Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

21
Introduction to Introduction to Church History Church History

Transcript of Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Page 1: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Introduction to Church Introduction to Church HistoryHistory

Page 2: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

CHURCH HISTORY ICHURCH HISTORY I

ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 ADANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD

Page 3: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Class Structure?Class Structure?

Lecture with Lecture with some some discussiondiscussion

ASK ANYTHING!ASK ANYTHING!

“Opinions divorced from knowledge are ugly things”

Socrates

Page 4: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

What is History?What is History?

““A systematic written account comprising a A systematic written account comprising a chronological record of events and usually chronological record of events and usually including a philosophical explanation of including a philosophical explanation of the cause and origin of such events”the cause and origin of such events”

-Webster’s 3-Webster’s 3rdrd edition edition

Page 5: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

How do we study history?How do we study history?

OrdinaryOrdinary Follows all accepted critical historical rulesFollows all accepted critical historical rules Only speaks of Only speaks of horizontal horizontal relationsrelations

“Writing christian history is like talking about a football game in which half the players are invisible. You know God is acting but what you can write about is the human side of the story.”

George A. Marsden, Ph. D

Page 6: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

ProvidentialistProvidentialist Those who see that Jesus Christ is the center of the Those who see that Jesus Christ is the center of the

universe and that the world universe and that the world isis going somewhere going somewhere

Human experience is so complex that modern theories cannot adequately explain them.

•Can economic theories explain a martyr?•Can socio-economic theories explain the GreatAwakening?

John Woodbridge

Page 7: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

I AM A PROVIDENTIALISTI AM A PROVIDENTIALIST

Page 8: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

“It is not enough to have our eyes open and to note well and mark what God does during our lives, but we must profit from ancient histories. In fact, this is why our Lord has wanted us to have some notable judgments left in writing, so that the memory of them would remain forever. And we should not only profit from what is contained in Holy Scripture, but when we hear what is spoken by the histories written by the pagans, we should also have the prudence to apply to ourselves what God has done”

John Calvin

Page 9: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Matthias Flacius Illyricus

1520-1575

Magdeburg Centuries

Caesar Baronius

1538-1607

Ecclesiastical Annals

Page 10: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

How about Church History?How about Church History?

“A study of the rise and progress of the kingdom of heaven upon the earth, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.”

Phillip Schaff

Page 11: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

“Church history is the Holy Spirit’s instrument for conveying God’s works, performed in and through His people in the past, to His people in the present”

Edward A Panosian

Page 12: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Sources of Church HistorySources of Church History

I. BIBLE

Who is the historian of the Bible?

1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Page 13: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

What is the Bible useful for?

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God [1] may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Page 14: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Purpose of the stories?

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

To build up the faith!

Page 15: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

II. OTHER SOURCES

Primary

Secondary

III. TYPES OF SOURCES

A. Written Usually the best

1. Documents

2. Acts of Synods or councils

3. Confessions of faith

4. Liturgies

5. Church law (canon law)

6. Correspondence

7. Hagiography

Page 16: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

B. Unwritten

1. Art

2. Monuments

3. Inscriptions

4. Greetings

Page 17: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

Why Should We Study Why Should We Study Church History?Church History?

1.1. Church History teaches us our heritage.Church History teaches us our heritage.

2. Church History is a corrective.DoctrinalPractical

Page 18: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

3. Church History warns us about too close dependence upon and association with civil organizations

“Is this vile world a friend of grace to help us on to God?”

4. Church History teaches us about “believing with integrity”

BALANCE****BALANCE****BALANCE!

Page 19: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.

37 Who has spoken and it came to pass,unless the Lord has commanded it?38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most Highthat good and bad come?

Lamentations 3:37-38

Page 20: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.
Page 21: Introduction to Church History. CHURCH HISTORY I ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL: 30-1500 AD.