A Summary of Church History

Introduction

There is nothing new under the sun. Quite often we find that many of the ‘new’ revelations arising today, are not new at all, and many of the problems faced by the church today have been faced before. The bible warns time and again, that in the last days the church would fall away, so it is therefore necessary to look back and gain an understanding of where the church started and how it as arrived to where it is.

In the following presentation I am going to give a summary of the history of the church. I will try and include source references to the information so that whoever is following can verify the information for themselves.

Sources

I will aim as much as possible to use primary sources for the information. Sources that are verifiable. I will avoid quoting Morden history books, but will try as much as possible to take my information from the people who lived in those times, to hear from them as they tell us what was happening in their days. 

The journey of the church has been very well documented, and the documents have been well preserved. If we trust that the bible is true, then we have to trust the people that preserved those scriptures. If we cannot trust those who preserved the scriptures, then we cannot trust the bible.

Much of the history of the church will be found in the form of letters. It started with the apostles and those with them, who wrote letters to the churches. The elders and bishops of the churches, who had been ordained by the apostles continued to communicate with one another and with other churches through letters. These letters of communication were kept from generation to generation just as the letters of the apostles were kept from generation to generation. Through these letters, we can be able to assemble a picture of the journey of the church for the first 300 years.

I am going to breakdown the history of the church into three phases:

The Apostolic Era (33AD – 70AD)

The Church fathers (70AD – 300AD)

The Roman Catholic Church (300AD -1517)

The Reformation (1517 -Present Day)

1. THE APOSTOLIC ERA

We are looking at the journey of the church during the time when the apostles were still alive.

c. 33/34 AD – JERUSALEM

The church is born on the day of pentecost. The Holy Spirit comes upon 120 disciples of Jesus in the upper room. Apostle Peter preaches and 3000 jews convert to Christianity, making the first church. They meet daily in the temple and in their homes.

SOURCE: Acts 2 written by Luke

Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

AD 34: AFRICA

Philip is sent to minister to an Ethiopian Jew and he baptises him.

SOURCE: Acts 8

AD34:-SAMARIA

After Solomon, Israel split into two nations, Kingdom of Judah which followed the throne of David and his descendants and the Kingdom of Israel which followed jeroboam. (1 kings 11)

Whilst Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, Samaria was the official capital of the Kingdom of Israel.

Philip is transported by the spirit of God and preaches in Samaria. The whole city converts and they are added to the church. Peter and John come and lay hands on the people for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

A sorcerer named Simon, who had once bewitched the whole city, offers Peter money to acquire his power to impart people the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes Simon and tells him that he has no part in the kingdom of God.

Acts 8:20-21 (NKJV) 

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

c. AD 41 – FIRST GENTILE

Cornelius the centurion and his whole household become the first non-jewish people to be part of the church. They receive the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues and prophesy. Gentiles are added to the church.

AD 42 – FIRST GENTILE CHURCH

A group of African Christians who were fleeing the persecution from Saul preach to greeks in Antioch, and the first gentile church is established. (ACTS 11:20)

Barnabas is appointed by the apostles to oversee this gentile church. Barnabas then finds Paul and goes with him to stay in Antioch. (ACTS 2:22-26)

44 AD HEROD AGGRIPPA DIES

King Herod is struck by an angel of the Lord and he dies after giving a speech. The event is recorded in Acts 12. Encyclopedia Brittanica places his death in 44 AD

AD 48 -APOSTLES TO THE GENTILES

Barnabas and Paul have been at Antioch for 6 years. They are serving as two out of six prophet/ teachers. The gentile church at Antioch is led by the Holy Spirit to lay hands on Barnabas and Paul and they are officially ordained as apostles to the gentiles. (ACTS 13:2-3) (ACTS 13: 47)

Paul and Barnabas then leave Antioch and they go on to preach the gospel and establish churches in the cities of the gentiles.

DOCTRINAL DISPUTE  IN GENTILE CHURCHES

A dispute arises when some Jewish believers begin to ask that the gentiles be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses. Paul and Barnabas argue against this, and the matter is resolved in Jerusalem. The apostles give Paul and Barnabas their right hand of fellowship and conclude that the gentile churches will be saved by grace and do not have to follow the law of Moses except for four necessary things.

SOURCE: ACTS 15

The events of Acts 15, happen 17 years after PAUL’s conversion.

You can calculate this from Galatians 1 and 2 when Paul is narrating his journey.

Galatians 1:18-22 (NKJV) 

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ

Galatians 2:1-2 (NKJV) 

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

3 + 14 = 17 years. 

So Paul was officially ordained as an apostle and began his missionary journeys 17 years after his conversion.

AD 64: ROMAN EMPIRE BEGINS PERSECUTION OF CHURCH

Up until this time, the only persecution against christianity was coming from religious Jews, and they mainly persecuted christians in Jerusalem. In AD 64, Rome was burnt by a fire that lasted for seven nights. The Roman Emperor Nero, blamed the christians for burning Rome. He then launched a war against Christianity. Paul was in Rome at the time. Many Christians were killed at this time.

Cornelius Tacitus was A Roman Senator, who was also a historian. He was born in 56AD and died in AD120, and so he was alive during this time. In his book records called the Annals, book 15 chapter 44, he mentions the persecution of the christians under Nero.

Below is an extract from his writing

“The Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. 

Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”

Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals Book 15, chapter 44 

The main apostles, except for John were all killed during this period.

70AD: Jerusalem Destroyed

2. THE CHURCH FATHERS

Before the apostles were killed, they had setup bishops (overseers), elders and deacons in every church.

Acts 14:23 (NKJV) 

23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

The apostle Paul left this message to all his overseers:

Acts 20:27-28 (NKJV) 

27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

The church did not die when the apostles died. These men who had been anointed by the Holy Spirit and trained by the apostles to oversee the church, continued the work and these are the men that I shall be referring to as The Church Fathers. These are the men who had to keep the faith in tact, during the time of persecution. They preserved the writings of Paul, Peter, Mark, Luke and other apostles from being lost.

The apostle John went on to live for another 30 years and died around 98 AD. During that time he watched over the bishops, and discipled them as they discipled the churches.

John writes this before his death

Revelation 1:9-11 (NKJV)

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

These overseers/ bishops continued to write to the churches and to each other, maintaining the traditions of the church as they had been taught by the apostles.

Let me name a few. 

Ignatius of Antioch – Died 108 AD

Ignatius was the overseer of the church of Antioch. This was Paul’s home church. Ignatius was a disciple of John the apostle. He died around 108AD.

We have 7 letters that were written by Ignatius during his time. Letter to the Ephesians, to Magnesians, to Trallians, to Romans, to Philadelphians, to Smyrneans and to Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna.

The links to the English translations of those letters here: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ignatius.html

Below is an extract of Ignatius letter to the Romans, which he wrote from prison before he was killed.

4:1 I write to all the churches, and I bid all men know, that of my own free will I die for God, unless ye should hinder me. I exhort you, be ye not an unseasonable kindness to me. Let me be given to the wild beasts, for through them I can attain unto God. I am God’s wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread [of Christ].

4:3 I do not enjoin you, as Peter and Paul did. They were Apostles, I am a convict; they were free, but I am a slave to this very hour. Yet if I shall suffer, then am I a freed-man of Jesus Christ, and I shall rise free in Him. Now I am learning in my bonds to put away every desire.

(Ignatius of Antioch to the Romans)

PolyCarp – Died 150AD

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna. He died 40 years after Ignatius. Before Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna, Ignatius had also written to him, with instruction on finding a replacement for him in Syria. Polycarp had also served as a disciple of John the apostle. Years later, when Polycarp was now Bishop in Smyrna, he also got arrested and executed. During his time in prison he wrote letters. There is only one surviving letter of Polycap, it is his letter to the Philippians.

Here is an extract of his letter to the Philippians, written around 150AD

Polycarp 3:1
These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not because I take anything upon myself, but because ye have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom” of the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. 

And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbour, “is the mother of us all.” For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.

You will see that the church fathers kept people in line with the teachings of the apostles. They remained humble and in fear of God.

Justin Matyr died 165AD

Justin Matyr, who was beheaded by the Romans in 165AD. In his letter to Trypho where he defended the faith, Justin gives assurance that all the gifts of the spirit were in operation in the church during his time.

“For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to this present time.” Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 82

“And, Now, it is possible to see amongst us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God” Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 88. 

This continued until the 4th Century, when Constatine legalised Christianity. After that the church was absorbed into the Roman Empire. This lead to the rise of what is now known as the Roman Catholic Church.

However, before we look at the rise of the Catholic Church, we must look at the rise of divisions in the church.

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH

From the very beginning of the church, there were divisions that began to arise. I want to take time to look at the rise of divisions within the church during the time of the apostles and the time of the church Fathers. This will help us understand the rise of the Roman Catholic Church.

In order to understand the history of divisions in the church we look primarily at the writing of an early church father named Iraneus. Iraneus was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of John. Iraneus was born in 130AD and died in 202AD. He was a Bishop of Lyons in what is now called France.

Iraneus wrote four books called Against Heresies, in which he highlighted, the origins of various heretic groups that existed in his time. Most of these heretic groups had risen from persons who claimed to have received a revelation which was better, or higher than what the 12 apostles and Paul had received. It was called Gnosticism which means knowledge. 

Iraneus also wrote a teaching called, In Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching.

These heretic groups which claimed to have received higher revelations, began to write their own scriptures. At this time there was no compiled bible, but people just shared the scriptures as separate scrolls. Iraneus outlined which writings were truly scripture and which ones were not. He said, only Mathew, Mark, Luke and John should be read as the true gospels, and all other gospel accounts were not inspired. He advocated for people to stick to the writings of Paul and the original apostles.

If you believe in the New Testament as it is today, you owe a lot to Iraneus. 

Let me highlight some of the heretic groups that Iraneus speaks of in his book, Against Heresies.

Heresy 1: Simon Magus

SOURCE: Against heresies book1:chapter 23 by Iraneus

Simon Magus is Simon the soccer of Samaria: the one who tried to buy the anointing with money and Peter rebuked him saying, you have no part in this. Iraneus and other early writings detail that Simon chose not to repent but he went on to start his own sect of Christianity, to challenge Peter and the apostles. He instituted his own baptism where he claimed to be the manifestation of God the father on earth. 

Heresy 2: Valentinianism

Valentinus lived between AD100 and AD180. He was born in Egypt and served in the church at Rome. He wanted to be chosen to be Bishop but the elders chose another man instead of him. Valentinus became frustrated and started his own sect of Christianity. He went back to Egypt, his home town and established the centre of his church. It quickly spread to many countries.

Valentinus taught his revelation that Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament was not truly God but an angel that had been entrusted to create the world. However that angel had become proud, and was corrupting the world. They said Jesus was the true God who came to refute that angel who had created the world.

They believed that the bible was an allegory, and should not be read literally. 

Heresy 3: Cerinthias- Against Heresies Chapter 26

Cerinthius also believed that the world was not created by God, but by a leaser principality. He taught that Jesus was not born of a virgin, and that Christ was a being seperate from Jesus. He taught that Christ descended on Jesus at the baptism, and that at the crucifixion, Christ left the body of Jesus. Jesus then died and at resurrection, Christ returned into Jesus. 

Heresy 4: Nicolaitanes

Iraneus writes that the Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons ordained by the apostles.(Acts 6:5) However, Nicolas began to practice loose morals such as sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. Some of the ancient writers say that Nicolas failed to be celibate during his missions away from his wife, and therefore came up with a doctrine that said, it is the spirit that is saved, and acts committed in the body have no bearing on salvation of the spirit. As a result, he and his followers began to practice sexual immorality.

Heresy 5: Ebionites

Ebionites read the gospel of Mathew only. They refused to accept the other 3 gospels. They refused to accept Paul as an apostle. They practised circumsision and observed the customs of the law. Paul fought against these false Christians.

Galatians 2:4-5 (ESV) Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

They also believed that Christ entered into Jesus at baptism.

Heresy 6: Marcionites

Marcion was a Christian who lived in Rome. A man named Cerdo, a follower of the teachings of Simon the sorcerer, came and taught Marcion that the God of the Old Testament was not the Father of Jesus Christ. Marcion was removed  by the church and he started his own sect.He taught that Jesus was the son of God but he was not truly flesh and blood. He believed that the Paul was the only apostle that he should listen to. 

Marcion was the first to compile a bible. His bible had eleven books. It was mainly from Paul’s letters and parts of the book of mark and Luke. He removed chapters that he did not like.

This forced the church to also start compiling a list of canon of scripture. In other words, an accepted bible.

THE ROLE OF CONSTANTINE

A lot has been said concerning Constantine and there are many people who accuse him of many things. However, if a person actually takes time to look into the life of Constantine and see the role that he played for christianity, they will be surprised.

In order to understand the life of Constantine and what he did in the church we have to consult the writings of a bishop named Eusebius.

Eusebius of Caesarea is a bishop who lived in the time of Constantine. He was born in 260Ad and died in 340 AD. He is also the man who compiled the first bibles and gave them to the church. He was was at the first council of Nicea. He is referred too and the father of Church History, because of the extensive work he did in collecting the letters of the early church fathers and extensively documenting the history of the church up until his time. This can be found in his books called ekklesiastic history. Which means Church History. At the death of Constantine in 337 Ad, Eusebius was the one who put together a eulogy based on eyewitness testimony for Constantine which is found in his work called, The Life of Constantine. I’ts divided into four books that you can find in the following link.

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2502.htm

That eye witness record by Eusebius will be our main source.

In 313 AD, Constantine who was at that time, a co-emperor with Licinius Augustus released an edict known as the edict of Milan. This Edict did 3 main things

1. It granted every person the right to worship their religion without persecution.
2. It removed all laws that had been placed against Christianity.
3. It allowed Christians to own properties and to have properties that had been previously confiscated to be returned to them.

Here is a small excerpt of the edict:

When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I Licinius Augustus d fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought -, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred; whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our rule And thus by this wholesome counsel and most upright provision we thought to arrange that no one whatsoever should be denied the opportunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion, of that religion which he should think best for himself, so that the Supreme Deity, to whose worship we freely yield our hearts) may show in all things His usual favor and benevolence. 

Therefore, your Worship should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever, which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning the Christians and now any one of these who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without molestation. We thought it fit to commend these things most fully to your care that you may know that we have given to those Christians free and unrestricted opportunity of religious worship.

You can download the full edict here: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/edict-milan.asp

321 AD – Sunday Law

On March 7, 321AD Constantine signed a law that gave permission. For government workers to rest on Sundays. They would not be forced to go to work, but farm workers were still expected to work on Sundays.

The Edict Reads:

“On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost”

There are some important points to note here:

1. I would like to state that this law is not a religious law. It’s a civil law. In the same way that the governments can say, on independence day let all workers stay at home, and shops be closed. He is not instituting a church doctrine.  This is not directed to the church. 
2. It is important to note that Constantine was not a Bishop, and though he took advice from Bishops, and enacted laws that made it easy for the church to operate, ultimately it was up to the church bishops to decide on maters of doctrine.
3. The term Day of the Sun, in latin Dies Solis and in English Sunday, was the name of the day of the week which the Jews referred to as The first day of the week. Saturday, which the Jews called Sabbath was called in Latin Sāturni diēs which mean Day of Saturn. These names were not created by Constantine, there were there hundreds of years before him.
4. In the Greek language, the first day of the week is called Kyriakí, which in English translates to: Lord’s Day. 

Eusebius the Bishop, explains the reasons why this law benefitted the church. 

Life of Constantine Book Four: Chapter 18- By Eusebius of Ceasaria

“he freely granted to those among them who were partakers of the divine faith, leisure for attendance on the services of the Church of God, in order that they might be able, without impediment, to perform their religious worship.”

326 AD: The Nicene Council

This is one of the most important events in the history of the church. The story starts in a city called Alexandria in Africa, Egypt. The church in Alexandria was one of the most prominent churches in the ancient times.

A man named Alexander had just been made Bishop of the church in Alexandria. He decided on Ione day to do a teaching on a subject matter that was not very commonly discussed: The nature of the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. After he had done his teaching, he asked his elders to speak. One of his elders named Arius, to speak. Arius then gave a teaching and explanation that countered that of the Bishop. As it happened, a lot of people loved Arius explanation of the Godhead. After some time, the church became divided between Arias and Alexander.

This attracted the attention of other churches, as Arias was beginning to be called a heretic by bishop Alexander. Several church in African countries such as Lybia began to be divided between Arias and Alexander. Arius wrote a letter of complaint  to Eusebius of Nicomedia, the Bishop who would baptise Constantine.

Find Below, a copy of the Letter by Arius

To his very dear lord, the man of God, the faithful and orthodox Eusebius, Arius, unjustly persecuted by Alexander the Pope, on account of that all-conquering truth of which you also are a champion, sendeth greeting in the Lord.

Ammonius, my father, being about to depart for Nicomedia, I considered myself bound to salute you by him, and withal to inform that natural affection which you bear towards the brethren for the sake of God and His Christ, that the bishop greatly wastes and persecutes us, and leaves no stone unturned against us. He has driven us out of the city as atheists, because we do not concur in what he publicly preaches, namely, God always, the Son always; as the Father so the Son; the Son co-exists unbegotten with God; He is everlasting; neither by thought nor by any interval does God precede the Son; always God, always Son; he is begotten of the unbegotten; the Son is of God Himself. 

Eusebius, your brother bishop of Cæsarea, Theodotus, Paulinus, Athanasius, Gregorius, Aetius, and all the bishops of the East, have been condemned because they say that God had an existence prior to that of His Son; except Philogonius, Hellanicus, and Macarius, who are unlearned men, and who have embraced heretical opinions. Some of them say that the Son is an eructation, others that He is a production, others that He is also unbegotten. 

These are impieties to which we cannot listen, even though the heretics threaten us with a thousand deaths. But we say and believe, and have taught, and do teach, that the Son is not unbegotten, nor in any way part of the unbegotten; and that He does not derive His subsistence from any matter; but that by His own will and counsel He has subsisted before time, and before ages, as perfect God, only begotten and unchangeable, and that before He was begotten, or created, or purposed, or established, He was not. For He was not unbegotten. 

We are persecuted, because we say that the Son has a beginning, but that God is without beginning. This is the cause of our persecution, and likewise, because we say that He is of the non-existent. And this we say, because He is neither part of God, nor of any essential being. For this are we persecuted; the rest you know. I bid thee farewell in the Lord, remembering our afflictions, my fellow-Lucianist, and true Eusebius.

 Please note that during this time, bishops were also generally called by the title of pope. The title of pope was not used in the same way as we know it today. This would later change in years to come.

The matter finally reached emperor Constantine and he wrote a letter to them. Constantine was grieved that the church was so divided. Constantine believed that the two Bishop’s were being childish in dividing the church over an issue that was not central to the faith.

The following is an extract of Constantine’s letter:

For since you have, as I said, but one faith, and one sentiment respecting our religion, and since the Divine commandment in all its parts enjoins on us all the duty of maintaining a spirit of concord, let not the circumstance which has led to a slight difference between you, since it does not affect the validity of the whole, cause any division or schism among you. 

And this I say without in any way desiring to force you to entire unity of judgment in regard to this truly idle question, whatever its real nature may be. For the dignity of your synod may be preserved, and the communion of your whole body maintained unbroken, however wide a difference may exist among you as to unimportant matters. For we are not all of us like-minded on every subject, nor is there such a thing as one disposition and judgment common to all alike. As far, then, as regards the Divine Providence, let there be one faith, and one understanding among you, one united judgment in reference to God. But as to your subtle disputations on questions of little or no significance, though you may be unable to harmonize in sentiment, such differences should be consigned to the secret custody of your own minds and thoughts.

Full letter can be found in Life of Constantine Book 2 Chapter 69-73, By Eusebius

Despite this letter from Constantine, the division in the churches continued to increase. There was also an issue of whether Christians should observe the Easter according to the Jewish Calendar. Different Christians had celebrated these holidays in different ways, as a matter of conscience. However, churches began to be divided as one group was forcing another to keep the passover according to the Jewish calendar.

Finally in 326 AD, Constantine then called for 300 Bishops from all over the world, to come to Nicea and sit down and discuss the issues and come to a common resolution as men of God. 

The Bishop came up with what is called the Nicene Creed or the apostolic creed. They then declared that the doctrine of Arius was a heresy. And those that taught it should be excommunicated from the church. They also released Sixteen Canon statements on administrative issues of the church.

Here is the Nicene Creed:

The Ecthesis of the Synod at Nice.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth. Who for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was incarnate and was made man. 

He suffered and the third day he rose again, and ascended into heaven. And he shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead. And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost. And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not, or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change or conversion — all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes them.

The Word Catholic refers to The Universal, worldwide church of God which is everywhere and yet united as a single body. There is a difference between Catholic, and Roman Catholic. The church had always been referred to as catholic, meaning it’s everywhere. 

You can find, the Creed, the Canons and the letter that the Bishops sent on this link:

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3801.htm

Arius himself and the bishops that had followed him, accepted the Nicene Creed.

Constantine also ordered Eusebius to prepare bibles that the Bishops would use.

Here is an extract of  Constantine’s request:

Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to Eusebius.

It happens, through the favoring providence of God our Saviour, that great numbers have united themselves to the most holy church in the city which is called by my name. It seems, therefore, highly requisite, since that city is rapidly advancing in prosperity in all other respects, that the number of churches should also be increased. Do you, therefore, receive with all readiness my determination on this behalf. I have thought it expedient to instruct your Prudence to order fifty copies of the sacred Scriptures, the provision and use of which you know to be most needful for the instruction of the Church, to be written on prepared parchment in a legible manner, and in a convenient, portable form, by professional transcribers thoroughly practiced in their art. The catholicus of the diocese has also received instructions by letter from our Clemency to be careful to furnish all things necessary for the preparation of such copies; and it will be for you to take special care that they be completed with as little delay as possible.

The Formation of The Roman Catholic Church

Constantine died in 337 AD. By the time Constantine died, Christianity had become extremely powerful within the Roman Empire. It was expedient for the emperors that succeeded him to support the church, or at least to use the church as a tool to extent their political agendas.

Whilst Constantine believed in religious tolerance, and in giving space to the Bishops to establish doctrine within the church, the future emperors were not always of the same mind.

Sabbath Banned: Council of laodecia 364AD

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3806.htm

As you go through the 60 Canons of the Council of Laodecia, you can see the church was now consolidating power to a central point, and establishing their own rules and regulations which were not based on scripture but on their own agreements.

Of particular note is Canon 29, which not only Banned sabbath observance, but threatened Christians who observed the sabbath with excommunication.

Canon 29

Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ

The fact that a law banning Christians from keeping the sabbath was placed, is a sign that there were some christians who still obervered the seventh day sabbath and also honoured the Lord’s day meeting. However, the church still met on Saturdays as well as on Sunday. On the Sabbath as well as on the Lord’s day. We can deduce this from Canon 16 which says:

Canon 16

The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath [i.e. Saturday], with the other Scriptures.

The Edict of Thessalonica 27 February, 380 AD

This to me is the actual birth of the Roman Catholic Church. In 380AD, three emperors of Rome came up with the Edict of Thessalonica.

Here is the text:

EMPERORS GRATIAN, VALENTINIAN AND THEODOSIUS AUGUSTI. 

EDICT TO THE PEOPLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE.

It is our desire that all the various nations which are subject to our Clemency and Moderation, should continue to profess that religion which was delivered to the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter, as it has been preserved by faithful tradition, and which is now professed by the Pontiff Damasus and by Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic holiness. According to the apostolic teaching and the doctrine of the Gospel, let us believe in the one deity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in equal majesty and in a holy Trinity. 

We authorize the followers of this law to assume the title of Catholic Christians; but as for the others, since, in our judgment they are foolish madmen, we decree that they shall be branded with the ignominious name of heretics, and shall not presume to give to their conventicles the name of churches. They will suffer in the first place the chastisement of the divine condemnation and in the second the punishment of our authority which in accordance with the will of Heaven we shall decide to inflict.

I want you to note Three things from this Edict:

1. The three emperors are now directly establishing and enforcing religious laws into the church.And they are threatening to use their political power to punish anyone who does not share the same doctrine with them.
2. They are saying that the Title of Catholic Christian should now be restricted to those who follow their law, which they refer to as the religion which was delivered to the Romans.
3. We have the official use of the word Trinity.

This edict was followed up the following year by the Council of Constantinople.

Council of Constantinople 381 AD

The Bishops at this council were now mere puppets of the emperor. After setting the doctrines, they sent to the emperor to approve the doctrines. Here is their letter:

To the most religious Emperor Theodosius, the Holy Synod of Bishops assembled in Constantinople out of different Provinces.

We begin our letter to your Piety with thanks to God, who has established the empire of your Piety for the common peace of the Churches and for the support of the true Faith. And, after rendering due thanks unto God, as in duty bound we lay before your Piety the things which have been done in the Holy Synod. When, then, we had assembled in Constantinople, according to the letter of your Piety, we first of all renewed our unity of heart each with the other, and then we pronounced some concise definitions, ratifying the Faith of the Nicene Fathers, and anathematizing the heresies which have sprung up, contrary thereto. Besides these things, we also framed certain Canons for the better ordering of the Churches, all which we have subjoined to this our letter. Wherefore we beseech your Piety that the decree of the Synod may be ratified, to the end that, as you have honoured the Church by your letter of citation, so you should set your seal to the conclusion of what has been decreed. 

The council agreed on 5 canons.

Of Particular note is Canon 3 which states:

Because it is new Rome, the bishop of Constantinople is to enjoy the privileges of honour after the bishop of Rome.

This Reveals that at this time, The Bishop of Rome was now considered to be the bishop who was greater than all other Bishops. While, beforehand, all bishops enjoyed authority in their churches. Now the Bishop of Rome was the highest, followed by the Bishop of Constantinople. 

Council of Chalcedon 451AD

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3811.htm

By this time, you can see that the Bishop of Rome  was now given the position of Christ as head of all the churches. The event is opened by one of the Bishops who says: 

“We received directions at the hands of the most blessed and apostolic bishop of the Roman city, which is the head of all the churches,”

In this session the Roman Catholic Church also bans virgins and monks who had dedicated themselves to God from ever getting married.

Canon 16

It is not lawful for a virgin who has dedicated herself to the Lord God, nor for monks, to marry; and if they are found to have done this, let them be excommunicated. But we decree that in every place the bishop shall have the power of indulgence towards them.

Second Council of Nicea -787

I have skipped several Councils and meetings and gone to the Second Council of Nicea which happened in787 AD. This was the seventh ecumenical council. It is at this council that many of the doctrines unique to the Roman Catholic Church were established.

You can read the full session and canon here:

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3819.htm

Of particular note for me are these canons:

1. The Supremacy of Mary as Mother off God

(15) If anyone shall not confess the Holy Ever-Virgin Mary, truly and properly the Mother of God, to be higher than every creature whether visible or invisible, and does not with sincere faith seek her intercessions as of one having confidence in her access to our God, since she bore him, let him be anathema.

2.)The Veneration of the Dead in Prayer

(17) If anyone denies the profit of the invocation of Saints, let him be anathema.

3.) The Worship of Idols in the Church

We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic Church (for, as we all know, the Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, and on the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God, of the honourable Angels, of all Saints and of all pious people. For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honourable reverence (ἀσπασμὸν καὶ τιμητικὴν προσκύνησιν), not indeed that true worship of faith (λατρείαν) which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious custom. For the honour which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented.

The church was now in complete idolatry, and with the political power in their hand, they could persecute anyone who did not submit to them. 

The Protestant Period: 1517 – Present Day

From the fourth century to the 16th century the Roman Catholic Church had increased in power and influence. There are many instances where the Pope had more or influence and power than the emperor. What we are calling the Catholic Church is what was called christianity at that time.

There were no other denominations for people to refer to. There were a few splits in the Catholic Churches the greatest one being the Easten church based in Constantinople and the Western church based in Rome. However, they both accepted the seven ecumenical councils that we spoke of earlier. It was mainly an issue of power.

1517 AD – Germany – 95 Thesis

Martin Luther, a catholic Priest from Germany begins his disputes with the Roman Catholic Church by placing the 95 Theses on the doorpost of his church. He believes that the practice of the church, of asking people to pay money for the forgiveness of sin is against the teaching of the bible.

It must be made known that at this time, there was no printing press, so bibles were not readily available. Those that were available were in latin, and mainly reserved for priests.

A full copy can be downloaded here:

http://www.zionlutheran-ssm.org/95.pdf

1521AD – Edict of Worms

Luther was excommunicated in 1521 under what is now called the Edict of Worms:

Here is an extract:

For this reason the said Luther appeared here in Worms before us and before the princes, prelates, and other people from the several estates. Following our order, we had him questioned, asking him first if, yes or no, he had written the books which were then named and shown to him and [secondly] if he wanted to revoke the contents of these books concerning things against the Catholic faith, the sacred general councils, the apostolic decrees, and the church rites and customs observed and kept by our predecessors and by us down to the present day.

We requested of the said Luther, both in our name and in that of all our assistants, that he be willing to return humbly to the unity and communion of our Mother Church. And even then it would have been easy to convert him and soften his heart if the said Luther had not been as obstinate as a rock.

A full copy can be found here:

http://www.crivoice.org/creededictworms.html

The people who followed Luther out of the church, are today called Lutherans.

1530 AD – The Augsburg Confession

 The Augsburg Confession is the document of faith presented before the king in 1530, by Lutherans. Luther himself could not attend because he was considered an outlaw. He was represented by Philip Melanchthon. This document has articles of faith which remain the basis of lutherans today.

The 28 articles of faith in that document are actually what most churches practice today.

Full document can be downloaded here:

http://www.lutheran.ro/iratok/ca_en.pdf

Or read here:

http://bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php

1534 AD – Church of England

King Henry vii wanted to divorce his wife, but the pope refused to allow him. As a result the British parliament passed laws to separate the church in England from submission to Rome. They then made King Henry the new head of the church of England. The church is also known as the Anglican Church.

Over time, the church also took some things from the Augsburg Confession and came up with its own 39 articles of religion written in the Book of Common Prayer.

You can find these articles here:

http://www.anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html

1536 AD – John Calvin – Switzerland

Calvin was very influential in defining and setting doctrines that impacted many reformed churches up until today. His book, Institutes of the Christian religion was very influential.

People who believe in the doctrines pushed forward by Calvin are called Calvinists, There were many Calvinist missioneries that went forth planting churches in different places.

You can download all of his writings here:

https://calvin.edu/centers-institutes/meeter-center/resources/john-calvins-works-in-english/

Whilst Calvin taught on many things, the theology of his that became most prominent became defined by Five main points, summarized as TULIP

These were later called the five points of calvinism

Total Depravity: Man is a slave to sin and cannot save himself

Unconditional Election: God selected people whom he would save, in eternity, not based on any good works that they will do, but based on election of his mercy alone.

Limited atonement: Christ died for the elect only 

Irresistible Grace: Those that God chose to save, can not resist God’s call and by his spirit, God will cause them to believe, repent and obey.

Perseverance of the Saints:  The elect will never be lost, will never fall away, will never go to hell.

17th Century – Baptists – John Smith

There are about 40 million Baptists in the world.

We can trace them back to John Smith.

John smith was an ordained priest in the church of England. As he continued to study the scriptures he began to preach doctrines that were different from the accepted doctrines of the Anglican Church. 

A) he rejected infant baptism and preached that Baptism must be given for people who are at the age where they can believe and confess Christ.

B) He rejected the idea of people reading prayers and songs from a book, and said people needed to pray and worship from their hearts.

C) He rejected the setting of Bishops over Pastors, and believed each church is lead by a Pastor and Deacons. And each church is self governing.

You will notice these beliefs in many churches today. 

18th Century – Methodists- John Wesley

Today they are over 30 million methodists in the world. We can trace them back to John Wesley.

John Wesley was a priest in the church of England, who worked from the Oxford University Christ Church. He is known for preaching to people to repent from sins and truly live a holy life: namely sanctification.

Him, and his brother Charles began a society which was termed the Holy Club. They would meet for prayers, fast twice a week and give most of their money to the poor. They would visit the sick and the prisoners and live holy, as far as they can.

This society was termed, by the people as the Holy Club, and it grew and grew within the Anglican Church. Ultimately it grew to many cities and spread as far as America. 

The term, methodist was used by critics to mock John Wesley and the people of his club. John Wesley embraced that name of mockery. In America, the methodists were then excommunicated from the Anglican Church and that’s how they became a separate denomination. John himself remained in the Anglican Church until his death, yet continued to lead the methodist revival, on sanctification.

19th Century – Adventists – William Miller

William Miller was a Christian from a Baptist church, a soldier and an active Free Mason.

