Church History :Ante-Nicene Period C. 100 – 325 A.D. Church History


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period 325 A.D. - Roman Emperor Constantine calls church leaders together in Nicaea (a city of Bithynia) to discuss and solidify certain doctrines and combat heresies pertaining to the nature of Christ. The Nicene Creed was produced. (1st significant man-made creed). This Nicaea counsel is recognized as the first of seven major Ecumenical Counsels. Ante-Nicene Period spans from the death of the Apostles until 325 A.D. when this counsel convened. Ante-Nicene Period –between 100 A.D. and 325 A.D. What is the Ante-Nicene Period?


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Fires of Persecution


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period During the Apostle’s lifetime persecution came mainly from the Jews. At first Christianity was viewed by Rome as a sect of Judaism and was tolerated in the empire. Rome tolerated conquered nations’ religions. After the fall of Jerusalem (A.D. 70) Christianity stood alone and became the focus of intense persecution by Rome. Persecution of the Early Church


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Why were Christians Persecuted? Political Reasons: Christians refused to recognize Emperor as Lord. Christians were viewed as a danger to The State. Christians became easy scapegoats for rulers like Nero Moral Reasons: Christians lived by a different morality than pagans The Christian’s morality condemned pagan debauchery. For the Romans, religion was first and foremost a social activity that promoted unity and loyalty to the state! Religious beliefs were valid only in so far as it could be shown to be old and in line with ancient customs; new and innovative teachings were regarded with distrust.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Two Major 1st Century Persecutions Nero – A.D. 65-68 Christians burned as torches in Nero’s gardens. Christians covered in hides and set before wild beasts. Peter believed to have been crucified upside down under Nero. Paul beheaded under Nero Domitian – A.D. 95 Cruel, Jealous, Worthless Confiscated Property Murdered Christians Exiled Apostle John to Patmos


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period In spite of persecution Christianity grew! 110 A.D. Pliny (Governor of Bithynia) writes to Emperor Trajan complaining that Christianity had grown so much that the pagan temples were almost forsaken. Those who sold animals to pagan temples were suffering economic turndown because so many began to abandon paganism. I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. (Pliny to Trajan, 111-113 A.D.)


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Later Ante-Nicene Persecutions From Roman Emperors. Trajan (112-117). Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180). Septimus Severus (202-210). Decius (250-251). Valerian (257-59). Maximinus (235-38). Aurelian ( 270–275). Diocletian (303-324).


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Diocletian (243-316) Paranoid Emperor Most savage of persecutions. Last of the 10 great persecutions Destroyed Church Buildings. Destroyed Bibles and Writings. Rescinded legal rights of Christians. Imprisoned Clergy Mutilated and murdered Christians. Some believe that the lack early NT manuscripts can be attributed to the systematic destruction of texts by Diocletian.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Martyrs Death The Ultimate Witness


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Famous Martyrs Clement of Rome – (?-110 A.D.) One of the first bishops of Rome. Major work “The Epistle to the Corinthians.” Books used by some churches as suitable for teaching. Considered the 1st Apostolic Father of the Christian church. Some name him as “1st Pope” According to Tertullian he was ordained by Peter himself Uses the terms “Bishop” and “Presbyters” interchangeably. Tradition has him martyred by Trajan by having an anchor tied to his neck and drowned in the Black Sea. However, the oldest sources such as Eusebius and Jerome, know nothing of his martyrdom


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Famous Martyrs Justin Martyr – (101-165 AD.) Born a pagan Greek, he studied philosophy before becoming a Christian. As a learned layman he devoted himself to defending the faith and promoting the Truth. In his "First Apology", written to the Emperor, he defends Christians against false accusations on legal and moral grounds, shows Christianity to be superior morally to paganism and gives a detailed account of their beliefs and worship. Beheaded in Rome by Emperor Marcus Aurelius


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Famous Martyrs IRENAEUS (130-202 AD) “Saint, Bishop, Father.” Born in Asia, he was instructed in the Faith by Polycarp, a disciple of John the Evangelist. As a priest, he was sent to Rome (177 AD) and eventually made Bishop of Lyons. His works include: "Against Heresies" (written against Gnostic teachings), "Proofs of Apostolic Preaching," and "Fragments." He was martyred in Lyons.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Famous Martyrs Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (69 – ca. 155?) Bishop of Smyrna. Stabbed to death when an attempt to burn him at the stake failed. Martyred for refusing to burn incense to the Emperor. Possible student of John the Apostle. "Eighty and six years I have served him - How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what thou will." Polycarp’s Statement at Death


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Ignatius of Antioch Bishop of Antioch (AD 70-107?) – Possibly a student of John the Apostle One of the most prominent martyrs under Emperor Trajan. Marched overland to Rome by 10 soldiers (leopards) He pleaded with Christians NOT to interfere with his execution. In route to Rome he wrote a series of 7 letters to Christians. From Syria even to Rome I fight with wild beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers, who only grow worse when they are kindly treated. Ignatius to the Romans


"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Paul to the Ephesians Acts 20:29 :"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Paul to the Ephesians Acts 20:29 Departure from the Faith Church Leadership


