The Catholic Brothers

Inside the Catacombs: Early Christian Devotion and the Invention of the Cemetery

3.3K views · 4mo ago · 1:27:52

Our first podcast in front of a live audience! Explore the Catacombs of Rome and discover what they teach us about early Christian beliefs, rituals, and burial practices. In this video, we examine the Christian invention of the communal cemetery, the reasons for the shift towards underground burial, and what catacomb art, inscriptions, artifacts, and architecture reveal to us about the character and legacy of Christian devotion, memory, and hope in the early third century.

How Did Rome Become Christian So Quickly?

3.5K views · 7mo ago · 1:49:10

This episode explores the fascinating historiography of the rise of Christianity, focusing on Gibbon and Stark's influential works. It examines secondary causes, growth models, and early material culture, providing a comprehensive understanding of early Christian expansion. This episode explores the sociological and historical factors behind the rise of Christianity, emphasizing the role of elites, open networks, and social cohesion in its growth.

Did the Early Church Fathers believe in a Literal Millennium? Chiliasm Examined

3.1K views · 9mo ago · 2:36:42

Did the earliest Christians believe that Christ would establish a temporary, earthly kingdom on earth for a millennium prior to the general judgement? Did the 4th century Church suddenly abandon that belief due to the influence of Christian Platonism? In this episode, we explore chiliasm—the belief in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth—as it appears in the writings of the Church Fathers of the second century.

Montanist Movement Explained

2.7K views · 1y ago · 1:44:57

Whether you’re a theology student, church history enthusiast, or curious about Christian heresies, this deep dive into Montanism will give you insight into one of the most controversial movements in early Christianity.

REVIEW: PWA and Chesterton Cigars

450 views · 1y ago · 5:41

We smoked and reviewed Matt Fradd’s PWA Toro and the Chesterton Toro from the good folks at Chesterton & Co. Cigars! To get yours, head over to For the full episode, where Daniel and Steven talk about Pope Leo and the future of the Church, tap here

Pope Leo, Saving Western Civilization, Artificial Intelligence, Aliens, and Demons

1.4K views · 1y ago · 1:39:49

In this episode we smoke and review Chesterton Cigars and have an open dialogue about the new pope and our hopes for the future. To purchase a FABULOUS Catholic cigar, go to and pre-order for August 2025. HURRY, the cigars are going fast!

Topics: Chesterton Cigars Review · Pope Leo’s Election and stated goals (Daniel’s initial reaction) · Steven’s initial reaction to Pope Leo · 4 Promising Signs for this Pontificate · Augustine’s Anthropology vs Modern Anthropology · A healthy doctrine of creation

The Quartodecimen Controversy: Why the Early Christians Divided Over Easter

4K views · 1y ago · 2:28:59

Why did early Christians argue over the date of Easter? In this video, we explore the Quartodeciman Controversy, a major theological debate in the 2nd century that split early Christian communities. On one side were the Quartodecimans, who celebrated Easter on the 14th of Nisan—regardless of the day of the week—following Jewish Passover tradition. On the other were those like the Roman church, who insisted Easter should always be celebrated on a Sunday.

The Apologists: Christianity as Philosophy

1.8K views · 1y ago · 1:57:07

In this episode, the brothers discuss the rise of Christian philosophy in the second century among a group of writers known as “The Apologists.” While the Apostles were very successful in bringing both Jews, God fearers, and lower class pagans into the Christian movement, they were not able to significantly penetrate the philosophical classes of Greco Roman society.

The Brothers Visit St. Paul in Rome

651 views · 2y ago · 6:25

What is Gnostic Christianity?

5.9K views · 2y ago · 1:36:28

In this episode we discuss one of proto-orthodoxy’s most formidable challenges: the rise of the Gnostics. We often hear the word “Gnosticism,” and we think we know what it refers to, but here we dive into the Gnostic worldview and explain why these teachers were worthy of so much apologetic ink in the second century.

Marcionism and the Rule of Faith

7.8K views · 2y ago · 1:36:29

In this installment of the First 500 Years series, the brothers take a journey through the life and thought of the church’s first major Heresiarch: Marcion of Pontus. Along the way, they propose fresh ways of understanding the origins of his doctrine and explain why he proved a formidable enemy for the earliest apologists as they began their struggle to preserve apostolic tradition.

Why God Became Man and What It Did to Demons

4K views · 2y ago · 54:34

Why did God become a man? We’re used to hearing what Christ’s incarnation/death/resurrection did for us, but we don’t often hear what His work did to the demonic powers.

Gavin Ortlund’s Ecclesiology Issue w/ Erick Ybarra

3.3K views · 2y ago · 11:17

Guest: Erick Ybarra

As part of an answer to a question from our audience, Erick Ybarra comments on what he believes is Gavin Ortlund’s greatest Achilles heel: ecclesiology. What do you think??

Erick Ybarra’s Conversion Story

23K views · 2y ago · 1:46:33

We’ve all seen him in action—debating Protestants and Orthodox, writing incredible books, or podcasting on his own channel, Classical Christian Thought—but we rarely get to hear about his personal journey of faith. In this special episode, we sit down with our friend Erick Ybarra to explore his story and all of the reasons why, in the final analysis, he ended up in the arms of the Catholic Church. This is a fun, lively, and deep conversation that you will not want to miss!

Topics: Steven’s new book · Erick’s story/upbringing · Baptized Catholic as a child · Teenage doubts · College encounter with a Baptist · Erick begins to investigate Christianity

Orthodox Christian Blogger Converts to Catholicism!

54K views · 2y ago · 1:31:45

Guest: Ben Bollinger

In this episode we have a most interesting chat with Ben Bollinger, a theology blogger and a bright apologist for the Christian faith, whose journey began with atheism and progressed into Eastern Orthodoxy. However, in 2023, he made a shocking, final move into the Roman Catholic Church, and here we explore his intellectual and spiritual journey. This is a fascinating dialogue that you WILL NOT want to miss!