Church History 8

Church History
“Protestant Family Tree”

Lutheran Churches (Germany 1517)
Departure from Roman Catholicism, fundamentalism vs. liberalism
1847 Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod 2.5 million +
1850 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 400K +
1987 Evangelical Lutheran 5 million+

Mennonite Churches (Switzerland 1520’s, USA 1683)
Anabaptism, non-political, believer’s baptism,
1725 Mennonite Church About 100K

Reformed Churches (Switzerland 1533, USA 1600’s)
Calvinism, Orthodoxy
1628 Reformed Church About 300K
1857 Christian Reformed Church About 200K

Presbyterian Churches (Scotland 1567, USA 1706)
Calvinism, Elders
1810 Cumberland Presbyterian Church Almost 100K
1973 Presbyterian Church in America Almost 300K
1983 Presbyterian Church, USA 3.5 Million +

Episcopal/Anglican Churches (England Mid-1500’s, USA 1607)
Political origins, Bishop governed, ‘Middle Way’ between Catholic & Protestant
1789 Episcopal Church 2 million +

Baptist Churches (England 1611, USA 1639)
Unknown origins, Arminian vs. Calvinism,
1845 Southern Baptist Convention Almost 16 million
1852 Baptist General Conference Almost 150K
1895 National Baptist Convention 3.5 Million +
1907 American Baptist Churches Almost 1.5 Million
1907 National Primitive Baptist Convention 1 Million +
1924 American Baptist Association 250K +
1935 Free Will Baptists 200K +
1961 Progressive National Baptist Convention 2.5 Million +
1988 National Missionary Baptist Convention 2.5 Million +

Brethren Churches (Germany 1708, USA 1723)
Pietist, Anabaptist, Pacifism
1708 Church of the Brethren 100K +
1880 Church of God, Anderson Indiana 200K +
1885 Evangelical Free Church 250K +

Methodist Churches (England 1729, USA 1766)
Discipline, Personal Relationship
1816 African Methodist Episcopal Church 2.5 Million +
1860 Free Methodist Church Almost 100K
1870 Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 700K +
1968 United Methodist Church 8 Million +
1821 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1 Million +

Christian Churches (USA 1811)
Unity, return to early church roots
1832 Christian Church – Disciples of Christ 800K +
1887 Christian Congregation, Inc 100K +
1906 Churches of Christ 1.5 Million +
1927 Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 1 Million +
1957 United Church of Christ Almost 1.5 Million

Adventist Churches (USA 1816)
William Miller (prophecy), Ellen G. White (revelation)
1845 Seventh-Day Adventist 800K +
Holiness Churches (USA Late 1800’s)
Entire Sanctification
1880 Salvation Army Almost 500K +
1908 Church of the Nazarene 600K +
1968 Wesleyan Church 100K +

Fundamentalist/Bible Churches (USA Late 1800’s)
Reaction to theological liberalism, Dispensationalism
1897 Christian and Missionary Alliance Almost 350K
1947 Conservative Baptist Association 200K +
1950 Baptist Bible Fellowship 1.2 Million +
1950 Baptist Missionary Association 200K +

Pentecostal Churches (USA 1901)
Tongues, Entire Sanctification, Charismatic Movement
1886 Church of God Almost 1 million
1907 Church of God in Christ 5.5 Million +
1911 Pentecostal Holiness Church Almost 200K
1914 Assemblies of God 2.5 Million +
1927 Church of the Foursquare Gospel 200K +
1957 Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ 300K +
1962 Full Gospel Fellowship 250K +
1907 Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1.5 Million +
1945 United Pentecostal Church 600K +

Church History 7

Church History
“The Reformation Continues”
1517-1609

Reformation Stimulated
1. Attempts to silence Luther failed
2. Political leaders supported Luther
3. Luther began a pamphlet/book campaign
a. Attacked hierarchy
b. Attacked sacramental system
c. Attacked theology
4. Luther translated Bible into German
5. Luther’s prophetic voice was matched by Melancthon’s theology

Lutheranism Slowed
1. Luther lost the support of the humanists
2. Luther turned against the Anabaptists
3. Luther and Zingli failed to unite
4. Luther lost the support of the peasants
5. Luther lost the support of the Monastics

Life after Luther
1. Luther died in 1546
2. Protestant vs. Catholic war in Germany (1546-1552)
3. Lutheranism made legal in 1555
4. Lutherans had internal debates over doctrines
5. Lutheranism spread to Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Etc.

