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Lesson 23 of 50 - Church History (part one of eight)
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Church History (part one): Background; Overview; Apostles; Nero and Anti-Christian Logic; Polycarp; Ignatius

Periods of Church History

Predicted from the book of Revelation:
            30-98                          Ephesus         Rv. 2:1-7         Loved but drifted
            98-313                        Smyrna           Rv. 2:8-11      Bitter Affliction, Persecuted
            313-590                     Pergamos      Rv. 2:12-17    Mixed with Paganism
            590-1517                   Thyatira          Rv. 2:18-20   Continual Idolatry
            1517-1730                 Sardis             Rv. 3:1-6         Escaping, Remnant
            1730-1900                 Philadelphia   Rv. 3:7-13      Brotherly Love
            1900-Rapture            Laodicea        Rv. 3:14-22    People Ruled

A Recap of historical periods:
            30-98    Book of Acts and Apostles – Christianity spreads to the Roman Empire
            98-312            Early Christianity
                                                - Christianity struggles for survival in Empire
            312-590         The Christian Empire
                                                - Christianity dominates the Roman Empire
            590-1516       Christian Middle Ages
                                                - Latin; Church/State Struggle; Supremacy of Pope
            1517-1648     The Reformation
                                                - Individuals Protest against Church/State Dominion
            1649-1781     Reason, Revival and Denominations
                                                - Individuals Interpret and Respond to Scripture’s Authority
1789-1912     Missions and Modernism
                                    - World Outreach; Science, Industry, Government Advance
            1914-2000     Ideologies and Liberalism
                                                - Men Trust in Human Nature and Human Achievement

Church History Events

49 Council of Jerusalem

1st Church Council
Issue was circumcision and Jewish Law
Set a pattern for the ecumenical councils: tradition and authoritative
Leaders recognized that the Spirit came to Jews and Gentiles in the same way:

Faith in Jesus
Not observance of the Law

The Christian movement became a trans-cultural movemen

54-68 Nero

Mother, Agippina, poisoned two husbands including Emperior Claudius in 54
Agrippina had the Praetorian Guard proclaim 16 year old Nero emperor
In 56 (age 19) he began late night rioting in the streets
In 59 he killed his mother
He began to give public performances at the age of 22 (in 59)
In 62 he killed his wife to marry someone else.
He began to write poetry, race chariots, play the lyre
He desired to rebuild Rome into a new, modern city he would call Neropolis

63 James, the brother of the Lord

James had seen the resurrected Lord
James was involved in the establishment of the early church in Jerusalem
James was part of the Jerusalem Council in 48 AD
James wrote his book called “James” around 45 AD
James led the Jerusalem church until 63 AD
In 63 AD, during the reign of the high priest Ananus, James was taken to a high point of the temple by the Sanhedrin and told to announce to the Jewish crowd coming to the Passover not to follow the false teaching concerning Jesus being the Christ. Instead James announced to the crowd that Jesus was the Christ, he sat at God’s right hand and will return in the clouds of heaven. The scribes and Pharisees then pushed James off the temple and proceeded to throw stones at him. As James prayed for the people he was clubbed in the head and died.

63 Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem

Simeon was the son of Clopas (mentioned in John 19:25 as the husband of Mary). Clopas was the brother of Joseph which means Simeon was Jesus’ cousin.
After James’ death the living apostles and disciples of Jesus assembled in Jerusalem and chose Simeon to fill James’ place as bishop of the Jerusalem church.
Simeon resisted the Judaizers
In 66 AD Simeon led the church out of Jerusalem to Pella as the Roman armies approached

64 Rome Burns

It began the night of July 18 in the wooden shops in the SE end of the Great Circus
The fire raged for 7 nights and 6 days
Then it burst out again and burnt 2 more parts of the city for 3 more days.
(London’s fire of 1666 lasted 4 days; Chicago’s fire of 1871 lasted 36 hours.)
10 of the 14 regions of the city were destroyed. Only 2/7 of the city was left.
The public blamed Nero.
Historians blame Nero and his ambitions to rebuild Rome as Neropolis
To escape responsibility Nero blamed an already suspicious group, Christians
Tacitus: “a vast multitude” were put to death in the most shameful manner:

Christians were crucified
Christians were sewed up in skins of wild beast and exposed to dogs in arena
Christians were covered with pitch or oil, nailed to post to be lit for street lights

Within a year Peter was arrested and crucified upside down along w/ his wife
In the spring of 68 Paul was led out on the Ostian Way and beheaded.
On June 9, 68 Nero committed suicide by stabbing himself in the throat.

