People Flashcards
Polycarp
Apostolic Father—c. 2nd Century; Bishop of Smyrna early 100’s;
• student of Apostle John, Martyred in 155 as old man
• Roman governor tried to persuade Polycarp renounce Christ, “86 years I have been his servant and he has done me no wrong. How can I then blaspheme my king who saved me?”
Clement of Rome
Apostolic Father—c. 2nd Century; Leading figure in Church of Rome, bishop of Rome
• Author of I Clement (c. AD 96) rebuking Corinthians for removing their leaders;
• stressed unity of the church, orderly succession in ministry;
• refers to bishop and presbyter as same office.
• References the deaths of Peter and Paul and doctrine of justification by faith
Ignatius of Antioch
Apostolic Father—2nd Century; Bishop of Antioch in early 100’s
• From Syrian Antioch, where Paul launched his missionary travels
• Martyred in Rome
• Wrote 7 letters on way (3 to Asia Min., 1 Rome, 1 Polycarp) upholding 3-fold ministry/church government (1 bishop with other elders, deacons); unity of church against schism and heresy, e.g. Docetism and Gnosticism
Justin Martyr
Apostolic Father/Greek Apologist—2nd Century; mid 100’s; Martyred c. 160 in Rome
• Converted to Christianity while seeking true philosophy (Dialogue With Trypho, I Apology, II Apology, )
• Saw Christianity as fulfillment of the best of Greek philosophy; argued for Xty on this basis
• “All truth is God’s Truth”
• Sets pattern for Greek theology (followed by Clement, Origen – the East) seeing continuity between philosophical tradition and Xty (opposed to paganism; syncretism) in I and II Apology (defending Christians to the emperor and Roman senate)
• Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, the incarnation is not inconsistent with monotheism
Irenaeus
Apologist—c. 130-140; Bishop of Lyon 177 to early 200’s
• Apostle John // Polycarp // Irenaeus
• Rigorous opposition to Gnosticism (Against Heresies) and exposition of apostolic Xty.
• Refutation of Gnosticism by cataloging beliefs and showing in consistency; showing how Scriptures contain apostolic teaching, consistent and public back to Christ. Largely successful.
• Bridge between Greek systems and Western; laid out NT as scripture next to OT.
• During the vile persecution under Marcus Aurelius
Marcion
Early Heretic—Middle 100’s; excommunicated in 144
• Thought God of OT was entirely different than God of the NT (justice vs. mercy etc)
• Completely rejected entire OT and NT books which were heavily Jewish influence or which disagreed with is views; Rejected all Non-Pauline books
• Developed a truncated canon which pushed confirmation of the NT Canon we have today, ca. 140
Tertullian (the West)
Father of Latin Theology—c. 160-220; Roman raised in Carthage, Africa; led the Western Xty movement in the Roman Empire; eventually Roman Catholic, more pragmatic approach (criticized as anti-intellectualism as was not a fan of the Athens and the East)
• 1st major father to write in Latin instead of Grk; Roman vs. Grk mindset;
• Wrote apologetics, polemics and doctrine using his education to full extent; always attacking; fiery.
• Opposed Grk philosophy in theology as susceptible to Gnosticism; wrote from a Roman, legal frame work; Against Marcion, against Monarchianism (modalism) in Against Praxeas
• Possibly joined the Montanist Movement, the Phrygian Heresy (prophetic movement)
• “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”
• “what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem”
• Cf. Cyprian who was influenced by Tertullian, Cyprian responded to Novatians during the Decian Persecution in the 250’s
Clement of Alexandria
- (155-220, the East)
- Founder of the School of Alexandria, Africa—c. ; Greek-speaking Egypt; influenced the Eastern region of Xty; eventually Eastern Orthodox; more speculative approach (was distrusted by the West)
• Sought intelligent orthodoxy
• Resisted the Gnostic movement in Alexandria/Egypt
• Fought Docetism (that Jesus only appeared human)
• Viewed God as impassible, God was beyond emotion, feeling, sympathy, etc.
Origen
- (182/5-251, the East)
- “The Hypostases of the Trinity”; b. 185; the Son eternally begotten of the Father; School of Alexandria
• Became a eunuch, Matt 19:12
• Advocated an allegorical reading of scripture, particularly in literally difficult places
• Had tendencies to lean into Gnostic view of the Christian life
• Wrote: First Principles first attempt at a systematic theology: God, the world, freedom, and scripture; Hexapal, Against Celsus, and other practical works.
• Was condemned as a heretic in the 6th century; tiered Trinity preceded Arianism
Cyprian
—(200-258) time of Decian persecution
• Bishop of Carthage who would be martyred. Appointed as a young convert.
• Had to deal with the affects of the Decian persecution (249-251). He fled and had to explain that. He also had to deal with the issue of what to do about those who compromised during the persecution. Decided to let in those who lapsed with a period of penance. Part of the larger controversy (some though too strict, in Rome, Novatian thought too lax.
• He was a defender of the unity of the church (church as your mother). Would emphasize the authority of the bishop and apostolic succession, but does not see the bishop of Rome as the central bishop.
