Age of Catholic Christianity IIIAge of Catholic Christianity IIIAge of Catholic Christianity IIIAge of Catholic Christianity III

Heresy-Orthodoxy-The CanonHeresy-Orthodoxy-The CanonHeresy-Orthodoxy-The CanonHeresy-Orthodoxy-The Canon

The Necessity of the CanonThe Necessity of the Canon

A.K.A. HereticsA.K.A. Heretics

AntinomianismAntinomianism

an·ti·no·mi·an·ism ( n t -n m - -n z m)

n.n.

Theology.Theology. The doctrine or belief that the Gospel The doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace. gift of divine grace.

The belief that moral laws are relative in meaning The belief that moral laws are relative in meaning and application as opposed to fixed or universal.and application as opposed to fixed or universal.

GnosticismGnosticism• Stemmed from the Greek word γνώσιςStemmed from the Greek word γνώσις - knowledgeknowledge

• Incredibly Syncretistic (mish-mash of religions)Incredibly Syncretistic (mish-mash of religions)

• Entailed a search for secret, hidden, knowledgeEntailed a search for secret, hidden, knowledge

• There were many different forms of Gnosticism, There were many different forms of Gnosticism, but most kept three main pointsbut most kept three main points

1.1. Dualism – The eternal battle of Light v. Dark, Dualism – The eternal battle of Light v. Dark, Good v. Evil. usu. They are equal and oppositeGood v. Evil. usu. They are equal and opposite

2.2. Demiurgic notion – The separation of the creator Demiurgic notion – The separation of the creator of the world (demiurgos) from the proper Godof the world (demiurgos) from the proper God

3.3. Docetism – the belief that the human element in Docetism – the belief that the human element in the person of the redeemer was an illusionthe person of the redeemer was an illusion

Marcion c.110-160Marcion c.110-160• HereticHeretic

• Son of a bishopSon of a bishop

• Excommunicated for heresy, contempt of Excommunicated for heresy, contempt of authority and maybe seducing a virginauthority and maybe seducing a virgin

• Studied under the Gnostic CerdoStudied under the Gnostic Cerdo

• Wrote Wrote AntithesisAntithesis

• Met PolycarpMet Polycarp

Marcion’s BeliefsMarcion’s Beliefs

1.1. OT God and Jews were EvilOT God and Jews were Evil

2.2. NT God gracious and goodNT God gracious and good

3.3. Wrote an 11 book Canon including a Wrote an 11 book Canon including a mangled Luke and 10 of Paul’s mangled Luke and 10 of Paul’s epistlesepistles

Mani 215-277Mani 215-277• Persian philosopher who began preaching his Persian philosopher who began preaching his

own religion, originally well received he fell out own religion, originally well received he fell out of favor and fled to India and Chinaof favor and fled to India and China

• Wrote several works in Persian, Syriac and a Wrote several works in Persian, Syriac and a language of his own inventionlanguage of his own invention

• Systematized ManichSystematized Manichæism including Buddha, æism including Buddha, whom he discovered while in exilewhom he discovered while in exile

• Returned to Persia, but was convicted of Returned to Persia, but was convicted of corrupting the old religion and was martyred in corrupting the old religion and was martyred in 277A.D.277A.D.

Beliefs of ManichBeliefs of Manichæismæism

• Signaculum Oris – Purity in word and dietSignaculum Oris – Purity in word and diet

• Signaculum manuum – Renunciation of Signaculum manuum – Renunciation of material pursuitsmaterial pursuits

• Signaculum sinus – celibacySignaculum sinus – celibacy

• 2 classes – “Perfect” and “Hearers”2 classes – “Perfect” and “Hearers”

• 12 Apostles->72 Bishops->72 Disciples12 Apostles->72 Bishops->72 Disciples

Montanus Montanus Mid-Late 2Mid-Late 2ndnd Century Century

• Heterodox - Semi HereticHeterodox - Semi Heretic

• From Asia MinorFrom Asia Minor

• Began as a reaction to Gnostic excess, Began as a reaction to Gnostic excess, Montanus desired true Christian purity in lifeMontanus desired true Christian purity in life

• Somnambulistic EcstasiesSomnambulistic Ecstasies

• Inspired organ of the Paraclete the helper and Inspired organ of the Paraclete the helper and comforter in the time of distresscomforter in the time of distress

• Had 2 main Prophetesses Priscilla & MaximillaHad 2 main Prophetesses Priscilla & Maximilla

Montanists, Phrygians, and Montanists, Phrygians, and CataphrygiansCataphrygians

• The Pneumatics “Spiritual Christians”The Pneumatics “Spiritual Christians”

• Combated GnosticismCombated Gnosticism

• AsceticismAsceticism

• No forgiveness for mortal sin post-baptismNo forgiveness for mortal sin post-baptism

• Miraculous Gifts - especially prophecyMiraculous Gifts - especially prophecy

• Universal PriesthoodUniversal Priesthood

• MillenarianismMillenarianism

ApologistsApologists

• Justin MartyrJustin Martyr

• TertullianTertullian

Flavius Justinus c.100-166Flavius Justinus c.100-166 –Philosopher and Martyr –Philosopher and Martyr

