Church History Midterm

Why should we study church history

God is the God of history, Christianity is built on historical facts, Christianity is built up by historical facts, Christianity is preserved by historical facts, Christianity is proven by historical fact

Three areas of influence on the Early Church

Greek, Roman, Jewish

Greek influence on the early church

• greek philosophy - plato, neoplatonism, gnosticism

• greek language - promotes unity

• Greek Spirit - quest for truth and finding beauty in the things that God has created

Roman influence on the early church

• Roman government - centralized power and body of supporting power

• Road system - allowed for missionary joineries

• Roman peace (rax romana) - no war so it's safe to travel

• roman law - allow people they conquer to keep their religion and introduced language of adoption

• latin language - universal and influential

Jewish influence on the early church

• All early church leaders were Jewish

• Believed in authoritative religious texts

• Monotheistic

• Messianic

• Synagogue is a place of worship and allows for fellowship

Clement of Rome

makes distinction between bishop and pastor and laity and pastor, pushes for unity which stems from obedience and submission, promotes apostolic succession

Papias

gives proof that Matthew and Mark wrote their books and had strong views of the end times (millineism)

Polycarp

One of the first martyrdoms, refused to bow to Caesar and burned at the stake

Ignatius

Wrote 7 letters against gnostics and docetists, first to use word Catholic, authority of bishop and Lord's supper

Popular early church writings

Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache

External influences that led to persecution

religious ethical, sociopolitical, economic, natural disasters

Results of persecution

• Worship of Relics - items from martyrs were seen as symbols of devotion to Christ

• Fanatical desire for Martyrdom - seen as ultimate devotion to Christ

• Sacramentalism - are sacraments valid if it's given by someone who denied Christ - decided that power is in the practice

• Importance of bishop increases - those over big churches were more important because they were over

• Apostate (those who denied the faith) - Donastus says he will not follow bishop who denied Christ so they are split and known as Donastists

• Devotional Writing - encourage following Jesus in all cases because their leaders can't figure out major theology

Judaizers

leads to legalism and adding human effect to Christ's effort

Gnosticism

teaching way to salvation is acquiring certain knowledge, God is transcendent therefore he couldn't create the world, flesh is bad

Marcion

writes book about doctrine of Revelation, rejects OT because it's for Jews and rejects most of NT

Mantanus

writes letter about problems in the church and claims that it lack holiness and miracles because there's too little of the Holy Spirit and that he's the HS incarnated

Monarchianism

discussion of how God is king and Jesus is king, Jesus and God are one

Modalism

Trinity has 3 modes to perform 3 purposes but 1 being

Manicheanism

merged Christianity ideas with Zoroastrianism which promotes a cosmic struggle between good and evil

Mysticism

we are looking for a mystical connection to God, essence will be absorbed into God

Neoplatonism

being absorbed into God through total loss of personal identity, rapture of the soul

Quadratus

Writes letter to Roman emperor and says that Christian citizens were better than the Roman ones

Justin Martyr

philosopher pre- christianity who defends resurrection, deity of Christ, inspiration of scripture, and NT claims about scripture

Tatian

wrote 1st harmony of gospels, falls into gnosticism, takes on extreme forms of asceticism - rejects marriage and human reproduction

Theopholis

talks about Ex Nihilo which means out of nothing

Factors attributing to the rise of bishops

• needed leadership during persecution and heresy

• increasing use of the Lord's Supper

Factors attributing to rise of Bishop of Rome

• God will build the church on Peter

• Apostolic Succession

• Peter and Paul are martyred here

• Population is one of the biggest in the ancient world

• Imperial capital of Roman Empire

• Main language becomes Latin which is based in Rome

• Location allows them to influence the West

Why was the canon closed

• needed an answer for Marion

• apostles and students are dying
  what books are you willing to die for

Qualifications for canon

• Written by apostle or associate of one

• capable of edifying church

• in agreement with rule of faith

What are the three schools of theology

European, Alexandrian, Carthaginian

What is the defining characteristic of the European school of thought

practical - theology motivated by determining orthopraxy and rules

What is the defining characteristic of the Alexandrian school of thought

Using Greek philosophy and critical thinking to determine why certain things are the way they are

What is the defining characteristic of the Carthaginian school of thought

pragmatic - does it makes sense and what works

Key people from the European school of thought

Irenaus - strong views of end times and heavily involved in Regular Fide
Hippolytus - rigorists who was exiled because he said church was made up of believers and unbelievers. used allegory, not literal interpretation

Key people from the Alexandrian school of thought

• Clement - uses Greek Philosophy to explain Christianity and supremacy and focused on the deity of Christ

• Origen - uses allegory, and believed in the existence of souls and emasculated himself because it caused him to sin

Key people from the Carthaginian school of thought

• Tertullian - emphasizes the holiness and purity of the church, rejects Greek philosophy as help for theology

