Survey of World Church History

Introduction
• The meaning of church history:-the interpreted record of the
origin, process, and impact of Christianity on human society,
based on organized data….
• The writing of church history( The scientific element, the
philosophic Element)
• The Artistic Element:- the maker of history as a record must
seek to be artistic as possible in his presentation of the facts.
• The Value of Church History:-
• Church History as a synthesis:-links past data with the future
• Church History as an aid to understating the Present
• Church History as a Guide:-correction of evils..
 Introduction
• Church History as a Motivating Force
• Church History as a Practical Tool (Trinity,
Christ, sin; from the Council of Nicaean to the
Council of Constantinople in 680)
• Church History as a Liberating
Force( tolerance)
• Organization of Church History;
• A branch of church History(7)
 Seven Branches
•
• The political elements involve the relations between the state and the church and the
secular environment of the church.
• The propagation of the Christian faith cannot be ignored: for example the study of
world mission, home missions, city missions and story of any special technique by
which the gospel has been carried out.
• Persecution that followed the propagations of the gospel and common from the
earliest time of the church.
• Polity is another branch of church history; it is the study of the government of the
church.
• Polemics, which concerns the struggle of the church to fight heresy and to think out
its own position, is an important aspect of the development of the church.
• Praxis is the consideration of the practical outworking in the life Christian faith (the
home life, charitable work, and influence of Christianity on the life of the day.
• Problem of presentation of truth; presentation involves study of the educational
system of the church, its hymnology, liturgy, architecture, art, and preaching.
 Period of Church History
• Ancient Church History (5 B.C-A.D. 590( reveals a growth of the
Apostolic Church into the Old CIC into RC system
• The spread of Christianity in the Empire to 100
• The Struggling of the OCIC for Survival 100-313
• the Supremacy of the OCIC, 313-590
• Medieval Church History, 590-1517
• The Rise of the Empire and Latin Teutonic Christianity, 590-800.
Gregory evangelized Teutonic invaders within Roman Empire
• The Eastern Church faced the threat if Islam
• The alliance between the Pope and the Teutonic took
place( The Carolingian Empire of Charlemagne. Heavy loss
 Period of Church History
• Ebb and Flow in Relationship b/n Church & State,800-1054
( the first schism within the church occurred.
• The Supremacy of the Papacy 1054-1305 (Gregory VII)
• Medieval Sunset & Modern sunrise, 1305-1517 (Internal
attempts to reform)
• Modern Church History, 1517 and After
• Reformation and Counter Reformation,1517-1648
• Rationalism, Revivalism, and Denominationalism 1648-1789
• Revivalism, Missions, and Modernism, 1789-1914
• Church and Society in Tension Since 1914
• Christianity became a universal and global religion by 1995
Early Church History 5B.C-A.D590
 The Fullness the time
• Political contribution of Romans sense of unity
and solidarity of mankind under a universal law
• Peaceful environment of the empire
• Excellent systems of roads