• Grew up as a heathen in SamariaGrew up as a heathen in Samaria• Began searching for truth in philosophy, finding Began searching for truth in philosophy, finding

Platonism to be the bestPlatonism to be the best• Spoke with a Christian, who pointed him to the Spoke with a Christian, who pointed him to the

OT as seen through the NT as the best philosophyOT as seen through the NT as the best philosophy• After conversion he became an itinerant After conversion he became an itinerant

evangelist, teacher, and philosopherevangelist, teacher, and philosopher• Wrote two Wrote two ApologiaApologia, defending Christianity to the , defending Christianity to the

Emperor Antoninus PiusEmperor Antoninus Pius• Scourged and beheaded with 6 others ~166A.D.Scourged and beheaded with 6 others ~166A.D.

Quintus Septimius Florens TertullianusQuintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus

Tertullian c.155-230Tertullian c.155-230• Born in Carthage to a Captain of the Roman Born in Carthage to a Captain of the Roman

Legion stationed thereLegion stationed there

• Was well educated and traveled, but lived a life Was well educated and traveled, but lived a life of debauchery until he was 30 or 40of debauchery until he was 30 or 40

• After conversion he dedicated his life to After conversion he dedicated his life to defending Christianitydefending Christianity

• Strove for Christian purity to the extremeStrove for Christian purity to the extreme

• Was married and celibateWas married and celibate

• Fiery and powerful Theologian/ApologistFiery and powerful Theologian/Apologist

Quintus Septimius Florens TertullianusQuintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus

Tertullian c.155-230Tertullian c.155-230

• 11stst to use term Trinity to use term Trinity

• Wrote Wrote Apologeticus Apologeticus during the reign of the during the reign of the Emperor Septimius SeverusEmperor Septimius Severus

• Attacked GnosticsAttacked Gnostics

• Became a Montanist because he was attracted by Became a Montanist because he was attracted by their purity and was distressed by the lack of their purity and was distressed by the lack of purity in the catholic churchpurity in the catholic church

PolemicistsPolemicists

IrenIrenæus c.120-202æus c.120-202• Name means peacefulName means peaceful

• Born in Smyrna, and was discipled by Polycarp Born in Smyrna, and was discipled by Polycarp during his youth/young manhoodduring his youth/young manhood

• Began his Christian journey as a missionary then Began his Christian journey as a missionary then later became the bishop of Lyonslater became the bishop of Lyons

• 11stst to quote the entire NT authoritatively to quote the entire NT authoritatively

• ““The enemy of error and schism” Like Polycarp The enemy of error and schism” Like Polycarp he was gentle, pastoral, and humblehe was gentle, pastoral, and humble

• Anti-Gnostic – He wrote a 5 volume Anti-Gnostic – He wrote a 5 volume Refutation of Refutation of GnosticismGnosticism

Scientific TheologiansScientific Theologians

Origenes AdamantiusOrigenes Adamantius

Origen c.182-251Origen c.182-251• Studied under any and everyone even hereticsStudied under any and everyone even heretics• 3 level method of scripture interpretation: 3 level method of scripture interpretation:

literal, moral, and spiritual literal, moral, and spiritual • The 3The 3rdrd leader of the Alexandrian School from leader of the Alexandrian School from

202-232202-232• Started his own school in CStarted his own school in Cææsareasarea• Very, Very, VERY AsceticVery, Very, VERY Ascetic• Tortured under Decius then died after releaseTortured under Decius then died after release

The CanonThe CanonMain Entry: can·onMain Entry: can·on

Pronunciation: 'ka-n&nPronunciation: 'ka-n&nFunction: Function: nounnounEtymology: Greek Etymology: Greek kanOnkanOn rod, measuring line, rod, measuring line, rulerule1 a : a regulation or doctrine decreed by a church 1 a : a regulation or doctrine decreed by a church council b : a provision of canon lawcouncil b : a provision of canon law2 a : an accepted principle or rule <2 a : an accepted principle or rule <canonscanons of of descent> b : a body of principles, rules, descent> b : a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms standards, or norms

Muratorian CanonMuratorian Canon

• Published in 1740 from a Latin text in the Bobbio Published in 1740 from a Latin text in the Bobbio monastery. monastery.

• Dated to the end of the second centuryDated to the end of the second century

• Includes a list of 21 of the 26 NT books Includes a list of 21 of the 26 NT books (excepting Hebrews, James, I&II Peter, and III (excepting Hebrews, James, I&II Peter, and III John)John)

• Only names one non-canonical book, the Only names one non-canonical book, the apocalypse of Peter, but acknowledges it as not apocalypse of Peter, but acknowledges it as not universally accepteduniversally accepted

Requirements for CanonizationRequirements for Canonization

1.1. Apostolic AuthorityApostolic Authority

2.2. AntiquityAntiquity

3.3. OrthodoxyOrthodoxy

4.4. CatholicityCatholicity

5.5. Traditional UseTraditional Use

6.6. InspirationInspiration