Church History and Christian Ministry

1. Church History and Christian Ministry Augustine (354 – 430) Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) Karl Barth (1886 – 1968)

2. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts External conflict Sporadic persecution Early apologists Justin Martyr (100 – 165) • Peripatetic philosopher • Relied heavily on logos idea of Greeks • Gave helpful practical insight into early Christianity

3. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts External conflict Sporadic persecution Early apologists Justin Martyr (100 – 165) Irenaeus (150 – 202) • Wrote: Against Heresies (c. 180) • Trained under Polycarp • Adds considerable detail to first century history

4. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts External conflict Sporadic persecution Early apologists Justin Martyr (100 – 165) Irenaeus (150 – 202) Tertullian (160 – 225) • Roman lawyer converted as adult • Developed early idea of “trinity” • Repudiated any tie between Christianity and Greek thought

5. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts External conflict Sporadic persecution Early apologists Justin Martyr (100 – 165) Irenaeus (150 – 202) Tertullian (160 – 225) Origen (185 – 254) • Deep student of scripture • Introduced allegorical approach

6. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts External conflict Sporadic persecution Early apologists Justin Martyr (100 – 165) Irenaeus (150 – 202) Tertullian (160 – 225) Origen (185 – 254) Diocletian (244 – 311): last gasp of persecution

7. A Sketch of Church History to Augustine The situation of the church – war on two fronts Internal conflict Council of Nicaea (325): Arianism Council of Constantinople (381): Apolinarianism Council of Ephesus (431): Nestorianism Council of Chalcedon (451): Eutychianism Council of Constantinople II (553): Monophysitism Council of Constantinople III (680): Monothelytism Council of Nicaea II (787): Iconolatry

8. Augustine (354 – 430) Greatest theologian in all history? Maybe! Everybody claims Augustine, but for different reasons b. 354 – N. Africa, Monica and unbelieving father Pear story Good education – at great cost 371 – moved to Carthage

9. Augustine (354 – 430) 381 – moved to Rome – sets up shop for rhetoric Joined Manichaeans – naturalistic, dualistic, low view of Christianity 386 – University of Milan Ill, disillusioned by Manichaeans, split with girlfriend Attending church at Ambrose church – loved his style

10. Augustine (354 – 430) Milan Frustrated with his own passions The Garden Incident Romans 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. Quit job – returned to Africa - Hippo

11. Thought of Augustine Influenced by Plato - Idealist Idea precedes experience – Augustine thinks this helps – begin with certain element of faith prior to experience The spectrum of views in church history Rationalism Fideism Augustine Thomas Aquinas

12. Augustine’s five types of faith To think with assent Provisional acceptance – hypothetical method Acceptance of authority Compulsion of the truth Surrender of the will

13. Augustine and the Church One Exclusivity of the Church Holy Uniqueness of the Church Inclusiveness of the Church Catholic Authority of the Church Apostolic

14. Other important themes: Pelagian Controversy Augustine’s Epistemology – theory of illumination