GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH Gaithersburg, Maryland
The History of the Early Christian Church Unit Two – The Early Church Fathers “Who Were They?” “Why Do We Remember Them?”
The Latin Fathers The 3nd. of Three Sessions in Unit Two The 7th Sunday of Easter - The Sunday after the Ascension – May 14, 2020 (Originally Scheduled / Prepared for the 4th Sunday of Lent, 2020)
I. Now Just Where Were We? It has been a long time since we were considering the Church Fathers in Unit 2. This is a “pick up session,” now that we have completed the 14 other sessions of this series on The History of the Early Christian Church. Some may remember that we were giving our attention to the early Church Fathers when the interruption of the Covid19 virus descended upon us, and we found ourselves under stay at home policies. Thanks to our pastor’s leadership ond our well equipped communications equipment and the skill of Pilip Muschke, we were able to be “on line` almost St. Jerome - Translator of Latin Vulgate instanetly. We missed only one session between our live class 4-5th Century and our first on line class. Today, we pick up the session we missed. We had covered two sessions of the three session Unit 2. The first of these sessions was on The Apostolic Fathers. These were those who had either known our Lord or known those who did. Among those would have been the former disciples of Jesus or the early first generation apostles. These were the primary sources to whom the ministry of our Lord was “handed off.” Saint Paul was among them. He considered himself as an apostle, one who had seen the Lord1 But, more about them in the following review. At this point, the Church was just one generation from extinction! The second group of the Early Church Fathers was those known as The Greek Church Fathers. They resided in the Eastern side of the Roman Empire. The language in this region was Greek, not Latin as it was in the West. They wrote, spoke and read Greek. We have covered the Apostolic Fathers, and the Greek Fathers in earlier sessions.
1. I Corinthians 15:8-9. – “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.“ Saint Paul has listed the resurrection appearances of Jesus as they were reported to him, and this was his conclusion. He considered himself an apostle, one to whom the Risen Lord had appeared.
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 1 II. The Early Church Fathers These leaders and their times were very important, we might say “critical” for the growth of the scattered communities of early Christian believers. We used three adjectives to define the times: Difficult, Challenging, and Dangerous. Each of these applied through the early centuries in varying circumstances from theology (and especially Christology) to persecution, to the division of the Roman Empire, and through the doctrinal issues of seven Ecumenical Councils As noted in the previos section, we have defined these “Fathers” into three groups. A brief review of the first two groups will lead us into the discussion of the last of the three, the Latin Fathers. • The Apostolic Fathers are the earliest of the theologians and leaders, other than,of course, the Blessed Apostle Paul and the Four evangelists. These Apostolic Fathers lived in the 1st and early 2nd centuries, and were known to some of the disciples of our Lord or were acquainted with those who had known them. Some might have heard our Lord speak, and most surely knew one or more of the disciples This was the time of “handing off” to a new generation the experience of our Lord and His teachings. Some of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers seem to have been as highly regarded as the writings that eventually became a part of our New Testament. When thinking of the Apostolic Fathers, one thinks of names such as Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, and Polycarp of Smyrna.2 Then, too, we would not wish to forget Barnabas and Papas of Hierapolis!! • The Greek Fathers had our attention during our session on 8 March.. Just their title explains some of the issues that arose for the early Christians. Even before Constantine I had signed the Edict of Toleration in 311 CE and the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, making Christianity a legal religion in the empire,3 the Roman Empire had been divided into an Eastern and a Western governmental region. It was done by Emperor Diocletian in 285 CE. The size of the empire was becoming a difficult governing issue. Christians did not cause it, but they were affected by it, and among themselves represented for a while two differing cultures. While Saint Paul, and Peter too, worked in the area of Europe and the fringe of Asia, early Christian Polycarp of Smyrna missionary work was being done in other parts of Asia too. The Ancient Church Father Book of the Acts of the Apostles reports on a somewhat “western surge” of the missionary work. But, some of the oldest Christian churches today are showing up in Syria, and the Nineveh plains. In our day, Christians of these churches have suffered terribly from ISIS, the Taliban, and overall civil unrest! The West was a “Latin” culture and the East was largely “Greek and Syriac.” Traditions, liturgies, and theologies were frequently in tension, and as we study the Seven Ecumenical Councils, we shall see these tensions on those agendas. The Greek Fathers were such leaders and martyrs as Justin
2. Apostolic Fathers – In truth, the term does not appear in studies of Church history until 1672 CE. It was then that scholars became interested in the writings of this earliest generation of theologians and leaders in the Church, those who were most likely to have been disciples of the Apostles. In fact, we know that some were!
