Page 30 - History of Christianity I - Student Textbook
P. 30

Study Section 6:  The Great Scientific Theologians - continued


               6.1 Connect


                         Matthew 28 tells every believer that their primary ministry is to share the Gospel with everyone they
                         meet and to make disciples of those who believe.  What an amazing calling we all have!  Aren’t you
                         glad someone told you about how you could be saved from the wrath of God?  Aren’t you glad you
                         heard about the love of Jesus Christ and His willingness to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross?
                         For unless the people around us hear about what Jesus has done for them, how can they be saved?


              We are called to be preachers of God’s Word.  Today we are going to look at some more faithful men who were
              called to not only preach the Word, but to stand up for the Word against great opposition.  It seems like
              throughout history, we see opportunity, then opposition.   As long as Satan is alive and free, he will oppose the
              work of Christ with all his power.  Let’s continue to study the battle for men’s souls….

               6.2 Objectives


                     1.  The student will be able to describe the contributions of Cyril of Alexandria to the flow of church
                     history.


                     2. The student should be able to describe the importance of the Constantinople Creed of 381.

              3.  The student should be able to give a biographical sketch of the life of Patrick, missionary to Ireland.


              4.  The student should be able to describe the key elements of the Edict of Theodosius  of 391 and why the
              edicts were so important.

               6.3  Cyril of Alexandria (378-444) –


                           Cyril was Christian theologian and bishop active in the complex doctrinal struggles of the 5th
                          century. He is chiefly known for his campaign against Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople, whose
                          views on Christ’s nature were to be declared heretical.

                          He succeeded his uncle Theophilus as bishop of the see of Alexandria in 412 and
                          came in conflict with the civil administration over the zeal with which he
              championed orthodoxy. He closed the churches of the Novatians, a schismatic sect that denied
              the power of the church to absolve those who had lapsed into idolatry during persecution. He
              also was involved in the expulsion of Jews from Alexandria following their attacks upon
              Christians. Riots ensued, and Cyril, who if not directly responsible at least had done nothing to
              prevent them, was forced to acknowledge the authority of the civil government.

              Cyril remained a chief citizen of Egypt and in his struggle with Nestorius he was in some ways a
              political as well as a religious leader. The conflict concerned not only doctrinal matters; it also reflected the
              Egyptians’ fear that Constantinople might come to dominate them. The religious argument involved the relation
              of the divine and human within Jesus Christ. Cyril emphasized the unity of the two in one Person, while
              Nestorius so emphasized their distinctness that he seemed to be splitting Christ into two Persons acting in
              concert.

              Armed with a commission to represent Pope Celestine I as well as himself, Cyril convened the council and
              condemned Nestorius. He had not waited, however, for the arrival of certain bishops from the East, particularly
                                                                29
   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35