Wk. 2 - 3rd & 4th Centuries Flashcards
Why did the church begin forming standard doctrines?
The heretics began forming their own
What was the goal of Irenaeus?
Refute Heretics and uphold doctrine
What are the Two Hands of God as discussed by Irenaeus?
Word and Holy Spirit - To instruct us
What did Clement of Alexandria want?
To help people go deeper into the faith
How did Clement view Pagan Philosophy
Believed Philosophy supported Christianity
According to Clement, What did God give to the Greeks?
Philosophy, just as God had given the Law to the Jews
What did Clement think of Reason?
Christians should use reason to build upon their faith
What approach did Tertullian take?
A legal approach
Why did Tertullian think scripture rightly belonged to the church?
It was written by the Apostles and had a clear line of possession from them to the current church
What did Tertullian think about Heretics scriptural interpretation
They had no right to interpret scripture because the Church was the rightful owner of scripture
What view of the Trinity did Tertullian reject?
The idea that F, S, HS were three “modes” of God
What is Patripassianism?
Heresy that God the Father suffered the Passion
What is Modalism?
Heresy that F, S, HS were Modes of God
How did Tertullian describe the Trinity?
One substance Three Persons
What was Origen’s goal?
To relate Christianity with Platonism
What did Origen believe must be affirmed
Standard tradition of doctrine
What was the tradition that Origen affirmed
God - One, creator and ruler of all
Jesus - Son of God, Fully Human & Divine
Holy Spirit - No less than father or son
Resurrection of the body
Did Origen engage in speculation
Yes, so long as it did not go against doctrine.
Why did Septimus Severus promote Syncretism?
Reign marked by disruption, wanted religious stability for the empire. Christians pushed back against this.
What did Septimus do as a result of Christian & Jewish resistance to Syncretism
Outlawed conversion
What did Decius believe was the cause of Rome’s troubles?
the abandonment of the old gods