Church History: Early Church to Renaissance

The destruction of Jerusalem

70

As the result of Jewish revolt, the Roman army, led by Emperor Titus, laid siege on Jerusalem and laid it to destruction, including the Temple. The Christian church, as a result, was not destroyed but was propelled out—a major impetus to the spread of the gospel from that region. [90]

Persecution under Domitian

Period: 81 to 96

Although persecution under Domitian was not widespread or constant, his reaction to Christians began to shape how the church responded to and would respond to persecution in the coming centuries. [60]

Justin the Martyr

Period: 100 to 165

Justin was an early Christian apologist who utilized Greek philosophy to engage the intellectuals of his day and contend for the faith. He borrowed the Greek term logos to explain concepts of Christ’s unity with and distinction from God, and wrote extensively in other areas. [70]

The martyrdom of Ignatius

108

Early bishop of Antioch. Condemned to martyrdom in 107, and on his way to Rome he wrote seven letters to various churches, including the church of Rome, telling them not to interrupt the plans for his execution. He saw martyrdom as something that would be used by God to show his faith true to the world and follow the example of Christ. [70]

Tertullian of Carthage

Period: 160 to 225

Tertullian was a North-African lawyer who apologetically contended for the faith against heretics (in 'Prescription Against Heretics'). He was the first person to use the word “Trinity” (in 'Against Praxeas') and held that the Scripture alone should be our basis for theology. [70]

Origen of Alexandria

Period: 184 to 253

Origen was a teacher from Alexandria under Clement who produces many commentaries on the OT and important works such as 'On First Principles' (first systematic theology). His allegorical approach, although sometimes viewed with skepticism, helped the early church to understand the bible more. He died because of wounds received under Decius’ persecution. [75]

Persecution under Decius

Period: 249 to 251

This emperor’s purpose was to restore the Empire to the Roman gods, the failure of which was resulting, he believed, in their present decline. As a step forward to that end, he mandated that Christians worship the Roman gods, and the failure to do so would result not necessarily in martyrdom as such, but in torture and threats until Christians renounced their faith and received a libellum as a signifier. [75]

Anthony

Period: 251 to 356

While it is not certainly true that he was actually the first “monastic,” Anthony’s life was greatly important to the monastic movement as it would develop. Anthony moved to the desert by himself (an anchorite monk) and only on rare occasions to did he visit the city. One such time was to defend Athanasius against the Arians and affirm the orthodox position. Athanasius later wrote about Anthony, which was instrumental in his becoming well-known. [70]

Constantine

Period: 272 to 337

Constantine is thought to have been converted during the battle of the Milvian bridge, after which he ceased the persecution of Christians. His rule marked a new period of peace for the church, and under his reign the church enjoyed a new level of power that had never existed before. [90]

"The Great Persecution" of Diocletian

Period: 284 to 305

Under Diocletian, Christians faced the harshest persecution up to that point. The commander of the army, Galerius, seemed to be hostile to Christians and influenced Diocletian. The persecution came in stages, from removing Christians from positions of authority in the empire to arresting pastors, demanding that Christians abandon their faith, and torturing and killing those who refused. [80]

Athanasius of Alexandria

Period: 296 to 373

Athanasius became the bishop of Nicaea in 328. During the post-Nicene Arian controversy, he fought for the orthodox position when seemingly the whole world turned against him. He was frequently deposed or exiled, then called back for a short time. His work On the Incarnation was a clear defense of the necessity of Christ’s full humanity. [95]

The Donatist controversy begins

311

The Donatists were a schismatic group in Northern Africa who divided over the issue of the lapsed. The lapsed (those who had renounced the faith during persecution) were allowed to come back into the church, and the Donatists claimed that one of these had ordained the bishop Caecilian, and that as such the ordination was invalid. Those who contended against the Donatists declared that the effectiveness of the sacrament was in the working of the sacrament itself, not the one performing it. [55]

The Edict of Milan

312

Constantine and Licinius signed this edict, which declared religious freedom for Christians. By the time of this document, Galerius had already given an edict for the persecution of Christians to end, which was more immediately important. This edict, however, represents the beginning of Imperial Christianity. [85]

The Council of Nicea

325

This council marked the first time that so many bishops had gathered together in one space. Constantine called the council to address Arianism, which was beginning to divide the church. They condemned Arianism and created the Nicene Creed to defend sound theology, which was signed by all but two of the bishops. [95]

Gregory of Nazianzus

Period: 329 to 390

A friend of Basil of Caesarea from their time studying together, Gregory became the bishop of Constantinople and battled Arianism alongside Basil. He articulated some of the clearest arguments for the divinity of the Holy Spirit up to that point. [70]

Capital is moved from Rome to Constantinople

330

The Emperor built a new city from Byzantium and named it after himself. This city became the most prominent city in the Empire and a center of Christianity for the next thousand years. [70]

