Church History

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1.3 The church has a history

• It had a beginning
• It has changed over time
• It has experienced:
• struggles and triumphs
• heroes and heretics
• weakness and power
• consolidation and fragmentation
• glory and shame
• You and me are very much shaped by the church that we know. We know a very small percentage of it
• Our generation did not invent Christianity

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1.4 Warning to our generation

“Every generation of believers faces the risk of becoming a prisoner to its own myopic vision of the Christian faith, assuming that how it understands and practices faith is always the best.”

Gerald L. Sitter

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1.4 Warning to our generation

‘None of us can fully escape this blindness, but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our guard against it, if we read only modern books, for modern books (as well as the ideas and practices they convey) only tell us what we already know and thus reinforce our blind spots and prejudices. The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can only be done by reading old books. …’

C.S. Lewis

“Introduction to St Athanasius”

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1.4 Warning to our generation

‘Of course people from the past did not get everything right. People were no cleverer than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. Their successes will teach us; their failures will warn us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction.’

C.S. Lewis

“Introduction to St Athanasius”

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Spend a couple of minutes writing down what you know about Church history

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Starting with Jesus, finishing with today…

If you don’t know dates or anything, don’t worry, just put down whatever you do know

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1.5 Terms

Apostle

Greek “sent one”. The twelve plus Paul – so how does our faith and practice correspond to their teachings.

Apostolic Fathers

Early church leaders and authors thought to have had contact with the apostles, e.g. Clement (c.90 AD Rome), Ignatius(c.70AD Antioch), Polycarp (c.100AD Smyrna).

Church Fathers

Early teachers, theologians and scholars, e.g. Irenaeus (c.150 AD Lyons), Origen (c.200AD Alexandria), Tertullian (c. 200AD Rome), Athanasius (c.300AD Alexandria), Augustine (c. 400AD Hippo), etc.

Desert Fathers/Mothers

Hermits and ascetics in the Egyptian desert (3^rd century) e.g. Anthony. A model for Christian monasticism.

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Church History

1. Introduction

2. A sprint through the centuries

3. Church themes

4. Break

5. The early church

6. Discussion

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2. Setting the scene

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2. Setting the scene

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2: Themes in Church history

• Separation from Judaism
• Establishing its beliefs and practices
• Establishing authority structures
• Relationship with the state, other Christians and other faiths
• Coping with powerlessness: persecution and unbelief
• Coping with power: persecuting others
• The evolution of its understanding and practices

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2.1: 1^st Century - Context

• The words and sayings of Jesus recorded
• Christianity a sect of Judaism
• The Roman war leads to the destruction of the Temple
• The Christians do not take part in this but leave
• The end of the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system
• Rabbinic Judaism: OT + interpreted through Talmud
• Christianity: OT + interpreted through NT writings

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2.1: 1^st Century Sprint – 1/2

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2.1: 1^st Century Sprint 2/2

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Didache examples:

Baptism

This is how you should baptize:

Baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in running water. If you do not have running water, then baptize in still water. The water should be cold, but if you do not have cold water, then use warm. If you have neither, then just pour water on the head three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both the one who is baptized and the one who baptizes should fast beforehand, along with any others who are able, the one that is baptized being told to fast for a day or two.

Prayer and Fasting

Your fasting should not be like the hypocrites’. They fast on Monday and the Thursday: you should fast on the Wednesday and Friday.

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2.1: 1^st Century – Discussion time!

• Any questions come to mind? (E.g. Why use cold rather than warm water?!)

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• The Apostolic Fathers (Clement, Ignatius) are writing to churches. What do you do with their letters?�
• What would devotional life have looked like at this time?

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• Does it often occur to you that Jesus was a Jew, and that the majority of the first Christians were Jews?

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• If you were in the church at this point, what would be your plan for next?

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2.1: 2nd Century

• The Lord has not returned as soon as expected, so organization is needed to:
• continue the ministry,
• resist persecution,
• oppose heretical teachings,
• and spread the word.
• We need people to do this! Thus the office and role of the bishop becomes stronger.
• The Christian church continues its rapid spread, particularly among the lower classes, despite persecution and martyrdom.

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2.2: 2nd Century

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2.3: The Heresies

• Gnostics
• Believed different Gods created the physical world and spiritual world
• Believed salvation came through secret knowledge not Jesus
• Believed we had to escape the world ASAP
• Marcionites
• Similar to Gnostics, but basically rejected the old testament entirely
• Montanists
• Were too crazy with the holy spirit
• Docetists
• Believed Jesus wasn’t actually in a body but it was an illusion

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2.3: 3rd Century

• At beginning of century, Edessa (Urfa in modern Turkey) becomes first Christian state.
• Emperor Septimus Severus (202-211) persecutes; forbids conversion to Christianity.
• Then a generation of peace for the church.
• Amazing growth
• spread of faith continues
• and church buildings begin to be built.