Anti-Christian Logic of Roman Empire
The Christians were despised and persecuted by the Romans for what the Roman Empire considered very logical reasons:

Romans considered the state the highest good. The Christians obeyed the state but held to a higher law and a higher good.
New religions were illegal and not permitted. Old, traditional religions were allowed to continue. Once Christianity was distinguished as a separate religion from Judaism it was illegal. If a Christian were of high rank in society they were banished, if they were of a lower social rank they were executed. This may be why John the Apostle was exiled instead of executed.
Rome was old and had their traditional values. Christianity was bringing in new values that would undermine the traditions and the gods that had made Rome great.
Roman religion was done with altars, images (idols), sacrifices and temples. The Christians had none of these since their religion was internal. The Christians appeared to have no God and were considered atheists by the Romans.
The Christians refused emperor worship and instead worship what the Romans considered was a rival king, Jesus.
The Romans accepted many Gods but the Christians only worshipped Jesus.
Christians considered all men equal but the Roman Empire enforced slavery.
Christians believed that all men should work to eat, but most Romans had slaves working and even preparing the food.
The spread of Christianity interfered with the sale of household idols which interrupted a major business in many Roman cities.
Rome knew the importance of family but some families were divided when one or more of their members became a Christian.
The Christians began meeting in secret to avoid public speculation and interference, but this only made the Christians look more secretive and suspicious.
The public’s misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper led to the rumor that the Christians practice cannibalism.
The practice of magic was illegal. The Christians appeared to practice magic with healing, casting out of demons and reading their magic books (scripture).
Soon the problems in the Roman empire were blamed on the Christians for having led the Roman population away from the traditional gods that had made Rome great.

90-117 Asian and Roman Persecution

Apostle was sent to Patmos during this persecution
Emperor Domitian persecuted Jews for refusing to pay a poll tax for pagan temple
Since Christians were considered part of Jewish faith they also were persecuted.
During this time the governor of Bithynia (Asia Minor) wrote Emperor Trajan asking for advice concerning treatment of Christians. He says: “This superstition (Christianity) had spread in the villages and rural areas as well as in the larger cities to such an extent that the temples had been almost deserted and the sellers of sacrificial animals impoverished.” Trajan responsed to him by saying that if a person denies being a Christian to let them go. If they confess to being a Christian after being asked three times they were to be killed, unless they recanted and worshipped the Roman gods.

The Ten Major Periods of Roman Persecution
Years	Emperor	Details: Why? Where? How?	Martyrs
64- 68	Nero	Persecuted only around Rome. Nero blamed Christians for burning Rome. Killed in Coliseum by animals; covered with pitch and burnt in Nero’s courtyard; crucified	Peter crucified Paul decapitated
90- 96	Domitian	Christian’s exiled as political enemies & for not offering emperor worship Scattered in Rome and Asia	John exiled Clement drown
98- 117	Trajan	“Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. If accused the Christian could renounce Jesus, if they refused after three times, execute them In Asia income at temples suffered because so many had become Christians.	Ignatius taken to Rome to be eaten by beasts
117-138	Hadrian	Hadrian’s policy continued. Christians needed to prove loyalty to state by their action of offering a pinch of incense to the Emperor and calling him ‘Lord’. False accusers were punished more severely. Hadrian put down a Jewish revolt in Israel (132-135)
165 - 177	Marcus Aurelius	Christians were seen as being responsible for the natural disasters. Marcus Aurelius, the great Stoic philosopher, personally disliked the Christian faith. Christians were not sought out Justin Martyr lived in Rome & wrote a book, Apology, to Marcus Aurelius. In 165, Justin & six students beaten & beheaded In 177, persecution was sever in Lyons, Gaul (France)	Justin Martyr Students Pothinus, disciple of Polycarp, 92 year old bishop, in Lyons Blandina, a slave girl tortured & crucified, Lyons Sanctus, a deacon, Lyons
202-211	Septimus Severus	Offering a pinch of incense to the emperor was a patriotic gesture like saluting the flag. In Carthage, North Africa, two young mothers, Perpetua & Felicitas refused to offer the incense. They died in the arena. (200) In Alexandria, Egypt (202) Origen’s father, Leonides, was martyred. Septimus Severus visited Britain in 208. Alban, Roman soldier helped a priest escaped and was martyred by the emperor	Perpetua Felicitas Leonides Alban Amphibalus
235-236	Maximinus	Executed the church leaders Christians were persecuted because they had supported the previous Emperor who had been assassinated by Maximinus	Hippolytus Pontianus Ursula
250-251	Decius	This was the first persecution that covered the entire Roman Empire. Rome was trying to return to their ancient gods and Christianity needed to be wiped out. Fabian, the bishop of Rome, was the first to die in this persecution in January of 250.	Fabian
257-258	Valerian	Church meetings forbidden Christian property seized by the state Saturninus was dragged to death by a bull in Toulouse, Gaul (France) Valerian ordered the death of all Rome’s church leaders. Sixtus and Lawrence were two deacons who died.	Origen Cyprian Saturninus Sixtus II Lawrence
303-311	Diocletian (303-305) And Galerius (305-311)	The most severe of the ten persecutions. Christians seen as a threat to imperial unity Church leaders suffered torture and death by the rack, the scourge, roasting in fire, crucifixion and more. In 311 the dying emperor issued the edict of tolerance.	Theodotus Timothy

