Transcript Lesson 2: The Post-Apostolic Period | Powerpoint

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The Lord’s Church
Through the Ages
Part 2
The Post-Apostolic Period
The Lord’s Church Through the Ages
Where Are We?
The New
Testament
Church
PostApostolic
Period
Medieval
Period
Reformation
Period
Restoration
Period
The Lord’s
Church Today
A.D. 33 - 100
100 - 600
600 - 1300
1300 - 1700
1700 - 1900
1900 - 2011
Why This Study?
• A study of history is profitable for learning
valuable lessons (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)
• A study of the Post-Apostolic Period will show
the beginnings of apostasy – the when, where,
and why of apostasy within the Lord’s church
Understanding Some Terms
• The “Post-Apostolic” period is the period after
(post) the death of the apostles and those who
personally knew the apostles.
• The “Apostolic Fathers” were a group of men
who knew some of the original apostles and who
lived at the end of the 1st Century and the
beginning of the 2nd Century (Clement of Rome,
Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, etc.).
Understanding Some Terms
• The “Ante-Nicene” (before Nicea) period runs
from 100 to 325.
• The “Ante-Nicene Fathers” were a group of men
who lived after the “Apostolic Fathers” and
before the Council of Nicea in 325 (Irenaeus,
Clement of Alexandria, etc.).
Five Key Marks of the Post-Apostolic Period
1. Persecution of the New Testament church
2. Further departures from the faith
3. Men and their movements
4. Councils and their creeds
5. Union of church and state
Five “P’s” Behind the Apostasies
of the Post-Apostolic Period
1. Pride
2. Power
3. Prominence / Prestige
4. Promiscuity
5. Passivity
Persecution of the New Testament Church
• Principle persecutors: Roman emperors
• Prominent martyrs: Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus
• Pertinent reasons: Christians opposed Rome
• Popular reactions: some Christians gave up,
some Christians held on
Further Departures From the Faith
Departures in doctrine
Departures in worship and practice
Departures in organization
Departures in character
Men and Their Movements
• Men: “Apostolic Fathers”, apologists,
Alexandrians, men of North Africa, preachers
• Movements: monasticism, the papacy
Councils and Their Creeds
• Councils: Nicea (325, 787), Constantinople (381,
553, 680), Ephesus (431) Chalcedon (451)
• Creeds: formal statements of faith came out of
the councils and governed religion
(“Canon Law”)
Union of Church and State
Emperor Constantine “converted” to Christianity in
the early part of the 4th Century, but he put off
baptism to the end of his life. After Constantine’s
“conversion,” much good was accomplished: 1)
Rome protected the Apostate “Church” instead of
persecuting it, 2) church buildings were restored
and reopened, 3) heathenism was discouraged, 4)
crucifixion was abolished, 5) infanticide was
repressed, 6) slavery was regulated, and 7)
gladiator contests were suppressed.
Union of Church and State
After Constantine’s “conversion,” much bad was
also accomplished: 1) the Apostate “Church” was
run like the Roman Empire; and 2) heathen
religions were “converted” and brought much of
their belief and practice with them into the
Apostate “Church” (images, ceremony, holy days,
etc.).
Union of Church and State
The Roman Empire
Emperor (Head)
Senate
Imperial Governor
Provincial Governor
Civitas
Common people
Hierarchy of Authority
( Apostate “Church” Run Like the Roman Empire )
The Apostate “Church”
Pope (Head)
Council
Patriarchal bishop
Metropolitan bishop
Clergy (bishop / priest)
Laity (common people)
Lessons Learned
• How will you react to the persecutions that
Christians face today (Lk. 6:22-23; 2 Tim. 3:12)?
• Departures from the faith come when
individuals do not know the scriptures, respect
the scriptures, or both (2 Pet. 3:16-18)
• Will you follow men and their movements or
Jesus Christ and his word (Mt. 17:5)?
Lessons Learned
• One wrong, like a departure from the faith, often
leads to other wrongs like forming councils and
creeds to answer and defend against the
departures (2 Tim. 2:16; 3:13)
• The Lord never intended for his church to be a
political machine of church and state, but a
teaching body (1 Tim. 3:15)
The Lord’s Church Through the Ages
• Let us be content to respect Bible authority and
do the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way
• Let us be the faithful remnant of the Lord’s
church today