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Saturday, May 24, 2014
Gabriel IC sent you an invitation
Friday, August 2, 2013
History of Christianity - Lesson 11
History of Christianity - Lesson 11
Don Noenoehitoe
1. How was Christianity's favorable relationship with the state from the time of Constantine both a blessing and a curse?
It was a blessing because Constantine had favored the church: Edict of Milan, 313 AD.
The church obtained recognition and financial favors, elevated status, protection and respect from their pagan counterparts.
But in return, the state had more say in the church theology and ecclesiastical matters, e.g., the persecutions of the pagans and non-Christians.
2. Were the barbarians the foundation for subsequent Western European civilization only because of their conversion to Christianity? Why or Why not?
Whether it was genuine or politically driven conversion to Christianity, the Barbarians played important roles in spreading Christianity within
the Western European hemisphere; they immersed their old ways and customs toward the newly found belief, in which the church were later predisposed with and injected with Paganism.
3. After Christianity came to Ireland, how did they maintain the light of culture during the Dark Ages?
Patrick (AD 389 - AD 461) was a gifted organizer; he organized and founded Christianity in Ireland, in which made Ireland - despite the shadows
of Druid religion - the epicenter of Celtic Christians missionary. The Scots followed Patrick's patronage. These will lead to the penultimate rivalry with the Roman Christians toward England: The Anglo-Saxons.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
History of Christianity - Lesson 10
History of Christianity - Lesson 10Don Noenoehitoe1. Why was the Roman bishop considered so prestigious among the monarchical bishops?
Leadership in the midst of persecution and heresy was a practical need that required the expanding of the episcopal authority.
With the formation of the doctrine of apostolic succession, the Roman bishops were elevated; sealed themselves from other schisms
and promoted the the true doctrine and unity among early Christians.
Rome's historical prestige - both Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome - gave the Romans bishops their primacy importance among the monarchical bishops; Vicar of Christ (Vicarius Christi)
2. How did the formation of creeds and the fixation of the New Testament canon reinforce the episcopal authority of the monarchical bishop?
The role of the bishop as the bond of unity in the Christian church was strengthened by the formation of the creeds.
A creed is a statement of faith for public use. It puts forward those things that must be believed for salvation and the theological well-being of the Christian church. Statements of faith in the New Testament that can be viewed as proto-creeds are found in Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 15:4,
and 1 Timothy 3:16, thus reinforced the episcopal authority of the monarchical bishops.
3. What was required for a writing to pass muster as canonical? Why was the process of fixing the New Testament canon slow and deliberate?
The crucial test for a book to be admitted into the canon was whether that writing had apostolicity.
Was the writing in question written by an Apostle or a person who was closely associated with the Apostles?
Did the writing edify others when publicly read? Did the writing agree with the rule of faith?
Ultimately it was the historical verification of apostolic authorship or influence and the universal consciousness of the Christian church,
led by the Holy Spirit, that yielded the final decision about whether a book or writing was canonical and worthy of inclusion in what we know today as the New Testament.
The process were slow and deliberate due to the existence of other competing non-canonical writings, the time and efforts to determine the authorship and liturgical authenticity of pertinent writings.
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Spread of the Gospels to the Jews
The Spread of the Gospels to the Jews
Lesson 3
Why was the Christian message given first tot the Jews?
Jesus preached the word of the Gospel to the Jews first because he wanted them to embrace the good news.
What was the nature of the Jerusalem Church and at what point did the Jerusalem Church begin to lose its prominence?
The Council of Jerusalem made a decision not to bind Gentile Christians to ceremonial law of Judaism. This freed Gentiles churches from Jewish control.
How does the spread of the Christian message in Judea and Samaria and ultimately to the Gentiles illustrate the fact that Christianity is oriented toward missions?
The Jewish revolt against the Romans helped spread the word of Christianity, because they fled from Jerusalem. The Apostles spread the word to Samaria to Gaza and beyond. Philip baptized a high official of Ethiopian government and Peter baptized a Roman Centurion.
