Learning Points from the History of the Church

(From the Dissolution of the Roman Empire to the Reformation)

1. Development of Creed, Code and Cult
A. Creed
1. Jesus is only Human vs. Jesus is both human and divine
a. Arius of Alexandria taught that Jesus is only human
b. Athanasius proposed that Jesus must be both human and divine in nature.
c. The Council of Nicea 325 AD resolved : that Jesus is both human and divine in
hypostatic union.
I believe in Jesus Christ, true God from true God, begotten not made,
consubstantial with the Father
2. Jesus has only one will vs. Jesus has two wills
a. Jesus has one nature therefore, has only one nature (Monophysite)
b. Jesus is both human and divine, therefore has two natures
c. Council of Constantinople 381 AD affirmed that Jesus is both human and divine,
also declared that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son
(filioque)
3. Mother of Jesus vs. Mother of God
a. Mary was thought to give birth to a son who is only human, not God and not the
Logos (Nestorianism- Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople); Mary is the mother
of Jesus
b. Mary is thought as the Theotokos, Mother of God; i.e Mary gave birth to a son
who is not only human but also divine (Cyril of Alexandria).
c. The Council of Ephesus 431 declared Nestorianism as heresy and declared that
Mary is the Theotokos, therefore, Mary gave birth to a son who is both human
and divine.
2. Development of Code ( Morals )and Cult (Worship)
a. Monasticism.
1. Rooted in Mt. 19:21 go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will
have treasures in heaven
2. White martyrdom: self-denial and renunciation; Poverty, Chastity, Obedience
3. Historical Monks:
a. St. Anthony of Egypt ( 251-356) father of monasticism; He visited the
prisoners near the desert
b. St. Maron of Syria (350-410) Maronite Church in Lebanon and St. John
Chrysostom
c. St. Patrick of Ireland (444) apostle to Ireland. His predecessors initiated the
repeated form of penance and forgiveness of sins
d. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) Father of Monasticism of the West; The
motto of his monastic rule is ora et labora
e. St. Gregory the Great (540-604) first monk who became a monk
f. St. Boniface ( 723-739) apostle to Germany
g. St. Cyril and Methodius -apostles to the Slavs (860)
b. The Mendicant . They challenged the rich including the Church to be mindful of the
poor by embracing poverty and living in humility and simplicity before God and
others by begging for the poor and for themselves.
1. The Mendicant Friars :
a. St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan Order; he portrayed the humility
and simplicity of the birth of Jesus the Messiah thru the Nativity Scene.
b. St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Dominican Order; his vision of the
Virgin Mary inspired him to introduced the Rosary devotion
c. Scholasticism The period in which reason or logic (Philosophy) is employed in
Theology.
1. The Scholastic Theologians:

a. (Pre-scholastic) St. Augustine of Hippo . He Christianize the Philosophy of

Plato. His greatest work was the City of God
b. St. Thomas Aquinas ( Albertus Magnus, Dun Scutus, Bounaventure) He
Christianize the Philosophy of Aristotle. His exemplary work was the Summa
Theologia. His thoughts and concepts about the Sacraments are applicable
to date.
c. The Reformation was prompted by the excesses of those who were in the Church
ranks, like the Papal schism, punitive inquisition of suspected heretic, corruption due
to the lack of funds i.e selling of indulgence and simony.
1. The Protestant Reformers:
a. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk who wrote 95 theses against the
excesses of the Church hierarchy. He asserted that salvation is by faith alone
and sola Scriptura is the supreme authority in religion. He translated the Bible
into German
b. Huldrych Zwingli of Switzerland also preach about sola scriptura but did not
adhere to the Lutherans belief in Consubstantiation
c. Jean Calvin initiated Calvinism and published the Insitute of Christian religion.
He also believed in sola scriptura, salvation by faith alone, and the priesthood
of all believers, he went even further on such issues as predestination and the
sacraments
d. Henry II of England separated from the Church when he was not permitted to
divorce his wife. He established the Church of England or the Anglican Church.
3. Development in the Political life, Structure, Territory
1. Pope Leo the Great asserted the Papal Primacy
a. He resolved the conflict between theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch
by a doctrinal synthesis, referred to as Tome.
b. He negotiated with Atilla, the Hun to spare Rome from invasion
2. Pope Stephen II made an alliance with the Carolingian empire to secure the papal
estate and protect Rome from the Lombards.
The Carolingian dynasty:
a. Charles Martel prevented the Muslim to enter Europe by defeating them at
the Battle of Poitiers
in 732 AD
b. Pepin secured the papal estate
c. Charlemagne protected Christianity and established the holy Roman empire
because Christianity
was the guiding principle of the empire. He conquered Gaul.
3. The great schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church (Byzantine) and the Western
Orthodox Church happened in 1054 AD
Reasons: 1. language - West : Latin ; East: Greek
2.Misunderstanding about filioque
3.Dispute about the Papal role in the Church
4. Reconquering Spain from the Muslims. Spain is claimed as a Christian territory for
the relic of the Apostle James was found there and his entombed in the Cathedral of
Santiago de Compostela.
5. Crusade to the Holy Land initiated by Pope Urban II