anti-Christian bigotry

Bible "contradictions"

Bob Seidensticker

contradictions in the Bible

critiques of Christianity

Cross Examined

eyewitnesses of Jesus

resurrection eyewitnesses

2021-12-06T23:58:33-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reply to Attacks from Anti-Apologist Shawn McElhinney

Last updated on: December 6, 2021 at 11:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

I have decided to restore this piece, originally from 8-6-13, to my blog, for reasons that I shared at the end of my revised article, Top Ten All-Time Favorite Insults Sent My Way, underneath Shawn’s entry (which must be read to be believed) that had been restored to its rightful #1 position. What may appear petty or indicative of bitterness is much better understood as not that at all, once all the facts and the backstory are known. I had... Read more

Catholic Church & nuclear war

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hostility to Catholic apologetics

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