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2.3: 3rd Century Sprint

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2.4: 4th Century

• A century in which the Christian church oscillates between persecution and state support.
• The church now persecutes its opponents.
• The New Testament canon is confirmed.
• Church Councils define and clarify Christian belief.
• Church building programme.
• Eusebius writes his “History of the Church”
• Augustine is converted.
• As the state church it attracts large numbers of “nominal Christians”

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Augustine of Hippo�AD 354–430�“The Confessions”

Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, �late have I loved you!

Lo, you were within, but I outside, �seeking there for you,…

You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;

you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;

you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; �and now I pant for you;

I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;

you touched me, and I burned for your peace.

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2.4: 4th Century

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We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

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We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

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For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

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For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

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He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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2.5: 5th Century

• The barbarians continue to weaken the empire; Rome is sacked
• The emperor’s power declines; the Bishop of Rome’s increases. Pope Leo 1 claims Bishop of Rome has authority over the other bishops
• Secular society in turmoil; the church hierarchy becomes more established and influential

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2.5: 5th Century

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Discussion time!

• The Church looks very different now after a few hundred years. Such as:
• Buildings
• Creeds
• Bishops
• Councils
• Interaction of faith and state (Rome)
• Power
• Do any initial thoughts or questions come to mind? Is there anything you are surprised by
• Do you think these are positive moves? Was there another option?

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Upcoming is the Dark Ages - 5th Century to 10th Century

Not as much detail to be shared!

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2.6: 6th Century

The early Middle Ages was a time of:

• Barbarian migrations reshaping the old Roman world
• Christian missions through Europe
• Monasticism preserving learning

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2.7: 7th Century

• Organs begin to be used in churches. Church bells are used to call people to worship and to give the hours to the monks in the monasteries.

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2.8: 8th Century

• Spain is invaded by the Moors, Muslims from North Africa; Charles Martel defeats them at the Battle of Tours in 732--a decisive juncture in Christian resistance to Muslim advance.
• Papacy (this means the Pope and his team) asserts its earthly rule and establishes the papal states in Italy.
• Charlemagne becomes sole King of the Franks in 771; later is crowned "Holy Roman Emperor," establishing dream of a kingdom with a Christian king.

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2.9: 9th Century

• On Christmas day 800AD Charlemagne (Charles the Great, c. 742-814) is crowned the first "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo at St. Peters in Rome.
• Significant missionary efforts make further inroads among heathen peoples of Europe
• Alfred the Great is King of Wessex in England. Translated Christian writings into the language of the common people. Set up a palace school and founded two monasteries. Devoted half his time and money to religious purposes

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2.10: 10th Century

• Christianity continues to spread among the peoples of eastern Europe during this century
• 993--Saints begin to be officially canonized by the Roman church.
• As the year 1000 approaches, many fear the end of the world and the Last Judgment.

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2.11: 11th Century

• The expansion of Islam continues to occupy Christian thought and activities.
• Renewal of the church through Monastic orders.

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2.12: 12th Century

• Gothic architecture, with its pointed �arches and high, vaulted ceilings �prevails in church building (Canterbury, Lincoln)
• The medieval papacy, at the height of �its power and influence, continues to �encourage crusades to liberate the �Holy Land from the Muslims.
• Monasticism continues to be the main source of �reforming the church
• Belief in immaculate conception of Mary spreads

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2.12: 12th Century

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2.13: 13th Century

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• Pope Innocent III (1198-1216): the papacy was at the height of its powers.
• Affirmed all churches were under his control.
• Developed theory of papal power that allowed him to interfere in political affairs of nations.
• Approved 4th Crusade.
• Instituted Inquisition, joining powers of church and state to punish heretics.

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2.13: 13th Century

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2.14: 14th Century (not loads going on)

• Mysticism flourishes in many areas, especially Germany and the Low Countries.
• Meister Eckhardt teaches the nature of God is unknowable except through the inner knowledge of Himself God has placed in each soul.
• Catherine of Siena has a vision joining her with Christ in a mystical marriage; spends her life in serving others, including trying to end the Great Schism of the papacy.
• Education has taken over - to know God is to know his creation. Hence study etc…
• John Wycliffe transforms Oxford into the spiritual centre of England. Looks to the Scriptures for authority and truth.
• The black death comes and wipes out nearly half of Europe’s population

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2.15: 15th Century (not loads going on)

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Thomas à Kempis�1380-1471�“The Imitation of Christ”

“What good does it do you to be able to give a learned discourse on the Trinity, while you are without humility, and thus are displeasing to the Trinity? Esoteric words neither make us holy nor righteous; only a virtuous life makes us beloved of God. I would rather experience repentance in my soul than know how to define it.”

