Patristic Period (c100 to c700)

Patristic Period (c100 to c700)

1. Three regions of theological development

   • 1. City of Alexandria (modern day Egypt)
     • Associated with Platonic tradition
     • Influenced Christology & Biblical Interpretation
     • Greek speaking
   • 2. City of Antioch and Cappadocian region (modern day Turkey)
     • Influenced doctrine of trinity
     • Paul's missionary journey (detailed in Acts)
     • 'Cappadocian' fathers
       • Basil the Great (c.330-379)
         • Bishop of Caesarea, older brother of Gregory of Nyssa
       • Gregory of Nyssa (c.330-c.395)
         • Bishop of Nyssa
       • Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389)
         • Later bishop of Constantinople
     • Greek speaking
   • 3. City of Carthage and Western north Africa (modern day Algeria)
     • Major writers
       • Cyprian of Carthage (d.258)
         • Previously a prominent lawyer and rhetorician
         • Converted 246, made bishop 248
         • Martyred during the Decian persuction
         • Wrote 'Unity of the Catholic Church'
       • (Aurelius) Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
         • Made Christian theology an academic discipline
         • Known as the second founder of Christianity (Jerome)
         • Wrote 'On the City of God'
         • Key contributions
           • Doctrine of the Trinity
           • Doctrine of Grace
             • Salvation is through grace alone - not through merit of good works (Pelagius)
           • Doctrine of the Church (esslesiology)
             • Donatists believed the Church should not admit sinners
               • Those who yielded under Diocletian (Rome emperor), but subsequently wanted to come back to the church under Constantine
       • Tertullian (c.160-c.225)
         • Defended the unity of the OT & NT against Marcion
           • Led to the Doctrine of Trinity
         • Used the sufficiency of Scripture to defend the faith
           • Especially against secular philosophies
     • A political rival to Rome
   • Others
     • Rome
     • Constantinople
     • Milan
     • Jerusalem

2. Theological agenda

   • Apologetics
     • 'A reasoned defense and justification of the Christian faith'
     • Key figures
       • Justin Martyr (c.100-c.165)
         • Related the gospel to the outlook of Greek philosophy
         • Stated OT and NT had equal authority
       • Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130-c.200)
         • Defended Christian orthodoxy against Gnosticism
         • Wrote 'Adversus haereses - defense of Christian understanding of salvation'
       • Origen (c.185-c.254)
         • Stated surface meaning to be distinguished from deeper spiritual meaning
         • Believed Christ was less divine than the Father - leads to Arianism
         • Apocatastasis - every creature will be saved
       • Athanasius (c.293-373)
         • Defended the Incarnation against Arian
         • If Christ was not fully God
           • God can't save humanity, as no creature could redeem another creature
           • The Church would be guilty of idolatry, as they would have been worshipping a human construction
         • Circulated his 39th Festal Letter - identifying the 27 canonical books of the NT
     • Especially important during persecution
   • The relationship between Christianity and Judaism
     • Paul's letters
     • The view of the Hebrew Bible
   • Doctrines of the Trinity and Christology
     • Developed out of the need to defend the faith (Apologetics)

3. Constantine converted to Christianity and became Roman emperor (306-337)

   • Doctrinal debates became a matter of both political and theological importance
   • Constantine wanted a united (catholic) church

4. Canon

   • Derives from Greek word - Kanon
     • Means 'a rule' or 'a fixed point of reference'
   • Completed at the beginning of the 5th century

5. Interpretation

   • Tradition made sure that Scripture was interpreted correctly
   • Secret revelation was dismissed as 'Gnostic'

6. Creeds

   • Credo - 'I believe'
   • Apostles' creed
     • Finalised in the 8th Century
     • Eastern version does not included 'descended into hell' or 'the communion of saints'
   • Nicene creed
     • A longer version
     • Condemned Arian views

7. Councils

   • Nicea (325)
     • Establishing the identify of Christ
       • Homoousios - 'one in being / 'of one substance'
     • First ecumenical council
     • Settled Arian controversy
   • Chalcedon (451)
     • Confirmed decisions of Nicea
   • Carthage (418)
     • Approved of Augustine's view of grace
       • Rejected Pelagius 'merit by works'

8. Apollinarian debate

   • Apollinarius of Laodicea (c.310-c.390)
   • An opponent of Arius
   • Believed Christ could not be fully human
     • Human spirit replaced by divine logos
     • Gregory of Nazianzus stated if Christ was not fully human, then he can not fully redeem humans

9. Introduction

   • By c100 Christianity was established throughout the mediterranean world and had a significant presence in Rome
   • Tensions between Rome and Constantinople
     • Foreshadow to the division of west and east
   • Definitive period in the development of Christian doctrine
   • Refers to the church fathers and the period of ideas