30-100 Clement of Rome

Knew and worked with Paul. Mentioned in Philippians 4:3
According to Origen he was a disciple of the apostles.
Irenaeus writes: “He had the preaching of the apostles still echoing in his ears and their doctrine in front of his eyes.”
Learned to use Septuagint from Paul and Luke
He wrote a letter from Rome to the Corinthians called “First Clement. It had been referred to by other writers but was not discovered until the 1600’s
Clement writes after Domitian persecution about 98
Clement writes the Corinthians because the church had overthrown the church’s leadership.
Clement appeals to the Word of God as final authority and refers to 1 Cor. 1:10
Clement gives testimony to: Trinity, divinity of Christ, salvation only by Christ, necessity of repentance, necessity of faith, justification by grace, sanctification by Holy Spirit, unity of the church, fruit of the Spirit.
Clement is the pastor of Rome and knows no higher office
He writes his book in the name of the church not in the name of his office
Clement writes to a church of apostolic foundation with a tone of authority and thus reveals how easily and innocent the papacy began.
100 years after his death this same position in the same church will take authority and will excommunicate whole churches for much smaller differences

The Roman Emperors
27 BC-14 AD-Augustus 14-37-Tiberius 37-41 -Gaius (Caligula) 41-54 -Claudius 54-68-Nero 68-69-Galba 69-Otho 69-Vitellius 69-79-Vespasian 79-81 -Titus 81-96-Domitian 96-98-Nerva 98-117-Trajan 117-138 -Hadrian 138-161 -Antoninus Pius 161-180-Marcus Aurelius 161-169-Lucius Verus 180-192-Commodus 193-Pertinax 193-Didius Julianus 193-211-Septimius Severus 193-195-Pescennius Niger 195-197-Clodius Albinus 211-217-Caracalla 211-Geta 217-218-Macrinus 218-222-Elagabalus 222-235-Severus Alexander 235-238-Maximus I Thrax	238-Gordian I 238-Gordian II 238-Balbinus 238-Pupienus 238-244-Gordian III 244-249-Philip I (the Arab) 249-251-Trajanus Decius 251-253-Trebonianus Gallus 253-Aemilian 253-260-Valerian 253-268 -Gallienus 260-268-Postumus 269-Laelianus 269-Marius 269-271-Victorinus 271-274-Tetricus 268-270-Claudius II Gothicus 270-Quintillus 270-275-Aurelian 275-276-Tacitus 276-Florianus 276-282-Probus 282-283-Carus 283-285-Carinus 283-284-Numerianus 284-305-Diocletian 286-305, 307 -308-Maximianus 286-293-Carausius 293-297-Allectus 305-306-Constantius I Chlorus	305-311-Galerius 306-307-Severus II 306-312-Maxentius 306-337-Constantine I The Great 308-324-Licinius 337-340-Constantine II 337-361-Constantius II 337-350-Constans I 350-353-Magnentius 361-363-Julian I the Apostate 363-364-Jovian 364-375-Valentinian I 367-383-Gratian 375-392-Valentinian II 379-395-Theodosius I The Great 383-388-Magnus Maximus 392-394-Eugenius 395-423-Honorius 423-425-Johannes 425-455-Valentinian III 455-Petronius Maximus 455-456-Avitus 457-461-Majorian 461-465-Libius Severus 467-472-Anthemius 472-Olybrius 473-474-Glycerius 474-475, 477-480-Julius Nepos 475-476-Romulus Augustulus

63-107 Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem

Simeon, son of Clophas (Joseph’s brother), was chosen in 63 to be the new bishop of Jerusalem by the surviving apostles and disciples of Jesus
As Roman armies approached Jerusalem in 66 Simeon led the Jerusalem church across the Jordan into Pella in the Decapolis to save them.
After the fall of Jerusalem, Simeon led the Christians back across the Jordan to the defeated city of Jerusalem, built a church and won many Jewish converts.
In order to prevent another revolt after the fall of Jerusalem Emperor Vespasian ordered the death of anyone who was a descendant of David. Simeon escaped
Emperor Domitian (81-96) followed up on the order to execute the line of David and was informed that there were grandsons of Jesus’ brother Jude. They were ordered to appear before Domitian. When Domitian saw how simple and poor they were he allowed them to live and considered them to be no threat.
Simeon was later killed in 107 at the age of about 120 when Trajan gave a similar order to execute the line of David.

117 Ignatius

Pastor of church in Antioch
Contemporary pastor with Clement in Rome, Simeon in Jerusalem, Polycarp in Smyrna
Antioch was a doorway to Gentile world and so became a seat of heretical tendencies which forced Antioch to develop sound doctrine and organize quickly
Ignatius was tried in Antioch before Emperor Trajan and sent to Rome in chains for martyrdom in the Coliseum by being thrown to the lions.
On his way to Rome he wrote seven letters that we still have: Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrneans, and one to Polycarp, the Pastor in Smyrna.
These are some quotes from those letters:

“I would rather die for Christ than rule the whole earth.”
“It is glorious to go down in the world, in order to go up into God.”
“Leave me to the beasts, that I may by them be made partaker of God. Rather fawn upon the beasts, that they may be to me a grave, and leave nothing of my body, that, when I sleep, I may not be burdensome to anyone. Then will I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world can no longer even see my body.”

His remains were brought back to Antioch.
Ignatius’ attitude toward martyrdom exceeds the genuine apostolic resignation which is equal willing to depart or remain. He degenerates into morbid fanaticism. This is an age when martyrdom was sought and glorified.