3. And ending forever the more than two centuries of the on again off again brutal persecution of Christians.
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 2 Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Origin of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, Cyril of Alexandria and John Chrysostom. (This is about half of those usually included among the Greek Fathers. • The Churches of the East and of the West also celebrate The Four Great Fathers. Curiously, none of those so named are the same for both churches. It is useful to list then another time. The Western Church The Eastern Church . Ambrose - 340-397 CE Basil of Constantinople 329-379 CE Jerome - 347-420 CE Athanasius of Alexandria 296-373 CE Augustine of Hippo 354-430 Gregory of Naziananzus 329-389 CE Pope Gregory 540-604 CE John Chrysostom 347-407 CE
III. The Latin Fathers It sounds too simple: “Latin Fathers” are those who wrote in Latin.4 It identifies their culture and their audience. They lived in and wrote to the Latin Church. Think Rome! The ancient historical forms of Christianity today are generally represented in the Roman Catholic Church (Latin) and in the Eastern Orthodox Church and its many variations.(Greek) Many of the churches of Eastern Orthodox tradition are national churches. They are considered “Autocephalous.” or independent national churches (such as the Russian Orthodox Church.) Many of these may be familiar to us, at least by name. Now, back to the Latin Fathers. Each deserves far more than the brief paragraphs that follow.
• TERTULLIAN – (155 - 221 CE) One of the most prolific writers of Christian apologies and other theological works, and a solid defender of the doctrine of the Trinity. He comes to us at the middle of the 2nd Century. Born in Carthage, he was the son of a Roman centurion. He denounces what he believed to be Christian heresies, and considered Christianity the “true religion.” In so doing he relegated the classic religions of the Roman Empire to be mere superstitions. He is sometimes called “Father of the Latin Church.” However, in later life, he became a believer in Montanism, a rigorous belief begun by a Christian prophet named Montanus, who taught a reliance upon the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit, and practices of rigorous religions disciplines. It was declared a heresy by the early Church.5
• CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE (200-258 CE) A convert to Christianity after his excellent classical (pagan) education. After his conversion, he ultimately became Bishop of Carthage. He was deeply concerned about the unity of Christians and bishops and was an early supporter of the authority of the Roman See, perhaps built upon the stature of St. Peter as the first Bishop of Rome.
4. The Latin Fathers – That is to say, they wrote in Latin, as opposed to Greek, and Syriac. A few Church Fathers wrote in Syriac. Their works were widely translated into Latin and Greek.
5. Montanism – Today it might be compared to the Pentecostal and legalistic movements in some church traditions.
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 3 • HILARY OF POITERS (300-368 CE) Hilary’s name from comes a Latin root, meaning “happy or cheerful.” He is considered a Doctor of the Church and has sometimes been called the “Hammer of the Arians,” or the “Athanasius of the West.” He was the Bishop of Poitiers, a town in France that became a Christian center during his bishopric. His service follows the time of the Nicene Creed which had, among other things, declared the teachings of Arius to be heretical. As Baptistere - St. Jean Poitiers, France the first bishop of Poitiers, he was a strong Oldest Christian Church in France supporter of the Nicene understanding of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
• AMBROSE OF MILAN (340-397 CE) So much can be and should be said about this 4th century Archbishop of Milan. He staunchly opposed Arianism, as did Hilary. He was a theologian, hymn writer, and is traditionally credited with the introduction of Ambrosian Chant, a practice of antiphonal singing. He translated several hymns of the Eastern Church (Greek) into Latin for use in the Western church. Tradition says he composed the “Te Deum” hymn while presiding over the baptism of Augustine, upon whom he is said to have had significant influence. Prior to his consecration as Archbishop in 374 CE, he had served as the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia. He is one of the Four Great Fathers in the Western Church
• POPE DAMASUS I (305-384 CE) Recognized as a Saint, he was a strong leader for the Church. He was consecrated as the Bishop of Rome in 366 CE and served in that office until his death. During his bishopric he called and presided over the Council of Rome in 382 CE which determined the Canon of the Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments, He spoke out against Apollinarianism6 and Macedonianism,7 as well as Arianism. He commissioned Saint Jerome to translate the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. During his early years he had been a contemporary of Constantine I, the Emperor who signed the Edict of Milan,8 an edict he was forced to sign because of Licinius, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire, who remained in favor of Rome’s pagan traditions. Pope Damasus I sent legates to the First Council of Constantinople in 381 CE.
