(From the Dissolution of the Roman Empire to the Reformation)
1. Development of Creed, Code and Cult A. Creed 1. Jesus is only Human vs. Jesus is both human and divine a. Arius of Alexandria taught that Jesus is only human b. Athanasius proposed that Jesus must be both human and divine in nature. c. The Council of Nicea 325 AD resolved : that Jesus is both human and divine in hypostatic union. I believe in Jesus Christ, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father 2. Jesus has only one will vs. Jesus has two wills a. Jesus has one nature therefore, has only one nature (Monophysite) b. Jesus is both human and divine, therefore has two natures c. Council of Constantinople 381 AD affirmed that Jesus is both human and divine, also declared that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque) 3. Mother of Jesus vs. Mother of God a. Mary was thought to give birth to a son who is only human, not God and not the Logos (Nestorianism- Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople); Mary is the mother of Jesus b. Mary is thought as the Theotokos, Mother of God; i.e Mary gave birth to a son who is not only human but also divine (Cyril of Alexandria). c. The Council of Ephesus 431 declared Nestorianism as heresy and declared that Mary is the Theotokos, therefore, Mary gave birth to a son who is both human and divine. 2. Development of Code ( Morals )and Cult (Worship) a. Monasticism. 1. Rooted in Mt. 19:21 go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven 2. White martyrdom: self-denial and renunciation; Poverty, Chastity, Obedience 3. Historical Monks: a. St. Anthony of Egypt ( 251-356) father of monasticism; He visited the prisoners near the desert b. St. Maron of Syria (350-410) Maronite Church in Lebanon and St. John Chrysostom c. St. Patrick of Ireland (444) apostle to Ireland. His predecessors initiated the repeated form of penance and forgiveness of sins d. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) Father of Monasticism of the West; The motto of his monastic rule is ora et labora e. St. Gregory the Great (540-604) first monk who became a monk f. St. Boniface ( 723-739) apostle to Germany g. St. Cyril and Methodius -apostles to the Slavs (860) b. The Mendicant . They challenged the rich including the Church to be mindful of the poor by embracing poverty and living in humility and simplicity before God and others by begging for the poor and for themselves. 1. The Mendicant Friars : a. St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan Order; he portrayed the humility and simplicity of the birth of Jesus the Messiah thru the Nativity Scene. b. St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Dominican Order; his vision of the Virgin Mary inspired him to introduced the Rosary devotion c. Scholasticism The period in which reason or logic (Philosophy) is employed in Theology. 1. The Scholastic Theologians:
a. (Pre-scholastic) St. Augustine of Hippo . He Christianize the Philosophy of
Plato. His greatest work was the City of God b. St. Thomas Aquinas ( Albertus Magnus, Dun Scutus, Bounaventure) He Christianize the Philosophy of Aristotle. His exemplary work was the Summa Theologia. His thoughts and concepts about the Sacraments are applicable to date. c. The Reformation was prompted by the excesses of those who were in the Church ranks, like the Papal schism, punitive inquisition of suspected heretic, corruption due to the lack of funds i.e selling of indulgence and simony. 1. The Protestant Reformers: a. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk who wrote 95 theses against the excesses of the Church hierarchy. He asserted that salvation is by faith alone and sola Scriptura is the supreme authority in religion. He translated the Bible into German b. Huldrych Zwingli of Switzerland also preach about sola scriptura but did not adhere to the Lutherans belief in Consubstantiation c. Jean Calvin initiated Calvinism and published the Insitute of Christian religion. He also believed in sola scriptura, salvation by faith alone, and the priesthood of all believers, he went even further on such issues as predestination and the sacraments d. Henry II of England separated from the Church when he was not permitted to divorce his wife. He established the Church of England or the Anglican Church. 3. Development in the Political life, Structure, Territory 1. Pope Leo the Great asserted the Papal Primacy a. He resolved the conflict between theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch by a doctrinal synthesis, referred to as Tome. b. He negotiated with Atilla, the Hun to spare Rome from invasion 2. Pope Stephen II made an alliance with the Carolingian empire to secure the papal estate and protect Rome from the Lombards. The Carolingian dynasty: a. Charles Martel prevented the Muslim to enter Europe by defeating them at the Battle of Poitiers in 732 AD b. Pepin secured the papal estate c. Charlemagne protected Christianity and established the holy Roman empire because Christianity was the guiding principle of the empire. He conquered Gaul. 3. The great schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church (Byzantine) and the Western Orthodox Church happened in 1054 AD Reasons: 1. language - West : Latin ; East: Greek 2.Misunderstanding about filioque 3.Dispute about the Papal role in the Church 4. Reconquering Spain from the Muslims. Spain is claimed as a Christian territory for the relic of the Apostle James was found there and his entombed in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 5. Crusade to the Holy Land initiated by Pope Urban II