...GETTING TO KNOW THE CHURCH FATHERS An Evangelical Introduction JoHanna Gilyard-Woodward History of Christianity 1 CHHI 520 July 20, 2012 Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction By Bryan M. Litfin: BrazosPress, 2007, pp301 softback. Bryan M. Litfin at the writing of this book states that he earns his living as “a professor whose academic expertise is the early church fathers” (p.7). He is a husband and an associate professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute. He summarizes himself by saying that he is one who has been “taught to think like a Christian; taught to think like a scholar; and taught to think like a catholic” (p. 7). Litfin begins and ends this book with an overall theme and challenge to see how the church fathers impacted the Christian church and the life of an individual Christian on the whole. Secondary to the overall theme he lays out three misconceptions with regards to the church fathers, (1) the church fathers were not biblical; (2) the ancient church fathers were Roman Catholics; and (3) the church fathers represent the “fall” of Christianity (pp. 20-25 & pp. 255-257), and through the ten church fathers discussed in his book he seeks to prove how those misconceptions have misled some individuals. As he introduces the church fathers and deals with the misconceptions, he deals with his third theme, the historical events and places of the life of the church father. Each chapter begins by giving a modern day application...
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...church; we get to influence people while they are here, and they are going to go all over the country and all of the world” (personal communication, April 22, 2018). Pastor Dan’s statement demonstrates his familiarity with the church’s vision for expansion and the benefits of having a congregation composed mostly of soldiers and their families. He went on to state, “we can never get complacent, we always have to follow up with new visitors, we always have to make sure we are fresh and new, and always realize we have to bring our A-game” (personal communication, April 22, 2018). Not only does this statement showcase his awareness of the church’s’ strengths it demonstrates his knowledge of the processes and efforts that are necessary to germinate...
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...Book Review on Augustine as Mentor CHHI 520D18 LUO (Fall 2013) Church History I Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Reed E. Harvey (ID# 24867788) December 16, 2013 THESIS STATEMENT Determine whether the mentoring approach used by Augustine, an Early Church Father is yet relevant for today’s church. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction …………….……………………….………………………………….…4 II. Brief Summary ……….…………………………………………….………………...4 III. Critical Interaction ………………………………………………………………….6 IV. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………7 Working Bibliography …………………………………………………………………...9 I. Introduction This review will provide a summarization and critical interaction with the text: Augustine as Mentor authored by Edward L. Smither. Smither is associate professor of Church History and Intercultural Studies at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Other areas of scholarly interest include the Early Church, evangelical missions among Arabs and the history of missions. The thesis of this text is, “that Augustine effectively mentored spiritual leaders and set them apart for needed ministries in the church.” II. Brief Summary Smither sets the table for this text through an in-depth analysis and look at mentoring in the first century. Special emphasis centered on mentoring done by Jesus with the Disciples as found in the Gospels and with the Apostle Paul from the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles. Smither’s...
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...Evangelism in the Early Church [Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, November 14, 1985] by Joel L. Pless The primary mission of the Christian Church is to preach the gospel to all nations, it is to win souls for Christ. The fact that there are approximately one billion at least nominal Christians in the world indicates that Christ’s Great Commission has been at least partially carried out. This monograph will research how and by whom was the Great Commission enacted in the “early days” of the Christian church, during its first four centuries (100-500 A.D.) This research paper will not contribute creatively to the study of theology or methods of evangelism, but it will rather compile from a representative bibliography facts concerning evangelism in the early Church. Granted, research on this topic has been undertaken before by individuals with far greater academic credentials than the writer of these lines. But this monograph will attempt to condense the vast amount of material written on this topic into a monograph on evangelism in the early Church which is long enough to adequately cover the subject but still short enough to be interesting. This essay will approach the topic by asking the basic questions, why?, what?, who?, to whom?, and how?( William C. Weinrich, “Evangelism in the Early Church,” in Concordia Theological Quarterly, vol. XLV, (January-April 1981), pp. 61-74.) When possible, primary sources from the early Church fathers will be quoted in translation. The ultimate...
