the path of apostasy history of the church (4). 2 1 timothy 4:1-6 defection from… defection...

TheThePath of Path of ApostasyApostasy

History of the History of the Church (4)Church (4)

2

1 Timothy 4:1-61 Timothy 4:1-6• Defection from…Defection from…

• The faithThe faith• The truthThe truth• The words of faithThe words of faith• Good doctrineGood doctrine

• Departure from divine standardDeparture from divine standard• Rooted in lack of respect for Rooted in lack of respect for

Christ’s authority,Christ’s authority, Col. 3:17Col. 3:17

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Acts 14:23;Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:21 Pet. 5:2Acts 14:23;Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:21 Pet. 5:2

E E EE E E E E EE E E E E EE E EE E EE E E E E EE E E E E EE E E

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APOSTASY IN ORGANIZATIONAPOSTASY IN ORGANIZATION

New TestamentNew Testament Acts 20:29-30Acts 20:29-30

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““The Bishop”The Bishop”

““In the college of equal and co-ordinate In the college of equal and co-ordinate presbyters, some one would naturally act presbyters, some one would naturally act as moderator or as moderator or presiding officerpresiding officer; age, ; age, talent, influence, or ordination by the talent, influence, or ordination by the apostles, might give one an accidental apostles, might give one an accidental superiority over his fellows, and superiority over his fellows, and appropriate to him the appropriate to him the standing office of standing office of president of the presbyterypresident of the presbytery. .

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““The Bishop”The Bishop”

““To this office the To this office the titletitle of of bishopbishop was was assigned; and with the office and the title assigned; and with the office and the title began to be associated began to be associated the authority of a the authority of a distinct orderdistinct order.” .”

Lyman ColemanLyman Coleman

The Church, the Falling Away and the Restoration,The Church, the Falling Away and the Restoration,

J. W. Shepherd, page 54J. W. Shepherd, page 54

Bishops Bishops Extend their Extend their AuthorityAuthority

““In the fore part of the In the fore part of the second centurysecond century the picture the picture began to change. While no single form of began to change. While no single form of structure as yet prevailed, we now hear structure as yet prevailed, we now hear indisputably of what soon came to be the indisputably of what soon came to be the accepted pattern, accepted pattern, a bishopa bishop governing a particular governing a particular church and of at least one bishop, that of the church and of at least one bishop, that of the church in Antioch (Ignatius, jrp), acting as though church in Antioch (Ignatius, jrp), acting as though it were his acknowledged right to address himself it were his acknowledged right to address himself with with authority to other churchesauthority to other churches.”.”

A History Of ChristianityA History Of Christianity, Latourette, I:116, Latourette, I:116

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CountryCountryChurchChurch



The BishopThe Bishop (Metropolitan)(Metropolitan)

APOSTASY IN APOSTASY IN ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION


•Formation of Clergy Formation of Clergy -Distinct office, title,-Distinct office, title,

authority & recognitionauthority & recognition

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Metropolitan Metropolitan BishopsBishops

““GoneGone were the days when in at least some were the days when in at least some churches churches presbyterpresbyter andand bishopbishop werewere interchangeable termsinterchangeable terms and when there might and when there might be be several bishopsseveral bishops inin a churcha church, or, perhaps, a , or, perhaps, a church without a bishop. Now bishops were church without a bishop. Now bishops were becoming a characteristic feature of the becoming a characteristic feature of the Catholic Church, with a Catholic Church, with a single bishop in a single bishop in a given city or areagiven city or area. If a city had more than one . If a city had more than one bishop, others beyond the one would be bishop, others beyond the one would be assistants. assistants.

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Metropolitan Metropolitan BishopsBishops

““The The bishopbishop was more than an was more than an administrator. He also was administrator. He also was in chargein charge of of the worship and the worship and supervisedsupervised the entire the entire life of life of the churchthe church within his within his territorial territorial jurisdictionjurisdiction.”.”

