Sed Contra: A Podcast of Catholic Theology

Theology and History III

Oct 13, 2025
Dr. Kevin Clarke, an expert in patristics, and Dr. Timothy Kearns, a specialist in the historical development of theological ideas, delve into how theology illuminates history. They explore how historical particulars shape theological study and contrast biblical creation with pagan worldviews. Clarke discusses the patristic foreshadowing of Christ in history, while Kearns critiques the philosophical biases in historiography. The conversation highlights the importance of an incarnational approach to history and the need for coherent theological frameworks.
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INSIGHT

Creation Gives History A Purpose

  • Christian theology reframes history as creation with a goal: Christ's coming transforms the narrative of the world.
  • Pagan eternalist views contrast with biblical creation ex nihilo, giving history a teleological, salvific arc.
INSIGHT

Criticism Needs Self‑Critique

  • Historical criticism brings useful corrections but rests on philosophical suspicions that must be examined.
  • Accepting Bauerian-style claims that orthodoxy is invented undermines theological claims about apostolic transmission.
ANECDOTE

MacMullen's Grassroots Church Portrait

  • Ramsey MacMullen reconstructed early Christian life from graffiti and papyri to challenge patristic narratives.
  • He argued popular practice often diverged from elite theological accounts, provoking debate about what 'real faith' looked like.
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