Chapell Meeks 3 A Church History General

Front 1

What is the value of studying church history?

Back 1

1. we learn from the example (positive & negative) of our predecessors - expanding our present and shaping our future.
2. prevents us from being abstract, theoretical and academic regarding truth
3. (through sin's patterns) we are informed of our abuses of the Word of God.

Front 2

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened Resurrection to 100 AD?

Back 2

The gospel began to spread through most of the Mediterranean region also reaching Mesopotamia, Syria, and likely India.

Front 3

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 100-325?

Back 3

2nd Century, the church spread into Gaul (France), Germany, and North Africa.

3rd Century Christianity moved into Persia and most of Asia Minor. Intense
Roman persecution spurred growth in Roman empire and beyond.

Front 4

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 325-600?

Back 4

Reached the British isles where Ireland became a sending off point for missionaries

Front 5

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 500-700?

Back 5

With the rise of Islam in the face of half-hearted Christianity, some areas like the Middle
East and North Africa, previously strongholds of the gospel became desolate of Christianity.

Front 6

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 700-1500?

Back 6

1. split of the Eastern and Western Church in 1050 and the
2. period of stagnation and damage of the crusades
3. Christianity began to make inroads into East Asia during the latter part of this period.

Front 7

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 1500-1600?

Back 7

Reformation led to a renewed push for missions and revival among churches

Front 8

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 1600-1800?

Back 8

Colonization leads to the spread of Christianity to America, Australia and Western and
Southern Africa.

Front 9

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 1800-1900?

Back 9

Modern missionary movement William Carey, Hudson Taylor, etc.

Front 10

Tracing the Spread of Christianity... What happened 1900-2000?

Back 10

The Gospel flourishes in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Front 11

What are the "Sola"s of the Reformation?

Back 11

Scriptura
Gratia
Fide
Gloria
Christo

Front 12

Expound on Sola Scriptura

Back 12

Scripture Alone - Scripture has normative priority over our theological insights, conclusions, systems.

1. "Formal principle" of the reformation - Scripture is the infallible source of rule, faith and practice.
2. Scripture is above popes, councils and monarchs
3. Tradition is helpful but secondary to the Word
4. Conscience bound only to Scripture (Luther at Worms)

Ps 138:2... you have exalted above all things your name and your word

1 Tim 3:14-17... able to make you wise unto salvation... breathed out... profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness, so the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Front 13

Expound on Sola Gratia

Back 13

Grace Alone - Salvation is God's free gift accomplished by Christ's saving death and resurrection. Righteousness comes by God's free gift of grace alone through faith.

1. The ground of salvation is God's grace alone
2. The only active power in justification is God's grace alone
3. Is in opposition Romish views of human works or will

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Front 14

Expound on Sola Fide

Back 14

Faith Alone. Justification and God's grace are received through faith by accepting Christ's merits on one's behalf.

1. The “material principle” of the reformation was justification by faith alone.
2. Faith includes knowledge, assent and trust
3. Was in opposition to the Romish sacramental system

WCF 9.2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.

Gal 3:10-11 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith."

Front 15

Expound on Sola Deo Glory

Back 15

Glory be to God Alone

1. God alone is worthy of all praise and honor
2. Universal priesthood of believers
3. In opposition to dichotomy or sacred/secular – restored the dignity of ordinary life
"The whole praise of salvation rest with God alone; for the angels do not bring help to whomever they wish to help, nor are they moved by their own will; they only obey the will of God."
4.Sovereignty of God over every aspect of the believer’s life. All of life is to be lived to the glory of God.

WSC Question 1 What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

1 Cor 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Rom 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Front 16

Expound on Sola Christo

Back 16

Christ Alone

1. Scripture is centered on Christ
2. Christ alone is mediator - In opposition to Romish idea of coming through the saints or Mary
3. The reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man, and that salvation was by Christ’s work alone.

1 Tim 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Front 17

Briefly discuss the development of "covenant theology"

Back 17

1. Begins in Scripture and to some extent developed by Augustine.
2. What we know as covenant theology first appeared in the works of Zwingli and Bullinger.
3. Calvin really only has it in seed form.
4. It gained greater strength among 17th century theologians where it became known as federal theology.
5. Ursinus and especially Olevianus, the founder of a well-developed federal theology, developed the
understanding of the covenant of works and the covenant of grace and subordinated the covenant to the doctrine of election.
6. Cocceius stressed the Biblical theology approach of looking at the covenant history (pre-Vos). Prior to this century, covenant theology saw the covenant as a contractual agreement between God entered into with man.
7. With more recent language and archaeological discoveries, covenant theology has come to emphasize the relationship between God and man as a vassal relationship, patterned after the covenants of that time, established and maintained by God’s grace.
8. This theology places emphasis on God's gracious and faithful dealing with mankind.