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| God becoming human (a.k.a. - Jesus) |
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| The study of the Cristian Church |
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| The act of God's grace in delivering his people from bondage to sin and condemnation, transferring them to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Col. 1:13), and giving them eternal life |
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| The study of the "end of days" as revealed within the Christian bible |
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| A set of teachings of the church of what is considered to be true |
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| Apologetics is an area of Christian theology which focuses on the defense of the Christian faith, particularly through the rational justification of Christian beliefs and doctrines. |
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| The study of the person of Christ (Jesus) |
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| Positions maintained in opposition to orthodox traditions/teachings |
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A religious dualist system that asserted that matter is evil and spirit is good.
Claimed that salvation was only obtained through secret knowledge
Matter is considered to be corrupt |
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"Rule of faith" - means something extrinsic to our faith and used as a rule or measure
"There is only one God and he is the creator of the world who produced all things out of nothing through His own Word."
"This rule as it will be taught by Christ…"
Similar to orthodoxy |
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Greek translation for "the Word"
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
The Word was present at creation and was part of the eternal order ; It was God in action |
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Rejected the Old Testament and held the belief that there were two different Gods
Teachings of Christ are incompatible with the Old Testament
Does not believe that Christ was not the Messiah |
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| A term that applies to the set of writings that are said to be part of the New Testamen |
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| The Son is a creature, who , like all other creatures, derives from the will of God. |
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One nature, Three "Persons"
Affirmed that God was one entity, not separate; that the spirit was divine.
Christ was considered to have Two "natures" |
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| The study of the Doctrine of Salvation |
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Donatism was an indirect outcome of Diocletian's persecutions
Heresy
Valued martyrdom |
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| Ignatius of Antioch (c.35-107) |
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Bishop of Antioch
Known as an Apostolic Father of the 2nd Century
Writings include 7 letters written on journey from Antioch to Rome while under arrest for his Christian Faith
Letters reveal warnings against Docetism and affirms the importance of the Eucharist (holy communion)
Letters also reveal his desire to be a martyr |
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| Justin Martyr (c. 150 - 215) |
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Roman philosopher who converted to Christianity
Known as one of the most prominent apologists
Defended the faith against pagan criticisms
Attempted to make Christianity and elements of Greek culture compatible
Argues Christianity is the "ultimate true philosophy"
Best known works…
○ First/Second Apology
○ Dialogue with Trypho
Martyred under the Roman Emperor, Aurelius |
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| Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215) |
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Understood theology to be Christian truth claims about God
God gave philosophy to the Greeks to prepare them for the coming of Christ
Similar to the giving of the law to Moses
Sees philosophy as a root leading to Christianity |
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| Tertullian of Carthage (c. 160 - 225) |
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An apologetic converted to Christianity from Paganism
First Christian thinker to use Trinitas (Trinity) to describe God as father, son, and holy spirit
Against Marcionism
Viewed pagan culture and Christianity to be incompatible
Often referred to as the "father of modern Christianity"
Later joined the strict section of Monatism
"What has Athens to due with Jeruselam?"
Regula Fidei = "Rule of Faith" |
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| Origen of Alexandria (c. 185 - 254) |
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Theologian and biblical scholar at the influential school at Alexandria, Egypt
Writings included…
○ "On First Principles"
§ Considered the first systematic treatment of Christian theology.
Professed commitment to Apostolic faith, but several of his teachings were later deemed heretical
Provided a foundation for development in Eastern (Greek speaking) thought
Establishes notion of allegorical interpretation
○ The literal meaning is not the most significant meaning
○ There is a deeper, more spiritual meaning in text
Distinguishes between full divinity of God the Father and lesser divinity of Jesus Christ
○ Led to the development of Arianism |
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| Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 269-373) |
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Bishop of Alexandria
Foremost opponent of Arianism in debate between the schools of Antioch and Alexandria
Exiled at least 5 times
○ "Athanasius against the World"
○ Wrote several apologies/orations
Eventually restored to his episcopal
○ Defended the definitions of trinitarian orthodoxy decided at Nicaea in 325
On the Incarnation (c. 318)
○ Argues that God could have revealed himself in a more divine body, but chose to take the body of humans so "all might die in Him, and that the law of corruption might be destroyed…"
○ The Body was not corruptible in accordance with its own nature because of its union with the Word of God
Biblical Canon
○ Claims the Old Testament and the New Testament as "fountains of salvation, that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain."
