Early Christian Religion

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HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY I: Apostolic Church [Apostolic Foundation and Beginnings of the Church] As the fundament of His church and as supreme pastor of His flock, Jesus chose Simon Peter, when He said: Blessed are you, Simon bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. (Mt. 16:11-19) THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES 1. Church of Jerusalem (12 Apostles) Characteristics: * Jews are predominant members- Acts 2:43-47, 4:32-35 * Teaching and healing…show more content…
As Christianity gained not only respectability but finally official status as an official religion, we see that the Church's image became more and more linked to the political stability of the State. If Rome fell, then the Church would also fall - such was the rationale with which the pragmatists of the period contended PRESSURES EXPERIENCED BY CHURCH 1. change the Church structurally, in its administration, and in its theological emphasis 2. the Church saw that "to deny the State the right to go to war was to condemn it to extinction 3. Marriage of the church and state under Constantine(Council of Nicea in 325 AD) THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM Council of Nicaea (325 AD) finally resolved that We believe in....one Lord Jesus Christ, The only begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all Ages Light of Light, true God of true God, Begotten not made of one substance with the Father 2. DIVINITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT * Gregory of Nyssa taught that true knowledge of the Trinity comes through scripture and tradition * Council of Constantinople in 381 the Spirit was described as "the Lord, the giver of life, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified * APOLLINARIANISM Christ has no human soul was opposed and condemned by the first Council of Constantinople in
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