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...The Catholic Church attitude towards the capital punishment has been changing throughout the history. The early Christians opposed to the death penalty as well as they opposed to the state. This attitude started changing when Christianity became an official religion. The Catholic Church as a power structure began utilizing all the repressive mechanisms inherent in a political formation. The clerical scholars started setting a theological basis to justify the murder. The inquisition became an instrument of the political suppression. Today, the Catholic Church changes the attitude to death penalty anew, retracing to early Christian positions. This paper analyzes the evolution of the Catholic thought on the issue of the death penalty. The early Christian Church opposed the death penalty, regarding it as the violation of the sixth commandment “thou shall not kill”. The teaching of Christ renounced the lex talionis tradition of the Old Testament which commanded to pay an equal price for a damage done (the principle known as “an eye for an eye”). The Old Testament distinctly orders to put to death a man who kills another man (Exod 21:12). On the contrary, at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preaches: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Apart from Christ's teaching, some books of the New Testament...
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...REVIEW FOR THEOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF WORLD CHRISTIANITY: HOW THE GLOBAL CHURCH IS INFLUENCING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS THEOLOGY Name: Course: Professor’s Name: Date: Timothy C. Tennent, an American theologian, is Professor of World Missions and Indian Studies and the current president of Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Tennent and wife, Julie Myers, reside in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with their two children, Jonathan, and Bethany. Tennent (born on September 24, 1959) did his college education B.A. from Oral Roberts University, quickly followed by a Masters’ degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He later did a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the University of Edinburgh's in Scotland, where his dissertation was on Brahmabandhab Upadhyay, an Indian theologian. His teaching career started at Toccoa Falls College. At Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts, he served as professor of world missions and Indian studies. He was elected to his current office as president of Asbury Seminary in 2009. He still a visiting professor at the Luther New Jr. Theological College of Dehradun, India. He authored "Building Christianity on Indian Foundations" together with "Christianity at the Religious Roundtable". He has also published items in the series “Encountering Mission” and “Invitation to Theological Studies.” In November 2009, Tennent had signed an ecumenical statement differing categorically with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage...
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...Jerome Brudos was born on January 31st, 1939, in Webster, South Dakota. He loved shoes, from a very young age. When he was around five years old, he rescued a pair of high-heel shoes from the trash. Then, his mother later caught him wearing them. She confiscated them and destroyed them. Which sparked his love for shoes. As he got older, his strange interest for shoes developed stronger and eventually he started to break into neighbor’s homes to steal shoes and women's underwear. Once, when Jerry was 17 years old, he threatened a teenage girl with a knife and forced her to take off her clothes. Brudos then took photos of her naked body. As a result, he spent some time in Oregon State Hospital’s psychiatric ward. However, he was still able to attend school during the day. Although Jerry was released from the hospital after nine months, he developed a need to act out his dark violent fantasies toward women. Many believe his violence toward women was developed by his deep hatred for his mother. In 1957, Jerry graduated from high school. Shortly thereafter, he decided to become an electronics technician. Later he got married to a woman named Darcie, and he even had two children. He also spent some time in the military, but he was later discharged for his bizarre obsessions. His first was murdered on January 26th, 1968, her name was Linda Slawson. She was a young encyclopedia saleswoman, she went to visit to Brudos home. He invited her in and acted like he was interested in buying...
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...teachings of Scripture via sound grammatical, historical, and cultural exegesis, orders the result into a coherent whole where the interrelatedness of its parts is evidenced, and relates the results to the life and witness of the Christian community.” Systematic theology is the study of Scripture in its entirety. This covers diverse subjects such as both the Old and New Testament, church history, missions, and counseling. “Biblical theology is simply theology that is biblical, that is, based on and faithful to the teachings of the Bible.” Millard J. Erickson also refers to Biblical theology as “the right kind of theology”. Systematic theology that is taken directly from Scripture will correlate similarly with Biblical theology. Historical theology is the study of the church and the theologians from within church history. Systematic theology can relate with historical theology by way of marrying specific Biblical doctrine and how Christian theologians and the church have dealt with these truths throughout history. “If we closely examine some of our new ideas in the light of the history of the church, we will find that they are actually new forms of old conceptions.” This is the value found in applying Historical theology as it allows us to not repeat the mistakes of the church’s past. Philosophical theology can serve in aiding...
