Church History Essentials for Exam

Patristic Period (Early Church)

  • Timeframe: from Jesus' death and resurrection to the end of the first 500 years (approx. 1st–5th centuries).
  • Key developments:
    • Doctrine established: core beliefs defined; Nicene Creed formulated at Nicaea (date: AD\ 325).
    • Canon of Scripture solidified: 66 books recognized by the 4th century.
    • Persecution and martyrdom: external persecution; martyr = witness (Greek: martyr\varnothing = witness); Stephen as an example.
  • Figures and focus: church fathers (e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian); Paul of Rome noted for early significance.
  • Language and context: Christianity rooted in the Greco-Roman world; Jesus spoke Aramaic; New Testament primarily in Greek.
  • Terminology:
    • Patristic = the Church Fathers; doctrine and creed formation.
    • Martyrdom = witness unto death.

Medieval/Byzantine Period

  • Timeframe: roughly 5th–15th centuries; includes the Byzantine (Eastern) church and the Latin (Western) church.
  • Major event: Great Schism, a split between East and West; Orthodox vs Catholic.
  • Key terms:
    • Orthodox = right teaching; Catholic = universal church.
    • Filioque controversy contributed to the split (Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son in the West).
  • Language and power:
    • Eastern Church: Greek; Western Church: Latin.
    • Political dynamics: Constantine and the move of centers of power; Rome vs Constantinople; influence of bishops and papal authority.
  • Outcome: two major centers of Christianity emerge with distinct traditions and liturgies.

Reformation & Enlightenment Era (Protestant Era)

  • Reformation core: Martin Luther and the 95 Theses (1517) challenging abuses and calling for reform.
  • Solae (essentials of Reformation theology):
    • Sola Scriptura = Scripture alone is the final authority.
    • Sola Gratia = salvation by grace alone.
    • Sola Fide = justification by faith alone.
    • Sola Dei Gloria = all to the glory of God alone.
  • Means of salvation: by grace through faith, not by works or indulgences. Key scriptural anchor: Ephesians\ 2:8; Acts\ 4:12 for the exclusivity of Christ.
  • Enlightenment context: reason and human autonomy become the measure of truth; science and philosophy influence society and church.
  • Outcome: emergence of Protestant branches; later responses to modernity include revival and reform efforts.

Pentecostal/Charismatic Revival (20th Century)

  • Emergence: early to mid-20th century emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (signs, miracles, spiritual renewal).
  • Characteristics:
    • Emphasis on experiential renewal and Spirit empowerment (Acts-like experience).
    • Growth through revivals (e.g., Asbury, Toronto Blessing, Kansas City prophets, etc.).
  • Theological note: many Pentecostals are biblically rooted; Spirit and Word are not opposed (interaction of Word and Spirit).
  • Notable scholars associated with Pentecostal/Charismatic perspectives: Gordon\ Fee, Wayne\ Grudem.
  • Practical takeaway: ongoing revival and renewal movements continue to shape contemporary faith communities.

Essentials of Faith (Solae) and Ecclesial Unity

  • Four essentials for unity:
    • Unity in essentials.
    • Liberty in nonessentials.
    • Charity in all things.
  • The four solae (brief):
    • Scripture\ alone = authoritative norm for faith and practice.
    • Grace\ alone = salvation by God’s unmerited favor.
    • Faith\ alone = justification by faith, not by works.
    • Christ\ alone = salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
  • Additional principle: glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).

Four Persuasions (Major Traditions) to Know

  • Orthodox Church (Eastern Orthodox) – right teaching in the East; Greek-speaking.
  • Roman Catholic Church – universal church with Latin liturgy; historical center in Rome.
  • Protestant Church – reformers who emphasized Scripture and faith.
  • Pentecostal/Charismatic – emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in the church.

Major World Religions and Cults (Overview for Context)

  • Islam
    • Submission; five pillars; Allah; Muhammad; Quran; questions of peace vs militant interpretations.
  • Judaism
    • Oldest Abrahamic faith; Torah, temple, and ongoing tradition.
  • Hinduism
    • Oldest religion; diverse practices; monism/polytheism; influence on the New Age movement.
  • Buddhism
    • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama; first global missionary religion; focus on suffering and its cessation; commonly prominent in the West.
  • Mormonism (LDS) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower)
    • Two cults to know; differences from orthodox Christianity; LDS (Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price); JW (Watchtower, New World Translation; Jesus not equal to God in JW view).
  • New Age and Secular Humanism
    • Spiritual practices without exclusive theistic grounding; emphasis on personal spirituality and self-help.

Exam Reminders (Key Points from the Lecture)

  • Four periods to know: Patristic, Medieval/Byzantine, Reformation/Enlightenment, Pentecostal/Charismatic.
  • Four persuasions to recognize: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal/Charismatic.
  • Important historical markers: Nicaea (325 CE); Great Schism (East–West split, formalized mid‑first millennium); Luther’s 95 Theses (1517).
  • Core Reformation principles: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Dei Gloria.
  • Essentials in faith: unity in essentials; liberty in nonessentials; charity in all things.
  • Major non-Christian groups to know at a high level: Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  • Be prepared to identify why orthodoxy is distinguished from heterodoxy (right teaching vs wrong teaching).