Church History Exam Study Guide #1

1. Christianity Planted in the Roman World

Judaism
SAME TREATMENT
At first, general attitude toward religion is the same,
as Christians answered to the same God and used
similar practice
Christians were under the same protection as 3
million Jews in Roman Empire
1.
2.
3.
4.

Spread of Christianity
Political Stability Pax Romana
Economic Prosperity roads, separated economic
tasks, major port cities
Common Language and Culture Hellenistic
Religious Pluralism mystery religions, state religion

TWO PARTS OF UNITY

1. Rule of Faith became the core of the Apostles
Creed
2. Bishop or Presbyter represents rule of faith
(immediately after apostles)
Ante-Nicene Writers
POST-APOSTOLIC FATHERS
Clement of Rome (fl. 90s)
Ignatius of Antioch (d. ~115)
Polycarp of Smyrna (d. ~155)
THE APOLOGISTS
Justin Martyr (d. 165)
Tatian (fl. 150-170)
Athanagoras
MAJOR CHURCH FATHERS
Irenaeus of Lyon (140-200)
o
"Against Heresies take on the rule of faith
as
o
basically The Apostle's Creed expanded
Tertullian (160-225)
o
only one who wrote in Latin; very muscular
view of Christianity
o
first person to coin the term "trinity"
Clement of Alexandrian (fl. 200)
Origen (185-254)
Christianity and Intellect
CELIUS (fl. 170)
Platonist philosopher writes book intellectually
dismissing the Christian faith
Portrays Christians as being active in mission to
"stupid people" for converts

People from outside the faith start to notice

Christianity, especially into the 3rd century
CATECHETICAL SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA
Pseudo-seminary to educate Christians
Christians are told to be apologists against
paganism
-

Summary
Combined cultures of Judaism and the Roman World
affected early Christians
From Judaism, early Christians get high view of
Scripture, moral living and worship
Peace of the Pax Romana provided conditions
favorable for spread of Christians
Grew from small house church movement to a major
religion w/in the Roman Empire
Belief codified around common confession known as
rule of faith
1000s endure persecution from pagan authorities

2. Christian Life in the Ante-Nicene Church

Lists of the NT Canon
CATECHUMEN
3 year period of learning about doctrine, morality,
living, getting affairs in order, etc.
Most converted in adulthood
End of catechumen consisted of two things, 1)
confessions and 2) baptism
Confession rule of faith or Apostles Creed
Baptism large tub by immersion, renounce satan,
1st Lords supper!
Baptismal regeneration most likely; baptizing infants
only in emergencies
LITURGY AND PRACTICE
Sunday distinguished them from the Jews; met
before dawn and in evening for a feast
Liturgy of the Word and Table | Word is reading of OT
& NT, sermon, hymns; Table of Lords Supper
Only baptized could take Lords Supper
Constantine declares Sunday the day of the sun
CLERGY
Bishop was regional leader who had copies of most
of the Bible
Presbyters and Deacons directly below; dealt with
theology, discipline, and relief work
Offices of bishop, presbyter, deacon, sub-deacon,
exorcists, etc.
Celibacy recommended, not required
ROME

Increasingly important b/c of popularity, not

theology
Listed first on lists b/c it was capital
Matt 16:18 Rock | Origen says protestant view |
Stephen says Bishop of Rome; Collegial Episcopacy
in East
CANON
OT was already believed as Gods Word
NT apostles writings are Gods Word
Criteria
o
Apostolic Authority
o
Antiquity (didache too late)
o
Orthodoxy
o
Catholicity (wide use/not)
THE MURATORIAN CANON
First canon of NT books
C. 200
Didnt include Heb, 1&2 Pt, 3 John
Included Revelation of Peter and Wisdom of Solomon
ORIGENS NT
C. 250
Didnt include Heb, James, 2 Peter, 2&3 John and
Jude
EUSEBIUS NT CANON
C. 300
Included the same as Origens, but mentioned works
to actively be excluded
Excluded Hermas, Letter of Barnabas, Gospel of
Hebrews, Acts of Peter and Didache
ATHANASIUS NT CANON
367, affirmed at the Council of Carthage in 397
Included our entire canon, nothing more or less
-

Summary of this Era

Church develops intricate hierarchical organizational
system for the catholic church
The Bishop of Rome was generally thought to be the
first among equals
Most of the NT was understood to be Scripture very
early, but side debates carried on
3. Heresy and the Beginning of the Christian Mind
Questions Raised by Heresies
Docetism: Does it matter that Christ is human? Yes,
our salvation is tied to His literal bodily suffering and
resurrection?
Gnosticism: How do we interpret Scripture? Not by
crazy secret knowledge, but regula fidei

Marcionism: What is the Canon? Muratorian Canon

(though incomplete). Are the OT and NT both of the
same God? Yes, Same God inspired both.
Montanism: do prophesies = Scripture? No,
Scripture is above all prophesies
Modalism: Relationship of Father and Son? F&S are
God, but personally distinct

