History of Christianity 1: Module 8

Ancient Christian historian who is the source of much of our information about the early church period.

The idea that church leadership was faithful to Christ by being in conformity with the first teaching, based on passing the teaching on from one leader to another.

The first Christian emperor of Rome, who officially ended all persecution of Christians.

The idea of universal reason that undergirds all of reality. Christians identified this with Jesus.

A student of Clement, who was orthodox on central doctrines, but felt the freedom to speculate on all others, which led him to be closer to Platonism than Christianity in many issues.

Bishop of Alexandria who stood against the world in opposing Arianism.

Early leader who was an old man when he was arrested. He had a vision that he would be burned alive, and faithfully testified about Christ even while being burned alive.

The standard of books that were recognized by the churches as being inspired Scripture.

The man who began organizing early monastics into monasteries. He is considered the father of Cenobitic monasticism.

An early heresy that started with a dualistic idea of reality consisting of a pure world of spirit and an evil world of matter. It stressed the use of secret knowledge of the initiated in their ritual and doctrines to find salvation.

The combining of elements from one or more religions and/or worldviews to form a new mixed religion/worldview.

The philosophy begun by Socrates that is characterized by a division of reality into the material and spiritual worlds.

The proclamation that gave free exercise of religion to "Christians and all others." It returned seized property to the churches.

Leader of a monastery. All monastics were required to live in obedience to this person.

Roman emperor under whom was the worst persecution of Christians.

The most controversial word of the Nicene creed, intending to convey that the Son is just as divine as the Father. It means "of the same substance."

Student of philosophy who was converted to Christ. He became one of the best Christian scholars of his time. He taught Christianity as "the True Philosophy."

The occasion of Constantine's conversion to Christianity, according to Constantine himself.

Roman Emperor who tried to turn the empire from Christianity back to paganism.

The process of training new converts before baptism and full membership in the early church.

Schismatic group who believed that the validity of the sacraments depends on the worthiness of the leader who administers them.

Early Martyr who wrote epistles on his way to Rome to be killed. He believed that his martyrdom would be his greatest ministry because it would be in imitation of Christ's death.

Christian thinker who drew heavily on Plato, and sought to show that Greek philosophy and Christianity teach the same truth. Used an allegorical interpretation of Scripture to do so.

King over Judea appointed by Rome who constructed great building projects.

A general word used to describe all monastics who lived by charity. Many were travelling monks.

Affirmed the doctrine that Christ had Two natures in One Person. Became the Orthodox definition of Christology.

Heretic who claimed that the Son was not equally eternal with the Father.

Early apologist who strongly rejected the use of Greek philosophy in forming Christian doctrine, saying "What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?"

Those who rejected the idea of Christ having two natures. They taught that He had only one nature.

A Writing in the Apostolic Fathers that was considered the teaching of the 12 apostles for Christian life and church organization.