History of Christianity 1: Module 8

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Patriarch of Constantinople, who was caught in a debate over whether Mary could be called "Mother of God." His name is given to the heresy which taught that in Jesus there was two persons - a divine person and a human person.

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

An early heretic who taught that the God of the Old Testament was a different God from the Father of Jesus in the New Testament. He therefore rejected the Old Testament and many of the New Testament books as Scripture.

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.

Firmly and finally decided the doctrine of the trinity to be orthodox and Arianism to be heresy.

This word means "of a similar substance" This term was eventually rejected as not sufficiently communicating the deity of Christ and His relationship with the Father.

A famous early Egyptian anchorite who spoke of his struggle against the devil. His biography was written by Athanasius.

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.

A monastery in southern France. It was the center of monastic reform, returning to the ideals of Benedict's Rule.

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

The document that most influenced the activities of Medieval monasticism.

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

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

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

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.

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

Term that describes an early monastic who lived as a solitary individual, away from all others in order to commune with God and fight against temptation.

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

Roman emperor infamous for persecuting Christians in brutal ways such as lighting them on fire as torches.

Most influential figure in western monasticism. Wrote "the Rule," in which he insisted that monks have obedience and stability, as well as do physical labor.

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