70-155 Polycarp

Knew the apostles and was one of John’s disciples
John placed his as the bishop of Smyrna.
He had trained Irenaeus and was friends with Ignatius and Papias.
He was captured as an 86 year old man and burnt at the stake in Smyrna.
His last days, capture, and death are recorded in the letter “The martyrdom of Polycarp”

Disciples of the Apostles and Early Bishops
In Ephesus	In Jerusalem	In Antioch	In Rome
Paul placed Timothy in position in Ephesus John, the apostle, arrived from Jerusalem in 66 AD Polycarp (70-155) was a disciple of John. He was the bishop in Smyrna, near Ephesus. Polycarp trained and sent Irenaeus (115-202) to Gaul (France) and Irenaeus trained Hippolytus (170-236) who went to Rome to oppose the bishop. Papias, was a bishop in Hierapolis (by Colosse and near Ephesus). Papias’ book Sayings of the Lord has been lost but is heavily quoted by early church writers. Ignatius was appointed to Antioch Polycrates, (130-196), was the 8th bishop of Ephesus. He knew Polycarp and Irenaeus. Wrote to the Roman bishop Victor concerning Easter and was cut off from the Roman church until Irenaeus interceded.	James, the Lord’s brother, was killed in 63 AD Simeon, the son of Clopas, followed James as bishop of Jerusalem Justus Zacchaeus Tobias Benjamin John Matthias Philip Seneca Justus II Levi Ephres Joseph Judas, (died 148) of the family of Jesus, the 15th bishop and last Hebrew bishop because in 135 AD Hadrian put down a Jewish revolt and Jews were forbidden to enter Jerusalem Marcus, the first gentile bishop of Jerusalem Cassian, and the list continues. . .	First Paul and Peter Evodius a pagan convert of Peter led the church of Antioch Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch until the time of Trajan in 117 AD. According to Eusebius Peter appointed him. Heron, (107-127) Cornelius, (127-154) Eros, (154-169) Theophilus, (169-182), wrote books, we still have his Apology to Autolycum. Born a pagan but became a Christian by reading Scriptures. Kept Gnostics out of Antioch Maximus I, (182-191) Serapion, (191-211), wrote several works, including a pamphlet against the Gospel of Peter.	Linus of 2 Tim. 4:21 led church in Rome. Irenaeus says apostles placed him Cletus killed by Domitian Clement, in Phil.4:3 exiled and martyred around 98. Evaristus, 100-109 Alexander I, holy water introduced, made additions to liturgy. Beheaded by Trajan. Sixtas, ruled during Emperor Hadrian Telesphorus, (125-136) listed celebrating Easter on Sunday not Passover; martyred Hyginus, organized ranks and positions in church; Gnostics Valentine & Cerdo came to Rome. Pius I, born a slave; brother, Hermas, wrote Shepherd; Excommunicated Marcion (142-155) Anicetus, (155-166) visited by Polycarp concerning Easter; Manichaeism; martyred. Soter, wrote to Corinth, martyred Eleutherius (174-189) – dealt with Montanism Victor I, (189-198), asserted Roman Church authority; imposed Roman’s Easter date by threatening excommunication; Latin replaced Greek.

150 Gnosticism

Its roots go back to the days of Paul and John. Both seem to deal with the false concepts in Colossians and 1 John.
Christian tradition connects the founding of it to Simon Magus, who Peter rebukes in Acts
Gnosticism sprang from the natural desire of humans to explain the origin of evil.
Since evil can be associated with matter and flesh, the Gnostics tried to develop a philosophical system to disassociate God, who is spirit, from evil, matter and flesh.
The second question it sought to answer was the origin of man. They did this by combining Greek philosophy and Christian theology. The Corinthians did this and were rebuked in First Corinthians 1 and 2.
If the Gnostics had succeeded Christianity would have been reduced to a philosophical system.
Dualism was one of their main statements of faith. The Gnostics insisted on a clear distinction between material and spiritual and a distinction between evil and good. Their conclusion: God could not have created the world.
The gap between the world and God was bridged by a series of emanations that formed a hierarchy.
One of these, known as Jehovah of the Old Testament, had rebelled and created the world. The Gnostics did not like the God of the Old Testament.
To explain Jesus Christ they embraced a doctrine known as Docetism. Docetism teaches that since matter is evil Jesus did not have a human body. Either he was a phantom or the spirit of Christ came on the man Jesus between his baptism but left before his death.
Salvation might begin with faith, but is only for the soul.
The special knowledge (gnosis) that Christ exposed while here was of far greater benefit.
Irenaeus refutes gnosticism in “Against Heresies”
In 140 Marcion went to Rome and embraced gnosticism and developed it. Marcion was the first to develop a New Testament canon that he could use to match his Gnostic doctrine. This caused the church to begin to recognize certain books as scripture and others as less than God-breathed.

