What if the single biggest question in Christianity wasn't about salvation, but about who Jesus actually was? By 180 AD, believers had split into over 50 different sects, each claiming they had the real answer. In this episode, Michael Stevens reveals how one theological debate shattered early Christianity into warring factions that would reshape the faith forever. 🎯 What You'll Discover: • Why the Marcionites completely rejected the Old Testament and built Christianity's first major alternative church • How Gnostic Christians created over 50 secret gospels, including ones where Jesus reveals hidden knowledge to select disciples • The shocking reason the Montanist movement nearly took over Christianity in Asia Minor before orthodox leaders stopped them • Which early Christian beliefs were considered "heretical" and why those labels still matter today 👤 Perfect for: curious listeners who want to understand how Christianity's biggest divisions actually started, not just what we're told in Sunday school. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael Stevens introduces Christianity's original civil war [01:45] The Marcionite split: why they threw out half the Bible [04:30] Gnostic secrets: the 50 gospels church leaders banned [07:15] Montanist madness: when prophecy threatened the establishment [09:45] How Rome's conversion changed everything [11:30] Why these ancient fights still echo in modern Christianity The crazy part? Most of these groups had way more followers than we realize. Some were bigger than what we now call "orthodox" Christianity. Stevens breaks down exactly how political power, not just theology, decided which version of Jesus won out. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite historical revelation is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: early Christianity, Christian schisms, Gnosticism, Marcionism, Montanism

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