Church History 2

Mike Bayly Church History Part 2

Download

Church History 

Part:2 The Age of Imperial Christianity
Recap

• Start of the church in Acts

• 10 Emperors 

• Challenge of the persecution 

• Challenge of false belief

• Challenge of leadership 

Section 1: The Edict of Milan and the Turning Point

1. What was the Edict of Milan (313 AD), and who issued it?

   The Edict of Milan was an imperial decree that granted legal tolerance to Christianity after centuries of sporadic and intense persecution. It was issued by Emperor Constantine (and Licinius).

2. How did Christianity’s legal status change after this edict?

   Christianity shifted dramatically from an illegal, often underground faith to one that was favored — and eventually favored exclusively — by the Roman state.

3. What event is associated with Constantine’s support for Christianity, and what did he believe about the Christian God?

   Constantine’s conversion (or at least his strong support) is linked to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. He saw the Christian God as the source of his military victory.

Section 2: Constantine’s Role and Impact

4. List three specific actions Constantine took to support the Christian church.

   1. ____________________________

   2. ____________________________

   3. ___________________ 

5. Answers 

   1. Legalized Christianity 

   2. Returned confiscated property 

   3. Funded church buildings and called the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD

6. Why did Constantine promote church unity?

   He promoted church unity for the sake of imperial stability — “one faith, one empire.”

7. What was the main negative consequence of Constantine’s involvement in the church?

   It introduced the dangerous entanglement of church and state; the emperor began acting as a kind of overseer of church doctrine and discipline.

Section 3: The Rise of State-Sponsored Christianity

7. Under which emperor did Nicene (orthodox) Christianity become the official state religion of the Roman Empire?

   Theodosius I (late 4th century).

8. What were two negative effects of Christianity becoming the favored religion of the state?

   1. ____________________________

   2. ____________________________

9. Answers 

   1.  Superficial conversions and increased worldliness in the church 

   2. Massive numerical growth accompanied by compromise with pagan practices

Section 4: Key Developments in Church Structure and Power

9. Why did the Bishop of Rome gain increasing prominence during this period?

   Partly due to Rome’s continuing political importance and the practical help the church provided (e.g., feeding the poor).

10. Name two ways church structure became more hierarchical and centralized. 

    1. _____________________________________________________

    2. _____________________________________________________

11. Answers 

    1.  A more distinct hierarchical clergy-laity distinction emerged

    2. Centralized ecclesiastical power developed, supported by ecumenical councils with imperial backing

Section 5: Theological Battles and Heresies

11. What was Arianism, and why was it a major controversy?

    Arianism was the heresy that denied the full deity of Christ. It was a major controversy because it threatened core Christian orthodoxy.

12. How did emperors sometimes complicate theological debates?

    Emperors sometimes favored heretical factions, bringing political pressure into theological decisions.

Section 6: Positive and Negative Fruits of “Imperial” Christianity

13. List three positive outcomes of the church’s new favored status. 

    1. _____________________________________________________

    2. _____________________________________________________

    3. _______________________________________________ 

14.  Answers 

    1. Explosive spread of the gospel across the empire 

    2. Construction of monumental church buildings and increased social influence (care for the poor, hospitals) 

    3. Preservation and defense of key doctrines

15. List three negative outcomes mentioned. 

    1. ______________________________________________________

    2. _____________________________________________________

    3. ______________________________________________________

    4. Compromise with pagan practices and philosophy

    5. Political corruption entering the church

    6. Persecution of heretics and pagans by Christians (reversing earlier roles)

16. What tension is highlighted regarding the church’s relationship with the empire?

    The church gained the world but risked losing its soul (or at least its distinctiveness and reliance on God alone).

Section 7: Transition Toward the Middle Ages

16. Approximately when does this historical period end (name a key figure and time frame)?

    Around the time of Gregory the Great (late 6th century) and the early Byzantine era under emperors like Justinian.

17. What major event (410–476 AD) helped the church fill a power vacuum in the West?

    The fall of the Western Roman Empire.

18. What long-term developments were planted during this time?

    Seeds were planted for medieval Christendom, the papacy’s growing temporal power, and the East-West divide.