After the apostles died, did the faith survive?

After the apostles died, did the faith survive?

From Faith Lab by Nate Hanson & Shelby Hanson

March 18, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 10

About this episode

The episode explores what happened to the Christian faith after the apostles died, focusing on the figure of Polycarp.

Most Christians quietly carry a question they rarely say out loud: after the apostles died, what happened? There's a gap in the story, and in that gap, a worry lives. One man fills it. He was born 35 years after Jesus, personally knew people who personally knew Christ, and his own words still survive on paper. His name was Polycarp, and the chain connecting him to the eyewitnesses is shorter than you think. 🔓 Faith Lab premium members get full unedited interviews with every guest episode, plus early access and bonus content. Support the show at https://faithlabshow.com/premium ★ Support this podcast ★

People in this episode

Hosts: Nate Hanson, Shelby Hanson

Topics covered

  • apostles
  • Christianity
  • faith history
  • Polycarp
  • early church
  • spirituality

Keywords

  • apostles
  • Polycarp
  • Christian faith
  • history
  • spirituality
  • early church
  • Jesus

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