Church History #1
The Early Church (100 AD - 1000 AD)
Overview
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Historical Background
Roman Persecutions
Christian Rome and Early Heresies
Fall of Rome and the Dark Ages
The East-West Schism
Singspiration
Historical Background
Historical background
● Initially, many Christians worshipped in synagogues, but
as more Gentiles were converted, Christianity became
distinct from Judaism (The Council of Jerusalem in 50
AD exempts Gentiles from circumcision) and
congregations use Greek and Latin
● Initially, Christians are considered a Jewish sect by the
Romans and exempt from making pagan sacrifices
● But later, growing differences with Judaism leads the
Romans to classify Christianity as superstitio (extremist
religious force corrosive to society) and forces
Christians to sacrifice to the pagan gods
1. Roman Persecutions
Christian Persecutions
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Emperor Valerian takes the
throne in 253 AD and is taken
prisoner by the Persians
Writes letters back to the Senate,
ordering all Christian clergy to
sacrifice to the Roman gods,
forbids Christians from meeting in
cemeteries, bishops to be
executed
However, some Christians
intentionally provoke pagans to
become “martyrs” - this is
condemned by church authorities
Sentencing of Bishop Cyprian (Sept. 14, 258 A.D.)
Galerius Maximus: ‘Are you Thascius Cyprian?’
St. Cyprian: ‘I am.’
Galerius Maximus: ‘And have you acted as leader in a community of impious men?’
St. Cyprian: ‘I have.’
Galerius Maximus: ‘The sacred emperors have ordered you to sacrifice.’
St. Cyprian: ‘I will not sacrifice.’
Galerius Maximus: ‘Consider your position.’
St. Cyprian: ‘Do what is required of you. I have no need to deliberate; the issues are
clear.’
Galerius Maximus: ‘You have lived in an irreligious manner for a long time now and
have gathered about you a large congregation of criminals and unbelievers. You have
shown yourself hostile to the gods of Rome and the rites by which they are
worshipped. The pious and sacred emperors Valerian and his son, Gallienus, and the
right noble Caesar, Valerian, have been unable to recall you to the practice of the
official religion. Furthermore you are the instigator of abominations, a veritable
standard-bearer for criminals and as such you have been brought before me. Your
death will be an example to those whom you have gathered into your criminal
conspiracy. Your blood will uphold the law. It is our decision that Thascius Cyprian be
put to death by the sword.’
Bishop Cyprian: ‘Thanks be to God.’
Stercorinus of the Catacombs of Praetextatus
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Located in Rome, the Catacombs of Praetextatus
includes the remains of a “Stercorinus”, which
literally means “Little S***”
Romans would abandon “defective” newborns in
the dungheap to die; Christians rescued and
brought up these babies due to a different
worldview
“Historians believe that some kept their foul
nicknames as an act of humility-or triumphant
irony. The joke, after all, was on the pagan world,
which would soon enough die out for the crime of
murdering its young. These children who were
dung in the eyes of Imperial Rome knew that they
were precious in the sight of God.”
SOURCE: “Notes from Underground” (Mark Aquilina),
Lay Witness Magazine (Sep/Oct 2007 Issue)
Discussion Question #1
What do you feel was the root reason behind
the Roman persecution of the Christians?
2. Christian Rome and Early Heresies
Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan
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According to legend, the pagan Emperor
Constantine receives a vision of the Cross
before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 - he
heard “in hoc signo vinces” (“In this sign will you
be victorious”) so he ordered his soldiers to paint
the Chi-Rho on their shields
After winning the battle, Emperor Constantine
issues the Edict of Milan in 313 to grant religious
freedom throughout the Empire - he did this not
out of religious fervour but rather in the interest
of political stability
It was only in 318 that the Edict of Thessalonica
ordered all Roman subjects to profess the faith
of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria - Nicene
Christianity was the state religion of Rome
Church Councils define Christianity
■ First Council of Nicaea (325): Nicene Creed and
declaration of Arianism as heresy (asserts that God the
Son is subordinate to and created by God the Father;
denies that Holy Spirit is God) - Arian Christianity splits off
■ Synod of Hippo (393): defines the Christian Biblical
canon still in use by the Roman Catholic Church today
Church Councils define Christianity
■ First Council of Ephesus (431): declares Nestorianism as
heresy (asserts that the divine Son is distinct from but
personally united to the human Jesus) and confirms Mary’s
status as Theotokos - Church of the East splits off
■ Council of Chalcedon (451): declares Monophysitism
(asserts that God the Son, identical with Jesus, has one
divine nature) as heresy (Chalcedonian definition: asserts
that Christ has two natures - divine and human - which come
together in one person)
Discussion Question #2
Why was it so important for the Church to
define its teachings in this period?
3. Fall of Rome and the Dark Ages
Fall of Rome
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Fall of the Western Roman Empire: in 476
AD, barbarian leader Odoacer deposes
Emperor Romulus
Rome divided between various barbarian
tribes: Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths,
Franks, Anglo-Saxons
Arianism predominates among Vandals,
Visigoths and Ostrogoths, who used to be
pagans and use Gothic vernacular in
worship
Christianization of Europe
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Barbarian peoples convert from
either paganism or Arian
Christianity to Trinitarian
Christianity which leads to leaders
converting as well:
○ Clovis of the Franks converts
in 496 AD
○ Æthelberht of Kent converts in
601 AD
Missionaries are sent from Rome to
Christianize Europe:
○ Ireland: St. Patrick
○ England: St. Augustine of
Canterbury
Discussion Question #3
What challenges did the Fall of Rome bring to
the unity of the Church?
4. The East-West Schism
East-West Schism
● Breakup of the Catholic Church between
Eastern and Western rites
● Partly caused by political pressures from the
remnants of the Roman Empire
● Long lasting effects on Church relations with
Orthodox Churches and other Catholic Rites
So What Happened?
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Significant figures disagreed
on principle church structure
Roman Empire shifted base to
Constantinople with the
Church of Rome remaining
under barbarian rule in Rome
Bad things happened and
tensions rose until the East
separated from the West
Differences between East and West
Long Lasting Effects
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Different Catholic Rites Exist
Loss of Catholic Culture
Discussion Question #4
Were the differences between the Western and
Eastern traditions of the Church irreconcilable?
Were they merely cultural? Doctrinal? Political?
Singspiration
Dominus dixit ad me
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Latin text
English text
Dominus díxit ad me:
Fílius méus es tu,
égo hódie génui te.
The Lord hath said to me:
Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee.
Quare fremuérunt géntes:
et pópuli meditáti sunt inánia?
Why have the Gentiles raged,
and the people devised vain things?
Glória Pátri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sáncto.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc,
et semper, et in saécula saeculórum. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Dominus díxit ad me:
Fílius méus es tu,
égo hódie génui te.
The Lord hath said to me:
Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee.
Te Deum
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Latin text
English text
TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee.
To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
the wonderful company of Prophets,
the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:
the Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Latin text
English text
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis
uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso
sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati
tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum
saeculi.
V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum
speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not
disdain the Virgin's womb.
Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to
believers the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom
Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting
glory.
V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.
V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yea, forever and ever.
V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in
Thee.
R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to
shame.
Here am I to Worship, Hillsong