The Study of History

Class PrayerClass Prayer “O Father, we have not always been faithful to Thy Word; We have not always taken up our cross to follow Thy Son; And too often we have forgotten the church we are called to serve. Renew in our hearts and in our minds The faith that was in Peter and Paul, The faith that strengthened the ancient martyrs, The faith that moved the pens and lips of the fathers, The faith that built cathedrals and universities, The faith that moved the Reformers to renew the church in their time. O Father, teach us how to impart that faith to Thy people. These petitions we lay before Thy presence in the name of Thy Son our Lord. Amen.” Ford Lewis Battles (1915-79)

Objectives

What is history and by extension Church History? Why study Church History? If you are going to study Church History you need

to define the Church? What are the problems in studying Church History? What are the rewards in studying Church History? What time period does these classes cover?

What is history and by extension Church History?

producing narratives education and awareness of the

present to find out about what happened in the past

and render it intelligible

Secular Definition

“History is the humanistic, interpretive study of past human society, the purpose of which is to gain insight into the present with the fervent hope of perhaps influencing a more favorable future course for the human race.”

Donald Gawronski, History: Meaning and Method, Sernoll, Inc., 1967 (p. 9)

Why study Church History?

for its own sake (i.e. for the pure enjoyment of the stories)

for the sake of the present (i.e. to learn from the past to prevent the same mistakes from happening)

for the sake of philosophy (i.e. to learn who and what we are)

“It is always essential for us to supplement our reading of theology with the reading of church history…If we do not, we shall be in danger of becoming abstract, theoretical, and academic in our view of truth; and, failing to relate it to the practicalities of life and daily living, and we shall soon be in trouble.”

Luke 1:1-4

Dedication to Theophilus 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a

narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. ESV

If you are going to study Church History you need to define the Church?

“The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof…The visible church ...consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion…Unto this catholic visible Church, Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints…”

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 25, 1-3

Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

What are the problems in studying Church History? (i.e. the problem of selection).

PEOPLE INTERNAL EXTERNAL TIME GOD

Secular approaches

Pre-modern or ideologicalSee supplemental from Eusebius

Eusebius: was a Roman historian, of Greek descent, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea about A.D 314.

Voltaire: French Philosopher and Historian 1694-1778

Friedrich Hegel: German Philosopher 1770-1831

Karl Marx: German Philosopher and Economist

Post-Modern or Deconstructive

The Bible believing evangelical Christian Historian

God is sovereign over all events (Genesis 1:1).

And since God has revealed Himself, it is possible to know something about Church History

“by research and prayer they are trying to do this task of studying the history of God’s people.”

Rewards in studying Church History

God’s gloryOur benefit and blessingThe good of the church

What time period does these classes cover?

The post-apostolic period beginning around 100A.D.

Ending with the 12th/13th centuries A.D.