Part 1 The First Four Centuries Church History Part 1 The First Four Centuries

Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOMnNPjgys Church History Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOMnNPjgys

Those who believe the past is inferior to the present are like… Chronological snobbery:- Those who believe the past is inferior to the present are like… “the country bumpkin full of the cocksure conviction of an ignorant adolescent that his own village is the hub of the universe…” CS Lewis

Chronological snobbery:- “The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds…” CS Lewis

Major Changes: 30AD – 330AD Growth 2. Government 3. God (doctrine of) “Follow the Bishop as Jesus Christ followed the Father” Ignatius (AD112, Antioch) 3. God (doctrine of) HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

The Spread of the Gospel… 1st Century Churches “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8

The Spread of the Gospel… 2nd Century Churches “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8

The Spread of the Gospel… End of 3rd Century Churches “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8

The Spread of the Gospel… 3rd – 6th Centuries “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8

Conditions for Growth Favourable Political - Pax Romana Cultural – Hellenist Geographical “Unfavourable” Jewish hostility ??? Roman Persecution ??? Internal heresy ???

Leaving home – AD70 God works all things for good “The blows that Vespasian, Titus, Hadrian…rained apon Jerusalem did not destroy the Christian Church. Rather they liberated the Church for it’s destiny as a universal religion offered to the whole world.” – Noll God works all things for good

Roman Persecution – Why? Jewish exemption (Religio licita) lost Different (“Saints”) Parties Amphitheatre Work Value of life 3. Rumors & suspicion

Great Fire of Rome, AD 64 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP3PLEifkhY&index=12&list=PLAAC21B2767860B50

Martyrdom of Polycarp – AD156 "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"

The Martyrs of Lyons – 177AD Pothinus and Blandina

Waves of Persecution 64AD - Nero, Fire of Rome Paul & Peter martyred 110AD - Trajan & Pliny Polycarp Martyred 161-180 - Marcus Aurelius “Propitiate the gods” Martyrs of Lyons 302-303 – Diocletian

Heresies – 3 categories 1. The Father (JAHWEH) 2. The Son (docetic) 3. The Spirit (scripture)

Heresies - Gnosticism Gnosticism - pursuit of superior knowledge Series of emanations (aeons) Docetic – Christ not human Nag Hammadi library John and Cerinthus – “Let’s flee before the baths fall in. Cerinthus the enemy of truth is inside!”

Marcion “Any error may be founded on parts of scripture; the truth alone is based on the whole” E.H. Broadbent – Pilgrim Church

Heresies Marcion no continuity with Old Testament Monarchianism reaction to Gnosticism Montanism reaction to authoritarianism

Early Church leaders & writers Ignatius ~ Bishop of Antioch, martyred Polycarp ~ Bishop of Smyrna, martyred Justin Martyr ~ Christian apologist Irenaeus ~ Bishop of Lyons Tertullian ~ Outspoken! Montanist Origen ~ Bible teacher & writer Cyprian ~ Bishop of Carthage Augustine ~ Bishop of Hippo

Early Church leaders & writers Augustine ~ 354-430 Dramatic conversion Bishop of Hippo Wrote “City of God” Dispute with Pelagius

Church foundations… Centralisation of Church Canon of Scripture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZPbADxXSs Creeds

Council of Nicea – 325 AD

Constantine the Great “In this sign conquer” 312 ~ Became emperor 334 ~ Christianity the official religion of Rome Called Council of Nicea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5RJJGiJI6I

Questions ?????

Part 2 Constantine to the Reformation Church History Part 2 Constantine to the Reformation

Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlogMDTYeA4 Church History Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlogMDTYeA4

Ambrose and Theodosius https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwqlxRyrb0I Rubens

Pope Damasus, Jerome & the Vulgate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4rw6jfTRJI&list=PLQ6KW1N6CjBCyhBZaF8coxBoi_-33aVmT

The Huns

The Vandals

The Goths

The Franks

Angles, Saxons, Picts

Turks conquer Constantinople

Patriarchal Caliphate, 632-661 The menace of Islam Expansion Prophet Mohammad, 622-632 Patriarchal Caliphate, 632-661 Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750

The Great Schism

The Great Schism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya_BL8nqkUk

Anthony – the first monk?

Simeon Stylites

The crusades Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, where he preached an impassioned sermon to take back the Holy Land.

John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu_ZU9P2fv8

Jan Hus

Church History Part 3 The Reformation

Gutenburg

Petrarch – Ad Fonts

Fall of Constantinople - 1453

Was the Church vigorous or Corrupt?

Erasmus

Martin Luther – 1483 - 1546

Ulrich Zwingli – 1484-1531

The Anabaptists