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ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies th th TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance AD 1414th-15-15th centuriescenturies th ConquestConquest andand ReformationReformation AD 1616th centurycentury th th TheThe AgeAge ofof EnlightenmentEnlightenment AD 1717th-18-18th centuriescenturies th TheThe AgeAge ofof RevolutionRevolution AD 1919th centurycentury th TheThe ModernModern AgeAge AD 2020th centurycentury st TheThe PostmodernPostmodern AgeAge AD 2121st centurycentury ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies Constantine: The Thirteenth Apostle The First TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea ThoughThough hehe hadhad convenedconvened aa smallersmaller councilcouncil inin ArllesArlles inin 314,314, thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea isis consideredconsidered thethe first,first, true,true, ecumenicalecumenical Council,Council, sincesince hehe invitedinvited allall 1,8001,800 bishopsbishops inin thethe worldworld toto taketake partpart (of(of whom,whom, 318318 actuallyactually showedshowed up)up) InIn fact,fact, ourour word,word, “ecumenical,”“ecumenical,” comescomes fromfrom thethe GreekGreek phrase,phrase, ““οἰκουμένηοἰκουμένη γῆγῆ”” (“(“oikouménēoikouménē gēgē”),”), whichwhich means,means, “the“the wholewhole inhabitedinhabited world”world” TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea ThoughThough hehe hadhad convenedconvened aa smallersmaller councilcouncil inin ArllesArlles inin 314,314, thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea isis consideredconsidered thethe first,first, true,true, ecumenicalecumenical Council,Council, sincesince hehe invitedinvited allall 1,8001,800 bishopsbishops inin thethe worldworld toto taketake partpart NicaeaNicaea waswas chosenchosen notnot onlyonly becausebecause itit waswas centrallycentrally locatedlocated withinwithin thethe ChurchChurch butbut alsoalso becausebecause itit waswas nearnear Byzantium,Byzantium, whichwhich ConstantineConstantine waswas inin thethe process of converting into his process of converting into his Constantinople own,own, personalpersonal capitalcapital citycity ofof Constantinople Nicaea Constantinople TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday But,But, asas we'vewe've seenseen already,already, hishis actionsactions (taken(taken fourfour yearsyears earlier)earlier) hadhad nothingnothing toto dodo withwith thethe SabbathSabbath oror ChristianityChristianity Besides,Besides, bothboth IgnatiusIgnatius andand JustinJustin MartyrMartyr (writing(writing 200200 yearsyears beforebefore Nicaea)Nicaea) hadhad citedcited SundaySunday asas thethe Church’sChurch’s newnew holyholy dayday TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ““UntilUntil thatthat momentmoment inin history,history, JesusJesus waswas viewedviewed byby HisHis followersfollowers asas aa mortalmortal prophet...prophet... aa greatgreat andand powerfulpowerful man,man, butbut aa manman nonetheless.nonetheless. AA mortal...mortal... notnot thethe SonSon ofof ...God... ’Jesus’ establishmentestablishment asas ‘the‘the SonSon ofof God’God’ waswas officiallyofficially proposedproposed andand votedvoted onon byby thethe CouncilCouncil ofof Nicaea...Nicaea... AA relativelyrelatively closeclose votevote atat that...”that...” (from The DaVinci Code) ThisThis isis inin referencereference toto aa groupgroup calledcalled thethe AriansArians whowho questionedquestioned thethe otherwiseotherwise generallygenerally acceptedaccepted doctrinedoctrine ofof thethe fullfull divinitydivinity ofof ChristChrist InIn aa vote,vote, theythey werewere defeateddefeated 316-2316-2 Ironically,Ironically, ConstantineConstantine tendedtended toto sideside withwith thethe AriansArians TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology ““MoreMore thanthan eightyeighty gospelsgospels werewere consideredconsidered forfor thethe NewNew Testament,Testament, andand yetyet onlyonly aa relativerelative fewfew werewere chosenchosen forfor inclusion—Matthew,inclusion—Matthew, Mark,Mark, LukeLuke andand JohnJohn amongamong them…them… TheThe Bible,Bible, asas wewe knowknow itit today,today, waswas collatedcollated byby thethe paganpagan RomanRoman emperoremperor ConstantineConstantine thethe Great...Great... TheThe earlierearlier gospelsgospels werewere outlawed,outlawed, gatheredgathered up,up, andand burned.”burned.” (from The DaVinci Code) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology ButBut thethe fourfour BiblicalBiblical gospelsgospels areare thethe earliestearliest onesones thatthat wewe havehave TheThe gnosticgnostic gospelsgospels thatthat BrownBrown favorsfavors inin hishis bookbook werewere writtenwritten centuriescenturies