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The Early Church In ControversyFor almost 300 years the Church of Jesus Christ was in conflict with the Roman Empire, a conflict which threatened the Church’s very existence. But now the Church was the religion of the Empire and was strong in places outside the Empire even, such as Syria and Mesopotamia. But, this was not all that Christianity had to cope with in her struggle to win nations and all people to its risen Head, Jesus Christ. There was constant internal strife with infidels and heretics. God raised up men to refute attacks on the Church from wherever they were launched. This period is usually called the Patristic period, and it calls for a limited study of the Church Fathers.
The church closes ranks: Canonical Development (p. 124) Canon – measure. Authorative books of the New Testament. The development of the Canon was a slow process substantially completed by 175 except for a few books whose authorship was disputed. Church concils merely publicly stated what had been widely accepted by the consciousness of the Church for some time.
Heretics, such as Marcion, were setting up their own canon of Scripture and were leading people astray. Because of persecution people wanted to make sure that if they risk their lives it is for the Scripture and not some less important book.
The test of canonicity:
Process - P. 128
C. The rise of the Roman Catholic Church (313 – 590 AD) 1. Christianizing the Empire & the Barbarians · Church and the state (p. 134). Overnight the church came out of persecution and became favorable religion in the state. 313 Edict of Milan (by Constantine and Licinius) granted freedom of worship. 380? Emperor Gratian renounced the title Pontifex Maximus 380 Theodosius I issued an edict that made Christianity the exclusive religion of the state. 395 officially recognized as the official and only religion of the state.
· Preaching to Barbarians (p. 137)
Church Extension In Roman lands - Constantine gave the Church: 1. Religious liberty 2. Grants from the treasury for churches and support of the clergy 3. Exemption of the clergy from taxation. In return for this he demanded: 1. The right to call councils 2. The right to appoint bishops in important Episcopal sees 3. The right to administer ecclesiastical law 4. A determining voice in dogma controversies. While this freedom gave the Church easy access to the whole of the Empire, it started the conflict between Church and State which continues to this day.
Outside Roman Lands 1. Ulfilas (313 - 383) - Missionary to the Goths around the lower Danube River areas. He translated a large part of the Bible into their language, as he had devised an alphabet for it. 2. Patrick - (389 - 461) - Apostle to Ireland. He established Christianity apart from Rome. Finian of Clonard gave Ireland a form of monasticism that was distinctly Missionary (in emphasis). 3. St. Ninian turned South-western Scotland to Christianity. 4. Columba (521 - 597) - a missionary Monk from Ireland who settled on the Island of IONA. From there he and his missionaries won Northern Scotland. Other missions were then reaching England, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Churches separated from the “Catholic Church” - these separate churches were caused by unresolved theological disputes, mostly over the nature of Christ issue.
1. The Nestorians - undoubtedly Christians but banished by the controversy in the Council of Ephesus in 431. Nestorius was banished to Persia. He and his followers organized the Nestorian Church headed by an Archbishop who later became “Patriarch of the East”. They had a real missionary zeal and vision. (The controversy at the council of Ephesus was over the question of the title of Mary as the “Mother of God” or as the “Mother of Christ.” Nestorius believed that she was the “Mother of Christ.”) 2. The Monophysites -held that in Christ there was only one nature, instead of two, as the Council of Chalcedon had declared. Out of this Church came the: a. Arminian Church - in the middle east b. Jacobite Church - in Asia Minor & Mesopotamia c. Coptic Church - in Egypt, Ethiopia. 3. The Monothelites -held that there was two natures in Christ, but only one governing His life. This doctrine was condemned in the 6th General Council of Constantinople in 680.
