ANCIENT CHURCH HISTORY(1- 500 AD)

 

THE 'JESUS OF HISTORY' - 'CHRIST OF FAITH'

            Jesus of Nazareth is for Christians "The Messiah and the Son of God". He is the Lord, the Master, the Person whom the Father sent into the world to redeem all people from their sinfulness. However, knowing Jesus Christ may just remain in level of faith. That is one danger. Many Christians believe Christ's existence only in the level of faith. Whether he really existed or not, not is not their business. As long as I consider Jesus my personal Lord and Savior, that is what matters.

But the question is: is your faith of Jesus really founded on a real person like you and me? Were you not just deceived by this certain group of unschooled Galilean in believing Jesus powerful deeds in history? Considering this question, we therefore make a distinction of Jesus: whether he is the "Jesus of History" or the "Christ of Faith".

            Is my "Christ of Faith" is truly the "Jesus of History"? But why is this important? The main reason is, we are human persons who do not submit everything to blind faith. No, we are human beings who tend to subject our Christian faith to the objective criteria also. We want  to verify with our minds, though it is not perfect, the real foundation of Christianity - that is, Jesus Christ who came here on earth in history by becoming true man and died to save us. Or else, our faith in Jesus is just a work of the most successful deceit that the world ever created. After all, our Christian faith is worth to be studied for.

            The historicity of Jesus Christ's life is brought into view because of the critical curiosity of man. There are those people who purported that what the Gospel is telling about Jesus is all subjected to faith. They affirmed that we cannot know who really Jesus is, in the Scriptures. These stories were not embellished with historical data. Instead, the stories written about Jesus were done out of their sentimental love and faith toward this man. In other words, they accepted the "Christ of Faith" over the "Jesus of History". "Whether he is real or not, I don't care. What I know is that I believe in him." What if these stories about a certain Jesus is not just unhistorical, but Jesus himself is also a myth? With that assertion, the "Jesus of Faith" follower cannot be sure of their faith any longer.

The Good Shepherd, the popular image of Jesus Christ

            Another group of people went further as to deny the existence of certain Jesus who is found in the Gospel. For these people (H.R. Reimarus, Bauer, Strauss, Robertsons), Christianity was just an invention of the Apostles and Jesus as the central figure of mythical personification. So, whether stories about Jesus in the Bible is subjective or not, that is not their problem. For in the first place, they were certain that Jesus Christ is a myth. Consequently, they would not even presume that there is no Church, for they are sure of its un-existence.

            Thus, denying historical data of Jesus in the Gospel and even denying his very existence would have a death-blowing consequence. Either the Church is not founded by Jesus Christ but by other person or the Church does not exist at all.

            Therefore it is very important that in our study of the Church History, we must be certain that Jesus truly existed in history and that we can get some historical data of Jesus' life in the Gospels. Or else, our study of the Church History would become meaningless and I would say, useless.

            Confronted by these attacks, our answer is: YES - the Gospels are not totally historical biography of Jesus Christ. Many accounts are subjective depending the evangelist's purpose in writing. They look at him with the eyes of faith and love. At the same time, it is NO - Jesus really existed in history. Beneath this "Christ of Faith" lies the "Jesus of History".

            There are some proofs:

a) historical parallel found in the Gospel:

§           Jesus was born during the time of King Herod the Great in 4/5 AD.

§           His public ministry happened during the time of Caiaphas as the High Priest (Jn 8: 12-14)

§           He died under Pontius Pilate (15^th of Nisan, 30-33 AD)

 

b) Non-Christian authors - even pagan authors attested his presence in history.

 

§           Tacitus (Roman historian) around 117 in his "Annales XV, 44"

§           Pliny the Younger around 112/113 (Letter to Emperor Trajan)

§           Suetonius around 120

§           Josephus Flavius (Jewish Historian) around 93/94

 

            After refuting all these, the controversy does not end simply. The question now is:  did Jesus (granting that he is really existed) really founded the Church or did he only preach a 'general Christianity" no more no less? This question is directed to the Catholic Church because the Church has a visible dimension (hierarchy, rules, membership) and general Christianity is an un-structurized entity.

