The Conversion of the Goths and Franks Cosmic Conflict • Gen. 3:15–“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, it shall bruise thy head, and you shalt bruise his heel. Christian population of the Roman Empire when Constantine came to power: 5% - 12% The Goths and the Roman Empire Goths . Visigoths . Ostrogoths . Vandals Roman legionaries recruited from the Goths Some Roman Emperors of Gothic lineage Mongol Invasions (3rd and 5th centuries) . Led to migrations of the Huns and Goths . Incursions into the Empire Christian Missions to the Goths 1. Catholic (Nicene) . Through captives and refugees from persecution . John Chrysostom (400) 2. Audians . Named for Audius . Spread Christianity outside the empire . Active among the Scythians and Goths . Monasteries and bishops established . Nearly eradicated Christian Missions to the Goths 3. Arian – Most Goths were Arians – Arius • Heretical Bishop • Council of Nicea (325) Ulfilas (311-380) . Designed an alphabet to translate the Bible into Gothic . Some portions of that translation are preserved today Pre-Reformation Missions 500 B.C. 0 500 1000 A.D. 1500 Influence of Persian Empire (500 B.C. – A.D. 400) Grecian Influence (323 B.C. – A.D. 400) Mar Thoma Church (A.D. 50 – 1500) Coptic Church (A.D. 50-1500) Roman Republic Empire (27 B.C.–476 (500-27 B.C.) A.D.) Constantine (A.D. 306-337) A.D. 400, Augustine Bishop of Hippo Ulfilas – Missionary to the Goths (311-380) 400, Chrysostom sends missionaries to Goths 496, Clovis, King of the Franks, converts to Christianity Christianity’s Advance Rome sacked by Alaric and the Visigoths (410) Adopted substantial amount of Roman culture and religion Clovis and the Franks . Had occupied Gaul . Converted to Christianity within two decades of the fall of Rome Visigoths transitioned from Arianism to Nicene Christianity Europe and Islam Hegira (flight from Mecca to Medina) 622 A.D. Mohammed’s death 632 A.D. Visigoths in Spain fell to Arab armies in the seventh century Islamic armies checked at Tours in France . 100 years after Mohammed’s death 732 A.D. Victor Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) North Africa and Islam Faith uprooted by Islamic conquerors 60% of Monasteries and Bishoprics . Heartland of Christianity Islam virtually displaced Christianity in North Africa Christian Missionary Methods in History 1. Grass roots evangelism (e.g., Samaria in Acts 8; Antioch in Acts11) 2. Open-air preaching (Peter in Acts 2, Paul in Acts 17) 3. Modeling koinonia (love in community) 4. Urban church-planting teams (Apostle Paul: Acts 13-20, Titus 1:5, etc.) Christian Missionary Methods in History (Continued) 5. Nonformal learning along with formal and informal learning in house churches - decentralized connectionalism (handout) 6. Philanthropic social services - care of the sick and dying and abandoned infants, burials for the dead left untended, relief for poor widows and orphans, visits to prisoners, etc. 7. Literacy and Bible translation (Ulfilas) Trinitarian Purpose of Missions The purpose of missions is Trinitarian: to glorify the Triune God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission, which God the Father has given unto God the Son (Isa. 49:6), and in which the people of God are privileged to participate by the Son’s express invitation and command (John 20:21 and Matt. 28:18-20) through the enablement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). S. H. Larsen Observations Regarding Missions “Missions is messy” God did not commit the task of world evangelization and discipleship to sinless angels, but to redeemed sinners, and only in this life before they are fully sanctified. So all missionaries are finite and fallible. Yet through it all, Jesus Christ is building His Church (Matt. 18:18b). Without commonalities, we have no bridge of understanding by which to communicate the Gospel, and our message is left incomprehensible. Yet without biblical contrasts, syncretism will corrupt the message. .