2. Church Councils, Controversies & Creeds Church councils: Nicaea (325) – to settle the Arian dispute; Constantinople (381) – to assert the personality of the Holy Spirit and the humanity of Christ Ephesus (431) – to emphasize the unity of Christ personality Chalcedon (451) – to state the relationship between the two natures of Christ Constantinople (553) – to deal with Monophysite dispute Constantinople (680) – to condemn Monothelites Nicaea (787) – to deal with the problem raised with image controversy
Progression of written Creeds Very early in the life of the Church, its leaders had to define what was the correct doctrine of the Church as gleaned from the Scriptures. The earliest Creed we have is the Apostle’s Creed, likely from the 2nd century. It is brief but it became foundational. As doctrinal issues were raised, councils were called, the subject thoroughly debated and the results set down as what the Church believed. In most cases the councils set forth what had already been the belief of the Church rather than setting forth anything new. Here are the great Creeds of this period: 1. The Apostle’s Creed 2. The Nicene Creed (325 AD.) At the council of Nicaea (the 1st ecumenical council). Here Athanasian doctrine triumphed over that of Arius. The proper relationship of Christ and God was set forth. 3. The Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381 AD.) Here the doctrine of the Deity of the Holy Spirit was formally stated and added to the Nicene Creed. At the council of Chalcedon (451) this Creed was formally adopted by the Church (this was the 4th ecumenical council). In 589 at the council of Toledo, the Western Church adopted the “filioque” clause in reference to the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father “and the Son.” Statements of faith by God’s people have tended to become longer as time passes. The typical Old Testament statement is only 2 Bible verses in length (Deuteronomy 6:4,5). Those imbedded in the New Testament run from a few lines (I Timothy 3:16) to several verses (Colossians 1:15 - 20) The Creeds of the ancient church, such as the Apostle’s Creed, are longer yet; and the Reformation creeds have almost become short books! CREEDS Creeds have usually emerged during major turning points in the history of the church, particularly four critical periods when it was necessary for the church to differentiate itself from others in its environment. The first such turning point was Israel’s division from the nations in her exodus from Egypt. Moses defined Israel’s monotheistic faith in the shema of Deuteronomy 5 (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord”) The second turning point came with Christ. Writers of the New Testament were concerned to distinguish the infant church’s understanding of Christ from the views of its Jewish mother, and they often incorporated short summaries of that faith in their writings. The ecumenical creeds represent the ways in which the ancient church defined its faith in a Gentile world rich in competing philosophies and religions. And the Reformed confessions show how this branch of Protestantism differentiated itself not only from Roman Catholicism, but also from the other families of Protestant churches. The Apostle’s Creed was not written by the apostles; it is the culmination of several centuries of reflection on the meaning of the Christian faith. The ancient church used this Creed to identify believers, to instruct new converts, and to provide a unifying confession of faith for worship and liturgy. The Nicene Creed is the church’s response, partly based on the Apostles’ Creed to a particularly dangerous set of teachings (Arianism) which would have masked the identity of Christ. And, because its unique phrases are meant more to defend than explain the faith; the Nicene Creed has always been used more for teaching than for worship. The Athanasian Creed (quite certainly Athanasius did not write it) is the latest of the ecumenical creeds, dating back to the early dark ages. Though seldom used in worship, it is one of the clearest definitions of the Trinity and the incarnation ever written.
ATHANASIAN CREED 1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; 2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, with out doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; 4. Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. 5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. 6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. 7. Such as the Father is, such is the son, and such is the Holy Spirit. 8. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate.. 9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. 10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. 11. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. 12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. 13. So like wise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty; 14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. 15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; 16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. 17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; 18. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord. 19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord; 20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say: There are three Gods or three Lords. 21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. 22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. 23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. 24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers,; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. 25. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. 26. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal. 27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. 28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. 29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. 31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;; and man of the substance of His mother, born in the world. 32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. 33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. 34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. 35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God. 36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. 37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; 38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; 39. He ascended into heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; 40. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. 41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; 42. And shall give account of their own works. 43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. 44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. THE APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, Who conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty,. From thence he shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, The holy catholic (universal) church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting.
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from True God, Begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for out salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the a Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, And his kingdom shall have no end. We Believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead And the life of the world to come. Amen.   Конфликты в семейной жизни. Как это изменить? Редкий брак и взаимоотношения существуют без конфликтов и напряженности. Через это проходят все...  Что способствует осуществлению желаний? Стопроцентная, непоколебимая уверенность в своем...  ЧТО ПРОИСХОДИТ, КОГДА МЫ ССОРИМСЯ Не понимая различий, существующих между мужчинами и женщинами, очень легко довести дело до ссоры...  Что делает отдел по эксплуатации и сопровождению ИС? Отвечает за сохранность данных (расписания копирования, копирование и пр.)... Не нашли то, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском гугл на сайте:
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