Marcion and the Gnostic Canon of Scripture

Marcion, the Gnostic, rejected the entire Old Testament and considered Matthew, John, Luke, I & II Timothy and Titus to be false and heretical. He accepted the following Christian books to support his Gnostic doctrine but only after changes had been made to each of them:

Gospel of Luke
Galatians
First Corinthians
Second Corinthians
Romans

First Thessalonians
Second Thessalonians
Ephesians
Colossians
Philemon
Philippians

126-203 Irenaeus

Native of Asia Minor
As a youth he had seen and heard Polycarp in Smyrna.
He mentions Papias frequently and must have known him
Became bishop of Lyons, Gaul (Spain) when the bishop died in persecution
Lyons was a missionary church of Asia Minor
Lived in Lyons during the persecution of 177
Took a letter to the Roman bishop Eleutherus from the confessors
Roman Bishop Victor was complelling the Asian churches to celebrate Easter on a different date.
Irenaeus tried to protect Asian churches from Roman Bishops pretensions and aggression
Roman Bishop Victor cut them off from communion.
Irenaus says earlier Roman bishops didn’t demand agreement on this issue.
Irenaus appeals to other bishops for support.
Irenaus was martyred under Emperor Septimius Severus

190-194 Easter Conflict

150-155, Smyrna Bishop Polycarp visits Rome Bishop Anicetus. The issue comes up, is not resolved, Polycarp departs in peace saying this is how he celebrated Easter with John
170, the same controversy develops in Laodicea but is dealt with in peace
190-194, Rome Bishop Victor requires the Asian churches to abandon their Easter practices. The new Ephesian Bishop Polycrates appeals with a letter which is still in existence today. Victor wouldn’t listen, calls them heretics, excommunicates them and would not send them communion elements. Irenaeus interecedw by quoting Colossians 2:16: “The apostles have ordered that we should, ‘Judge no one in meat or in drink, or in respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabath day.’ ”

The time of the Jewish Passover and the Easter fast created a violent controversy
The issue becomes complicated and is not yet cleared up
The issue was purely ritualistic and involved no doctrine
Too much stress was laid on external uniformity
Asia Minor’s views:

Followed Jewish chronology
Followed John and Philip’s example
They celebrated the Christian for of the Passover on Nisan 14 and at the end of the day they broke their Easter fast with communion and the Love Feast

Roman Church view:

Appealed to early custom of celebrating Jesus death on a Friday
Celebrated Easter always on a Sunday after the March full moon
Nearly all the churches did it this way
The Roman practice created an entire holy week of fasting to recall Lord’s suffering

The Problem to the Roman Church: Part of the universal church was celebrating and feasting the Lord’s resurrection while another part of the world church was still fasting his death.
The Nicean Council of 325 established as a law for the whole church by saying:

“Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon succeeding the vernal equinox (March 21). If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter-day is the Sunday after. Easter can be anywhere from
March 22 to April 25.” -Nicean Council of 325

The last trace of the “heretics” from Asia was seen in the 500’s AD

Popes

First Century
St. Peter (c.33-67AD)
Linus (67-76)
Anacletus (76-88)
Clement I (88-97)
Evaristus (97-105)

Second Century
Alexander I (105-15)
Sixtus I (115-25)
Telesphorus (125-36)
Hyginus (136-40)
Pius I (140-55)
Anicetus (155-66)
Soter (166-75)
Eleutherius (175-89)
Victor I (189-99)
Zephyrinus (199-217)

Third Century
Calixtus 1 (217-22)
Urban I (222-30)
Hippolytus (222-35)
Pontian (230-35)
Anterus (235-36)
Fabian (236-50)
Cornelius (251-53)
Novatian (251-58)
Lucius I (253-54)
Stephen I (254-57)
Sixtus II (257-58)
Dionysius (259-68)
Felix I (269-74)
Eutychian (275-83)
Caius (283-96)
Marcellinus (296-304)

Fourth Century
Marcellus I (308-09)
Eusebius (309-10)
Miltiades (311-14)
Sylvester I (314-35)
Marcus (336-36)
Julius I (337-52)
Liberius (352-66)
Felix II (353-65)
Damasus I (366-84)
Ursinus (366-67)
Siricius (384-99)
Anastasius I (399-401)

Fifth Century
Innocent I (401-17)
Zozimus (417-18)
Boniface I (418-22)
Eulalius ((418-19)
Celestine I (422-32)
Sixtus III (432-40)
Leo I (440-61)
Hilarius (461-68)
Simplicius (468-83)
Felux III (II) (483-92)
Gelasius I (492-96)
Anastasius II (496-98)
Symmachus (498-514)
Laurentius (498-505)

Sixth Century
Hormisdas (514-23)
John I (523-26)
Felix IV (III) (526-30)
Boniface II (530-32)
Dioscurus (530)
John II (533-35)
Agapetus I (535-36)
Silverius (536-37)
Vigilius (537-55)
Pelagius I (556-61)
John III (561-74)
Benedict I (575-79)
Pelagius II (579-90)
Gregory I (590-604)

Seventh Century
Sabinian (604-6)
Boniface III (607-7)
Boniface IV (608-15)
Deusdedit (Adeodatus) (615-18)
Boniface V (619-25)
Hononus I (625-38)
Severinus (640-40)
John IV (640-42)
Theodore I (642-49)
Martin I (649-55)
Eugene I (654-57)
Vitalian (657-72)
Adeodatus II (672-76)
Donus (676-78)
Agatho (678-81)
Leo II (682-83)
Benedict II (684-85)
John V (685-86)
Conon (686-87)
Theodore II (687)
Paschal I (687-92)
Sergius I (687-701)