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2.16: 16th Century

• 1506 – Rebuilding of St Peters in the Vatican. Partly funded through indulgences. The renaissance was funded by corruption!
• The Reformation: Martin Luther posts his 95 theses (1517). The theses questioned the authority of the pope, emphasized that salvation is achieved through faith alone (sola fide), and criticized the idea that monetary contributions could secure salvation.
• The Scriptures become more available for the common person as Luther translates into German and Tyndale into English in the 1520's.
• The Protestant Reformation spreads throughout Europe with Zwingli in Switzerland, the Anabaptists in central Europe, and John Knox in Scotland.
• Henry VIII's quest for dynastic security causes him to separate from Rome and establish himself as head of the Church of England. ‘Ends up as via media.’ John Calvin's ministry in Geneva and his Institutes begin a Scriptural reexamination of theology and society. Calvinism is still very strong today.
• Forced the ‘Counter-reformation’ – Catholic Church making changes to itself (buying indulgences was banned in 1567)

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2.17: 17th Century

• The Protestant Reformation begun in the last century continues to affect the religious and political life of Europe.
• In England the Puritan Revolution removes King Charles and executes him while attempting to establish a Puritan Commonwealth.
• In central Europe, the Thirty Years' War brings destruction as Protestants and Catholics vie for power (1618-1648).
• England begins to establish colonies in North America, many with the purpose of spreading Christianity or establishing more Biblical Christian governments
• King James Bible is written
• "Enlightenment" writers question Christianity and seek to base knowledge on human reason--Leibnitz, Hobbes, and Descartes

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2.18: 18th Century (1/2)

• Voltaire, one of many “Deists”, further develops the rationalism of the "Enlightenment," attacking Christianity and finding in man the centre of all things.
• The French Revolution of 1789 overthrows the traditions of the Church and briefly establishes the goddess of Reason. Enlightenment is questioning God, Church, and everything
• An Evangelical Awakening spreads throughout England and America under the preaching of George Whitefield, the Wesley brothers, and Jonathan Edwards. This emphases relationship and experience over knowledge.

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2.18: 18th Century (2/2)

• Pietism brings new life to German Lutheranism
• Christians Handel and Haydn write classical music, including masterpieces of religious art, while Isaac Watts and the Wesleys write hymns for congregational singing.

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2.19: 19th Century (1/2)

• Second Great Awakening in America as people try to do religion for themselves
• Protestants established missions throughout the world: e.g. the British and Foreign Bible Society (1804), the American Bible Society (1816).
• Reform societies form to deal with abolition, temperance, prisons, and education.
• In America, many sects including Mormons (1840s), Jehovah's Witnesses (1879), and Christian Science (1879) are established.
• New philosophies such as Darwin's evolution (1859), Marx's communism (1848-), and Freud's psychology, attack the traditional Christian view of life and history. German "higher critics" attack the historical validity of the Scriptures.

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2.19: 19th Century (2/2)

• Revival leader Charles Finney establishes "new measures" in his revival meetings, believing conversions can be achieved if the right approaches and techniques are used.
• Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey hold large revival meetings on both sides of the Atlantic, while thousands hear Charles Spurgeon preach in London's Tabernacle.
• David Livingstone and others open the African continent to missions, while workers with Hudson Taylor's China Inland Mission spread throughout China.
• Pope Pius IX proclaims the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The First Vatican Council declares the Pope infallible in the year 1870.
• Enlightenment is the biggest challenge to Christianity, as it waters it down

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2.20: 20th Century (1/2)

• World Wars: nominally Christian nations of Europe fight against each other.
• Emergence of charismatic Christianity, through the Azusa Street Revival.
• Missions reach virtually every region of the world.
• New translation methods put the Bible into the languages of 95% of mankind, but about 1,500 small tongues, representing 5% of mankind, lack scriptures.

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2.20: 20th Century (2/2)

• More Christians are said to have been martyred in the 20th century than in all earlier centuries combined. This is as it spreads to places where it is dangerous to be Christian.
• Decline of church attendance becomes marked in much of the Western world.
• Explosive growth of Chinese Christianity.
• Rise of internet and mass media lead to wide dissemination of the gospel by new means.

