Through the Church Fathers

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• Through the Church Fathers: June 19 19.04.2026 13Min.

  In today’s episode, we explore the deep continuity between the Old and New Testaments, moving from the "shadows" of prophecy to the "light" of the Spirit. We join Justin Martyr as he walks Trypho through the Hebrew Scriptures to reveal a mysterious second divine Person—the "Messenger" who is also called "God"—and explains why the era of Jewish prophets ended the moment Christ arrived. We then sit with Augustine in his moments of quiet reflection, feeling his heart tremble as he hears the words of the Psalms calling him away from the vanity of his old life. Finally, Thomas Aquinas provides the definitive comparison between the Old Law and the New, showing that the Gospel doesn't just give better commands—it gives the power to fulfill them.Today’s Readings:Justin Martyr — Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 52–59The Mystery of the Two AdventsJustin argues that the "blood of the grape" mentioned in Genesis 49 is a prophetic hint at Christ’s divine origin—blood not from human seed but from the power of God. He then tackles Trypho's greatest hurdle: showing that there is another divine Person besides the Father. Justin points to the "Angel of the Lord" who appeared to Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, proving that this being is called both "God" and "Lord" yet is distinct in number from the Maker of all, acting as His Minister and Revealer.Augustine — The Confessions, Book 9, Chapter 4 (Section 9)The Echoes of VanityAugustine describes the raw emotion of reading Psalm 4: "How long will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?" Having spent his life chasing rhetoric and Manichaean illusions, the words strike him with a terrifying clarity. He rejoices that Christ has been "magnified" through the resurrection, sending the Holy Spirit to those who were once slow of heart, and he yearns for his old friends to hear these same truths and be healed.Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 107Preparation vs. FulfillmentAquinas asks if the New Law is truly distinct from the Old. His answer is a masterpiece of balance: in its written precepts, the New Law is the fulfillment of the Old; but in its essence, as inward grace, it is entirely distinct. While the Old Law was a law of fear that restrained the hands, the New Law is a law of love that transforms the heart.The Evolution of the LawTo understand Aquinas’s "Quick Summa" from Question 107, look at how the nature of the Law changes as we move from the Old to the New:AspectThe Old Law (The Law of Moses)The New Law (The Gospel)CharacterPreparation and FigureFulfillment and RealityMechanismOutward CommandInward GraceDominant EmotionFearLoveResultRestraint of evil actsInclination toward the goodExplore 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#ChurchFathers #Augustine #JustinMartyr #Aquinas #OldTestamentChristology #AngelOfTheLord #NewLaw #Grace #Psalms #Theology
• Through the Church Fathers: Jime 19 19.04.2026 13Min.

  In this episode, we explore the profound transition from external rules to internal reality. We join Justin Martyr as he navigates the delicate boundaries of the early church, showing compassion toward those who still cling to the Jewish Law while firmly defending the pre-existence of Christ. We then find a newly converted Augustine in a quiet villa, his heart set on fire by the Psalms of David—realizing that these ancient songs are the perfect medicine for a prideful soul. Finally, Thomas Aquinas provides the theological architecture for this entire shift, defining the "New Law" not as a list of written commands, but as the inward grace of the Holy Spirit.Today’s Readings:Justin Martyr — Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 47–51Brethren in the Law and the SpiritJustin addresses a fascinating "what if": can a person believe in Christ and still keep the Law of Moses? Justin’s answer is surprisingly modern—yes, provided they don't force that law on others. He goes on to defend Christ's pre-existence and identifies John the Baptist as the "Elijah" who prepared the way, proving that the era of the Old Covenant has transitioned into the New.Augustine — The Confessions, Book 9, Chapter 4 (Sections 7–8)The Heat of the PsalmsAugustine describes his retreat to a villa shortly after his conversion. Reading the Psalms, he experiences a "vehement and bitter sorrow" for his past and a burning love for God. He reflects on how the fourth Psalm specifically enlarged his heart in distress, wishing his former associates, the Manichaeans, could witness the genuine transformation that external philosophy could never provide.Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 106The Law Written on the HeartAquinas asks whether the "New Law" of the Gospel is primarily a written document or something interior. His conclusion is foundational: the New Law is chiefly the grace of the Holy Spirit given through faith. While written precepts still exist, they are secondary to the internal movement of love and liberty that justifies a person from within.Understanding the Shift: Old Law vs. New LawTo visualize Aquinas’s point in Question 106, consider the difference in how these two "laws" move a human being:FeatureThe Old LawThe New Law (The Gospel)LocationWritten on stone tabletsWritten on the heartPrimary DriverFear of punishmentThe grace of the Holy SpiritActionRestrains outward behaviorInwards inclines the will to goodFocusServile obedienceLiberty and CharityExplore 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#ChurchFathers #Augustine #JustinMartyr #Aquinas #NewCovenant #Psalms #Grace #HolySpirit #Theology #FaithAndLaw
• Through the Church Fathers: June 3 03.06.2026 10Min.

