ORIGINS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH

Michael A. Fahey, “Church”, in Systematic Theology,

eds. Francis Schussler Fiorenza and John F. Galvin, Ireland: Gill and Mcmillan, 1992, pp. 328-398.

JESUS CHRIST

FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH

NEW TESTAMENT PROOFS: JESUS’ DIRECT INTENTION TO FOUND THE

CHURCH

YOU ARE PETER…(MT. 16:18)

POST-RESURRECTION ACCOUNT:

PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME…TEND MY SHEEP…FEED MY FLOCK…

DIFFERENT STAGES IN THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

JESUS’ OWN SENSE OF HIS MISSION

PERIOD AFTER THE RESURRECTION

PENTECOST EXPERIENCE

JESUS TRAINED WITH UTMOST CARE HIS DISCIPLES

PROOFS THAT JESUS INTENDED HIS MESSAGE TO HAVE ENDURING VALUE

IN THE LAST SUPPER, HE INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES…

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME…

PRE-NICENE CHRISTIANITY

DURING THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES, CHRISTIANITY UNDERWENT A PERIOD OF VIOLENT

PERSECUTIONS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF MANY CHRISTIANS

CONSTANTINIAN TURNING POINT

CHRISTIANITY WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

EDICT OF TOLERATION

IN 311, AN EDICT OF TOLERATION HAD BEEN ISSUED BY EMPEROR GALERIUS

A DECLARATION MADE BY A GOVERNMENT OR RULER

•STATES THAT MEMBERS OF A GIVEN RELIGION WILL NOT BE PERSECUTED FOR ENGAGING IN THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS

•IMPLIES TACIT ACCEPTANCE OF THE RELIGION RATHER THAN ITS ENDORSEMENT BY THE RULING POWER.

THE EDICT OF MILAN (313 AD)

DECLARED THAT THE ROMAN EMPIRE WOULD BE NEUTRAL WITH REGARD TO

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

OFFICIALLY ENDED ALL GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PERSECUTION, ESPECIALLY OF CHRISTIANITY

CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE

1. PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

“Οικουμένη”

INHABITED

USED TO REFER TO

THE TERRITORY

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

SINCE THE EARLIEST COUNCILS WERE ALL

CONVOKED BY ROMAN EMPERORS

PRESENT MEANING

MEETING OF BISHOPS OF THE WHOLE CHURCH

CONVENED TO DISCUSS AND SETTLE MATTERS OF CHURCH DOCTRINE AND

PRACTICE

2. CHANGES IN THE LITURGY, SACRAMENTAL PRACTICES

FROM THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS TO MONOEPISCOPACY

THE CHURCH DURING THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES

THE INTERACTION OF CITY CHURCH WITH

ONE ANOTHER BEFORE THE

COUNCIL OF NICEA

1. PRAYERS FOR OTHERS AT EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS AND SHARING EUCHRISTIC

BREAD

a. LITURGICAL PRAYERS:

“AS THIS BROKEN BREAD WAS SCATTERED UPON THE

MOUNTAINS, BUT WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER AND BECAME ONE, SO LET THY

CHURCH BE GATHERED TOGETHER FROM THE ENDS

OF THE EARTH INTO THY KINGDOM, FOR THINE IS THE

POWER AND THE GLORY THROUGH

JESUS CHRIST.”

b. CHRISTIANS SENT TO OTHER CHURCHES

CONSECRATED BREAD OF

COMMUNION

UPON ARRIVAL, THE BREAD WOULD BE MIXED INTO THE

CHALICE OF THE RECEIVING CHURCH

AS A SIGN OF ONENESS

2. INSTALLING NEW BISHOPS BY INVITING OTHER BISHOPS FROM

NEIGHBORING CHURCHES TO CONSECRATE THEM

3. CONVOKING REGIONAL SYNODS OR COUNCILS

FOSTERED EXCHANGE AND COORDINATION AMONG CHURCHES

CHRISTIANS CONDUCTED SERIES OF DIALOGUE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF HERESIES

4. EXCHANGING AND CIRCULATING LETTERS

THE LETTERS OFTEN CONTAINED THE VIEWS OF GROUPS AND NOT MERELY INDIVIDUALS

LETTERS ARE EITHER HORTATORY (SERMONS, APPEALS) OR INFORMATIONAL

5. ACCEPTING ATTEMPTS AT COORDINATION OF THE WESTERN CHURCHES BY THE BISHOP OF ROME

ROME CAME TO BE SEEN AS ENJOYING INFLUENCE

OVER OTHER CHURCHES

6. SUBMITTING TO DIRECT INTERVENTIONS BY THE

EMPEROR IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIFE OF

THE CHURCH

HE RESTORED CONFISCATED

BUILDINGS

MADE AVAILABLE FINANCES FOR CHURCH

BUILDINGS

CLERGY WERE EXEMPTED FROM

CERTAIN POLITICAL DUTIES AND TAXES

SUMMARY

GROWTH AND COOPERATION AMONG CHURCHES BEFORE

NICEA, DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS:

1.RELIGIOUS: A.EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS,

B. INSTALLATION OF BISHOPS

2. ORGANIZATIONAL, SOCIALA. SYNODS, COUNCILS

3. CONCENTRATED COORDINATION WITH ONE

PERSON (BISHOP), INSTITUTION (ROME)