Theology: Christian traditions Flashcards
The Protestant view of ecclesiastical history
formulation
corruption
loss of the gospel
restoration
Martin Luther
Augustinian monk
imputed righteousness
unearned righteousness given to us by God
Plenary indulgences
In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence (Latin: indulgentia, from indulgeo, ‘permit’) is “a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins”.[1] The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes an indulgence as “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and all of the saints”.[2]
The recipient of an indulgence must perform an action to receive it. This is most often the saying (once, or many times) of a specified prayer, but may also include the visiting of a particular place, or the performance of specific good works.
Indulgences were introduced to allow for the remission of the severe penances of the early church and granted at the intercession of Christians awaiting martyrdom or at least imprisoned for the faith.[3] The church teaches that indulgences draw on the treasury of merit accumulated by Christ’s superabundantly meritorious sacrifice on the cross and the virtues and penances of the saints.[4] They are granted for specific good works and prayers[4] in proportion to the devotion with which those good works are performed or prayers recited.[5]
What did Marin Luther see as a major corruption within the catholic church?
plenary indulgences that were sold for money
Concerning plenary indulgences, what was martin Luther’s question to the pope
If the pope has the ability to pardon sinners and release those who have paid from purgatory, then why not just release everyone from the goodness of his heart
Why was the catholic church selling plenary indulgences?
To raise money for the building of the st.peters basilica.
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
Roman catholic church’s response to the protestant reformation
Outside the church their is no salvation
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
Roman catholic church’s response to the protestant reformation
Outside the church their is no salvation, because the church is the minister of grace through the sacraments
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
Roman catholic church’s response to the protestant reformation
Outside the church, there is no salvation because the church is the minister of grace through the sacraments
Roman catholic sacraments
rituals that administer or impart the grace of God that can only come from the church
Martin Luther’s response to the Roman Catholic’s doctrine of “Extra Ecclesiam”
Christianity stands or falls upon the doctrine of justification
The Roman Catholic view of ecclesiastical history
Formulation
Establishing
Corruption of morals
Restoration
The council of hippo and carthage
To define the cannon of the Gospel
What is the scripture used by the Roman Catholic church to justify their doctrines of papal infallibillity and extra ecclesiam? and what is the protestant response to this?
Peter’s Confession
13 When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
The Roman Catholic Church’s interpretation of this is that the rock is peter and the church, whereas the protestant interpretation is that the rock is not Peter but his confession that Christ is the son of God.
What was the doctrine that the orthodox and the catholic church split over in 1054?
Leavened and unleavened bread
Major traditions within the protestant movement
Reformed
Arminian
Charismatic
Liberals
Reformed tradition
The doctrine of the will of man:
Holds to the doctrine of man’s depravity. That man is a limited being and so his free will is also limited. That man on his own is incapable of searching for or desiring and choosing God, and so God through his spirit has to prompt and enable man to choose God.
Major traditions within the protestant movement
Reformed Arminian Charismatic Liberals Fundamentalism Evangelical
Liberal tradition
Natural Theology: Holds that scripture is not inspired, nothing is supernatural, and that some parts of the bible is false, but never the less it is useful for living a good life
Arminian tradition
The doctrine of the will of man:
Man does have the ability to choose or not choose God.
Liberal tradition
Natural Theology: Holds that scripture is not inspired, nothing is supernatural, and that some parts of the bible is false, but never the less it is useful for living a good life
You basically go to church to hear a good story, not to hear the bible
Fundamentalism tradition
Started as a movement to combat natural theology and liberalism, by adhering to the fundamentals of faith but eventually start rejecting all of culture.
Defines Church not by the essentials by the nonessentials
charismatic
Response to liberalism’s natural theology
focuses on the things of the spirit, like spiritual gifts
Evangelical
In essentials, unity, in non-essentials liberty
The start of church history
Officially, the history of the church begins at Pentecost, which is documented in the Acts of the Apostles and took place in 33 A.D. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and the people who had gathered and they began to speak in tongues.
How did the church become the religion of state?
In 313 CE, the emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which granted Christianity—as well as most other religions—legal status. … In 380 CE, the emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity, specifically Nicene Christianity, the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The Edict of Milan
Edict of Milan, proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire. It was the outcome of a political agreement concluded in Mediolanum (modern Milan) between the Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius in February 313.
Hellenistic Christianity
Hellenistic Christianity is notable for its combination of Greek philosophy, ethics and morality with Christian belief. Justin Martyr was a key figure during this period who helped reconcile Hellenism with Christian teachings.
Hellenistic Christianity is the foundation of western civilization
If we say that the bible is our ultimate source for truth, then what happens when we disagree on the meaning of the bible?
Then we utilize tradition, reason and experience
Why do we need a higher objective standard for deciding which beliefs are orthodox and which are heretical?
Else our preference will become the ultimate standard and Christianity will devolve into a folk religion.
Difference between sociology and theology concerning Christian beliefs
Sociologists of religion focus their research on what adherents of particular religious movements and groups do believe and why. Theologians focus more on what beliefs are true to the essence of their own religion.
Can something be considered a Christian belief, just because it is held by the majority of Christians
What makes Christian beliefs Christian is not the number o adherents. Even if every Christian believed in reincarnation, it would still not be a Christian belief.