ARIANISM
Son is a firstborn creature, not co-eternal, has a
beginning
Remained perfect, but liable to sin and change
Constantine convenes Nicaea to defeat and reject
Arianism
-

Summary
Orthodox Theology emerged as Christians
encountered heresy. Used rule of faith to combat
heresy
Metaphysical Dualism was responsible for
generating Docetism, Gnosticism, and Marcionism
Over-reliance of the Spirits inspire-ation inspired
Montanism
Modalism rejected
Origen becomes first of Churchs great theologians
4. Christianity Triumphant
Consequences of Church & State

POSITIVES
Civil legislation begins to reflect Biblical principles
Elevation of women to a certain degree
Elevation of Family
NEGATIVES
Worldliness of the Church
Intrusion of politics into ecclesiastical affairs
State-enforced persecution of heretics
Rise of popular Christianity
-

Summary
Constantines favor led to far-reaching spread of
Christianity throughout the Roman Empire
Also led to Christendom, or marriage of the
Church & State (norm for W. Christianity for 1400
years)
Loss of persecution: monk replaces marty
Two types of Christian Monasticism
o
Eremitic (lonely hermit)
o
Cenobitic (communal)
5. Christian Thought on the Trinity and Christ
Coordinating the Concepts

MONOTHEISM: there is one God

TRIADIC FORMULAE: in three persons
DEFINITION: There is one God, who eternally exists in
three persons, Father, Son & Holy Spirit, each of whom is
fully God.

ATHANASIUS TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY

1. Wrote against Arianism as heresy
2. Said it was nonsense in liturgy
o
We pray to Christ!
3. Undermines salvation
o
Mediator must be God-man
4. Won people on fence over
5. Started a discussion of the HS
o
Not a creature
Godhead exists eternally as a triad of persons
sharing one identical and indivisible
substance/essence. All three are possessed of one
and the same in activity, thus the Father
accomplishes all things in the Word through the Holy
Spirit

COUNCIL OF NICAEA
June 19th, 325 AD
One substance, consubstantial, homoousius
CHRISTOLOGY
100% God, 100% Man
Orthodox: the Logos, who is the 2nd person of the
Trinity, is the subject of the God-man, Jesus Christ
AND that in Jesus Christ there are two complete
natures (human and divine)
Two Extremes
UNITY
Extreme on the Alexandrian side
Monophysicitism one nature
Divinity over humanity
Example: Apollonarius
Response from Cappadocian Fathers: Basil
Caesarea, Greg. Of Nazianzus and Greg. Of Nyssia
TWO NATURES
Extreme in Antioch
Two disconnected natures/entities
Example: Nestorius
Response at Council of Ephesus, Hypostatic Union
Extreme Reconciled
CREED AT CHALCDEON
451 AD
Mary gave birth to Christ

Two natures w/o confusion, separation, change, or

division
Combined in one Person and hypostasis, not divided
into two people
Summary
Arian controversy eventually leads to formulation of
robust Trinitarian doctrine at the Council of
Constantinople in 381 AD
Arianism failed to admin the mysterious triune
nature of God generated by rationalism
Trinity is a dogma, central & salvific importance to
the Christian faith
Orthodox Christology, codified at Chalcedon in 451
(see Creed)

5. End of the Patristic Golden Age

Two Soteriologies
PELAGIANISM
Human responsibility and free will
Nature is grace
Original sin is merely imitation, infant baptism
questioned
All have free will
Grace is natural power
Those whove chosen to follow are elect
AUGUSTINIANISM:
Priority of God
Will in bondage to sin
Grace is supernaturally bestowed
All are inclined to evil, infant baptism necessary
Dont have free will, we desire sin
Grace is supernatural power
Those God gifts are elected
-

Summary
Augustine became the most important theologian of
the Patristic period
Fall of Tome due to weakened borders, leadership,
etc.
Pope came to be seen as spiritual head of church b/c
of fall of Rome
Fathers reflections on the nature of salvation
werent as clear as on God and Christ, which led
them to problematic views
o
Ransom theory
o
Penance
o
Purgatory
Popular Christianity gave rise to veneration of Saints
and Marry, b/c of incomplete conversion of the
Pagans.

