The Victorious Church

© John Stevenson, 2008

Class ObjectivesClass Objectives

• To recall, summarize and evaluate the fortunes of Christianity from the late patristic period (5th century) through the high middle ages of medieval Christianity (13th century).

• To describe how the doctrine of the Incarnation came to be defined by the early Church.

• To summarize and evaluate the rise and spread of the Monastic movement.

Class ObjectivesClass Objectives

• To recognize the factors that gave rise to the growth of the Roman Catholic Church and the office of the Papacy.

• To recognize and name the ecclesiastical differences between the Church in the East from that in the West which resulted in a profound schism.

• To define and describe what Scholasticism is and analyze what it reveals about medieval Christianity.

““Thou hast conquered, Thou hast conquered, Oh Galilean!”Oh Galilean!”

― Julian the Apostate― Julian the Apostate

10001 500 1500 2000

TheMedievalChurch

TheReformed

Church

TheAncientChurch

TertullianTertullian155-222155-222

We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you - cities, islands, fortresses, towns,

market-places, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate,

forum… (Apologeticus 37)

Church persecuted by Rome

1 100 200 500300 400

Edict of Toleration

Marcion

Polycarp

Constantine

Diocletian

Paul

Peter

John Tertullian

• Division of Empire• Persecution of Christianity• Retirement (305)

Edict of TolerationEdict of Toleration

Christians may again exist and rebuild the houses in which they used to meet, on condition that

they do nothing contrary to public order. (Quoted from Eusebius, History of the Church 8:17:5).

ConstantineConstantine

• Battle for the Milvian Bridge (312)

ConstantineConstantine

• Battle for the Milvian Bridge (312)

• “In this sign conquer”

• Edict of Milan: Restated & expanded the Edict of Toleration (313)

• Reunification of Roman Empire

• Favored status (324)

Christianity as Favored ReligionChristianity as Favored Religion

• Bishops given the right to judge civil cases

• Sunday made into a public holiday

• New Edict of Toleration: Christians not allowed to persecute pagans

What should be the attitude of What should be the attitude of Christians to the gaining of Christians to the gaining of

political power?political power?

Before ConstantineBefore ConstantinePurity within the

church

After ConstantineAfter ConstantineLess purity within the

church

Long periods of catechism training before receiving

baptism

Requirements to become a Christian

were minimized

Christians known for their strict lifestyle

Loosening of the standards

Martyr mentality among the pious

Monastic mentality began to emerge among the pious

Donatus MagnusDonatus Magnus(Died 355)

What about those who have been baptized or

married by fallen bishops?

Constantinople

Rome

Antioch

Jerusalem Alexandria

AriusArius

• Priest in Alexandria, Egypt

• Taught that Christ was a created being

• Christ was the first created being who then created all the rest of creation

• Deposed by Alexander, bishop of Alexandria

Council of Nicaea• Met at Nicaea in 325• 300 Bishops in attendance

(5 from west)• Alexander & Athanasius

versus Arius

Constantinople Nicaea

The Nicene CreedThe Nicene CreedWe believe in one God the Father

All‑sovereign, Maker of all things.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only‑begotten, that is, of the substance of the FatherGod of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father…

DoceticDoceticChrist only seemed to be human

EbioniteEbioniteChrist only seemed to be divine

ArianArianChrist was created by God and then created all else

ApollinarianApollinarianChrist had no human spirit; Logos came and replaced it

MonoarchianMonoarchianJesus became the Christ as His baptism

EutychesEutychesHuman nature of Christ absorbed by the Logos

MonophysiteMonophysite Christ had only one nature

MonotheliteMonotheliteChrist had no human will; only one divine will

Adapted from Robert Walton

SabellianismSabellianismOne God reveals Himself in three ways

NestorianNestorianLogos indwelt the person of Jesus making Christ a God-bearer

Church CouncilsChurch Councilsof the 4of the 4thth and 5 and 5thth Centuries Centuries

Council of Nicaea

Council of Constantinople

Council of Ephesus

Council of Chalcedon

325

381

431

451

Jesus is of the same substance as the Father

Holy Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and Son

Jesus is one person, fully divine and fully human

The human and divine natures of Jesus are

unmixed

Church persecuted by Rome

Four Church

Councils

1 100 200 500300 400

Edict of Toleration

Marcion Arius

Polycarp Athanasius

Constantine

Fall of Rome

Paul

Peter

John

What was the rationale What was the rationale for the formation of the for the formation of the monastic movement?monastic movement?

St. AnthonySt. Anthony251-356251-356

• Christian in Egypt

• Heard a sermon on Christ’s words to the rich young ruler: “Go and sell all your possessions and follow me.”

• Gave away his possessions and moved into the desert, living the life of a hermit

Simeon StylitesSimeon Stylites390-459390-459

Removed himself to the top of a pillar in

Syria

What are some of the Biblical What are some of the Biblical pros and cons of a solitary pros and cons of a solitary

monastic lifestyle?monastic lifestyle?

PachomiusPachomius292-348292-348

• Born in Thebes

• Forcibly inducted into military

• Converted to Christianity

• Followed example of Anthony

• Organized nine groups of both male and female monasteries

Monasticism in the West

Communal living, but usually within some proximity to

civilization

Monasticism in the East

Desert living; sometimes in

community and sometimes alone

Emphasis on reaching out to

culture

Emphasis on escaping culture

Benedict of NursiaBenedict of Nursia480-542480-542

• Ran away to live in a cave at the age of 14.