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...In 404 Saint Jerome wrote, "Who would have believed that the daughters of that mighty city would one day be wandering as servants and slaves on the shores of Egypt and Africa, or that Bethlehem would daily receive noble Romans, distinguished ladies, brought up in wealth and now reduced to beggary? I cannot help them all, but I grieve and weep with them, and am completely absorbed in the duties which charity imposes on me.” Saint Jerome was born in the year of about 340 and died on September 30, 420. He was born as Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius in Stridon, a place that is currently unknown. Eusebius was born and raised under Christian parents, however was not baptised until the year of 366 by Pope Liberius. He studied in Rome under the influence of Donatus and Victorinus, prominent pagan grammarians. He soon learned Greek and Latin and considered law as a career option. He travelled to Antioch after studying at Trier and Aquileia. In 375, he had a vision that God reprimanded him because of his pagan studies. After this, Eusebius moved to the desert and became an ascetic. In 378, he was ordained in Antioch. One of the biggest struggles Saint Jerome faced was Jesus appearing to him through a vision he had. “He retired for two years to the desert of Chalcis, near Aleppo, where he fell sick and had his famous dream in which he was accused of being a ‘Ciceronian not a Christian’”. (Jerome, St. 757) This was one of his biggest struggles because of the fact that God was not pleased...
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...Early Christian Martyrs SAINT HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME: *Summary* (based on other researches) Basic Profile Saint Hippolytus was born in Rome in the 2nd century. Hippolytus was a presbyter of the Church of Rome at the beginning of the third century. He was also a chief guard and a military leader. Saint Lawrence, who was imprisoned under his jurisdiction, converted Hippolytus to Christianity. Hippolytus was known as one of the most prolific writers of the early Christian Church. He was once referred to as the first Anti-pope due to various conflicts with the popes of the time. Eventually, the issues were resolved and he became a prelate. Saint Hippolytus was prosecuted and martyred on August 13 for assisting at the burial of Martyred Saint Lawrence. When was the year of Saint Hippolytus’ martyrdom? Saint Hippolytus gained the title of a martyr by dying in the mines in the year of AD 235. How did Saint Hippolytus die? Saint Hippolytus buried the martyr, Saint Lawrence’s body. Emperor Valerian was immediately informed about this, and Saint Hippolytus was then arrested. Valerian told Hippolytus to join them offer sacrifices to gods and he’ll set him free, but then he refused to and confessed himself a Christian and that he is a soldier of Christ who desires to die for Him. Because of this, the saint himself was tied to wild horses, which dragged him over the stones to his death. Who was the emperor reigning at that time? Valerian was the emperor reigning at that time...
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...Irenaeus of Lyon and Gregory of Nyssa make use of Scripture in their presentations with the use of and the reference of the likeness of God. How man was created out of the likeness of God. Irenaeus of Lyon talks about the perfection of God and how …”God was not born and always remains the same, he can do anything, as far as depends on himself.” (Irenaeus of Lyon pg. 23) God created things to be lesser than him and how everything needs to have a beginning to learn and grow. God could have created things to be perfect but he needed people to figure things out for themselves to raise a true heart to then be blessed and receive God upon death. Irenaeus of Lyon uses good and evil as references in his presentation and how everything is born with the understanding of good and evil and need to be tempted by this evil to find a true good. “By grasping the nature of what is opposed to the sweet and good, it will never again try to taste disobedience to God.” (Irenaeus of Lyon pg. 27) Gregory also uses the true of heart from scripture for his presentation over and over again; “Blessed are the pure at heart, for they shall see God.” (Gregory of Nyssa pg. 29) He references the apostles and how they say “for no one can see God and live” (Gregory of Nyssa pg. 29) How there is a promised blessedness throughout both presentations through the discovery of self and awareness of self. Wisdom is big in the presentation of Gregory of Nyssa. “It is possible, through the wisdom perceptible in...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY WHAT THE DECIAN PERSUCTION REVEALED ABOUT THE CHURCH A PAPER SUBMITTED TO … IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHHI 520 BY KIMBERLY SOUTER LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA FEBRAURY 19, 2014 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………. 