Church History - Complete Flashcards
(111 cards)
What is the value of studying Church History
1) It educates us on the historical roots of our beliefs
2) It teaches us to learn from the examples of our predecessors
3) It shows how kingdom of God is being built by using his choosing people.
4) It helps us to interpret historical facts by faith in God.
How would you define the periods of church history, with years?
1) Early Church History (4 BC-580 AD)
2) Medieval Church History (580-1517)
3) Reformation (1517-1789)
4) Modern Church History (1789-Present)
What were the 5 “solas” of the Reformation?
Sola Scriptura, Sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, soli deo gloria
Trace the development of Covenant Theology
- Covenant theology begins in Scripture and was to some extent developed by Augustine (In Adam, all have broken God’s covenant).
- The major development in medieval covenant theology was the proposition by Ockham and Biel (God rewards sinners with a kind of merit when they do their best).
- Reformation: Covenant theology as we know it today began in the 16th century with Zwingli, who emphasized the Abrahamic covenant as a model for the Christian’s relationship to God. Calvin also makes extensive use of the covenant. Ursinus first spoke of a pre-fall covenant of works. Olevianus presented the idea of an eternal covenant between the Father and the Son for the salvation of man.
- Reformed Orthodoxy: Covenant theology begins to be treated in systematic form (emphasized God’s accomplishment of salvation as the unfolding of his covenant.)
- During the 20th century, largely due to the work of Meredith Kline, scholars came to view the biblical covenants through the framework of the ancient Near Eastern Suzerain vassal treaty.
- Modern: challenges to classical covenant theology
When was the persecution under Nero
64
When was the persectuion under Decius?
249-251 (First systematic general persecution)
When was the persecution under Diocleatian?
303 (the Great Persecution)
When was the destruction of the Jewish Temple
70
What was the Edict of Milan
313 (legalized Christianity)
When did Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire
380 (Theodosian Empire)
Give me a list of the first 6 councils of the church with dates.
First Council of Nicaea (325)
First Council of Constantinople (381)
First Council of Ephesus (431)
Council of Chalcedon (451)
Second Council of Constantinople (553)
Third Council of Constantinople (680–681)
Second Council of Nicaea (787)
When was the council of Nicea and what occured there?
325
The council of Nicea was assembled to address the Arian controversy. Condemned Arianism (teaching that the Son was 1st creation of God the Father) and composed the Nicene Creed. The council said Jesus was truly God.
Uses the language of “homoousios” - of one being - Son is true God from True God, begotten not made, of one being with the father.
Council of Ephesus
431 AD
The Council of Ephesus was convened in 431 by Theodosius II, emperor of the eastern half of the Roman empire.
The Council of Ephesus confirmed the Nicene Creed and the title Theotokos (“God-bearer”) for Mary as a legitimate title based on that creed. They also condemned Nestorianism and excommunicated all those bishops who did not hold to the council’s decision.
Council of Constantinople
381 AD
It was convened by Theodosius I who at that time was Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.
The main business of the council was to reestablish the doctrine that had been set forth in the Nicene Creed.
The theology of the Holy Spirit was dealt with at the council of Constantinople.
Council of Chalcedon
451, called by Eastern Emperor Marcion
At the Council of Chalcedon, the church explicitly defined the relationship between Jesus’ divine nature and his human nature, and how they manifested in his being. They determined he was “truly God and truly man,” and that he is “like us in all things, sin apart.”
- Two Natures: Christ is one person, 2 natures.
It condemned the false doctrines of Nestorius and Eutyches.
- Nestorianism: Christ is two persons in 1 body.
- Eutychianism: 2 natures of Jesus evolved into a single nature
Antinomianism
Denies the need to obey God’s law. Was a popular component of Gnosticism and has persisted in various forms through the centuries.
Docetism
Heresy of the early church that denied Jesus had come in the flesh, saying that Jesus only seemed to be man. John combats it in 1 John 4:2, and became an important aspect of Gnosticism
Ebionites
Jewish Christians in the 1st-4th Centuries who denied the preexistence of Christ and believed the entire OT law had to be kept for salvation.
Marcionism
2nd Century heresy that taught a strong distinction between the vengeful God of the OT and the merciful God of the NT, and accepted only Paul’s Epistles and Luke from the NT. Aspects similar to Gnosticism
Gnosticism
A group of primarily 2nd century heresies that taught a radical dualism between matter and spirit, proclaimed salvation through special knowledge, and a docetic view of Christ
- Most famous Gnostic was Valentinus
- Writings: Gospel of Thomas, Philip, Truth, Judas
- Major opponents: Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Epiphanius
Donatism **
4th Century North African movement that started a separate church, emphasizing the purity of the church over its unity.
Donatism was the error taught that the effectiveness of the sacraments depends on the moral character of the minister. In other words, if a minister who was involved in a serious enough sin were to baptize a person, that baptism would be considered invalid.
Manichaenism
3rd century form of Gnosticism founded by Mani, teaching a dualism between light and dark. Augustine was part of it for a while, though he later opposed it strongly.
Monarchianism
3rd Century heresy that stresses the oneness of God / Opposed the Trinity
Gnosticism
1st-3rd century. they thought that they have a special knowledge and promised a deeper spirituality. Salvation comes from an ascetic life.
Their principle teachings:
- Dualism: material world is bad; spiritual world is good.
- Docetism: Jesus merely appeared to have a body; actually he had not.
- Anti-Judaism
- Way of Salvation: It is not by faith, but by knowledge.