Events Flashcards
1
Q
Development of the Canon of Scripture
A
ca. 140, Marcion’s Canon presents problems (i.e. heresy) and a response is necessitated
ca. 170-200, Muratorian [Fragment] Canon – which includes the four Gospels, the “Acts of all Apostles” and 13 of the Pauline Epistles (but not the anonymous Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, or James).
Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History has 22 of 27 NT books, some not included are debated
367, Athanasius Easter Letter includes all 27 books of NT
393, Synod of Hippo (And 397 Council of Carthage) affirms what we have today
Criteria for books:
– Apostleship
– Recognition/use in early church
– Synthesis/agreement with teachings in the church
2
Q
Council of Nicea
A
- (325)
- called by Emperor Constantine to settle issue of deity of Christ in response to teaching of Arius and refutation by Athanasius (bishop of Alexandria). Produced the “Creed of Nicea” (anti-Arian statement) included the term “homoousius” rejecting Arius’ notion that Jesus was not fully God, not be confused with “Nicene Creed” from the Council of Constantinople in 381. This same teaching shows up in Jehovah’s Witness theology. Creed of Nicea states: “…God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father.”
3
Q
Arian Controversy
A
- (4th Century)
- Controversy over the deity and coeternity of the Son with the Father.
- Arius vs Athanasius
4
Q
Council of Constantinople
A
- (381)
- called by emperor Theodosius to completely eradicate Arian Christianity from the empire. Cappodocian Fathers’ theology was heavily present (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus Gregory of Nyssa) and council produces the “Nicene Creed” we recite today. Also formal adoption of Nicean Xty as the official religion of the Roman Empire. Also dealt with Apollinarianism (deny Jesus had a human soul; had been condemned in 377 in Rome); Macedonianism (Holy Spirit a creature)
5
Q
Council of Ephesus
A
- (431)
- Cyril vs Nestorius over the two natures of Christ. Nestorius held that Christ’s two natures were almost two persons.
- From the Council of Constantinople, Nestorius divided Jesus into God the Word and Jesus the Man, he was opposed by Cyril and condemned and the council of Ephesus, 431.
6
Q
Council of Chalcedon
A
- (451)
- called by Marcian at the behest of Leo the Great to settle issue of the nature of Christ (“one person in two natures, fully human, fully divine). In JC true deity (contra Arius) and full humanity (contra Apollinaris) are indivisibly united in the one person (contra Nestorius), without being confused (contra Eutyches). Leo’s Tome is read and accepted (as well as earlier work of Nicea/Constantinople). Marcian insists that a “creed” be produced to settle all question—hence the Chalecdonian Definition: “…without confusion, without change, without division or without separation.”
7
Q
Reformation
A
- 1517-21 (95 Theses & Diet of Worms)—1643-49 (Westminster Assembly)
- The widespread withdrawal from the Roman Catholic Church over doctrinal disagreements, esp. regarding the nature/authority of scripture (scripture alone vs. scripture as interpreted by the Pope) the nature of salvation (by grace, through faith vs. sacramental/works).
▪ Lutheran/German reformation (Luther, Melanchthon),
▪ Reformed/Swiss reformation (Zwingli/Calvin),
▪ English reformation (English monarchs, Tyndale, Cranmer, Westminster Assembly).
8
Q
Counter-Reformation
A
- 1521 (Luther excommunicated)—1545-1563 (Council of Trent)
- The Roman Catholic Church’s response to protestant claims, spear-headed by Ignatius Loyola’s founding of the Jesuits (1534) and the decisive anti-protest degrees of Trent. Internal reform also took place within the Catholic Church on a moral, but not theological, level. At Trent the Catholic Church assigned the term “sacrament” to seven essential rites for the catholic believer: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders and matrimony. The council also condemned much Protestant theology and clarified its teachings on scripture, tradition, the Church, the Eucharist, original sin and justification.
9
Q
Belgic Confession
A
- (1561)
—(aka Walloon Confession) Produced by Guido de Bres, a pastor to French speaking protestants in the “lowlands,” this apology for the Reformed faith tried to distance it’s adherents from Anabaptist theology and point out common tenets with Catholic theology. Together with Heidelberg and Dordt provided confessional foundation for the Dutch Reformed tradition.
10
Q
Heidelberg Catechism
A
- (1563)
- Reformed catechism produced chiefly by Zacharias Ursinus and Kaspar Olevianus (and other theologians from Heidelberg univ.) at the request of Frederick III for a catechism to promote the reformed faith and reconcile theological tensions arising between Lutheran and Reformed views of communion. Said to combine the intimacy of Luther, the charity of Melanchthon, and the fire of Calvin.
11
Q
Synod of Dordt
A
- (1618-1619)
- Response by the Dutch church (with other delegations) to the teachings of the followers of Jacob Arminius and the publication: The Remonstrance. The synod unanimously condemned Arminius’ teachings with 5 ‘canons’ stating the reformed position. These 5 ‘canons’ are the basis of TULIP.
12
Q
Westminster Assembly
A
- (1643-1649)
- Assembly meeting in London at the behest of Oliver Cromwell’s parliament (sympathetic to Puritans previously persecuted under the executed Charles I) to reshape the Church of England into a reformed, Presbyterian national church. Produced DoW, WLC, WSC, WCF. Standards were not adopted by C of E, but was adopted by C of Scotland.
- Thomas Goodwin and Jeremiah Burroughs were among the writers
13
Q
Pietism
A
- 1666 (Spener sr. pastor at Frankfurt)—1705 (Spener’s death); influence continues today.
- Movement originating in mid 1600’s Germany which stressed the necessity of having a personal, living experience of faith, being born again and not just baptized into the church, direct bible study, and an emphasis on practical lived theology vs. the minutiae of theological orthodoxy. Strains are seen clearly in historical Methodism, the Moravians and much North American Evangelicalism with Mennonites and Wesleyans.
14
Q
Half-Way Covenant
A
- (1662); 17th Century
- English Puritans prior to the 1st Great Awakening, developed a form of partial church membership to allow the children and grandchildren of members of the church to receive membership without a “conversion experience”. These half-way members were allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper, but were not allowed to vote in church matters. This was in response to a spiritual drift that was taking place in the Puritan church. Leaders hoped the partial members would see benefits of full membership and seek a Christian, “born again” experience.
15
Q
1st Great Awakening
A
(1735-43)
Major Figures &
Traditions:
Theodore Frelinghusen (Dutch Reformed)
Gilbert Tennent (Presbyterian)
Jonathan Edwards (Congregational)
George Whitfield (Anglican)
Theology: Calvinist
Distinctive
Features:
Salvation: Traditional Calvinist (Sov. God; total depravity; no decisionalism)
Church: “Pure Church” model (only born again take LS); end of “half way” covenant
Society: Church/State relationships grow apart
Highlights:
Edwards, Freedom of Will; Original Sin; Religious Affections; Whitfield’s campaigns
