Lecture’s Headlines

Jerald Dirks PH.D
EVOLUTION OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

I.                   The decade of the “Jerusalem Church”—30s CE

A.    Continued to worship in the Second Temple

B.    Were pronounced authentically Jewish by Rabbi Gamaliel

C.    Focused around James and the actual disciples of Jesus (pbuh)

D.    “Jewish-Christian” theology

1.     Message preached only to Israelites

2.     Kept the Mosaic Law

3.     Denied the alleged divinity of Jesus (pbuh)

II.                 “Jesus Movements” arise in Damascus and other large cities—by 40s CE

A.    Pauline vs. “Jewish-Christian” church—see below

B.    Rise of the bishops, one in every large city church

III.              “Jesus Movements” enter into the surrounding towns and villages

A.    Cluster of towns around a city controlled by the bishop in the city

B.    Each locale had its own set of “scripture” and doctrine

IV.              Emergence of the five patriarchs—by 2^nd century CE

A.    Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, & Alexandria

B.    Differing “scripture” & doctrine associated with each patriarchy

V.                Claimed primacy of the pope

THEOLOGICAL STRUGGLES IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY

I.                   The “Mosaic Law”—Jesus (pbuh) vs. Paul

II.                 Scope of mission and ministry—Gentile vs. Israelite

III.              The alleged crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh)

IV.              The nature of Jesus (pbuh)—divinity vs. humanity

V.                The nature of God—Unity vs. trinity

THE EAST-WEST SCHISM

I.                   The issues of contention

A.    The Filioque clause

B.    Defining the trinity

C.    Leavened vs. unleavened bread in the Eucharist

D.    Primacy of the pope vs. church councils and the five patriarchs

E.    Priestly celibacy

F.     Language and geopolitics

G.    Salvation—resurrection vs. crucifixion

H.    Original Sin

II.                 The Photian Schism of 867

III.              The Great Schism of 1054

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

I.                   The major issues of contention

A.    Translation of the Bible from Latin into the common vernacular

B.    Church law vs. a return to the Bible

C.    Heaven, hell, limbo, & purgatory

D.    Simony and the selling of indulgences

E.    Intercessory prayer

F.     Papal infallibility

G.    Transubstantiation during the Eucharist

H.    The role and status of the Virgin Mary

II.                 Isolated issues of contention

A.    Anabaptist movements

B.    Peace movements

C.    Polygamy

III.              Major Protestant movements

A.    Lutheran

B.    Anglican

C.    Reformed

D.    Anabaptist

IV.              The Islamic contribution

V.                The Counter Reformation

19^TH CENTURY MILLENARIANISM IN AMERICA

I.                   Millenarianist fervor

II.                 The new movements

A.    The Mormons

B.    The Jehovah Witnesses

C.    The Christian Right

                                                                        1.      Pentecostals

                                                                        2.      Fundamentalists

                                                                        3.      Evangelicals

                   D.  The Wesleyan Holiness Movement and The Salvation Army

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Last updated: 05/26/08