Eighth Century
John Vl (701-5)
John Vll (705-7)
Sisinnius (708-8)
Constantine (708-15)
Gregory II (715-31)
Gregory III (731-41)
Zacharias (741-52)
Stephen II (752-52)
Paul I (757-67)
Constantine (767)
Philip (767)
Stephen III (768-72)
Adrian I (772-95)
Leo III (795-816)

Ninth Century
Stephen IV (816-17)
Paschal I (817-24)
Eugene II (824-27)
Valentine (827)
Gregory IV (827-44)
John VIII (844)
Sergius II (844-47)
Leo IV (847-55)
Benedict III (855-58)
Anastasius III (855)
Nicholas I (858-67)
Adrian II (867-72)
John Vlll (872-82)
Marinus I (882-84)
Adrian III (884-85)
Stephen V (Vl) (885-91)
Formosus (891-96)
Boniface Vl (896-96)
Stephen Vl (Vll) (896-97)
Romanus (897-97)
Theodore II (897-97)
John IX (898-900)

Tenth Century
Benedict IV (900-3)
Leo V (903)
Christopher (903-4)
Sergius III (904-11)
Anastasius III (911-13)
Lando (913-14)
John X (914-28)
Leo Vl (928)
Stephen Vll (928-31)
John Xl (931-35)
Leo Vll (936-39)
Stephen VIII (IX) (939-42)
Marinus II (942-46)
Agapetus II (946-55)
John Xll (955-64)
Leo Vlll (963-65)
Benedict V (964-66)
John Xlll (965-72)
Benedict Vl (973-74)
Benedict Vll (974-83)
John XIV (983-84)
Boniface VII (984-5)
John XV (985-96)
Gregory V (996-99)
Sylvester II (999-1003)

Eleventh Century
John XVII (1003)
John XVIII (1004-9)
Sergius IV (1009-12)
Benedict Vlll (1012-24)
Gregory VI (1012)
John XIX (1024-32)
Benedict IX (1032-44)
Sylvester lll (1045)
Gregory Vl (1045-46) (John Gratian Pierleoni)
Clement II (1046-47) (Suitgar, Count of Morsleben)
Damasus II (1048) (Count Poppo)
Leo IX (1049-54) (Bruno, Count of Toul)
Victor II (1055-57) (Gebhard, Count of Hirschberg)
Stephen IX (X) (1057-58) (Frederick of Lorraine)
Nicholas II (1059-61) (Gerhard of Burgundy)
Alexander II (1061-73) (Anselmo da Baggio)
Honorius II (1061-64)
Gregory Vll (1073-85) (Hildebrand of Soana)
Clement III (1080-1100)
Victor III (1086-87) (Desiderius, Prince of Beneventum)
Urban II (1088-99) (Odo of Chatillon)
Paschal II (1099-1118) (Ranieri da Bieda)
Theodoric (1100-2)
Albert (1102)
Sylvester IV (1105)

Twelfth Century
Gelasius II (1118-19) (John Coniolo)
Gregory VIII (1118-21)
Calixtus II (1119-24) (Guido, Count of Burgundy)
Honorius II (1124-30) (Lamberto dei Fagnani)
Celestine II (1124)
Innocent II (1130-43) (Gregorio Papareschi)
Anacletus II (1130-38) (Cardinal Pierleone)
Victor IV (1138)
Ceiestine II (1143-44) (Guido di Castello)
Lucius II (1144-45) (Gherardo Caccianemici)
Eugene III (1145-53) (Bernardo Paganelli)
Anastasius IV (1153-54) (Corrado della Subarra)
Adrian IV (1154-59) (Nicholas Breakspear)

Alexander III (1159-81) (Orlando Bandinelli)
Victor IV (1159-64)
Paschal III (1164-68)
Calixtus III (1168-78)
Innocent III (1179-80) (Lando da Sessa)
Lucius III (1181-85) (Ubaldo Allucingoli)
Urban III (1185-87) (Uberto Crivelli)
Gregory Vlll (1187) (Alberto del Morra)
Clement III (1187-91) (Paolo Scolari)
Celestine III (1191-98) (Giacinto Boboni-Orsini)
Innocent III (1198-1216) (Lotario de Conti di Segni)

Thirteenth Century
Honorius III (1216-27) (Cencio Savelli)
Gregory IX (1227-41) (Ugolino di Segni)
Celestine IV (1241) (Goffredo Castiglione)
Innocent IV (1243-54) (Sinibaldo de Fieschi)
Alexander IV (1254-61) (Rinaldo di Segni)
Urban IV (1261-64) (Jacques PantalŽon)
Clement IV (1265-68) (Guy le Gros Foulques)
Gregory X (1271-76) (Tebaldo Visconti)
Innocent V (1276) (Pierre de Champagni)
AdrianV (1276) (Ottobono Fieschi)
John XXI (1276-77) (Pietro Rebuli-Giuliani)
Nicholas III (1277-80) (Giovanni Gaetano Orsini)
Martin IV (1281-85) (Simon Mompitie)
Honorius IV (1285-87) (Giacomo Savelli)
Nicholas IV (1288-92) (Girolamo Masci)
Celestine V (1294) (Pietro Angelari da Murrone)
Boniface Vlll (1294-1303) (Benedetto Gaetani)