  The greatest battle is not out there—it is within, where truth is known, the will is divided, and the heart is pulled by what it loves. Today’s readings trace that conflict from three angles. In Theophilus, the collapse of false wisdom is exposed, as philosophers contradict themselves and even justify what is evil, revealing that error cannot sustain itself (1 Corinthians 3:19). Augustine then brings us into the inner war, where the mind commands but cannot fully obey itself—a terrifying picture of a divided will that both desires and resists the good (Romans 7:21–23). Aquinas completes the picture by showing that both sorrow and pleasure are not random—they flow from what we love, shaping our action, either weighing us down or drawing us forward depending on whether our love is rightly ordered (Psalm 1:2). Together, these readings press one unavoidable truth: your life is being shaped right now—not just by what you know, but by what you delight in and what you grieve.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 3, Chapters 6–8Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 9 (Section 21)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Questions 35–36 (Combined Selections)Explore 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#ChurchFathers #Augustine #Aquinas #TheologyUnplugged #ChristianDiscipleship
• Through the Church Fathers: June 2 02.06.2026 10Min.

  False voices collapse under their own weight, the will collapses under its own division, and the soul collapses under the weight of what it loves. Today’s reading from exposes three layers of truth: Theophilus tears down the authority of pagan thinkers, showing that those who claim wisdom contradict themselves and even justify evil; Augustine then turns inward, revealing the terrifying reality that knowing the good is not the same as willing it—that the soul can command the body more easily than it can command itself (Romans 7:18–19); and Aquinas completes the picture by explaining that sorrow itself is not meaningless—it is the weight of evil pressing on what we love, sometimes paralyzing us, sometimes driving us toward repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Together, these readings force a sobering conclusion: error is loud, the will is weak, and sorrow reveals exactly where our heart is anchored.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 3, Chapters 1–5Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 8 (Section 20)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 35 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore 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#ChurchFathers #Augustine #Aquinas #TheologyUnplugged #ChristianDiscipleship
• Through the Church Fathers: June 1 01.06.2026 9Min.