6. Apollinarianism - Apolinais taught the Jesus had a real human body but a divine mind and not a human soul. The Council of Constantinople of 381 CE declared the teaching heretical. It died shortly thereafter.
7. Macedonianism - Denied the divine nature or personality to the Holy Spirit. It was taught by Macedonius, a former bishop of Constantinople. It was declared a heresy and the bishop was deposed.
8. Edict of Milan - This Edict, signed in 312 CE, followed the Edict of Toleration, signed by both Constantine I and Licinius in 311 CE. The Edict of Toleration ended persecution of Christians and others. The Edict of Milan granted freedom to all Christians in all parts of the Roman Empire.
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 4 • SAINT JEROME OF STRIDONIUM (347-420) - Saint Jerome’s is a long and interesting story, but he is best known as the translator of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament canonical books from Greek into Latin, a task that was taken from the commission of Pope Damasus I. He began in 382 and finished in 405 CE. Saint Jerome was thought to be facile in Greek, and less so in Hebrew. However, before this task was undertaken, while in Antioch, he had met a Jew who had converted to Christianity. He mastered Hebrew with the aid of this new friend. Jerome also had at hand a copy of the Septuagint, a 2nd century translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek by a “committee of seventy.” However, it had not been accepted as Icon of Saint Jerome accurate by the rabbinical teachers. “It was too ‘Hellenistic’ in its translation,” they said. So correcting the Septuagint and moving to a fully new translations of the Hebrew scriptures into Latin, and moving the mostly Greek New Testament books into Latin, Jerome developed what is yet an authoritative text in the Roman Catholic Church. It is called the Latin Vulgate. A side note: Tradition says that Jerome did his work in a studio of a warren of caves adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
• SAINT AUGUSTINE (354-430 CE) A bishop and a, Doctor of the Western Church, he is considered one of the most influential persons in the development of Western Christianity. He was always a serious student, reading widely in the Greek and Western worlds. But he was not always a “holy” man, as he will recount later in his writings. His mother was a Christian, and she pleaded unceasingly for his conversion. But, he took a concubine and became a Manichean.9 Augustine claimed later that it was the singing of Christians that brought him to conversion. (However, placing more emphasis upon the message than the music, he would later comment that if he remembered the tune but could not remember the message, it might be better had he not ever heard the tune.) Once converted, he was a lion for the Church. He served as the Bishop of the Hippo region of North Africa. Saint Jerome said of Augustine that “he established anew the ancient Faith.” Augustine’s conversion ro Christianity came in August 386 CE at the age of 31, reading among other things, Romans 13:13-14: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Saint Ambrose baptized Augustine and his son in Milan at the Easter Vigil on April 24-25, 388 CE. A year later, Augustine completed his first theological work, just before the death of his mother, Monica. She lived to see his baptism! His major works include “On Christian Doctrine“, “The City of God”,10 and “The Confessions.”11 All three of these works are read avidly yet today. Augustine
9. Manicheanism – a 3rd to 4th century heresy founded by Manes that was a synthesis of Zoroastrian dualism between light and darkness folklore and Buddist ethics and superficial elements of Christianity.
10. The City of God – Written to comfort Christians at the time of the violent fall of the city of Rome.
11. The Confessions - Saint Augustine’s spiritual autobiography.
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 5 worked tirelessly. In 391 CE he was ordained priest in Algeria and he became a famous preacher, leaving more than 350 preserved sermons! In 395 CE he became coadjutor Bishop of Hippo and shortly after, Bishop. About 1100 years later, a young former law student would become an Augustinian friar. His name was Martin Luther. He would consider Saint Augustine the most important of all of the Church Fathers.
