Jesus and the Apostles 3 BC – 70 AD

Fullness of Time for The birth of Christ 1.Koine Greek 2.Pax Romana 3.Roman Roads 4.Special status of Jews in Rome 5.Peak and failure of Philosophy But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. - Galatians 4:4-5 KJV

Age of Catholic Christianity I AD The Apostolic Fathers

Types of Church Fathers 1.Apostolic Fathers (c ) 2.Apologists (c. 140–200) 3.Polemicists (c. 180–225) 4.Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460) 1.Apostolic Fathers (c ) 2.Apologists (c. 140–200) 3.Polemicists (c. 180–225) 4.Scientific Theologians (c. 225–460)

The Bishop?

Clement of Rome a.Wrote 2 nearly canonical works I and II Clement b.Leading elder of Rome c.Fourth Pope a.Wrote 2 nearly canonical works I and II Clement b.Leading elder of Rome c.Fourth Pope

Ignatius of Antioch 1.Only seen at the end of his life 2.Arrested and martyred for Christ 3.Taken to Rome writing seven letters along the way 4.Martyred c. 110AD 1.Only seen at the end of his life 2.Arrested and martyred for Christ 3.Taken to Rome writing seven letters along the way 4.Martyred c. 110AD

Ignatius of Antioch 1.Struggle against false teachers 2.Unity/Structure of the church 3.Obedience to Bishops 4.His impending death 1.Struggle against false teachers 2.Unity/Structure of the church 3.Obedience to Bishops 4.His impending death Key Foci of His Writings

PolycarpPolycarp Bishop of SmyrnaBishop of Smyrna Disciple of John the ApostleDisciple of John the Apostle Wrote a letter to the Philippian ChurchWrote a letter to the Philippian Church Martyred Feb. 22, c.155ADMartyred Feb. 22, c.155AD Bishop of SmyrnaBishop of Smyrna Disciple of John the ApostleDisciple of John the Apostle Wrote a letter to the Philippian ChurchWrote a letter to the Philippian Church Martyred Feb. 22, c.155ADMartyred Feb. 22, c.155AD

Age of Catholic Christianity II AD PersecutionPersecution

The Spread of Christianity 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution 1.God 2.Burning Conviction 3.Need in the hearts of people 4.Love for one another 5.Persecution

Reasons for Christian Persecution 1.Jewish Fears 2.Roman Politics 3.Social Reasons 4.Economic Reasons 5.Religious Reasons 1.Jewish Fears 2.Roman Politics 3.Social Reasons 4.Economic Reasons 5.Religious Reasons

The Early Persecutions AD Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed Burning of RomeBurning of Rome Christian torchesChristian torches Peter and Paul executedPeter and Paul executed Nero AD

Official Persecution Christians had a respite Christians had a respite Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecutionDiocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced Persecution targeted the church infrastructurePersecution targeted the church infrastructure Diocletian

Official Persecution Prime force behind Diocletian persecutionsPrime force behind Diocletian persecutions Ruled half of the Empire, under DiocletianRuled half of the Empire, under Diocletian Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine. Galerius

*Positive Effects of Persecution “Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian“Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian Purification of the churchPurification of the church Spreading of the gospelSpreading of the gospel Canonization of scriptureCanonization of scripture Provided Apologia for the faithProvided Apologia for the faith

*Negative Effects of Persecution 1.People got dead 2.The problem of the lapsed 3.The overemphasis on martyrdom 4.Lack of ability to leave a literary legacy

Age of Catholic Christianity III Heresy-Orthodoxy-The Canon

Requirements for Canonization 1.Power over lives of people 2.Must be used in Worship 3.Direct connection to apostle 4.Written in or around Palestine

Marcion c HereticHeretic Son of a bishopSon of a bishop Excommunicated for heresy, contempt of authority and maybe seducing a virginExcommunicated for heresy, contempt of authority and maybe seducing a virgin Studied under the Gnostic CerdoStudied under the Gnostic Cerdo Wrote AntithesisWrote Antithesis Met PolycarpMet Polycarp

