HISTORY OF THE CHURCH 2Lesson 3: Birth of Roman Catholicism

Randy Broberg,

Maranatha School of Ministry Fall 2010

Virtual Classroom

• http://randybroberg.wordpress.com/

Trends to look for

• From Pastor to Priest to Pope

• From an Agape Feast to a RitualisticMass

• From Informality to Formality

• From Spontaneity to Liturgy

• From Believers to Babies

• From East to West

Church Worship Incorporates Pagan Candle andIncense Burning Practices

Note candles on analtar and burningincense just like inpagan temples

Note “Throne” likeAltar just like in RomanBasilicas

Pagan Temples Become Churches

►► The Pantheon, pagan temple, became aThe Pantheon, pagan temple, became achurchchurch

Pagan Priests Become Christian Priests

Apse

Altar, BehindLattice Fence

Bishop’s chair (“cathedra”)In the “sanctuary”

NAVE

Aisles

Imperial ChurchArchitecture

More Basilicas

Adoption of Pagan Calendar

• Church calendar with the Christian yearbegins to be in place.

• Beginning of “saints’ days” to replacepagan feast days. This was largelyconsciously and intentionally done.

• First saint’s day, Feb 23, birthday ofPolycarp.

• Feb 14, St. Valentine’s day was a saint’s dayin honor of a martyr who died in 270, formarrying people contrary to the civil law.

• Easter tied to vernal equinox, rather thanJewish Passover

9Temple of Four Seasons Mars at center of“Christian calendar”

Origin of Christmas and Santa Claus

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St. Nicholas(St. Nick)

►► Saturnalia's Dec 23 celebration of “FatherSaturnalia's Dec 23 celebration of “FatherTime” was adapted for Christmas;Time” was adapted for Christmas;

►► Saturnalia was a “merry day” when socialSaturnalia was a “merry day” when socialstanding was eliminated, slaves given thestanding was eliminated, slaves given theday off, gambling was allowed, gifts wereday off, gambling was allowed, gifts wereexchanged among family and friends.exchanged among family and friends.

►► December 25, celebrated as birth date ofDecember 25, celebrated as birth date ofpagan god Mithras adapted for birth date ofpagan god Mithras adapted for birth date ofJesusJesus

►► St. Nick, was bishop of Myra, and known forSt. Nick, was bishop of Myra, and known forgiving gifts to needy children. He wasgiving gifts to needy children. He wasmartyred in 345 and his December saint’smartyred in 345 and his December saint’sday was very popular.day was very popular.

►► Saturday/SaturnSaturday/Saturn

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Geographic Distribution of Christian Groups in5th Century

Nestorians

ArmenianMonophysites

SyrianMonophysites

Egyptian Copts

Ethiopian Copts

Chalcedonian/NiceneOrthodox/Catholics

Donatists

Orthodox/Catholics

Mixed AriansAnd OrthodoxCatholics

Nicaea X’d AriansEphesus X’d NestoriansChalcedon X’d Copts/Monophysites

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Augustine

• Had an incredible zeal forphilosophy that encouraged him tojoin a religious cult from Persia.This cult known as Manicheismwas a form of Gnosticism.

• He was very torn between wantingto live out his desire for pleasure,but wanting to whole-heartedlypursue philosophy.

• Broke away from the Manicheesafter about 10 years of being apartof their sect.

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Augustine “The Confessions”

"Give what youcommand, andcommand whatyou choose."

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After being in Milan he became interested in theAfter being in Milan he became interested in theteachings of St. Ambroseteachings of St. Ambrose——the Bishop of Milan.the Bishop of Milan.

After listening to St. Ambrose, he began to viewAfter listening to St. Ambrose, he began to viewChristianity in a new light with intellectualChristianity in a new light with intellectualrespect.respect.