Basil "the Great" of Caesarea

Period: 330 to 379

Basil was well-trained scholar who studied in Caesarea, Alexandria, Constintanople, and Athen, but who became convinced of the worth of Christianity through the experience of his sister, Macrina. The father of Eastern monasticism who became the bishop of Caesarea, and who fiercely opposed Arianism. [70]

Gregory of Nyysa

Period: 335 to 394

Gregory was Basil’s younger brother, who was educated largely by his brother and whose theological works came alongside him in topic and depth. He was influenced by Origen and Athanasius, who was a contemporary. [70]

Eusebius writes "Church History"

340

[Approximate date] Eusebius of Caesarea was a supporter of Constantine and bishop whose Church History was the first comprehensive history of the early church, and a crucial document for helping us to understand the early beginnings of the church. His favorable view of Constantine comes out clearly in this work, and he believed that Christianity’s current comforts and successes were the result of humanity moving toward the goal of human history. [75]

Ambrose of Milan

Period: 340 to 396

Ambrose was a governor who became the bishop of Milan, using his abilities for the good of the church. He popularized the Cappadocian Fathers. He baptized Augustine, after his preaching convinced him of the beauty of Christianity. [80]

Augustine of Hippo

Period: 354 to 430

Augustine was a pastor and theologian whose writing and ministry have been instrumental in the life of the church since. His most influential works were Confessions and The City of God, and he wrote on the Trinity, against Pelagius, against the Donatists, against the Manichaeans, and on the sacraments, to name just a few things.[95]

The Council of Constantinople

381

Affirmed the deity of the Holy Spirit (against the Pneumatomachians). They reaffirmed the council of Nicea on the full humanity and divinity of Christ, and expanded it, affirming that he has a human mind (contra Apollinaris). They also called the churches to recognize Constantinople as the new Rome. [90]

Jerome finishes the Vulgate

406

Jerome, who became the bishop of Rome, kept to himself except for a few friends who were women, and devoted himself to study and to the translation of the Scriptures into Greek. The Vulgate was criticized for being based on the Hebrew text instead of the Septuagint. [85]

Augustine writes "The City of God"

426

When Rome was attacked in 410, many people, including Christians, thought that the world was crumbling. In response, Augustine’s magnificent work contrasted the City of God (which is unseen and eternal) with the city of man (which is seen, temporary, and fleeting)—always existing together, but in fierce opposition. The crumbling of Rome did not mean the crumbling of God’s city. [70]

The Council of Ephesus

431

This council was called to address Nestorianism, which said that the two natures of Christ are very separate. Nestorius did not like calling Mary “Theotokos” but rather “Christotokos.” Although this council did not settle the issue, it laid the groundwork for the conversation that would continue heavily into the next two councils. [55]

Patrick returns to Ireland

432

After being kidnapped as a child by Irish invaders and enslaved, Patrick escaped only to return later with a burden to evangelize the Irish people. His founded many churches and monasteries, which produced not only great numbers of Christians but also great classical literature, preserved to the benefit of the rest of the Western world and church. [75]

Leo the Great becomes Pope

440

The first modern Pope, who debated with Attila the Hun when he came to take Rome, and thus came to display both ecclesiastical and civil power. [80]

The "Robber Synod"

449

This synod condemned Eutyches, a monk from Constantinople who said that Christ was of one nature with God the Father but not with humanity. Pope Leo was absent from the on account of defending Rome from Atilla the Hun, but sent his "Tome" to be presented. When the book never arrived, Leo called this gathering the “robber synod.” [55]

The Council of Chalcedon

451

This council continued to addressed the two natures of Christ, and said that he was “one person with two natures,” without confusion or distinction. This set curbs and boundaries more than it explained the mystery of this union, but it also delineated that certain views were beyond orthodoxy (Monophysitism, which said that Christ had one nature after the union). [80]

Benedict

Period: 480 to 547

Benedict was a monk whose perspective on monasticism was communal, ordered, and stable. His Rule became a widespread influence on Western monasticism for centuries to come. Benedict’s Rule emphasizes community stability, the authority structure of a monastery, spiritual contemplation, and vocational work for the good of the community. [85]

The Council of Orange

529

As a result of the Augustinian/Pelagian controversy, this council affirmed semi/modified Augustinianism, particularly regarding man’s inability to reach God due to sin. They also affirmed prevenient grace. [70]

The Council of Constantinople II

553

Called by Emperor Justinian, this council condemned the “three chapters,” the writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret of Cyrrhus, and Ibas of Edessa. These writings had to do with Christology, and the intention of the council was to reaffirm their opposition to Nestorianism. [60]

Gregory the Great becomes Pope

590

Gregory, who had previously been an abbot at a monastery in Rome and then the city’s bishop, was a pastorally-minded Pope who worked to bring civil reform, care to the needy, and faithfulness within the church. He also produce a lot of writing, which was influenced greatly by Augustine. [75]