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Apostolic Fathers Writings teach us: The church quickly departed from The Faith The structure and leadership of the church was one of the first changes made after the Apostles’ deaths. Unscriptural hierarchies developed within church leadership. Men began to usurp the authority of Christ! Bishops and Presbyters came to be seen as two separate offices whereas in scripture they were always the same office.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period An Example of Departure from the Writings of Ignatius. The writings of Ignatius demonstrate the quick departure of the Ante-Nicene church from the faith. Ignatius is not one of many bishops at Antioch – he is THE BISHOP of ANTIOCH. Scripture NEVER speaks of one man being over a single congregation. There is always a plurality of Elders (aka: Bishops/ Presbyters) over each congregation (Php 1:1). Note, however, that many view some or even all of Ignatius ‘writings as forgeries written in the 3rd century after full blown apostasy had developed! (Schaff Vol 2). “Obey the bishop and the presbyters with an undivided mind” Ignatius (c.105, E), 58 “It is therefore necessary that you do nothing without the bishop, Likewise you should also be subject to the presbyters.” Ignatius (1.66.67)


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Note the Warning of the Apostle Paul: 2Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Whomever Paul had in mind, the words of his warning applies to those who began to elevate themselves in the Ante-Nicene Period. The seeds of Popery were already at work during Paul’s day.


The Ante-Nicene Period :Pattern of Apostles The Ante-Nicene Period Plurality of Elders in Each Congregation Autonomous Local Congregations Plurality of Elders in Each Congregation No Elder Elevated Above Other Elders


The Ante-Nicene Period :Pattern of Apostasy – Phase 1 The Ante-Nicene Period One Elder Elevated Above Other Elders and Becomes the Bishop Other Elders Called Presbyters Congregations begin to lose Autonomy


The Ante-Nicene Period :Pattern of Apostasy – Phase 2 The Ante-Nicene Period Diocese Elders Soon Came Under Rule of One Metropolitan Patriarchs Placed Over Metropolitans Out of this structure came the Papacy


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Some Shall Depart From the Faith! 1 Tim 4:1 Would Jesus Have Approved of This?


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period “The corruption of the government of the Church naturally led to the corruption of everything connected with Christianity. A departure from the divine government in one thing opens the way for other departures. Such a course will soon cause men to lose sight of the Lord’s directions and cause them to follow the doctrines and commandments of men.” The Church the Falling Away, and the Restoration J.W. Shepherd, p. 59


"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Paul to the Ephesians Acts 20:29 :"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Paul to the Ephesians Acts 20:29 Departure from The Faith! Church Doctrine


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Changes in N.T. Doctrine: Infant Baptism: The earliest explicit reference to child or infant baptism is in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus, about 215 A.D. The NT never authorizes the baptism of babies. Evangelism in the NT always focused on adults who could Hear the gospel, Believe the gospel, Repent of their sins, Confess Jesus as Son of God and be Baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). Infant baptism had its origin in paganism and was never part of the Apostolic church.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Changes in N.T. Doctrine: Special Priesthood Distinction between clergy and laity. Return to the OT model of priesthood. Titles such as “Father” adopted. The NT never speaks of a special priesthood. Peter speaks of every Christian being a priest with Christ alone being High Priest (1 Pet 2:5). The NT does not make a hard distinction between clergy and laity. Even Peter refused to let people fall at his feet (Acts 10:25-26).


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Christianity Marries the State From Tolerance to Dominance


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period If you can’t beat them join them!!! The persecution of Christians was never successful. The more Christianity was persecuted the more it grew. Finally the political tide began to turn. Domitian’s 10 year persecution ended in failure as Constantine came to the throne. Seeing that Christianity was popular, Constantine makes it the “Official State Religion.”


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Constantine the Great Helps issue the Edict of Milan (313 AD) – Proclaimed tolerance in the Empire of Christianity. Returned Church property Issued public grants to the clergy and the churches. Made Christianity the official religion Converted at the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D. Looks at the sun and sees a “cross” of light in the sky!


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period Constantine: Friend or Foe of the Faith? Constantine became sole ruler of the empire, and the churches awoke to find that the cause of Rome and the cause of Christ had become one. Was involved in ecclesiastical policies and politics. Convened and presided over the first "ecumenical" council at Nicea in 325 to respond to the teachings of Arius.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Council of Nicaea The First Council of Nicea is believed to have been the first Ecumenical council of the Christian Church . Included a number of Christian groups (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, etc.). Resulted in the first uniform Christian doctrine, called the Nicene Creed. With the creation of the creed, a precedent was established for subsequent general (ecumenical) councils of Bishops' (Synods) to create statements of belief and canons of doctrinal orthodoxy— the intent being to define unity of beliefs for the whole of Christendom.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Council of Nicaea Questions discussed: The Arian Controversy Arius was a priest in Alexandria Egypt who held that Jesus was created. Pronounced a heretic. Council stipulated Jesus was always eternal with the Father and was is the same substance as the Father. When shall Christians celebrate the Resurrection?


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period The Stage is Set . . . While the seeds of apostasy were already being sown in the days of the Apostles, it would take almost 300 years for them to germinate and blossom into full grown apostasy. The first departure from the New Testament came as men elevated themselves and adopted unscriptural patternss of organization. Once the Church got a taste of State and the State got a taste of the Church, the two married. To this unholy union was born the Apostate Catholic Church.


The Ante-Nicene Period :The Ante-Nicene Period End of Part Two