  The truth has a way of exposing everyone—even those who try to avoid it. Today’s reading brings together an unlikely chorus: Greek poets, biblical prophets, a restless sinner in a garden, and a theologian dissecting the power of pleasure. In Theophilus, even pagan voices testify to judgment, justice, and divine oversight—truth leaking through culture whether people want it or not. Augustine then turns inward, showing the real battlefield is not out there but within the divided will, where knowing the good is not the same as choosing it (Romans 7:15). Aquinas finally gives us the mechanism: pleasure itself shapes our attention and action—what we delight in will either strengthen us toward God or pull us away from Him (Psalm 37:4). Together, these readings force a hard realization: truth is not the problem—our will is.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 37–38Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 8 (Section 19)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 33 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore the Project:Through the Church FathersPatreonCredo CoursesCredo Ministries#ChurchFathers #Augustine #Aquinas #TheologyUnplugged #ChristianDiscipleship
• Through the Church Fathers: May 31 31.05.2026 10Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode we see the prophets calling God’s people to holiness while a restless heart wrestles with its own delay. Theophilus of Antioch urges us to examine the prophets, who consistently taught one God, the rejection of idolatry, and a moral life that leads to eternal reward. He shows how the prophets—simple shepherds and uneducated men—spoke with one voice about creation, the unity of God, and the folly of idols.Augustine continues his intense inner struggle. Listening to the story of radical conversion, he confronts his own long delay in surrendering to God. At thirty-two years old he still begged for chastity “but not yet,” afraid that God might answer too quickly and take away the sins he still wanted to enjoy.Thomas Aquinas explores the causes of pleasure, explaining that true delight comes from the presence and recognition of a good that fits our nature, especially when we are actively engaged in what is proper to us.Together these readings confront us with the call to holiness, the danger of delay, and the deep joy that comes when the soul rests in what is truly good.Today’s Readings: Theophilus of Antioch — Theophilus to Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 34–36 Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 7 (Sections 17–18) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 32 (Articles 1–8 Combined)Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ThroughTheChurchFathers #TheophilusOfAntioch #AugustineConfessions #ThomasAquinas #Holiness #InnerStruggle #PleasureAndJoy #EarlyChurchFathers
• Through the Church Fathers: May 30 30.05.2026 10Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode we journey from the rebuilding of civilization after the flood to the inner turmoil of a soul confronted by God. Theophilus of Antioch recounts the rise of cities and kings after the flood, the building and destruction of the Tower of Babel, the confusion of languages, the spread of the human race across the earth, and the superiority of Christian truth taught by the Holy Spirit over all pagan historians and poets.Augustine describes the moment when Pontitianus’s story pierced his heart. While listening, God turned him to face himself, forcing him to see his own foulness and wretchedness. At thirty-two years old, he had still not found the truth, and he could no longer hide from the reality of his sin.Thomas Aquinas examines delight (joy), explaining that it is the repose of the appetite in a good that is truly possessed—the completion and rest that follows desire. Intellectual joys surpass bodily pleasures because they rest in higher goods.Together these readings trace the movement of history after the flood, the personal confrontation with sin, and the soul’s ultimate rest in attained good.Today’s Readings: Theophilus of Antioch — Theophilus to Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 31–33Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 7 (Section 16)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 31 (Articles 1–8 Combined)Explore 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 #TheophilusOfAntioch #AugustineConfessions #ThomasAquinas #TowerOfBabel #DelightAndJoy #ChristianHistory #EarlyChurchFathers
• Through the Church Fathers: May 29 29.05.2026 13Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode we explore the origins of human nature, the consequences of the fall, and the surprising power of desire. Theophilus of Antioch explains that God made humanity neither mortal nor immortal by nature, but free and capable of both—able to choose life through obedience or death through disobedience. He then traces how death entered the world through Cain’s murder of Abel and how early human culture, including cities, polygamy, and music, began in the line of Cain.Augustine recounts the powerful story of two imperial officials at Trier who, while reading the life of Antony the Great, were suddenly converted and renounced their worldly ambitions to serve God—along with their fiancées who likewise dedicated themselves to virginity.Thomas Aquinas clarifies the relationship between love and desire: desire is the movement of the appetite toward a good not yet possessed, always flowing from love, even when that love is misplaced.Together these readings illuminate freedom, the entry of sin and death, the call to radical discipleship, and the deep structure of human longing.Today’s Readings: Theophilus of Antioch — Theophilus to Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 27–30Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 6 (Section 15)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 30 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore 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 #TheophilusOfAntioch #AugustineConfessions #ThomasAquinas #HumanNature #DesireAndLove #EarlyChurchFathers #ChristianTheology
• Through the Church Fathers: May 28 28.05.2026 8Min.

  Today’s ReadingsTheophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 23–26 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 6 (Section 14) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 29 (Articles 1–6 Combined)What you reject reveals what you love. Theophilus makes it clear that the fall did not come from something evil in creation, but from disobedience—man turning away from what was truly good, even when everything around him testified to God’s truth . Augustine then shows how that same reality plays out in real life: truth can sit right in front of you—open on the table, spoken about, even admired—yet still remain unfamiliar and ungrasped, while others around you are already living in its power. Aquinas brings the final clarity—hatred is not its own starting point; it is born from love. You push things away because they threaten what you value most. Put it together and the conclusion is sharp: your strongest reactions—what you resist, avoid, or even despise—are not random. They are the shadow cast by your loves. If you want to understand your life, don’t just look at what you pursue—look at what you refuse.Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 26 26.05.2026 10Min.

  Today’s ReadingsTheophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 16–19 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 5 (Section 12) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 26 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Everything begins with what you love—and that determines everything that follows. Theophilus shows that creation itself is not only ordered but meaningful, filled with patterns, types, and purpose—from the waters that point to regeneration to the dignity of man made in the image of God, set above all creation . Augustine then exposes the human condition at its core: not ignorance, but divided love—knowing what is better, yet clinging to what is easier, trapped by habit and delayed obedience, saying “presently” while remaining unchanged. Aquinas brings clarity to both: love is the first movement of the soul, the quiet moment when something is recognized as good, and from that single point flows everything else—desire, fear, joy, action. Put it together, and the problem becomes unmistakable: you don’t struggle first because of lack of discipline, but because of competing loves. Change what you love, and the entire chain begins to change with it.Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 25 25.05.2026 11Min.