• Cyprian - there is no salvation outside of the church, promotes baptism and regeneration, emphasizes church leadership

Baptism

• Letter from Barnabas - those who place their hope in their cross

• Justin Martyr - for those who are persuaded and believe which excludes kids

• Tertullian - rejects infant baptism but says if need be that might be ok for child

• Hippolytus - believers only and the process takes 3 years

• Apostolic Constitutions command to baptize infants

Lord's Supper definition

Eucharist - God's grace or good gift

Lord's Supper changes

• Clement of Rome - sacrifice of praise

• Was taken each Sunday, used realistic language, only by believers, no why given they just took it

• Praise and sacrifice is literal

• Hippolytus refers to it as a new oblation

• Syphrean refers to the front of the church as an alter

  • Cyril of Jerusalem - offers up Christ and some of them think they've actually sacrificed Christ

• Apostolic Constitution - we offer to you this bread and cup

Constantine's conversion

• When Diocletian dies, his 4 generals fight for Caesar

• Milvian Bridge connected two fighting armies

  • Constantine hears "IN HOC SIGNE VINCES" (in this sign victory) and sees chi rho

• He calls bishiops and has his army baptized and paints chi rho on their shields

• His army wins, he becomes Caesar and issues Edict of Milan

Constantine's influence

Issued Edict of Milan: religious freedom to Roman citizens, makes Sunday an official day of worship and rest, banned soothsaying, exemption for clergy to participate

• called for council of Nicea and pays for them to gather together

Trinitarian Controversy Views

• Monarchianism - adoptionism
  -Modalism - God the Father also experienced the crucifixion

• Arianism - Christ is greatest of all created beings

• Macedonianism and Pneumatomachianism - ole of spirit in the trinity

Arius

• Key player in conversation surrounding the Trinity

• different substances and the Son was created by the Father, therefore he is subordinate

Athanatius

• Said that Jesus and God were coequal and coeternal

• Distinct personalities

• Christ also has full human nature

Trinitarian Controversy Overview

• Arius and Eusebio of Nicodemia - deny the deity of Christ

• Basil the Great and Athenatius - defend Christ's deity

• resolved at the Council of Nicea (325)

Christological Controversy

• asks the question if Christ is divine, how is he human

• Apolinarius, Nestorius, and Eutyches were heretics in regards to this view

• Cyril of Alexandria and Leo 1 were its defenders

• Discussed at Council of Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon

Donatist Controversy

• pastor who denied faith was in persecution

• defended by Augstine

Pelagian Controversy

-questions free will and if humans are inherently sinners

• Augustine and Jerome say they are

• John Cacian, Pelagias, Coelestius

Council of Nicaea

• 325

• Primarily discussed how is Jesus like God

• Heterosios - presented by Arius and said that Jesus was created by God

• Athenacius - Jesus was sent by God and Christ and Father have separate personalities and natures

• Led to Nicean creed which does not mention the Holy Spirit

Nicene Fathers

• influenced formation of Nicene Creed

• Athenatius - defends trinitarian in book called "incarnation"

• Eusebius of Cetera - defined a middle ground in trinitarian debate and is seen as Father of Church History

• Hilary of Poitiers - Western opponent of Arianism

Cappodocian Fathers

• Basil the Great - Bishop of Caeserea, opponent of Arianism, writes on the HS

• Gregory of Nanzianzus - Bishop of Constantinople, against arian, greatest orator of his age, says spirit process from Father through the Son

• Gregory of Nissa - Bishop of Nissa and known for defense against Arianism at Council of Constantinople, sees trinity as 3 distinct persons who have always existed

Post - Nicene

• John Chrysostom - trained in classic Greek and speaking, bishop of Constantinople, exiled because he criticized empowered wife for how she dressed, focused on Paul's letters

• Ambrose - governor of Milan and people elect him as bishop, introduced congregational singing, against arian, criticizes emperor for killing

Monasticism

• initially just men who are so committed to kingdom that they separate from teh world for spiritual benefit

• Practiced by Origen, Syphrian, Tertuallian, Jerome who urge celeriacy to Focus on spirit

• Took off because of desire for martyrdom, geographical reasons, and spiritual reasons

• led to the formation of monasteries

Council of Constantinople

• 381

• called by emperor Theodocius

• 186 bishops come
  36 are Macedonians

• Builds on to Nicene
  creed

• affirmed the divinity of Holy Spirit through the Constantinoplitan creed

Synagogue

place of worship

Apostle

Those sent by Jesus

diakonoi

servant or deacons

presbuteroi

elder

ekklesia

gather

Pope

papa- father - like patriarch

Heteroousios

different substance or essence

Homoiousious

same substance or essence

Council of Ephesus

-431

Council of Chalcedon

• 451

Council of Carthage

-397 

Apostle’s Creed 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, out Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered Potties Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hadn't of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.