The Ante Nicene Church

Question 0

Define Modalism.

Answer 0

A heresy propagated by Sybellius which states that God is not three persons, but merely three forms or expressions of a singular person.

Question 1

In what year did Emperor Galerius issue the Edict of Toleration?

Answer 1

311 AD

Question 2

In what year was the Edict of Milan issued, and what did it entail?

Answer 2

313 AD; it meant that the persecution of Christians was now more emphatically over (compare with Galerius’ Edict of Toleration, which was mostly just official). Also distinct from Christianity becoming the state religion under Theodosius.

Question 3

What were the three primary parties attempting to defend their ideas at Nicaea?

Answer 3

Arian, Semi-Arian, Orthodox.

Question 4

Define the heretical view put forth at Nicaea: [name of the view, key greek word, name of chief proponent(s), definition]

Answer 4

Arianism: championed by Eusebius of Nicomedia. Key word : “heteroousios”, of a different essence. Arianism is the belief that Christ is not fully God; the Son is of a different essence than the Father.

Question 5

Define the moderate view put forth at Nicaea: [name of the view, key greek word, name of chief proponent(s), definition]

Answer 5

Semi-Arianism (mediating view) championed by Eusebius of Caesarea. Key word: “homoiousios”, of a similar essence. Semi-Arianism is the belief that the Son is of a similar (but not identical) essence as the Father.

Question 6

Define the theologically correct view put forth at Nicaea: [name of the view, key greek word, name of chief proponent(s), definition]

Answer 6

Orthodox, championed by Athanasius and Hosius of Cordova. Key word: “homoousios,” of the same essence. Orthodoxy in this context is the belief that the Son is of the same essence as the Father.

Question 7

What are the two types of monasticism?

Answer 7

Anchorite Monasticism: hermits/solitude/asceticism Cenobite Monasticism: lived in groups, focused on order and community.

Question 8

List the key figures in anchorite monasticism:

Answer 8

Paul of Thebes, Saint Anthony, Macarius, Simon Stylites (Simon Tower-Dweller)

Question 10

List the key figures of cenobitic monasticism:

Answer 10

Pachomius, Basil of Caesarea.

Question 11

Describe the events leading to the conversion of Constantine:

Answer 11

He was en route to Rome to battle his rival, Maxentius. He saw the image of the cross, and the words, “in this sign, conquer.” When he defeated Maxentius he thanked the Christian God.

Question 12

For what reasons do historians doubt or accept the authenticity of Constantine’s conversion?

Answer 12

Some consider it inauthentic because, 1, he retained the title ‘Pontifex Maximus,’ 2, elements of paganism remained, and 3, not all of his dealings were godly. Some consider it authentic because of the marked change in his personal and family life.

Question 13

What compromises took place due to having a “Christian” emperor?

Answer 13

1. The church began to be filled with those who only came for political reasons. 2. Constantine ruled the church and the bishops politically, as part of his political staff.

Question 14

Describe the beliefs of Arius concerning the Trinity:

Answer 14

Arius believed in subordinationalism; the Son is of a different essence (heteroousios) than the Father, is less God than the Father, and is therefore subordinate to Him (which is, you know, where the name comes from). The Son and the Spirit are lesser, created deities.

Question 15

What did Athanasius contribute to the Council of Nicaea?

Answer 15

He ‘contributed’ as the secretary of Alexander of Alexandria, whom he would later succeed as bishop.

Question 16

Who were the Semi-Arians?

Answer 16

They were a moderate faction that broke away from the Arians. They wished to find a middle-ground approach to Christ’s deity; he is ‘homoiousios’, similar, but not the same as the Father.

Question 17

How is homoousios different from homoiousios?

Answer 17

Homoousios is the Orthodox view; homoiousios is the Semi-Arian view. Homoousios means that Christ has the same nature as the Father; homoiousios means that Christ has a similar nature to the Father.