○ Argues that additional writings such as The Wisdom of Solomon, Didache, etc. are "inventions of heretics" to lead the simple astray. |
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| Arius of Alexandria (c. 250 - 336) |
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Priest from Alexandria
Supported that the creaturely character of "The Son of God"
○ Later deemed heretical by the Council of Nicaea
Teachings are known as "Arianism"
Claimed that the Son of God was not eternal, making the Son distinct from and subordinate to the Father
Letter to Eusebius
○ Essentially asks the church to recount that his teachings were deemed as heretical
○ "...The Son has a beginning, but God is without beginning." |
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3 individuals who advance the development of early Christian Theology
§ Basil the Great
§ Gregory of Nyssa
§ Gregory of Nazianzus |
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| ○ We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ , the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousion)with the Father; by whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth]; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost.[But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable' they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]" |
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| Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed |
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| "We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things came into existence, Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down from the heavens, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose again 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 living and dead, of Whose kingdom there will be no end; And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and together glorified, Who spoke through the prophets; in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism to the remission of sins; we look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen |
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An early Christian statement of belief that reflects earlier summaries of belief
□ Rule of faith
□ Served to define orthodox belief against movements deemed heretical
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen." |
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Catholicity/Universal Authority
□ Concerned whether or not a work was accepted in all areas of Christian world
Apostolic Authorship
□ Validity of the Author of a particular book
Antiquity
□ Whether or not works were old enough to be included in New Testament
□ If considered to be composed after Apostolic era, it was "too recent" to be added
The Importance of the addressed Christian communities
Orthodoxy
□ Conformity to the "rule of faith" |
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| § Stopped the persecution against Christians and restored their property to them |
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| First Council of Nicacea/Nicea (325CE) |
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Assembled in 325 CE at the urging of Constantine, who was present.
○ Addressed Christological controversies, specifically Arianism
○ Develops the Nicene Creed, which affirms that the Son is homoousious ("one in being" or "of the same substance") with the Father.
§ Was intended to defend the divinity of Christ
○ Post-Nicene Debates
§ Propose used of homoiousion to ease the uneasiness of language of homoousion
□ Homoousion sounded as if there was no distinction between the Father and the Son, hence homoiousion
® Homoiousion = ("similar substance")
§ Development of a doctrine of the Trinity (Cappodocian compromise)
□ "One nature, Three Persons"
® Affirmed that God was one entity, not separate; that the spirit was divine.
® Christ was considered to have Two "natures"
□ Cappodocian Fathers
® Basil the Great
® Gregory of Nazianzus
® Gregory of Nyzza
§ Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381)
§ Divinity of the Holy Spirit
§ The divinity of Jesus as reflected in the title of Mary as "Mother of God," (theotokos)
□ Those who denied Mary as the "Mother of God" was denying the divinity of Christ |
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| First Council of Constantinople (381 CE) |
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Consisted of 186 bishops
The language of Nicaea was reaffirmed and a clause on the Holy spirit was added to the creed stating that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father, and was to be glorified. |
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| Council of Ephesus (431 CE) |
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| Council was called to deal with the issue of Theotokos and whether or not Christ had 2 "natures" |
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| Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) |
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The fourth ecumenical council is the Council of Chalcedon in 451
§ Confirmed the decision of Nicaea and responded to the new debates about the humanity of Christ.
§ Chalcedon issued a formal declaration that Jesus Christ was to be regarded as having two natures; One human and one divine.
□ Known as the Chalcedonian definition or Chalcedonian Christology. |
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