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CHURCH HISTORY
314-590
The Compromising Church
CHURCH HISTORY III
• 314-590 The compromising Church
• Constantine
–New Emperor in Rome
–Before battle has vision of cross
• “By
this sign conquer”
–Has victories under this emblem
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Constantine
–EDIT OF TOLERATION (313)
•Freedom granted to Christians
–Promised gifts to converts
–Pagans join by thousands
–Worldly church
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Constantine
–Church raised to position of power
and honor
–Saw Christianity as help for Rome
–Saw himself as universal Bishop
–Visited soothsayers and “gods”
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Constantine
–Mixed interests of State with
Spiritual matters
–Baptized near time of his death
–Sons rule in his stead
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Doctrines of the Era
–Praying for the dead
–Making sign of the cross
–Worship of saints and angels
–Institution of mass
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Doctrines of the Era
–Worship of Mary
–Doctrine of extreme unction
–Doctrine of purgatory
–Monasteries
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Papacy
–Pope = The Roman bishop, on the
ground of his divine institution, and as
successor of Peter, the prince of the
apostles, claims to be primate of the
entire church, and visible
representative of Christ, who is the
supreme head of the Christian world.
CHURCH HSITORY III
• Papacy
– Church fathers attach primacy to Peter
– Bishops in general were seen as successors to
apostles
– Matt. 16:18 becomes major point of discussion
– Many church fathers regarded title as
blasphemous
– Council of Sardica (343) favorable to Roman
claims
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Papacy
– Protestants reject papal monarchy
– Roman Bishops continue to exercise
authority
– Others say nothing should be decided with
approval of Roman see
– All bishops must turn to St. Peter
– Leo I “The Great” becomes first
pope (440-461)
CHURCH HISTORY III
• After Death of Constantine
–3 sons rule
–After death of 2 sons Constantius
rules
–Toleration ends, pagans oppressed
–Hosts join church (lip service)
–Summons multitude of councils
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Julian the apostate now rules
–Apostasy from Christianity
–Favors pagan religions
–Surrounds himself with mystics,
soothsayers and scoffers
–Suppression of Christianity
–State schools put under heathernism
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Montanists (2nd – 8th century)
– Opposed the church at Rome
– Sought to restore New Testament church
– Opposed philosophy of the age
– Opposed state church
– Many churches planted throughout
Roman empire
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Novatians (3rd – 8th century)
•
•
•
•
•
Separated from church at Rome
Regenerate church membership
Concerned about purity in the church
Local church autonomy
Great commission minded church
CHURCH HISTORY III
• Donatists
th
(4
–
th
7
century)
• Believed in regenerate church
membership
• Separated from the world
• Baptism of believers
• Stood against church hierarchy
• Stood against church state collabration