            All we know is that the Bible is not clear with a structured Church. In the Scriptures, seemingly, what Jesus did is form a group but not as organized as the Church now. However, it is very clear that Jesus has already in mind a Church with structures in order for it to survive until his second coming. But, at that time of the Apostles' ministry, the Church was not yet fully formed. Many are convinced that the Church started growing at the time of Pentecost. What happen at that time? Pentecost is originally a Jewish agricultural feast. It is celebrated 40 days after the Jewish Passover festival. During these two feasts, many Jews from all over Judea and Galilee would gather in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Temple. It was this time when the Holy Spirit came down upon Mary and the Apostles and strengthen their faith in the risen Jesus (Acts 2: 113). This spiritual outpouring pushed all of them to come out from their hiding places and preach Jesus Christ to the gathered Jews in the Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church for at that time there were three thousand who came to be baptized by the Apostles.

 

THE CHURCH FROM JERUSALEM TO ENDS OF THE WORLD

            Taking this into consideration, we can truly establish that the first converts to the Christian faith were Jewish people themselves. Later, when these Jewish Christians went back to their own places after the feasts, they were the ones spreading the faith to their fellow Jews and formed the so-called Jewish Christian communities. Although, many Jewish Christians

Model of Antonia Fortress in Jerusalem

differ in practicing the Christian faith, it is also certain that they have one commonality - they still observed Jewish laws and traditions.

            For those in Jerusalem, the Christian communities were guided by the leaders chosen by the Apostles, such as James the brother of the Lord (Gal. 1:18; Acts 15: 13-21). These communities were strict in their Jewish observance especially in the temple worship and of circumcision (Acts 2: 46; 11: 1-2; 15: 1-2); . Their counter-part Jews who were living outside Palestine, the so-called Hellenistic Jews, did not have any sentiments on temple worship. These Jews were more exposed to Hellenistic culture and consequently they were more open and liberal. One of these Hellenistic Jewish Christians was Stephen who was stone to death for not giving due importance to the temple (Acts 6: 13-14; 7: 48). Saul, who later became Paul, was present in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:3).

View of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus

            After the stoning of Stephen (32/33 AD), Hellenistic Christians were persecuted in Palestine. One of the persecutors was Saul who later became the great Apostle to the Gentiles. In fact at the time prior to his conversion, he was traveling towards Damascus with the expressed permission of the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem in order to put into custody those who believed in Christ (Acts 9: 1-2). But God had another plan for him. God wanted him to become the great apostle to the gentiles (Acts 9:15). He was to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles as Peter to the Jews. These two personalities were considered pillars of our Christian faith. The second wave of Christian persecution happened under Herod Agrippa I in 37-44 AD. James, the brother of John was beheaded (Acts 12: 1-2). Peter was even arrested, but was miraculously freed by an angel (Acts 12: 3-17)). Prompted by this ill-treatment, they had no choice but to go the out of Palestine and proclaim the Gospel to the Jews and Greeks (gentiles) alike (Acts 11:19-20). Christians were scattered all around the Roman Empire.

            In 70 AD, a tragic event happened in Jerusalem. The temple built by Herod the Great was destroyed by the Romans and many Jews were put to the sword. It was a great destruction and demoralizing event in the lives of the Jews. However, taking heed to the prophesy of Jesus about Jerusalem (Matt. 23 37-39; 24: 22), Jewish Christians left Jerusalem before that tragedy took place. In the eyes of the Jews, this Christian sect was a traitor, a deserter. So that, by 85 AD, the remnants of the Jewish religion, the Pharisees, convened in Jamnia and revitalized their religion according to the Pharisaical institution. This is now the kind of Judaism that Israel has today. Part of council's itinerary is to reformulate the 12^th of the 18 Bbenedictions (Shemoneh Esreh) which   involved a curse on minim, i.e., the deviators of Jewish religions who seemingly included the Jewish Christians.  The believers of Christ who attended in synagogues were forced to go out because the curse they will utter will fall against them, followers of the Nazarene (Christians). From that time onwards, Christians were expelled from the synagogues, their house of meeting.

