Post on 22-May-2015
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Missions History of Missions
Dr. Robert PattonMissionary to Suriname,
South America
Persecution 250-313
Decius demanded every citizen to make a yearly sacrifice to the genius of the emperor, and received a certificate. Origen was tortured – later died
Diocletian, a powerful military ruler, no longer shared power with the senate, and tolerated no other religion. Severe persecution broke out 303-305
Rome persecuted the believers
While Christianity was viewed as a Jewish sect, there was not a great amount of persecution, as Judaism was tolerated. But when the church spread, and was rejected by the Jews, persecution began as the population of Christians rose to 5-15% of the population, and held themselves apart
Persecution – Diocletian
Churches were burned, leaders captured and killed if they refused to make a sacrifice. Jails were too full to have regular criminals in them
311 – Galerius – edict of toleration 313 – Constantine – freedom of all
religions Showed importance of separation of
church and state
Results of persecution
Christianity was first strong in the east 2e – reached the Greek-speaking masses
– esp. Alexandria 3e – moved into Latin areas, with
Carthage as a strong church There was the problem of what to do
with Christians who denied the faith or gave over scriptures, and came back when the persecution was over
Perpetua Her father, a nobleman, pled with her
to recant; she refused. He took a beating to try to get her free She had a new-born, and also her
slave girl had just delivered She at last pushed the family away Perpetua gored by a bull, then
beheaded
Polycarp was known and hated by unbelievers
He glorified Jesus Christ He spoke against idolatry He was effective not only in
Smyrna, but also traveled to Rome He was powerful in prayer His strong testimony led to his
being burned to death A. D. 156
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna
A second problem – false beliefs
Most believers were: Jews who brought the legalistic
methods of the Old Testament with them
Greeks who brought their philosophy with them
Legalistic – Ebionites
Believed that both Jews and Greeks should hold the OT laws, which were the highest expression of God’s will
They believed that Jesus, son of Joseph, attained some level of deity when the Holy Spirit came upon Him
Philosophic heresies
Gnosticism believed in dualism, with clear separation of matter, which is evil and not created by God, and Spirit, which is good
Jehovah, a demiurge, was a mixture of spirit and matter and created this evil world
Gnosticism
The Christ is spiritual. Either the man Jesus was a phantom, or the Christ came on Him at baptism and left Him on the cross
Salvation comes to those spiritual people who have this special knowledge or those having faith without the special knowledge. No physical resurrection
Gnosticism
You could be an ascetic or libertine – the body is irrelevant
There was a tendency of elitism and antisemitism against the Jew and Jehovah
Refuted by men such as Tertullian, Iraeneus & Hippolytus
Many different sects – Marcion most popular
Manicheanism
Dualism devised by Mani – like Zoroastrianism
Man was an emanation from a person who was an emanation from the king of light. But primitive man tricked by the ruler of darkness, and man became a mixture of the two
You release the light through asceticism
Manicheanism
They believed sex was evil, and favored a priestly class
Augustine was in the belief 12 years before accepting Christ – then refuted it
Neoplatonism
Absolute Being had emanations or overflow by which humans were created
Through mystic intuition you are absorbed into the one and have ecstacy (It seems like pure monism of Hinduism to me)
Emperor Julian tried to make it the religion of the empire 361-363
Theological errors
Montanism – inspiration was instantaneous and immediate and he himself was the Holy Spirit
God was going to set up his kingdom in Phrygia, and he would have an important part
Montanism
Tertullian was in the system We must rely on the Holy Spirit,
and not ignore man’s spiritual nature
Monarchianism
This was overemphasis on the unity of God resulting in Unitarianism, and denying the deity of Christ
Paul of Samosata – Jesus was a good man. The Logos came on Him at baptism and He became divine
Adoptionist monarchianism
Monarchianism
Sabellius – in attempting to avoid three gods, he used modalism – that God appeared in three forms – as the Father in the O.T. as creator, as the Son in the N.T. as redeemer, and as the Holy Spirit after the resurrection. Not 3 persons, but 3 manifestations. This is like Jesus Only Pentecostalism
Donatism
Arose concerning the validity of ordination through the hands of a traitor who denied Christ
