1. History of the Church I: Week Five

2. Episcopacy  Means the power and prestige of the bishops  Paul’s pattern for the church:  Local church had two positions: elder/presbyters which came to be known as pastors or bishops and deacons Pastors/bishops led worship Deacons helped  Turn of 1 st century, Ignatius wrote a series of letters in which he said the church should have single bishop, pastors and deacons

3. Bishops emerge  Gnostics argued their leaders went back to Christ and they had a “secret wisdom” passed through these leaders  Bishops countered with their own list which emphasized the power of the apostles teachings  Each church and bishop now had their own list – Whose was supreme?

4. 3 Ideas emerged 1. “Back to the Bible” These Christians claim bishops overstepped their authority but what is the real structure? 2. Other Christians believe they were exercising the “liberty of the faith”. So is there any structure? 3. Catholics believe it was the H.S. which guided them so this is the pattern for all time. Why then did H.S. stop working in 2 nd /3 rd centuries?

5. Power of the Bishops  Up until the 3 rd century, the pattern of church had been Paul’s argument from the beginning – you shall know them by their fruits – Christian behavior was morally sound and gross sinners were expelled from the Church  The morality of the Church led many to Christ because they were different

6. Power of the Bishops  By A.D. 220, the church had fallen into a moral abyss  Previously, sins like sexual immorality, murder and denial of the faith led to exclusion and not be able to partake of the Lord’s Supper  Bishop of Rome Callistus (217-222) was the first to accept back repentant sinners  A.D. 250 Emperor Decius led most violent persecution yet

7. Power of the Bishops  His plan was issue a certificate which said you gave sacrifice to the Roman gods  If you didn’t, they would torture you until you did Two questions emerge: What do you do with those who sacrificed w/o torture? What do you do with those who gave up under torture? Do you allow them back in the fellowship?

8. Solution gives power to Bishops  Many believed there was no salvation w/o the church  In Carthage, Bishop Cyprian said the blood of the saints was enough to cover the sins of those who fell short  His solution became the accepted belief – degrees of guilt  Those that suffered but gave in before death were let back in  Those that gave in had to serve penance

9. Solution gives power to Bishops  The solution was rejected by Church as a whole but the idea did not go away  Novatian, bishop of Rome, rejected this proposal outright but he was opposed by one of his pastors, Cornelius who believed bishops could forgive sins  Cornelius was elected next bishop  Novatian set up small churches which disagreed w/Rome  The Catholic Church begins