5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols 401
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Feb 4, 2026 A look at the lesser-known year 401 when Augustine arrived in Carthage. The synod of Carthage and Bishop Aurelius wrestle with the Donatist schism. The episode explores tensions between a flourishing pagan public life and emerging North African Christian identity.
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Augustine's Return And Rise
- Stephen Nichols recounts Augustine's timeline from student in Carthage to bishop in Hippo by 395.
- Augustine returned to North Africa, was ordained in 391, and became bishop in 395 before attending the 401 Synod of Carthage.
Roots Of The Donatist Schism
- The Donatist controversy began amid persecution and asked whether lapsed clergy and members could be restored.
- Donatists insisted those who failed under persecution were forever disqualified, fueling long-term schism in North Africa.
Carthage: Prosperity And Pagan Pressure
- North African Christianity faced internal schism and external pagan pressures simultaneously around 401.
- Carthage mixed prosperity with pagan entertainment and rituals that complicated the church's identity.