• POPE GREGORY THE GREAT (540-604 CE) Looking at the dates we see that Gregory was born about 130 years after the violent sack of the city of Rome in 410 CE. by the Visigoths. While the Byzantine Empire (East Rome) thrived in Constantinople, it was not so in Rome. He was the son of a Roman senator and he was himself a Prefect of Rome at the age of 30. Later, he tried monastic life, but returned to public life. Once he became a bishop, his public experience appears to have served him well as an administrator, He served as pope Gregory the Great from 590 to 604 CE, and his accomplishments are many, from challenging the theological views of Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople before Emperor Tiberias II to regaining papal suthority in Spain and France. He sent missionaries to England. He accomplished the realignment of barbarian alliances to Rome from their Arian Christian beliefs. He saw Franks, Lombards, and Visigoths join Rome in their faith.. Yet, he may be best remembered for his role as “the Father of Christian Worship.” It is said that he worked to codify the ancient Christian chants, with their roots in synagogue worship, into 8 musical “tomes,” by which non-metrical liturgical texts and Scripture can be sung. It is called “Gregorian Chant.” Medieval Gregorian
• ISIDORE OF SEVILLE (560-636 CE) Isidore, Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades is called by some church historians “the last scholar of the ancient world.” He was involved in converting the Arian Visigoths to Catholicism. It is claimed that all the historical writings of the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) come from his histories. Perhaps so! Being almost a contemporary with Pope Gregory, he too was involved in improving the alignment of the post Roman Empire in Western Europe. He played a key role in the Councils of Toledo and Seville. It is thought by modern historians that these councils were a significant influence toward representative government.
IV. The Syriac Fathers There are but four that should be held up in this survey. But, that must be another day. For the record now, they are:: Aphrahat (270-345 CE) Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 CE) Isaac of Antioch (451-452 CE) No, this is not a typo! It is the best we have. Isaac of Nineveh (7th Century) We know little about the Church in the Middle East. We are hearing of the suffering of these
The Latin Fathers – Rev. 6 PDF Page 6 ancient Christians in the midst of conservative religious terror. Many Christians are dying, and many ancient churches destroyed. These will be voices from their past.
A Closing Prayer from Saint Augustine Late have I loved Thee, O Lord; and behold, Thou wast within and I without, and there I sought Thee. Thou wast with me when I was not with Thee. Thou didst call, and cry, and burst my deafness. Thou didst gleam, and glow, and dispel my blindness. Thou didst touch me, and I burned for Thy peace. For Thyself Thou hast made us, And restless our hearts until in Thee they find their ease. Late have I loved Thee, Thou Beauty ever old and ever new.[84]
History of the Early Christian Church
Unit One – The First Century of Christian History Feb. 2 Session One – The First Hundred Years – The Apostolic Age Feb. 9 Session Two – The Formation of the Four Gospels Feb. 16 Session Three – The Impact of Saint Paul Feb. 23 Session Four -- The Epistles of Saint Paul
Unit Two – The Early Church Fathers –Who Were They? Why Do We Remember Them? March 1 Session Five – The Apostolic Fathers March 8 Session Six – The Greek Fathers March 15 (First Sunday of On-Line Church at Good Shepherd - No class) Beginning of “On Line Classes” for the duration March 22 Session Seven-- The Latin Fathers
Unit Three – The Seven Ecumenical Councils (S25 C E to 787 CE) March 29 Session Eight– First Council of Nicaea - 325 CE April 5 Session Nine – First Council of Constantinople - 381 CE April 12 Easter Sunday Class Does Not Meet April 19 Session Ten – Council of Ephesus - 431 CE April 26 Session Eleven - Council of Caledon – 451 CE May 3 Session Twelve – Second Council of Constantinople – 553 CE May 10 Session Thirteen Third Council of Constantinople - 680 - 681 CE May 24 Session Fourteen –Second Council of Nicaea – 787 CE
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