With the death of the Apostles unchallenged errors crept into doctrinal teachings, but zeal and personal evangelism expanded until Christianity became the religion of the Empire

 Lack of apostolic authority to appeal to for doctrinal and ethical conflicts  Only authority was the written Word (or strong personalities)  Controversies resulted in increasing disagreement  If everyone agreed that baptism was essential to salvation, there was no conflict or debate  Deity and humanity of Christ became an issue

 Issues were resolved in Synods and Councils  Synods are local assemblies of Church leaders  Councils are more global or ecumenical gatherings  Council of Nicaea (325) was to resolve the deity of Christ issue  Writers (Apologists and Church Fathers) are divided at time of Council of Nicea  Ante-Nicea = before Nicea  Post-Nicea = after Nicea

 Apostolic or Post-Apostolic (95-150)  Disciples of apostles had authority  Apologists ( ) – speaking in defense of truth  Polemicists ( ) – refuting a position  Theologians ( ) – gave reasons for understanding or gave explanations of biblical themes or truths  Ante-Nicean  Post-Nicean

1. AD 64 – Nero in Rome 2. AD 95 – Domitian 3. AD – Trajan – Pliny in Asia Minor 4. AD – Marcos Aurelius 5. AD – Severius 6. AD – Maximinus 7. AD – Various emperors 8. AD 258 Valerian 9. AD – Diocletian 10. AD 315 – Licinius in the East

 Edict of Tolerance in 313, makes Christianity legal  Constantine’s mother Helen, builds churches on historical sites from Israel to Turkey  In 392, Emperor Theodosius forbids other religions and makes Christianity the state religion Baptism of Constantine

 Last apostolic disciples martyred: Polycarp was a disciple of John  Began evangelizing at the frontiers of empire – they were active in all provinces  Latin becomes the language of West -- Greek remains the language of East (empire is divided)  Latin Vulgate completed in 190  Catechetic schools in Alexandria, Egypt in 150  Origen became head of school at 18 in AD 203.

 Contextual approach to exegesis: blending Greek philosophy to Bible understanding  Allegorical hermeneutics taught in Egypt  Three levels of learning: body, soul, spirit  Body = bare text or literal meaning for simple minded  Soul = Moral meaning hidden beneath the surface for ethics  Spirit = Mystical meaning,, symbolical meaning  Though condemned by colleagues, especially from Antioch, his approach became the norm of Western Christianity, even the Reformation

1. Literal and historical meaning 2. Symbolical or typological meaning, allegory 3. Moral meaning 4. Analogical meaning or expectations, hope or future  These became the method of mediation in monasteries of the West thanks to John Cassian ( )  Cassian also originated the semi-Pelagian view

 Roman Roads – 52,000 miles  Pax Romana – Peace requires authoritarianism  Common language  Philosophy focus resulted in quest for truth  Jewish synagogues had lessening effect Roman road system Urban Jewish synagogue

 Church at Rome (251) had 46 presbyters, 7 deacons, 52 exhorcists, 1500 widows with an estimated population of 30,000  By 300 there were 300 church buildings  Spread West over Silk Road Trek  The Empire divided itself (East and West) in 285  Harnack estimates by 325 there were a total of 3-4 million believers who survived the persecutions.

 Rugged terrain ideal for hiding

 First country to adopt Christianity as official state religion in 301.  A significant number of missionaries, perhaps fleeing persecutions, transformed the nation