• Donatists during Diocletian persecution (cf. Augustine) would maintain Cyprian’s position that those who apostatized needed to be rebaptized.
Athanasius
- (293-373)
- Defender of the Deity of Christ
• Apprenticed by Alexander of Alexandria (deacon at Council of Nicea, bishop in 328)
• He spent 17 of his 45 years as a bishop in exile.
• His 367 Easter letter set out the NT canon of today for the first time, conf. Synod of Hippo 397
• Also wrote the Life of Antony, which portrayed Antony as the first monk and helped spread monasticism in the West. Probably did not write the Athanasian Creed.
Eusebius of Caesarea
- (263-c. 339)
- Father of Church History—b. 260’s-340; Bishop of Caesarea
• History of the Church from earliest times until 324 (Constantine sole emperor)
• Ardent supporter of Origen, which lead to Arian leanings
• Attended Council of Nicea, signed creed somewhat disingenuously; much of our information about Nicea comes through Eusebius; suggested basic creed to work on
Constantine
Roman Emperor—converted to Xty in 312 (Milvian bridge)
• Made Xty the Roman state religion (Edict of Milan 313); state protection for church; influx of people;
• 324 becomes ruler of East and Western empire; calls council of Nicea 325
• Was the cause of one of the biggest shifts in the history of Xty—everything changed after his rule.
John Chrysostom
“The Golden Mouthed”—c.340-50-407; Bishop of Antioch, later Constantinople
• Advocate for “literal” interpretation of bible, noted expositor, loved for his practical, devotional, textual preaching. (Antiochene approach to hermeneutics)
• Would preach through entire book, lectio continua; sermons then published as commentary.
• 397 selected as Bishop of Const. b/c he was an outsider, but through political/eccl. intrigues was deposed, and exiled, eventually leading to his death.
Jerome
The Bible into Latin; Vulgate—340’s-420; Italian, classically educated in Rome
• Well read and educated; socially inept; single with women aesthetics
• Learned to read Greek & Hebrew
• Translated all of OT and NT from originals into Latin; became the standard translation until the reformation; the Vulgate
• Founded a monastery and convent where he translated the Vulgate
Pelagius
Scots/Irish monk (cf. Lane)—350’s-early 420/440’s
• Persuasive speaker, aesthetic; not a cleric; based in Rome
• Affect of Adam’s sin was merely as a bad example to us; original sin not inevitable
• Augustine refuted Pelagianism, c. 411-418, helped form doctrine of sin and God’s necessary grace
• denounced at Council of Carthage in 418
• Despite repudiation, version of his views became dominant in RCC by time of reformation
Ambrose of Milan
- (340-397)
• Greatest leader in the Western Church of 4th century. Fought for deity of Christ.
• Introduced the East to method of allegory, as well as the emphasis on the change of substance in communion. Influenced Augustine
• Most important contributions came from his dealing the government, as he sought the independence of the church and the duties of the Christian ruler
• Also introduced congregational hymn singing
Cyril of Alexandria
- (378-444)
• Opposed Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople, both politically and doctrinally over the person of Jesus Christ. Fought over the incarnation and whether Mary can be called God-bearer.
• Nestorius basically held that God simply animated Jesus the man, a pantomime horse
• Affirmed that Jesus was one person. His battle lead to the Council of Ephesus 431. This council lead to sharp divisions between East and West.
Augustine
The Father of the Western Church—354-430; Bishop of Hippo (N. Africa)
• “One writer has described the Reformation as Augustine’s doctrine of grace rebelling against Augustine’s doctrine of the church” (Lane, 40)
• Well educated, Roman pagan, converted by Ambrose while in Italy.
• Battles w: Donatists (over who the “real church” was); Pelagius (false view minimizing sin)
• Key ideas: invisible/visible church; original sin (concupiscence)/election—nec. of grace for all of salvation (as a result of the conversations with Pelagians); trinity (memory, understanding, love analogy); city of God (two destinies of men; love of God vs. self etc.)
• Freedom of the Will, Confessions, Against the Donatists, The Trinity, City of God
• Augustine turned to covenant theology against the Pelagians (who denied original sin) and against the semi-Pelagians, who affirmed original sin, but who argued that we could cooperate with divine grace for our righteousness before God
Gregory the Great
Servant of the Servants of God—540-604; b. Rome; monk, pope
• Last of 4 “Latin Fathers” (Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory)
• Consolidates “western” Roman power; organizes, uniformity of worship/service; evangelization of England
• Elevated the doctrine of purgatory, rise of relics, seeds of Med Xty sown
Anselm of Canterbury
Faith Seeking Understanding—1033-1109 prior/abbot of Bec (in Normandy France); Archbishop of Canterbury
• Considered the “father of scholasticism”; philosophy (Aristotle) played a real, but limited part of theology for Anselm.
• Monologion (proofs of God’s existence);
• Proslogian (ontological argument; faith seeking understanding);
• Cur Deus Homo (incarnation; satisfaction theory of atonement/objective view vs. Abelard’s subjective moral influence theory)