• Established a monastery at Monte Cassino

• Rule of St. Benedict

Rule of St. BenedictRule of St. BenedictIdleness is the enemy of the soul. And therefore, at fixed times, the brothers ought to

be occupied in manual labor; and again, at fixed times, in sacred reading

(Documents of the Christian Church, P.133).

Rule of St. BenedictRule of St. BenedictThe brothers shall wait on

each other in turn so that no one shall be excused from the kitchen-work, unless he be prevented by sickness, or by preoccupation with

some matter of great necessity… (Documents of

the Christian Church, P.132).

Rule of St. BenedictRule of St. BenedictLet not the younger brothers have beds by themselves, but dispersed among the

seniors. And when they rise for the service of God let

them gently encourage one another, because the sleepy

ones are apt to make excuses (Documents of the Christian Church, P.129).

What are some of the Biblical What are some of the Biblical pros and cons of a communal pros and cons of a communal

monastic lifestyle?monastic lifestyle?

What sort of lifestyle changes What sort of lifestyle changes were necessary for one to were necessary for one to

become a monk?become a monk?

How did the monastic How did the monastic movement contribute to the movement contribute to the

Church and society?Church and society?

Church persecuted by Rome

Four Church

Councils

1 100 200 500300 400

Edict of Toleration

Marcion Arius

Polycarp Athanasius

Constantine

Fall of Rome

Paul

Peter

John

Augustine

Pelagius

Origen

Church persecuted by Rome

1 100 200 500300 400

Edict of Toleration

Marcion Arius

Polycarp Athanasius

Constantine

Fall of Rome

Paul

Peter

John

Augustine

Pelagius

Theodosius

Origen

How much diversity in matters How much diversity in matters of Christian doctrine should the of Christian doctrine should the

church tolerate?church tolerate?

Acts 20:28Acts 20:28Be on guard for yourselves

and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 20:29-31Acts 20:29-31I know that after my

departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert…

ConstantinopleConstantinople

RomeRome

AntiochAntioch

JerusalemJerusalem AlexandriaAlexandria

Ambrose of MilanAmbrose of Milan

• Governor of Milan

• Civil strife over Arian controversy upon death of Bishop of Milan

• Ambrose called for peace and was nominated as bishop though unbaptized

• Gave away his property and studied for ministry

339 - 397

Ambrose of MilanAmbrose of Milan

• Withstood the Arians

• Justina, the regent for her son, demanded that the church adopt Arianism. Ambrose refused.

• Brought congregational singing into the church

• Excommunicated Theodosius in 390

339 - 397

JeromeJerome347-420347-420

• Traveled to Syria and learned Hebrew, later traveled through Palestine and Egypt

• Settled in Palestine where he devoted himself to writing

• Translated the Bible into Latin (Vulgate)

John ChrysostomJohn Chrysostom

• His nickname was Chrysostom (“golden-tongue”)

• Trained in law before studying for ministry

• He was a preacher at Antioch

• Appointed to be bishop of Constantinople

• Known for preaching exegetically from the Bible

347-407347-407

School of School of AlexandriaAlexandria

Sought the “deeper

meaning” by use of allegorical interpretation

School of School of AntiochAntioch

Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia

AlexandriaClement of

Alexandria, Origen

AntiochEmphasized the plain sense of the meaning of

the Bible in interpretation

John ChrysostomJohn Chrysostom

• The Empress Eudoxia had him exiled because she was displeased with his preaching on Elijah and Jezebel.

• He was banished to Pontus.

347-407347-407

AugustineAugustine354-430354-430

• Mother was Monica, a Christian

• Teacher of rhetoric in Milan

• Admired Ambrose for his speaking ability

• “Take up and read”

AugustineAugustine354-430354-430

Let us behave properly as in the

day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not

in strife and jealousy…

AugustineAugustine354-430354-430

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make no provision

for the flesh in regard to its

lusts.

(Romans 13:13-14)

AugustineAugustine354-430354-430

• Bishop of Hippo, North Africa

• Confessions: Tells story of his coming to Christianity

• Rome sacked by Visigoths (410)

• City of God

The City of GodThe City of God• The Kingdom of God is not to

be found in today’s political arena

• The Christian’s true citizenship is in the city of God

Accordingly, two cities Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the contempt of God; the

heavenly by the love of heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt God, even to the contempt

of self. The former, in a of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the word, glories in itself, the

latter in the Lord.latter in the Lord.(City of God 16:28)

The earthly city, which does not live by The earthly city, which does not live by faith, seeks an earthly peace, and the faith, seeks an earthly peace, and the end it proposes, in the well-ordered end it proposes, in the well-ordered

concord of civic obedience and rule, is concord of civic obedience and rule, is the combination of men's wills to attain the combination of men's wills to attain the things which are helpful to this life. the things which are helpful to this life.

The heavenly city, or rather the part of it The heavenly city, or rather the part of it which sojourns on earth and lives by which sojourns on earth and lives by faith, makes use of this peace only faith, makes use of this peace only because it must, until this mortal because it must, until this mortal

condition which necessitates it shall condition which necessitates it shall pass away.pass away.

(City of God 19:17)

Augustine versus PelagiusAugustine versus PelagiusMan is born in sin

and spiritually deadMan is essentially

good

Man’s will was affected by the fall so that, apart from the Spirit, he does not

choose God

Man’s will is neutral; he has the free will to either follow God or

reject God

Salvation is a gift of God to undeserving

men

Salvation comes as men imitate Christ

Predestination Free Will