MARTYROLOGIST: The Rigor of John Foxe (Ep. 32)

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Paul Schlehlein

The term “rigor” comes from a Latin word meaning “stiffness”. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of a body’s muscles and joints a few hours after death. A man who shows rigor is thorough, exhaustive, and accurate. He is not flexible with the facts, soft with the truth, or fast and free with the details.

This trait serves historians well, who mustn’t be careless with the truth but diligent, not easily bent to another’s opinions. John Foxe stands as church history’s greatest martyrologist, the name for a historian who studies the lives of those who were killed for their faith. Some Christians value Foxe’s Book of Martyrs above all other human books because it details so carefully the lives and deaths of some of Church history’s greatest Christians.

Foxe was a man of courage and godliness, who showed meticulous attention to detail and, in doing so, provided the greatest record of Christian martyrs ever written.

Church History, John Foxe, Martyr, Martyrdom, VOV

The Discipline of John Bradford (Ep. 30)

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

Watch John Bradford video here

Though heroes should be household names, many of the greatest giants in church history have been forgotten. One example is John Bradford, who is remembered primarily for his martyrdom, though his godly life of spiritual discipline should be equally revered.

Church History, John Bradford, Martyr, VOV

The Faithfulness of Rowland Taylor (Ep. 29)

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

Watch Rowland Taylor episode here

One would think that the Catholic Church triumphed when it burned the Reformers at the stake. Instead, thousands of people who were once enemies of the gospel turned from their errors and became friends of the cross when they saw the bravery of devoted Christians in the flames.

Rowland Taylor, of the 16^th century, lives on as one of the famous Marian martyrs—the name given to the Christians that Queen Mary killed during her bloody five-year reign. Taylor wrote no books, not a single sermon of his remains in print and no large headstone marks his grave.

In some ways, his life has been forgotten. And yet, Taylor’s testimony still stands as a monument of faithfulness today when we consider the endless commitment he showed to his calling, his wife, his children, and his Lord.

Bloody Mary, Church History, Martyr, Reformation, VOV

The Risk of John Hooper (Ep.25)

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

Watch Hooper video here

The most foolish mistake the Catholic Church made during the reign of Bloody Queen Mary was executing John Hooper, one of the boldest champions of the Reformation. Though he was burned at the stake in 1555 after enduring nearly an hour of fire that would not enflame, it was said that Hooper died as quietly as a child in his bed.

Yet his death was not forgotten, and his cause could not be quieted. By torturing a man for his faith, the church in Rome reached millions with the message of the gospel, where Hooper’s sermons could not.

Bloody Mary, Church History, John Hooper, Martyr, VOV

The Memorization of Rawlins White (Ep. 17)

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

Watch Rawlins White video here

Two common excuses people employ for avoiding God’s Word are “I’m too busy” and “the Bible is boring”. A far less typical alibi is “I can’t read”, especially because of the rise of education and printed and digital books worldwide over the past several centuries. But in 15^th century England, literacy was far less common, with only a quarter of the men able to read.

Among these illiterate fellows was Rawlins White, who did not allow his learning deficiencies to stop him from imbibing God’s Word, following after Jesus Christ, and eventually becoming one of the three Welsh Marian martyrs.

Church History, Martyr, Rawlins White, VOV

Nigeria, a Muslim Catechism and a Boise State Linebacker

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to follow Jesus. Militant Muslims hunt Christians there the way a lion stalks a wounded gazelle.

According to the Open Doors Watch List, North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world for Christians, but Nigeria is the most deadly. In 2023, nearly 5,000 Christians were killed worldwide (that’s thirteen murdered a day) and 90% of these martyrdoms happened in Nigeria. More Christians are killed in Nigeria than all other nations combined, most often by Islamist jihadist groups like Boko Haram.

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TARIF: The Killing Ground

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Tuesday, June 27th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga

The Killing Ground

This Sunday in northwest Nigeria a man was stoned to death by angry Muslims after he supposedly blasphemed the prophet Muhammed. The video shows a large crowd that included children pelting Usman Buda, a butcher, with stones. By the time the police arrived, Buda was unconscious and was later pronounced dead. The guilty parties will almost certainly escape justice, as is almost always the case.

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