The Victorious Church

1. The History of Christianity The Victorious Church © John Stevenson, 2008

2. Class Objectives • To recall, summarize and evaluate the fortunes of Christianity from the late patristic period (5th century) through the high middle ages of medieval Christianity (13th century). • To describe how the doctrine of the Incarnation came to be defined by the early Church. • To summarize and evaluate the rise and spread of the Monastic movement.

3. Class Objectives • To recognize the factors that gave rise to the growth of the Roman Catholic Church and the office of the Papacy. • To recognize and name the ecclesiastical differences between the Church in the East from that in the West which resulted in a profound schism. • To define and describe what Scholasticism is and analyze what it reveals about medieval Christianity.

4. “Thou hast conquered, Oh Galilean!”― Julian the Apostate

5. 1 500 1500 2000 1000 A Timeline of Church History The Ancient Church The Medieval Church The Reformed Church

6. Tertullian155-222 We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you - cities, islands, fortresses, towns, market-places, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum… (Apologeticus 37)

7. 100 200 300 400 500 1 The Ancient Church Edict of Toleration Church persecuted by Rome Polycarp Paul Marcion Diocletian Peter Tertullian John Constantine

8. Diocletian • Division of Empire • Persecution of Christianity • Retirement (305)

9. Edict of Toleration Christians may again exist and rebuild the houses in which they used to meet, on condition that they do nothing contrary to public order. (Quoted from Eusebius, History of the Church 8:17:5).

10. Constantine • Battle for the Milvian Bridge (312)

11. Constantine • Battle for the Milvian Bridge (312) • “In this sign conquer” • Edict of Milan: Restated & expanded the Edict of Toleration (313) • Reunification of Roman Empire • Favored status (324)

12. Christianity as Favored Religion • Bishops given the right to judge civil cases • Sunday made into a public holiday • New Edict of Toleration: Christians not allowed to persecute pagans

13. What should be the attitude of Christians to the gaining of political power?

14. After Constantine Less purity within the church Before Constantine Long periods of catechism training before receiving baptism Requirements to become a Christian were minimized Purity within the church Christians known for their strict lifestyle Loosening of the standards Martyr mentality among the pious Monastic mentality began to emerge among the pious

15. Donatist Controversy Donatus Magnus(Died 355) What about those who have been baptized or married by fallen bishops?

16.  Rome  Constantinople  Antioch  Jerusalem  Alexandria

17. Arius • Priest in Alexandria, Egypt • Taught that Christ was a created being • Christ was the first created being who then created all the rest of creation • Deposed by Alexander, bishop of Alexandria

18. Constantinople   Nicaea Council of Nicaea • Met at Nicaea in 325 • 300 Bishops in attendance (5 from west) • Alexander & Athanasius versus Arius

19. The Nicene Creed We believe in one God the Father All‑sovereign, Maker of all things. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only‑begotten, that is, of the substance of the Father God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father…

20. Christological Heresies Docetic Ebionite Christ only seemed to be divine Arian Christ was created by God and then created all else Christ only seemed to be human Apollinarian Christ had no human spirit; Logos came and replaced it Monoarchian Jesus became the Christ as His baptism

21. Christological Heresies Eutyches Sabellianism One God reveals Himself in three ways Nestorian Logos indwelt the person of Jesus making Christ a God-bearer Human nature of Christ absorbed by the Logos Monophysite Christ had only one nature Monothelite Christ had no human will; only one divine will Adapted from Robert Walton

22. Church Councilsof the 4th and 5th Centuries 325 Jesus is of the same substance as the Father Council of Constantinople 381 Holy Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and Son Council of Nicaea Council of Ephesus 431 Jesus is one person, fully divine and fully human Council of Chalcedon 451 The human and divine natures of Jesus are unmixed

23. 100 200 300 400 500 1 The Ancient Church Edict of Toleration Fall of Rome Four Church Councils Church persecuted by Rome Athanasius Polycarp Paul Marcion Arius Peter John Constantine

24. What was the rationale for the formation of the monastic movement?

25. St. Anthony251-356 • Christian in Egypt • Heard a sermon on Christ’s words to the rich young ruler: “Go and sell all your possessions and follow me.” • Gave away his possessions and moved into the desert, living the life of a hermit

26. Simeon Stylites390-459 Removed himself to the top of a pillar in Syria

27. What are some of the Biblical pros and cons of a solitary monastic lifestyle?

28. Pachomius292-348 • Born in Thebes • Forcibly inducted into military • Converted to Christianity • Followed example of Anthony • Organized nine groups of both male and female monasteries

29. Monasticism in the East Monasticism in the West Desert living; sometimes in community and sometimes alone Communal living, but usually within some proximity to civilization Emphasis on reaching out to culture Emphasis on escaping culture

30. Benedict of Nursia480-542 • Ran away to live in a cave at the age of 14. • Established a monastery at Monte Cassino • Rule of St. Benedict

31. Rule of St. Benedict Idleness is the enemy of the soul. And therefore, at fixed times, the brothers ought to be occupied in manual labor; and again, at fixed times, in sacred reading (Documents of the Christian Church, P.133).

32. Rule of St. Benedict The brothers shall wait on each other in turn so that no one shall be excused from the kitchen-work, unless he be prevented by sickness, or by preoccupation with some matter of great necessity… (Documents of the Christian Church, P.132).

33. Rule of St. Benedict Let not the younger brothers have beds by themselves, but dispersed among the seniors. And when they rise for the service of God let them gently encourage one another, because the sleepy ones are apt to make excuses (Documents of the Christian Church, P.129).

34. What are some of the Biblical pros and cons of a communal monastic lifestyle?

35. What sort of lifestyle changes were necessary for one to become a monk?

36. How did the monastic movement contribute to the Church and society?

37. Matera

45. 100 200 300 400 500 1 The Ancient Church Edict of Toleration Fall of Rome Four Church Councils Church persecuted by Rome Athanasius Polycarp Paul Origen Marcion Arius Augustine Peter John Constantine Pelagius

46. 100 200 300 400 500 1 The Ancient Church Edict of Toleration Fall of Rome Church persecuted by Rome Theodosius Athanasius Polycarp Paul Origen Marcion Arius Augustine Peter John Constantine Pelagius

47. How much diversity in matters of Christian doctrine should the church tolerate?

48. Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

49. Acts 20:29-31 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert…

50.  Rome  Constantinople  Antioch  Jerusalem  Alexandria