In 386, while walking outside, he heard a voiceIn 386, while walking outside, he heard a voicesay "take up and read, take up and read." He tooksay "take up and read, take up and read." He tookthis as a sign that he was to read the Bible, and hethis as a sign that he was to read the Bible, and heopened it to whatever page it might open to. Heopened it to whatever page it might open to. Heread Romans 13:14: "But put on the Lord Jesusread Romans 13:14: "But put on the Lord JesusChrist, and make no provision for the flesh inChrist, and make no provision for the flesh inregard to its lusts."regard to its lusts."

After many years of mentorship by Ambrose ,After many years of mentorship by Ambrose ,Augustine decided to leave Rome and go back toAugustine decided to leave Rome and go back toAfrica.Africa.

While waiting to go back to Africa, Monica died.While waiting to go back to Africa, Monica died.

395, Two years later, Augustine was made the395, Two years later, Augustine was made theBishop of Hippo.Bishop of Hippo.

Conversion of Augustine, 386 AD

Bishop Ambrose of Milan, wentfrom being unbaptized RomanGovernor to Bishop in 8 days

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Augustine’sCity of God• Augustine wrote City of God

(413-426), showing that thetrue movement of history wasthe unseen conflict betweensin and salvation, betweenthe city of man and thekingdom of God.

• World is divided into twocities

• Superiority of Sacred toSecular Authority . Earthlycity must be ordered by theChurch’s authority andteaching

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Augustine The Amillennialialist

• Millennial Kingdom began withJesus’ Resurrection

• Millennial Kingdom Ends with2nd Coming

• After 2nd Coming there is a FinalJudgment

• After Final Judgment There is anEstablishment of HeavenlyKingdom (New Jerusalem).

• Regarded Revelation as a purelysymbolic work describing justiceand good’s triumph over evil, not tobe taken literally at all.

Painting of “Last Judgment”

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Augustine TheSacramentalist

Baptismal Regeneration andcleansing from sin.

Baptism needed for salvation.

Infant Baptism

Possible early version oftransubstantiation repeatedsacrifice Eucharist doctrine

“Without baptismthere is nosalvation.”

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Augustine the “Calvinist”

• Fall included all men,even babies who are bornguilty

• Total depravity of humansdue to Adam’s sin

• Man has original sin

• Man is saved only bygrace

• Particular redemption

• Absolute predestinationnecessary for salvation

• Views likely grew out ofcontroversy with Pelagius

"A man's free-will, indeed,avails for nothing except tosin,… God's 'love is shedabroad in our hearts,' notthrough the free-will thatarises from ourselves, but'through the Holy Ghost,

which is given to us.'

(On the Spirit and the Letter, 3.5)

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Augustine theSacerdotalist

• Began a anti-Donatist campaignby writing letters to Donatistprelates.(ineffective)

• In the late 390’s in a famousargument he used Luke 14:23("Compel them to come in") tojustify the state suppression ofthe minority group. This sealedChurch approval of religiousrepression for the rest of themiddle ages and into theReformation period.

“Go out on thehighway…and compel

them to come in”

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EphesusSackedAthens

Sacked

AntiochSackedCarthage Sacked

RomeSacked

Sacking of Cities Deep in the InteriorSacking of Cities Deep in the Interior

408 Gaul408 GaulOverrun byOverrun byFranksFranks

449 England449 EnglandOverrun byOverrun byAngloAnglo--SaxonsSaxons

Parthiansattacking InEast also

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As the emperor's power declines, the Bishop ofRome's increases.

• Roman Bishop in 410 negotiates forRome with VisiGoths.

• Roman Bishop Leo I (440-461)negotiates and saves Rome from Attilathe Hun (452).

• Leo I negotiates with Vandals to limitdestruction of Rome

• Grateful Romans declare Leo as“Pontifex Maximus”.

• Leo I asserts authority over otherbishops, claiming bishop of Rome issuccessor to Apostle Peter, wants titleof “Pope”.

• 461 Pope Leo I, dies

Clovis, King ofFranks

(r. 482-511)

►► Clovis was the first barbarian king to accept CatholicClovis was the first barbarian king to accept Catholicrather than Arian baptism.rather than Arian baptism.