            However, the policies of the Empire itself hastened the growth of Christianity. Among the factors are the Pax Romana and the religious freedom experienced throughout the Empire. By this time, Christians were now organized as communities under the leadership of their elders (episcopoi and presbyteroi). Famous communities were found in Antioch, Ephesus, Rome and Jerusalem.

 

ROMAN PERSECUTION AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS ( 64-311 AD)

            The Empire granted freedom of religion to all people, as long as their gods are well represented with statues in the pantheon building in Rome. Failure to comply this would mean that a certain group of people were atheists. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Christians did not have any statue of their gods in the Pantheon. Christians therefore were atheists (= without gods not God-less).

            Consequently, when Christians were first persecuted by the Roman Empire, one reason for it was that they are irreligious and strange people. Christian persecution by Rome was started by the infamous Emperor Nero in 64 AD. He ordered Christians to be imprisoned and killed just because they were Christians ('Christianus esse non lecit'). According to Christian tradition, Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under Nero.

            Through this persecution (54 - 311 AD), many Christians proved their loyalty and love to Christ their Lord and God. We venerate them as martyrs or witnesses of Christian faith. However, the weakness of the human nature also prevailed in many instances. They apostatized by obtaining false documents and offering incense to the emperor. They were known in history as the thurificati, libelatici, and sacrificati.

           

THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONS, COUNCILS

 

            At this same time of the Church, Christians did not wait in the corners or hide their skins from the oppressors. Christian faith underwent a deepening in its values and reflections. By this time, Christian teachers prepare catechumens in their entrance to the Christian faith. Jesus' teachings and his own identity passed through a critical study and serious considerations. The results: definition of Christological and Trinitarian doctrines and the appearance of heresies and ancient schisms.

             In this matter, the Fathers of the Church were greatly important in the survival of Christianity in terms of her sound doctrines and Christian teachings. It was to the Fathers the unity of Christian faith as to the martyrs the model of Christian life. It is good to note, though, that many Fathers of the Church were also martyrs. They were Polycarp of Smyrna, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin, Irenaeus, and Theophilus, just to name a few.

            Confronted with this situation, the best answer is to initiate a school and train future great minds to defend the Church. Pantaenus established a "Catechetical School of Alexandria" in 180 AD. This school was not strictly Christian but faithful to the trend of the time - Hellenistic in approach. Secondly, famous Christian teachers such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria came from this school. A little later, an exegetical school in Antioch was also established by a certain Lucian of Antioch. Similar to that of Alexandria in Egypt, this school influenced great minds like St.John Chrysostom (344-457).

            Many Fathers of the Church were influenced by these two schools. Moreover, these schools were instrumental in the deepening of the Christological and Trinitarian issues. It was also from these schools that over emphasis of one nature of Christ became undercurrent heresies and therefore were subjected to four great ecumenical councils of the Church.

            With the Fathers, opponents of the Orthodoxy were sorted out and were regarded as heretics. One prominent heretic was Arius. He taught that Christ is just a human being, not really God. With this heresy, the Church Fathers met and condemned his teaching in the Council of  Nicaea in 325. There were many heretics that followed after him. And many of these false teachings became the means for the convocation of the famous ecumenical councils in the history of the Church. These were the first four councils and their main contributions:

§           Nicaea (325) - condemned Arianism

§           Constaninople I (381) - condemned Apolinarism and completed the Nicene - Constatinople Creed

§           Ephesus (431) - Against Nestorianism and declared Mary, the Mother of God

§           Chalcedon (451) - against Eutychianism

 

THE RELIGION OF THE STATE AND THE EMERGENCE OF MONASTICISM

           

Constantine the Great

            On 313 AD, Christians found a great reason to rejoice. After two and a half centuries of persecution, Christianity prevailed. When Constantine (280-337) defeated Maxentius in a decisive battle, he attributed his victory to the god of the Christians. And so in the Edict of Milan, Christians were granted the freedom to practice their religion. Consequently, Constantine the Great afforded many benefits to the Church and to her leaders. He built basilicas for them. Foremost are the Lateran Basilica and the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Christianity became the Religion of the State (official religion) and the State Religion (it is controlled by the state). Bishops assumed temporal (political) and ecclesiastical powers. The Church was given so many exceptions and privileges by the state. It was also this time that pagans became the persecuted ones.