Question 18

What was the heresy condemned by the Council of Constantinople in AD 318?

Answer 18

Apollinarianism. The belief that the Logos displaced the animating soul of the man Jesus, creating a “unity of nature” between the Logos and the physical man Jesus.

Question 19

Who was Nestorius, and what was his view of Christ?

Answer 19

Nestorius was the Bishop of Constantinople, prior to his excommunication. He believed that Christ had two natures, but was a singular object of worship. It remains unclear how much of his teaching was actually heretical.

Question 20

Who was Eutyches, and what was his view of Christ?

Answer 20

Eutyches was the leader of a monastery near Constantinople. He believed that Christ had only one nature; that it was inseparably and uniquely divine and human; that Christ’s human nature was absorbed by his divinity.

Question 21

List the “summary statements” for the following major church councils: Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), and Chalcedon (451).

Answer 21

Nicaea: Christ is fully Divine

Constantinople: Christ is fully human

Ephesus: Christ’s natures are unified

Chalcedon: Christ’s natures are distinct

Question 22

Who is regarded as the first monk?

Answer 22

St. Anthony

Question 23

How did Constantine’s conversion influence Christianity, and why did this motivate some to become monks?

Answer 23

Constantine’s conversion brough lukewarmness, pagan elements, corruption, lack of commitment, etc., to the Church. Many became ascetics to avoid this corruption.

Question 24

What did the monks protest, and what danger did their protest cause?

Answer 24

They protested corruption in the Church. Their trouble was that the ascetic life aroused great public interest, and crowds followed them out to the wilderness to watch.

Question 25

What was the threefold vow of monks who aimed for the “imitation of Christ?”

Answer 25

Poverty

Chastity

Obedience

Question 26

Who provided the constitution for Western monasticism?

Answer 26

Benedict

Question 27

List some of the pros and cons of monasticism:

Answer 27

Pros:

Helped to preserve Christianity during the Middle Ages, provided the only source of study during that time, provided protection during warfare, were a missionary force, and reminded the general population to depend upon God.

Cons:

Monasteries quickly grew wealthy (in contrast to lone ascetics), and often relaxed their rigor and discipline.

Question 28

Up to the time of Constantine, history offers no conclusive evidence that the Bishop of Rome… [finish this sentence]

Answer 28

…exercised jurisdiction outside of Rome.

Question 29

What does the Eastern Orthodox church think about icons of Jesus and the saints?

Answer 29

They believe that they are “manifestations of a heavenly ideal.”

Question 30

What preconceived legend was shattered after the Battle of Adrianople in 378, and what was the result?

Answer 30

The battle destroyed the legend of the invincibility of the Roman legions. As a result, half a century of chaos followed.

Question 31

Why was it not very difficult to get the barbarians to nominally adhere to Christianity?

Answer 31

Nominal adherance was easy because the Germanic tribes wanted to be associated with Rome, which by this time Christianity was closely tied to.

Question 32

What heresy did many barbarians accept?

Answer 32

Arianism

Question 33

To whom can the conversion of the Irish be traced, and when?

Answer 33

Saint Patrick, in the early 5^th century.

Question 34

Who was Clovis, what led to his conversion, and why was it significant?

Answer 34

Clovis was king of the Franks. His wife converted to Christianity, but he refused. He converted in a similar manner to Constantine; he prayed to Christ for help in a key battle, and glorified Christ when he recieved victory. His conversion is significant because he was the first major barbarian king to convert.

Question 35

How did the Franks picture Jesus?

Answer 35

They viewed Christ as a tribal war-god.

Question 36

Who was the Frank’s favorite apostle, and why?

Answer 36

St. Peter, because they believed that his noblest exploit was to cut off the ear of the high priest.

Question 37

Who was responsible for the evangelism of England?

Answer 37

St. Augustine of Canterbury

Question 38

What even firmly established the successful evangelism of England?

Answer 38

The conversion of king Ethelbert.