A History of ChristianityA History of Christianity, Latourette, I:132, Latourette, I:132

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Authority of Authority of MetropolitansMetropolitans

““In the course of the years the In the course of the years the bishopsbishops in in the the larger citieslarger cities began to exercise began to exercise authorityauthority overover the the bishopsbishops in their vicinity. In in their vicinity. In 341341 the the Council of Antioch ordered that in each Council of Antioch ordered that in each province the province the bishopbishop in the chief city, or in the chief city, or metropolismetropolis, should have , should have precedenceprecedence over over the other bishops in the the other bishops in the provinceprovince, and that , and that the other bishops should ‘do nothing the other bishops should ‘do nothing extraordinary without him.’”extraordinary without him.’” ((Ibid.Ibid. 185) 185)

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APOSTASY IN APOSTASY IN ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION


Authority ofAuthority ofMetropolitansMetropolitansAuthority ofAuthority of

MetropolitansMetropolitans

ProvinceProvince[Diocese][Diocese]



The BishopThe Bishop (Metropolitan)(Metropolitan)

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Church Church CouncilsCouncils

““Councils are legally convened Councils are legally convened assemblies of assemblies of ecclesiastical ecclesiastical dignitariesdignitaries and and theological expertstheological experts for the purpose of discussing and for the purpose of discussing and regulatingregulating matters of church matters of church doctrinedoctrine and and disciplinediscipline.”.”

““General Councils”General Councils”

New Advent Catholic EncyclopediaNew Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

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Ecumenical CouncilsEcumenical CouncilsEcumenical CouncilsEcumenical Councils

The Catholic Church The Catholic Church DevelopsDevelops


ConstantinopleConstantinople NiceaNicea

EphesusEphesus

ChalcedonChalcedon

381381 325325

431431451451

553553

680-681680-681

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Acts 15…Acts 15…First Church First Church Council?Council?

• Confirm what was Confirm what was alreadyalready being taught being taught• Agreement already existed among the Agreement already existed among the

apostles and eldersapostles and elders• Clearly identify the false teachersClearly identify the false teachers• Did not decide doctrine (orthodoxy)Did not decide doctrine (orthodoxy)• Did not write “Church Law”Did not write “Church Law”

Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-27; Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-27; Gal. 2:1-10Gal. 2:1-10

Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-27; Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-27; Gal. 2:1-10Gal. 2:1-10

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PatriarchsPatriarchs““The The bishopsbishops in the chief cities of the Empire had in the chief cities of the Empire had positions of outstanding prestige, a prestige, positions of outstanding prestige, a prestige, which, with modifications, has persisted into our which, with modifications, has persisted into our own day. own day. Especially prominentEspecially prominent were those of were those of JerusalemJerusalem, because of its historic associations , because of its historic associations with the beginning of Christianity, with the beginning of Christianity, AntiochAntioch, the , the chief city of Syria and where the disciples were chief city of Syria and where the disciples were first called Christians, first called Christians, AlexandriaAlexandria, , ConstantinopleConstantinople, and, particularly, , and, particularly, RomeRome. The . The bishopsbishops of these sees were eventually known as of these sees were eventually known as PatriarchsPatriarchs.” .” (Latourette, op. cit.)(Latourette, op. cit.)

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PATRIARCHSPATRIARCHS



RomeRomeRomeRome

ConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinople

AntiochAntiochAntiochAntioch

JerusalemJerusalemJerusalemJerusalem

AlexandriaAlexandriaAlexandriaAlexandria

Colossians 1:18Colossians 1:18Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:2Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:2

Colossians 1:18Colossians 1:18Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:2Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:2

The PapacyThe Papacy““In the year In the year 588588, John, Bishop of , John, Bishop of Constantinople, surnamed the Faster, on Constantinople, surnamed the Faster, on account of his extraordinary abstinence account of his extraordinary abstinence and austerity, assembled, by his own and austerity, assembled, by his own authority a council at Constantinople, to authority a council at Constantinople, to inquire into an accusation brought against inquire into an accusation brought against Peter, Patriarch of Antioch; and upon this Peter, Patriarch of Antioch; and upon this occasion occasion assumed the title of ecumenical, assumed the title of ecumenical, or universal bishopor universal bishop.”.”