laterlater TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology ButBut thethe fourfour BiblicalBiblical gospelsgospels areare thethe earliestearliest onesones thatthat wewe havehave ChristianChristian leadersleaders hadhad supportedsupported onlyonly thosethose fourfour forfor centuries—centuries— ““ItIt isis notnot possiblepossible thatthat thethe GospelsGospels cancan bebe eithereither moremore oror fewerfewer inin numbernumber thanthan theythey are.are. ForFor asas therethere areare fourfour quartersquarters ofof thethe worldworld inin whichwhich wewe live,live, andand fourfour universaluniversal winds,winds, andand asas thethe ChurchChurch isis disperseddispersed overover allall thethe earth,earth, andand thethe gospelgospel isis thethe pillarpillar andand basebase ofof thethe ChurchChurch andand thethe breathbreath ofof life,life, soso itit isis naturalnatural thatthat itit shouldshould havehave fourfour pillars…pillars… thethe fourfour .”Gospels.” (, writing 150 years before the Council of Nicaea) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology ButBut thethe fourfour BiblicalBiblical gospelsgospels areare thethe earliestearliest onesones thatthat wewe havehave ChristianChristian leadersleaders hadhad supportedsupported onlyonly thosethose fourfour forfor centuries—centuries— ““WeWe havehave approvedapproved solelysolely whatwhat thethe churchchurch hashas recognized,recognized, whichwhich isis thatthat onlyonly thethe fourfour GospelsGospels shouldshould bebe accepted.”accepted.” (, writing 100 years before the Council of Nicaea) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology ButBut thethe fourfour BiblicalBiblical gospelsgospels areare thethe earliestearliest onesones thatthat wewe havehave ChristianChristian leadersleaders hadhad supportedsupported onlyonly thosethose fourfour forfor centuries—centuries— And—mostAnd—most cruciallycrucially importantly—theimportantly—the CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea nevernever addressedaddressed thethe questionquestion ofof thethe canoncanon TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— DanDan BrownBrown (author(author ofof TheThe DaVinciDaVinci CodeCode)) wrotewrote thatthat atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea inin 325,325, ConstantineConstantine shiftedshifted thethe SabbathSabbath fromfrom aa JewishJewish SaturdaySaturday toto aa ChristianChristian SundaySunday ConstantineConstantine “deified”“deified” JesusJesus ChristChrist ConstantineConstantine oversawoversaw thethe creationcreation ofof aa canoncanon thatthat reflectedreflected hishis ownown theologytheology Strangely,Strangely, mostmost people—includingpeople—including manymany ChristiansChristians—took—took thethe book'sbook's descriptiondescription ofof churchchurch historyhistory asas totallytotally validvalid WhyWhy dodo youyou thinkthink thatthat is?is? TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea ——whichwhich waswas attendedattended byby prettypretty muchmuch everyoneeveryone whowho waswas anyoneanyone atat thethe timetime ChurchChurch historianhistorian EusebiusEusebius BishopBishop SpyridonSpyridon ofof CyprusCyprus (who(who continuedcontinued toto workwork asas aa shepherd,shepherd, eveneven afterafter beingbeing namednamed bishop)bishop) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea ——whichwhich waswas attendedattended byby prettypretty muchmuch everyoneeveryone whowho waswas anyoneanyone atat thethe timetime ChurchChurch historianhistorian EusebiusEusebius BishopBishop SpyridonSpyridon ofof CyprusCyprus TheologianTheologian andand bishopbishop AthanasiusAthanasius (who(who eveneven hadhad hishis ownown creedcreed namednamed afterafter him—thoughhim—though itit waswas writtenwritten centuriescenturies afterafter hishis death)death) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea ——whichwhich waswas attendedattended byby prettypretty muchmuch everyoneeveryone whowho waswas anyoneanyone atat thethe timetime ChurchChurch historianhistorian EusebiusEusebius BishopBishop SpyridonSpyridon ofof CyprusCyprus TheologianTheologian andand bishopbishop AthanasiusAthanasius AndAnd eveneven SantaSanta ClausClaus (Saint(Saint NicholasNicholas ofof Myra,Myra, whosewhose venerationveneration andand namename becamebecame corruptedcorrupted byby centuriescenturies ofof syncretism)syncretism) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues—nonenone ofof whichwhich hadhad anythinganything toto dodo withwith thethe canoncanon TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues— 5)5) WhatWhat toto dodo withwith thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed underunder Licinius'Licinius' reignreign 4)4) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout BishopBishop MeletiusMeletius (who,(who, likelike hishis fellowfellow AfricanAfrican bishop,bishop, Donatus,Donatus, arguedargued thatthat thethe lapsilapsi shouldn'tshouldn't bebe welcomedwelcomed backback intointo fellowship)fellowship) OneOne ofof thethe hardesthardest hardlinershardliners waswas BishopBishop AcesiusAcesius ofof Byzantium,Byzantium, whowho arguedargued thatthat thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed oror whowho hadhad sinnedsinned afterafter beingbeing baptisedbaptised shouldshould bebe permanentlypermanently removedremoved fromfrom communioncommunion withinwithin thethe ChurchChurch InIn response,response, ConstantineConstantine jeered,jeered, "Place"Place aa ladder,ladder, Acesius,Acesius, andand climbclimb alonealone intointo heaven...heaven... TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues— 5)5) WhatWhat toto dodo withwith thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed underunder Licinius'Licinius' reignreign 4)4) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout BishopBishop MeletiusMeletius 3)3) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout allall ofof thosethose ChristiansChristians whowho hadhad beenbeen baptizedbaptized byby peoplepeople whomwhom thethe ChurchChurch hadhad declareddeclared toto bebe hereticsheretics DoDo youyou acceptaccept theirtheir baptism?baptism? DoDo youyou rere-baptize-baptize them?them? AreAre theythey justjust toast?toast? TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues— 5)5) WhatWhat toto dodo withwith thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed underunder Licinius'Licinius' reignreign 4)4) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout BishopBishop MeletiusMeletius 3)3) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout allall ofof thosethose ChristiansChristians whowho hadhad beenbeen baptizedbaptized byby peoplepeople whomwhom thethe ChurchChurch hadhad declareddeclared toto bebe hereticsheretics 2)2) ThatThat wholewhole peskypesky EasterEaster questionquestion Constantine wrote: "At the council we also considered the issue of our holiest day, Easter, and it was determined by common consent that everyone, everywhere should celebrate it on one and the same day. For what can be more appropriate, or what more solemn, than that this feast from which we have received the hope of immortality,immortality, shouldshould bebe keptkept byby allall withoutwithout variation, using the same order and a clear arrangement? ... TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues— 5)5) WhatWhat toto dodo withwith thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed underunder Licinius'Licinius' reignreign 4)4) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout BishopBishop MeletiusMeletius 3)3) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout allall ofof thosethose ChristiansChristians whowho hadhad beenbeen baptizedbaptized byby peoplepeople whomwhom thethe ChurchChurch hadhad declareddeclared toto bebe hereticsheretics 2)2) ThatThat wholewhole peskypesky EasterEaster questionquestion "It seemed very unworthy for us to keep this most sacred feast following the custom of the Jews, who have soiled their hands in a most terrible outrage, and have polluted their souls, and are now deservedly blind. Since we have cast aside their way of calculating the date, we can ensure that future generations can celebrate this observance at the more accurate time which we have kept from the first day of the passion until the present time...." TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea TheThe CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea waswas convenedconvened toto addressaddress fivefive corecore issues—issues— 5)5) WhatWhat toto dodo withwith thosethose whosewhose faithfaith hadhad lapsedlapsed underunder Licinius'Licinius' reignreign 4)4) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout BishopBishop MeletiusMeletius 3)3) WhatWhat toto dodo aboutabout allall ofof thosethose ChristiansChristians whowho hadhad beenbeen baptizedbaptized byby peoplepeople whomwhom thethe ChurchChurch hadhad declareddeclared toto bebe hereticsheretics 2)2) ThatThat wholewhole peskypesky EasterEaster questionquestion 1)1) TheThe ArianArian ControversyControversy AriusArius ofof AlexandriaAlexandria taughttaught thatthat JesusJesus waswas divine-ishdivine-ish,, butbut stillstill justjust aa createdcreated beingbeing ““WeWe saysay thatthat thethe SonSon hashas aa beginning,beginning, butbut thatthat GodGod isis withoutwithout beginning.”beginning.” Thus,Thus, NicaeaNicaea focusedfocused onon ChristologyChristology TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. (special thanks to Michael Uhler for the inspiration for these notes) MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX

YYAHWEHAHWEH waswas aa naughtynaughty godgod fromfrom thethe JewishJewish “Old”“Old” Testament,Testament, andand JesusJesus waswas aa goodgood godgod fromfrom thethe ChristianChristian “New”“New” TestamentTestament Therefore,Therefore, JesusJesus couldn'tcouldn't havehave beenbeen aa humanhuman being,being, sincesince thatthat wouldwould havehave mademade HimHim partpart ofof YYAHWEH's's sinfullysinfully fleshlyfleshly Creation—butCreation—but HeHe wasn'twasn't reallyreally “God”“God” inin thethe samesame sensesense thatthat YYAHWEH hadhad been,been, sincesince theythey werewere effectivelyeffectively twotwo differentdifferent godsgods JesusJesus onlyonly seemedseemed humanhuman whilewhile herehere onon Earth,Earth, whenwhen HeHe waswas actuallyactually aa SpiritSpirit (spawning(spawning thethe movementmovement knownknown asas ““DocetismDocetism”—from”—from thethe word,word, ““δοκέωδοκέω”” oror ““dokeōdokeō”—"to”—"to seem")seem") TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX

ArianismArianism

JesusJesus wasn'twasn't divinedivine—or—or atat leastleast notnot asas divinedivine asas thethe FatherFather waswas TheThe FatherFather waswas thethe all-powerfulall-powerful θεοςθεος (“(“TheosTheos”” oror “God”)“God”),, andand JesusJesus waswas thethe perfectperfect humanhuman κυριοςκυριος “(“(KyriosKyrios”” oror “Lord”)“Lord”) whowho camecame fromfrom thethe FatherFather duringduring humanhuman historyhistory toto teachteach usus howhow toto bebe holyholy humanshumans TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX – ArianismArianism

ApollinarismApollinarism

JesusJesus hadhad aa humanhuman bodybody andand soulsoul (i.e.;(i.e.; emotions),emotions), butbut aa DivineDivine mindmind TheodoretTheodoret accusedaccused ApollinarisApollinaris ofof beingbeing aa SabellianSabellian SabelliusSabellius hadhad taughttaught modalism—thatmodalism—that GodGod revealedrevealed HimselfHimself toto humanityhumanity inin threethree stagesstages oror “modes”“modes” (the(the FatherFather inin Creation,Creation, thethe SonSon inin Redemption,Redemption, andand thethe SpiritSpirit inin SanctificationSanctification andand Regeneration)Regeneration) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX – ArianismArianism

