The Middle Ages through the Reformation Part One The Church in the Middle Ages

2 Disclaimers… Not a comprehensive history of middle ages A personal view A Protestant view The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

3 But first… What are the middle ages? – Was there a “dark age”? A brief introduction – a quick timeline – Constantine and a Christian state The role of the emperor – The great Church Councils of Nicaea – Christ is God Constantinople – The Holy Spirit is God, Ephesus – Man is totally depraved, Chalcedon – Christ is both man and God. – Church Fathers Ambrose Augustine of Hippo Jerome – The fall of Rome The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

A brief introduction – a quick timeline

5 But first… (cont.) Developing Church Organization – Centralized structure developed to determine and state orthodox views – Bishops of large cities became archbishops. Archbishops assumed authority over Bishops – Rome became known as Chair of St Peter and claimed headship over church - Conflict with Eastern Empire over Leadership and division between east and west Initial development of new doctrines not found in scripture, but developed by the Church – These views were influenced by the paganism of Rome (no longer a Jewish sect centered in Jerusalem). All had sacrifices All had priests All had rituals The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

6 But first… (cont.) Growing wealth and power of Church polluted leadership Beginning of struggles between Church and King By 500 AD we find: – Purgatory developed – The Lords Supper (communion) as a sacrifice (the Eucharist) – The Priest as mediator between God and man. The development of Clergy v. Laity – The veneration of saints and relics and adoration of Mary – Development of ritual and de-emphasis of preaching. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

7 The Fall of Rome – Was the church responsible? – Was the empire worth saving? Barbarian attacks in the eastern empire failed, but over a 100 year span, eventually succeeded against the west Rome was sacked by Visigoths in 410 – This is the same time as Jerome and Augustine – Augustine’s great City of God largely a response to these days of terror. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Barbarian Invasions Of The 4 th And 5 th Centuries

9 Meanwhile…. The Eastern Church under Emperor Justinian was briefly able to take back part of Italy around 550 AD – However, they had their own issues with the Persians, barbarians and later the Muslims The eastern church begins its tradition of being strongly controlled by the emperor (unlike in the west). The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Barbarian Kingdoms About 600 AD

11 The Fall of Rome Ironically the winner out of the Barbarian attacks and fall of Rome was, over time, the Roman Church – The Barbarians are eventually converted – Clovis – leader of the Franks around 500 – No more Roman emperor to deal with – Patrick’s mission to Ireland in 426 – Columba founds monastery on island of Iona and begins missions to Scotland and Picts The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Timeline for the Middle Ages AD

13 By 600 AD the effective leadership of Western Europe was provided by the Christian Clergy. Gregory I is considered the model for all Popes of the Middle ages to follow First Pope to assume broad political power – Upheld Rome’s authority over all of the Christian Church – Sent missionaries to England and Ireland – Gregorian chant Taught that: – communion was a repetition of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (see Heb 10:11-14) – Saint’s and Mary were intercessors for sinners (see 1 Tim 2:5) – Purgatory (see 2 Cor 5:6-8) After Gregory, European Catholicism went through a difficult period and decline. Pope Gregory the Great The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

14 The Rise of Islam Mohammed dies in 632. By 718, Islam had conquered Arabia, Persia, North Africa and Spain up to the Pyrenees Mts. In 732 Muslims crossed Pyrenees and were defeated at the Battle of Tours by Charles Martel, Leader of the Franks. Islam became Christianity’s greatest global opponent throughout the rest of the middle ages. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

15 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance The son of Charles Martel was Pepin the Younger (Pepin the Short). – He sought the approval of the Pope and was crowned king in 751. Pepin had two sons Carloman and Charles. Carloman died in 771 and Charles ruled alone Christmas day 800 Pope Leo III crowned Charles Emperor Charles later became Charlemagne (Charles the Great) and stood for 3 things: – Law and Order – Civilization and culture (education) – Christianity The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

16 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance Charlemagne tirelessly warred against Barbarians in the North and Muslims in the South. Although his empire barely outlived Charlemagne, the period of time from Charles Martel to Charlemagne is known as the “Carolingian renaissance” – A great resurgence in learning and theology English and Irish missionaries came in great numbers to convert Northern Europe’s barbarians – Boniface “Apostle to the Germans” The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

17 The Papacy is strengthened The conquests of Islam in the 8th century ironically strengthened the position of the Pope in Rome. Around 800 AD there appeared the “Donation of Constantine” Later in the 800’s another document called the “Isidorian Decretals” was discovered. – It claimed that neither the Pope nor the Bishops were subject to secular governments. In 1440 documents were proven to be fakes. No Pope ever made greater claims to papal power than Nicolas 1 from The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

18 Europe falls into disorder The successors of Charlemagne were not able to hold the empire after his death in 814. The Norsemen or Vikings began raiding Northern Europe, England and Ireland. Out of the disorder a decentralized way of life developed called feudalism. – This was a structured social and government order that went from King, to Noble, to lesser noble, to serf. – The idea of nations disappeared into smaller principalities. Some Norsemen settled in Northern France and were called Normans in what is now called Normandy. – In 1066 the Normans invaded England and defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. – They also conquered southern Italy. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

19 The West Under Threat: AD

20 The Papacy Falls Into Disgrace Between 891 and 955 there were 20 Popes – Italian feudal lords fighting each other for supremacy controlled the Papacy. In 962 the strong German King Otto I came to the aid of Pope John XII and was rewarded by being crowned emperor of what was now called the Holy Roman Empire. Again, between 1033 and 1054 the Papacy fell into scandal and there were at one time 3 popes claiming authority. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

21 Monasticism and the Cluny Reform Monasteries were a reaction to deterioration and corruption of the outside world. – People did not return to the scriptures, but to asceticism and mysticism. – However, the monasteries saved western learning from the tide of barbarism. In the late 500’s Bennedict of Nuresia provided the definitive rule for monasteries in the west. This became known as Bennedict’s rule. – It is based on two primary activities – work and prayer. – Established the governing order of monasteries. William the Pious, Duke of Aquitaine founded a new monastery at Cluny in Eastern France in 910. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

22 Monasticism and the Cluny Reform (cont.) Focused on asceticism, a powerful force for reform of the clergy The Cluny reformers led synod’s that deposed all 3 Italian popes and caused a German to be named Pope (Clement II). Leo IX (1049), a strong supporter of Cluny reform cleaned up the college of Cardinals – However, he totally broke with the Eastern Church – The reform party eventually came under control of Rome. – The method of electing Popes was moved into the college of Cardinals. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8