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History of Missions: Part 1 Pentecost – Dark Ages A.D. 33 – 500

History of Missions: Part 1 Pentecost – Dark Ages A.D. 33 – 500. The main stages this epic of the church have been the persecuted Church, Legalized Church, Dark Ages Church, Reformation Church, and the Missionary Church. Roman Empire: Evangelized or Christianized? (A.D. 33-500).

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History of Missions: Part 1 Pentecost – Dark Ages A.D. 33 – 500

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  1. History of Missions: Part 1Pentecost – Dark Ages A.D. 33 – 500 The main stages this epic of the church have been the persecuted Church, Legalized Church, Dark Ages Church, Reformation Church, and the Missionary Church

  2. Roman Empire: Evangelized or Christianized? (A.D. 33-500) • Roman empire was main area of expansion: Western church – there was an Eastern Church • Extent of Expansion • Harnack estimated about 30,000 Christians in Rome by 250—10% of empire (50 million) • By AD313, Edict of Tolerance, ended 10 major periods of persecution • Constantine “converted”AD323, then it became “politically expedient” to convert also • AD 380 Christianity became official state religion • “Christianized” became equivalent to “civilized” as today in RCC countries

  3. Apostolic Period: AD 33-95 • Clement of Rome wrote that Paul evangelized western empire, Spain? Till martyrdom, AD 67 • Tradition says all apostles became missionaries • Greatest growth occurred where Paul had evangelized: Asia Minor, Cyprus, Syria, Greece • Pliny, Governor of Pontus wrote Emperor Trajan for instruction to deal with unparalleled growth of Christians • Mass movement occurred under Gregory Thaumaturgus: when he came to Pontus there were only 17 believers; when he died 30 years later, there were only 17 unconverted !

  4. Apostle’s missionary work See the animated map of this progression in the file “Additional study helps”

  5. Jewish settlements & Early Churches

  6. Post-Apostolic Expansion (A.D. 95-313) • Meager information, but large churches in N. Africa: Alexandria, Carthage and Edessa, but who did it and how, are unknown – destroyed by Muslims • Spread through the trade routes beyond the Roman empire to Ireland, Ethiopia and China • Tucker says: Christianity penetrated the empire through five avenues: • Preaching and teaching of evangelists without buildings • Personal witness of believers one-on-one • Acts of kindness and love • Faith shown in face of persecution and death • Intellectual reasoning of early apologists

  7. Roman Empire AD 300-400

  8. Montanus held a Jesus-Only deity, encouraged prophecy and tongues, falling from grace was irrevocable, and he was the Paraclete, not that God spoke through him, but he was God speaking!

  9. Westward across Europe • Church at Rome existed before Paul wrote Romans • Latin is earliest translation of Bible (Vulgate 382 AD)– 8000 mss survive today • Early spread of gospel to Gaul (France) where Irenaeus was Overseer (bishop) in 175 AD in Celtic and Latin • Paul probably reach Spain after 1st imprisonment – evidence of churches by 200 • Gospel came to England, probably from Gaul

  10. Eastward through the Tigris-Euphrates Valley • Syriac-speaking people of Syria received earliest translation by end of 2nd century – used in East • Peter may have preached in Babylon (1 Pet 5:13, if taken literally) • Pentecost: “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia” (Ac 2:9) – 16 languages • Tradition says Thomas and Bartholomew went to India • By 180 Pantaenus of Alexandria traveled to India discovering a church founded by Bartholomew • Armenia, a buffer country between Roman Empire and Persia, was won to Christ by missionary Gregory the Illuminator who won the king to Christ. – Bible translated in Armenian by 410 AD – One of the oldest churches in Christendom

  11. Westward across N. Africa • Many Christians reported at Alexandria, Egypt in the reign of Hadrian (125) • Egyptian churches have strong tradition that John Mark was their founder • Strong churches developed in Carthage where the NT was translated into Latin • Outstanding Christian leaders like Tertullian (160-230?, who introduced the term “Trinity”) and dominant theologian Augustine (354-430 AD) • Introduced Predestination or Determinist view, Organized church as “City of God” (Rome) and bad interpretation of Luke 14:15-24 (v. 23, “compel them”) led to forced conversion, Inquisition and threat of life if different opinion!

  12. After Conversion of Emperor Constantine • Edict of Toleration in A.D. 313 ended 10 major persecutions, preceded conversion of Constantine in A.D. 323 • By 325 est. 10-15% of Roman Empire was Christian • Called the Council of Nicaea to decide Christ’s deity • It became politically correct to be Christian • Flood of new “converts” with ulterior motives • Quickly compromised with Roman pagan religions • Many reacted against corruption and compromise by turning to asceticism or withdrawal from world • Fire of missionary evangelism quenched by politicizing the church – Dominated the Empire so little activity outside of “Christian” world

  13. Ulfilas, Missionary to Goths (310-383) • Arian Missionary to Goths who lived in Romania, across the Danube outside Roman empire in Bulgaria • Converted to Christ while in Constantinople on diplomatic service • After 10 years he was sent as bishop to Goths • Translated the Bible into the Gothic language from Greek to an unwritten language which was a linguistic first • He was forced back across the Danube • Held a mild form of Arianism, which was a weak view of Christ’s deity (not eternal but created) • Several emperors were Arian.

  14. Patrick, missionary to Ireland • An “evangelical” Celtic believer from W. Britain (389-461), father was a deacon • Not saved before an Irish raiding party enslaved him and sold him in Ireland • After 6 years he escaped back to Britain at the age of 22, studied in Gaul, ordained. Romans pulled out of Britain in 410 leaving the pagan Anglo-Saxons to rule • At 40 returned to Ireland in 432, where most were Druid pagans worship objects in nature, magic and human sacrifice—animists • Eventually persuaded king to grant toleration • After many perilous situation in 30 years his ministry resulted in 200 churches and 100,000 converts • Stressed spiritual growth through teaching of Scripture

  15. The conversion of the Franks • Clovis, king of the Franks in Gaul (France) converted in 496 along with 3,000 warriors helped extend the Western church (non-Arian) • Some were already Christians, but this accelerated the number of converts • This mass movement increased both the adulterations of the church and number of nominal Christians • Decrease in spiritual standards and less emphasis on personal conversion became common in “Christianizing” of Europe

  16. Western Empire at 395 AD

  17. Roman Empire 476 Western Empire - Rome Eastern Empire - Constantinople

  18. Roman Empire 565 AD Territories lost to Germanic tribal invasions

  19. Ends of the Earth Romans Barbarians Vikings Saracens 0 400 800 1200 1600 2000 Five Epochs of Mission History

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