Exam 1 - The Early Church - Short Answer Flashcards
What significance does the fire in Rome and the destruction of Jerusalem have for church history?
Destruction of Jerusalem – because Jewish people rose up to defend temple but Christians didn’t, it further broke distance between Christian and Jews. No longer protected under Jewish movement.
Fire in Rome – Under Nero who blamed Christians and led to first significant Christian persecution from Rome
How did the earliest persecutions against the church differ from the later ones? What were the reasons given for persecuting the church?
a. The 1st century persecution was came from Fire in Rome and then was aimed at all who didn’t worship the emperor
b. The 2nd century persecution became empire-wide but based on local officials.
c. During the 3rd century, the most severe and widespread persecution of Christianity broke out, mainly under the reign of Decius (249-251). This led to some abandoning their faith or signing obtaining fake certificates showing they sacrificed to the roman Gods.
d. They were persecuted for living differently and implicitly condemning the pagan lifestyle. They also refused to sacrifice to Pagan Gods and Caesar.
What is “Gnosticism” and what were its key tenets?
i. Gnosticism - superman heresy. “Knowledge” secret knowledge by spiritual elite members. Part of large and complex theological system with variety.
(a) General Characteristics
i) Dualism – good and evil. Spirit and matter. Soul and Body.
ii) Docetic Christology – Jesus just seemed like a physical man.
iii) Salvation – secret knowledge was more beneficial to people’s soul. Reserved for elite. Resulted in asceticism or excessive sin. Salvaiton was escape from soul of the body.
iv) Ethics – an extreme approach
What were the main emphases of Marcionism and Montanism
a. Marcionism – God of OT and NT is different. NT is God of live, OT god is creator of material world and therefore evil. Jesus was immaterial and just appeared to be physical.
b. Montanism – Montanus and two prophetesses claimed to be Mouthpiece of HS and they emphasized visions, speaking and tongues and prophecy. Stirred up hope in second coming of Christ. Their views weren’t too far off from orthodoxy and some have compared it to Pentecostal movement in 20th century.
Who was Irenaeus and why was his theology significant? What three things did Irenaeus emphasize in responding to heretics?
a. AN APOLOGIST. Disciple of Polycarp and second century theologian whose theology shaped the nearly the last 2000 years of theology.
b. Began to fight against heresy based on canon, creed and apostolic succession
What were the Donatist and Novatian controversies about?
How to handle the lapsed Christians during the time of persecution. In opposition to those who allowed lapsed back in after repentance and penance, novatianism was said to be the pure church without the lapsed.
Donatists focused mainly on lapsed bishops. They said those baptized or married by lapsed bishops had to be baptized or married again because they weren’t efficacious.
Who was Origen and why was his theology significant?
AN APOLOGIST. He was one of the most important early systematizers of Christian doctrine w/ first systematic theology. Used an allegorical hermeneutic