3 THE CLIMATE ON THE EVE OF DECIUS’ EDICT…………………………………… 3 The Church in the Third Century………………………………………………….. 3 The Imperial Crisis of the Third Century (AD 235-284)………………………….. 5 DECIUS’ EDICT AND ITS EFFECT…………………………………………………….. 5 Cyprian…………………………………………………………………………….. 7 EXILES…..………………………………………………………………………………... 8 APOSTATES OR THE “LAPSED”…….………………………………………………… 10 MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS………………………………………………………… 12 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………. 14 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………. 16 INTRODUCTION Certain tensions existed with the rise of Christianity within the Roman Empire. Prior to the advent of Christianity and even up to 200 AD, Rome was relatively tolerant of religions. Judaism was accepted into the mix of various pagan religions of the Empire, and in its infancy Christianity was simply considered a sect of Judaism, which seemed to pose no real threat to the Empire because Jews did not seek to proselytize. However, Christians were zealous in their worship of Jesus and their spreading of His message, so that in the third century Rome’s policy toward the Christians changed. Persecution...
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...Ambrose (340-397), Concerning Virginity, chapters 2-6, (377) (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/34071.htm) 1. What does Ambrose say about Agnes, virginity and marriage? In essence, Ambrose is speaking about praise for Agnes. He encourages both married, unmarried, and children to both admire as well as take courage from the example set by Agnes. He goes on to talk about even at her young age of 12 there was strong faith in this girl who has suffered martyrdom. He praised virginity as a whole as it was thought to be brought down by the word of heaven. Virgins were strong as they were able to overcome powers which were not visible. In terms of marriage he talks about how there are benefits to a life of virginity but not discouraging marriage as a whole. Basically stating if you don’t have a wife do not seek one. In regards to virgins in general he states a person who gives a virgin in marriage is doing no wrong, but a person who does not is no better or worse than the one who does. Furthermore, he goes on to discuss how having children increases a woman’s sorrows (more responsibility). St Jerome (c. 340-420), Letter to Magnus, an orator of Rome (397) http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001070.htm 1. Why is it all right for Christians to refer to the pagan authors of the ancient world? An example was stated in a passage which stated that a bishop of an Athenian church delivered a treatise to Emperor Hadrian defending the Christian religion. Books were...
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...Davis PMIN 3273 Professor Vasquez 17 September 2015 Biblical Family Ministry Paper: Segmentation vs. Integration Throughout history churches have always been segmented-programmatic to accommodate different ages individually in their own classrooms learning their own thing. A segmented-programmatic church means that the family is never together and are all learning something different. However, many churches have found that this method is becoming old and they are finding it to no longer work with today’s times. Researchers have shown that 70 percent of young people leave the church by age 22 this is because churches are failing to bring in young worshipers and keep new the old ones. Now, many churches are starting to lean towards a more family-integrated service. A family-integrated service is one in which all of the different classes you get with segmented model is eliminated. There is no youth group or children’s church, everything is done in the main sanctuary and the family is always together. The segmented-programmatic church model came out of the nineteenth century when school systems started putting students in tightly in tightly-graded classes. The church saw that this was a functioning model in society and they believe that it would work within their walls. The segmented-programmatic model has a couple good things that can come out of it; however, there are many bad things that come from it. One good thing that can come from the segmented-programmatic model...
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...in 1857 by our early pioneers and shortly thereafter a small wooden church was built. They chose Saint Victoria as the patron saint of this church as she was a favorite saint from their homeland. Throughout the early years’ European immigrants flocked to this area in large numbers and found not only land rich in resources, but for many a new found freedom for their faith. As the population increased in the area, a larger church was built of brick in 1870, which is the historic church that you still see today. In 1857 there were 32 Catholic households in Victoria. By its centennial in 1957, there were 196 registered homes. St. Victoria Today...
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