1. School of Ministry 2006-7 presents CHURCH HISTORY
i.e.
The combination of many crazy people and events over time to create a large story describing how we got to where we are today
(Next Year add a bit on early church government James v. Peter etc.)

2. God Has a Plan His Story He’s called it Story of Him
His story, He is in control, He started it He will finish it
Worldly assent A.D.-B.C. (B.C.E-C.E.)

3. Technically it is recorded bias, but to be more specific…
What is History?
Technically it is recorded bias, but to be more specific…
Historical Process – What actually happened
2. Historiography – What got written down

4. There are 2 primary schools of history
Eastern Circular
The three main variations are the Chinese Dynastic Cycles, the Indian Cosmic Cycles and the Ancient Middle East, Persia. The Zoroastrian Religion, which referred to four successive ages, gold, silver, bronze, iron. Each age built upon the previous one. Most refer to cycles, birth-growth-death-reuse
“The Christian faith could have nothing to do with the belief that the same ages and the same temporal events reoccur in rotation.” - ?Augustine?

5. 2. Western Linear - Christian Version
God started it
God will conclude it
God intervenes in it

6. Pendulum Theory
The consistent action-reaction and hyper-reaction of people throughout history has caused history to take on a pendulum like swings from one extreme to the other
As a part of History’s linear construct it often moves in a construct of action-reaction. Usually someone does something extreme, the results of it settle in and it slows down, until the other side (usually “orthodoxy” of the day) reacts, usually reacting too far and swinging the Pendulum the other way, seen often in Theology, but also applies to general history. E.g. Monarch-Democracy-Communism-Facism-

7. Branches of Church History
The history of Missions
The history of Politics
The history of Persecution
The history of Theology
Plain ‘ol People
Missions – early church planting -> wandering apostles/monks -> medieval monasteries -> missionaries
Politics – Underground -> World Domination -> Wars of Conquest -> National -> modern
Persecution – Pagan Government -> Heretics -> Intra-church inquisition -> Church Split/National wars ->Individual nations
Theology – Individuals -> councils -> church -> theologians
People – Just plain folks that turned the world upside down

8. Jesus and the Apostles 3 BC – 70 AD
Jacopo Bassano – Oil on Canvas; 1542

9. 3

11. Fullness of Time for The birth of Christ
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
Koine Greek
Pax Romana
Roman Roads
Special status of Jews in Rome
Peak and failure of Philosophy
THE turning point of history

12. Pentecost: The Birth of the Church
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
(Act 2:1-3)
Acts 2 the day of Pentecost

13. Giotto - 1320-25 egg tempera on poplar, 46 x 44 cm National Gallery, London

14. Paul’s Missionary Journeys
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also Act 17:6 KJV

15. Caravaggio The Conversion of St
Caravaggio The Conversion of St. Paul – 1600; Oil on cypress wood, 237 x 189 cm. Odescalchi Balbi Collection, Rome

23. Preview Show Christianity First 1000 Years video whatever time allows
First Leaders – 3:24
Controversy – 2:23
Paul of Tarsus – 13:51