The Fruit of Switzerland
1. Swingli
a. Idolized Erasmus as young adult
b. Became a Catholic Priest
c. Experienced conversion after surviving plague
d. Instructed young scholars
2. Anabaptists
a. Conrad Grebel
b. Felix Manz
c. Jacob Amman
d. Balthasar Hubmaier
e. Menno Simons
*Anabaptists were distinguished for their emphasis on discipleship, love, congregational church government, and separation from the state
**Anabaptists were attacked from all sides. Catholics tended to burn them. The state tended to behead them. Protestants, ironically, drowned them.
3. Calvin

Denominational Breakdowns
1. Calvinism vs. Arminianism
2. Liberalism vs. Fundamentalism

Church History 6

Church History
“Road to Reformation”
1248-1517

Road to the Reformation

Brethren of the Common Life
Late 1300’s
1. Sought simplicity & holiness
2. Worked for their living
3. Wrote reformation style literature

Wycliffe
Late 1300’s
1. Wanted to confront RC Church over immorality & property
2. Insisted that Christ, not the Pope, was the head of the church
3. Asserted that Scripture, not the church, was the authority
4. Translated NT into English by 1382
5. Denied transubstantiation
6. Founded lay preachers (Lollards) to spread his message

Hus
Early 1400’s
1. Influenced by Wycliffe
2. Burned at the stake in 1413
3. His followers rejected the RC Church
4. They eventually gave birth to United Brethren & Moravians
5. Moravian Christians influenced Wesley toward conversion

Environment of the Reformation

Political
1. Rise of Nation States
2. Rise of middle class
3. Expanded geography

Culture
1. The Renaissance
2. Biblical Humanism
3. Printing Press

Religious
1. People questioned the morality of the Popes
2. People questioned the taxation of the Popes
3. People questioned the doctrine of the Popes


The 95 Theses

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Repentance
1. Repentance is vital
2. Repentance must include inward and outward change
3. Without change, the penalty is still in affect
4. There is no repentance after death
5. Every Christian has the right to forgiveness
6. True repentane seeks discipline/correction

The authority of the Pope
1. The Pope can’t forgive sins. He may only declare sins forgiven
2. The Pope has no more ‘general’ power than a Bishop has ‘specific’
3. The Pope has not led the church to proper understanding
4. The Pope should be willing to give some of his own money
5. The Pope allows more emphasis on pardons than the Gospel
6. If the Pope can grant salvation to the dead, why not for free?
7. Why doesn’t the Pope use his own money to build his church?

The usefulness of indulgences
1. The ‘selling’ of indulgances makes no Scriptural sense
2. People are being deceived by the promise of spiritual security
3. It is fleshly to teach that financial offering earns forgiveness
4. Any who believe they are saved by a letter are condemned
5. The selling of indulgances works against true repentance

To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy

What needs reformed today?

Church History 5

Church History
“Medieval Times”
AD590-1248

Ancient History Birth-590
Medieval History 590-1517
Modern History 1517-Today

The Description of this time depends on one’s perspective
1. Secular historians call it the ‘Dark Ages’
2. Catholic historians call it the ‘Golden Ages’
3. Protestant historians call it the ‘Age of Corruption’

The Rise of Monasticism

Why caused monasticism to flourish?
1. False teachings of gnostics
2. Secularization of the church
3. Worsening conditions in the Empire

The development of monasticism
1. Ascetic Christians withdrew from society
2. Nearby Christians looked to these hermits for leadership
3. Groups decided to form new community

