THE CHURCH
DURING THIS LONG SUCCESSION OF CENTURIES IT HAS OUTLIVED THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, FIERCE PERSECUTIONS FROM WITHOUT, AND HERETICAL CORRUPTIONS FROM WITHIN; THE BARBARIAN INVASION, THE CONFUSION OF THE DARK AGES, THE PAPAL TYRANNY, THE SHOCK OF INFIDELITY, THE RAVAGES OF REVOLUTION, THE ATTACKS OF ENEMIES AND THE ERRORS OF FRIENDS, THE RISE AND FALL OF PROUD KINGDOMS, EMPIRES, AND REPUBLICS, PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS, AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT NUMBER- -Phillip Schaff
02 THE CHURCH IN VERSE And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. -Matthew 16:18 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. - Acts 1:8
03 THE CHURCH IN VERSE In my former book, O Theopilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. -Acts 1:1-2 They devoted themselves to the apostle s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
WHAT IS CHURCH HISTORY?
05 WHAT IS CHURCH HISTORY? The unfolding of the providential plan of God the Father to sum up all things in Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation is an apocalyptic description of church history-the summing up of all things in Christ It contains missions, martyrs, heretics, witnesses, world leaders, events, angels, devils, church failures & successes all wrapped up in an epic & glorious triumph of the Son over the Serpent It shows us Alpha & Omega, beginning and ending, Eden to Everlasting Life, Light of the Sun to the light of the lamb
06 WHAT IS CHURCH HISTORY? The continuing work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in the people of God until the age to come. In my former book, O Theopilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. -Acts 1:1-2
07 PARABLES OF THE CHURCH He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. -Matthew 13:31-33
PERIODS OF CHURCH HISTORY
09 ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY AD 001-590 The Apostles Graeco-Latin Church & the Church Fathers Mediterranean countries (the roman empire) Divisions Life of Christ & the Apostles Missions & Martyrdom Orthodoxy & Heresy Christian Empire, Imperial Church Controversy & Councils Fall of Rome
10 MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY AD 590 1517 From Gregory the Great to the Reformation Transition from Asia & Africa to Middle & Western Europe Great missionary movements (missionaries to England, France, Germanic states, Ireland) Rise of Ecclesiastical Organizations (the popes, bishops, etc.) Bishoprics to Nation-States Monasteries, Convents (St. Francis) Scholastic Theology (Thomas Aquinas)
11 MODERN CHRISTIANITY AD 1517 1860 Martin Luther until the modern missionary movement Europe, North America (the Eastern church really stops growing/changing) Protestantism vs. Romanism (the Reformation) Religious Liberty vs. Authority (Religious wars & persecution) Individual Christianity vs. an Established church system & hierarchy John Bunyan, The Pilgrim s Progress
12 CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIANITY AD 1860 PRESENT? Modern missionary movement until the present day (?) Theological emphasis on the book of Revelation Growth of Asian Christianity Liberalism, Fundamentalism, Dispensationalism?????
THEMES OF CHURCH HISTORY
14 HISTORY OF MISSIONS THE GROWTH & SPREAD OF THE CHURCH But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. -Acts 1:8 Where & How did the church grow? What is the difference between the growth of Christianity & every other religion?
15 HISTORY OF MISSIONS THE GROWTH & SPREAD OF THE CHURCH He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. - Matthew 13:31-33 What events, circumstances, sermons, successes and failures moved the church? Geography & Culture as causes and solutions to church growth
16 HISTORY OF PERSECUTIONS THE TRIBULATION OF THE SAINTS Jews first persecuted Christians, then the Roman Emperors (pre-christian era) Persecutions of Islam Religious wars in France, Holland, England Inquisition in Spain N. America, Asia (post- Christian era)
17 HISTORY OF CHURCH GOVT. & DISCIPLINE THE MGMT OF THE CHURCH Church Leadership, Organization and development Church/State Relationship Roman Empire, Nation- States, Infant Baptism Ecclesiastical Authority vs. Secular Authority (Church vs. State)
18 HISTORY OF WORSHIP THE CHURCH REJOICES Preaching Liturgy Catechisms Rites & Ceremonies Religious Art & Music Paintings, Sculpture, Poetry & Music
19 HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN LIFE THE CHURCH BEYOND THE MEETING Virtues & Vices of Different Eras Work Technology Festivals, etc. Religious & Civil Liberties Domestic Life Marriage, Children, etc.
