1. Early Church History
The first 1000 years
23 June 2016

2. Agenda Important Belief Systems Vocabulary
The timeline first 1000 years

3. Belief Systems
Gnosticism – the belief that matter is evil and salvation is reached through secret knowledge
Marcionism – a version of Gnosticism believing that the world is evil, the God of the Old Testament created the world and thus he is evil. The God of the New Testament is good.
Arianism- the belief that Jesus is just a man and that the Holy Spirit is a created being or force. Non-Trinitarian Christianity.
Orthodox Christianity – teachings and traditions as taught by the Apostles. The doctrines early Christians believed and formalised through the Ecumenical Councils.

4. Vocabulary
Creed – an authoritative, formulated statement of the chief articles of Christian belief, as the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Athanasian Creed.
Doctrine – a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government.
Ecumenical – promoting or fostering unity among the world's Christian Churches.

5. Gnosticism: salvation through knowledge
Marcionism: OT God is Evil, NT God is Good
Arianism: challenges divinity of Jesus & Holy Spirit
Abt. 250 A.D.
144 A.D.
Pauline Christianity: orthodox Christianity
1000
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Emperor Charlemagne born 748 A.D.
Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity 312 A.D.
Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity official religion of Rome 380 A.D.
John the Last Apostle dies circa 100 A.D.
325 A.D. First Nicaea Council
381 A.D. First Council of Constantinople
431 A.D. Council of Ephesus
451 A.D. Council of Chalcedon
553 A.D. 2nd Council of Constantinople
680 A.D. 3rd Council of Constantinople
787 A.D. 2nd Council of Nicaea

6. Any Questions