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1 Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity Religions of the World

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1 Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity Religions of the World Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity Religions of the World Video Series (Footnote annotations by Mr. Yankey) Narrated by Ben Kingsley I. Introduction to Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity A. In 1965 the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church ended a mutual ban of excommunication between the two churches that had existed since 1054. II. Orthodoxy and Catholicism: Differences and Common Features A. While Christians share certain fundamental beliefs, there has often been conflict between Christians about their faith. B. The largest divisions within Christianity are between the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches.1 C. Each division within Christianity (the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches) has considered itself to be the only representative of the true Christian faith. D. The word 'Orthodox' means 'true faith and worship'2 and the word Catholic means 'universal'. E. Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity have been separated by issues of belief and by the Catholic claim that the Pope is the leader of all Christians. F. In spite of their differences, Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism are similar in many ways. III. Jewish Origins of Christianity A. Christianity began when Jesus preached that God would soon free Israel from being a captive nation by sending a Messiah. B. The core of Christianity is the story of Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection. C. Christianity began as one of many Jewish sects which the Romans saw as a threat to public stability. D. Christianity began as a Jewish sect which was spread to non-Jews by Paul. E. In 49 CE the Council of Jerusalem decided that Christians did not need to be circumcised or follow most of Jewish law. 1 Protestant churches emerged in the 16th century beginning with Martin Luther when he wrote the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. These notes will only focus on Christianity in its Orthodox and Roman Catholic forms. 2 “Orthodox” is a combination of two Greek words ορθοϛ “orthos” (literally meaning “straight” or “true,” as in an orthdontist who straightens teeth) and δοξα “doxa” from the word δοκειν “dokein” which means a common opinion or belief. Therefore, orthodox means straight or correct opinion or belief. 1 F. Many Christians interpreted the destruction of the Jewish Temple and the failure of Jewish revolts against Rome as a sign that God had transferred his promises to the followers of Jesus. G. After the Roman Emperor Hadrian drove the Jews out of Jerusalem in 135 CE the early Christians became more independent of Jewish culture and hostile to the Jews. IV. Persecution, Gnosticism and Authority on the Early Church A. In the first three centuries of the Common Era early Christians were often persecuted for being a political threat to Roman rule. B. The early Christians responded to a spiritual challenge from the Gnostics.3 C. In response to the ideas of the Gnostics, the early church made theological, moral and institutional commitments that would become the foundation for its future development. D. In response to heretical ideas, the early Church decided4 which works to consider holy texts. E. In response to heretical ideas, the early Church established leaders, called bishops, and a declaration of faith, a creed. F. In combating Gnostic ideas, the church established a centralized line of authority through the bishops to preserve the church's unity. G. Ireneaus of Lyons5 identified the bishop of Rome, the Pope, as a successor to Peter and Paul, which some believed gave the Pope a special claim to authority. V. The Roman Empire Adopts Christianity A. The Roman Empire went through a succession of rulers and civil wars until the emperor Constantine defeated a rival and converted to Christianity. B. A legend claims that emperor Constantine had a miraculous vision which converted him to Christianity before a major victory. C. Constantine's conversion to Christianity brought new freedom and responsibilities to the early Church. 3 “A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realization of Gnosis (esoteric or intuitive knowledge) is the way to salvation of the soul from the material world.”(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism) In other words, Gnostics denied three things essential to Christianity. First, they believed the material world was not created by God, but by a “demiurge” or craftsman who is malevolent and a hater of God. Therefore, the material world is not “good” as stated in Genesis 1:10 and 1:25, “And God saw that it was good,” as well as Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good.” Second, Jesus was seen primarily as a giver of “gnosis” or knowledge. He was not seen as a substitutionary sacrifice or atonement for sin in order to bring salvation to those who believe in him. Salvation was through gaining this secret knowledge (gnosis) given by Jesus, not through faith in the person and work of Jesus. Third, most Gnostic groups denied that Jesus was the incarnation of God as well. They taught he only attained divinity through gaining this gnosis. 4 “decided”: It is the position of Roman Catholicism that the Church decided or determined the “canon” or books accepted as Scripture that are included in the Christian Bible. Catholic doctrine teaches that the Church’s Tradition (capital “T”) is infallible; therefore, church Tradition is just as important as the Bible in determining the Catholic Church’s teachings. Protestants, on the other hand, claim that the church merely recognized what books were self-evidently canonical God-inspired scriptures. To some this may seem an argument of semantics. However, this becomes a key issue in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century, especially when Protestants denied the inclusion of books called Apocrypha as part of the canon of Scripture. 5 Ireneaus of Lyons lived circa 2nd Century C.E.-202 C.E. He is most famous for his book On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, commonly called Against Heresies (about 180 C.E.) which is a detailed attack on Gnosticism. His work is included in the Ante-Nicene Fathers. 2 D. Constantine built a new capital for the Roman Empire in Constantinople which led to a gradual division of the Roman Empire between east and west. Nicene Creed in its VI. Dealing with Heresy: The Council of Nicea6 A. The early Christians developed the idea that original form (325 C.E.) the human Jesus was the incarnation of the Logos7 (word) of God. We believe in one God, the Father B. As more people converted to Christianity the Almighty, Maker of all things visible and Arian idea that Jesus was not the Son of God invisible. became more popular. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the C. There was a major dispute in the early Church Son of God, begotten of the Father [the between Arias and Athanasius about whether only-begotten; that is, of the essence of Jesus was the Son of God or not. the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not D. Because of the dispute within the church, made, being of one substance with the Constantine sent bishops to an ecumenical Father; council at Nicea in 325 CE that determined that By whom all things were made [both Jesus was the Son of God and that wrote the in heaven and on earth]; 8 beginning of the Nicene Creed. Who for us men, and for our E. Between 325 CE and 787 CE a series of salvation, came down and was incarnate ecumenical councils addressed questions of the and was made man; true nature of Jesus and other issues in dispute He suffered, and the third day he in the early church. rose again, ascended into heaven; F. In spite of the decision of the Council of Nicea, From thence he shall come to judge the church had to continue defining the status the quick and the dead. of Jesus to prevent misunderstanding. And in the Holy Ghost. [But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.] A symbol of the Trinity 6 The Council of Nicea (325 C.E.) was the first “ecumenical council.” This means that this was a council that represented a united Christendom of both Western and Eastern churches. There were seven in all, including Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople II (553), Constantinople III (680-681), and Nicea II (787). 7 See John 1:1. Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεός ἦν ὁ Λόγος. It is usually translated by Trinitarians as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In Greek the “logos” means “word.” Arius, who began this controversy, denied that the Logos was the second person of a Trinity or triune God. This debate over the translation of this verse continues today between Trinitarians and non-Trinitarians. 8 See the form of the creed in 325 above. In 381 the wording of the creed was expanded and the passage at the end in brackets was removed. The result was close to the creed presently used by these churches. 3 G. Over a few hundred years there were seven ecumenical councils altogether which dealt with issues of Jesus as human or divine.
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