The church decided that the validity of a sacrament was not dependent on the character of the one administering it
Attempts to answer a hostile Roman empire – apologists
Justyn Martyr – defended against atheism, idolatry, cannibalism, incest, immorality
Dialog with Trypho – tried to convince the Jews that Jesus is the messiah
Tatian also wrote to the Greeks Athenagoras also wrote, as well as
Theophilus
Apologists – western
Tertullian – showed Christianity as the final answer to religion
Tertullian - apologist
Internal threat of false religionPolemicists
Used the New Testament extensively
Iranaeus – missionary bishop to Gaul. Wrote against gnosticism; supported apostolic succession
Alexandrian school – Pantanaeus, Clement, Origin used allegorical method of interpretation in place of grammatico-historic methods
Alexandrian school Clement of Alexandria ended up
with syncretic mix of bible and Greek philosophy
Origen – extremely capable. Took over family of six after his father Leonides was martyred. Age 18 took over the school from Clement; wrote extensively 6000 scrolls, but lived simply
Clement of Alexandria
Origen’s false beliefs
Christ eternally generated from the Father and subordinate to Him
Pre-existence of the soul The ransom theory of Christ’s
death No physical resurrection Universalism – the final restoration
of all souls
Origen – Alexandrian leader, capable but strange beliefs
Carthaginian school
Tertullian – apologist, also advocated simple lifestyle & no immorality
First to state the trinity, the traducian doctrine of the soul; heavy emphasis on baptism with sins later mortal sins
Cyprian – bishop of Carthage 9 years till his death as a martyr. Opposed Stephen’s claim of priority of bishop of Rome
Cyprian
Two ideas later developed – apostolic succession as protection of heresy from Peter on.
Priests sacrificing the body of Christ
Cyprian
The church’s defense against heresy & persecution
The position of the bishop was exalted above that of the normal church leaders
The Roman bishop was considered in apostolic succession from Peter, despite the fact that Jesus probably referred to his confession, Peter denied the Lord, and Paul once rebuked Peter publically
Development of creeds & canon
A convenient short summary of faith and practice – apostle’s creed of baptism, etc. – approx. 340 A.D.
N.T. canon- mostly done by 175 AD Written by apostle or close associate
of an apostle Edification Consistency with faith of creeds, etc
Canon of the church
180 – list was 22 books – some questioned James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude, Hebrews & Revelation
Athanasius – 367 – same 27 books as today. Carthage – 397 – same books
Liturgy – baptism & communion
Felt could only be administered by authorized individuals - priests
Baptism – initially via belief; then by catechism; usually Easter or Pentecost
Usually by immersion; a few advocated infant baptism
Church started feasts such as Christmas, Lent, etc
Constantine takes over
313 – persecution ends. Then lands given back, state supports clergy, clergy exempt from public service
Founded Constantinople, center of power for the east
Constantine’s sons continued to favor the church
Julian the apostate helped paganism briefly
Emperor Constantine
Christianity = state religion
Theodosius I – made it so 380 Pagan worship punished 392 Athens philosophic school closed
529 Many advantages in outreach, but
now the state involved in the church
Theodosius I - Emperor
Theodosius and Ambrose
Barbarians invade from the east
There were waves of Goths, Visigoths, Anglo-Saxons, Ostrogoths, and Vandals invading, followed by Mongol Huns
Rome sacked 410
Gregory Thaumaturgus
Bishop in the area of Pontus, who saw a sort of people movement. It was claimed that only 17 Christians were there when he arrived, and only 17 non-Christians when he died
Various miracles were attributed to him
Catholics made him a “patron saint” of lost causes
Gregory Thaumaturgus
Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian fled, trained as Christian Returned when Armenia freed, and
jailed when he refused to put garland on a heathen altar
Later the king Tiridates was baptized and destroyed the heathen temple
Gregory “the illuminator”
Armenia became a Christian nation after the king converted
The New Testament was translated into Armenian
Estimated 2,500,000 Armenians became Christians
Gregory the Illuminator & his burial place in this cathedral
Armenia
By 410 the New Testament was translated
The church is one of the oldest in Christianity
Coptic church
Frumentius and his brother were shipwrecked in Ethiopia. They preached the gospel
Athanasius made Frumentius bishop of Ethiopia
Frumentius, bishop of Ethiopia
Rome evangelized Italy
The Italia translation was made very early, possibly 150 A.D.
