Lysa TerKeurst, Bible Gateway, and Fides ex Auditu: the Biblical Heart of Medieval Faith
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Lysa TerKeurst, Bible Gateway, and Fides ex Auditu: the Biblical Heart of Medieval Faith

ByBeth Allison Barr

Several months ago I heard a catchy phrase preached in a sermon. But it wasn’t until recently, when I began to compare popular medieval Bible verses with popular modern bible verses (thanks Bible Gateway!), that I began to think about the phrase more critically. So what is the phrase? “Information does not equal transformation.” Not…

The Bible in Medieval Sermons: Part I for Understanding the Top Ten Bible Verses in Medieval England
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The Bible in Medieval Sermons: Part I for Understanding the Top Ten Bible Verses in Medieval England

ByBeth Allison Barr

My husband recently noted in his Facebook series on local church highlights in Waco, TX, (yes, we live–literally–in the middle of the Fixer Upper world) how modern Protestants characterize the Medieval church as keeping people from the Bible. I have talked about medieval views of the Bible on this blog several times, including “Banning the…

A Reasonable Reading List for Medieval Christianity: Part 2
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A Reasonable Reading List for Medieval Christianity: Part 2

ByBeth Allison Barr

If you ever have the chance, visit the church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London St. Bart’s, as it is affectionately known, stands in Smithfield, just outside the old London wall. I recommend a Sunday morning walk to it from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Go about 9:45 a.m. to hear the Cathedral bells; you can…

A Reasonable Reading List for Medieval Christianity: Part 1
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A Reasonable Reading List for Medieval Christianity: Part 1

ByBeth Allison Barr

If, after my last post “Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?,” you realized you had no framework for understanding the Investiture Controversy, Fourth Lateran Council, or even transubstantiation; or, while eating a stack of pancakes for dinner last Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), you realized you had no idea why you were doing so; or, maybe, as one…

Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?
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Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?

ByBeth Allison Barr

Recently I was made aware of an online church history curriculum. At first glance, it seemed promising (at least from my perspective as a medievalist). It dedicated two weeks to the Medieval Church (five if you include the three weeks of Reformation), and it began the lesson for the High Middle Ages with this disclaimer:…