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Chapter 1 The Patristic Period, c. 100-451

Chapter 1 The Patristic Period, c. 100-451. Alister E. McGrath Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Difficulties in approaching p atristic theology. Debates seem irrelevant to modern world Philosophical ideas Doctrinal diversity and fluidity

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Chapter 1 The Patristic Period, c. 100-451

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  1. Chapter 1The Patristic Period, c. 100-451 Alister E. McGrath Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought

  2. Difficulties in approaching patristic theology • Debates seem irrelevant to modern world • Philosophical ideas • Doctrinal diversity and fluidity • Division between eastern Greek-speaking and western Latin-speaking church

  3. Historical background to patristic theology • The historical importance of the city of Rome • The problem of persecution • The conversion of Constantine (321) • The development of public theological debate • Centers of theological reflection • Rome • Constantinople • Alexandria • Antioch • Western North Africa

  4. Key theologians • Justin Martyr (c.100-c.165) • Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130-c.200) • Origen (c.185-c.254) • Tertullian (c.160-c.225) • Athanasius (c.296-c.373) • Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

  5. Key theological developments • The relation of Christian faith and classical culture • The extent of the New Testament canon • The role of tradition • The fixing of the ecumenical creeds • The two natures of Jesus Christ • Alexandrian and Antiochene schools • Arius and Apollinaris • The Council of Nicea (325); the Council of Chalcedon (451) • The doctrine of the Trinity • The doctrine of the church • The doctrine of grace

  6. Case study 1.1 The Bible and tradition • Tradition traditio(handing down/over) • Four sources for the synoptic gospels • Mark’s gospel • Material common to Matthew and Luke (Q) • Material only in Matthew • Material only in Luke • Gnosticism v. tradition • Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies: apostolic tradition • Tertullian: orthodoxy and continuity • Vincent of Lérins: ecumenicity, antiquity, consent

  7. Case study 1.2 The Arian controversy: The divinity of Christ • Ebionitism • Docetism • Justin Martyr & Logos-Christology • Origen’s Logos-Christology • Arius (c.250-c.336) • The Father existed before the Son • The Father is unknown to all creatures, including the Son • Christ’s divine titles are merely honorific (catechrestic) • Athanasius (c.296-373) • A creature cannot save another creature • Christians worship and pray to Jesus • Homoiousios(of like substance) and homoousios(of the same substance)

  8. Case study 1.3 The Alexandrian Christological school: The Apollinarian controversy • Redemption  deification • Cyril of Alexandria (d.444) • the union of the Logos and human nature • Apollinaris of Laodicea (c.310-c.390) • a divine mind and soul in the human Christ • Gregory of Nazianzus (329-89) • “what has not been assumed has not been healed”

  9. Case study 1.4 The Antiochene Christological school: The Nestorian controversy • The two natures of Christ • The hypostatic union • Nestorius (died c.451) • Mary as Theotokos(“God-bearer”) • The communication of attributes 1. Jesus Christ is God 2. Mary gave birth to Jesus 3. Therefore Mary is the Mother of God • Cyril of Alexandria

  10. Case study 1.5 The Trinity: Early developments and controversies • Irenaeus of Lyons: the economy of salvation • Eastern approach to the Trinity: distinct individuality • Western approach to the Trinity: unity and mutual fellowship • Perichoresis • Appropriation • Modalism

  11. The Cappadocian approach to the Trinity • One substance (ousia) in three persons (hypostaseis) • Father as the source of the Son and the Spirit • Augustine’s model of the Trinity • Spirit as the love which unites the Father and Son • Psychological analogies: traces of the Trinity in creation • The filioquecontroversy (“and from the son”) • The eastern, Greek church (Cappadocian fathers) • The western, Latin church (Augustine)

  12. Case study 1.6 The church: The Donatist controversy • Donatus, bishop of Carthage (315) • Traditores • Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church (251) • God as father, Church as mother • The Donatists v. the Catholics • Augustine’s view of the church as a mixed body of saints and sinners • Ex opereoperantis(on account of the work of the one who works) • Ex opereoperato(on account of the work which is worked)

  13. Case study 1.7 Grace: The Pelagian controversy • The freedom of the will • Augustine: human free will weakened through sin • Pelagius: perfection is possible • The nature of sin • Augustine: a hereditary disease, a power, guilt • Pelagius: sin as deliberate actions • The nature of grace • Augustine: God’s generous and unmerited gift • Pelagius: natural human faculties; external enlightenment • The basis of salvation • Augustine: God’s grace • Pelagius: merit through good works

  14. Case study 1.8 Faith and philosophy • Justin Martyr • Jesus Christ is the Logos • Secular philosophy derives from the Logos and can point to Christ • Clement of Alexandria • Classical philosophy prepares the way for the gospel • Analogy between philosophy and the Old Testament • Tertullian • Tension between pagan philosophy (Athens) and Christian revelation (Jerusalem) • Augustine • Critical appropriation

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