ApollinarismApollinarism

JesusJesus hadhad aa humanhuman bodybody andand soulsoul (i.e.;(i.e.; emotions),emotions), butbut aa DivineDivine mindmind TheodoretTheodoret accusedaccused ApollinarisApollinaris ofof beingbeing aa SabellianSabellian TheodoretTheodoret andand othersothers encouragedencouraged thethe useuse ofof thethe titletitle ΘεοτόκοςΘεοτόκος (“(“TheotokosTheotokos”” oror “God-birther”)“God-birther”) toto referrefer toto Mary,Mary, focusingfocusing onon Christ'sChrist's completelycompletely DivineDivine nature,nature, eveneven whilewhile beingbeing completelycompletely humanhuman (and(and thusthus hehe supportedsupported Nestorius)Nestorius) TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX – ArianismArianism

ApollinarismApollinarism

NestorianismNestorianism ItIt shouldn'tshouldn't bebe brokenbroken upup betweenbetween beingbeing aa fleshlyfleshly humanhuman oror aa spiritualspiritual God—God— JesusJesus hadhad twotwo distinct,distinct, separateseparate naturesnatures But,But, ironically,ironically, hehe repudiatedrepudiated thethe useuse ofof thethe titletitle ΘεοτόκοςΘεοτόκος toto referrefer toto Mary,Mary, sincesince sheshe reallyreally onlyonly gavegave birthbirth toto Christ'sChrist's humanhuman nature,nature, notnot HisHis DivineDivine oneone TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX – ArianismArianism

ApollinarismApollinarism

NestorianismNestorianism

EutychianismEutychianism

Yes,Yes, ChristChrist hadhad bothboth aa humanhuman naturenature andand aa DivineDivine one,one, butbut theythey actuallyactually thenthen formedformed aa third,third, newnew nature—whatnature—what TertullianTertullian calledcalled aa tertiumtertium quidquid TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment—ChristologyChristology.. MarcionismMarcionism XXXXXXXX – ArianismArianism

ApollinarismApollinarism

NestorianismNestorianism

EutychianismEutychianism

MModernodern OOrthodoxyrthodoxy JesusJesus waswas fullyfully GodGod andand fullyfully manman TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom ConstantineConstantine desireddesired toto seesee one,one, unifiedunified Church—andChurch—and soso hehe institutionalizedinstitutionalized itit 325325 ConstantineConstantine convenedconvened CouncilCouncil ofof NicaeaNicaea MuchMuch ofof thethe discussiondiscussion atat NicaeaNicaea camecame downdown toto oneone letterletter—the—the letterletter “i”“i” AthanasiusAthanasius (and(and 315315 otherother guys)guys) arguedargued thatthat JesusJesus waswas divine—thatdivine—that HeHe waswas ofof thethe samesame substancesubstance andand naturenature asas GodGod thethe FatherFather TheThe wordword theythey usedused waswas ὁμοούσιοςὁμοούσιος (“(“homooúsioshomooúsios”)—“same”)—“same essence”essence” TheThe AriansArians arguedargued thatthat JesusJesus waswas divine-ishdivine-ish—that—that HeHe waswas onlyonly ofof aa similarsimilar substancesubstance andand naturenature asas GodGod TheThe wordword theythey usedused waswas ὁμοιούσιοςὁμοιούσιος (“(“homoioúsioshomoioúsios”)—“”)—“similarsimilar essence”essence” TheThe AriansArians werewere votedvoted downdown 316-2,316-2, andand AriusArius waswas deposeddeposed andand exiledexiled ButBut hishis viewsviews wouldwould stillstill attractattract followersfollowers forfor centuriescenturies toto comecome InIn 327,327, ConstantineConstantine remittedremitted hishis sentencesentence andand exiledexiled AthanasiusAthanasius TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom TheThe CouncilCouncil adoptedadopted aa creedcreed toto codifycodify whatwhat they'dthey'd decided—thedecided—the “Nicene“Nicene ”Creed” We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God—begotten, not made—being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made, both in heaven and on earth; Who for us men, and for our , came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Spirit. 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 and apostolic Church