CHRISTIAN HISTORY MADE EASY Chapter Two “Balancing the Past with the Present”

CHRISTIAN HISTORY CHRISTIAN HISTORY MADE EASYMADE EASY

Chapter TwoChapter Two

““Balancing the Past with the Balancing the Past with the Present”Present”

© 2003 Timothy Paul © 2003 Timothy Paul JonesJones

http://www.timothypauljones.comhttp://www.timothypauljones.com

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““The Great Creator of the The Great Creator of the Worlds” Worlds” (Verse 1)(Verse 1)

““The great Creator of the The great Creator of the worlds, the sov’reign God of worlds, the sov’reign God of heav’n,heav’n,

““A holy and immortal truth to A holy and immortal truth to us on earth has giv’n,us on earth has giv’n,

““A holy and immortal truth to A holy and immortal truth to us on earth has giv’n!”us on earth has giv’n!”


““God sent Christ down as God sent Christ down as sending God, one man for sending God, one man for humankind.humankind.

““As one with us, Christ dwelt As one with us, Christ dwelt with us, and died and lives on with us, and died and lives on high,high,

““As one with us, Christ dwelt As one with us, Christ dwelt with us, and died and lives on with us, and died and lives on high!”high!”


““God sent no angel of the host to God sent no angel of the host to bear this mighty Word,bear this mighty Word,

““But Christ, through whom the But Christ, through whom the worlds were made, the worlds were made, the everlasting Lord,everlasting Lord,

““Yes, Christ, through whom the Yes, Christ, through whom the worlds were made, the worlds were made, the everlasting Lord!”everlasting Lord!”

The rise of GnosticismThe rise of Gnosticism

A second-century Christian A second-century Christian wrote wrote “The Great Creator of “The Great Creator of the Worlds”the Worlds” to combat a false to combat a false teaching known as teaching known as “Gnosticism”“Gnosticism” or or “the Secret “the Secret Knowledge Movement.”Knowledge Movement.”

The word The word “Gnosticism”“Gnosticism” comes comes from from gnosis, gnosis, a Greek word that a Greek word that means means “knowledge.”“knowledge.”

The rise of GnosticismThe rise of Gnosticism The basic beliefs of Gnosticism were:The basic beliefs of Gnosticism were:

– 1. Certain people can achieve 1. Certain people can achieve “secret knowledge”“secret knowledge” about God. about God.

– 2. This “secret knowledge” included 2. This “secret knowledge” included acknowledging that acknowledging that everything everything physical is evilphysical is evil..

– 3. The Father of Jesus was 3. The Father of Jesus was not the not the samesame God as the God of the Old God as the God of the Old Testament, who created the physical Testament, who created the physical worldworld

– 4. Nothing physical could be holy; 4. Nothing physical could be holy; so, so, Jesus Christ was not truly humanJesus Christ was not truly human..

Christianity and GnosticismChristianity and Gnosticism

Marcion of Pontus Marcion of Pontus (died, AD 160)(died, AD 160)

Rejected the Old Rejected the Old Testament and the Testament and the God of the JewsGod of the Jews

Regarded an Regarded an edited version of edited version of Luke and ten of Luke and ten of Paul’s letters as Paul’s letters as the authoritative the authoritative texts for Christian texts for Christian beliefsbeliefs


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 1. A list of authoritative writings (a 1. A list of authoritative writings (a

“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»““Canon”Canon” was a Greek word that was a Greek word that meant meant “measuring stick.”“measuring stick.”

»The The list of bookslist of books that Christians that Christians should follow were called a should follow were called a “canon” because they “canon” because they set the set the standardstandard for Christians’ for Christians’ faithfulness to God.faithfulness to God.


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 1. A list of authoritative writings 1. A list of authoritative writings

(a “canon”) for Christians to (a “canon”) for Christians to follow.follow.»Christians included Christians included the Old the Old TestamentTestament in their list because in their list because they believed they believed the God of the the God of the Jews was also the God of Jesus Jews was also the God of Jesus ChristChrist..



“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»Christians asked Christians asked three questionsthree questions about Christian writings that about Christian writings that could have been included in the could have been included in the canon: canon:

»(a) (a) Is the book connected to an Is the book connected to an apostle?apostle?



