Theology Church History Chapter 2
From which word is "Gnosticism" derived? What is this name a reference to?
- Gnosis - Reference to one of the principle tenets of this heresy, which claims that salvation may be achieved through knowledge.
Why were the five good emperors 'good'?
- Had the favor of the army, senate, and people - Expanded the borders of the Empire - Brought stability to the Empire
Important facts about Emperor Hadrian:
- Hadrian's Wall - Banned circumcision - Exiled Jews from Jerusalem in 132 AD - Hadrian's Rescript
What did Emperor Theodosius do in 390 that led St. Ambrose to excommunicate and bar a Roman Emperor from entering church buildings? What was he required to perform as a penance? How long did his penance last?
- He slaughtered 7000 village people in Thessalonica - Wear normal clothes and pray publicly (?) - 8 months
Name three other bibles approved by the Catholic Church.
- Jerusalem Bible - New American Bible - Revised Standard Edition
Who were the lapsi? Under what conditions did the popes allow the lapsi to return to the Church? How did the popes attitude towards the lapsi differ from that of Novatian?
- Lapsi: Christians who fully turned away from the faith and offered sacrifice to pagan gods - After a long penance - Pope said that they should be readmitted, Navatian said nah fam
Who was the founder of Manichaeism? When did he live? Where was he from?
- Mani - 216AD - 276 AD - Persia
What did the Docetism believe about matter? How did this effect their belief about the person of Jesus Christ?
- Matter is corrupt - Jesus was not truly human and did not actually suffer the pain of crucifixion and death.
Who were the five good emperors?
- Nerva - Trajan - Hadrian - Antoninus Pius - Marcus Aurelius
Emperor Trajan's three directives concerning Christians:
- Open declarations of the Faith > death - Renouncement of Faith > life - Anonymous denunciations > not to be pursued
Did Montanus accept the authority of the Church? Why or why not?
- Reject - He believe he was directly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Heretic
A person who denies one or more doctrines of the Faith.
Apostate
A person who denies the Faith altogether
Apostles Creed
A statement of the belief of the Apostles based upon the New Testament. It is derived from a Baptismal creed used especially in Rome known as the Old Roman, and it is therefore associated particularly with the Church of Rome
What did the Rescript of 257, put forth by Emperor Valerian, forbid?
Christians meeting in public places and from celebrating the Eucharist in the catacombs.
What did the first six ecumenical councils address?
Christological heresies
Emperor Septimus Severus, issued a decree in AD 202 forbidding which two things?
Circumcision and Baptism.
St. Irenæus was an important leader in which region of the empire?
City of Lyon in Gaul
Who was often taught to have replaced Christ on the cross in the heresy of Docetism?
Judas Iscariot or Simon of Cyrene
Which Roman Emperor was the first to institute the free exercise of the Christian religion? Which conditions did he place upon this liberty?
- Galerius - Condition: they pray for the emperor and the empire.
Theotokos
Literally "bearer of God," often translated "mother of God." Used since the early centuries of the Church, this title of Mary was defended by the Council of Ephesus in 431.
Over which city and during which years did St. Irenaeus preside as bishop?
Lyon in Gaul from 178AD - 203AD.
Chrysostom
Moniker of St. John ___ meaning "golden mouthed," it refers to the saint's extraordinary preaching skills.
Who was the founder of Montanism?
Montanus
What is the study of the Church Fathers known as?
Patristics
Anathema
a ban solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication
Apollinarianism
founded by Apollinarius in the fourth century, this heresy denied the existence of a human mind and will in Christ.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, what is heresy?
"A species of unbelief, belonging to those who profess the Christian Faith, but corrupt its dogmas."
Who were St. Justin Martyr's First and Second Apology written to?
- First Apology: Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons - Second Apology: Roman Senate
Doctor of the Church
'Doctores Ecclesiae', a specific title given by the pope to those whose development of theology and personal sanctity are exemplary.
What does the title 'Chrysostom' mean? How did St. John earn this title?
- "Golden-mouthed" - By being a renown preacher
When did Origen live? What famous school did he become the head of?
- 185AD - 254AD - Catechetical School in Alexandria.
When did Emperor Diocletian rule? When did the Great Persecution begin under his rule?
- 284AD - 305AD. - The Great Persecution: 303AD on February 23.
When did the earliest heresies exist? What were the earliest heresies?
- 33 - 250 AD - Marcionism - Manichaeism - Montanism - Docetism
During which years did St. Ambrose live? Over which city was he bishop?
- 339-397 AD - Milan
When did St. Jerome live? What were his two enduring passions?
- 345 - 420 AD - Ascetical life and scholarship.
When did John Chrysostom live? Over which city was he Patriarch?
- 347 - 407 AD - Constantinople
What are the three beliefs common to most Gnostics?
- A corruption of spirit, thus the world is corrupt - Man must seek knowledge in order to overcome this fallen state and return to God - God held this possible by sending a savior.
Important facts about Emperor Nero:
- Advised by Seneca - Killed mother and wife - Great Fire of Rome (July 19, 64) - Persecuted Christians - First to make Christianity illegal
Important facts about St. Polycarp:
- Apostolic Father - Martyrdom is recounted in "Martyrium Polycarpi" - Refused to renounce Christ - Martyred by sword
Important facts about St. Justin Martyr:
- Born of pagan parents - Student of philosophy - Converted to Christianity at 30 - Defended faith against Pagan philosophy and government - Wrote the First and Second Apology - Beheaded
What did the Gnostics believe about the human nature of Christ? Who did they believe Christ was? What did they believe was Christ's purpose?
- Christ did not have a human nature - Christ was a divine being and a representative of the supreme Divine - As the Gnostic redeemer, he was to bring the secret knowledge and make it known to man
Important facts about Emperor Trajan:
- Considered one of the greatest emperors in Roman history - Greatest expansion in Roman history - Had three directives concerning Christians
Summarize Trajan's Rescript. How does it differ from the previous law of Nero?
- Declared that if a Christian denounced his/her faith, and declared to follow Roman paganism, their life would be spared. If they did not denounce their faith, they would be executed. - Clarity to how Christians could be persecuted
From which source does the Catholic Church claim to derive it's teachings? What is the difference between the Catholic Church's relationship to this source and the relationship of heresies to this source?
- Deposit of Faith (the sum of all truths revealed in Scripture and Tradition) - Church: derives all of its teachings from the Deposit of Faith - Heresies: deny or alter some parts of the Deposit of Faith.
Which famous edict restored all property taken from the Church by the empire and granted Christians the freedom to practice their religion? When was this edict put forth?
- Edict of Milan - 313AD
Which Roman Emperor permitted Christians to own property and build churches? When did this emperor rule?
- Emperor Alexander Severus - 222AD - 235AD.
Which Roman Emperor inaugurated the first empire-wide persecution of Christians? When did this emperor rule?
- Emperor Decius - 249AD - 251AD.
Who were the: sacrificanti thurificati libellatici?
- Sacrificanti: Christians who offered sacrifice to the pagan gods - Thurificanti: Christians who burned incense to the pagan gods - Libellatici: Christians who purchased certificates stating that they had already offered sacrifice to the pagan gods.
Important facts about Emperor Marcus Aurelilus:
- Stoic philosopher - Wrote a book: "Meditations" - Adhered to Trajan's Rescript - Allowed mobs to kill Christians - Disdainful to all new religions
Summarize Diocletian's Four Edicts.
- The destruction of churches, burning of Scriptures, and banning Church gatherings - Sanctioned imprisonment of the clergy - The demand that clergy partake in pagan sacrifice - The demand that all Christians partake in pagan sacrifice.
Important facts about St. Ignatius of Antioch:
- Third Bishop of Antioch - Taught by St. John the Theologian - Extant works: Seven Epistles - "Catholic Church" - Martyred in the Colosseum
If it is true that Nero set the fire in Rome on July 19, what was his ultimate motivation? How did the Christians prove to be expedient political tools?
- To seize private property in the center of Rome in order to build a new palace - He could blame them for the fire
What was the goal of Manichaeism? Which famous saint was once a Manichaean?
- To share the secret knowledge which liberated this light, which Satan stole and placed in humans, so that it may return to its original source - St. Augustine
Important facts about Emperor Domitian:
- Wanted to wipe out all Christians (regardless of class) - Killed his own Christian cousin - Levied a tax against Christians and Jews to fund a temple to Jupiter
Important facts about Hadrian's Rescript:
- ~123/124 AD - Response to Serenus Granianus - Rule of Law over mob rule - False accusations to be punished
When did St. Justin Martyr live?
100 - 165 AD
When did Emperor Hadrian rule?
117 - 138 AD
When did Emperor Marcus Aurelius rule?
161 - 180 AD
How many Ecumenical Councils have held by the Catholic Church?
21
When did Constantine the Great rule?
307AD - 337AD
When did St. Ignatius of Antioch live?
50 - 107 AD
When did Emperor Nero rule?
54 - 68 AD
When did St. Polycarp live?
69 - 155 AD
When did Emperor Domitian rule?
81 - 96 AD
When did Emperor Trajan rule?
98 - 117 AD
Where in the Bible is Christianity referred to as "the Way"?
Acts 9:2 and 19:9
What is the most famous work of St. Irenaeus?
Adversus hæreses (meaning: "Refutation of Heresies")
What kind of cosmology did Manichaeism espouse?
An age-old dualist cosmology that involves the conflict between light and darkness.
Logos
An ambiguous Greek word with a multitude of meanings that include: word, account, meaning, reason, argument, saying, speech, story and many more. The Gospel of St. John utilizes the word's complex meaning, referring to the Person of Jesus, the Son of God and a member of the Blessed Trinity, as the logos
Under the persecutions of Decius, what happened to Christians who refused to renounce their faith?
Arrested, exiled or put to death, or all of their property was confiscated.
Which two things did the Rescript of 258, put forth by Emperor Valerian, call for?
Bishops, priests, and deacons to be executed immediately and Christians of rank were removed from their offices and often sold to slavery.
How did Hadrian's Rescript improve the situation for Christians?
By declaring that Christianity was not a crime and Christians could only be persecuted if they broke the law.
How did the Roman emperor Septimus Severus threaten both Judaism and Christianity?
By declaring that circumcision and Baptism were to be forbidden.
What is the famous story about how Constantine won the Battle at Sara Rubra?
Constantine had a vision before the battle where he saw the cross inscribed with the words 'in hoc signo vinces' ("in this sign you will conquer") above the sun. Constantine then instructed his soldiers to put the cross on their shields, and when they battled, Constantine's army won even though they had less soldiers.
When is the feast day of Ambrose of Milan celebrated on the Roman Calendar?
December 7
Docetism
Derived from the Greek word 'dokesis', meaning appearance, this Gnostic heresy maintained that Jesus did not die on the cross but was spared by someone else who took his place.
Gnosticism
Derived from the Greek word 'gnosis' ("knowledge"), the name refers to one of the principle tenets of this multifaceted heresy, namely, that salvation may be achieved through knowledge. In the second century, ___, which had eastern origins and influences from Persia and India, very successfully perverted the meaning of Christianity and its symbols. To prove its authenticity, Gnosticism co-opted the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, and erected an entirely new cosmological structure that challenged the intent of Christianity.
Ecumenical Council
Derived from the Greek word 'oikoumene', meaning "the whole inhabited world," Ecumenical councils bring bishops and others entitled to vote from all over the world to discuss central issues of the Church. They are presided over by the pope and issues decrees which, with the approval of the pope, bind all Christians.
Which English bible is translated from the Latin Vulgate?
Douay-Rheims
Who put forth the Four Edicts?
Emperor Diocletian (descriptions of the Four Edicts is under a different card)
What was St. Ignatius of Antioch's Seven Epistles about?
Eucharist and Episcopacy
Which definitions of an Ecumenical Council are to be held as infallible?
Faith and morals
Which Ecumenical Councils do the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church hold in common?
First seven
Vulgate
First translation of the Bible from its original languages into Latin by St. Jerome.
Marcionism
Founded by Marcion in the second century, he borrowed the Gnostic idea of a Demiurge, calling this force the jealous and vengeful God of Law. According to ___, the God of Jesus Christ, the true God has no law and is sent to bring about the demise of the Demiurge. He renounced all Jewish influence on the Church, believing that the God of the Old Testament was the evil Demiurge.
