Page 4 - History of Christianity I - Student Textbook

that in many places is hostile to Jesus. Their lives will challenge you to excellence. Because they made a
difference in the course of history, so you too can “rock” your world for Christ, and follow in their footsteps.

Key in the study notes is a section called “History Talks.” When you see this section, we want to
carefully see how God spoke through an event or person in history, and apply the truth principle to
our lives. So while we are looking back in this course, we need to look within, and look to the
future to apply God’s historical principles to our lives. God wants to change your life and make you
a “significant” person in history! That will happen only when you give God total control as He speaks to you.

Here is an outline of what we plan to cover:

Beginnings to Constantine (A.D. 34 – 325). Early Church – key characteristics. The recognition of the Cannon of
Scripture. The attack of the heretics. The defense of the Word: Great Apologists of the 1-2 century. The
nd
Roman persecution.

Nicaea to Chalcedon (325-451) The Council of Nicaea. Missionary Movement. Fall of Rome. The church
organizes.

Chalcedon to the Great Schism (451-1054) The Council of Chalcedon. Monasticism. Iconoclastic Controversy.
Beginning of Holy Roman Empire.

The Great Schism to the Middle Ages (1054- 1483) Eastern and Western theology and the Great Split. The
Crusades. Rise of Scholasticism. The Domination of Humanism in Europe. Emergence of the Renaissance.

Church History I – Early Church to Middle Ages
Beginnings to Constantine (A.D. 34 – 325)

Guiding Principle throughout History

There is one guiding principle given in Scripture that allows a man or woman of God to stand out in history. Look
at this verse:

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I Cor. 4:2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”
What is it? It’s faith or faithfulness.

What is Faith? Here is a definition that I think best describes the full meaning of the word: “Faith is believing
God to the point of doing something about it. Faith is an action word!” Another way of saying it is, “Faith
compels me to respond to and trust in God’s Word so that you can see it in my life and behavior!”

In Hebrews 11, verse one starts out defining faith, and in verse two the author says that the “ancients were
commended by demonstrating faith.” A large list of saints, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, and Samuel are listed. The author concludes this chapter with these
verses which not only describe the history of the saints in the Old Testament, but aptly describe the history of
the Church, for which we are about to embark.

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