Charles A. Sullivan

Pope Benedict XIV on the Gift of Tongues

September 7, 2019February 3, 2016

Pope Benedict XIV’s coverage on the gift of tongues as an attribute for Sainthood.

Gift of Tongues Quiz

January 8, 2019January 18, 2016

How well do you know the history of speaking in tongues? This doctrine has a rich and diverse history over a two thousand year period. The first test covers the last 500 years of this practice and doctrine, while the second goes way back to the earlier centuries of the church. Click here to take …

Pope Benedict XIV on Tongues: the Latin Text

December 31, 2018January 9, 2016

The actual Latin text written by Benedict XIV on the dogma of tongues.

Late Medieval People Speaking in Tongues

January 3, 2016

Introduction to the late-Medieval accounts of Christians speaking in tongues.

The Camisards, tongues and prophecy

February 1, 2020December 7, 2015

The religious expressions of prophecy and especially speaking in tongues by the Camisards in 18th century France.

A Protestant Assembly surprised by Catholic troops by Karl Girardet, 1842.

The Camisards have a special narrative in the annals of Christian history and it is a sad one. Their story would have been forgotten if their speaking in tongues and their habitual use of prophecy was their mark in history. However, these are mere expressions of a greater problem of political and religious persecutions that continually harassed and cost so many lives. It is estimated that 500,000 Camisards fled France or were killed.¹ These pogroms are the more important story, but the persecutions opened new Protestant expressions of piety that were unique, especially the realms of speaking in tongues and prophecy.

The Camisard French text on Speaking in Tongues

November 20, 2015

A digitization of text related to speaking in tongues by the 18th century Camisards in south-central France.

Emile’s Encounter with Christ

April 23, 2024November 11, 2015

Third Beach, Vancouver. Creative Commons License by Kyle Pearce

If Jesus walked on a Vancouver beach and saw Emile, what would His reaction be?

Emile is an odd man. No one can define him because his problem is different thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. All of these have defied a medical, spiritual, or psychological solution.

History according to Pentecostals and Charismatics

December 23, 2018November 1, 2015

An overview of how Pentecostals and Charismatics view history. The following four points are gleaned from discussions and readings within these parties.

St. Paul's Final Hurrah

December 29, 2018September 7, 2015

Enrique Simonet, Painter, Decapitation of St. Paul — Enrique Simonet (1866-1927). The Beheading of Saint Paul

Paul was executed in 51 AD under the rule of Nero according to the third-century Christian author, Ammonius of Alexandria, and two other writers.

A deeper look into this text and a translation.

Ammonius was trying to dispel a misunderstanding of the Herod dynasty about the timelines of Christ and Paul. Both are interesting but the history he ascribes to Paul is especially intriguing. By doing so, he gave the above information.

Few know about Ammonius, and less about his writings. Ammonius lived in Alexandria and was a noted Biblical scholar.² Unfortunately, only remnants of his writings are available today.

An interesting person along with important historical texts. His persona beckons an English translation so that his contribution is more widely known. So, this is what the rest of this article intends to do.

The following translation has a little crossover of John Chrysostom and some influence by the eleventh century writer, Theophylacti of Bulgaria. It appears from a very informal look that most of this is penned by the hand of Ammonius.

Charismatics, Headaches and Healings

November 1, 2021August 15, 2015

A new framework is required to remedy an overemphasis on staged healing events in churches. A practice that hampers or even destroys the message of the Good News within the public realm.