Marcion’s Beliefs 1.OT God and Jews were Evil 2.NT God gracious and good 3.Wrote an 11 book Canon including a mangled Luke and 11 of Paul’s epistles

Mani Most influential GnosticMost influential Gnostic Persian philosopherPersian philosopher Systematized Manichæism creating a long lasting systemSystematized Manichæism creating a long lasting system Martyred in Persia 277ADMartyred in Persia 277AD

Beliefs of Manichæism 1.Signaculum Oris – Purity in word and diet 2.Signaculum manuum – Renunciation of material pursuits 3.Signaculum sinus – celibacy 4.2 classes – “Perfect” and “Hearers” 5.12 Apostles->72 Bishops->72 Disciples

Montanus Mid-Late 2 nd Century Heterodox - Semi HereticHeterodox - Semi Heretic From Asia MinorFrom Asia Minor Somnambulistic EcstasiesSomnambulistic Ecstasies Inspired organ of the ParacleteInspired organ of the Paraclete Had 2 main Prophetesses Priscilla & MaximillaHad 2 main Prophetesses Priscilla & Maximilla

Montanists, Phrygians, and Cataphrygians 1.The Pneumatics “Spiritual Christians” 2.Combated Gnosticism 3.Asceticism 4.No forgiveness for mortal sin post-baptism 5.Miraculous Gifts - especially prophecy 6.Universal Priesthood 7.Millenarianism

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus Tertullian c Born in CarthageBorn in Carthage Married and CelibateMarried and Celibate Eminent Theologian/ApologistEminent Theologian/Apologist 1 st to use term Trinity1 st to use term Trinity Wrote ApologeticusWrote Apologeticus Attacked GnosticsAttacked Gnostics Became a MontanistBecame a Montanist

Irenæus c Disciple of PolycarpDisciple of Polycarp 1 st to use the entire New Testament1 st to use the entire New Testament The enemy of error and schismThe enemy of error and schism Anti-Gnostic – He wrote a 5 volume Refutation of GnosticismAnti-Gnostic – He wrote a 5 volume Refutation of Gnosticism

Origenes Adamantius Origen c Studied under any and everyone even hereticsStudied under any and everyone even heretics 3 level method of scripture interpretation: literal, moral, and spiritual3 level method of scripture interpretation: literal, moral, and spiritual The 3 rd leader of the Alexandrian School from The 3 rd leader of the Alexandrian School from Started his own school in CæsareaStarted his own school in Cæsarea Very, Very, VERY AsceticVery, Very, VERY Ascetic Tortured under Decius then died after releaseTortured under Decius then died after release

Age of the Christian Roman Empire I Constantine The Best and Worst thing ever to Happen to Christianity Constantine

AKA Caius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Claudius Constantius Magnus

Effects of Constantine Winning Edict of Toleration with Co-Regent LiciniusEdict of Toleration with Co-Regent Licinius Christian clergy exempt from military/municipal dutyChristian clergy exempt from military/municipal duty Abolished offensive pagan customsAbolished offensive pagan customs Emancipation of Christian slavesEmancipation of Christian slaves Legalized bequests to catholic churchesLegalized bequests to catholic churches Sunday -> dies Solis (day of the Sun)Sunday -> dies Solis (day of the Sun) Contributed to the building of ChurchesContributed to the building of Churches

Positive Effects of the Christiainized Roman Empire 1.Increased respect for women 2.Better treatment of slaves/freedom for Christian slaves 3.Gladiator games slowed if not stopped 4.More justice in Roman legislation 5.Missionary work accelerated 1.Increased respect for women 2.Better treatment of slaves/freedom for Christian slaves 3.Gladiator games slowed if not stopped 4.More justice in Roman legislation 5.Missionary work accelerated

Negative Effects of the Christianized Roman Empire 1.Pseudo-Conversion to maintain power 2.Interference of government with Church affairs 3.Weakening of the faith 4.Persecution of Pagans/Heretics 1.Pseudo-Conversion to maintain power 2.Interference of government with Church affairs 3.Weakening of the faith 4.Persecution of Pagans/Heretics