Abortion in the Early Church: The Surprising Witness We Need Today
Gavin Ortlund
30.58
12 January 2026
24 January 2026
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.
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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