Christian beliefs are those that are true to the essence of Christianity and are not decided by adherents.
What is Tradition
The consensus of Christians during the first nine centuries of Christianity.
What is the pattern of authority?
It is the hierarchy of sources and norms of truth, that is used to determine what constitutes proper Christian belief.
Orthodox Church elevates church tradition over other sources
Catholics elevate church hierarchy over scripture
Protestants elevates scripture over other sources
What do the Gnostics claim as the ultimates source or standard for truth?
the Gnostics claimed the ultimate source and norm to be a secret, oral tradition handed down to them from Jesus and an inner circle of his disciples as well as their own confirming “gnosis” or “esoteric wisdom” from “on high.”
What did Montanus claim as the ultimate source or standard for truth
Revelation by the spirit
What does the new testament appeal to as the ultimate source for truth?
- Jesus
- Hebrew scriptures
- The gospel
- The Spirit
- Letters of the Apostles
When did the last apostle die
around 90 AD
What was the main sources that early church fathers appealed to when arguing against heretics?
- The rule of faith (apostolic creed)
- The writings of the apostals
- Hebrew prophets
What was the ‘rule of faith’?
An early and brief summary, created by the early church fathers, of the basic content of Christian belief.
It was later distilled into the Apostel’s Creed
Apostelic Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What was the role of the first four ecumenical councils
To settle major doctrinal disputes among Christians and to write definitive statements about the implications of the apostles teachings and the rule of Christian belief
What are the Apocrypha?
13 books that were not part of the hebrew bible but were accepted into the Christian canon by Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church leaders
How many books in the bible?
66
Why are some books not included in the bible
Because the canon of the bible is concerned with the story of Man’s fall and redemption and so only includes books that promote Christ
As Luther used to say: “The bible is the cradle that holds the Christ”
Did Luther recognize writings and sources outside of the bible?
Yes. Although Luther elevated scripture as the primary source of truth, he did also acknoledge other sources such as:
- the apostle’s Creed
- Nicene Creed,
- Chalcedonian Definition
- Athanasian Creed
- early church fathers/doctors
Nicene creed
We believe in one God, the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages,God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.
Chalcedonian definition
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
The seven ecumenical councils
- The First Council of Nicaea in 325,
- First Council of Constantinople in 381
- The Council of Ephesus in 431
- The Council of Chalcedon in 451,
- The Second Council of Constantinople in 553
- The Third Council of Constantinople from 680–681
- The Second Council of Nicaea in 787.
What do all Christian traditions agree on?
- Special divine revelation from God is the ultimate source of truth
- Scripture is the written form of divine revelation
- Scriptures main purpose is to reveal Christ to people who no longer walk the same soil as He does
- The Apostolic Creed is a special distillation of the divine revelation, that serves to discern between orthodox and heretical beliefs
What is meant by “by faith alone, but faith is never alone”?
We are justified by faith alone, but faith is always accompanied by good works
What did Luther refer to as the canon within the canon
Christ and that which promotes HIm.
What did Luther refer to as the canon outside of the canon?
The basic consensual tradition serves as a history of interpretation that guides people through the maze of possible interpretations of scripture
What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral
4 main sources and norms of truth, namely:
Scripture
Tradition
Reason
Experience
How did wesley see the relationship between the quadrilateral sources?
Wesley (and Hooker before him) saw them as a continuing conversation among themselves with Scripture having a primary place of dignity and authority.
What is meant by Heresy is the mother of Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy becomes clear when contrasted with heresy.
It means that Christian beliefs develop in a dialectical relationship with beliefs that are heretical
Did heresies always originate outside of the church?
No, Occasionally they arose within the Christian community as ministers, theologians, and lay thinkers attempted to solve theological problems and reconstructed beliefs in inappropriate ways that undermined the gospel
What was the earliest alternative view to Christianity?
Gnosticism
Where do scholars believe the movement of Gnosticism started?
Simon Magus (Simon the Magician) of Samaria, whose confrontation with the apostles is recounted in the book of acts
What are the modern forms of Gnosticism we see today?
esoteric Christianity and New Thought
What does the term Gnosis mean? How is it obtained?
It means higher knowledge or wisdom
The gnostics claim that they possess a special spiritual capacity for knowledge that eludes ordinary Christians, who must depend on written and human authorities
Gnostics follow leaders (Mystics) who impart to them special knowledge that transcends normal understanding and is usually considered secret.
Gnosticism is a religious reliance on special insight and wisdom that is not available to the uninitiated and those unprepared for it.
What do gnostics believe about Christ?
Christ is someone other than the man Jesus, that Christ indwelt Jesus but never fully identified with him
What do gnostics believe about Christ?
That human souls are sparks of divine fullness
What was the early church fathers’ response to Gnosticism?
They rejected the claims of Gnosticism to possess special knowledge not even known fully to all of the apostles and not available to all Christians, in favor of the belief in the objectivity, universality, and availability of divine revelation.
What is the highest form and norm of truth to the Gnostics
The inner light
What is Montanism
A heresy that started in the mid-second century and flourished in parts of the Roman Empire for over a century. In the third century it was known as the ‘prophecy movement’
How did Montanism start?
It started with Montana’s, who claimed that the holy spirit used his vocal cords as an instrument for direct communication. He claimed that his prophecies were as inspired as those of the Hebrew prophets and Christian apostles.