Fourteenth Century
Benedict Xl (1303-04) (Niccol˜ Boccasini)
Clement V (1305-14) (Raimond Bertrand de Got
John XXII (1316-34) (Jacques Dueze)
Nicholas V (Pietro di Corbara)
Benedict XII (1334-42) (Jacques Fournier)
Clement Vl (1342-52) (Pierre Roger de Beaufort)
Innocent VI (1352-62) (ƒtienne Aubert)
Urban V (1362-70) (Guillaume de Grimord)
Gregory Xl (1370-78) (Pierre Roger de Beaufort, the Younger)
Urban Vl (1378-89) (Bartolomeo Prignano)
Clement VII (1378-94) (Robert of Geneva)
Boniface IX (1389-1404) (Pietro Tomacelli)
Benedict XIII (1394-1423) (Pedro de Luna)

Fifteenth Century
Innocent Vll (1404-6) (Cosmato de Migliorati)
Gregory Xll (1406-15) (Angelo Correr)
Alexander V (1409-10) (Petros Philargi)
John XXIII (1410-15) (Baldassare Cossa)
Martin V (1417-31) (Ottone Colonna)
Clement VIII (1423-29)
Benedict XIV (1424)
Eugene lV (1431-47) (Gabriele Condulmer)
Felix V (1439-49) (Amadeus of Savoy)
Nicholas V (1447-55) (Tommaso Parentucelli)
Calixtus III (1455-58) (Alonso Borgia)
Pius II (1458-64) (Aeneas Silvio de Piccolomini)
Paul II (1464-71) (Pietro Barbo)
Sixtus IV (1471-84) (Francesco della Rovere)
Innocent Vlll (1484-92) (Giovanni Battista Cibo)
Alexander Vl (1492-1503) (Rodrigo Borgia)

Sixteenth Century
Pius III (1503) (Francesco Todoeschini-Piccolomini)
Julius II (1503-13) (Giuliano della Rovere)
Leo X (1513-21) (Giovanni de Medici)
Adrian Vl (1522-23) (Hadrian Florensz)
Clement Vll (1523-34) (Giulio de Medici)
Paul III (1534-49) (Alessandro Farnese)
Julius III (1550-55) (Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte)
Marcellus II (1555) (Marcello Cervini)
Paul IV (1555-59) (Gian Pietro Caraffa)
Pius IV (1559-65) (Giovanni Angelo de Medici)
Pius V (1566-72) (Antonio Michele Ghislieri)
Gregory Xlll (1572-85) (Ugo Buoncompagni)
Sixtus V (1585-90) (Felice Peretti)
Urban Vll (1590) (Giambattista Castagna)
Gregory XIV (1590-91) (Niccol˜ Sfondrati)
Innocent IX (1591) (Gian Antonio Facchinetti)
Clement Vlll (1592-1605) (Ippolito Aldobrandini)

Seventeenth Century
Leo Xl (1605) (Alessandro de Medici-Ottaiano)
Paul V (1605-21) (Camillo Borghese)
Gregory XV (1621-23) (Alessandro Ludovisi)
Urban Vlll (1623-44) (Maffeo Barberini)
Innocent X (1644-55) (Giambattista Pamfili)
Aleander Vll (1655-67) (Fabio Chigi)
Clement IX (1667-69) (Giulio Rospigliosi)
Clement X (1670-76) (Emilio Altieri)
Innocent Xl (1676-89) (Benedetto Odescalchi)
Alexander Vlll (1689-91) (Pietro Ottoboni)
Innocent Xll (1691-1700) (Antonio Pignatelli)

Eighteenth Century
Clement Xl (1700-21) (Gian Francesco Albani)
Innocent Xlll (1721-24) (Michelangelo dei Conti)
Benedict Xlll (1724-30) (Pietro Francesco Orsini)
Clement Xll (1730-40) (Lorenzo Corsini)
Benedict XlV (1740-58) (Prospero Lambertini)
Clement Xlll (1758-69) (Carlo Rezzonico)
Clement XIV (1769-74) (Lorenzo Ganganelli)
Pius Vl (1775-99) (Gianangelo Braschi)

Nineteenth Century
Pius Vll (1800-23) (Barnaba Chiaramonti)
Leo Xll (1823-29) (Annibale della Genga)
Pius Vlll (1829-30) (Francesco Saverio Gastiglioni)
Gregory XVI (1831-46) (Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari)
Pius IX (1846-78) (Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti)
Leo Xlll (1878-1903) (Gioacchino Pecci)

Twentieth Century
Pius X (1903-14) (Giuseppe Sarto)
Benedict XV (1914-22) (Giacomo della Chiesa)
Pius Xl (1922-39) (Achille Ratti)
Pius Xll (1939-58) (Eugenio Pacelli)
John XXIII (1958-63) (Angelo Roncalli)
Paul Vl (1963-78) (Giovanni Battista Montini)
John Paul I (1978) (Albino Luciani)
John Paul II (1978-) (Karol Jozef Wojtyla)

