church history - cbcbryan.netcbcbryan.net/sermons/adult_education/ss/churchhistoryweek 1.pdf ·...

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)


Four Basic Eras

2. The Middle Ages & the

Renaissance, AD500-1500

Key figures: Anselm, Abelard,

Aquinas, Ockham, Wycliffe, Hus

Overall: Destructive era


Four Basic Eras

3. The Reformation & Post-

Reformation, AD1500-1750

Key figures: Erasmus, Luther,

Calvin, Zwingli, Hubmaier, Knox

Overall: Constructive era


Four Basic Eras

4. The Modern Period, AD1750-

Present

Key figures: Schleiermacher,

Ritschl, Barth, Rahner, Henry,

Packer

Overall: Destructive era


Four Basic Eras







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


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?”


2. Challenges from Within

Legalism

Adoptionism

Docetism

Gnosticism

“Apologists” respond


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 only-

begotten 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)


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.


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 fig-

tree, 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 …


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,


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)


Four Basic Eras







Present

CHURCH HISTORY

JGDuesing.com

@JGDuesing

church history - cbcbryan.netcbcbryan.net/sermons/adult_education/ss/churchhistoryweek 1.pdf ·...

Documents