“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»Christians asked Christians asked three questionsthree questions about Christian writings that about Christian writings that could have been included in the could have been included in the canon: canon:

»(b) Do churches (b) Do churches throughout the throughout the worldworld use the book? use the book?



“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»Christians asked Christians asked three questionsthree questions about Christian writings that could about Christian writings that could have been included in the canon: have been included in the canon:

»(c) Does the book(c) Does the book agree agree with what with what we already know about God?we already know about God?



“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»Although questions persisted Although questions persisted into the 300s about Hebrews, into the 300s about Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude, Jude, by AD 200, Christians by AD 200, Christians throughout the world had agreed throughout the world had agreed on a basic canonon a basic canon..



(a “canon”) for Christians to (a “canon”) for Christians to follow.follow.»Early Christians asked these Early Christians asked these three questionsthree questions because they because they believed their faith was …believed their faith was …

… … apostolic (based on the apostolic (based on the historical witness of the apostles).historical witness of the apostles).



“canon”) for Christians to follow.“canon”) for Christians to follow.»Early Christians asked these Early Christians asked these three questionsthree questions because they because they believed their faith was …believed their faith was …

… … catholic (from the Greek word catholic (from the Greek word katholikos, katholikos, “universal,” “shared “universal,” “shared throughout the world”).throughout the world”).



(a “canon”) for Christians to (a “canon”) for Christians to follow.follow.»Early Christians asked these Early Christians asked these three questionsthree questions because they because they believed their faith was …believed their faith was …

… … self-consistent (no theological self-consistent (no theological contradictions).contradictions).


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 2. The Rule of Faith2. The Rule of Faith

»The earliest Christians probably The earliest Christians probably made brief statements of faith made brief statements of faith before being baptized, such as before being baptized, such as “Jesus Christ is Lord”“Jesus Christ is Lord” or or “I “I believe that Jesus is the Son of believe that Jesus is the Son of God”God” (Acts 8:37; Phil. 2:11). (Acts 8:37; Phil. 2:11).


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 2. The Rule of Faith2. The Rule of Faith

»To help new Christians to To help new Christians to understand how their faith understand how their faith differed from Marcion’s false differed from Marcion’s false teachings, teachings, a longer statement a longer statement of faithof faith emerged—“the Rule of emerged—“the Rule of Faith.”Faith.”

The Rule of FaithThe Rule of Faith

Congregation: Congregation: Do you believe Do you believe in God the Father, Ruler of all?in God the Father, Ruler of all?

Candidate: Candidate: I believe.I believe.


Congregation: Congregation: Do you believe in Do you believe in Christ Jesus, God’s Son, who Christ Jesus, God’s Son, who was born by the Holy Spirit was born by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary, was through the virgin Mary, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, crucified under Pontius Pilate, died and was buried and rose died and was buried and rose again on the third day, sat at again on the third day, sat at the Father’s right hand, and will the Father’s right hand, and will come again to judge the living come again to judge the living and the dead?and the dead?

Candidate: Candidate: I believe.I believe.


Congregation: Congregation: Do you believe Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, and the resurrection of church, and the resurrection of the flesh?the flesh?

Candidate: Candidate: I believe.I believe. All: All: Amen.Amen.


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 3. More powerful overseers3. More powerful overseers

»Leading pastors—known as Leading pastors—known as “overseers” or “bishops”—“overseers” or “bishops”—were viewed as were viewed as the trustees of the trustees of the apostles’ teachings.the apostles’ teachings.

»During the Gnostic During the Gnostic controversies, these overseers controversies, these overseers gained gained more authoritymore authority..


How did Christians respond to How did Christians respond to Gnosticism?Gnosticism?– 3. More powerful overseers3. More powerful overseers

»In cities where apostles had lived In cities where apostles had lived and died, the overseer was viewed and died, the overseer was viewed as having as having a unique measure of a unique measure of authorityauthority..

»Because Peter and Paul died in Because Peter and Paul died in Rome and because Rome was an Rome and because Rome was an important city, important city, the Roman the Roman overseer became especially overseer became especially esteemedesteemed..

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CHRISTIAN HISTORY MADE EASY Chapter Two “Balancing the Past with the Present”