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Chapter 4

Chapter 4. Gold Tested in Fire: Courageous Faith and Clear Doctrine. Concept A:Courageous Faith Amid the Fires of Persecution. From about 100-300 A.D. fear of * invading barbarians and of any internal lack of conformity fueled the Roman Empire’s Persecution of Christians,

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Chapter 4

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  1. Chapter 4 Gold Tested in Fire: Courageous Faith and Clear Doctrine.

  2. Concept A:Courageous Faith Amid the Fires of Persecution • From about 100-300 A.D. • fear of *invading barbarians and of any internal lack of conformity • fueled the Roman Empire’s Persecution of Christians, • *who refused to sacrifice to Roman gods and *resisted joining the Army.

  3. Primary Source Reading Cp 6 • Why did Pliny write to Emperor Trajan? • How did Pliny deal with Christians and why? • What major requirement did Pliny place on Christians and how did they respond? • Did Trajan fully agree with Pliny’s actions toward Christians? Why? • What 3 things do we learn about Christians from these two letters?

  4. In-Depth Questions • ..What does the purpose of religion in the Roman Empire seem to be? • Why did Pliny torture and execute Christians FIRST and then ask for Emperor Trajan’s opinion? • In the male-dominated world of the second century, what significance might there have been that Pliny discussed deaconesses in his letter to Trajan?

  5. Reflection • We are fortunate to live in a time and place where we are not arrested or executed for our faith. • Do you think we are “Weaker” or “Softer” Christians than those of the second century? • How do you think can we show we are Christians today? • Lent might be a perfect time! • Pray, Fast, Give

  6. Concept A continued • Within the church, • *bishops led the community’s worship and supervised the congregation’s life, • *deacons and deaconesses looked after those in need, and • *the bishop of Rome became a central figure. • *Christians who had renounced theirfaith or sacrificed to idols in order to savetheir life • were allowed to rejoin the church after a process of public penance and a ritual of re-entry

  7. Concept A. Continued *The Roman world looked upon the Christians with deep suspicion. *Among the early Martyrs were many bishops> Ignatius of Antioch> * Unconcerned about his own death,he wrote letters to the Christians of the the 7 towns he passed through on his way to the lions in Rome.

  8. Concept A. Continued Other martyrs who died during this period were Apologists > defenders of the Faith.> well educated> knew Greek philosophy and could debate with educated non-Christians on an equal Basis. Justin Martyr> Non-Christian parents>started a school in Rome> build a bridge between Christianity and Pagan religion.( Why bother with that?) Arrested with 6 of his students and all died in the arena

  9. Concept A. Continued Church Structures • Bishop> from the GK. Word for supervisor> led the community's worship life> elected by the community> Keep your day job! • Deacons/Deaconesses > helpers to the bishop> They attended to the needs of the community's poor, widowed, orphaned, sick.

  10. Concept A. ContinuedWorries for the Empire • Barbarians >lived on the northern frontier. Begin to conduct raids into the Roman lands. • From 100-200 AD very bad emperors. • The empire is rotting from the inside and the outside nomadic tribes were sharpening their swords. • Christians will not worship Roman Gods • Pacifism! It is wrong to kill a human being for any reason • Christians will not join the army.

  11. Concept A. Continued • DIOCLETIAN> Roman emperor who demanded complete conformity to his will. • Very severe persecution of the Christians.

  12. Concept B. • Constantine’s Conversion >Son of a Pagan father and Christian Mother • Dream!! > Fights under a special “sign of Christ”> XP > Chi-Rho > the first 2 letters of Christ’s name when written in Greek>and wins a major battle for the Empire. > Grants Freedom of worship to Christians in the Empire! • ***Edict of Milan, 313 A.D. ,Made it legal for Christians to be!***

  13. B. Continued • Constantine later bestowed many privileges on the church and its clergy. • By the year 400 Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire.This is enforced! • By 500 ONLY CHRISTIANS were allowed to serve in the army! ( remember: at one time we were pacifists) • But as the church gained worldly goods and power it also became susceptible to political influence and corruption.

  14. Concept C. Clarity of Doctrine Amid the Fires of Heresy. Challenges to basic Christian beliefs began early in our history. Why? >a culture that encouraged discussion on philosophical/theological beliefs. Heresy> False belief/ teaching w/in a faith. Heretic> the teacher of false beliefs w/in a religion.

  15. WHO IS JESUS????? • The early Christians were not uniform in their beliefs. • Splinter groups challenged the beliefs of the majority • The church had to sift through the various beliefs and keep those that were consistent with the teachings of the Apostles.

  16. Early Heresies • Heresy> beliefs contrary to some essential belief of faith. • Gnosticism> GK.> Gnosis>knowledge. • The Gnostics believed they had a “secret knowledge” that would bring salvation only to their members. Gnostic Beliefs: • All material things are Evil…including the human body • If Jesus came from God he could not have taken on a body which was evil by nature.

  17. Gnostics Con’t • Therefore the apparently human figure of Jesus was just an apparition. • To the Gnostics Jesus was divine but not human. • Challenges to the Christian belief caused turmoil but also led to clarity of belief. • By 200 Christians had formulated the Apostles Creed.(CCC 185-197) Write a summary sentence for each section in your notebook.

  18. Another Heresy! • Gnosticism thrived during the period of the persecutions. • But another heresy, ARIANISM arose after the persecution, around the time of Constantine. • Gnostics denied Jesus’ humanity, the ARIANS denied Jesus’ divinity. To the Arians God could not take the form of a human being. Jesus was created by God and subordinate to God.He was less than God greater than mere humans. >>Somewhere in between<<

  19. Opposition to the heresies • Irenaeus, a Christian who became the bishop of Lyon(what martyr that we read about died there?) particularly opposed Gnosticism.(Jesus is not human) • By the year 200 Christians had formulated a statement of faith- the Apostle’s Creed

  20. Opposition to the Heresies • Athanasius fought against Arianism.(Jesus is not divine) >”Jesus is related to God as brightness is to light” The two realities can not be separated>nor can God be separated from Jesus or Jesus from God.

  21. From persecuted minority to ruling majority • Constantine>Edict of Milan,313AD. Made it legal for Christians to be. • Theodosius declares paganism illegal and makes Christianity the official religion of the empire in 380.Christianity is not only legal but enforced! • By 500only Christians were allowed to serve in the army!

  22. The Council of Nicaea • Constantine wanted these various beliefs cleared up! They could tear apart the empire! • HE called the Council of Nicaea in 325 to clarify what Christians believe about Jesus’ humanity and divinity. • JESUS IS BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE

  23. Oct.26 • Review Chapter 4 vocabulary • Take Vocabulary quest • Following the format of the Nicene Creed…Write your own creed… What do You believe….. Good copy tomorrow. Review for test tomorrow (10/27) Chapter 4 test on 10/28

  24. Oct 27 Cp 4 test reviewPages 65-81 • Know your review sheet! • Work on essays #1, #2 • Extra Credit: Explain how heresies develop and how the church deals with them.Use a heresy such as Arianism or Gnosticism as an example in your explanation. P.76-77,79

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