            By 330 AD, Constantine transferred his capital from Rome to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople, after his name. Amidst all that he had done to the Church, it was sad to note that Constantine was baptized a Christian only before his death in 337.

            By this time, baptism was conferred to the masses. They wanted to become Christians not because of conviction but many became so, out of convenience. And so, Christian values in many people were not really founded on solid ground.

Byzantine chalice used in Eucharistic celebration

            With all these movements of transition, one thing is sure - there were no more persecutions being made against the Christians. And so, many good Christians found no meaning in living their Christian life in the city. How could they become saints now? Thus, a new form of martyrdom was initiated into the life of Christians. These people fled from the luxury of city life and went to the desert and practice asceticism as a new form of martyrdom. This was the beginning of the eremitic life ('eremus' - desert). One of the outstanding persons was St. Anthony the Hermit, also known as the Father of Hermits. These people practiced asceticism according to their own interpretation. Thus, many of these ascetics were known to have weird and strange lives.  

            Later, a certain hermit St. Pachomius started gathering those ascetics and formed them into one community, imposing obedience to the members. It was Pachomius therefore who started this spiritual movement which we now call Monasticism. In fact, he is famous for being the founder of Monasticism in the East.

            During the time of St. Basil monastic life became highly developed. However, the Father of Western Monasticism is attributed to St. Benedict, the founder of the famous monastery in Montecasino. It was he who drafted the Benedictine Rule which became the framework of so many monastic rules after him. In general, monasticism in the West is characterized by its community, stability, and its meditation on the Gospel.

 

ROME UNDER THE BARBARIANS AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

            The last important event in this part of the Church history was the time of "barbarian invasion" into the Roman Empire. When we speak of the mighty Roman Empire, it was actually divided into two: the West, (Latin) and the East (Greek). Before, the Roman Empire was ruled by one emperor. Due to its vast territories, there were some Emperors who shared their power to their co-emperor. One such example was the rule of Dioclesian (303-311). He was a capable and energetic man who divided the empire into two, each empire consisted of two prefectures. Dioclesian ruled the Eastern part as Augustus and Galerius as Caesar. In the West, Augustus Maximian became the Augustus with Constantius Chlorus (the father of Constantine the Great) as his Caesar. This policy was continued on until the time of Constantine the Great. Constantine was able to defeat his rival leader in the West and later Licinius the Emperor of the Eastern part of the Empire. With that, he became the sole ruler, the Emperor. Later, Constantine transferred his capital to Byzantium in 330. In later time, the Empire again reverted to two-emperor policy. And by the time of barbarian invasions, it was ruled by two emperors: the West-Roman and the East-Roman Empires.

The ruins of the Colosseum in Rome

            By 375, the Visigoths tried to enter into the East-Roman Empire, but was repelled away by Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395). Seeing that they cannot penetrate the East, they diverted their attacks against the West-Roman Empire. Soon, many barbarians were roaming around Italy besieging the now weak Roman Empire in the West. They were the Huns, the Visigoths, and the Vandals. And by 476, the Germans were able to depose the Emperor Romulus Augustus of the West and placed Odoacer as the ruler. Since from that time, Rome now was under the rule of Germanic domination.

            The Roman Empire in the West ended, but the Pope remained to be the protector of the people. Leo the Great even faced Atilla the Hun and prevented him from destroying Rome. Again in 455, Geiseric, the Vandal king spared the lives of the people at the negotiation of the same pope. With the downfall of the Roman Emperor and the failure of the East-Roman Empire to save the West from devastation, the prestige of the bishop of Rome grew. For the Romans, the pope is not just their spiritual leader. In fact, while the barbarians rule Rome, the sentiments of the Roman people were on Leo and his successors. Now this, Roman Church was faced with its greatest and most significant task in world history: to undertake the conversion many barbaric tribes such the Franks and the Germans. At the same time, she had the role in civilizing these German people as a whole and to construct a new world out of the remnants of old.