Church History: Apostolic

Question 1

What was the time frame of the Apostolic period?

Answer 1

29 A.D. to 100 A.D.

Question 2

What was the time frame of the Patristic period?

Answer 2

100 A.D. to 500 A.D.

Question 3

Why is the Patristic period called ‘patristic’?

Answer 3

Because of the Latin word ‘pater’ meaning father.

Question 4

What was the Didache also known as?

Answer 4

‘The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles’.

Question 5

What significant topics did the Didache cover?

Answer 5

Baptism, rituals, and the end times.

Question 6

What event occurred in 292 A.D. regarding Christians?

Answer 6

The emperor Diocletian tried to exterminate the Christians through Persecution.

Question 7

What was the Edict of Milan and when was it issued?

Answer 7

A document issued in 313 A.D. by emperor Constantine making Christianity legal in the Roman Empire.

Question 8

What was settled at the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.?

Answer 8

The Arian heresy and the writing of the Nicene Creed.

Question 9

What declaration was made by the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D.?

Answer 9

That the Holy Spirit was God.

Question 10

What conclusion did the Council of Ephesus reach in 431 A.D.?

Answer 10

That Jesus was one divine person and Mary was the mother of God.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: The Apostolic period lasted from 29 A.D. to ______.

Answer 11

100 A.D.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The Patristic period lasted from 100 A.D. to ______.

Answer 12

500 A.D.

Question 13

True or False: The Didache was written in 196 A.D.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or False: The Council of Ephesus stated that Jesus was two divine persons.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What is heresy?

Answer 15

Denial of a truth that has been revealed by God and defined by the church (doctrine).

Question 16

What are the three things necessary to commit heresy?

Answer 16

• Must be a baptized member of the Church
• Doubt or denial must concern a matter revealed by God and explained by the Church
• Must refuse to be corrected; cannot be done unknowingly.

Question 17

What were the three main heresies of this period?

Answer 17

• Gnosticism
• Arianism
• Nestorianism

Question 18

What does Gnosticism assert?

Answer 18

Matter is evil, spiritual things are good; requires secret knowledge for salvation.

Question 19

What does Arianism claim about Jesus?

Answer 19

Jesus was a man created by God who was given special powers, making Him more like a prophet.

Question 20

What is the core belief of Nestorianism?

Answer 20

Jesus’ human and divine natures are separate; Mary is not the ‘God-bearer’ but only the Mother of His body.

Question 21

True or False: A person can commit heresy unknowingly.

Answer 21

False.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: The three main heresies of this period include Gnosticism, Arianism, and _______.

Answer 22

Nestorianism.

Question 23

What is required for a baptized member of the Church to commit heresy?

Answer 23

Doubt or denial concerning a matter revealed by God and explained by the Church.

Question 24

Why do we pray to saints?

Answer 24

To ask for their intercession, as their prayers are powerful before God in heaven.

Question 25

Do we worship Mary?

Answer 25

No, we honor her as the Mother of God.

Question 26

What is the significance of Mary's conception?

Answer 26

She was conceived without sin to be the perfect vessel for the Son of God.

Question 27

What does the belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary mean?

Answer 27

Mary did not have other children after Jesus.

Question 28

What proof is given for Mary's perpetual virginity?

Answer 28

Jesus told John to take care of Mary at the foot of the cross, implying she had no other children.

Question 29

Does having statues in churches go against the first commandment?

Answer 29

No, because we do not worship the statue; it serves as a reminder of the real person.

Question 30

Fill in the blank: We pray to saints to ask for their _______.

Answer 30

[intercession]

Question 31

True or False: We believe in the worship of Mary.

Answer 31

False

Question 32

Fill in the blank: Mary was a virgin both in _______ and _______.

Answer 32

[body], [soul]

Question 33

What was the time frame of the Apostolic period?

Answer 33

29 A.D. to 100 A.D.

Question 34

What was the time frame of the Patristic period?

Answer 34

100 A.D. to 500 A.D.

Question 35

Why is the Patristic period called 'patristic'?

Answer 35

Because of the Latin word 'pater' meaning father.

Question 36

What was the Didache also known as?

Answer 36

'The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles'.

Question 37

What significant topics did the Didache cover?

Answer 37

Baptism, rituals, and the end times.

Question 38

What event occurred in 292 A.D. regarding Christians?

Answer 38

The emperor Diocletian tried to exterminate the Christians through Persecution.

Question 39

What was the Edict of Milan and when was it issued?

Answer 39

A document issued in 313 A.D. by emperor Constantine making Christianity legal in the Roman Empire.

Question 40

What was settled at the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.?

Answer 40

The Arian heresy and the writing of the Nicene Creed.

Question 41

What declaration was made by the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D.?

Answer 41

That the Holy Spirit was God.

Question 42

What conclusion did the Council of Ephesus reach in 431 A.D.?

Answer 42

That Jesus was one divine person and Mary was the mother of God.

Question 43

Fill in the blank: The Apostolic period lasted from 29 A.D. to ______.

Answer 43

100 A.D.

Question 44

Fill in the blank: The Patristic period lasted from 100 A.D. to ______.

Answer 44

500 A.D.

Question 45

True or False: The Didache was written in 196 A.D.

Answer 45

True

Question 46

True or False: The Council of Ephesus stated that Jesus was two divine persons.

Answer 46

False

Question 47

What is heresy?

Answer 47

Denial of a truth that has been revealed by God and defined by the church (doctrine) ## Footnote Heresy involves a deviation from accepted religious teachings.

Question 48

What are the three things necessary to commit heresy?

Answer 48

* Must be a baptized member of the Church * Doubt or denial must concern a matter revealed by God and explained by the Church * Must refuse to be corrected; cannot do it unknowingly ## Footnote Each condition emphasizes the conscious choice to reject established doctrine.

Question 49

Name the three main heresies of this period.

Answer 49

* Gnosticism * Arianism * Nestorianism ## Footnote These heresies significantly influenced early Christian thought and doctrine.

Question 50

What does Gnosticism claim about matter and spiritual things?

Answer 50

Matter is evil, spiritual things are good; salvation requires secret knowledge ## Footnote Gnosticism emphasizes a dualistic worldview.

Question 51

What is Arianism's view of Jesus?

Answer 51

Jesus was a man created by God who was given special powers, making Him more like a prophet ## Footnote This perspective denies the full divinity of Christ.

Question 52

What does Nestorianism assert about Jesus' natures?

Answer 52

Jesus' human and divine natures were separate; Mary was not the 'God-bearer' ## Footnote Nestorianism challenges the understanding of the incarnation and Mary's role.

Question 53

Fill in the blank: Heresy involves a denial of a truth revealed by God and defined by the _______.

Answer 53

[church] ## Footnote This definition highlights the authoritative role of the Church in defining doctrine.

Question 54

True or False: A person can commit heresy unknowingly.

Answer 54

False ## Footnote Awareness and refusal to be corrected are crucial to the definition of heresy.