Church History Flashcards
- Give a brief overview of the major epochs (divisions) of church history.
Apostolic Age (30–100 AD) The Ante-Niciean Age (100–325) Nicea to the Fall of Roman Empire (325-590) The Medieval Church and Scholasticism (590–1517) The Reformation (1517–1648) The Enlightenment Church (1648–1789) The Modern Church (1798–1970) The Post-modern Church (1970 – present)
- Trace the development & continuity of reformed theology in church history
- Groundwork by Hus and Wycliffe
- Culminated with Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517
- Luther contested…
-Indulgences
-Purgatory
-Justification by merit - Calvin in Geneva, Zwilngli
- Belgic Confession 1561
- Heidelberg Catechism 1563
- Synod of Dordt 1618
- Westminster Assembly 1643-1652 (WCF 1647)
- Puritans in England and America 17th and 18th Centuries (John Own, Thomas, Richard Sibbes,
- Awakening 18th Century (Edwards, Whitfield, George Tennent)
19th century: Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, James Thornwell.
20th century: Van Til, Gresham Machen,
- Explain the formation of the canon.
- The church did not decide what books of the NT were inspired. Early Christians simply recognized what were inspired books.
1. Period of collection (1st century – 2nd century). This is when the NT books were passed around and preserved during the time of Christian persecutions.
- period of emergence: 2nd century – 3rd century. Marcion and the Montanists forced Christians to recognize formulate canon. Muratorian fragments were one of the first records of Christian canon.
- Period of fixation: 3rd century – 4th century. Athanasius wrote about 27 books of the NT in the 39th festal letter
- Trace the rise of the papacy from the apostolic times into middle ages.
In the beginning, major city had its own bishop. However, given the stature and power of Rome, the bishop of Rome grew in power as the Roman Empire grew. One of the clear case was from 5th century, when then bishop of Rome, Pope Gregory the Great, wrote to bishop of Constantinople about his universal jurisdiction over the entire churches. During the time of Gregory the Great, he expanded the power and role of Pope. He believes that the church, Pope included, should play the role of ordering the society. Decline of papacy was noticeable in the 14th century, when Pope was relocated to France. Lastly, pope was declared to be infallible until the 19th century.
- Who were some of the early church fathers – tell about their significance?
Clement of Rome (1st century)
- Apostolic Father/ knew Peter - Bishop of Rome - Wrote epistle "Clement" to Corinthians - Martyred
Ignatius of Antioch (1st century)
- Bishop of Antioch
- Wrote 7 letters
- Provides insight to Xn attitudes toward persecution
- Warned against, Judaism, Gnosticism, and Docetism
- Martyred
Irenaeus (2nd century)
-fought against heretics and Gnostics.
Tertullian of Carthage (3rd century)
Athanasius of Alexandria who attended the Council of Nicea and against Arians.
Augustine of Hippo was a major figure who wrote extensively against Pelagius and witness the fall of Rome.
His view of election was influential on Protestantism,
- Name the major church councils in the first 500 years after Christ (including major people, dates, issues involved).
1) Council of Jerusalem (apostolic era): James, Peter and Paul. How to deal with Gentile believers.
(2) Council of Nicea (325AD): Constantine, Arius, and Athanasius. Jesus is God.
(3) Council of Constantinople (381AD): The Holy Spirit is God.
(4) Council of Ephesus (431AD): Denounced Pelagianism. Declared Mary to be mother of God.
(5) Council of Chalcedon (451AD): Jesus is God and man.
- Who was Constantine and what was his significance?
4th century Emperor of Rome
Led soldiers into battle with Chi Rho symbol after vision
Declared Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. tolerated Christians
Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. made Roman Empire Christian
- What was the significance of the Council of Nicea?
At the Council of Nicea, Arius was denounced as a heretic. Jesus is not a creature created by God. He is the eternal son of God.
- What was the significance of the Council of Chalcedon?
It cleared the confusion regarding the nature of Christ. Jesus is both man and God, two natures in one person via hypostatic union, without mixture, confusion, separation and change
- What was the Arian controversy?
Arius said there was a time when Christ was not. He challenged the divinity of Jesus.
- What was Gnosticism? -does it have any significance today?
Gnosticism believes that we are saved by genosis or special knowledge (as opposed to the person of Jesus). Gnosticism pits the material world (inherently evil) against the spiritual world (good). This thought can still be found today. Some believe our souls are trapped in the material body.
- Who was Augustine -what was his relationship to Pelagius?
Augustine is a great Christian thinker from 4th and 5th century. He denounced Pelagius false teaching on original sin and wrote extensively against such false teaching.
- Who was Bernard of Clairvaux?
Bernard of Clairvaux was an 12th century monk who was was a major promoter of the second crusade. John Calvin considered him the major witness to truth between Gregory the Great and the 1500s
- Who was Gregory the Great?
Gregory the Great is a 6th century Pope who rejected the idea of universal pope. Despite that, because of his influence and statute, he expanded the power of Papacy during his day. He appointed governors to Italian cities, strengthened the church in Spain, Italy and Gaul, and initiated missions work thru Augustine of Cantebury in England He wrote to bishop of Constantinople and talked about his universal jurisdiction over the entire church.
- Who was Francis of Assisi?
Francis of Assisi is a 13th century mystic monk who began monastic communities for men and women devoted to poverty and service to the poor.
He also wanted to end the crusades and attempted to convert the Sultans.
- Who was Anselm?
Anselm is a Christian philosopher from 12th century. He gave us the classical argument for God and also the ransom theory of atonement.
- Who was Thomas Aquinas?
Thomas Aquinas is a 13th century Dominican monk and a great thinker. He wrote an extensive theology work called Summa Theologica. He also spent great deal of his writings on the use of natural law.
- Explain the split between the eastern and western churches in 11th cent.
It is a culmination of tension that existed between the Eastern and Western churches before 11th century. The Western churches adopted the filioque clause (Sprit proceeds from God the Father and the Son) without consent from the Eastern churches.
- What were the “crusades” (key dates, people, places)? In your opinion were they good or bad?
1096-1272
There were seven major crusades recorded in history that took place from 10th century to 14th century. The crusades were called because of the atrocity brought by Muslims on Christians. The first crusade was pleaded by Pope Urban II in 1095. The reason was Chrisitan were slaughtered like sheep and crucified without much protection. In response, the Western churches took on the burden to intervene. However, not all crusades ended positively. For example, Pope Innocent III led the 4th crusade to the city of Constantinople. The crusaders ended up killing Christians and sacked the Byzantine Empire (13th century, 1202AD-1204AD).
- What are the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church?
Baptism, Eucharists
matrimony, orders, reconciliation, confirmation, unction)
- Discuss the medieval Roman Catholic sacramental system.
Heavy sacramental system that seems to be replacing the gospel.
Strong current within the medieval church that if you take the sacrament system then you are good, you are saved.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sacraments operate by conferring grace ex opere operato (from the work worked). Under this view, a sacrament confers grace if it is validly administered—regardless of the disposition of the minister or recipient. Yet a fruitful sacrament depends upon the right disposition of the one receiving it, or ex opere operantis (from the work of the agent).
- Who were some of the key people leading up to the Reformation?
Jan Hus and Wycliffe.
- What was the significance of John Hus?
He was burned at the stake for attempting to recover the Christian doctrine.
his attitude to biblical authority, his passion for reform and insistence upon Christ’s Lordship over the church, denied Rome’s teaching on transubstantiation. He paved the way for the spiritual enlightenment that culminated in the Protestant Reformation.
