A History of the Church (Week 3)
Brent continued our series on a history of the early Christian church.
Towards the 3rd century the Church enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence despite the anti-Christian laws. In 284 AD Diocletian became the ruler of Rome. He was a brilliant leader and administrator who divided rule of his empire into eastern and western regions with heads who reported to him. Galerius, Maximian, and Constantius Chlorus helped Diocletian rule. Diocletian was open to Christianity; his wife and daughter were Christians.
Galerius who was pursuing extending the empire in the north began having problems with Christians in the military. Many soldiers had a crisis of conscience when they converted. Galerius was not content with kicking Christians out of the military. He demanded that Diocletian create an edict where soldiers who wouldn't recant their Christian faith be killed. This was extended to all Christians in the government. Then they began to burn Christian buildings. Diocletian rather impartially went along with Galerius's ideas until the imperial palace caught on fire. Galerius convinced Diocletian that the Christians were to blame and helped him produce a law where all Christians had to sacrifice to the Roman gods or be killed. This edict extended through most of the empire.
In 304 AD Diocletian became ill and retired, leaving Galerius in charge. Galerius forced Maximian out of office by threatening military force. Galerius replaced Maximian with a weak ruler who did whatever Galerius said. However, the sons of Maximian and Constantius Chlorus, were well respected military leaders who enjoyed much influence over the army and the people in the west.
In 311 AD Galerius becomes ill, and someone told him it was a result of his persecution of the Christians. In response Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration marking the official end of the persecution Christians in the Roman empire. Galerius died three days later.
The Labarum - A superimposed "X" (Greek: Chi) and "P" (Greek: Rho) representing the first two letters in Christ's name.
Constantine (son of Constantius Chlorus) saw his opportunity to take over, and went to battle against his former ally Maxentius (son of Maximian) . Before going to battle Constantine received a vision of the labarum (a symbol of Christ) and made it his army's banner. Under that symbol he won the battle and took over the Western portion of the Roman empire. Christians see this as Constantine's conversion to Christianity. He issues the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, reinforcing the end of persecution and adding the return of confiscated properties.
Brent finished up by discussing the various classifications of Christians who had gone through the persecution of the church.
Martyrs - People who didn't deny Christ in the face of persecution and were killed for their beliefs.
Confessors - People who didn't deny Christ in the face of persecution and somehow managed to live through it all.
The Lapsed - These people fled persecution or recanted temporarily before returning to the church.
Apostates - These people denied Christ in the face of persecution.
In the 4th century church martyrs and confessors enjoyed the highest respect among their peers. Confessors often became church leaders. And so a natural church hierarchy beganto emerge.
Next week we'll learn more about Constantine's beliefs and his impact on Christianity in the Roman empire.
Announcements
- May 1st Church Service Project - A sign up sheet is going around in class. More details to come!
- We continue to raise money for our car project.
- "What's your story?" also continues.