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The Vineyard

Vineyard started in 1977

Any questions?

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• Does anything about the history of the church surprise you?

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• What are the positive things to take away, and what are the more negative things?

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• Do you see any of the problems of the past in the church today?

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Can you choose three themes for the history of the church?

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Church History

1. Introduction

2. A sprint through the centuries

3. Church themes

4. Break

5. The early church

6. Discussion

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3.1 Witness - martyrdom

Under the Roman Empire, Christians were killed in Roman arenas: torn apart by animals; killed by gladiators. It was used as entertainment and warning. Ironically, it led to an increase in the numbers of believers. It continues to the present day.

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3.2 Belonging

The early church had a big impact on its society, that even their accusers recognised.

AD 112 Pliny the Younger (AD62-113), governor of Bithynia and Pontus (modern day northern Turkey) wrote to the emperor Trajan.

The Christians had formed a “political club” which was attracting pagan converts. Christians were proclaiming a new message, caring for the sick, organising social events, providing hospitality, burying the dead, supporting widows and orphans, and raising money for the destitute. To find out more about them, he arrested them and tortured them. If they didn’t offer wine and incense to Trajan’s statue, they were punished for obstinacy.

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3.3 Struggle

• The early Christians struggled because of persecution against a pagan Empire.
• The desert saints of the 4^th and 5^th century in Egypt, Palestine and Syria chose to reject an easy life to pursue a spiritual one. Their enemy was not an evil empire but a “worldly church”. They were known as “bloodless martyrs” or “athletes for God”.

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3.4 Separation and engagement

• Monasticism allows a separation from the concerns of the world and an opportunity to establish a rhythm to one’s life.
• The separation also allowed them to live a sacrificial life.
• They developed sets of guidelines for their communities e.g. The Rule of St Benedict that many find helpful today.

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3.5 The search for authority and certainty

• The first Christians were taught by the apostles.
• The next generation looked to those who knew and were taught by the apostles
• The church collected and edited the sayings of Jesus and early documents.
• Early Bishops (elders or overseers) were a source of authority as they knew one or more of the apostles
• The church had to decide on the OT and NT canon
• The church had to decide on matters of belief e.g. the status of Jesus and the form of the trinity.
• Authority was centred in certain roles e.g. pope.
• The cry of the Reformation was "SOLA SCRIPTURA" (the Bible alone)

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Church History

1. Introduction

2. A sprint through the centuries

3. Church themes

Break

4. The early church

5. Discussion

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Church History

1. Introduction

2. A sprint through the centuries

3. Church themes

Break

4. The early church

5. Discussion

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4.0 The Early Church

• The Jews were allowed a lot of religious freedom by the Romans. They didn’t have to worship the Emperor as god; in return they sacrificed to the God of Israel on behalf of the Emperor.
• One of the sects they contain, the followers of Jesus (Nazarenes), is a problem for them and they persecute it.
• The Jewish revolt in the late 60’s AD leads to the destruction of the temple and the separation of the Christians from the remaining Jewish structure.
• The Christians move out into the Roman empire and beyond.

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4.1 The Early Church Environment

• The Bible record shows it moving out from Jerusalem engaging with synagogue with their “God fearers”.
• A multifaith, multicultural, Gentile world.
• A world divided: slave, free, male, female, Roman citizen, etc.
• A challenging world: games, arena, temple meals, state Emperor worship.
• The emperor Nerva (96–98 C.E.) freed the Christians (probably including the Jewish Christians) from paying the fiscus judaicus, the Jewish capitation tax decreed as a punishment in the aftermath of the Jewish revolt of 66–73 C.E. Clearly, the Romans now regarded the Christians as a separate group.

Q: Can we learn anything from the early church about living in a pluralistic society?

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4.2 The Development of the Church

As time passed and the church moved on from the apostolic age, they had to work out ways of being church:

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• How do you maintain discipline in the community? How do you deal with immorality?
• How do treat members who denied the faith under threat or torture?
• How do you deal with people who teach things that are considered to be wrong?
• How do you collect and collate all the oral and written information about Christianity?
• Who decides what is correct and true? Where is authority to be found?

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4.3 What did they deal with?

In a sense, they wrestled with God over who He was and how we should live because of Him.�

• The nature of God
• The relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• What it meant for Jesus to be incarnated
• What form was Jesus’ incarnation?
• What is the church and what authority does it have?
• How should a believer live (ethics)?
• The tension between increasing order in the church and spiritual gifts.
• How do I relate to my multifaith, syncretic empire?

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4.4 How did they deal with it?

• Authority�Ignatius of Antioch (50-108AD) wrote:

“we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself".