Church spread to France though not with great results – Irenaeus was bishop of Lyon (France) 175-200 A.D.
Church in England by the 2nd century though not known by whom
Iraneus, bishop of Lyon
Tigris-Euphrates valley
Early spread to Arbela (north of Tigris) by end of 1st century
Tradition – Thomas all the way to India
Edessa in upper Euphrates was a major center, and the king converted by 200 A.D. But was soon overthrown by Romans
Syriac Bible translated by 150 A.D.
Thomas - India
May have been jailed by King Gundaphorus
Tradition states that he was speared to death in India having started churches there
Mar Thoma churches still exist; here is a convention
Christianity spread also
Arabia by third century Strong church in Alexandria Carthage also had Christians –
either from Rome (was a Roman colony) or from nearby
Tertullian, Cyprian and Augustine were all from North Africa
Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD
There was no evidence of priority of the bishop of Rome during this time (no pope)There were no icons, prayers to Mary or prayers to the saints during this time
Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD
The church was spread widely with much persecution
Some fled and became hermits, especially in Egypt (Antony 270 A.D.)
Some chose to be ascetics and come away from the world
There were many martyrs, as noted above
Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD
There were false teachings during that time, and false teachers
Apologetics were present
Summary of situation with the “conversion” of Constantine
Estimated 10-15% of the Roman empire were Christian
With Christianity becoming tolerated and then popular, it became contaminated by many Roman heathen customs
Martyrdom was in the past The church became related to the
state
Summary after Constantine
Edict of Toleration A.D. 313 Christianity the official religion of
the Roman Empire A.D. 375 Now expedient to become
Christian, and masses of individuals baptized
Council of Nicea to establish the deity of Christ
Effects of Constantine
Church growth was probably hindered by ulterior motives of many ‘converts”
Those who rejected false beliefs retreated into asceticism & monasticism
Evangelization became less outside the Roman Empire
Summary of the situation in early centuries
Church spread through Mesopotamia
Armenia - by the 4th century Strong churches in North Africa
early Turkey, etc - Polycarp gave strong
witness
There were churches with strong missions emphasis
Antioch – the strongest Ephesus – especially through Asia Egypt – Alexandria – Pantaenus, etc. Carthage – Tertullian Some of these churches had some
teachings which were influenced by gnosticism or Arianism, especially in Alexandria
Summary of Council of Nicea
Established that Arianism is heresy – denying the deity of Christ
Settling the inspired books of the Bible, the canon
Monastacism begins
Athanasius writes the life of Antony. He is the bishop of Alexandria
Monasteries begin, especially with Basil the great, who was also a friend of Gregory and also a brother of another Gregory who was another bishop
John Chyrsostom was a godly eloquent archbishop of Constantinople – the orthodox church is beginning at this time
Athanesius – bishop of Alexandria, defeated Arianism
St. Catherine’s monastery – where Sinaiticus was found
Spread of Christianity before Islam
Ulfinas - missionary to the Goths (311) (Area of Romania)
Raised with the Goths – mother Gothic, father a Christian captured by the Goths
Sent to Constantinople as a diplomat, converted, learned Greek under Eusebius, an Arian or Semi-Arian
Age 30 made bishop of the Goths, went north of the Danube, out of Roman territory
Strong opposition by a chieftain who felt Ulfinas wanted to put the Goths under Rome in 348 AD
Ulfinas - missionary to the Goths (311) (Area of Romania)
Ulfinas actually moved the location of his church to the other side of the Danube after many deaths.
Ulfinas translated the entire Bible with the exception of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings because of the military exploits there.
Very accurate translation after reducing Gothic tongue to a written language
Ulfinas – remarkable leader
Taught a mild form of Arianism which persisted with the Visigoths in Spain much later as well as Lollards
The followers of Ulfinas after his death at age 70 were still effective though the Visigoths attacked Rome in 410 AD
Martin of Tours (316-396)
Missionary to France – organized soldier bands. Humble, wise, would not leave his cell to be made bishop
Broke down idols proclaiming Christianity
Still considered the patron saint of France
Martin of Tours – patron saint of soldiers by Catholic church
Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland)
Born in Britain around 389. His father was a deacon, his grandfather a priest in the Celtic church.