Natural Will
Grace

Atonement

Predestination

The Early Church Recognizes the New Testament

The Muratorian Canon
Origens New
(c. 200)
Testament (c. 250)
Four Gospels
Four Gospels
Acts
Acts
Pauls 13 Letters
Pauls 13 Letters

Augustinianism

Semi-Pelagianism

Pelagianism

Completely Unable

Severely Crippled

Morally Sound

-Irresistible
-limited to the elect
-A regenerative
power from
above

Particular / for the elect

only
Via Decree

Eusebius New
Testament (c. 300)
Four Gospels
Acts
Pauls 13 Letters

James
1& 2 John
Jude
Revelation of John
Revelation of Peter
Wisdom of Solomon
[92.5% total NT]
For private, not public
Worship:
Shepherd of Hermas

1 Peter
1 John

1 Peter
1 John

Revelation of John

Revelation of John

[91.75% total NT]

Disputed:
Hebrews
James
2 Peter
2 & 3 John
Jude
Shepherd of Hermas
Letter of Barnabas
Didache
Gospel of Hebrews

[91.75% total NT]

Disputed but wellknown:
James
2 Peter
2 & 3 John
Jude
To be excluded:
Shepherd of Hermas
Letter of Barnabas
Gospel of Hebrews
Acts of Peter
Didache

-Cooperating
-Extended to all
-Divine illumination
leading us to make a
decision
-

Grace, a
natural
endowment

General / for all

Via foreknowledge

The First Four Ecumenical Councils

Athanasius
1. Nicaea 325
NT (367)
Affirmed: that Christ is consubstantial
Four
Gospels
(homoousia)
with God the Father; thus Christ is
Acts
God incarnate.
Pauls
13 Letters Arianism
Condemned:
Hebrews
James
1&
3.2Ephesus,
Peter
431
1, Affirmed:
2, & 3 Johnthe hypostatic union of Jesus Christ;
Jude
that salvation is of supernatural grace
Revelation
Condemned:
of JohnNestorianism, Pelagianism
Theological Heroes: Cyril of Alexandria (&
Augustine of Hippo)
[100%]

2. Constantinople, 381
Affirmed: deity of Christ and the Ho
Christ has a complete human soul &
Condemned: Arianism of every kind
Apollinarianism, Pneumatomachian
fighters)
Theological Heroes: Cappadocian F
4. Chalcedon, 451
Affirmed: that in Christ are two nat
united without confusion, change,
separation.
Condemned: Eutycheanism
Theological Hero: Leo the Great (Po

Docetism: An early Christological heresy, which treated Jesus Christ as a purely divine
being who only had the appearance of being human.
Gnosticism: An early Greek religious movement that was a particularly influential in
the second-century church. The term comes from the Greek term gnosis, meaning
knowledge. Gnostics believed that devotees had gained a special kind of spiritual
enlightenment, through which they had attained a secret or higher level of knowledge
not accessible to the uninitiated. They also tended to emphasize the spiritual realm
over the material, often claiming that the material realm in evil and hence to be
escaped.
Marcionism: The movement begun with Marcion in the 2nd century, which rejected the
validity of the OT witness for Christians because the OT God was believed to be
incompatible with the loving God revealed through Jesus.
Montanism: A 2nd century prophetic movement that emphasized the imminent return
of Christian and imposed a strict morality on the faithful as they waited and prepared
for the end of the world.
Modalism: a Trinitarian heresy, which treats the three person of the Trinity as different
modes of the Godhead. A typical modalist approach regards God as active as Father
in creation, as Son in redemption, and as Spirit in sanctification
Apollinarius: A fourth-century bishop who stressed Christs divinity so absolutely that
he denied the presence of any rational human soul in Christ. In his view, Christ had a
single nature, and it was divine. The Council of Constantinople (381) condemned this
view as heretical.
Arianism: A major early Christological heresy, which treated Jesus Christ as supreme
among Gods creatures, and denied his divine status. The Arian controversy was of
major importance in the development of Christology during the fourth century.

Chalcedonian: The orthodox position of the mainstream church after Chalcedon (451).
This approach holds that two natures are united in the one person of Christ, without
confusion, change, division, or separation. Christ exists in two natures.
Homoousius: A Greek term, literally meaning of the same substance; (Latin
synonym = consubstantial). This term came to be used extensively during the fourth
century to designate the mainstream Christological belief that Jesus Christ was of the
same substance as God. The term was polemical, beings directed against the Arian
view that Christ was of similar substance (homoiousius) to God.
Hypostatic Union: The doctrine of the union of divine and human natures in Jesus
Christ, without confusion of their respective substances.
Monophysitism: The doctrine that there is only one nature in Christ, which is divine
(Greek: monos only one, and physis, nature). This view differs from the orthodox
view, upheld by the Council of Chalcedon (451), that Christ has two natures, one divine
and one human.
Nestorians: Nestorius was accused of teaching that two natures coexist within Christ
but in a conjunction that falls short of a true union. Mary is thus called the mother of
Christ not the mother of God.
Theotokos: Literally, the bearer of God. A Greek term used to refer to Mary, the
mother of Jesus Christ, with the intension of reinforcing the central insight of the
doctrine of the incarnationthat is, that Jesus Christ is none other than God. The term
was extensively used by writers of the Eastern Church, especially around the time of
the Nestorian controversy, to articulate both the divinity of Christ and the reality of the
Incarnation.