Christianity unit 4

Basilica

 roomy, rectangular meeting hall. Adopted from Roman architecture. Design became the predominant architectural style in the early church, remains so today. Easy and cheap to make, practical.

Narthex

The front entrance area. It is a type of vestibule, lobby, foyer or anti-champer. It could be used for wet umbrellas, ushers to guide others, put coats away

Nave

Nave: The main body or sanctuary of the church where worshipers will find pews to sit in. Usually divides down by the middle by a center aisle, the traditional namv is limited with the colonnades to support the roof.

Transept

The two arms that form a transverse crossing of rhe nave to create the outline of a cross

Chancel

The space around the altar used by the choir and the clergy during worship aka stage. 

Apse

Semicircular recess at the far, eastern end of the church behind the chancel

Ante-Nicene Period

(ante means before.  before the council of Nicaea)

Two characteristics of the Ante-Nicene Period

Growth & Persecution

Growth

In 100 CE there were 7,500. 50 years later there were 41,000 christians in 350 CE there were 34,000,000 christians. They grew from less than one percent of the Roman Empire's population to more than half.

Persecution

 A succession of emperors opposed the new faith. Like Nero, Trajan, Domitian, Diocletian

Reasons for this Persecution

-Illegal religion: Christians refused to go through the process of authorization. 

-Class warfare issues: got into topics of race, class

-Obstinate in worship: 1 God did not worship any others

-Suspicion of Treason: like the situation of Nera (leader of council that put Jesus to death) , the founder was killed so what makes leaders think the followers would be any good?

Result of Growth and Persecution

Splintering at the Edges: think of the Christian church as a big ball of yarn. Here and there on the edges and ends, the yarn starts to fray and pull.

3 movements/groups that broke off from the main christian church?

Donatism. Gnosticism & Ebionism

Donatism

moral purists (like spiritualists, more holy): What to do with the “lapsed” i.e, those who abandoned the faith under persecution. Donatists did not want the lapsed back into the church

Gnosticism

 Move toward a more Greek faith Gnostic-Greek interpretation. spirit & flesh dualism. Jesus=divine but not flesh (only appears to be a normal man, but is really a spirit)

Ebionism

Return to a more Jewish faith. Jesus= Not a divine spirit more like an old testament prophet. 

How did Christianity respond to growth, persecution, and these fringe/splinter groups?

Apologetic & Polemical Literature

Polemical Literature

To combat heresies, or subversive/splinter groups within the faith, like gnostics and ebionites

Apologetic Literature

 Meant to defend the faith against those outside 

Soteriology

 Doctrine of salvation, study of redemption. ology =study of soter=savior, save, salvation

-Christ centered

-Matthew 1;3- we should also add that the name Jesus derives from the hebrew name Joshua meaning “salvation”

-Celesus the second century Roman critic of christianity: saw that Jesus was the center of christian salvation

-Salvation is the catch-all term for many images/pictures/explanations/interpretations of what happens when we say yes to Christ.

Three Aspects of Salvation

-Forgiveness and right relationship with God (has done) - Justification

-Union with Christ (is doing)  -Sanctification

-Resurrection of the body and the life everlasting (will do) -Glorification

Theology

The study of basic christian beliefs. Reflecting on faith, practice, & worship.

Is it God’s gift or our task?

-Work out your own salvation, take accountability, you are responsible for it. God is working out everything through you.

Communion/The Lords Supper/Eucharist

-Two elements, cup bread: symbolism of the body and blood of christ

The Lords Supper

1. The title suggests a remembrance of Christ’s last supper, which are itself a celebration of the Passover meal. The remembrance is by way of reenactment

(passover memorializes the liberation of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery)

-Its a supper, a nourishment

Bread-the Western, Catholic tradition uses unleavened(unrised) bread, the Eastern Greek tradition uses leavened(rised)

Cup-wine vs grape juice                

Communion

We eat together, not alone. Communion evokes community, communication. Fellowship with God and with one another. 

Eucharist

Thanksgiving (greek latin give thanks) The thanks-offering or todah (Hebrew) was a jewish meal of bread and wine, shared with friends, giving thanks for God's deliverance. Todah translated into Greek is eucharistia-eucharist. We give thanks for Christ's self sacrifice on the cross. 

-An analogy might be Veterans Day or Memorial Day  

Sacrements

Communion and Baptism are two examples of Christian SACRAMENTS. 

St Augustine gives two classic definitions for the world sacrament 

1. A visible sign of an invisible grace

2. A sign of a sacred thing

-Not just an ordinary snack time. God is actually doing something, Gods work in our lives in an invisible way.  

What do Clergy people wear?

Vestments

Anice

Covers the neck and head, symbolizing the Armor of God. Piece of white cloth to cover clothing exposed around the neck area. 

Alb

Long white tunic with sleeves

Cincture

rope belt

Stole

 long band of colored material draped around neck and down the front

Chausble

 outermost vestment worn during the celebration of Mass/Communion