Rev Jim
Lesson 3
Why was the Christian message given first tot the Jews?
Jesus preached the word of the Gospel to the Jews first because he wanted them to embrace the good news.
What was the nature of the Jerusalem Church and at what point did the Jerusalem Church begin to lose its prominence?
The Council of Jerusalem made a decision not to bind Gentile Christians to ceremonial law of Judaism. This freed Gentiles churches from Jewish control.
How does the spread of the Christian message in Judea and Samaria and ultimately to the Gentiles illustrate the fact that Christianity is oriented toward missions?
The Jewish revolt against the Romans helped spread the word of Christianity, because they fled from Jerusalem. The Apostles spread the word to Samaria to Gaza and beyond. Philip baptized a high official of Ethiopian government and Peter baptized a Roman Centurion.
Rev Jim
Master of Ancient Christian History Lesson 2
Master of Ancient Christian History
Lesson 2
The Rock of Christianity
How do we know that Jesus Christ is a historical person and what are the historical evidences?
We have the biblical records, but these can be pushed aside as just propaganda about Jesus Christ. What does prove that he was a historical person are the accounts written about him from the historians of the time who were pagans. Also the writings of Flavius Josephus (a Jew) did not believe in Christianity but did believe that Jesus was a wise man.
I have been fortunate to see firsthand the "catacomb graffiti". One man's grave reinforced my belief in Christ. It was dated to the 1st century A.D. He had artist of the time paint his interpretation of what he believed what Jesus look like.
What makes the personality and character of Jesus Christ special?
Jesus Christ was genuineness with a well balanced personality. Even through his ministry was submissive; Jesus was always himself and feared no man.
How does Christ's person and work constitute the beginning of Christianity?
Jesus worked very hard for three years with his peaceful ministry. He had selected his 12 apostles to teach them on his journey. After his death at the hands of the Romans, the apostles carried the word of Jesus throughout the known world.
Rev. Jim
Lesson 2
The Rock of Christianity
How do we know that Jesus Christ is a historical person and what are the historical evidences?
We have the biblical records, but these can be pushed aside as just propaganda about Jesus Christ. What does prove that he was a historical person are the accounts written about him from the historians of the time who were pagans. Also the writings of Flavius Josephus (a Jew) did not believe in Christianity but did believe that Jesus was a wise man.
I have been fortunate to see firsthand the "catacomb graffiti". One man's grave reinforced my belief in Christ. It was dated to the 1st century A.D. He had artist of the time paint his interpretation of what he believed what Jesus look like.
What makes the personality and character of Jesus Christ special?
Jesus Christ was genuineness with a well balanced personality. Even through his ministry was submissive; Jesus was always himself and feared no man.
How does Christ's person and work constitute the beginning of Christianity?
Jesus worked very hard for three years with his peaceful ministry. He had selected his 12 apostles to teach them on his journey. After his death at the hands of the Romans, the apostles carried the word of Jesus throughout the known world.
Rev. Jim
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Master of Christian History Lesson 1 by Rev. Alaimo
Jim Alaimo
Master of Christian History
Lesson 1
How did the Roman Empire help Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean world of the 1st century A.D.?
In a single word "roads". These Roman built roadways were the high-tech freeway system of the day. Not only could the Roman Army move easily over these, but, it made it easy for trade and travelers to go great distances throughout he empire.
What the effects of the Greek language and philosophy upon the rise of Christianity?
My cousin from Italy put this question about language in context for me. She said that English is the language of the business world. Just like today Greek was the common language use as for trade and negotiations between kingdoms.
Greek philosophy had influenced the world before this time. The Romans copied the Greek deities only changing their names. By the time of Christ the people looking for something more than a philosophy of self-centered earthly spiritual culture. Using the Greek written and spoken language the followers of Christ were able to spread the word of Christianity throughout the known world.
