1. Lesson 12: Monasticism and the Spread of Christianity

2. THE AGE OF JESUS AND THE APOSTLES (30-70) THE AGE OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY (70-303) THE AGE OF THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRE (312-590) THE CHRISTIAN MIDDLE AGES (590-1517) THE AGE OF REFORMATION (1517-1648) THE AGE OF REASON AND REVIVAL (1648-1781) THE AGE OF PROGRESS (1789-1914) THE AGE OF IDEOLOGIES (1914-PRESENT)

3. MONASTICISIM THE AGE OF THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRE (312-590)

4. MONASTICISM IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY Oriental Hellenistic PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND OF MONASTICISIM PaganGnostic dualism Catholic Christian MONASTICISM IN THE BIBLE Alleged Biblical examples All are either a misuse of Old Testament examples or a misinterpretation of singular New Testament actions

5. MONASTIC CONFLICTS WITH THE GOSPEL It is not missionary in vision Divided Christianity into two groups: SACERDOTALISM “The elevation of a priesthood above the laity” REASONS FOR THE MONASTIC MOVEMENT SecularThe Roman Empire was falling apart! Spiritual It became a substitute for martyrdom “It places the great problem of Christianity not in the transformation, but in the abandonment of the world” Schaff, Vol. 3, p 159 Those aspiring to perfection Those who were content with apparent ‘compromise’

6. GEOGRAPHICAL AREA FOR MONASTICISIM West THREE PEROIDS OF MONASTIC DEVELOPMENT 1. ASCETIC PERIOD 2. THE HERMIT OR EREMITICAL PERIOD eremiadesertReligious recluse Paul of Thebes East anchorite‘withdrawn’ Anthony

7. Helen Waddell The Desert Fathers

8. Questions: How can these men be held in high regard by the Roman Catholic Church when they forsook all of the means of grace offered by the Church? Though the piety of some hermits is to be admired, their lack of Biblical basis and practice is to be deplored 3. THE CENOBITIC PEROID OF MONASTICISM “An association of a number of anchorets (eremitics) of the same sex for mutual advancement in ascetic holiness” Schaff, Vol. 3, p. 157 Koinos bios“common life” Pacomius and the Pacomian Monasteries Basil of Caesarea

9. Martin of Tours Keepers of the cloak capella cappallani chapel

10. Jerome Latin Vulgate

11. 4. Benedictine Era of Monasticism Benedict of Nursia

12. Conclusions:  Men of prayer  Opus Dei  Work of learning and good works  Missions, especially in the East  Two levels of spirituality  Salvation by works Separation: good & bad

13. The Spread of Christianity Persia Jacob of Nisibis Aphrahat the Persian Ephraim the Syrian The Demonstrations

14. Axum or Ethiopia Africa

15. Nubia or modern Sudan