The legacy of monasticism
1. They kept scholarship alive during the ‘dark’ ages
2. They were the missionaries during the ‘dark’ ages
3. They, by and large, failed to be salt and light

The Rise of Eastern Orthodoxy

What caused Eastern Orthodoxy to flourish?
1. Constantine had moved the capital the east
2. The Emperor became the spiritual leader in the east
3. The two sides had different cultures
*Disagreed over Celibacy, Language, Easter, Icons, etc

The Rise of the Papacy in the West

1. Bishops were placed over cities
2. More respect was given to Bishops of important cities
3. The Bishop of Rome became the most powerful
4. The fall of Rome left Western Europe without leadership
5. The Bishop of Rome was the spiritual leader in the West (Gregory)
6. The Bishop of Rome sought political allies to defend his leadership
7. The Franks filled the role as allies (Martel, Pepin, Charlemagne)
8. Charlemagne tried to unite the East & West in the earlier 800’s
9. The German leaders began to monopolize the shared power
10. Innocent III stabelized the papacy
*The East & West split in 1054

The Rise of Islam

What caused Islam to flourish?
1. Mohammed was unable to find distinct monotheism in his area
2. Muslims were very willing to fight for their religion
3. The Roman Empire had broken into many smaller pieces

How close did Islam come to taking over?
1. The Eastern Empire turned them back 717
2. The Western Empire turned them back in 732

The Crusades
1. Verses Muslims
2. Verses Heretics
3. Verses Slavs
*There were almost a dozen crusades b/w the 11-13th centuries

Church History 4

Church History
“Church of the State &
State of the Church”
AD311-590

The Role of Constantine
1. Illegitimate son of Roman military leader and oriental freedwoman
2. Claimed to have had a vision of the cross and a command to conquer
3. Granted freedom of worship in 313
4. Became sole ruler of empire in 324
5. Baptized just prior to his death

The Reforms of Constantine
1. Granted freedom of worship
2. Restored property to Christians
3. Gave financial help to poor congregations
4. Made church property tax exempt
5. Made clergy exempt from military service
6. Made bishops local judges
7. Memorialized historic Christian sites
8. Called for church councils
9. Made 1st day of week a holiday
10. Declared Dec. 25th official celebration of Jesus’ birth

How did Christianity change the state?
1. Women gained greater equality
2. The entertainment industry obtained a conscience
3. Slaves were treated with more dignity
4. Legistlation became more just

The Legacy of Constantine
1. Conversion became popular
2. Line blurred b/w Pagan & Christian living
3. Line blurred b/w State & Church
4. Wars became more ‘godly’
5. Church became institutionalized
Doctrines
-Trinitarian Controversy
-Christological Controversy
-Pelegian Controversy
Writings
Leadership
Buildings
Funding

The Conversion of the Empire
1. The Armenians were converted by Gregory the Illuminator
2. Frumentius won Ethiopia
3. The British Isles were won by Pelagus
4. Goths became Arian under Ulfilas
5. Martin & Gregory de Tours converted the Franks
6. Patrick evangelized Ireland
7. Columba evangelized Scotlland
8. Celtic and Roman Christians led Anglo-Saxons to Christ

The End of the Empire
INTERNAL PROBLEMS
Patriotism decreased as interest in God’s kingdom increased
EXTERNAL PROBLEMS
Overwhelming number of invaders (barbarians & muslims)

Church History 3

Church History
“The Canon & The Creeds”

Why was a canon necessary?
1. Marcion theological bias prompted correction
2. Montanists Additions prompted completion
3. Forgeries prompted clarity
4. Persecution prompted certainty

What tests were used?
1. Is the book inspired?
2. Was the book authored by an Apostle?
3. Moral Standards in the text?
4. Quoted by early church fathers (we have the whole NT quoted)

Four orthodox canons of Scripture
*4 Gospels were recognized very early on (mid 100’s)
*A collection of Paul’s letters were circulated as authoritative (late 100’s)

1. Muratorian Canon (200AD)
Accepted: 4 Gospels, Acts, 13 Letters of Paul, John's Writings, James & Jude
Excluded: Peter's writings, Hebrews
Extras: Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter, Shepherd of Hermas

