CHURCH HISTORY
Joshua 4 Why study the past?
One more surprising reason: Humility
1. Proper Perspective on One s Place 2. Proper Perspective on One s Trials 3. Eliminating Naiveté 4. Humble Stand for Truth
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras* 1. The Patristic Period, AD100-500 Key figures: Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Athanasius, Augustine Overall: Constructive era *Alistair McGrath, Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought (2012)
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras 2. The Middle Ages & the Renaissance, AD500-1500 Key figures: Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Ockham, Wycliffe, Hus Overall: Destructive era
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras 3. The Reformation & Post- Reformation, AD1500-1750 Key figures: Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Hubmaier, Knox Overall: Constructive era
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras 4. The Modern Period, AD1750- Present Key figures: Schleiermacher, Ritschl, Barth, Rahner, Henry, Packer Overall: Destructive era
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras 1. The Patristic Period, AD100-500 2. The Middle Ages & the Renaissance, AD500-1500 3. The Reformation & Post- Reformation, AD1500-1750 4. The Modern Period, AD1750- Present 5.???
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 1. Challenges from Without 2. Challenges from Within 3. The Trinity & the Two Natures of Christ 4. Augustine
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 1. Challenges from Without When he was brought before him, the proconsul ask him if he were Polycarp. And when he confessed that he was, he tried to persuade him to deny [the faith], saying, Have respect to your age and other things that customarily follow this, such as, Swear by the fortune of Ceasar; change your mind; say, Away with the atheists! But Polycarp looked with earnest face at the whole crowd of lawless heathen in the arena, and motioned to them with his hand. Then, groaning and looking up to heaven, he said, Away with the atheists! But the proconsul was insistent and said: Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ. Polycarp said: Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 2. Challenges from Within Legalism Adoptionism Docetism Gnosticism Apologists respond
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 3. The Trinity & the Two Natures of Christ One God, Three Persons
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 We believe in one God, the Father All Governing, creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the onlybegotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all time, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father through whom all things came into being, who for us men and because of our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and ascended to heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father, and will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshipped and glorified together with the Father and Son, who spoke through the prophets; and in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (AD 381)
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 Council of Chalcedon, AD 451 1. Condemns Apollinarianism (denies full humanity), Nestorianism (denies the union of the two natures), Eutychianism (denies the distinction of the two natures). 2. Reaffirms Nicaea, Constantinople. One person; two natures. Perfect humanity and deity.
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 4. Augustine But when a deep consideration had from the secret bottom of my soul drawn together and heaped up all my misery in the sight of my heart; there arose a mighty storm, bringing a mighty shower of tears. I cast myself down I know not how, under a certain figtree, giving full vent to my tears; and the floods of mine eyes gushed out an acceptable sacrifice to You. And, not indeed in these words, yet to this purpose, spoke I much to You: and You, O Lord, how long? how long, Lord, will You be angry for ever? Remember not our former iniquities, for I felt that I was held by them. I sent up these sorrowful words: How long, how long, to-morrow, and tomorrow? Why not now? why not is there this hour an end to my uncleanness? So was I speaking and weeping in the most
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 4. Augustine bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighboring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, Take up and read; Take up and read. Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh,
The Patristic Period, AD100-500 4. Augustine in concupiscence.[rom 13:14] No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away (Confessions, 8.12)
A View from 30,000 Feet Four Basic Eras 1. The Patristic Period, AD100-500 2. The Middle Ages & the Renaissance, AD500-1500 3. The Reformation & Post- Reformation, AD1500-1750 4. The Modern Period, AD1750- Present
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