History
Today in Christian History

January 13

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
<>

January 13, 367 (traditional date): Hilary of Poitiers, the leading orthodox church father during Arianism's heyday, dies. His writings about the Trinity and his organization of anti-Arian allies were influential in fighting the heresy but did not have their full effect until after his death (see issue 51: Heresy in the Early Church).

January 13, 1501: Christianity's first vernacular hymnal is printed in Prague, containing 89 hymns in Czech.

January 13, 1616: Flemish mystic Antoinette Bourignon is born. A mystical writer whose works were included by John Wesley in his Christian Library, she soon found herself estranged from mainstream Christianity, especially when she declared herself the "woman clothed with the sun" of Revelation 12. Still, her ideas were so influential that, for 178 years, ministers of the Church of Scotland had to make an explicit denial of Bouringnonism before they could be ordained.

January 13, 1635: Philip Jacob Spener, founder of German pietism, is born in Rappolstein. His emphasis on new birth and holy living revitalized the German Lutheran Church and many later movements, including American evangelicalism (see issue 10: Pietism).

January 13, 1691: George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers), dies. Fox left the Anglican church to rely on the "Inner Light of the Living Christ."

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Joe Kent Resigns, Iranian Threats, and a Victory for Parents’ Rights

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Public opinions on the Iran war, homeland security risks, and disagreements about gender transition in the classroom.

Review

What Kids Think About God Matters

Three theology books to read this month.

Analysis

Q&A: Why Pakistan and Afghanistan Are Fighting and How Christians There Survive

The Bulletin with Knox Thames

A conversation with human rights lawyer and former diplomat Knox Thames.

Turning ‘a Miracle’ into Long-Haul Help for the Homeless

Taylor Berglund

A North Carolina nonprofit is thinking in decades, not days, about sustainable, affordable housing.

Urgency Is Not Faithfulness

Thomas Anderson

A church that quickly reacts to every controversy is echoing the culture, not God’s Word.

What to Expect at This Year’s Church Conventions

SBC, LCMS, ACNA, CREC, and Global Methodist gatherings in 2026 will weigh issues including abuse investigations and sexual ethics.

Review

‘The Faithful’ Celebrates the Women of the Bible

The first episode—and a set visit in Italy—introduced a me to a thoughtful new drama about multidimensional women in Scripture.

Gospel Matriarch Lucie Campbell Looked To God

Daylan Woodall

Her songs spoke to life’s uncertainties and God’s presence—and taught me how to hope.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube