Midterm Study Guide

Question 1

Why study Church History?

Answer 1

Helps integrate Systematic, Biblical, and Practical Theology

Become more able pastors, missionaries, elders, teachers, educators, Christians, etc.

Better grasp of False Teaching

Gain perspective on the present

Develop a deeper love for God

Question 2

What do you know about Papias?

Answer 2

Lived from 70-130

Apparently knew the Apostle John and was friends with Polycarp

Is known as an early premillennialist

Wrote Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord

Question 3

What do you know about Clement of Rome?

Answer 3

Lived from 35-100

Wrote 1 Clement (c. 95), around the same time John was on Patmos (earliest complete writing outside the NT that we have in full); was about correcting a congregation that deposed their elders from office because they didn’t like them

Wrote 2 Clement (c. 96), is not a sequel to 1 Clement or likely written by Clement, represents the oldest surviving letter outside of the NT, is a sermon that affirms the deity of Christ and the authority of the NT

Question 4

What do you know about Ignatius of Antioch?

Answer 4

Lived around 35-110

Little is known about him before he emerges a few years before he is martyred

Wrote to churches in Ephesus, Rome, Smyrna, and more in order to unite the church under the authority of bishops and elders, to warn against false doctrine (Docetism and the Judaizers), and urged Christians in Rome not to try and save him or escape death; he romanticized martyrdom, but but showed he was Christlike in his willingness to suffer for God

Wrote in haste because he was on the way to be killed by wild beasts in the arena alongside other Christians

Question 5

What is Docetism?

Answer 5

The belief that Jesus was entirely divine and that He only appeared to be human, meaning that Christ could not have actually died for our sins

Marcion started this belief and also taught that there were two gods; the God of the OT was an evil God and the God of the NT was full of grace

Ignatius fought against Docetism tooth and nail

Question 6

What did the Judaizers believe?

Answer 6

Taught that Christians must abide by Jewish laws and customs in order to be faithful, especially circumcision and the Mosaic law

Misunderstood the nature of the OT

Question 7

What do you know about Polycarp of Smyrna?

Answer 7

Lived from 69-156

One of the most important church fathers

Received teaching directly from John

Wrote to the church in Philippi in regards to Valens, an elder who was embezzling funds, and in regards to false teaching (nearly the entire church was Docetic)

Was martyred between 155-160; his martyrdom is one of the oldest accounts of martyrdom outside of the Bible

Question 8

The Didache

Answer 8

Greek word for teaching

Found in Constantinople in the 1800s

Explains the beliefs and workings of the early Church

Question 9

The Shepherd of Hermas

Answer 9

The most bizarre Apostolic Father
AD 70 - AD 135
Deals with if you can be forgiven after baptism
Has visions of seeing a naked woman and what to do with his lust and has a series of visions that have to do with his sin

Question 10

Letter to Diognetus

Answer 10

The most protestant of all the Apostolic Fathers
Apologetical in nature
Defends Christianity against paganism
An anonymous work
“What separates Christians from pagans?” is the driving question
The answer is that we know and love the way God saves sinners
Penal Substitutionary Atonement and Sola Scriptura find their origins here

Question 11

The Letter of Barnabas

Answer 11

Often thought to have been written by Paul’s companion Barnabas, though it is anonymous
Deals with how the promises of the OT relate to Jesus
Anticipates the apologetic age
Discusses the sacrificial system, the suffering of the Messiah, the significance of the Atonement, covenant theology, and more

Question 12

Justin Martyr

Answer 12

Signified a change between the Apostolic Fathers and the Early Church Apologists

Most significant Early Church Apologist

Wrote The First Apology, The Second Apology, and Dialogue With Trypho

Established 3 types of OT exegesis:

Proof from prophecy (that Jesus is the Messiah)

Proof from Paraenetic Homily (arguing from Israel’s grumblings that Christians ought to be content)

Biblical Antiquities (mentality of what came first is better than anything that is new)

Was martyred 5 years after he wrote Dialogue With Trypho alongside 6 of his friends via decapitation

Question 13

The First Apology

Answer 13

Written by Justin Martyr around 153-154

Tries to convince 3 just rulers to convert to Christianity and judge Christians fairly); made 3 arguments:

Christians are not atheists
Christians are not evil
Christians are not seditious

He then goes on the offensive and says that everything good in Roman culture stems from Christian truth, since it is the oldest religion and most rational faith

Also explains what goes on in the Sunday worship service

Question 14

The Second Apology

Answer 14

Written by Justin Martyr around 154

Was a response to 3 Christians being beheaded in Rome

Answers why Christians are glad to die for their faith, though they ought not be suicidal

Answers why bad things are happening to the Church, crediting God’s loving discipline as well as fallen angels

Death of the martyrs is evidence of the validity of the Gospel according to Martyr

Question 15

Dialogue With Trypho

Answer 15

Written by Justin Martyr

Was a defense of Christianity against Judaism

Trypho may have been fictitious

Martyr explains how the Jews emphasize flesh over faith

Question 16

Irenaeus of Lyons

Answer 16

130-202

Met his mentor Polycarp in Smyrna

Polycarp’s mentor was the Apostle John

Known for writing Against Heresies (one of the first systematic theologies) and The Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching

Rejected Gnosticism

The Importance of the Incarnation

Developed Doctrine of Recapitulation (Jesus became man so that we may become divine)

The Development of Covenant Theology

The Nature of Heresy

Question 17

Gnosticism

Answer 17

Denies that Good created the heavens and the earth because everything that is made, in their view, is evil, making the Creator evil

Question 18

Athanasius

Answer 18

296-373

Was the Luther of his time

Born in Alexandria

Mentored by Alexander of Alexandria, the bishop of Alexandria

Faith was married to practical everyday life in his view

Battled with all he had against the Arian heresy

Athanasius was Alexander’s successor as bishop, but was heavily controversial due to his age and beliefs

Was found guilty of being a murderer and sorcerer and was deposed despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary

Was exiled 5 times

Wrote Against The Heathen and On the Incarnation while exiled

Was allowed to return and minister for 10 years once Constantine died

Constantius, being the son of the previous Emperor and an Arian, approves of an attack on Athanasius’ church, but Athanasius was smuggled out my monks

Wrote Against the Arians in his third exile

Julian the Apostate invited him back, hoping to destroy the church because of how controversial Athanasius was

Is exiled again 8 months later

Died in 373

Athanasius’ position was codified in a council in 381

Question 19

Against the Heathen

Answer 19

Part 1 of 2 (On the Incarnation is part 2)

Was written as an introduction to the Christian faith and works of Christ to a young convert named Marcarius

Attacks paganism whereas On the Incarnation defends against it

Focuses on idolatry and lust, which is the heart of idolatry

Question 20

On the Incarnation

Answer 20

Focuses on Christ the Redeemer rather than Christ the Creator

Showcases Christ’s humility unto death and uses it as a proof for His deity

Creation was made good, but was corrupted

“Sin represents a dehumanizing of humanity”

Christ makes us divine

Gives one of the earliest statements on the canonicity of the NT

Question 21

Life of Anthony

Answer 21

Written by Athanasius

Anthony was a desert monk

Considered one of the earliest Christian biographies

Seems to externalize holiness and implies that created things are evil

Question 22

Letter to Marcellinus

Answer 22

Written by Athanasius

Written to a brother who was in crisis

Ties together pastoral ministry, the Psalms, and a love for Christ

Is a masterclass in how to read the Psalms chronologically, Christologically, and devotionally

Question 23

Basil the Great

Answer 23

329-379

Was one of the 3 Cappadocians

His grandmother was Macrina the Elder, his mother was Emeila, and his sister was Macrina the Younger

His brother Gregory was a Bishop

Became friends with Gregory of Nazianzus

The Cappadocians appreciated beauty, knowledge, and natural philosophy/theology

Was drawn to the monastic life

Distributed his wealth and withdrew to Pontus, where Macrina the Younger and his other relatives were living

Solitude consists of celibacy, solitude, withdrawing from the world, prayer and contemplation, and asceticism (renouncing is possessions)

Was elected Bishop of Cappadocia and Caesarea against his will

Fought Arianism

Opened a house for the sick and downtrodden

Wrote On The Holy Spirit in 375

Died in 379

Question 24

Why are Creeds and Confessions important?

Answer 24

They:

Define truth

Defend against heresy

Develops precise language that accurate describes God

Unified the true Church

Are documents to pass down to future generations

Are a summary of what the Bible teaches

Are a basis to judge a pastor and a church

Question 25

What is the difference between a Creed and a Confession?

Answer 25

Usually, a creed is a minimalist statement that is easier to memorize and sometimes only focuses on one doctrine

A confession is a maximalist statement that is more robust and covers the universal beliefs of the Church

Question 26

Gregory of Nyssa

Answer 26

Younger brother of Basil

Was very timid

Was influenced heavily by Basil and Macrina the Younger

Retired to a life of solitude in Pontus after teaching rhetoric

He married, but pursued the monastic life after the death of his wife, which he was heavily affected by

Wrote On Virginity and saw marriage as more of a hinderance than a blessing

Was elected the Bishop of Nyssa against his will

Fought Arianism

Was driven into exile, but returned 2 years later

His brothers and sister died quickly and he was forced to deliver Basil’s eulogy

Penned On the Soul and the Resurrection from Macrina the Younger’s point of view (she died in his arms)

Attended the Council of Constantinople

Circumstances and date of death are unknown

Question 27

Why are Creeds and Confessions important?

Answer 27

They:

Define truth

Defend against heresy

Develops precise language that accurate describes God

Unified the true Church

Are documents to pass down to future generations

Are a summary of what the Bible teaches

Are a basis to judge a pastor and a church

Question 28

Gregory of Nazianzus

Answer 28

329-390

Was an outstanding preacher and was known for his Niceness view of God

Loved nature and seclusion

Reluctantly lead the Church, but was constantly torn between leading and becoming a secluded monk

His mother Nonna was one of the godliest women in the early church

Met Basil and Julian the Apostate

Devoted his life to celibacy and the ascetic life

Lived his parents dearly, but his father ordained him as a presbyter against his will in 361

Withdrew for about a year, but returned due to his aging parents

His critics, even Basil, accused him of having a low view of ministry

Saw himself in Moses and Jeremiah, who were ordained against their will

Was offered to serve a small church by Basil, but Gregory wasn’t thankful for it, creating a fissure in their relationship

Gregory believed that Basil and his father conspired against him

Was eventually elected Bishop of Constantinople

God used this man more than any other in the forming of the Nicene Creed

Died in 390 or 391

Question 29

What is the difference between a Creed and a Confession?

Answer 29

Usually, a creed is a minimalist statement that is easier to memorize and sometimes only focuses on one doctrine

A confession is a maximalist statement that is more robust and covers universal beliefs of the Church

Question 30

T-0 View in Creeds and Confessions

Answer 30

T stands for tradition, 0 stands for no role in matter of faith and practice (“No creed but the Bible”)

Makes it so individuals determine what is and is not orthodox for themselves and is incredibly presumptuous

Most people that hold this view have good intentions

Relativists tradition by privatizing Scripture

Question 31

T-2 view one creeds and confessions

Answer 31

Called 2 source theory

Equates what the Church says with what the Bible says, this developing a dual source theory of tradition

Holds to the authority of Scripture, but does not recognize the exclusivity of Scripture

Is the Roman Catholic view

Question 32

T-Infinity view on creeds and confessions

Answer 32

Says that there is no ultimate binding source of authority for faith and practice

Doesn’t always reject authority, but puts it in boxes

Everything is localized and tribalized (Reformed Baptist’s have no authority to tell the LBTQ community to repent because there are no transcendent norms, only local norms)

T-0 and T-Infinity are 2 sides of the same coin

Question 33

T-1 view on creeds and confessions

Answer 33

Says that tradition is subordinate to Scripture (single source theory)

Scripture is the only source of divine truth and therefore is the sole norm of faith and practice

Men are fallible, even good men

Is a reaction to the Roman Catholic’s T-2

Question 34

Council of Nicea

Answer 34

325

First great council

Produced the Nicene Creed

Called for by Emperor Constantine in order to unite the Church, stabilize the Empire, and determine the Trinity in light of Arianism

Have the Church proper Greek language in defining and defending the Trinity (such as Ousia [essence/substance], Homo Ousia [same essence/substance], and Hypostasis [similar to Ousia, but refers to personhood]) while condemning Arianism

Question 35

First Council of a Constantinople

Answer 35

381

Called by Theodosius I

Sought to defend the Council of Nicea

Gregory of Nazianzus spearheaded the council

Rejected the Macedonians and Apollinarianism

Question 36

Arianism

Answer 36

The belief that:

God’s essence cannot be shared or communicated with another

God and Creation have no shared attributes

Jesus was a created being, was not self existent, had no direct knowledge of the Father, and was a demigod

Question 37

Macedonianism

Answer 37

The belief that:

The Holy Spirit is not divine, was created much like the Son, and rejected that the Holy Spirit is of the same essence as the Father

Question 38

Apollinarianism

Answer 38

The belief that:

Jesus has a human body, but a divine mind/soul

Denied that Jesus has a human, rational soul

Apollinarius was friends with Athanasius and even attempted to support the Council of Nicea and opposed Arianism, but denied that Jesus assumed a human mind in the Incarnation

Is wrong because Jesus has to be human in order to save humans

Question 39

The First Council of Ephesus

Answer 39

431

Called by Emperor Theodosius II

Dealt with the relation of the 2 natures of Christ

Rejected Nestorianism while upholding the previous 2 councils

Question 40

Nestorianism

Answer 40

Nestorian was the Bishop of Constantinople (386-450)

Rejected the idea that Mary was Theotokos (God bearer) and that she was merely Christotokos

Suggests that divine and human natures are divided and that they were impossible to unite in one person

Believed that Jesus was 2 persons with 2 natures that manifested in 1 person

Rejected the Hypostatic Union

Christ is merely a divinely indwelt man who leads us to God

Question 41

Council of Chalcedon

Answer 41

October 8, 451

Opposed Nestorianism and Eutchianism (the antithesis of Arianism; the belief that the human and divine natures were mixed into a single nature and that Christ’s humanity is absorbed into His deity)

Question 42

The Nicene Creed

Answer 42

Uses specific language to condemn Arianism

Outlines who came down and who redeemed us

Says that you cannot be a Christian and deny the deity or Christ

Question 43

The Constantinopolitan Creed

Answer 43

Expands on Nicea

Mary was included to deal with Nestorianism

Expounded the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and established His deity in light of the Macedonian heresy

Question 44

The Definition of Chalcedon

Answer 44

Builds off of the earlier ecumenical councils

Denies Apollinarianism by asserting that Jesus has a human soul

Rejects Nestorius by asserting that Mary was the mother of God

Overrules both Eutychianism and Nestorianism by asserting that Jesus has 2 natures in one body