In what way did the Jews and Judaism impact the birth of Christianity?
Through the Old Testament Judaism gave Christ and the Apostles the foundation for Christianity. Through the use of the synagogue, the Christianity got a foot hold with their teachings.
Master of Christian History
Lesson 1
How did the Roman Empire help Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean world of the 1st century A.D.?
In a single word "roads". These Roman built roadways were the high-tech freeway system of the day. Not only could the Roman Army move easily over these, but, it made it easy for trade and travelers to go great distances throughout he empire.
What the effects of the Greek language and philosophy upon the rise of Christianity?
My cousin from Italy put this question about language in context for me. She said that English is the language of the business world. Just like today Greek was the common language use as for trade and negotiations between kingdoms.
Greek philosophy had influenced the world before this time. The Romans copied the Greek deities only changing their names. By the time of Christ the people looking for something more than a philosophy of self-centered earthly spiritual culture. Using the Greek written and spoken language the followers of Christ were able to spread the word of Christianity throughout the known world.
In what way did the Jews and Judaism impact the birth of Christianity?
Through the Old Testament Judaism gave Christ and the Apostles the foundation for Christianity. Through the use of the synagogue, the Christianity got a foot hold with their teachings.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
History of Christianity - Lesson 9
Universal Life Church
Don Noenoehitoe
1. Who were apologists and polemicists and how did they respectively approach their task of defending the Christian faith through writing?
History of Christianity - Lesson 9
1. Who were apologists and polemicists and how did they respectively approach their task of defending the Christian faith through writing?
What was the difference in approach between the Eastern and Western apologists?
Apologists derived their writings to confront the persecutions of the early Christians and false charges of atheism, cannibalism, incest, and antisocial behaviors that were made by their Roman counterparts and anti-christian writers such as Celsus, Galen and Lucian. The Apologist were determined for the elevating of Christianity as superior to Judaism, pagan religion, and state worship polytheism .
With backgrounds deeply immersed in Greek philosophy, the apologists were writing as philosophers, not theologians. They emphasized that Christianity was the oldest religion and philosophy because the Pentateuch predated the Trojan Wars, and what truths that were in Greek philosophy were in fact borrowed from Christianity or Judaism. The apologists made much of the pure life, death, and resurrection of Christ, Christ's miracles, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ which proved Christianity is the highest philosophy.
Unlike the apologists (as converts from paganism) who addressed the external threats of persecution from the Roman state, the polemicists (as ones with a Christian cultural background) addressed internal heresies that were threatening the internal peace, purity, and unity of the early Christian church.
Unlike the apologists, the polemicists heavily emphasized the New Testament as the source for their writings in condemning the false doctrines.
Eastern Apologists:
- Aristides of Athens, From A.D.140 - A.D.150, offered an apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius.
- Justin Martyr, (c. A.D. 100-A.D. 165), immersed in Stoicism and the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras, wrote his First Apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius, followed by the his Second Apology to the Roman Senate
- Tatian, (c. A.D. 110-c. A.D. 180), a student of Justin Martyr, wrote "Address to the Greeks" in which Tatian exposed the obscurity of paganism and the viability of Christian antiquity that predated the Greek philosophies.
Tatian also wrote the Diatessaron, a "harmony" or synthesis of the four New Testament Gospels.
- Athenagoras," the Athenian, Philosopher, and Christian", a proto-orthodox Christian apologist.
Around A.D. 177 he wrote Supplication; the Embassy for the Christians, an apology to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus.
- Theophilus of Antioch, sometime after A.D. 180 wrote "Apology to Autolycus".
He relied heavily from the Old Testament and one of the earliest Christian work to use the word "Trinity",
(Greek: Trias) but instead inferring to the words "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," rather, Theophilus himself puts it as "God, his Word (Logos) and his Wisdom (Sophia)."
The eastern apologists defended the early church theology through Greek philosophy,
Western apologists:
- Tertullian (c. A.D. 160-A.D. 225) was the apologist of the Western Church, the founder of Latin Christianity and Western Theology.
Immersed in Classic Greeks, he is perhaps the oldest Latin writer to use the term "Trinity," (Latin: trinitas). Among his apologetic writings, the Apologeticus, addressed to the Roman magistrates.
- Minucius Felix, around 200AD wrote "Octavius", a dialogue on Christianity between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius.
The Western apologists were concerned more about the distinctions and finality of Christianity than the similarities with pagan religions and philosophies.
2. Who was the greatest apologist? Who was the greatest polemicist?
Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100-A.D. 165) was the greatest apologist of the 2nd century A.D.
Born in a pagan family near the Biblical town of Shechem, he early on became a wandering philosopher on a quest for truth.
Irenaeus, born in Smyrna [modern-day Izmir, Turkey], he would be considered the greatest polemicist.
He was predisposed to Polycarp's preaching while the latter was bishop of Smyrna.
Irenaeus later went to Gaul [modern-day France] where he became bishop before A.D. 180.
He was a well-accomplished missionary bishop. However his greatest effort was his polemical writings condemning Gnosticism.
Written around A.D. 185, Adversus Haereses [Against Heresies] was an attempt to condemn Gnostic doctrines, especially on the system of Gnostic Valentinus.
3. What were the two polemical schools of Christian thought and what were their respective approaches to formulating Christian theology?
The Polemicists: The Alexandrian School
Around A.D. 185, was founded in Alexandria, a school of catechism to teach new pagan converts the doctrines of Christianity.
The first leader of this school was Pantaenus who was a convert from probably Stoicism.
Clement of Alexandria (c. A.D. 155-c. A.D. 215), who was steep in Hellenistic philosophy, and later Origen (c. A.D. 185-A.D. 254) with writings emphasis of textual criticism of the Scriptures, were the leaders of this Catechetical school.
Rather than stressing a historical-grammatical Biblical hermeneutic, they came up with an allegorical hermeneutic - hidden, deeper spiritual meanings - that has arguably harmed Christianity ever since that time.
Clement proposed to unite the mysticism of Neoplatonism with the practical spirit of Christianity.
Nevertheless, Neoplatonism eventually succumbed to Christianity.
The Polemicists: The Carthaginian School
The Western/Latin mentality - with tendency to emphasize a grammatical and historical interpretation of the Gospels - was more concerned with practical issues involving church polity and doctrines relating to the church rather than speculative theology. This difference can be seen in contrasting the writings of Origen with the writings of Tertullian and Cyprian (c. A.D. 200-c. A.D. 258) of North Africa, who wrote De Unitate Catholicae Ecclesiae.
Apologists derived their writings to confront the persecutions of the early Christians and false charges of atheism, cannibalism, incest, and antisocial behaviors that were made by their Roman counterparts and anti-christian writers such as Celsus, Galen and Lucian. The Apologist were determined for the elevating of Christianity as superior to Judaism, pagan religion, and state worship polytheism .
With backgrounds deeply immersed in Greek philosophy, the apologists were writing as philosophers, not theologians. They emphasized that Christianity was the oldest religion and philosophy because the Pentateuch predated the Trojan Wars, and what truths that were in Greek philosophy were in fact borrowed from Christianity or Judaism. The apologists made much of the pure life, death, and resurrection of Christ, Christ's miracles, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ which proved Christianity is the highest philosophy.
Unlike the apologists (as converts from paganism) who addressed the external threats of persecution from the Roman state, the polemicists (as ones with a Christian cultural background) addressed internal heresies that were threatening the internal peace, purity, and unity of the early Christian church.
Unlike the apologists, the polemicists heavily emphasized the New Testament as the source for their writings in condemning the false doctrines.