In the year 1818, miller calculated from the book of Daniel that the 2300 evenings and mornings were actually 2300 years which were counted from 457BC and would end in 1843AD. IN 1822, Miller released his prediction in a formal document.

8 years later, In 1831, William miller then resigned from the Masonic Lodge where he was the head freemason, and began to preach this prophetic teaching full time in different churches. He wrote down his prediction in a book titled:

Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ, about the Year 1844: Exhibited in a Course of Lectures.

You can read a scanned copy of his original book here:

https://archive.org/details/WilliamMillerEvidenceFromScriptureAndHistoryOfTheSecondComingOf/page/n5/mode/2up

William Miller narrowed down his prediction of the coming of Christ to between March 21 1843 and March 21 1844.

The followers of William Miller are called Adventists.

There were an estimated 500 000 adventists in America and Europe who followed the predictions of William Miller. Some of them sold their homes and property, believing that Christ was coming in 1843-44.

The dates came and passed, but Christ did not come. This was known as the great disappointment. Many people left the faith as a result.

After the Great Disappointment, there are other adventist groups that sprang out from among the millerite. We have mainly, the Seventh Day Adventist and The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Advent Christian Church.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

Young Ellen Harmon, who would later be married to James White was a Millerite who had waited in 1844 for the return of Christ and faced the great disappointment. She was 17 years at the time.

A few months after the great Disappointment, Ellen white began to see visions, and for the next 50 years she would publish over 50 visions. Her visions and books would become the core prophetic message of the Seventh Day Adventist church.

Ellen White’s visions confirmed that William Miller had been correct in his calculations but he had misinterpreted the cleansing of the sanctuary to mean the coming of Christ. Instead, instead she explained, based on her visions, that from the time of the ascension of Christ up until 1844, Jesus was working in the Holy Part of the sanctuary in heaven. In 1844, then Jesus entered the most holy place.

She explained that from. 1844, investigative judgment had started and the heavenly sanctuary was being cleansed. Ultimately all the sins of the people which are in heaven, will be placed on Satan, and Satan will be left by himself on earth for 1000 years before being finally sent to the lake of fire.

Her vision also stated that the 10 commandments were in the ark in heaven and the fourth commandment, on sabbath would be the mark of the remnant church.

There are 28 fundamental beliefs that every convert to SDA must confess. The two that make them unique are these:

Belief 18: Gift of Prophecy

The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.

Belief 19: The Law of God

The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. 

This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness

Belief 20: Sabbath

The gracious Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. 

The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts.

Belief 24: Heavenly Sanctuary

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. 

The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent

Jehovah’s Witnesses

In 1870, Charles Russel and his father started a bible study group, which had been influenced and inspired by the writings of Millerite Adventists.

This group would 20 years later become the WatchTower Bible Society and begin the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Charles Russel and the later leaders of the church, continued to make various predictions for the end of the world, and when those predictions did not come through, they were explained.

1878, predicted as the end of the Harvest and end of the world.

1914, end of Human Rulership, and end of the world

1925, resurrection of the dead, and end of the world

1975, jubilee, and end of the world

20th century, Armageddon and end of the world.

20th Century – Charismatics

In 1906, an African American pastor and his small home based church of African Americans, were in prayer for five weeks seeking the baptism of the Spirit. After a 3 day fast, one of the members began to speak in tongues, and in the days that followed more and more people began to speak in tongues.

Very soon, a crowd of African Americans would gather around the house to hear him preach and to also receive this gift. When the crowds were too many, Seymour moved to a. Building in a street called Azusa, and ultimately, thousands of people would come from all over the world to receiver the baptism of the spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.

At this time, black people did not have equal rights with white people, and they were considered to be not full human beings, even by other preachers. As a result this movement was initially scorned and mocked, mostly because of the fact that it was being led by black people. However, this movement brought people of all races and backgrounds together.

It was called, the Apostolic Faith Mission. They did not collect money, they did not advertise, they did not align to any denomination.

William Seymore invited his former teacher Charles Parham to preach at Azusa, but soon found out that Parham wanted to take over. Parham had also initially criticised the Azusa Street Revival. Parham is the one who had initially started preaching the Apostolic Faith Movement in 1901, preaching that tongues are the  evidence of the baptism of the spirit.

However when the Azusa street revival took place, it took up the attention. Many of the churches that came u as a result began to be known as Pentecostal churches.

In 1914, some of the churches from the apostolic faith movement joined together to form what is called the Assemblies of God.

1930s Neo Charismatics

Frome the 1930s, The gifts of the Holy Spirit began to manifest in other mainline churches in Africa, Asia and South America. This gave rise to indegineous charismatic churches which speak in tongues and believe in the manifestation of all the gifts of the Spirit.

For example, in Zimbabwe Johan Marrange who was in the Methodist church, started the African Apostolic Church. Mwazha also from Methodist church began to speak in tongues and started a church also called the African Apostolic Church in 1959.