Church History & Patrology Course Course Overview + Church History by the century + Meaning and importance of “Patrology” Course References + Church historians + Anti-/Post-Nicene and Nicene Fathers Course Operation
L1: The Church in the 1st Century 1) The Coptic Church is an Apostolic Church 2) The Apostolic Churches of the 1st century 3) Famous Persons of the Apostolic Era
The Coptic Church is Apostolic + The Apostolic Era and Church + The 1st Christian Church + Who are the Copts? + Egypt before St Mark + The See of St. Mark
The Apostolic Era and Church 30 to 100 AD What is an Apostolic Church? Unbroken historical connection to the first Church (founded by the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost Day)
The 1st Christian Church Birth: Pentecost; Acts 2:1-4, 14-36 Challenges: Jews and Pagans Spread: Europe, Asia and Africa Success: Holy Spirit, Acts 4:7-12, 8:26-29, 39-40, 13:2, 9-11, 15:28
Who are the Copts? Copts: from Greek “Aigyptos” Sons of Pharaohs: + Religious beyond any other race + Scientific background was subjected to religion + Religious dogmas (triads, one supreme being, 2nd life, cross)
Egypt before St Mark Egypt in the Holy Bible: + Refuge: Abraham (Gen 12, Moses (Exodus), Jer 41, 43 + Blessed: Hos 11:1, Isa 19:1 The Holy Family in Egypt: + Called by God to Joseph (Mt 2:13-15) + Well documented in references
The See of St. Mark Christianity in Egypt: + Christian Jews before St. Mark, Acts 2:10, 18:24-28, Theopilus (Lk) St. Mark the Founder: + One of the 70 Apostles + Born at 3 AD, Gospel at 60 AD, Egypt at 61 AD, martyred at 68AD
2) The Apostolic Churches (of the 1st century) Jerusalem Antioch Alexandria Rome
The Church of Jerusalem (mother of all Christian Churches) St James is the 1st bishop, then his brother St Simon the son of Kolb after his martyrdom in 62 AD Martyrdom of St. Stephen => the spread of Christianity to Judea and Samaria; Acts 8:1, 14&15, 11:22
The Church of Antioch (Syria) (1st Gentile Church) Sts Paul & Barnabas ministered in Antioch (Acts 11:22-26) before St. Peter went to it (Gal 2:11). He is considered the 1st bishop. The 1st Church to call the believers Christians and was the base of St Paul’s trips
The Church of Alexandria (Egypt) (1st Theologian School) St Mark is regarded as the first of unbroken 117 patriarchs and the 1st of a stream of Egyptian martyrs He founded the 1st Christian theologian school to replace the pagan school
The Church of Rome (Italy) Founded by St Paul (Acts 23:11, Rom 1:7/13, 15:20, Gal 2:7-9) The Catholic Church regards St. Peter as the 1st patriarch of 265 patriarchs
3) Famous Persons of the Apostolic Era The Twelve Disciples The Seventy Apostles The Church Father
The Twelve Disciples The original disciples (Mt 10:2-4) St Matthias was one of the 70 Apostles and was chosen to replace Judas the Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26)
The Seventy Apostles The calling and sending of the 70 Apostles (Luke 10:1-16) Famous among the 70 Apostles are Sts Barnabas, Luke, Mark St Paul was chosen by God after His Ascension (Acts9:1-22)
Ignatius Bishop of Antioch Polycarp bishop of Smyrna Famous Church Fathers (of the 1st Century) Clement of Rome Ignatius Bishop of Antioch Polycarp bishop of Smyrna Ref=> http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/
Saint Clement of Rome + 3rd bishop of Rome; 93-101AD + St Paul mentions him in Phil 4:3 + Among his writings, the epistle to the Church of Corinth is the oldest authentic Christian doc outside the N.T.
(Theophorus = God Bearer) Saint Ignatius (Theophorus = God Bearer) + 3rd bishop of Antioch; 98-117AD + He was a disciple to St. John + En route to martyrdom, he wrote epistles that preserved the early Christian theology
Saint Polycarp + 1st bishop of Smyrna; 69-155AD + He was a disciple to St. John and was the angel praised by Christ in Rev 2:8-11 + Among his famous writings is the epistle to the Philippians