• Intellectual contributions of Greeks(universal
language, philosophy that destroyed the old
religions
• Greek people by being ready for a new religion
 Religious contribution of the Jew
• Monotheism:- The message of God through Moses to Jewish people
was allegiance to the one true universal God of all the earth.
• Messianic Hope:- The hope of a Messiah had been popularized in
the Roman world
• Ethical system:-Jewish offered to the world the purest ethical
system in existence( 10 Commandments)
• The Jewish Scriptures:- Jewish and many gentiles read the Old
Testament books that indicates to Christ.
• Philosophy of History:- The Jews made possible a philosophy of
history by insisting history had meaning.
• The synagogue:-The Jews also provided an institution that was
usefully in the rise and development of early Christianity.
 On This Rock
( The Historicity of Christ)
• Pagan testimony :- Tacitus (55-117) Roman historian, linked the
name and origin of Christianity with “Christus”.
• Jewish testimony:-Josephus(ca.37-ca100), mentioned Christ as a
“wise”
• Christian Testimony apart from the Bible
• The character of Christ( creativity and originality of His thoughts)
• The Work of Christ: nothing to hide,
• The Mission and the Message of Christ:-
• The Miracles
• The meaning of Christ :- many different views; but His character,
work, teachings, and above all.
 To the Jew First
• The Foundation of the Church in Jerusalem
Acts 1:1-7 (30-44 A.D)
• The Church in Palestine(Acts 8-12)
• Peter as a pioneer
• The Holy Spirit
 Also to the Greek
• Paul’s Environment
• Paul’s Work( The propagator of the Gospel)
• Paul’s publications
• The Principles of Paul’s Thought
• Paul as a Polemicist(He was never content
merely to present Christianity( fought against
the foe)
 The Books and the Parchments
• Epistolary Literature(Clement of Rome 30-100)
• Early Fathers do a lot to fill the gap
• First century 95-150, more edification(divided in to West and East)
• West Clemet of Rome, East( Ignatius, Polycarp, Pseudo-Barnabas,
• Second century(120-220, Explanation) Tertullian (West), Aristides, Justin
Martyr, Tatian, Anthenagoras, Theophanous)
• 3rd century((180—250) Refutation(west, Practical Polity Ironies vs. Gnostics,
Tertullian-founder of Western theology “Trinity vs. Praxeas, Cyprian on
Episcopacy and primarily of honor of Roman bishop
• East ,Alexandrian school (Allegorical and speculative), Pentanes, Clement,
Origin-Hexapla
• Fourth century, 325-460 Exposition( West, Jerome- translator of Bible;
Ambrose-Preacher, Augustine-philosopher of history in City of God;
theologian(East Athanasius, Basil of Caesarea.
 With the Bishops and Deacons
• Charismatic Officials: chosen by Christ and
endowed with the special spiritual gifts.
• They are primarily inspirational
• Ephesians 4:11 (apostles, evangelist,….
• The administrative officials- their functions
were mainly administrative
 The Worship of the Church
• Paul urged the worship should be orderly (1 Cor. 14:40)
• Sunday was chosen for worship
• Morning service most likely includes the reading of
scriptures(Col 3:6),exhortation by the leading elder,
prayer, and singing
• At evening service, the love feast (1 Cor. 11:20-22) the
Communion
• by the end of the 1st century the love feast dropped and
the Communion celebrated during the morning service
 The Worship on the 2 Century nd