20 HISTORY OF THEOLOGY CHRISTIAN LEARNING & LITERATURE How has the church understood and presented divine truth Struggle against error, misbelief and unbelief Orthodoxy & Heresy
WHY DO WE STUDY CHURCH HISTORY?
22 WHY DO WE STUDY CHURCH HISTORY? Where does our current understanding of the church & the world come from? What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. -Ecclesiastes 1:9 We need a long view or interpretation of the church and the world
23 THE PRESENT IS THE FRUIT OF THE PAST, AND THE GERM OF THE FUTURE Phillip Schaff
24 INSPIRATION, LEARNING AND WARNING We can be inspired with courage of men like Polycarp the martyr, who when faced with either death or apostasy, said: 80 AND 6 YEARS I HAVE SERVED HIM AND HE HAS DONE ME NO WRONG. HOW THEN CAN I BLASPHEME MY KING AND SAVIOR? BRING FORTH WHAT THOU WILT. and with that, he was burned at the stake in the Roman Colosseum.
25 INSPIRATION, LEARNING AND WARNING We can learn from both the actions and teachings of the church in controversy, persecution and prosperity We should be warned of the dangers of the practical vs. biblical methodology We can see practical solutions put into effect by the church that have a long-term negative effect Rise of the patriarchs, bishops, & popes
26 FROM THE APOSTLES TO US There is an unending chain of Christians that began with the apostles and continues to our present day And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. -Matthew 16:18
27 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NT CHURCH AND US? 2000+ years of Culture & Development food customs clothing language rites rituals government technology, etc.
28 ANTHROPOLOGY S VIEW OF MODERN MISSIONARIES A contemporary course in Cultural Anthropology would have you believe that 19th century Christian missionaries (the first anthropologists) did two things: Tainted the pure and sacred indigenous cultures by importing Western Imperialism & Christianity They changed the cultures
29 IRONY OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL VIEW The irony of that view of Modern Missionaries is that Christianity as a movement has been: blending changing transforming every culture since the time of the disciples.
30 CHRISTIAN MOVEMENTS Began as a small Jewish sect from Jerusalem Then a church of faithful martyrs An empire wide Roman Christianity A missionary & monastic movement that preserved literature & converted the barbarians A European center for learning, culture, & beauty A reformation and development of nations A North American culture The Asian & African culture
31 THE TWO MOUNTAINS On Mt. Sinai, the LORD revealed himself and his instructions to Moses The measurements for the Tabernacle and its elements The style of dress for the priests specific rites and ceremonies to be performed How do you rightly worship the LORD?
32 THE TWO MOUNTAINS On the Mt. of Transfiguration, the LORD said: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him! -Matthew 17:5 There is no cultural mandate. No style of dress, no temple descriptions, no ceremonial rites.
33 THE PERSON, NOT THE CULTURE Christianity does not carry a cultural movement, it carries one person. JESUS CHRIST It easily moves from one place to another All who come are united to Christ as their head
34 SIMILARITIES TO THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH Our doctrine (what we believe & teach) is the same Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. -Acts 2:38 They devoted themselves to the apostle s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
35 SLIGHT DIFFERENCES, YET STILL SIMILAR Our understanding of Doctrine is different than previous church generations The revelation of truth is not new, but the apprehension or understanding of it is
WHEN WE READ, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, MARTIN LUTHER IS WHISPERING AT OUR EAR HOW WE ARE TO INTERPRET THOSE WORDS-AND THIS IS TRUE EVEN FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF MARTIN LUTHER. WHEN WE HEAR THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, ANSELM OF CANTERBURY SITS IN THE PEW WITH US, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHO ANSELM WAS. Justo Gonzalez
37 BIBLIOGRAPHY Bernard, Thomas Delany. The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament. Chesterton, G. K. The Everlasting Man. Gonzalez, Justo. The Story of Christianity. Kelly, J. N. D. Early Christian Doctrines. Latourette, Kenneth Scott. A History of Christianity. Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition. Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church, Vol. 01 Walls, Andrew. The Missionary Movement in Christian History Walton, Robert C. Chronological and Background Charts of Church History
38 SPECIAL THANKS I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr. David Calhoun of Covenant Seminary for his lecture series on Ancient & Medieval Church History and Reformation & Modern Church History. Some of the structure, pacing, and anecdotal stories come from his free audio courses that I have listened to many, many times over the last 10 years.
COMING SOON VOLUME 02: GROWTH & SPREAD CHRISTIAN MISSION