Defining Moments in Church History

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Defining Moments in Christian History
www.fisherkids.net/psc.htm
Brandon Bayne Linford Fisher Fall 2004
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Defining Moments in Christian History

• One The Council of Nicaea (325)

Linford Fisher September 26, 2004
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Constantine the Great (c. 274 337)
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Map of the Roman Empire (c. 300)
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The vision of Constantine, 312
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The Chi-Rho sign seen by Constantine
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Council of Nicea, A.D. 325
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• Arius
• Priest in Alexandria
• Taught that Jesus was not equal with God
• Taught that Jesus was created, not eternal

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Martyrdom of Polycarp (d. 155)
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Perpetua (d. 203)
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• Progressive attempts to clarify the canon
• Marcion (died c. 160 A.D.) Luke and 10 Pauline
  letters
• Irenaeus (c. 130-c. 200) four gospels, Acts, the
  13 Pauline epistles
• Muratorian Fragment (c. 190) four gospels, Acts,
  13 Pauline epistles, Jude, 1 and 2 John,
  Revelation, Apocalypse of Peter and Wisdom of
  Solomon also allowed Shepherd of Hermas to be
  read in private.
• Clement of Rome (c. 155-219) four gospels, Acts,
  14 Pauline epistles (includes Hebrews), 1 Peter,
  1 John, Jude, Revelation
• Tertullian (c. 160-220) Same as Clement but
  omitted Jude
• Origen (c. 185-c. 254) Used all 27 books but
  noted lingering debates over Hebrews, James, 2
  Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Revelation
• Eusebius (c. 260-c. 340) four gospels, Acts, 13
  Pauline epistles, 1 Peter, 1 John, and Revelation
  (said James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude were
  disputed but well known)
• Athanasius Easter (Paschal or Festal) Letter
  (357 AD) first to list all 27 NT books as we
  have them today Also includes several disputed
  books to be used for private worship and
  edification Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache,
  Wisdom of Solomon (and a few other O.T.
  Apocryphal books)

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Criteria for Inclusion

• Apostolicity Was it written by an apostle or
  with apostolic sanction?
• Antiquity Was it written early?
• Orthodoxy Does the content fit with what Jesus
  and the apostles taught?
• Catholicity Was it used and acknowledged as
  authoritative by the whole church?
• Traditional usage Was it considered
  authoritative from the beginning?
• Inspiration Was it inspired and directed by the
  Holy Spirit?

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When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I,
Licinius Augustus, fortunately met near
Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering
everything that pertained to the public welfare
and security, we thought, among other things
which we saw would be for the good of many, those
regulations pertaining to the reverence of the
Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so
that we might grant to the Christians and others
full authority to observe that religion which
each preferred whence any Divinity whatsoever in
the seat of the heavens may be propitious and
kindly disposed to us and all who are placed
under our rule
From the Edict of Milan, 313 (emphasis added)
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Council of Nicea, A.D. 325
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I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker
of heaven and earth, and of all things visible
and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the
only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father
before all worlds, 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 who for us men and for our
salvation came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man and was crucified also for us
under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried
and the third day he rose again according to the
Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth
on the right hand of the Father and he shall
come again, with glory, to judge both the quick
and the dead whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and
Giver of Live, who proceedeth from the Father
and the Son who with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified who spake
by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic
and Apostolic Church I acknowledge one baptism
for the remission of sins and I look for the
resurrection of the dead, and the life of the
world to come. AMEN.
Nicene Creed
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Emperor Theodosius

• Called the Council of Constantinople (381)
• In 391 he banned all pagan cults
• Imposed a penalty for non-Christians

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St. Anthony of the Desert
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St. Benedict (480 550)
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Augustine of Hippo (354 430)
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