Heresy

A belief contrary to some essential belief of the faith.

Counters MAJOR issues (not just opinions like the color of the building or stuff like that); sincere convictions and attempts to understand faith; oftentimes, it’s a partial truth.

Gnostics

All matter is evil human body is evil Jesus CANNOT be human … because how can Jesus/God be evil?THEREFORE … Jesus only appeared to be human.Also, only they had the “secret knowledge” (secret gnosis) about salvation … basically, they knew which doormat had the key to heaven hidden under it, and no one else knew the secret password.

ANTI-Gnostics

Irenaeus ~ bishop of Lyons … we need to be on the same page about this “Jesus” in whom we believe (from Council of Jerusalem); there are some basic beliefs that need to be agreed upon.By 200, Apostles Creed (formulated statement of faith)Gnostics, for the most part, end here.

Arians

Priest Arius thinks “unknowable unreachable unchangable God could never take the form of a human being” … because, well, then the unchangable would have changed.God made Jesus Jesus must be less than God (because you can’t create something greater than yourself) & there had to be a time when God existed without Jesus (before Jesus was created).Jesus is neither human nor divine … just somewhere in between.

Council of Nicea

Convened by Constantine (emperor?!?) in 3251st ecumenical (worldwide) council; 300+ come“Arius is a heretic!!!”Nicene Creed … Jesus is not “made by” but “one with” God BOTH human AND divine (as opposed to Arianist “neither human nor divine”); FULLY human and FULLY GodDefining moment … creed is still used today.

Arianism Continues On

Very popular heresy, especially in the EastBishop of Constantinople was ArianSome emperors are Arian, others are orthodoxEach emperor pulls opposing bishops, and puts in their own Arian emperor, Arian bishops; orthodox emperor, orthodox bishopsSo really, no one knows quite WHAT to believe … because it keeps changing!

Athanasius vs. the AriansBishop Athanasius ~ made in the image of God“The Word of God became man so that you might learn from a man how a man may become God” … Jesus is a model we can understand; he speaks our language; we can identify with him.Jesus:God::brightness:light inseparable; “Jesus is the brilliant reflection of God”Removed from Bishopship five times by four emperors; exiled for 17 years.

Theodosius Ends Arianism … sort of380 … outlaws paganism and makes Christianity the official/required religion392 … outlaws Arianism (after all, Arianism is a Christian heresy, which is different from paganism and was therefore legal)395 … Christianity (as practiced/taught by the anti-Arian church) becomes the ONLY religion allowed in the Roman Empire.HOWEVER … Arianism lingers on, especially in the East; becomes issue in the Great E/W Schism

Donatists

Priest DonatusApostasy is unforgivable apostate bishops are unforgivable … and therefore are unable to perform sacraments “correctly”In other words, the validity of the sacrament depends on the worthiness of the minister.SO … if your priest has sinned, then that’s not really the Body & Blood of Jesus that you’re receiving.

Augustine vs. the DonatistsWe’re all faulty flawed human beings … no one is “worthy” or “holy” enoughThe minister doesn’t “do” the sacrament … rather, God performs it, THROUGH weak humansDonatists don’t allow for God’s power & graceIn the process … Augustine really clarified the Church’s understanding/theology of sacraments

Pelagians

Monk Pelagius was fed up with the moral laxity of the day – people need to be held responsible for their actions! But, it goes a bit too far …You can get to heaven without grace (that special inner help from God) salvation comes from working hard.So … who needs God to get to heaven? Just do enough good stuff & you’ll be set.

Augustine vs. the PelagiansYou can’t negate God’s grace!Humans have this innate tendency towards sin (original sin) … without God’s grace, we are powerless to overcome this tendency.Therefore, we NEED God’s grace to keep us on track.Think 12-Step Programs … admitting we are powerless & need a Higher Power.Becomes issue especially during Reformation – salvation by faith or salvation by works.

Arianism Still a ProblemStill an issue, especially in the East and among barbarian tribesNew twist … the divine part of Jesus gradually “absorbed” the human part of Jesus Jesus had divine nature but not a human natureLOTS of fights; Patriarch of Constantinople (bishop of C’nople) killed in riots CouncilSyria & Ethiopia hold to this approach; split off into the Jacobite church and Coptic church

Council of Chacedon

Pope Leo the Great (Leo I) in 451Reasserted that Jesus had two natures – REAL human and REAL Son of GodReinforces teaching of Incarnation, that Jesus is both God and manCouncil, however, sets the stage for trouble between the Eastern & Western churches

Patriarch of ConstantinopleCouncil also decided that Bishop of Rome was pre-eminent (most important) among all bishopsPatriarch of C’nople was second-in-commandAntioch & Alexandria mad, because they had been second, been around 300 years longer, etc.Leo unhappy, too, saw it as political – emperor (living in C’nople) could mess with the churchLeads to 500+ years of tensions between Eastern Church (led by patriarch) & Western (bish of Rome)

Ambrose, Augustine, LeoDonatists, Pelagians, Confessions, City of GodSupreme Pontiff, Theodosius, Reluctant FolkCouncil of ChalcedonEast & West Issues

Comic stripSomehow, list of key names, events, etc.Study/ReviewPages 73-81; 89-101Quiz &

– Ambrose: The Reluctant Leader• The People’s Choice ~ unbaptized Milan governor calmed mob disputing Arian bishop, “Amb for

bish”• Administrator, Student, Teacher, and Pastor ~ learn on feet; wrote LOTS of theology; scholar, pastor• Courage in the Face of Imperial Power ~ stood up various emperors Chh force to be reckoned with

– Augustine: Longing for “the City of God” ~ Roman Africa; pagan father, Xian mother• In Search of Meaning ~ smart carouser; Manichaean (one god creates good, one god creates bad

no one responsible for own sins); Monica prays much for him; in Rome, found Plato, learned single God & spiritual side of humans, met Ambrose; Ambrose message & Monica’s love won out reform

• From Convert to Bishop ~ The Confessions (bio); restless heart used to love God & serve; 33yo baptized; started monastery in NAfr; priest, stayed single; elected bishop of Hippo by congregation

• An Answer of Life’s Longing ~ weaksensitive; failneed for God; “hearts restless till rest in you”• The City of God” ~ 410 Goths took Rome; RomEmp=selfish city of Man; Xty builds city

of God in chaos• The Rising Influence of the Papacy ~ Chh fills vacuum of power with pope, bishop of

Rome– Leo the Great: Redefining the Pope’s Role ~ 440; bishRome statesman, spir leader, admin,

scholar, saint• The “Supreme Pontiff” ~ Pontifex Maximus “highest bridgemaker”, previously used by emperors,

now Leo to show greatness of power; “Supreme Pontiff”; pappas Gk respectful affectionate “father” when small Rome community had friendly leader; title shift office shift to powerful state official

• The Pope as Peacemaker ~ Attila the Hun retreat by talk with pope at Emp request, Vandals not kill– Leo and Church Controversies ~ lead in secular affairs; theological differences; Arianism in

East