  Today’s ReadingsTheophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 13–15 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 5 (Section 11) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 25 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Your inner life is not random—it follows a pattern, just like creation itself. Theophilus shows that God did not build the world from below like men do, but from above, bringing order out of nothing and structuring everything with purpose, even using creation itself as a pattern of resurrection and truth while exposing the instability of human philosophies . Augustine then pulls you inside that order and shows the real battle: two wills fighting within the same person, one shaped by truth, the other by habit, both pulling in opposite directions. That tension is not theoretical—it is lived experience. Aquinas then explains why it feels this way: your emotions are not scattered impulses but a chain reaction, beginning with what you love and unfolding into desire, hope, fear, and action. Put together, the message is clear—God made the world ordered, your soul reflects that order, but your struggle comes from competing loves that set the whole chain in motion. Change the starting point—what you love—and everything else begins to change with it.Explore 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#ChurchFathers #Theophilus #Augustine #Aquinas #ChristianTheology #Discipleship
• Through the Church Fathers: May 24 24.05.2026 10Min.

  Today’s readings move from creation, to conversion, to the battle for the human heart. Theophilus of Antioch marvels at the wisdom of God revealed in the six days of creation and contrasts the beauty of divine truth with the empty eloquence of pagan philosophy. Augustine then opens his soul and describes the terrifying bondage of habit, showing how sinful desire hardens into custom, and custom into necessity, until the soul feels chained by its own divided will. Aquinas brings these themes together by asking whether the passions themselves are good or evil. His answer is profound: the passions are not enemies to destroy, but powers to be rightly ordered. Fear, desire, sorrow, anger, hope, and love become virtuous or destructive depending on whether they are governed by reason, grace, and the love of God. Together, these readings reveal that the Christian life is not merely about outward behavior, but about the transformation and healing of the inner person.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapter 12Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 5 (Section 10)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 24 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore 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 #TheophilusOfAntioch #Augustine #ThomasAquinas #Confessions #SummaTheologica #ChurchHistory #ChristianTheology #Virtue #Passions
• Through the Church Fathers: May 23 23.05.2026 14Min.

