Historyof the

Christian Church

Week 2

Leadership in the Early Christian Church

Apostles Deacons Teachers Prophets Elders (presbuteros) Overseers (episcopus – later became bishops) Priests

Roman Empire of Constantine

February 27, 380 AD - Theodocius decrees that Christianity is the official religion of the empire.

Is the Roman empire now a Christian empire?

2 reasons – Yes!2 reasons – No!

Roman Empire of Constantine

Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430)

Confessions

City of God

“Compel them to come in.”

Creeds

Deuteronomy 6:4, 5

4Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Philippians 2:6-11 6who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited,7but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form,8he humbled himselfand became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.9Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,10so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

1 Timothy 3:16

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Mark 12

“The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

- from The Book of Common Prayer

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Brethren Beliefs for the 21st Century

The Brethren Card

(Clicking on the titles above will take you to that resource)

What do we do with the prophets?

Gregorian Chants

Pope Gregory I Bishop of Rome 590 - 604

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

Roman Empire of Constantine

Spread of Islam – 622 – 750 AD

The First Crusade – 1095 AD

East – West Split

Fileque clause – 867 AD

Pope Leo IX Bull of ex-communication – 1054 AD

1st Crusade – 1095 AD