Eastern Apologists:
- Aristides of Athens, From A.D.140 - A.D.150, offered an apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius.
- Justin Martyr, (c. A.D. 100-A.D. 165), immersed in Stoicism and the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras, wrote his First Apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius, followed by the his Second Apology to the Roman Senate
- Tatian, (c. A.D. 110-c. A.D. 180), a student of Justin Martyr, wrote "Address to the Greeks" in which Tatian exposed the obscurity of paganism and the viability of Christian antiquity that predated the Greek philosophies.
Tatian also wrote the Diatessaron, a "harmony" or synthesis of the four New Testament Gospels.
- Athenagoras," the Athenian, Philosopher, and Christian", a proto-orthodox Christian apologist.
Around A.D. 177 he wrote Supplication; the Embassy for the Christians, an apology to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus.
- Theophilus of Antioch, sometime after A.D. 180 wrote "Apology to Autolycus".
He relied heavily from the Old Testament and one of the earliest Christian work to use the word "Trinity",
(Greek: Trias) but instead inferring to the words "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," rather, Theophilus himself puts it as "God, his Word (Logos) and his Wisdom (Sophia)."
The eastern apologists defended the early church theology through Greek philosophy,
Western apologists:
- Tertullian (c. A.D. 160-A.D. 225) was the apologist of the Western Church, the founder of Latin Christianity and Western Theology.
Immersed in Classic Greeks, he is perhaps the oldest Latin writer to use the term "Trinity," (Latin: trinitas). Among his apologetic writings, the Apologeticus, addressed to the Roman magistrates.
- Minucius Felix, around 200AD wrote "Octavius", a dialogue on Christianity between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius.
The Western apologists were concerned more about the distinctions and finality of Christianity than the similarities with pagan religions and philosophies.
2. Who was the greatest apologist? Who was the greatest polemicist?
Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100-A.D. 165) was the greatest apologist of the 2nd century A.D.
Born in a pagan family near the Biblical town of Shechem, he early on became a wandering philosopher on a quest for truth.
Irenaeus, born in Smyrna [modern-day Izmir, Turkey], he would be considered the greatest polemicist.
He was predisposed to Polycarp's preaching while the latter was bishop of Smyrna.
Irenaeus later went to Gaul [modern-day France] where he became bishop before A.D. 180.
He was a well-accomplished missionary bishop. However his greatest effort was his polemical writings condemning Gnosticism.
Written around A.D. 185, Adversus Haereses [Against Heresies] was an attempt to condemn Gnostic doctrines, especially on the system of Gnostic Valentinus.
3. What were the two polemical schools of Christian thought and what were their respective approaches to formulating Christian theology?
The Polemicists: The Alexandrian School
Around A.D. 185, was founded in Alexandria, a school of catechism to teach new pagan converts the doctrines of Christianity.
The first leader of this school was Pantaenus who was a convert from probably Stoicism.
Clement of Alexandria (c. A.D. 155-c. A.D. 215), who was steep in Hellenistic philosophy, and later Origen (c. A.D. 185-A.D. 254) with writings emphasis of textual criticism of the Scriptures, were the leaders of this Catechetical school.
Rather than stressing a historical-grammatical Biblical hermeneutic, they came up with an allegorical hermeneutic - hidden, deeper spiritual meanings - that has arguably harmed Christianity ever since that time.
Clement proposed to unite the mysticism of Neoplatonism with the practical spirit of Christianity.
Nevertheless, Neoplatonism eventually succumbed to Christianity.
The Polemicists: The Carthaginian School
The Western/Latin mentality - with tendency to emphasize a grammatical and historical interpretation of the Gospels - was more concerned with practical issues involving church polity and doctrines relating to the church rather than speculative theology. This difference can be seen in contrasting the writings of Origen with the writings of Tertullian and Cyprian (c. A.D. 200-c. A.D. 258) of North Africa, who wrote De Unitate Catholicae Ecclesiae.
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