From early Christian prayer groups to the
Roman Catholic Church Centered in Rome
and the Greek Orthodox Church Centered in Constantinople
Prof. Horowitz
I. Foundations of Christianity
Jesus of Nazareth (4 BCE-c. 30 CE). Baptized by John the Baptist Accounts by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in Gospels of the New Testament, compiled end of lst c. CE (Matthew in Fiero 2.2)
Paul , 33 CE converted to become a follower of “Christos,” the Messiah.
At first converts only Jews. Later Paul converts Gentiles and allows them not to follow all of Jewish law. Wrote Epistles in the New Testament (Paul’s authorship of some letters questioned in liberal Protestant divinity schools today)
(Paul in Fiero 2.3)
Executed in Rome 67 CE
Prayer meetings in synagogues, in homes, as well as in Roman catacombs (tombs)
II Persecutions by Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Decius, Diocletian
III. Christian Relations to the Past
New Testament into Latin as the Vulgate) and Clement of Alexandria (Greek Church Father). They show reasonableness of Christianity. They use classical ideas compatible with Christianity and discard what contradicts their versions of Christianity.
IV. New Central Ideas of Christians
Original sin of Adam; Jesus died for all human sins; Jesus as path to Divine Grace for Salvation; Afterlife of Heaven (Salvation; Justification) or Hell
Missions: Preach in the languages of the poor people.
New rituals: baptism to wash away original sin; communion or eucharist based on
Jesus’s words at Last Supper.
V. Greek Orthodox Church, Greek-speaking, Patriarch in Constantinople
Differ from Western Church on Trinity—Eastern theologians insisted that the Spirit proceeded from the Father only, wherein the Western theologians insisted that the Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son (Council of Nicea) Attempt at reconciliation, Council of Florence, 15th c.
Iconoclastic movement of 8th c. rejected icons (images) in divine worship [Jews and Moslems followed commandment against making a graven images; some Protestants of 16th c. were iconoclasts destroying Catholic images of saints]
1054 Schism between Roman Catholic Church and Greek Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church separated from Greek Orthodox Church after Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453.
IV. Conversion of Christianity in the West to the Roman Imperial Capital
Petrine Doctrine “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”
1st c. Key bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem
Rome, only city of the 4 where Latin the language
Churches allied in college of presbyters (elders)
3rd c. Bishop of Rome called Pope, Father. Some recognition as the center
Emp. Constantine
Called Council of Nicea, 325
Emp. Theodosius
Pope Gregory the Great 540-604 Triumph of Roman papacy as leader of Latin Christendom
Defends Rome against invaders
Collect church revenue
Spiritual leader