  Today’s ReadingsTheophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 11–12 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 4 (Section 9) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 23 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Creation is not random, your desires are not random, and your transformation is not random—everything today pushes against the idea that life is chaotic or driven by impulse alone. Theophilus walks through the six days of creation to show that God orders everything with purpose, wisdom, and structure, declaring it all “very good,” and warning that human philosophy only imitates truth while mixing it with error . Augustine then turns inward and shows how that same God draws people out of blindness, not just individually but through influence—how one changed life can ignite many others, and why the conversion of the visible and influential carries such weight. Aquinas completes the picture by showing that even our inner emotional life is structured: what feels like chaos is actually ordered movement, where simple desire becomes struggle when difficulty enters, and where love stands at the root of it all. Put together, the message is clear—God orders creation, God draws the heart, and even your internal battles follow a pattern. You are not as scattered as you feel.Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 22 22.05.2026 10Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn today’s reading Theophilus of Antioch continues exposing the confusion of pagan thought. He shows how poets like Homer and Hesiod, along with the philosophers, contradict one another on the origin of the world and the nature of the gods. Some deny creation altogether, others speak of providence yet undermine it, and all fail to give a coherent account of who made all things. In contrast, the prophets, inspired by the Holy Spirit, consistently teach that God created everything out of nothing through His Word, and that matter itself was brought into being by Him.We also hear Augustine ponder the strange law of joy: that the greater the preceding pain or danger, the sweeter the recovery. He sees this pattern in human experience—from battle, storms, and illness to the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and prodigal son—and marvels at how God Himself rejoices more over one repentant sinner than over many who never wandered.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book II, Chapters 8–10Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 3 (Section 8)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 22 (Articles 1–3 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 20 20.05.2026 10Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn today’s reading Theophilus of Antioch continues his direct appeal to his friend Autolycus, explaining why he writes this second book—to expose the emptiness of pagan worship and to make the truth plain from Autolycus’s own histories. He shows how absurd it is that handmade statues and images are despised while being crafted but instantly treated as gods once purchased and placed in temples. He questions what has become of the old gods—why Olympus is deserted, why Jupiter’s tomb is shown in Crete, and why the gods seem confined to one place instead of being everywhere present like the true God. Theophilus then critiques the philosophers, exposing their contradictory and impious opinions about God, matter, and creation.We also hear Augustine reflect on the surprising joy that comes when a soul long despaired of is saved—greater than the steady joy over those who never wandered far—illustrated by the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, where heaven itself rejoices more over one repentant sinner.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book II, Chapters 1–4Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 3 (Section 6)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 20 (Articles 1–5 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 19 19.05.2026 11Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn today’s reading Theophilus of Antioch gives a personal testimony of his own conversion, explaining how the fulfilled prophecies of Scripture overcame his former skepticism and led him to believe in the resurrection and final judgment. We then hear Augustine recount the dramatic conversion of Victorinus, the celebrated Roman rhetorician, who, though advanced in years and honored by the world, publicly humbled himself before the Church and confessed Christ despite the scorn of his pagan friends. We close with Thomas Aquinas clarifying that the goodness of the will depends not on sincere intention alone, but on whether it wills what is truly good according to right reason and God’s law.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book I, Chapter 14Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 2 (Sections 3–5)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 19 (Articles 1–10 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 18 18.05.2026 11Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn today’s reading we continue with Theophilus of Antioch as he boldly exposes the absurdities of pagan idolatry, distinguishes between the honor due to earthly kings and the worship due to God alone, explains why followers of Jesus are called Christians, and offers vivid, everyday examples—from seeds and seasons to the moon itself—to strengthen faith in the resurrection of the dead. Alongside this we hear Augustine in the Confessions candidly describing the tension in his own soul: drawn to the beauty of God’s house yet still tightly bound by the pull of secular life and the desire for marriage. We conclude with Thomas Aquinas laying out the foundational principles for moral theology, showing that a human act is truly good only when its object, its end, and its circumstances are all rightly ordered.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book I, Chapters 10–13Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 1 (Section 2)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 18 (Articles 1–11 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 17 17.05.2026 12Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode we hear Theophilus of Antioch invite his pagan friend Autolycus to behold the one true God through the order and beauty of creation. He points to the regular seasons, the movement of the stars, the provision for all living things, and the instinct given to animals, showing that these works reveal God’s wisdom and providence. He then explains that we shall see God when we put on immortality and that faith is the foundation for all true knowledge. Theophilus contrasts this with the immoral myths of the pagan gods, exposing the emptiness of idolatry. Alongside Augustine’s account of consulting Simplicianus as he wrestled with how to live the Christian life, and Thomas Aquinas’s teaching on command as the act of reason that directs the will toward execution, these readings call us to move from admiration of God’s works to personal faith, cleansing, and obedient action.Today’s Readings: Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book I (Chapters 6–9)Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 1Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 17 (Articles 1–9 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 16 16.05.2026 13Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode we listen to one of the earliest Christian voices speaking directly to a skeptical pagan friend. Theophilus of Antioch, bishop of Antioch in the late second century, writes to Autolycus with patience and clarity, answering his mockery of the Christian faith. He shows that the one true God cannot be seen with physical eyes until the soul is cleansed from sin, describes the invisible God through His works and providence, and sets forth the divine attributes in language that is both simple and profound. Together with Augustine’s testimony of finding in the Scriptures what he could not find in the Platonists, and Thomas Aquinas’s teaching on consent as the will’s approval of the means proposed by reason, these readings invite us to consider how the human heart must be purified before it can truly behold God and how the will moves toward the good through counsel, consent, and choice.Today’s Readings: Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book IAugustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 7, Chapter 21 (Section 27)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 15 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore 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
• Through the Church Fathers: May 15 15.05.2026 12Min.

  Podcast DescriptionIn this episode Tatian presses his argument to its climax. He uses Egyptian, Chaldean, and Phoenician records to prove that Moses lived centuries before Homer and the Trojan War, making Christian teaching far older than Greek philosophy or literature. He catalogs the Argive kings to demonstrate the timeline and concludes with a personal testimony of his own conversion from Greek learning to the “barbaric philosophy” of the Scriptures. Augustine rejoices that God allowed him to encounter the Platonists first so that the contrast with Holy Scripture would humble him and teach him the difference between proud speculation and humble confession. Thomas Aquinas explains that consent is the act of the will by which it approves the means proposed by reason, standing between counsel and choice and preparing the way for decisive action.Today’s Readings: Tatian — Address to the Greeks, Chapters 38–42 Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 7, Chapter 20 (Section 26) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 15 (Articles 1–4 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org(The three primary readings are already formatted per the 2026 rules and ready for the main content of the episode.)