Events, Terms, Movements, Etc. Flashcards
Donatism
Popular 4th-century schismatic church in North Africa
Rejected the line of bishops descending from those who compromised during persecution
Named after one of their rival 4th-century bishops, Donatus
Partly ethnic (Numidian) and with a violent wing (cicumcelliones)
Opposed by Augustine; suppressed by Roman state
Persisted as a rival church in North Africa until destroyed by Arabs in the 6th-7th centuries
Nestorianism
A variant Christological belief
Taught that there were not just two natures but two separate persons in Christ
Associated with the 5th-century theologian Nestorius and Antioch (“Antiochene Christology”)
Mary bore Christ (Christotokos) but not God (Theotokos)
rejected by the Council of Ephesus in 431
(Persian) Church of the East comes to be called “Nestorian,” though the appropriateness of this is contested
Social Theories - Church History
Examples of the use of sociological and anthropological theory to help interpret early Christianity:
Rodney Stark: social network theory and the arithmetic growth curve of early Christianity
Anthony Wallace: revitaliation theory and the conversion of Constantine
Donald McGavran: people movements, the homogeneous unit principle, and the conversion of barbarian groups
Alan Tippett: multi-individual conversion and the conversion of barbarian groups
Pelagianism
the unorthodox belief that one can be saved by one’s own efforts, apart from Divine grace
Associated with the ascetic monk Pelagius, of British origin, 4th-5th century
A largely lay movement, aristocratic in tone, centered in Rome
emphasized freedom to choose the good by virtue of one’s God-given nature
Opposed by Augustine in writings on original sin, the will, and divine grace
Formally rejected by Second Council of Orange in early 6th century
Arianism
Variant belief about the nature of the Son associated with Arius
debated widely from 4th-6th centuries
This is the unorthodox belief that the Son is a godlike, exalted created being, but does not share the eternal nature of God’s own being.
“There was a time when he was not.”
Rejected at Nicea (325) and later councils
Edict of Milan
circular letter of 313
issued by Constantine and Licinius
decreed freedom of worship for all, including Christians
provided for the restitution of possessions lost by the Churches
For the first time, provided legal, public status to the Church
Pax Romana
the “peace of Rome”
a factor in the spread of Christianity
Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm: Greek for “image breaking”
Iconoclastic Controversy: disagreement over the veneration of icons that troubled the Byzantine Church
8th and 9th centuries
Iconoclasm rejected at 7th Ecumenical Council which met at Nicea in 787
Linked the defence of icons to the two natures of Christ
Monophysitism
A variant Christological belief (with many versions)
“only one nature” Christology; also called miaphysite (“one nature”)
Associated with Alexandria (“Alexandrian Christology”)
Rejected at Council of Chalcedon in the mid 5th century
Characteristic of the dissident “Oriental Orthodox Churches” on the margins of the Roman Empire
Montanism
ascetical, apocalyptic movement in the last half of the 2nd century
associated with the prophetic figure Montanus in Phrygia, Asia Minor
expected imminent outpouring of the Spirit and descent of New Jerusalem in Pepuza Phrygia (pictured on card)
included prominent women prophetesses
offshoot in North Africa; Tertullian attracted or perhaps converted
Council of Nicea
First ecumenical church council
Called by Emperor Constantine
Dealt with heresy of Arianism
Produced first declarative confession of faith
Said that the Son was homoousios (of one nature) with the Father
Battle of Milvian Bridge
site of critical battle at bridge over Tiber in northern Rome
in the year 312
Constantine defeated his rival Maxentius
decisive for history of Christianity in enabling Constantine (with Licinius) to become Emperor and issue edict of toleration
depicted on the frieze of the Arch of Constantine in Rome
Persecution
and associated Emperors
Nero and Domitian (1st century)
Marcus Aurelius (2nd century)
Septimus Severus (late 2nd - early 3rd century)
Decius and Valerian (mid-3rd century)
Diocletian (early 4th century), “The Great Persecution”
Council of Chalcedon
4th Ecumenical Council
Held at Chalcedon in 5th century
Issued the “Chalcedonian Definition” on the doctrine of Christ
Christ understood as one person in two natures, human and divine
There were a number of dissenting non-Chalcedonian churches in the East
