UPON THIS ROCK A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF CHRIST’S CHURCH UPON THIS ROCK A STUDY OF LESSON 6: THE HISTORY OF CHRIST’S REFORMATION CHURCH BEGINNINGS CAUTION: CHURCH HISTORY Robert Robinson (published 1792) “On the caution necessary to a reader of ecclesiastical history: It is an old observation, that of all history, ecclesiastical is the worst written. Such a history, beginning with Jesus, & proceeding through successive ages with His disciples, ought to exhibit bright example of virtue. It should show a succession of men contending (if contend they must) for something worth contending for. Instead of this, every century proceeds from worse to worse, each opening with deplorable scenes of all the ills that afflict society… CAUTION: CHURCH HISTORY Robert Robinson (published 1792) “Want of precision in ecclesiastical history is one chief cause of the gloom that involves the divine religion of Jesus, & while this confusion remains, a cheat is put on the reader, & a long time elapses ere he discovers that what had been given him for a history of good men, the very disciples of the Son of God, was a history of counterfeits, disciples of the world, & regulated only by the maxims of it. Ecclesiastical history may be so written as to serve the interests of parties while the disguise remains: But to serve the cause of truth & virtue at large the covering must be taken off, for either that or the cause must go to decay.” CAUTION: CHURCH HISTORY FW Mattox “From the beginning of the development of the Roman hierarchy there was opposition both to organization & to the changes which came about in doctrine. Information concerning these groups in opposition to the developing hierarchy is very brief due to the fact that these groups were considered heretical by the hierarchy, &, accordingly, records concerning them were not preserved. What information we do have comes almost entirely from the Catholics who preserved their history & refers to the groups only in discussing their efforts to keep the church free from ‘heresy’.” EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - Opposed growing arrogance of Roman bishop - Planted new congregation in Rome as further opposition - Interestingly, Catholics later canonized him as a saint Donatus (313-355) - Early bishop of Carthage - Objected numerous practices; pled for pure & holy church - Objected to bishops who surrendered scriptures to be burned under Diocletian’s persecution - Believed they constituted the true church of Christ EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) Donatus (313-355) Pelagius (360-418) - From Briton; called a heretic by Council of Carthage (418) because he defended free will. - Taught believers’ baptism by immersion for remission of actual sins (not inherited sins) - Opposed infant baptism - Defended scripture EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - Scripture as only authority; claimed to be the day’s only true Donatus (313-355) Christians; lived puritanical lives; Pelagius (360-418) read Scripture aloud & ate Lord’s Supper at every service; rejected infant baptism, baptizing only Catharists (9th cent.) believers; had no creed - Accused of some Gnostic ideas & teaching marriage as being from the devil - In local & more restricted areas they were called Arnoldians, Petrobrusians, Albigenses, Waldenses. EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS - Attacked church’s worldliness & (170-235) Hippolytus advocated radical reforms such as Donatus (313-355) life of poverty for clergy & Pelagius (360-418) abandonment of wealth & temporal power by the church - Rejected confessing sins to priest Catharists (9th Century) - Condemned in 1139 by 2nd Lateran Council; Innocent II Arnold of Brescia ordered him to be exiled & his (1100-1155) books to be burned. - Escaped arrest; briefly taught in Paris until expelled by French royal powers; traveled in Switzerland & Bohemia till achieved reconciliation with Pope Eugene III & returned to Italy - Headed political group that set up republic & exiled Eugene III EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS - Attacked church’s worldliness & (170-235) Hippolytus advocated radical reforms such as Donatus (313-355) life of poverty for clergy & Pelagius (360-418) abandonment of wealth & temporal power by the church - Rejected confessing sins to priest Catharists (9th Century) - Condemned in 1139 by 2nd Lateran Council; Innocent II Arnold of Brescia ordered him to be exiled & his (1100-1155) books to be burned. - EscapedHeaded city arrest;-state briefly as of taught1146; continued in Paris until to head expelled after by French royalexcommunicated powers; traveled in Switzerland & Bohemia till achieved - reconciliationRemained in Rome with Popeuntil Eugene1155, when III &Adrian returned IV banished to Italy him - HeadedCaptured political by Frederick