((Ecclesiastical HistoryEcclesiastical History, Mosheim, I:145), Mosheim, I:145)

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The PapacyThe Papacy•Gregory the Great (540-604): Bishop of Gregory the Great (540-604): Bishop of Rome called it Rome called it “apostasy”“apostasy” & & “anti-Christ”“anti-Christ”• He obtained a renunciation of “the wicked He obtained a renunciation of “the wicked

title” from new bishop of Constantinople in title” from new bishop of Constantinople in 596596

•Boniface IIIBoniface III (606): Bishop of Rome was (606): Bishop of Rome was conferred title of universal bishop by the conferred title of universal bishop by the Roman emperor (Phocas)Roman emperor (Phocas)• Papal supremacy was introducedPapal supremacy was introduced

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Bishop of Rome: Bishop of Rome: Universal Universal BishopBishop

The Catholic The Catholic ChurchChurch

The Catholic The Catholic ChurchChurch

The The Papacy Papacy 606606 A.D. A.D.

RomeRomeRomeRomeConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinople

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Roman Roman CatholiCatholi

c c ChurchChurch

Roman Roman CatholiCatholi

c c ChurchChurch

Eastern Eastern OrthodoOrthodo

x x ChurchChurch

Eastern Eastern OrthodoOrthodo

x x ChurchChurch

The Great The Great Schism Schism 1054 1054 A.D.A.D.

The Great The Great Schism Schism 1054 1054 A.D.A.D.

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Church and Church and StateStateJohn 18:36John 18:36

““The policy of The policy of ConstantineConstantine (ca. 306- (ca. 306-337) was one of 337) was one of tolerationtoleration. He did . He did not make Christianity the sole not make Christianity the sole religion of the state. That was to religion of the state. That was to follow under later Emperors. He follow under later Emperors. He continued to support both paganism continued to support both paganism and Christianity.”and Christianity.”

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Church and Church and State State John 18:36John 18:36

““He had his children instructed in the He had his children instructed in the Christian faith...he built and enlarged Christian faith...he built and enlarged churches...he forbade any attempt to force churches...he forbade any attempt to force Christians to participate in non-Christian Christians to participate in non-Christian religious ceremonies. religious ceremonies. He took an active He took an active part in the affairs of the Churchpart in the affairs of the Church, thus , thus establishing a precedent which was to be establishing a precedent which was to be followed by his successors.”followed by his successors.”

(Latourette, I:92-93)(Latourette, I:92-93)

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MonasticismMonasticism

““It was partially as a reaction against this laxity It was partially as a reaction against this laxity and partly because of the dissatisfaction which and partly because of the dissatisfaction which the teachings of Jesus and the apostles aroused the teachings of Jesus and the apostles aroused with anything short of perfection that with anything short of perfection that monasticism arose.monasticism arose.

““Although it has been prominent in the churches Although it has been prominent in the churches in which the majority of Christians have been in which the majority of Christians have been enrolled, enrolled, monasticism was unknown in the first monasticism was unknown in the first two centuries of Christianitytwo centuries of Christianity.” .” ((Ibid.Ibid., I:221, 223), I:221, 223)

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Schools of Schools of TheologyTheology

“…“…there were beginning to flower in there were beginning to flower in Alexandria a school of Christian Alexandria a school of Christian thought which was to contribute even thought which was to contribute even more...to the more...to the intellectual formulationintellectual formulation of the Christian faithof the Christian faith..

Schools of Schools of TheologyTheology

““In Alexandria the main focus and In Alexandria the main focus and stimulus to Christian intellectual life was in stimulus to Christian intellectual life was in a catechetical school, made famous a catechetical school, made famous through two of its heads, Clement and through two of its heads, Clement and Origen. This catechetical school was Origen. This catechetical school was already in existence already in existence late in the second late in the second centurycentury. As its name indicates, its primary . As its name indicates, its primary purpose was the purpose was the instruction of candidates instruction of candidates for Church membershipfor Church membership in the principles of in the principles of the Christian faith.” the Christian faith.” ((Ibid.Ibid., I:146-147), I:146-147)

TheThePath of Path of ApostasyApostasy

•Away from “old paths” Away from “old paths” Jer. 6:16-17; 2 Tim. Jer. 6:16-17; 2 Tim. 3:16-173:16-17•Grows worse & worse, Grows worse & worse, 2 2 Tim. 3:13Tim. 3:13

Doctrine of Doctrine of ChristChrist 2 John 2 John

9, 4, 69, 4, 6

the path of apostasy history of the church (4). 2 1 timothy 4:1-6 defection from… defection...

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