He was captured and a slave in Ireland tending swine.
He was converted, and escaped and went to a monastery where he trained as a priest
Stained glass window of St. Patrick
Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland)
After training as a deacon, he felt called to Ireland. Initially, another was sent as better prepared, but died, and Patrick arrived back at over 40 years of age in 432.
He clashed with the druids, who were involved in witchcraft & human sacrifices.
He tried to win a power encounter showing himself stronger than them…
Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland) He worked through the political
powers, but emphasized spiritual growth- 200 churches & 100,000 baptized converts
Monasteries he helped establish had a lot of influence later
He remained a humble man
Britain By the time of Constantine, there
were churches there, but later destroyed by Anglo-Saxons, and were re-evangelized in the 5th century.
Most effective was Columba & 12 workers from Ireland to Scotland and the monastery at Iona.
In the 7th century, Aldan went there
Celtic missionaries
A group of 12 under an abbot would begin a village with a church, surrounded by huts for monks and school rooms
They would begin a church, teach, translate scriptures into the native language, and handicrafts
Monks could marry or remain single
Columba Born in 521 and raised a Christian Initially Celtic church starting an
abbot-center in Ireland, Left for Britain after involvement in
a war with many dead which started, unbelievably, over a copy of a psalter which he had made leading to a war.
Columba – another Celtic priest
Columba In 563, he went to Scotland and
evangelized that entire area. He founded a school for missions
and a monastery on Iona, formerly the center of druid worship.
They trained evangelist missionaries. They had a major impact on Britain & Scotland and a worldwide ministry
Monastery at Iona
Aiden followed Columba
King Oswald apparently converted around 634 after success in battle. He asked Iona for teachers – Aiden came
Oswald died in 642 but his brother followed as a Christian
Aiden was followed by Cuthbert
The church councils between 313 - 451
The church now wants uniform creeds to solidify her teaching and avoid heresy
Council of Nicea 325 – called by Constantine, paid for by the state – with 200 bishops, mostly from the east
Question – is Jesus of the same essence as the Father. Arius said no, he was a different essence and created by the Father
Arianism
Jesus created, attained divinity but not deity equal with the Father
Athanasius – same essence but different personality; necessary for salvation = coequal, cosubstantial, coeternal
Eusebius of Caesarea tried to compromise
Contention from 325-381
Arianism condemned first, then won
Eventually the orthodox view prevailed
Cost – imperial domination. Eventually the west was free, but never the east
Relation of the Father and the Holy Spirit
Macedonius taught that the Holy Spirit was a creature, and not deity – but a servant of the Father on the level of the angels. This view was condemned
The nature of Christ Apolarius taught that Christ had a
normal body and soul, but the logos came on Him – this was condemned
Nestorius, to avoid Mary being the mother of God, stated that she was only the mother of the human side of Jesus = so He would be the God-bearer rather than the God-man. This was condemned, but Nestorians went east
The nature of Christ
Eutyches claimed that the two natures of Christ were fused into one divine nature. The council of Chalcedon stated that Christ had two separate natures, not confused, but in one person. This has been the orthodox stand since. Revived in the Monophysite controversy
The will of Christ
Two wills – the divine is dominant and the human submits
Teachings concerning the nature of man
Pelagius – each man’s soul individually created by God and uncontaminated by the sin of Adam. Each man could choose good or evil. No original sin. No need for infant baptism
Augustine – the entire race fell with Adam, and man cannot exert his own free will to choose salvation. Salvation only through grace to those elected for salvation
Teaching on salvation of man
Pelagius views condemned Cassian – tried compromise – semi-
Pelagianism… Problem in that often the life of the
believer did not correspond to his creed.
The Post-Nicean fathers
Crystostom (347-407) Well trained classically, lawyer, then monk, and then became an ascetic. He was eventually made Bishop of Constantinople. Ethics and the cross go together
Theodore (350-428) Great exegite and opponent of allegorical interpretation.
The Post-Nicean fathers
Crystostom (347-407) Well trained classically, lawyer, then monk, and then became an ascetic. He was eventually made Bishop of Constantinople. Ethics and the cross go together
Theodore (350-428) Great exegite and opponent of allegorical interpretation.