history of christianity

exam 2

Pax Romana

“Roman peace,” a time when Rome kept things stable, which helped Christianity spread.

Emperor Nero

Blamed Christians for the Great Fire of 64 CE and started persecuting them.His actions marked one of the first major persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire.

Great Fire of 64 CE

A devastating fire in Rome that lasted for six days, destroying large parts of the city and leading to the persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero, Chrisitan’s were blamed for it.

Precedent

A rule or example set for future cases; Rome’s actions toward Christians became precedent.

Persecution

Mistreatment of Christians for their beliefs.

Decius

Emperor who forced citizens to worship old Roman gods or be punished.

Diocletian

Emperor who divided Rome into four parts and carried out harsh persecutions.

Tetrarchy

“Rule of four”; Diocletian’s system of having four rulers manage the empire.

Constantine

Roman emperor who made Christianity legal and supported it he also donated a lot of money to help the infrastructure of Christian’s, churches, schools, etc;

In hoc signo vinces

“In this sign, you will conquer”; what Constantine saw in a dream before battle.

Chi-rho

The Christian symbol Constantine’s army used; made from the first two Greek letters of “Christ.”

Constantinian Shift

When Christianity became supported by the Roman Empire instead of persecuted.

Edict of Milan (313 CE)

Law that legalized Christianity.

Theodosius’ Decree (381 CE)

Made Christianity the official religion of the empire.

“Orthodox” Christianity

The correct or official version of Christian teaching, the one that won against all the other types of christians.

Canon

The official list of books that make up the Bible.

Easter Letter (367 CE)

Written by Athanasius, listing the books that became the New Testament.

Clergy

Church leaders like priests, bishops, and deacons.

Apostolic succession

The idea that church authority comes directly from the apostles.

Creed

A statement of faith that sums up Christian beliefs.

Apologetics (Apologists)

Writers who defended Christianity using logic and philosophy.

Philo of Alexandria

Jewish philosopher who mixed Greek ideas with Jewish faith; influenced early Christians.

Allegor

A story or symbol with a deeper spiritual meaning.

Logos (for Philo)

“Word” or “reason”; the link between God and the world.

Doctrinal controversy

Disagreements about church teachings.

Christology

Study of who Jesus is—his divine and human nature.

Philosophical critique of Christianity

Non-Christians using Greek philosophy to challenge Christian ideas.

Justin Martyr

Said Jesus is the Logos, God’s divine word in human form.

Transcendent God and “immanent god”

God is both beyond the world and present in it.

Irenaeus

Fought Gnosticism and said Jesus restored humanity.

Gnosticism

Belief that the material world is evil and salvation comes through secret knowledge.

Image of God vs. likeness of God

Image means we reflect God; likeness means we grow more like Him.

Second Adam (recapitulation)

Jesus “redid” Adam’s story the right way and fixed human sin.

Tertullian

Created the term Trinitas personae (Trinity of persons).

Plant image

Showed how the Son and Spirit come from God like branches from a root.

Immutability of God

God never changes.

Coat image

Jesus “put on” humanity but stayed divine.

Origen

Said the Logos connects God to creation.

Pre-existence of souls

Souls existed before birth.

Union of human and divine

Jesus is fully human and fully divine.

Arius

Said Jesus was created by God and not equal to Him.

Self-subsistence

God exists on His own, needs nothing else.

Contingent being

Exists only because something else causes it.

Athanasius’ response

Said Jesus must be fully God to save humans.

Council of Nicaea (325 CE)

Declared Jesus is the same substance as God.

Homoousios vs. Homoiousios

“Same substance” vs. “similar substance.”

Sacrament

Holy acts like baptism and communion showing God’s grace.

Traditores

People who gave up church texts during persecution.

Elitism

Belief that only the pure can be part of the church.

Felix of Aptunga / Caesilian

Involved in the argument over whether “lapsed” bishops could lead.

Donatus

Leader who said only pure clergy could give valid sacraments.

Cyprian

Said the church must stay united (On the Unity of the Church).

Schism

A split or break in the church.

Lapsed bishops

Bishops who gave up under pressure.

Augustine’s argument against the Donatists

Said sacraments are valid because of God, not the priest’s purity.

Saints and sinners

The church has both; only God judges in the end.

Parable of the field

Good and bad grow together until the final judgment.

Body of Christ

The church as one body made of all believers.

Grace

God’s free gift that helps people do good.

Gift vs. giver

Love the giver (God), not just His gifts.

Conference of Carthage (411 CE)

Solved the Donatist conflict; Augustine’s side won.

Marcellinus

Roman official who helped with the conference.

Church and State

Ongoing question of how much power the state has in church issues.

Pelagius

Monk who said people can do good without God’s help.

Soteriology

Study of salvation and how it works.

Free will

Ability to choose good or evil.

Self-generated sin

Sin happens from personal choice, not being born sinful.

Habit

Pelagius said sin becomes a habit but can be changed.

Augustine’s argument against Pelagius

Said people are born with original sin and need God’s grace.

Original sin

Human nature is sinful because of Adam and Eve.

Faith, hope, and love

Main Christian virtues.

Predestination

God already knows who will choose Him, but humans still have free will.

Council of Orange (529 CE)

Rejected Pelagius’ views; said God gives grace first, and humans can choose to accept it.

Semi-Augustinianism

The middle ground between Pelagius and Augustine; says humans can’t save themselves, but God gives them the first grace to choose Him.