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CHURCH HISTORY

A course given by Fr. John J. Roche SS.CC

909-596-1946 extn 284

Edlio – roche

Grading is by accumulative marks and final grade is a percentage of possible marks. Grades are using the standard scale of A=95%, B=85%...

Classwork and homework to handed in on a timely manner. One day of grace is given and after that 5 marks deducted per day.

Extra credits may be attained by submitting a proscribed topic.

There will be midterm test and a final exam.

Class notes and assignments are to be found on my Edlio page

Class rules – keep classroom tidy at all times. No food consumed in classroom.

Christianity has survived much in its life – destruction of Jerusalem (birth place of Christianity) – the implosion of the Roman Empire – persecutions from without and heresies within, corruption, barbarian invasion, the confusion of the Dark Ages, reformation and revolt and still it survives.

  • 1. Apostolic Church 1 -100AD – The divine-human foundation

History of he Church has 2 sides – God and Man

  • EARLY CHURCH apostolic age 1-600AD (upto Gregory the Great) – the age of the graeco-latin church
  • For the purpose of our study modules, we define the early church as the first six hundred years of church history. This section covers topics such as theDidache,Constantine’s conversion, the Council at Nicea, and the teachings of Augustine.

God reveals his plan to humans – concerns wisdom, justice, mercy, eternity, salvation. Much of Church History (CH) is then about how humans implement God’s will and values in everyday life. It is a biography of humans who have respond positively or negatively to this. 1Col 1:16-18

The History of the church is about is about the spread of the kingdom of God and its values.GospelsChristian MissionsPersecutionsHistory of worshipHistory of Christian LifeHistory of theologySources of CH – official documents, private writings, Historians, Inscriptions ( esp. tombs), Art and sculptures, religious ceremonies, Rise of MuslimsFall of Roman Empire 476ADBenedict’s Rule

tHE gOSPEL sPREADS

The Church spreading from Jerusalem to Antioch

JerusalemCouncil ad 49

Start of Church governing itself by way of Councils.

THE DIDACHE

An early church manual instructs in Christian behavior.

PLINY’S LETTER TO TRAJAN

A pagan official asks the emperor how Christians are to be handled.

Apostolic Fathers

They lived within 2 generations of the Apostles classified as Greek, Latin, or Syriac

Great Fathers of the Church

Men whose teachings made a lasting mark on the Church

Latin – Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory the Great

Greek – John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nanzianzen, Athanasious

Ignatius of Antioch

Converted by John, Bp of Antioch AD69, Condemned to lions, Letters

POLYCARP’S MARTYRDOM

How a faithful Christian bishop died in flame.

TERTULLIAN’S DEFENSE

The first theologian of the western church speaks out.

CYPRIAN ON CHURCH UNITY

North African bishop writes on the unity of the church.

Desert Father and Mothers

Hermits and monk who sought the solitude of the desert – they did not write much but had great influence over the other Fathers of the Church. Most notable is Antony and Pachomius – much of their sayings are preserved in the ApoththegmataPatrum – saying of the Desert Fathers.

ANTONY OF EGYPT

A biography of the first notable Christian monk.

John Cassian

Brought eastern mysticism to latin church.

Rise of Monasticism

For 800 years the Monastry dominated the spiritual landscape.

CONSTANTINE’S VISION

Constantine’s conversion had a mighty impact.

 ATHANASIUS ON CHRIST

Implications of Christ becoming a man.

COUNCIL OF NICEA

The battle over Christ’s Divinity.

AUGUSTINE’S LOVE SERMOn and confession

A sermon on love–but will you agree with his definition?

Arianism divides the Church

This doctrine denied Jesus’ divinity . Arius 250-336 held that Jesus was God’s greatest creation but not of one substance with God. 1st Council of Nicea 325 condemned this doctrine and issued a creed to support the condemnation. Many of the barbarian tribes were Arian and kept the heresy alive for a long time.

LEO CLAIMS SPECIAL ROLE

Leo I claims that the bishop of Rome is above all other bishops.

 PATRICK’S OWN TALE

St. Patrick’s “confession,” a short autobiography.

GREGORY I AND ENGLAND/ celtic mission from Lindesfarn

How Gregory sent Augustine to convert the English and Celts converted from North

  • Constantine AD300 firt Christian Emperor
  • Church no longer persecuted – public building for worship now OK

road to chalcedon 451

The Christological debates were finally put to rest with Chalcedon’s definition of Jesus. The councils of Cnstantinople, Ephesus, Nicea and Chalcedon.

2. MEDIEVAL Gregory to Reformation 600-1500AD

For the arrangement of our modules, the Medieval church covers 600 to 1500AD. This section covers topics such as Charlemagne, the Crusades, Peter Waldo, and Thomas à Kempis.

Gregory – the last of the Church Fathers – launched Anglo-Saxon mission – conversion of barbarian tribes – split with east and rise of absolute papacy – Church moves from Asai and Africa to Western Europe - From the culture of the ancient classical world to the modern evolving world – in the East the Eastern church converted the Slavic tribes – Eastern church was being pressed by Islam

 BENEDICT’S RULE

Strict but useful rule helped monks transform Europe.

Irish Monks introduce serial confessions

Green exile of monks brings new way of confessing to Europe. End of single confesson in life for many with smaller penance.

JOHN OF DAMASCUS FOR ICONS

John argues for the use of icons.

