Church Historythe Theologians

the Word & Tablethrough two millennium

Church Historythe Theologians

the Word & Tablethrough two millennium

A Timeline ofChurch History

Medieval ChurchAncientChurch

600 1500

ReformationChurch

2000

ModernChurch

ca. 33

Ancient Church Timeline

TheologiansApologistsChurchFathers

Apostles

100 150 300 600

?

Developments in the Ancient Church (up to 600 AD)

• “The Way” is established apart from Judaism. Jesus Christ is THE issue.

• The Apostolic Faith is “Codified.”• Church Traditions Develop –good & bad–

Setting things into Motion for Centuries.Doctrinal Orthodoxy is Established through a

series of Ecumenical Councils.The New Testament is Gathered & Closed.Politics play a Major Role in Church Life, the

Foundation for “Christendom.”

Church’s Cultural Beginnings

Politically – Roman

Culturally – Greek

Religiously - Jewish

Surrounding theEarly Church

Church’s Cultural Impact Early

Politically – Roman

Culturally – Greek/Latin

Religiously – Christian

The Centering of theEarly Church

Flavius Valerius Constantinus greatly exceeds

the Edict of Milan

and extends to the

Church a status

far surpassing the

wildest dreams

of its earliest

adherents.

Politics Play aPermanent Role

Leo the Great & Attila the Hun

Politics Play aPermanent Role

Christ’s Sufferings are

grossly misunderstood &

misapplied.

Fiery Trials& Fallout

The MajorEcumenical Councils

Nicea - 325

Constantinople - 381

Ephesus – 431

Chalcedon – 451

Synod of Orange - 529

Constantinople - 553

Constantinople – 681

Arianism

Arianism/Apollinarism

Nestorianism

Eutychianism

Pelagianism

Monphysitism

Monotheletism

-We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

-We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

-We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN

What Do We Believe?

Where Was the Bible?

It was used by Everyone to Argue their Points.

Jerome translates the Vulgate, 4th Century.

NT Canon is Gathered & Recognized, 4th Century.*

Allegory vs. the School at Antioch

The Theologiansand the Scriptures

Where Was the Church’s Mission?Ufilas went to the Visigoths and Translated a copy of the

Scriptures for them (311-383 AD).Martin of Tours, patron saint of France, preached to the

Burgundians (316-396 AD).Gregory of Tours worked with the Franks & ended the Arian

Influence in that area (~496 AD).Patrick of Ireland (389-461 AD).Columba (521-597 AD), converted in Ireland and left to

Evangelize Scotland.Aidon (7th Century), Evangelized Northern England from

Scotland.

Missions in theAge of the Theologians

The Legacy ofThe Theologians

What Can We Learn from “The Theologians”?

Doctrine Matters – We Should Study & Engage the Ideas of our Day.

The Faith has been Tried in Many Circumstances.

The Canon Should Retain a Pivotal Place.

Positions of Power Affect Allegiance & Belief.

Persistence is Critical.

Pope Gregory I – aka “the Great”

Upholds Rome’s

Supremacy.

Takes on Civic Duties

Affirms the PreviousCouncils.

On to theMiddle Ages

A Timeline ofChurch History

Medieval Church

AncientChurch

600 1500

ReformationChurch

2000

ModernChurch

ca. 33

Gregory I~600 AD

Gregory VII~1100 AD Boniface VIII

~1300ADPepin

“the Short”754 AD

Pope Gregory I (540 – 604)

The Mass ~ a Sacrifice. Gregory sees a real corporeal presence; the elements are altered.

He accommodates “a popular faith,” leading to superstition, the extreme aspects of Augustine’s grace & predestination are dulled.

A High Note: Affirms the Atonement as Substitution.

Major Errorsof the Papacy

The Papacy’s Political Power Rises

Pepin the Short crushes the Lombards (751) and the Pope Crowns him King of France.

Gregory VII gets bold: He ought to be able to able to depose emperors!

The church has never erred!

Politics Trumpthe Gospel

Pope Gregory VII (1056 – 1106)

The Investiture Struggle: Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV vs. Pope “Hildebrand.”

Prior to this Emperors appointed Bishops.

Concordant of Worms, 1122, ends the practice.

Major Errorsof the Papacy

A Timeline ofChurch History

Medieval Church

AncientChurch

600 1500

ReformationChurch

2000

ModernChurch

ca. 33

Gregory I~600 AD

Gregory VII~1100 AD Boniface VIII

~1300ADPepin

“the Short”754 AD

Pope Boniface VIII (1234 – 1303)

Unum Sanctum (1302) – the Papacy’s High Water Mark

There is One Holy Catholic Church…we do firmly believe and simply confess that outside this church there is no salvation or remission of sins.

Major Errorsof the Papacy

Pope Boniface VIII (1234 – 1303)

Unum Sanctum continued…

In this church and in her power are two swords, a spiritual one and temporal one (Luke 22:38 & Matt. 26:52).

“…if the earthly power errs, it shall be judged by the spiritual power, if a lesser errs it shall be judged by its superior, but if the supreme power errs it shall be judged only by God and not man.”

Major Errorsof the Papacy

I Few Other Things that Made a Difference...

The Rise of Islam, Vikings in North

The Crusades

Charlemagne, Scholasticism (doctrine from the previous ages is worked over using logic & dialectic), the Rise of the University.

What Did We Miss?

Church Historythe Medieval Church

the Word & Tablethrough two millennium