• Service held on the “the day of the sun”

• Reading of the memories of the apostles and prophets,
• Celebration of the Lord’s Supper followed by kiss of peace
• Finally collection for aid to widows and orphans, the sick, prisoners,
and strangers.
• The Lord’s Super and baptism had been instituted by this time.
• Baptism could be performed by pouring water, if no stream of
running water or large amount of water
• Insist separation from pagan practices, but didn’t insist separation
from pagan neighbors in harmless relationships
• The purity of life, love, and courage in standing and dying for
principles made such impact on pagan society of imperial Rome
The Struggle of the Old catholic Imperial
Church 313-590
 Christ or Caesar
(A case of persecution)

• Political : in Roman state, no private religion is permitted

• only the union of state and religion
• Religious :Roman state had its alters, idols, priests…
• the secrecy of the meetings of the Christians that
brought moral charges
• Social : having great appeal for slaves and lower classes
caused the heatedness by the influential aristocratic
leaders
• Economic: idolatry, famine, plague, and civic unrest
ascribed to the presence of Christianity within the empire
 Church problems 100-313
• External-Roman State
• Response of Church-Martyrs, apologists(Justin
Martyr, Tertullian)
• Pagan Intellectuals-De Peregrinus
• Celsus True Discourse; Answered by Origen
against Celsus
 Church Problems(Internal)
• Heresies –Gnostic, Monarchian (mono one, and arch
rule; that opposes the doctrine of God
• Answered by Canon of Scripture
• Controversy of Polemic: Irenaeus vs. Gnostics;
Tertullian vs. Monachians
• creeds- Rules of Faith: Tertullian, Irenaus
• Constitution(Polity):Apostolic succession-Clement of
Rome
• Episcopacy : a) Mon episcopate- Ignatius; b) primacy
of Peter-Cyprian.
 Persecution of the Church
• Persecution to 100:- Nero the first persecutor
• Christianity under State ban 100-250: The first
organized Persecution, which brought
Christians into court
• Universal Persecution after 250:Empror Decius
 Results of Persecution
• The rapid spread of Christianity- the blood of the martyrs was the
seed the church
• The church in Alexandria became the chief church of Egypt
• Christianity could be found in all parts of the empire by 200
• In 300, 5-15% of the population of the empire, which was between
50 and 75million
• Created internal problems(North Africa and Rome), because of those
who offered sacrifices at pagan altars in the Declan persecution
• Others are who had given up the Scriptures in the Diocletian
persecution
• Should be they excluded from any fellowship? Others received them
back after a period of probation.
 Fables or Sound Doctrines
• Legalistic heresy:-Judaize- converts looked back
• Groups of Ebionites (132-135):- emphasized the unity of
God and His creation ship of the universe
• Believed that Jesus was Joseph’s son who attained a
measure of divinity when the Holy Spirit came upon Him at
baptism
• upheld the teaching of Mathew, but dislike Paul’s writings
• Insisted Jewish Christians were still bound by the law of
Moses
• The ceased to have much influence in 135.
 Philosophical Heresies
• Gnosticism: associate matter with evil
• Assumed that God as spirit could
• Denied that Christ became flesh
 Earnestly Contending for the Faith
• The writings of apologetics and polemicists are
the main features.
• Give a rationale explanation and justificati0o of
Christianity to the authorities.
• Apologetics: made rational appeal to the pagan
leaders
• Eastern Apologists:-Justin the Martyr,
• Western Apologists: Tertullian the outstanding
apologist, trained in both Greek and Latin
 The Polemicists
• Endeavored to meet the challenge of false
teachings
• Irenaeus: influenced by Polycarp's preaching,
missionary and more done against Gnosticism
• The Alexandrian School: more focused on
algorism, that gives more than one meaning.
• Clement of Alexandria was one of those.
 The Church Closes to the Rank
• The Monarchial Bishop:
• Canon of the NT, creed which gives an authoritative
statement of belief, and obedience to the monarchial
Bishop
• Practical and necessities led to the exaltation of one
bishop’s position in each church
• The need of leadership in meeting the problem of
persecution and heiress.
• The doctrine of succession, and the increasing exaltation
of the Lord’s Super were important factors in his rise to
Power
 The New testament Canon
• The authoritative bond
• Developing the lists of Books
• The marks of apostolicity: written by apostle
or one who was closely associated
• The capacity of the books to edify and
agreement to others
• The historical verification of apostolic
authorship
The Supremacy of the Old Catholic Imperial
Church
 The Church Faces the Empire and
Barbadians 313-590
• 375-1066 Dark ages, because of the massive
movement of the barbarian Teutonic tribes
invading the Western Europe
• The Roman empire declined and Hellene-
Hebraic culture threated with destruction
• Monasteries became the hiding place for
manuscripts
• The church is expected to act like a salt and
light
 The Evangelization of the Barbarians
• Armenia was won for the gospel by Gregory the Illuminator by 301; the
country to accept as nation,
• The Bible translator into the Armenian Language by 433
• Frumentius (ca.300-c.a 380), a Greek of Tyre, came to Ethiopia as a slave
• He won the Ethiopians to Coptic Christianity.
• Athanasius of Alexandria made him head of the Ethiopian church under
the aegis of Alexandria.
• The Ethiopian church became independent in 1957
• The British Isles also won for Christianity in this period
• Celtic Christianity had victorious in Scotland and Ireland
• Most of Europe became Christin.
• By 590, the church ha been freed from persecution, and also became
closely linked with the state.
 Conciliar Controversy and Creedal
Development
• Between 313 and theological controversies
resulted in councils attaining the issues by
formulating creeds(325-451)
• The relationship of Son to the Father in eternity(
• In 318 or 319, preaching in Alexandria “The Great
Mistry of the Trinity in Unity”
• Arius opposed that denying the deity of
Christ( he said “there was time he was not”
• 325 the creed of Nicaean
The Papacy Faces External Opposition