LIFE OF CHARLEMAGNE

This Christian king did good but forced conversions.

CRUSADERS CAPTURE JERUSALEM

An eyewitness account of the capture of Jerusalem.

ANSELM ON THE INCARNATION

England’s archbishop answers why Christ became a man.

ABELARD’S PERSONAL HISTORY

An autobiography of excuses and blame.

BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX ON LOVE

A look at four types of love.

GUIBERT DE NOGENT EXPOSES FRAUD

Forgery and hypocrisy in the use of relics.

WALDO SOUGHT A TRUER FAITH

Waldo wanted to get back to the Bible.

FRANCIS OF ASSISI’S OBEDIENCE

Merchant’s son brought tenderness back into the church.

CATHARS RECORDED AS HERETICS

The Inquisition grills Cathars (Albigensians).

THOMAS Aquinas ON THE EUCHARIST

Catholic theologian says the bread really becomes Christ’s body.

THOMAS À KEMPIS URGES CHRIST—LIKENESS

A beloved guide shows how to follow Christ.

 WYCLIFFE'S WICKET

He is called the “Morning Star of the Reformation.”

JOHN HUS, REFORMER OF BOHEMIA

Reformer of Bohemia perished at the stake.

  1. REFORMATION

The Reformation modules pick up in 1400 and run through the early part of the 1600s. This segment covers topics such as John Wycliffe, Luther’s Catechism, John Foxe, and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

The Cradle of all Protestant denominations and sects

Puritan struggle in England – non-conformist disenters

LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM

TheShorter Catechismmolded a generation of children.

LUTHER ON ROMANS

The great reformer explains law and faith.

ZWINGLI’S SIXTY-SEVEN ARTICLES

The sixty-seven articles of his Zurich Reformation.

SCHLEITHEIM CONFESSION

Anabaptists see the true church as a company of believers separated from society.

 CALVIN ON GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

Geneva reformer declares the absolute sovereignty of God.

 LOYOLA’S SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

TheSpiritual Exercises,a training book for Jesuits.

TERESA OF AVILA ON PRAYER

Spanish mystic urges contemplative prayer.

WILLIAM TYNDALE ON FAITH

His lively answer to Sir Thomas More on justification by faith.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY MASSACRE

Eyewitness describes the butchery of thousands of Protestants in France.

 ROBERT BROWNE ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Father of Congregationalists and precursor of Baptists calls for religious liberty.

Act of Supremacy

Henry VIII, Thomas Moore John Fisher.

  1. POST-REFORMATION

Division in Europe and opening of New World

In Europe CH is plagued by the Protestant-Catholic conflicts.

18th century – rise of Pietistic movements – Methodism

In Roman Church Jesuitism prevails but opposed by Jansenism and quasi-liberal Gallicanism

Effects of the Enlightenment of thinking

In North America distinction between Church and state leads to the New World being a haven for all beliefs and sects from all over the world.

Council of Trent

Counter reformation – professional training of priests in seminaries – naming 7 sacrament.

MENNO SIMONS AND THE MENNONITES

Brave Anabaptist leader tells how he came to lead a small but growing group of devout Christians.

 JOHN KNOX AND SCOTS REFORM

Scotland transformed by practical Calvinism.

JACOB ARMINIUS FOUNDS ARMINIANISM

Dutch theologian argues that Calvin’s doctrine needs tweaking.

 HUGO GROTIUS ON WAR AND PEACE

Christianity and a political theory of justice in war time.

 KING JAMES VERSION

Sample the beauties of the most enduring English translation.

GEORGE FOX AND THE QUAKERS

Groaning at the world, Fox seeks to know Christ directly.

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

The most famous non-biblical Christian text.

THE QUIETISTS

Quietism flares and fades.

BUTLER’S ANALOGY

Influential apologetic refutes Deism.

JONATHAN EDWARDS ON FREE WILL

Did his theory of free will allow free will?

JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY

Brothers lead the Methodist movement.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE AND SLAVERY

Was there a charity he didn’t have a hand in?

WILLIAM CAREY’SINQUIRY.

A poor Baptist preacher demonstrates the need for missions.

Liberation Theology

Merging bible and life together Boff, Gutierez, Sobrino

Female theology/ black theology.

Since the time of Augustine until recently all theology has been written by a white male hand

Teilhard de chardin

Peeking man – a Jesuit paleontologist’s Reflections on humanity and world – complexity-consciousness

Summary

  1. Life of Christ and Apostolic Church – Incarnation to death of John
  2. Spread of Christianity-- Jew-Samaritan-Pagan
  3. Christianity under persecution - death of John to Constantine
  4. First Christian Emperor
  5. Christianity in union with Graeco-Roman empire - great migration of tribes – Constantine to Gregory
  6. Christianity implanted in Teutonic, Celtic and Slavonic tribes - Gregory 1 to Hildebrand 590-1049
  7. Rise of papal hierarchy – scholastic theology – rise of mendicant orders- Hildebrandt to Boniface VIII 1049-1294
  8. Decay of medieval church – movement towards reformation - Boniface VIII- Luther
  9. Reformation and church reaction – Luther – Treaty of Westphalia 1648
  10. Westphalia to French Revolution 1648 -1790
  11. Revival of Christianity in Europe and America – explosion of global mission encircling the globe
  12. French Revolution to NOW