►►On the eve of a battle where the Franks were hopelesslyOn the eve of a battle where the Franks were hopelesslyoutnumbered, Clovis cried out: “outnumbered, Clovis cried out: “Jesus Christ,Jesus Christ, ClothildaClothildasays you are the Son of the living God, and you can givesays you are the Son of the living God, and you can givevictory to those who hope in you. Give me victory and Ivictory to those who hope in you. Give me victory and Iwill be baptized. I have tried my gods and they havewill be baptized. I have tried my gods and they havedeserted me. I call on you. Only, save me.”deserted me. I call on you. Only, save me.”

►► They won the battle and afterwards Clovis and his wholeThey won the battle and afterwards Clovis and his wholearmy were baptizedarmy were baptized

Baptism of Clovis byimmersion

Church Confronts New Forms Of Paganism

Survival of Latin & Greek Paganism

Celtic PaganismGermanic Paganism

Byzantine Domination ofPapacy 588-648 AD

• 588 John, Patriarch of Constantinople,assumes the title "Universal Bishop”(Ecumenical Patriarch)

• Justinian’s reconquest of Italy puts Romeback under control by Constantinople,and the Bishop of Rome back undercontrol by emperor.

• 648--Emperor Constans II issues "TheTypos" limiting Christian teachings tothat defined in first five ecumenicalcouncils.

• Pope Martin I (d. 655) refuses to signTypos. Martin is seized and banished toCrimea and dies. He is last pope to bevenerated as a martyr.

Emperor Justinian

“The mission of the piousemperor is the maintenanceof the Christian faith in its

purity and the protection ofthe Holy Catholic and

Apostolic Church from anydisturbance.”

Charles “The Hammer” Martel, stops Muslims inFrance, 732 AD

709 AD kissing709 AD kissingPope’s feetPope’s feetadoptedadopted

Frankish King Pepin the Short,crowned 752 AD, Creates Papal States

• Pepin the Short, the first Carolingian king,son of Charles Martel

• Pope harassed by Lombards.

• Byzantines fail to help.

• Pope asks Franks to help and they do.

• Blessed by Pope as King -- made him a“Divine Right” King , called him “TheChosen of the Lord”

• In the “Donation of Pepin”, Pope was givena piece of Italy to own directly and thepapacy asserts its earthly rule and establishesthe papal states in Italy.

• Separation of Rome from Constantinoplebecause of reliance on Franks instead.

Charlemagne, Crowned Holy Roman Emperor byPope Leo III, 800 AD

The Coronation of Charlemagne

PopeLeo III

Charlemagne’sHoly Roman Empire

The Kingdom of God was thought to havetwo arms: the spiritual presided over bythe Pope, with responsibility for souls andthe temporal under the emperor withresponsibility for physical well being.

CoronationGospels.St.. Matthew

EbboGospels,St. Matthew

Carolingian Monkscopy scriptures

Pope vs.Patriarch

• Ecumenical Patriarch Condemns PopeNicholas

• Because of this activity of PopeNicholas, Photius sent out in 867 hisfamous encyclical to the Patriarchs ofthe East accusing the Pope:

– of inserting into the Creed the word"filoque", meaning that the HolySpirit proceeds not only from theFather but "and from the Son" aswell;

– for dominating the churches of theWest; and

– for interfering in disputes outside hisown jurisdiction.

Identification of Pagan and Christian “Holy Sites”

• Pagan customs and religious beliefs now came into Christianity with themasses of "converts" who came in.

• In the search for saints (to enhance revenues from pilgrimages), manypagan deities were absorbed into the church and sanitized as saints, suchas St. Brigit, originally god of the Brigantes.

• In the same way, Pagan holy sites were also converted to Christian use

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Questions to Consider• To what extent should the

Church adopt aspects oflocal culture so as tobecome more acceptableor successful?

• To what extent should theChurch appear distinct orseparate from thesurrounding culture?

• Is Europe once againdesperately in need ofmissionary activity?

• Would medievalmissionary tactics beeffective today?