Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund explores the early church’s clear yet nuanced opposition to abortion and shows how its emphasis on human dignity and neighbor love can challenge Christians today toward a truly consistent pro-life ethic.
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
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FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Introduction
00:55 - Why Consider the Early Church?
05:44 - Earliest Testimony
15:14 - 4th and 5th Century Witness
22:55 - 1) The Early Church Was Not Perfect
26:00 - 2) The Early Church is in its own context
28:14 - 3) We Should Learn From the Early Church
Gavin Ortlund explores the early church’s clear yet nuanced opposition to abortion and shows how its emphasis on human dignity and neighbor love can challenge Christians today toward a truly consistent pro-life ethic.
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Introduction
00:55 - Why Consider the Early Church?
05:44 - Earliest Testimony
15:14 - 4th and 5th Century Witness
22:55 - 1) The Early Church Was Not Perfect
26:00 - 2) The Early Church is in its own context
28:14 - 3) We Should Learn From the Early Church
