Threats to the Faith and Apostolic Response

Question 1

How should we study the church fathers?

Answer 1

They must be examined within their historical context

Question 2

During the time of the church fathers, the church had begin to establish two things?

Answer 2

1. A foundational basis of doctrinal belief

2. Convictions regarding church practice

Question 3

What two early threats called for a defense of the faith?

Answer 3

Persecution and heresy

Question 4

What were the two marks of a true martyrdom?

Answer 4

1. Lacking a pursuit of martyrdom

2. A steadfast refusal to recant the faith regardless of the consequences

Question 5

What are 4 considerations that past persecutions have to do with us?

Answer 5

1. Parallel with our culture (displaying our faith and standing for truth)
2. Sustained the church
3. Importance of genuine belief
4. Reminder of God’s faithfulness

Question 6

What are the 4 views of the origin of orthodoxy?

Answer 6

1. Competing orthodoxy
2. Evolutionary orthodoxy
3. Developmental orthodoxy
4. Continualist orthodoxy

Question 7

Define competing orthodoxy

Answer 7

Competing views battled until the reign of Constantine when one faction won and the others were relegated to heretical status

Question 8

Define evolutionary orthodoxy

Answer 8

Provides a demarcation between the simple, faith teachings of Jesus in the NT and those added by later theologians who consulted and complicated the teaching into orthodoxy

Question 9

Define developmental orthodoxy

Answer 9

Contends that orthodoxy is consistent with Scripture, but that certain things are unclear and were fully developed later through the course of church debate

Question 10

Define continualist orthodoxy

Answer 10

Affirms that doctrinal teaching on faith and practice already present in the Scriptures is merely rearticulated and passed down via church history as issues and deviant views arise

Question 11

What were the 2 most prominent concerns (heresy) during the Patristic period?

Answer 11

Trinity and Christology

Question 12

What are 5 reasons for studying the church fathers?

Answer 12

1. Foundational doctrines were articulated with precision
2. Church functionality in an antagonistic context
3. Models asking the right questions
4. Heretical views of the past are still alive today
5. This is our heritage

Question 13

Orthodoxy may be best understood as a current running alongside the shores of what 2 opposing heretical positions?

Answer 13

1. Semi-Pelagianism

2. Hyper-Calvinism

Question 14

What are the 2 catalysts of heresy?

Answer 14

Authority and Hermeneutics

Question 15

What are the 3 subsequent moves by the church due to the threat that Marcion posed to orthodox Christianity?

Answer 15

1. Development of the canon
2. Further enhancement of ministerial hierarchy
3. Development of creeds

Question 16

What is the prevailing view of who the apostolic fathers were?

Answer 16

Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache, the Epistle of Barnaba, and the Shepherd of Hermas

Question 17

What two 2 things set the basic framework for the Catholic Church’s position on the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 17

1. The Eucharist’s elevation of priority (Ignatius)

2. Sacramental theology (Augustine)

Question 18

Who said, “For 86 years I have served Him, and He has done me no evil. How could I curse my King, who saved me?”

Answer 18

Polycarp of Smyrna