• The NT canon�Justin Martyr (103-165AD) accepted the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). His pupil, Tatian (120-180), added John’s gospel. This was the beginning of our New Testament written out.
• Statements of faith�Iranaeus (125 – 202) and Tertullian (AD160 – 220) sought to define what it is we believe as Christians; and started a process that led to the formulation of the creeds by the 4th century��It involved a lot of arguments …

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4.5 Heresies: Gnosticism

• AD 80 – 150
• They had secret knowledge (gnosis) that Jesus had shared
• Spirit was pure and good and the body of no value leading to:
• moral licence – I can do anything
• moral asceticism – no sex
• The worship of intermediate powers (often angels)
• The gnostic elect contained a divine spark that had lost memory of its true home
• The serpent of Genesis was good because it gave knowledge to Adam and Eve

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4.5 Gnostic Implications

• rejected the incarnation and resurrection: the body is bad
• preferred the Platonic idea of the immortal soul
• saw creation as the work of an incompetent or bad power
• believed the physical world was intrinsically evil
• Saw the OT as the story of a malevolent god

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Seen today:

• New Age movement
• Angelology (not in its Biblical context)
• where a spiritual resurrection is favoured over the bodily

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4.5 The Battle Against Gnostic Tendencies

• Marcion (AD 85-160) – a Bishop
• The first to propose a NT canon
• The OT was the story of a jealous tribal god – so ignore
• Jesus was the son of the Heavenly Father
• Jesus body was just an imitation of a human body
• Excommunicated.
• Justin Martyr ( AD 103-165)
• The OT prefigured the Gospel
• Jesus is the ‘Son-Logos’: light from light
• Creation was good
• Jesus incarnation was complete humanity
• Jesus truly suffered.

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4.5 The Battle Against Gnostic Tendencies

• Iranaeus (AD 125 – 202) Bishop of Lyons
• Stressed the unity of the OT and NT writings
• In Christ we gain the likeness of Christ that we lost
• He saw the necessity of having a definitive canon of NT writings to establish truth
• He stressed the importance of doctrinal unity and the unchanging nature of the Apostles’ teaching
• Wrote “Against Heresies” AD 180
• Clement of Alexandria (AD 1500 – 215)
• Introduced biblical exegesis: what does the Bible mean?
• Attacked Gnosticism with intellectual arguments

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4.6 Heresies: Montanism

• Montanus and two women (Prisca and Maximilla) from Phrygia, Central Turkey (AD 170) claimed a revelation from the Paraclete (Holy Spirit).
• The heavenly Jerusalem would last 1,000 years and descend on Phrygia
• All Christians must accept the prophecies or they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit
• A struggle between a prophetic movement wanting the freedom of the Spirit against those increasing order and structure in the church.

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4.6 Montanism

• Tertullian (AD 160-220):
• Fought against Gnosticism
• Became an advocate of Montanism
• Hippolytus of Rome (AD 170-235):
• Spiritual gifts are good
• The supernatural was found in the normal ministry of the word and sacrament not in a divisive exercise of gifts that lead to pride and judgementalism
• Today:
• Mormonism (Book of Mormon = extra biblical)
• Islam
• Jehovah’s Witnesses

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4.7 Heresies: Arianism

• Arius (AD 250-336) – an Alexandrian Christian presbyter
• The son of God did not always exist but created by and inferior to God the Father
• AD 325 Constantine convened the council of Nicea
• The Nicene Creed declared that the Father and the Son were of one substance (homoousios)
• Not until AD 380/381 and the edicts of Emperor Theodosius did the Nicene Creed (actually finalised in Constantinople in AD 381) triumph and Arianism subside

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4.7 Arianism

• Athanasius (AD 293-373) Bishop of Alexandria
• “the foremost champion against Arianism”
• Exiled five times: the Arians wanted to put him to death
• Today it is seen:
• Outside the church: ‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ’, Philip Pullman
• In theological circles where the search for the historical Jesus moves into Jesus ‘the man’.

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Church History

1. Introduction

2. A sprint through the centuries

3. Church themes

4. Break

5. The early church

6. Discussion

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5.0 Discussion� What’s the point in knowing our history?

• We live in a time and culture where there are many who have no understanding of Jesus.
• We live in a time where there are divisions and tensions within Christianity between established churches and those that are more charismatic.
• We live in a society that is syncretic: it strives for multifaith solutions and dislikes people who think they are right so others must be wrong.
• We think we are advanced (more evolved) and so these people are primitive.
• Are we always going to be like Jacob (renamed Israel) who struggled with God and fought his brother?

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The End of History

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