Church History Chapter 4

Courageous Faith  The Roman demand for conformity.  Religious conformity foster unity  Blessings from the gods. Not to worship = unpatriotic, treasonous, atheistic Christians never knew when someone might turn them in for being Christian  The Roman demand for conformity.  Religious conformity foster unity  Blessings from the gods. Not to worship = unpatriotic, treasonous, atheistic Christians never knew when someone might turn them in for being Christian

2 well-known Early Martyrs  Ignatius of Antioch > wrote letters to the Christians in the 7 towns where he and his captors stopped “ come the wicked torments of the devil upon me if I may be attain unto Jesus Christ  Justin Martyr > Pagan parents. He is searching for answers and finds them in Christianity. He and six of his students are executed for their faith.  He is an APOLOGIST or “defender of the faith”  Ignatius of Antioch > wrote letters to the Christians in the 7 towns where he and his captors stopped “ come the wicked torments of the devil upon me if I may be attain unto Jesus Christ  Justin Martyr > Pagan parents. He is searching for answers and finds them in Christianity. He and six of his students are executed for their faith.  He is an APOLOGIST or “defender of the faith”

 Apologists defended the faith in intellectual discussions with well educated pagans.  Why bother?  While the Romans demand conformity the church was held together by a strong organization.  By the 2nd century:  Bishop > from the Greek word for “supervisor” The Christian communities were small so each city only needed one bishop. The position of priest emerges later.  Deacons and Deaconesses > attend to the welfare of the community’s poor, widowed, orphaned, sick.  Apologists defended the faith in intellectual discussions with well educated pagans.  Why bother?  While the Romans demand conformity the church was held together by a strong organization.  By the 2nd century:  Bishop > from the Greek word for “supervisor” The Christian communities were small so each city only needed one bishop. The position of priest emerges later.  Deacons and Deaconesses > attend to the welfare of the community’s poor, widowed, orphaned, sick.

 Another development in our structure was the role of the Bishop of Rome.  Before Jerusalem was crushed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The bishop of Jerusalem was considered most important of all the bishops. After the fall, the bishop of Rome became more and more central in the Church.  Peter had died in Rome  Rome was the imperial capital.  The bishop of Rome is considered Peter’s successor.  Another development in our structure was the role of the Bishop of Rome.  Before Jerusalem was crushed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The bishop of Jerusalem was considered most important of all the bishops. After the fall, the bishop of Rome became more and more central in the Church.  Peter had died in Rome  Rome was the imperial capital.  The bishop of Rome is considered Peter’s successor.

Barbarians  “peace of Rome” > not justice but relative peace.  Nomadic tribes from the North pose a threat to Roman territory.  The Roman’s fear of the barbarians and of any dissent fueled the persecution of minority groups like the Christians.  “peace of Rome” > not justice but relative peace.  Nomadic tribes from the North pose a threat to Roman territory.  The Roman’s fear of the barbarians and of any dissent fueled the persecution of minority groups like the Christians.

What to do with Christians who sacrificed to the idols?  Apostasy > to renounce your faith.  Should those who have renounced their fait be allowed to re-enter the Christian communities?  Some bishops said their sin could never be forgiven. Others disagreed  The decision of the bishop of Rome was accepted  Reunited after repentance and public penance…the first forms of the sacrament of reconciliation.  Apostasy > to renounce your faith.  Should those who have renounced their fait be allowed to re-enter the Christian communities?  Some bishops said their sin could never be forgiven. Others disagreed  The decision of the bishop of Rome was accepted  Reunited after repentance and public penance…the first forms of the sacrament of reconciliation.

Conversion pages Constantine Helena, his mother, was a Christian Constantine worshiped the sun god. Before and important battle Constantine has a vision that in this sign he will conquer  XP Chi-Rho on banners and shields. Constantine Helena, his mother, was a Christian Constantine worshiped the sun god. Before and important battle Constantine has a vision that in this sign he will conquer  XP Chi-Rho on banners and shields.

 After his victory Constantine gives honor to the Son of God.  He supports Christianity but does not Get baptized until shortly before his death in 337 A.D. This was a common practice at the time. Issues the : Edict of Milan 313 A.D. Made it legal for Christians to be!!!  After his victory Constantine gives honor to the Son of God.  He supports Christianity but does not Get baptized until shortly before his death in 337 A.D. This was a common practice at the time. Issues the : Edict of Milan 313 A.D. Made it legal for Christians to be!!!

Change of address  Constantine becomes emperor of the entire empire ( see map pg.74).  The city of Rome itself is run-down.  Constantine moves the capital to the East and what was the city of Byzantium becomes known as Constantinople.  Constantine becomes emperor of the entire empire ( see map pg.74).  The city of Rome itself is run-down.  Constantine moves the capital to the East and what was the city of Byzantium becomes known as Constantinople.

Church and State  The Christians are finally legal and enjoy the favor of Constantine.  They are grateful to him  They are not inclined to resist his influence.  So, here we are, for 3 centuries we were poor and powerless and now are allied with the Roman Empire  The Christians are finally legal and enjoy the favor of Constantine.  They are grateful to him  They are not inclined to resist his influence.  So, here we are, for 3 centuries we were poor and powerless and now are allied with the Roman Empire

Official Religion of the Empire  313 we are legal  380 we are the OFFICIAL religion of the empire.  Emperor Theodosius declared paganism illegal and ENFORCED Christianity.  Ironic: The original Christian stance to war was one of pacifism.  NOW ONLY Christians could join the army!  313 we are legal  380 we are the OFFICIAL religion of the empire.  Emperor Theodosius declared paganism illegal and ENFORCED Christianity.  Ironic: The original Christian stance to war was one of pacifism.  NOW ONLY Christians could join the army!

