The New Testament Church Flashcards
Define “Catholic Christianity”
Universal, true faith. Marked by universal vision, orthodox beliefs, and episcopal government.
During what year did the great fire of Rome take place?
64 AD
Who was the first person to use the term “Catholic Christianity?”
Ignatius
Define the men who were called “apologists.”
The men who wrote arguments in defense of Christianity against the false teachings of the pagan scholars.
Be able to explain the Roman policy of religious tolerance, and why the Jews were an exception, as well as how this affected Christians.
The Romans allowed the nations they conquered to keep their own religions, provided that they also worshipped the Roman gods, and later, the emperor. The Jews were an exception simply because their violent resistance made making an exception cheaper than forcing them. The Christians were originally seen as a subsect of Judaism, but after the Jews rejected them Rome viewed them as a rebellious group of dissenters.
What social events did the Roman Christians reject and why?
- Gladitorial events, because they were inhumane. -Feasts, because they were held in pagan temples with idol-food.
What excuse did Nero give for the persecution of Christians, and what was his probable motive?
Nero excused persecution by blaming Christians for the great fire of 64 AD. It is probable that he only wanted to shift public blame and anger away from himself.
How did the misperception that the early Christians were involved in orgies and cannibalism arise?
Through the fact that Christian meetings were closed to the non-baptized, and through rumors about the nature of the “love feast,” “holy kiss,” and feasting on Christ’s “body and blood.”
Why were the early Christians accused of Atheism?
In the ancient expression of worship, to not have physical idols was akin to having no gods at all. For the Christians to claim to worship a God who had no physical idols was interpreted as not having a God at all.
What are the three fundamental reasons for the inclusion of a book in the canon?
- Self-evidencing, or self-authenticating. They must exercise unique, unveiled power. 2. Use in Christian worship. They must be and have been commonly used for the edification of the body. 3. Ties to an apostle. They must have been written by an apostle, or by someone who had direct contact with the inner circle of apostles.
What were the two groups designated by Paul for leadership in the local churches he founded?
Elder/presbyter/bishop/pastor, and deacons.
By the late 2nd century, who had become the unchallenged leader in church affairs?
The bishop.
The most violent persecution to date in AD 250 under Emperor Decius created what conflict in the church, and how was it resolved?
Because of the persecution, many Christians denied Christ in order to save their lives. The conflict was over whether those that repented afterwards could be readmitted to fellowship. The conflict was resolved when Cyprian created a system of penance for the apostate.
What are Origen’s three levels of meaning in Scripture?
- The Literal Sense 2. The Moral Sense 3. The Allegorical Sense