2. Origen, head of Alexandrian School (250AD)
Accepted: 4 Gospels, Acts , 13 Letters of Paul, Revelation, 1 John, 1 Peter
Excluded: James & Jude, Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John
Extras: Barnabas, Didache, Shepherd of Hermas

3. Eusebius, father of church history (300AD)
Accepted: 4 Gospels, Acts , 13 Letters of Paul, Revelation, 1 John
Excluded: James & Jude, Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John
Extras: None

3rd Council of Carthage (397AD)
Accepted: All 27
Excluded: None
Extras: None

Why was their disagreement?
1. Hebrews- The Eastern Church thought it Pauline, but the Western Church had doubts about this. Luke/Acts/Hebrews are each written in a very refined form of Greek. The writer travelled with. Origen said ‘God only knows’ who wrote Hebrews.

2. James & Jude- They weren’t accepted right away b/c they never called themselves Apostles. Very early tradition assigned them to the Lord’s brothers. James is referred to as an Apostle by Paul. Luther didn’t like James calling it the ‘Epistle of Straw’ and putting it last in his translation b/c it didn’t totally fit with his theology. Jude made the cut even though we have no record of him being called an Apostle. Jude quotes non-biblical texts (Enoch, Assumption of Moses) and teaches 2 Peter 2 almost point by point.

3. 2 Peter- The greek style was very different from 1 Peter. 1 Peter was almost never disputed, but 2 Peter was so different it was disputed for a long time.

4. 2 & 3 John- Author doesn’t identify himself except as an ‘elder’, which was not a word we’d expect an Apostle to be described with, but few dispute that they were written by the same man as 1st John b/c they are so repetitive.

5. Revelation- Some portions of the church didn’t accept it b/c of disputed authorship. This was still a strong dispute in the 3rd century. Some early church leaders were afraid it would confuse gentile Christians. Eusebius considered millennialism a heresy and was afraid would interpret it too literally. It was the last NT book to receive full support even though it was the only one to really claim inspiration.

It’s Roman Catholic Doctrine to claim the Council of Carthage was infallible, but most protestants believe God worked to allow the true books to be discovered and the men of that council were much better equipped to discover these things. The disputed books were not disputed b/c they were disagreed with, but were included late b/c the church was being careful. They were finally included b/c they overcame all objections.

Biblical Essentials
That God Exists (Hebrews 11:6)
That God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
That Jesus has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2)
That Jesus is who He claimed to be (John 8:24)
The Messiah (1 John 5:1)
The Son of God (John 20:31)
The Lord (Romans 10:9)
That God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9)

The Early Christian Creeds
1. The "Rule of Faith" as recorded by Irenaeus:
This faith: in one God, the Father Almighty, who made the heaven and the earth and the seas and all the things that are in them; and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who was made flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who made known through the prophets the plan of salvation, and the coming, and the birth from a virgin, and the passion, and the resurrection from the dead, and the bodily ascension into heaven of the beloved Christ Jesus, our Lord, and his future appearing from heaven in the glory of the Father to sum up all things and to raise anew all flesh of the whole human race . . .

2. The Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Church History 2

Church History
“Passing the Baton”
AD70-313

Lessons for the Next Generation

Passing the Torch
1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Guard against false doctrine (1:3)
Fight the good fight (1:18)
Pray for peace & freedom (2:2)
Focus on Scripture (4:13)
Deal with sin (5:20)
Encourage people in their roles
Don’t love money (6:9-10, 17)
Live holy lives (6:11+14)
Be strong & bold (1:8, 2:1)
Be willing to suffer (2:3)


The External Attacks of Satan

Persecution
Why were they persecuted?
Satan was enraged (Revelation 12:17)
They refused to worship the entertainment
They refused to worship the economy (Acts 19:23-27)
They refused to worship the emperor
They were accused of practicing incest
They were accused of practicing cannibalism
They were accused of practicing atheism