Being official and its costs  Constantine’s conversion saved the church from the horrors of persecution, a new era began when the church became connected with worldly power.  Staying free from political pressures and influence proved difficult.  The church of 380 was a far cry from the band of Apostles who had wandered with Jesus.  Constantine’s conversion saved the church from the horrors of persecution, a new era began when the church became connected with worldly power.  Staying free from political pressures and influence proved difficult.  The church of 380 was a far cry from the band of Apostles who had wandered with Jesus.

Question  How were Christians both better off and worse off after Constantine declared Christianity legal and it became the official religion of the empire?.

Clarity of Doctrine pages  We were suffering persecution from outside, but we also had conflict from within.  Splinter groups challenge the beliefs of the majority  Keeping consistent with the teachings of the Apostles  Opposing those teachings contrary to essential beliefs of faith  We were suffering persecution from outside, but we also had conflict from within.  Splinter groups challenge the beliefs of the majority  Keeping consistent with the teachings of the Apostles  Opposing those teachings contrary to essential beliefs of faith

Gnosticism: A Denial of Jesus’ Humanity  Heresy: a belief or teaching that is contrary to an essential belief of a faith.  Heretic: One who teaches or believes in a heresy.  Gnosticism: Heresy  Believers called: Gnostics  Believed all material things, including the human body, were evil  Jesus was divine..but not human  Heresy: a belief or teaching that is contrary to an essential belief of a faith.  Heretic: One who teaches or believes in a heresy.  Gnosticism: Heresy  Believers called: Gnostics  Believed all material things, including the human body, were evil  Jesus was divine..but not human

Gnosticism2  Gnostics believed that God was so removed from material things that humans were ignorant of God.  All except the Gnostics who had a special secret knowledge of God.  Gnostic>Greek>Gnosis= knowledge  Salvation was not the gift of Jesus to all, but the special privilege of the Gnostics.  Gnostics believed that God was so removed from material things that humans were ignorant of God.  All except the Gnostics who had a special secret knowledge of God.  Gnostic>Greek>Gnosis= knowledge  Salvation was not the gift of Jesus to all, but the special privilege of the Gnostics.

Gnostics 3  The Gnostic denial of Jesus’ humanity was considered a heresy.  Iranaeus, bishop of Lyons, vigorously opposed Gnosticism  This turmoil in beliefs also lead to clarity and unity.  By the year 200 basic beliefs expressed in the Apostle’s Creed.  The Gnostic denial of Jesus’ humanity was considered a heresy.  Iranaeus, bishop of Lyons, vigorously opposed Gnosticism  This turmoil in beliefs also lead to clarity and unity.  By the year 200 basic beliefs expressed in the Apostle’s Creed.

Arianism: a denial of Jesus’ Divinity  Gnosticism thrived during the period of the persecutions. But another heresy Arianism after the persecutions, around the time of Constantine and it divided the church for centuries.  Arians denied Jesus’ divinity. They did not believe that the unreachable and unchangeable God could ever take the form of a human being  Gnosticism thrived during the period of the persecutions. But another heresy Arianism after the persecutions, around the time of Constantine and it divided the church for centuries.  Arians denied Jesus’ divinity. They did not believe that the unreachable and unchangeable God could ever take the form of a human being

Arianiam 2  To the Arians, Jesus was made or created by God and subordinate to God.  He was neither God nor human, but somewhere in between.  Arius’ beliefs were inconsistent with the understanding about Jesus that was Traditional in the church at large.  Arius refused to change his stand, he was declared a heretic  To the Arians, Jesus was made or created by God and subordinate to God.  He was neither God nor human, but somewhere in between.  Arius’ beliefs were inconsistent with the understanding about Jesus that was Traditional in the church at large.  Arius refused to change his stand, he was declared a heretic

The Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed  Constantine calls an ecumenical (worldwide) council to settle these disputes.  Held in Nicaea across the water from Constantinople.  300+ bishops attend, mostly from the East.  The Nicene Creed is still recited at Mass.  The Council of Nicaea was a major defining moment for Christianity.  The Creed has been an important definition of membership in the Christian community for over 1600 years.  Constantine calls an ecumenical (worldwide) council to settle these disputes.  Held in Nicaea across the water from Constantinople.  300+ bishops attend, mostly from the East.  The Nicene Creed is still recited at Mass.  The Council of Nicaea was a major defining moment for Christianity.  The Creed has been an important definition of membership in the Christian community for over 1600 years.

Athanasius  How to explain Jesus’ relationship to God?  Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria said  “ Jesus is related to God as brightness is to light”  The two realities cannot be separated.  Jesus is the brilliant reflection of the light that is God  IN 392 Theodosius outlaws Arianism along with Paganism in the empire.  What we now call the Catholic faith was the only religion allowed in the empire  How to explain Jesus’ relationship to God?  Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria said  “ Jesus is related to God as brightness is to light”  The two realities cannot be separated.  Jesus is the brilliant reflection of the light that is God  IN 392 Theodosius outlaws Arianism along with Paganism in the empire.  What we now call the Catholic faith was the only religion allowed in the empire