The Synod of Whitby

664

This meeting between Roman Christians and British/Celtic Christians came together in hopes to reconcile pragmatic differences as well as to heal offenses made by Augustine of Canterbury. Things discussed included settling a common day to celebrate Easter, differences in tonsures, and the fact that Celtic bishops submitted themselves to the authority of the abbots instead of the archbishop. [50]

Boniface

Period: 680 to 754

Boniface was an English monk who became a missionary to modern-day Germany and other parts of Europe. He founded a monastery in Germany that became a center for more outreach after his time. [65]

The Council of Nicea II

787

This council condemned iconoclasm, and delineated that images were worthy of veneration (dulia) but not worship (latria). [55]

Charlemagne is crowned as emperor

800

Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas day, 800, The Frankish king sought to reform civil governments and institutions and became the protector of the Church and the papacy. His Christian values influenced his reforms, both inside and outside the church. [70]

Cyril and Methodius's missions to the Slavs begins

860

These brothers were missionaries sent from Constantinople to the Moravians after a request from King Rostislav to learn more about Christianity (and possibly to avoid destruction). Nevertheless, Cyril came up with a written language for the Slavic people there and translated the Bible and other books and liturgies into their language.[65]

The monastic reform of Cluny

Period: 926 to 1109

During a time of great papal corruption, a monastery started by a monk called Berno was founded which became a center of great and zealous reform for the next 200 years. Six abbots ruled over this time, committed to monastic values and the Rule of St. Benedict. [70]

The East and West Split

1054

Cardinal Humbert, a representative from the West, visited Constantinople to resolve conflict between the West and the East. Humbert was not of a temperament that wanted to compromise, and the visit ended with him placing a papal bull of the East’s excommunication on the altar before storming out. While efforts were made for the next century and a half to repair this breach, it was never able to outdo the damage that had been done. [90]

Pope Urban II calls for first crusade to begin

1095

In 1095, Pope Urban II sanctioned as “God’s will” the invasion of armies into the Holy Land, to take it back from the forces of Islam. Instead of expanding Christianity in a healthy way, the following crusades did more to bring evil into the lands they invaded, slaughtering many Muslims, Christians, and Jews along the way. [85]

The Concordant of Worms

1122

The Concordant of Worms was treaty in which the pope conceded to give the king authority to invest bishops with civil authority. [70]

Dominic of Castile

Period: 1170 to 1221

Dominic’s order was approved by Pope Honorius III in 1216, and grew massively through the rest of the century. Unlike the Franciscans, the Dominicans saw poverty as an instrumental (not essential) part of the Christian life. They put more focus on studying and pastoral work than did the Franciscan order, as well. [75]

Francis of Assisi

Period: 1181 to 1226

Francis founded the order of “little brothers” or Friars Minor, known now as the Franciscan order. His order embraced poverty as essential to the Christian life. The order grew greatly both during and after his life. [75]

Pope Innocent III

Period: 1198 to 1216

Innocent's rule as Pope demonstrated the high point of papal power. At his coronation, he said that he was “the intermediary between God and man…less than God but greater than man, judge over all and judged by no one (save the Lord).” During his rule he asserted the church’s right to assess candidates for emperor. [70]

The Fourth Lateran Council

1215

With over 400 bishops and 800 abbots, this was the largest council of the middle ages, in which the Albegensians and the Waldensians were condemned and transubstantiation was approved. Other decrees were significant, such as the call for no more new mendicant orders and the assertion of the church’s authority over marriage, over and against civil authorities. [70]

Thomas Aquinas

Period: 1225 to 1274

Aquinas’ scholasticism exemplifies the growth of universities out of monasteries (which happened over the previous two-hundred years). He wrote massive works including "Summa Theologica", a massive, philosophical systematic theology that was never finished. Aquinas pulled much from the thinking of Aristotle, which was unusual due to the dominance of Platonic thought up until that point. [75]

John Wycliffe

Period: 1320 to 1384

[Approximate birth date] Wycliffe was a scholar and theologian whose doctrine and criticisms of aspects of the papacy set a course that would be picked up by the Reformers. He said that the Bible should be in the people’s vernacular language, asserted that the church was an invisible body, not a visible council, and criticized the doctrine of transubstantiation. [80]

The Council of Constance

Period: 1414 to 1418

In response to a period when there were two and sometimes three “Popes” all contending for the office at the same time (the “Great Schism”), the Council of Constance met to end this division. They also made provision for more say in the church’s decision-making from the bishops. [70]

The fall of Constantinople

1453

When Turkish invaders laid siege on and overcame Constantinople (soon to be called Istanbul), the exiles of the city fled into the Western world. These exiles brought with them a wealth of classical Greek knowledge and ancient literature that would soon transform Western culture and the church at large. [90]