33-100

 Acts of the Apostles documents the birth and growth of the Church.  The Apostles Receive the Spirit and are Confirmed for mission. The Apostles appoint successors to carry on that mission.  Despite severe persecutions the Church grows and spreads.

 Martyrs – someone who dies in witness to the faith.  Apostles – The men whom Jesus chose to be with Him during His ministry and sent out to teach and Baptize all nations.  Heresy – a teaching that distorts a Truth of our faith.  Heretic – one who believes a heresy.  Doctors of the Church – very smart, holy people, proclaimed by the Church as examples, leaders, and teachers of the faith.

 Church Councils – smaller than an ecumenical council, a gathering of ½ of the church leaders to discuss and regulate matters of doctrine and discipline.  Ecumenical Councils - meeting of all Church leaders and many theologians who discuss and regulate matters of church doctrine and discipline.  Synod: gathering of Bishops (smaller than a Church council) to discuss a topic of faith.

 Roman Authority: wanted the Jews to be peaceful, law-abiding citizens who paid taxes to Caesar. +  Jewish Authority: Wanted to silence the Christians for their disruptive behavior.  =MUCH PERSECUTION!  Persecution = suffering for or being silenced because of your beliefs.

 Nero: (began in 65 AD)  Emperor of Rome. He set the great City of Rome on fire and blamed it on the Christians! Because of this, he began persecuting the Christians and killing them for sport. Followers had to be brave and secretive about their faith.  Killed under his rule: St. Peter and St. Paul.  Domitian: (began in 80 AD)  Killed under his rule: Protasius and Gervasius.  Trajan: (began around 108 AD)  Killed under his rule: Ignatius of Antioch.  Diocletian: (began around 303 AD)  Killed under his rule: St. Philomena  Persecutions cont. until 313 AD...

 Docetism: Jesus only appeared to have a human body so He was not really human.  Where is the problem? no body = no resurrection / no resurrection = no redemption /  no redemption = we cannot go to heaven because we are not saved.  Arianism: Arius An influential heresy denying the divinity of Christ, originating with the Alexandrian priest Arius. Arianism maintained that the Son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal with the Father, nor consubstantial.  Where is the problem…future seminar discussion

 Marcionism: believed that the God of the Old Testament is a different God than that of the new. Marcion is excommunicated for heresy in 144.  Excommunicated = banished from union with the Church: no sacraments available to you.  Gnosticism: (gnosis = knowledge) salvation is achieved through secret knowledge about God and man.  Apollinarism : said Christ had a human body, human soul, but not a human mind, only the divine mind. (WRONG!) Christ had a human intellect like us but His Divine intellect never overtook His human intellect.

 St. Polycarp (69-156) sig b/c he was the Bishop of the early Church (86 years old at death). Through his death he converted many. He was almost killed by the beasts but proved to be unafraid so instead he was sentenced to being burned at the stake. Flames did not consume him, rather, sweet smell came from the fire. A soldier came and stabbed him to death. The blood put out the fire.   St. Ignatius of Antioch (around 50-around 117) eaten by two lions and sig. b/c he inspired many through his teachings, writings, and martyrdom.  ature=related ature=related

 St. Peter: (around 1 BC-65 AD) The first pope. Crucified up-side-down b/c he said he wasn’t worthy to die like Christ. His successors, the Bishops of Rome, continue to lead and guide the Church today.  Mary: (around 15 BC-around 50AD) Mother of Jesus. Tradition tells us that after the Paschal Mystery, she lived closely with the Apostles, especially St. John. She was Assumed body and soul into heaven.

 100 – St. John the Apostle dies and all Public Revelation comes to an end.  Council of Jerusalem in 50 AD. This is the first council in the Church which leads to preaching not only to Jews but also to Gentiles.  Read it in Acts of the Apostles 15