Missions History of Missions

Dr. Robert PattonMissionary to Suriname,

South America

Persecution 250-313

Decius demanded every citizen to make a yearly sacrifice to the genius of the emperor, and received a certificate. Origen was tortured – later died

Diocletian, a powerful military ruler, no longer shared power with the senate, and tolerated no other religion. Severe persecution broke out 303-305

Rome persecuted the believers

While Christianity was viewed as a Jewish sect, there was not a great amount of persecution, as Judaism was tolerated. But when the church spread, and was rejected by the Jews, persecution began as the population of Christians rose to 5-15% of the population, and held themselves apart

Persecution – Diocletian

Churches were burned, leaders captured and killed if they refused to make a sacrifice. Jails were too full to have regular criminals in them

311 – Galerius – edict of toleration 313 – Constantine – freedom of all

religions Showed importance of separation of

church and state

Results of persecution

Christianity was first strong in the east 2e – reached the Greek-speaking masses

– esp. Alexandria 3e – moved into Latin areas, with

Carthage as a strong church There was the problem of what to do

with Christians who denied the faith or gave over scriptures, and came back when the persecution was over

Perpetua Her father, a nobleman, pled with her

to recant; she refused. He took a beating to try to get her free She had a new-born, and also her

slave girl had just delivered She at last pushed the family away Perpetua gored by a bull, then

beheaded

Polycarp was known and hated by unbelievers

He glorified Jesus Christ He spoke against idolatry He was effective not only in

Smyrna, but also traveled to Rome He was powerful in prayer His strong testimony led to his

being burned to death A. D. 156

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

A second problem – false beliefs

Most believers were: Jews who brought the legalistic

methods of the Old Testament with them

Greeks who brought their philosophy with them

Legalistic – Ebionites

Believed that both Jews and Greeks should hold the OT laws, which were the highest expression of God’s will

They believed that Jesus, son of Joseph, attained some level of deity when the Holy Spirit came upon Him

Philosophic heresies

Gnosticism believed in dualism, with clear separation of matter, which is evil and not created by God, and Spirit, which is good

Jehovah, a demiurge, was a mixture of spirit and matter and created this evil world

Gnosticism

The Christ is spiritual. Either the man Jesus was a phantom, or the Christ came on Him at baptism and left Him on the cross

Salvation comes to those spiritual people who have this special knowledge or those having faith without the special knowledge. No physical resurrection

Gnosticism

You could be an ascetic or libertine – the body is irrelevant

There was a tendency of elitism and antisemitism against the Jew and Jehovah

Refuted by men such as Tertullian, Iraeneus & Hippolytus

Many different sects – Marcion most popular

Manicheanism

Dualism devised by Mani – like Zoroastrianism

Man was an emanation from a person who was an emanation from the king of light. But primitive man tricked by the ruler of darkness, and man became a mixture of the two

You release the light through asceticism

Manicheanism

They believed sex was evil, and favored a priestly class

Augustine was in the belief 12 years before accepting Christ – then refuted it

Neoplatonism

Absolute Being had emanations or overflow by which humans were created

Through mystic intuition you are absorbed into the one and have ecstacy (It seems like pure monism of Hinduism to me)

Emperor Julian tried to make it the religion of the empire 361-363

Theological errors

Montanism – inspiration was instantaneous and immediate and he himself was the Holy Spirit

God was going to set up his kingdom in Phrygia, and he would have an important part

Montanism

Tertullian was in the system We must rely on the Holy Spirit,

and not ignore man’s spiritual nature

Monarchianism

This was overemphasis on the unity of God resulting in Unitarianism, and denying the deity of Christ

Paul of Samosata – Jesus was a good man. The Logos came on Him at baptism and He became divine

Adoptionist monarchianism

Monarchianism

Sabellius – in attempting to avoid three gods, he used modalism – that God appeared in three forms – as the Father in the O.T. as creator, as the Son in the N.T. as redeemer, and as the Holy Spirit after the resurrection. Not 3 persons, but 3 manifestations. This is like Jesus Only Pentecostalism

Donatism

Arose concerning the validity of ordination through the hands of a traitor who denied Christ

The church decided that the validity of a sacrament was not dependent on the character of the one administering it

