Lesson 3 Flashcards
LESSON THREE – BALANCING THE PAST WITH THE
PRESENT (date)
(circa A.D. 90 – 250)
-Who Were the Gnostics?
The Gnostics were a religious sect that emerged in the Roman Empire about the same time as Christianity.
• The word “Gnostic” comes from the Greek gnosis (“knowledge”).
*What Did Gnostics Believe?
• According to Gnostic theology:
*1. The physical world is the corrupt creation of a different god than the Father of Jesus.
2. Only secret, spiritual knowledge can free persons from the physical world.
3. Few people are capable of gaining this secret, spiritual experience.
Why Was Gnosticism Attractive?
• In the late 1st century, natural disasters and a plague afflicted the Roman Empire.
• In this context, a negative view of the physical world may have made sense.
• In A.D. 79, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and destroyed
Why Was Gnosticism Attractive?
• In the late 1st century, natural disasters and a plague afflicted the Roman Empire.
• In this context, a negative view of the physical world may have made sense.
• In A.D. 79, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and destroyed
• Marcion was the son of a pastor; he gained great success in the shipping business.
• In the mid-second century, Marcion developed a theology that mingled a negative view of the physical world with a heretical understanding of the Christian tradition.
• When he refused to repent, Marcion was excluded from fellowship in his father’s church.
• He fled to Rome where he donated a substantial sum to the church.
• In Rome, Marcion developed his theology into a full-fledged system that borrowed from Gnostic ways of thinking.
Marcion and Early Gnosticism
According to?
The God of the Old Testament and the Father of Jesus Christ were two different deities.
The physical world was evil; therefore, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body, and the Father of Jesus would not resurrect anyone’s physical body.
The Christian life should deny all physical pleasures, even sexual relations between spouses.
• The teachings of several apostolic texts contradicted Marcion’s teachings.
• In response, Marcion created a canon—or “authoritative list”—of writings for his followers.
• Marcion’s list included only 11 books: An edited version of Luke’s Gospel and ten of Paul’s letters.
According to Marcion
• Although Origen rejected Gnosticism, he embraced many aspects of Greek philosophy.
• Origen and other church leaders treated marriage as a less-holy alternative to lifelong virginity.
-Origen of Alexandria (AD 185–254)
-How Did the Churches Respond?
• Christians responded by:
*Clarifying what sort of Christian writings should be authoritative or canonical.
2. Summarizing their faith in a confession known as the Rule of Faith.
3. Giving bishops (overseers) in certain cities the responsibility for maintaining doctrinal integrity in their churches.
• By the early 2nd century, many writings were
circulating among Christians; many of them claimed to have come from Jesus or his first followers.
• Many of these writings were written in Gnostic communities, based on Gnostic experiences rather than any historical testimony about Jesus.
The New Testament Canon
(The New Testament Canon)
• Three standards emerged to determine which writings ought to be considered authoritative:
*1.Must be connected to eyewitnesses of the risen Lord
or to close associates of eyewitnesses.
2. Could not contradict other authoritative writings.
3. Should be recognized by churches throughout the
world.
(The New Testament Canon)
• From the very beginning, the churches recognized as
authoritative:
The four Gospels
The Acts of the Apostles
The epistles of Paul
At least one of John’s epistles. - Portion of John 18 dated approx. AD 110 (image courtesy of CSNTM.org)
Some disagreements persisted for several years over whether the other NT books could be clearly connected to eyewitnesses of Jesus.
• By the late 4th century, the “New Testament canon” had been settled. Portion of John 18 dated approx. AD 110 (image courtesy of CSNTM.org)
The New Testament Canon
• Even in the 1st century, Christians confessed faith in specific ways:
“The Lord is One” was a Jewish confession of faith that early Christians also accepted (Mark 12:29).
“Jesus is Lord” was another early confession of faith (Romans 10:9).
Confession of Faith
• The Greek word for fish (ichthus) represented a confession of faith among early Christians:
- Iesous (Jesus)
- Christos (Christ)
- Theou (Divine)
- Huios (Son)
- Soter (Savior)
• In the 2nd century, a more comprehensive confession of faith emerged.
• This confession of faith was repeated when a new believer was baptized to distinguish between faithful Christians and Gnostics.
• It became known as the _____ later as the Apostles’ Creed.
Confession of Faith, Rule of Faith,
• In the 1st century, groups of equal elders (overseers) seem to have guided each local church (Phil. 1:1).
• During the Gnostic controversy, overseers in certain cities where the apostles had ministered traced their teachings and authority back to the apostles.
> A Priesthood of Overseers
Polycarp’s church celebrated Easter at a different time than the Roman church.
• In AD 160, Polycarp and Anicetus, overseer of Rome, agreed to disagree about the Easter issue.
• Near the end of the 2nd century, Victor served as bishop of Rome.
• Unlike Anicetus, Victor demanded that Christians in the eastern Roman Empire celebrate Easter on the same dates as the Roman church.
• When Eastern Christians refused, Victor excluded them from fellowship with Roman Christians.
Polycarp of Smyrna
Jesus answered, “The most important
commandment is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.’”
Mark 12:29
“If you will confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Do you believe in God the Father, the Ruler of all things?
Do you believe in Christ Jesus, God’s Son, who was born by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary; was crucified under Pontius Pilate; died, was buried, and rose again on the third day alive from the dead; ascended into heaven; sat at the Father’s right hand; and will come again to judge the living and the dead? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church,
and the resurrection of the flesh?
The Rule of Faith
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
> Philippians 1:1