group Ithat & hanged set up asrepublic political & exiledrebel. Eugene III EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS - Took NT as his guide; preached 20 (170-235) Hippolytus years before executed in 1130 Donatus (313-355) - Great crowds of followers tore Pelagius (360-418) down altars & images in church buildings. Gathered up wooden crucifixes on a Good Friday, built a Catharists (9th Century) fire, & cooked meat to show contempt for regulations against Arnold of Brescia (1100- eating meat on that day. 1155) - Clerical marriage; simple worship Peter of Bruys (~1100) - Burnt alive at St Giles, France by locals who disliked his teaching - Followers derogitorily called “Petrobrusians” EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - Peter Waldo (Valdes) was a Lyons merchant; appealed to Donatus (313-355) Scripture in opposing Roman Pelagius (360-418) practices - Persuaded monks to translate NT & certain early church fathers Catharists (9th Century) into French - Organized small group of men to Arnold of Brescia (1100- study & travel preaching; 1155) forfeited all property & preached Peter of Bruys (~1100) without purse or possessions to oppose the rich & corrupt clergy: Peter Waldo (~1160) “poor men of Lyons” - Followers derogitorily called “Waldenses” or “Waldensians” EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - - PeterSought Waldo papal (Valdes) recognition was a for his Lyonsfellowship, merchant; but in appealed 1184 he towas Donatus (313-355) Scriptureexcommunicated in opposing for Rheresyoman Pelagius (360-418) - practicesPromoted religious discipline & - Persuadedmoral rigor, monks were to critical translate of NT &unworthy certain early clergy church & church fathers Catharists (9th Century) intoabuses, French & rejected taking of - Organizedhuman life small for anygroup reason of men to Arnold of Brescia (1100- - study1208 & – travel crusade preaching; authorized fofeited 1155) allagainst property Waldenses & preached & other without Peter of Bruys (~1100) pursegroups or possessions(Albigenses) to in oppose southern theFrance. rich & After corrupt 80 clergy:burned “poor at Peter Waldo (~1160) menStrasbourg of Lyons” in 1211, most moved - Followersto Alpine derogitorily valleys in North called Italy “Waldenses” or “Waldensians” EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - Arose in S. France about 1170 - Opposed traditions as religious Donatus (313-355) authority, purgatory, image Pelagius (360-418) worship; recognized authority of the NT & circulated it to extent of their ability. Catharists (9th Century) - Effeciently organized: bishops & clergy supported by local nobility Arnold of Brescia (1100-- Accused of adhering to strict 1155) dualism, resulting in condemning Peter of Bruys (~1100) marriage & sex; forbidding meat, milk, eggs, etc Peter Waldo (~1160) - Church countermeasures were Albigenses (~1170) futile (preach; conciliar decrees) EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus (170-235) - - AroseAfter in assassination S. France about of a 1170papal - Opposedlegate in traditions territory ofas Countreligious Donatus (313-355) authority,Raymond purgatory, of Toulouse, image Pope Pelagius (360-418) worship;Innocent recognized III called authorityfor a crusade of thethat NT became & circulated the Albigensian it to extent of theirwars ability. (1209 -1229) Catharists (9th Century) - - EffecientlyCity of Beziers organized: – 23,000 bishops slain & clergyindescriminately, supported by also local Catholics: nobility Arnold of Brescia (1100-- Accused“Kill them of adhering all, the Lord to strict knoweth 1155) dualism,them that resulting are His.” in condemning Peter of Bruys (~1100) - marriageConservative & sex; estimates forbidding state meat, milk,that milk,2/3 of eggs, Southern etc France Peter Waldo (~1160) - Churchwere killed countermeasures to wipe out were Albigenses (~1170) futileAlbigenses (preach; conciliar decrees) EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus- English philosopher (170-235)-theologian; William of Occam advocated idea that Bible is only Donatusinfallible (313 source-355) of religious (1280-1349) Pelagiusauthority (360 -418) - 1324 – 4 years after writing a commentary on the Sentences of CatharistsPeter Lombard, (9th Century) he was called to papal court at Avignon & tried for Arnoldheresy; of no Brescia verdict was (1100 reached- - 1155)1328 – fled Avignon to pope’s Peterenemy, of BruysHoly Roman (~1100) Emporer Louis IV: “Defend me with your Petersword Waldo & I will (~1160) defend you with Albigensesmy pen.” (~1170) EARLY “REFORMATION” EFFORTS Hippolytus- - EnglishAt Louis’ philosopher court (170 -in235) Munich,-theologian; William of Occam advocatedOccam wrote idea politicalthat Bible words is only on Donatusinfalliblepapal power (313 source-355) & ofthe religious state (1280-1349) Pelagius- authorityTaught