Twenty-First Century
John Paul II (1978-2005) (Karol Jozef Wojtyla)
Benedict XVI (2005-) (Joseph Ratzinger)

100-165 Justin Martyr

A Christian apologist trained in philosophy (Stoicism and Platonism) and became a Christian.
He became the most notable writer of this century
He was born in Palestine and searched energetically for truth as a young man in philosophical schools. While meditating alone by the sea side one day he was approached by an old man who exposed the weaknesses of his thinking and pointed him to the Jewish prophets who bore witness to Christ.
Justin took this new faith back into the philosophical schools.
His writings vigorous and earnest. They are written under the threat of persecution and are an urgent appeal to reason.
He wrote “First Apology” to the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) to clear away prejudice and misunderstanding about Christianity.
In his “Dialogue with Trypho” he recounts an actual encounter in Ephesus with a Jew who accused Christians of breaking the Jewish law and worshipping a man. The debate was conducted with respect and courtesy on both sides, despite strong disagreement.
He opened a school in Rome.
Justin was martyred in Rome about 165

140-160 Marcion

From Pontus on the Black Sea, Marcion arrived in Rome in 140.
He made a fortune as a shipowner
His father was a bishop and excommunicated him.
Marcion believed that the God of the Old Testament was different from the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Marcion taught that the God of the OT was unknowable and sheer justice. The God of the NT was revealed and was loving and gracious.
The church of Rome excommunicated him in 144.
Justin Martyr said Marcion was aided by the devil to blaspheme and den that God was the creator.
Tertullian wrote “Against Marcion” about 207 and called him a formidable foe of true Christian doctrine.
Marcion stated that Jesus was notborn of a woman but suddenly appeared in the synagogue at Capernaum in 29 AD.
He taught that since creation was not the work of the true God the body must be denied.
Marcion recognized Polycarp in Rome in 155 and Polycarp replied, “I recognize you as the firstborn of Satan.”
The followers of Marcion were called Marcionites. Constantine absolutely forbade their meeting for worship. Most were absorbed into newer heretical teaching of Mani and Manicheism. There were reports of them in the 400’s. The council at Trullo 692 made provision for the reconciliation of Marcionites. There was lingering remains as late as the 900’s.

KEY POINTS (back to the top)

OTHER SITES (back to the top)

Roman Emperors
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_Emperors
- http://www.roman-emperors.org/impindex.htm
List of Popes with links to each Pope
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
A Cross Reference Table of the Development of the Canon of the New Testament. You can see who accepted which book (Great Site)
- http://www.ntcanon.org/table.shtml

BOOKS from Galyn's Shelf: (back to the top)

Ante-Nicene Fathers, by Alexander Roberts, D.D. and James Donaldson, LL.D., 10 volumes, Hendrickson Pulishers, Peabody, Mass. 1995
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, by Philip Schaff, 14 volumes, Hendrickson Pulishers, Peabody, Mass. 1995
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, by Philip Schaff, 14 volumes, Hendrickson Pulishers, Peabody, Mass. 1995
History of the Christian Church by Philip Schaff, five volumes, Eerdmans Printing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1910
Great Leaders of the Christian Church by John D. Woodbridge, Moody Press, Chicago, 1988
The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History by A. Kenneth Curtis, J. Stephen Lang, Randy Petersen, Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, 2004
Christianity Through the Centuries, by Earle E. Cairns, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996
Dictionary of Christian Biography, edited by Michael Walsh, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2001
A Dictionary of Christian Biography, by Henry Wace, D.D. and William C. Piercy, M.A., Hendrickson PUblishers, Peabody, Mass., 1994
A History of Christianity, by Kenneth Scott Latourette, two volumes, Prince Press, an imprint of Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, 2003
Exploring Church History, by Perry Thomas, World Publishing, Nashville, TN, 2005
Chronological and Background Charts of Church History, by Robert C. Walton, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1986
Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead and Samuel S. Hill, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1985
The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations, by Ron Rhodes, Harvest House PUblishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1995
Nelson's Guide to Denominations, by J. Gordon Melton, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tenn., 2007
Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity, by Francis Legge, University Books, New Hyde Park, NY, 1965
The Heritics, by Walter Nigg, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1962
Heresies, by Harold O.J. Brown, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Mass., 1988
Documents of the Christian Church, by Henry Bettenson, Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 1967
Early Christian Doctrines, J. N. D. Kelly, Prince Press, an imprint of Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, 2003
Christendom, Roland H. Bainton, Harper and Row, Pulishers, New York, NY, 1966
Eerdmans' Handbook to the History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1977
Principles of Monasticism, by Maurus Wolter, B. Herder Book Co., London, 1962
History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages, by Etienne Gilson, Mandom House, New York, NY, 1955
The Reformation, by Earnest G. Schwiebert, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN, 1996
The Apostolic Fathers, by J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1984
God's Peoples, by Paul R. Spickard and Kevin M. Cragg, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994

QUESTIONS (back to the top)