Montanism
Founded by Montanus in the second century, he believed that due to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon him, he knew that a new, heavenly kingdom was imminent. One of the first apocalyptic heresies, his followers lived a very austere life rejecting second marriages and flight from persecution.
Infallible
Free from error. Ecumenical Councils' definitions on Faith and morals are considered free from error or infallible, if that is the intention of the pope and bishops in union
Etymology
From greek αἵρεσις (aireses), meaning to chose whose own way, usually in opposition to a religious doctrine
Demiurge
Gnostic creator god of the material world
Church Fathers
Great, holy leaders who have come forward to lead the Church, explain the Faith, and meet the unique challenges posed by different heresies.
From which two languages did St. Jerome translate the Vulgate into Latin?
Greek and Hebrew
Homoousios
Greek word meaning "of the same substance"
Manichæism
Heresy founded by Mani in the 3rd century. An elaborate form of Gnosticism, it involved the relationship between light and darkness, believing that through rituals and sharing their knowledge believers could regain the light stolen by Satan and hidden in the brains of men, thus freeing the light to return to its original source. ___ heavily borrowed from the Scriptures, especially from the writings of St. Paul. Mani incorporated many of St. Paul's arguments and imagery to support his own teaching concerning the struggle between darkness and light.
Donatism
Heresy that rejected the sacraments celebrated by clergy who had formerly betrayed their faith.
Briefly describe the vision Constantine had before this battle.
It's the story about a cross in the sky (full story is on another card)
Trajan's Rescript
Policy for handling Christians in the Roman Empire which stated that Christians who renounced their faith and offered sacrifice would be allowed to live. Those who did not renounce their faith would suffer death.
Under current canon law who is the only one allowed to convene an Ecumenical Council?1
Pope
Discuss the importance of the Edict of Milan (313 AD).
Restored all property taken from the Church by the empire, and it granted Christians the right to practice their religion, which had been outlawed since 64 AD, thus solidifying the presence of Christianity in the public square.
Which battle secured Constantine's rule over both the Western and Eastern halves of the Roman Empire?
Sara Rubra
Neo-Platonism
School of philosophy which held that the logos was a created being, not the Supreme Being. Platonic philosophies, in general, viewed the material world as less perfect than the world of ideas. Thus, besides denying Christ's true divinity, many early Platonic heresies greatly deemphasized Christ's humanity, if not openly denying it.
When is John Chrysostom's feast day on the Roman Calendar?
September 13
Which saint famously brought a group of poor people to Roman authorities when they asked him for the treasures of the Church? This saint also is known for the following saying: "I am roasted enough on this side; turn me around."
St. Lawrence
Which is the only Christian authority accepted by Marcion?
St. Paul
What did the Gnostics believe about the God of Judaism?
That he is the evil Demiurge
Heresy
The refusal to accept one or more truths of the Faith which are required for Catholic belief. It is a species of unbelief belonging to those who profess the Christian Faith, but corrupt its dogmas
What did Marcion believe about the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament?
That the God of the Old Testament was the evil Demiurge and that the God of the New Testament, the true God of Love Jesus Christ, was sent to bring the demise of the Demiurge.
What does St. Ignatius have to say about the importance of the episcopacy?
That the episcopacy is the main defense in the Catholic Church against false beliefs, it is a means of unity with Christ, and it is important to sacraments like Matrimony and the Eucharist.
What is St. Jerome's most important contribution to the Church?
The Vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible)
What dichotomy did Marcion draw from his belief about the nature of the god of the Old Testament and the god of the New Testament?
The dualism of Law and Love (?)
What was Montanus's central principal?
The new, heavenly kingdom was about to begin in Pepuza, a small town in Phrygia.
Apostasy
The willful renunciation of the Faith in its entirety
Arianism
Third and fourth century heresy founded by the Alexandrian priest Arius. It denied Jesus' divinity, claiming that Jesus is neither God nor equal to the Father, but rather an exceptional creature raised to the level of "Son of God" because of his heroic fidelity to the Father's will and his sublime holiness.
To whom does the Pope grant the title 'Doctor of the Church.'
Those whose development of theology and personal sanctity are exemplary.
What is the function of the Ecumenical Councils?
To deal with issues at the time
Which characteristics do the Church Father's share?
orthodoxy in doctrine, holiness, notoriety, and antiquity