Attempts to answer a hostile Roman empire – apologists

Justyn Martyr – defended against atheism, idolatry, cannibalism, incest, immorality

Dialog with Trypho – tried to convince the Jews that Jesus is the messiah

Tatian also wrote to the Greeks Athenagoras also wrote, as well as

Theophilus

Apologists – western

Tertullian – showed Christianity as the final answer to religion

Tertullian - apologist

Internal threat of false religionPolemicists

Used the New Testament extensively

Iranaeus – missionary bishop to Gaul. Wrote against gnosticism; supported apostolic succession

Alexandrian school – Pantanaeus, Clement, Origin used allegorical method of interpretation in place of grammatico-historic methods

Alexandrian school Clement of Alexandria ended up

with syncretic mix of bible and Greek philosophy

Origen – extremely capable. Took over family of six after his father Leonides was martyred. Age 18 took over the school from Clement; wrote extensively 6000 scrolls, but lived simply

Clement of Alexandria

Origen’s false beliefs

Christ eternally generated from the Father and subordinate to Him

Pre-existence of the soul The ransom theory of Christ’s

death No physical resurrection Universalism – the final restoration

of all souls

Origen – Alexandrian leader, capable but strange beliefs

Carthaginian school

Tertullian – apologist, also advocated simple lifestyle & no immorality

First to state the trinity, the traducian doctrine of the soul; heavy emphasis on baptism with sins later mortal sins

Cyprian – bishop of Carthage 9 years till his death as a martyr. Opposed Stephen’s claim of priority of bishop of Rome

Cyprian

Two ideas later developed – apostolic succession as protection of heresy from Peter on.

Priests sacrificing the body of Christ

Cyprian

The church’s defense against heresy & persecution

The position of the bishop was exalted above that of the normal church leaders

The Roman bishop was considered in apostolic succession from Peter, despite the fact that Jesus probably referred to his confession, Peter denied the Lord, and Paul once rebuked Peter publically

Development of creeds & canon

A convenient short summary of faith and practice – apostle’s creed of baptism, etc. – approx. 340 A.D.

N.T. canon- mostly done by 175 AD Written by apostle or close associate

of an apostle Edification Consistency with faith of creeds, etc

Canon of the church

180 – list was 22 books – some questioned James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude, Hebrews & Revelation

Athanasius – 367 – same 27 books as today. Carthage – 397 – same books

Liturgy – baptism & communion

Felt could only be administered by authorized individuals - priests

Baptism – initially via belief; then by catechism; usually Easter or Pentecost

Usually by immersion; a few advocated infant baptism

Church started feasts such as Christmas, Lent, etc

Constantine takes over

313 – persecution ends. Then lands given back, state supports clergy, clergy exempt from public service

Founded Constantinople, center of power for the east

Constantine’s sons continued to favor the church

Julian the apostate helped paganism briefly

Emperor Constantine

Christianity = state religion

Theodosius I – made it so 380 Pagan worship punished 392 Athens philosophic school closed

529 Many advantages in outreach, but

now the state involved in the church

Theodosius I - Emperor

Theodosius and Ambrose

Barbarians invade from the east

There were waves of Goths, Visigoths, Anglo-Saxons, Ostrogoths, and Vandals invading, followed by Mongol Huns

Rome sacked 410

Gregory Thaumaturgus

Bishop in the area of Pontus, who saw a sort of people movement. It was claimed that only 17 Christians were there when he arrived, and only 17 non-Christians when he died

Various miracles were attributed to him

Catholics made him a “patron saint” of lost causes

Gregory Thaumaturgus

Gregory the Illuminator

Armenian fled, trained as Christian Returned when Armenia freed, and

jailed when he refused to put garland on a heathen altar

Later the king Tiridates was baptized and destroyed the heathen temple

Gregory “the illuminator”

Armenia became a Christian nation after the king converted

The New Testament was translated into Armenian

Estimated 2,500,000 Armenians became Christians

Gregory the Illuminator & his burial place in this cathedral

Armenia

By 410 the New Testament was translated

The church is one of the oldest in Christianity

Coptic church

Frumentius and his brother were shipwrecked in Ethiopia. They preached the gospel

Athanasius made Frumentius bishop of Ethiopia

Frumentius, bishop of Ethiopia

Rome evangelized Italy

The Italia translation was made very early, possibly 150 A.D.

