Download Theology Unit 2: The Development of the Church on Earth

Theology Unit 2: The Development of the Church on Earth
Vocabulary/Events
Pentecost – coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles; the reveal of the Church
Grace – something we receive from God through the Holy Spirit which lifts us up to God; According
to St. Thomas Aquinas, “grace perfects nature.”
Gentiles – non-Jews
Christianoi – “men of Christ”
Apostolic succession – the idea that the bishops of today are direct descendants of the original
apostles, inheriting their authority through the Holy Spirit
Edict of Milan – 313 A.D. – Constantine’s edict that Christianity should be tolerated and favored in
the empire
First Council of Nicaea – 325 A.D. – gathering of bishops to address the Arianism heresy
Fall of the Roman Empire – 476
Church Fathers – leaders in the early Church who succeeded the apostles
Apologist – defender of the faith
Apostasy – sin of denying one’s faith
Theotokos – “Mother of God,” a title we apply to Mary
Gnosticism – see notes
Arianism – see notes
Apollinarianism – see notes
Nestorianism – see notes
Monophysitism – see notes
Eutychianism – see notes
Hypostatic union – Jesus’ humanity and divinity united in a way that preserves each one (he is still
fully human and fully divine) but also perfects each one; this is what the Catholic Church believes
Prosopic union – Jesus’ humanity and divinity united such that one (his divinity) overpowers the
other, making him only divine and not human; this is what Eutyches taught
Cathedral – large, expensive churches that serve as the seat of the bishop
Cathedra – the bishop’s chair
Lay investiture – wealthy people buying symbols of authority for bishops and abbots
Simony – buying and selling of church offices
Filioque – “from the Son;” led to a dispute between the East (who wanted “through the Son” for the
origin of the Holy Spirit) and the West (who wanted “from the Son”)
Great Schism – 1054 – split between the East and West
Orthodox – “correct or right teaching;” the name the Eastern church uses for themselves
Iconoclasm – use of sacred images in prayer and worship
Crusades – attempts to conquer Jerusalem and keep pilgrims safe
The First Crusade: 1095-1099; only successful crusade
Gutenberg prints his first bible: 1455
Albigensian heresy – all matter is evil, marriage is wrong, suicide is moral
Papal Inquisition – intended to stop the spread of heresies by identifying and stopping heretics
Rule of St. Benedict – set of guidelines for monks living in monasteries to follow; emphasized
communal living in moderation
Monasticism – the practice of men becoming monks and living in monasteries separated from
society
Order of Preachers – founded by St. Dominic Guzman to combat heresies by learning and preaching
the Truth
Order of Friars Minor – founded by St. Francis of Assisi to live among the poor and minister to them
directly
People
St. Peter
St. John
St. Stephen
St. Paul
Nero
Tertullian
Constantine
St. Athanasius
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Cappadocian Fathers:
St. Basil the Great
St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Gregory of Nazianzus
St. Leo the Great
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
Muhammad
Charles Martel
Charlemagne
Michael Cerularius
Pope Urban II
Pope Gregory IX
St. Benedict of Nursia
St. Dominic Guzman
St. Francis of Assisi
Pope Innocent III
Focus Questions
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Explain fully the significance of the Holy Spirit to the early Church.
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Guided the Apostles, empowering them to accomplish their mission; allows the
Church to do its work; offers grace
How do grace and the Holy Spirit help to accomplish God’s plan?
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What is the principal agent of the Church’s mission? How?
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Paul: beheaded in Rome; was not crucified because he was a Roman citizen
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Peter: crucified upside-down in Rome; not regular crucifixion because he didn’t feel
worthy do die like Jesus
What was the early Church like?
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“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Chruch.”
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“See how they love one another.”
According to Irenaeus, how is communion with God achieved?
The Incarnation makes it possible; the Holy Spirit helps us achieve it
Why were the Church Fathers significant?
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Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Constantinople
Understand Tertullian’s quotes on martyrs and love.
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Spread out, not very united; set up in small communities in cities in towns; met
often in “house churches;” had to endure periods of persecution
Where were the 5 patriarch cities?
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The Apostles went out preaching and baptizing, converting Jews and Gentiles to the
Christian movement. Eventually the movement spread to all of the Mediterranean
basin, but many Christians (including nearly all of the 12 Apostles) faced
persecution and martyrdom.
How did St. Paul and St. Peter die?
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The Holy Spirit; only through the Spirit does the Church have the authority to
administer God’s grace in the Sacraments and only through the Spirit is the Church
able to do what it does.
What happened after Pentecost?
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Grace (given by the Holy Spirit) raises us up from our sinful human nature to God’s
divine and eternal presence
Helped to lead and guide the Church in its early centuries. Some served as
apologists—defending the faith from heretics—while others served as bishops.
Together, they built upon the foundation of the Apostles to form a wide-ranging
Christian movement.
Understand the four Christological heresies (plus Gnosticism).
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What does the Church believe about Jesus’s nature? Be able to contrast this with each of the
heresies.
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The Church believes that Jesus was fully (100%) human and fully (100%) divine;
these two natures were united in the hypostatic union; they are not separated but
perfectly united
Explain the significance of Islam to the Church.
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(see notes)
The spread of Islam cut Rome off from three of the 5 patriarch cities (Jerusalem,
Alexandria, and Antioch) and from its Eastern/Greek roots, forcing Rome to look to
the west (Gaul) for protection and assistance.
Describe religious instability in the Dark Ages.
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Lay investiture
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Simony
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Decline in morals of the clergy – clerical celibacy was little practiced leading to
many priests marrying, having children, or taking mistresses
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Corruption of the papacy – feudalism made the Papacy a desirable position, for the
Pope controlled the Papal lands. So wealthy noble families manipulated papal
elections and put undeserving members of their families in the position of Pope
Name the factors that led to the Great Schism.
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Pope’s condemnation of a ruling that gave Constantinople authority over the
Byzantine Empire
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Iconoclasm—the Byzantine Emperor thought that the use of sacred images in
worship was equivalent to idolatry; Pope disagreed
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Issue of wording in the Nicene Creed over the origin of the Holy Spirit
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Michael Cerularius closed all Latin churches, excommunicated Latin priests,
opposed celibacy and the use of unleavened bread
What were the purposes of the Crusades and the Inquisition?
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Crusades: retake Jerusalem and protect pilgrims; also, to reassert authority over the
East
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Inquisition: prevent the spread of heresies by stopping them before they started
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Compare and contrast the three different approaches to living the Gospel represented by
Benedict, Dominic, and Francis.
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St. Benedict: removed from society, established monasteries so as to build a holier,
simpler lifestyle away from the sinful and corrupt society; emphasis on community
and stability
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St. Dominic: combat heresies and immorality by teaching and preaching what was
true and correct; emphasis on study, contemplation, and preaching
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St. Francis: live simply among the poor, caring for them and loving them as Jesus
did; “preach the Gospel always; if necessary, use words.” Emphasis on simplicity,
humility, and service