The Internal Attacks of Satan

Problems
Division (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)
Immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)
Arrogance (1 Corinthians 4:18-21)
Immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1)
Marriage Issues (1 Corinthians 7)
Food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8)
Gender roles (1 Corinthians)
Orderly Worship (1 Corinthians 14)
Idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

Polemics
Some denied the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12)
Some were perverting the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7)
Some had an unhealthy level of interest in angels (Colossians 2:18)
Some said the resurrection had already taken place (2 Timothy 2:18)
Some were denying the nature of Jesus (2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:2)
Some teachers were just out to make money (2 Peter 2:3, 15)


The Early Church Fathers

Patriarchs and Writings
Clement to the Corinthians
Epistle of Barnabas
Didache
The Shepherd of Hermas
Polycarp to the Philippians
The Martydom of Polycarp
The Writings of Ignatius
The Epistle of Mathetes
The Writings of Origen
The Writings of Tertullian
The Writings of Cyprian

Church History 1

Church History
“In the Fullness of Time”
Birth to AD70

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
~Galatians 4:4-5

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
~Mark 1:14-15


What made the 1st Century the Fulness of Time?

1. One Empire: ROME
The time of Jesus birth was ideal politically
The world was more peaceful than usual
The world was more networked than usual

2. One Language: GREEK
The time of Jesus birth was ideal culturally
The Greek language was universal
The Greek culture left people empty

3. One Need: CONNECTION
The time of Jesus birth was ideal philosophically
The Stoics were detached from the world
The Epicureans were lost in the world

4. One Promise: MESSIAH
The time of Jesus birth was ideal Scripturally
The 490 years was about to end
The promise was sure to be kept

5. One Answer: JESUS
The time of Jesus birth was ideal religiously
The Jewish religion provided an answer
The Jewish apostasy had reached its limit

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled”
~Acts 1:15-16

Who were the 1st generation believers?

The Jewish Remnant
Old Covenan/New Covenant (Key Passages)
The Nations = The World (Isaiah 10:21-22)
Israel = The Institutional Church (Romans 9-11)
The Remnant = The True Church (Galatians 3)

The 120
The 11 Disciples = 11 (Acts 1:13)
The 70 Servants = 72 or less (Luke 10:1)
Jesus’ Family = 3 or more (Acts 1:14)
The women = 3 or more (Luke 8:2-3, 23:49, Acts 1:14)
Miscellaneous = 4 or more (Luke 24:33, 1 Cor. 15:6)

Church Growth
Day of Pentecost = 3000+ (Acts 2:41) Spirit-led Preaching
Daily Life = ??? (Acts 2:47) Spirit-led Living
Healing of Cripple = 5000+ (Acts 4:4) Spirit-led Ministry
Administration = ??? (Acts 6:7) Spirit-led Organization
Persecution = ??? (Acts 8:4) Spirit-led Evangelism
Conflict ??? = (Acts 16:5) Spirit-led Decisions

What happened to the early church leaders?
Stephen: One of the seven, Martyrd (Acts 7:60)
James : Leader in Jerusalem, Martyrd (Thrown from temple)
Peter: Evangelist to Jews , Martyrd (Crucified upside-down)
Paul: Evangelist to Gentiles, Martyrd (Executed outside Rome)
John : The beloved, Died (probably of old age)

What separated the early church from Judaism?
Persecution from the Jews AD30
Persecution from the Romans AD64
The destruction of the temple AD70

Church History Series

Below are links to a series I am teaching on church history

The Case for Christ
Extra-Biblical Evidence of Jesus
Reliability of the Gospels
Resurrection: A Fact of History
The Twelve

Church History
Images of the Church
Birth to 70
70 to 311
***Concise Didache
***Concise Polycarp
***Concise Epistle of Barnabas
***Concise Epistle to Diognetus
***Concise Eusebius
The Canon & Creeds
***Concise Augustine
311-590
590-1248
1248-1517
1517-1609
The Radical Reformation
Protestant Family Tree
Life of John Wesley
Wesleyan's After Wesley