Church spread to France though not with great results – Irenaeus was bishop of Lyon (France) 175-200 A.D.

Church in England by the 2nd century though not known by whom

Iraneus, bishop of Lyon

Tigris-Euphrates valley

Early spread to Arbela (north of Tigris) by end of 1st century

Tradition – Thomas all the way to India

Edessa in upper Euphrates was a major center, and the king converted by 200 A.D. But was soon overthrown by Romans

Syriac Bible translated by 150 A.D.

Thomas - India

May have been jailed by King Gundaphorus

Tradition states that he was speared to death in India having started churches there

Mar Thoma churches still exist; here is a convention

Christianity spread also

Arabia by third century Strong church in Alexandria Carthage also had Christians –

either from Rome (was a Roman colony) or from nearby

Tertullian, Cyprian and Augustine were all from North Africa

Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD

There was no evidence of priority of the bishop of Rome during this time (no pope)There were no icons, prayers to Mary or prayers to the saints during this time

Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD

The church was spread widely with much persecution

Some fled and became hermits, especially in Egypt (Antony 270 A.D.)

Some chose to be ascetics and come away from the world

There were many martyrs, as noted above

Summary of the church before the council of Nicea 325 AD

There were false teachings during that time, and false teachers

Apologetics were present

Summary of situation with the “conversion” of Constantine

Estimated 10-15% of the Roman empire were Christian

With Christianity becoming tolerated and then popular, it became contaminated by many Roman heathen customs

Martyrdom was in the past The church became related to the

state

Summary after Constantine

Edict of Toleration A.D. 313 Christianity the official religion of

the Roman Empire A.D. 375 Now expedient to become

Christian, and masses of individuals baptized

Council of Nicea to establish the deity of Christ

Effects of Constantine

Church growth was probably hindered by ulterior motives of many ‘converts”

Those who rejected false beliefs retreated into asceticism & monasticism

Evangelization became less outside the Roman Empire

Summary of the situation in early centuries

Church spread through Mesopotamia

Armenia - by the 4th century Strong churches in North Africa

early Turkey, etc - Polycarp gave strong

witness

There were churches with strong missions emphasis

Antioch – the strongest Ephesus – especially through Asia Egypt – Alexandria – Pantaenus, etc. Carthage – Tertullian Some of these churches had some

teachings which were influenced by gnosticism or Arianism, especially in Alexandria

Summary of Council of Nicea

Established that Arianism is heresy – denying the deity of Christ

Settling the inspired books of the Bible, the canon

Monastacism begins

Athanasius writes the life of Antony. He is the bishop of Alexandria

Monasteries begin, especially with Basil the great, who was also a friend of Gregory and also a brother of another Gregory who was another bishop

John Chyrsostom was a godly eloquent archbishop of Constantinople – the orthodox church is beginning at this time

Athanesius – bishop of Alexandria, defeated Arianism

St. Catherine’s monastery – where Sinaiticus was found

Spread of Christianity before Islam

Ulfinas - missionary to the Goths (311) (Area of Romania)

Raised with the Goths – mother Gothic, father a Christian captured by the Goths

Sent to Constantinople as a diplomat, converted, learned Greek under Eusebius, an Arian or Semi-Arian

Age 30 made bishop of the Goths, went north of the Danube, out of Roman territory

Strong opposition by a chieftain who felt Ulfinas wanted to put the Goths under Rome in 348 AD

Ulfinas - missionary to the Goths (311) (Area of Romania)

Ulfinas actually moved the location of his church to the other side of the Danube after many deaths.

Ulfinas translated the entire Bible with the exception of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings because of the military exploits there.

Very accurate translation after reducing Gothic tongue to a written language

Ulfinas – remarkable leader

Taught a mild form of Arianism which persisted with the Visigoths in Spain much later as well as Lollards

The followers of Ulfinas after his death at age 70 were still effective though the Visigoths attacked Rome in 410 AD

Martin of Tours (316-396)

Missionary to France – organized soldier bands. Humble, wise, would not leave his cell to be made bishop

Broke down idols proclaiming Christianity

Still considered the patron saint of France

Martin of Tours – patron saint of soldiers by Catholic church

Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland)

Born in Britain around 389. His father was a deacon, his grandfather a priest in the Celtic church.

