Category Archives: Early Church History

#306 – A History of the Catholic Church – Jesus Christ, Our God

October 9, 2015 – 8:00 pm

trinity

Trying to find the right words and theology to describe the relationship of the Father and the Son was one of the most difficult and most important theological issues of the Early Church. Was the Son the same as the Father or different? Was the Son equal to or lesser than the Father? Could one present a theology that described what the Christian Church believed about Jesus and also remained faithful to the Tradition and Scripture?

In this episode, we look at several different ways that influential figures in the Early Church presented their views of this relationship: Adoptionism, Modalism, Logos Christology and the Trinitarian theology of Tertullian to see how different theologians wrestled with these problems and how they will influence the Church’s understanding of God.

Links:

Image: the earliest known depiction of the Trinity from the Dogmatic Sarcophagus 350 AD

Handy brief guides to the heresies we have been discussing and will be discussing in the future can be found here and here.

Examples from the Early Church Fathers describing Jesus as God

Justin Martyr’s First Apology that presents his theology of the Son. Note especially sections 6, 12, 13, 46

A good article on Tertullian’s Trinitarian theology – Against Praxaes – How Far Did Tertullian Advance The Doctrine Of The Trinity?

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podcasticon#306 – A History of the Catholic Church – Jesus Christ, Our God

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#305 – A History of the Catholic Church – A Christian Space

October 2, 2015 – 8:00 pm

perpetuaandfelicity

The end of the second century/beginning of the third brought with it continued suffering of persecutions and martyrdoms. The example of Perpetua and Felicity show us not only the practice of the faith in Carthage, but also show us how the important call to martyrdom was experienced from a first hand account.

The end of the second century/beginning of the third will also bring with it the rise of the catacombs – places where Christians can celebrate the example of the martyrs and where Christian art will have its beginning.

Links:

Image – Perpetua and Felicy by Lawrence OP

The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Interesting article by William Tabbernee on the Church of Carthage at the time of the martyrdoms of Perpetua and Felicity

Travel through the Catacombs of Saint Priscilla via Google Maps

Christian symbols and art in the catacombs

Image of Orpheus, Endymion sleeping under a Tree, Jonah being spat out of the whale and Daniel in the lions’ den in Catacombs

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podcasticon#305 – A History of the Catholic Church – A Christian Space

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#304 – A History of the Catholic Church – Having Preeminent Authority

September 25, 2015 – 8:00 pm

jesusandthekeys

Having looked at several different heresies and the responses of the Church authorities to that – emphasis on the monepiscopacy, apostolic tradition and the development of the New Testament Canon. In this episode, we reflect on the growth and continuing importance of the authority of the bishop of Rome. We also look at the struggle about inculturalization – how much should the Church adapt to the Hellenistic culture?

We will also look at the Church of the East and see how it dealt with many of these same issues.

Links:

Image – Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino

Eusebius on the Quartodeciman Controversy

A Map of Parthia showing Media and Bactra where Christianity had spread by this time can be found here.

Another map showing the spread of Christianity by 200 AD.

The Diatesseron of Tatian

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podcasticon#304 – A History of the Catholic Church – Having Preeminent Authority

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#303 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Most Dangerous Foe

September 18, 2015 – 8:00 pm

marcionandjohn

Concluding our series on early Christian heresies with Marcionism, a movement that became so popular that some estimates are that half of the Christians in the Eastern half of the Roman Empire will be supporters of Marcion of Sinope and his views on Old Testament.

Indeed, Marcion’s condemnation of the Old Testament and the strength of Marcion will be one of the key reasons for the Christian Church to begin the process of defining the faith in what will become the New Testament.

Links:

Image – John and Marcion of Sinope

Pro and Anti-Marcionite Writings
Marcionite Bibliography
Marcionite Research Library

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podcasticon#303 – A History of the Catholic Church – A Most Dangerous Foe

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#302 – A History of the Catholic Church – Escape the Matrix

September 11, 2015 – 8:00 pm

matrix

Continuing an examination of the diverse beliefs present among the Christian Church in the second century, this episode takes a look at the Gnostics – in particular the Valentinians.

Valentinius, a teacher of great influence who nearly became the Bishop of Rome, founded a system of belief that spanned the Roman Empire founded on the principle that the world in which we live is a false reality and only the teachings of Jesus can help us to see the truth.

Aeons

The Valentinian Spiritual Hierarchy

Links:

Valentinus and the Valentinian Tradition – extensive set of links dedicated to Valentinian Gnosticism

Saint Irenaeus on Valentinianism

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podcasticon#302 A History of the Catholic Church – Escape the Matrix

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#301 – A History of the Catholic Church – The New Prophecy

September 4, 2015 – 8:00 pm

pentecost

As the Christian Church grew both in numbers and in its geographical scope, so did differences among believers also increase. Some of these differences will be minor, others will be significant enough that they will cause splits among the faithful.

The Montantists, or the New Prophecy, emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the faithful but their strict morality, their charismatic practices, and the role of women in their movement will cause conflict with magisterial leadership and end in accusations of heresy against them.

Links:

Image of Pentecost from the Rabula Gospels

Presentations of Montanism

Surviving words of the Montanist leaders

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podcasticon#301 A History of the Catholic Church – The New Prophecy

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#300 – A History of the Catholic Church – Conformity to Christ

August 28, 2015 – 8:00 pm

polycarp

Using the account of the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, we look at how the theology of Christian martyrdom develops. What were the reasons why some Christians sought martyrdom? What type of opposition to martyrdom existed?

Links:

Image of martyrdom of Polycarp

Martyrdom of Polycarp

Movie about Polycarp

First apology of Saint Justin Martyr

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podcasticon#300 – A History of the Catholic Church – Conformity to Christ

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#299 – A History of the Catholic Church – A Most Mischievous Superstition

August 21, 2015 – 8:00 pm

romansacrifice

As the Christians spread throughout the Roman Empire, so did opposition against them increase as well – hostility from neighbors and persecution from State. In this episode, we look at the reasons why Tacitus called Christianity “a most mischievous superstition” and the ways that anti-Christian hostility manifested itself.

Links:

Image of Emperor Marcus Aurelius offering a sacrifice

Tacitus and Pliny on the Christians

Earlier episode on the Alexamenos graffito

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podcasticon#299 – A History of the Catholic Church – A Most Mischievous Superstition

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#298 – A History of the Catholic Church – Apostolic Succession

August 14, 2015 – 8:00 pm

apostolicsuccession

The spread of the teachings of Jesus brings with it also increasing differences about who are the true followers of His Word. Those followers of Jesus who have come to be called Christians and members of the Catholic Church, begin to set standards for who belongs to the faith – and who is outside it.

Links:

Image: La consécration de Déodat by Claude Bassot

Wikipedia article on Docetism

Chart of Apostolic Succession in the Early Church

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podcasticon#298 – A History of the Catholic Church – Apostolic Succession

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#297 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Two Ways

August 7, 2015 – 8:00 pm

ignatius

As the Church approaches the end of the First Century, Christians in Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome continue to develop their faith both in light of the growing Gentile membership as well as in response to the continuing reality of sin.

Links:

Image of Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Map of Christian communities at the end of the First Century

Map of Osroene/Edessa

Sources for Roman Church:
First Letter of Clement
The Shepherd of Hermas

Sources for Alexandrine Church:
The Epistle of Barnabas

Sources for Antiochine Church:
Epistles of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Epistle of Polycarp
Martyrdom of Polycarp

Sources for Church outside Roman Empire
Odes of Solomon

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To listen, just click on the link below:
podcasticon#297 – A History of the Catholic Church – The Two Ways

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