He was captured and a slave in Ireland tending swine.

He was converted, and escaped and went to a monastery where he trained as a priest

Stained glass window of St. Patrick

Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland)

After training as a deacon, he felt called to Ireland. Initially, another was sent as better prepared, but died, and Patrick arrived back at over 40 years of age in 432.

He clashed with the druids, who were involved in witchcraft & human sacrifices.

He tried to win a power encounter showing himself stronger than them…

Patrick - Celtic church(Ireland) He worked through the political

powers, but emphasized spiritual growth- 200 churches & 100,000 baptized converts

Monasteries he helped establish had a lot of influence later

He remained a humble man

Britain By the time of Constantine, there

were churches there, but later destroyed by Anglo-Saxons, and were re-evangelized in the 5th century.

Most effective was Columba & 12 workers from Ireland to Scotland and the monastery at Iona.

In the 7th century, Aldan went there

Celtic missionaries

A group of 12 under an abbot would begin a village with a church, surrounded by huts for monks and school rooms

They would begin a church, teach, translate scriptures into the native language, and handicrafts

Monks could marry or remain single

Columba Born in 521 and raised a Christian Initially Celtic church starting an

abbot-center in Ireland, Left for Britain after involvement in

a war with many dead which started, unbelievably, over a copy of a psalter which he had made leading to a war.

Columba – another Celtic priest

Columba In 563, he went to Scotland and

evangelized that entire area. He founded a school for missions

and a monastery on Iona, formerly the center of druid worship.

They trained evangelist missionaries. They had a major impact on Britain & Scotland and a worldwide ministry

Monastery at Iona

Aiden followed Columba

King Oswald apparently converted around 634 after success in battle. He asked Iona for teachers – Aiden came

Oswald died in 642 but his brother followed as a Christian

Aiden was followed by Cuthbert

The church councils between 313 - 451

The church now wants uniform creeds to solidify her teaching and avoid heresy

Council of Nicea 325 – called by Constantine, paid for by the state – with 200 bishops, mostly from the east

Question – is Jesus of the same essence as the Father. Arius said no, he was a different essence and created by the Father

Arianism

Jesus created, attained divinity but not deity equal with the Father

Athanasius – same essence but different personality; necessary for salvation = coequal, cosubstantial, coeternal

Eusebius of Caesarea tried to compromise

Contention from 325-381

Arianism condemned first, then won

Eventually the orthodox view prevailed

Cost – imperial domination. Eventually the west was free, but never the east

Relation of the Father and the Holy Spirit

Macedonius taught that the Holy Spirit was a creature, and not deity – but a servant of the Father on the level of the angels. This view was condemned

The nature of Christ Apolarius taught that Christ had a

normal body and soul, but the logos came on Him – this was condemned

Nestorius, to avoid Mary being the mother of God, stated that she was only the mother of the human side of Jesus = so He would be the God-bearer rather than the God-man. This was condemned, but Nestorians went east

The nature of Christ

Eutyches claimed that the two natures of Christ were fused into one divine nature. The council of Chalcedon stated that Christ had two separate natures, not confused, but in one person. This has been the orthodox stand since. Revived in the Monophysite controversy

The will of Christ

Two wills – the divine is dominant and the human submits

Teachings concerning the nature of man

Pelagius – each man’s soul individually created by God and uncontaminated by the sin of Adam. Each man could choose good or evil. No original sin. No need for infant baptism

Augustine – the entire race fell with Adam, and man cannot exert his own free will to choose salvation. Salvation only through grace to those elected for salvation

Teaching on salvation of man

Pelagius views condemned Cassian – tried compromise – semi-

Pelagianism… Problem in that often the life of the

believer did not correspond to his creed.

The Post-Nicean fathers

Crystostom (347-407) Well trained classically, lawyer, then monk, and then became an ascetic. He was eventually made Bishop of Constantinople. Ethics and the cross go together

Theodore (350-428) Great exegite and opponent of allegorical interpretation.

The Post-Nicean fathers

Crystostom (347-407) Well trained classically, lawyer, then monk, and then became an ascetic. He was eventually made Bishop of Constantinople. Ethics and the cross go together

Theodore (350-428) Great exegite and opponent of allegorical interpretation.