This article and accompanying timeline present an overview of the history of the church which claims the name of Christ.

Neither the article nor the timeline is intended to be comprehensive. They simply highlight individuals, events, and objects. The timeline covers two millennia while this article primarily presents an overview of the early years of Christianity through the 5th century.

THE CHURCH FOUNDED

From the early disciples’ perspective, one could easily have the view that the church founded by Christ would soon be fully victorious. It was founded upon the powerful truth that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus even stated,

“…the powers of hades would not prevail against it [the church].” (Mt. 16:16-18)

Jesus preached salvation from sin and exhibited mercy, compassion and hope. He worked miracles of healing both physical and spiritual. Though he often spoke in parables, the people embraced him and would have made him a king had he permitted it.

Jesus’ full mission remained veiled even from his closest disciples. Though he spoke of his death, it conflicted with their understanding of his purpose, and they were shocked when they witnessed his humiliation and death. In fear and despair they were scattered. Peter’s pain of denial was unbearable until three days later word came of an empty tomb. Their hopes revived as they witnessed a resurrection power which confirmed beyond any doubt that death had no power over him, and that his life even transcended the human. Perhaps they now saw Jesus as empowered and ready to lead them in completing his mission – the restoration of Israel. (Acts 1:6)

THE CHURCH COMMISSIONED

Immediate victory was not on the horizon. Instead Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure to the Father. They were to remain behind as his representatives until his return. He commissioned them to make disciples from the nations through a baptism like unto his. He promised them that they would not be alone. A comforter would come that would lead them into all truth and empower them.

During his ministry the disciples never understood his full mission. Now they had a promise of a leading into “all” truth and a promise of power. On the Day of Pentecost, wind and fire imbued these disciples with a power beyond human ability. Miraculous gifts, the preaching of salvation, and 3000 converts suggested that the church could now be victorious as these first believers would carry this message to their homelands.

However, the joy of this first victory was soon tempered when the fledgling church met resistance as they experienced the Master’s words,

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

They saw Peter and John thrown into prison, and Stephen stoned to death. Their Jewish brothers rejected the good news of salvation. Saul of Tarsus pursued and imprisoned those of the Way until his own miraculous conversion made him Christ’s special servant unto the Gentiles.

THE CHURCH FORGED

The church’s message is one of truth and beauty. Yet the human heart is often cold and hard as it denies its need for repentance and reliance upon a Creator. As the church spread, resistance always met it. The initial Jewish persecution broadened to include persecutions from Herod, pagan peoples, and even the Roman government. Rather than destroy the church, these persecutions forged and spread the church. It deepened the resolve and commitment of the true while keeping out the curious.

Persecutions were generally isolated and of short term; yet there were determined efforts to destroy the church. Some of these persecutions used hideous tortures. The persecution instigated by Nero may have claimed the lives of both Peter and Paul. In the early 4th century, the Roman emperors Diocletian and Galerius directed the severest persecutions. Then it abruptly ceased. Co-emperor Constantine, a sun-worshiper, saw a vision and attributed a subsequent decisive victory to the Christian God. He became emperor of the western empire and in 313 granted Christians an equal standing among other religions.

Satan used various attacks upon the church. Persecution was an attempt to destroy the church from the outside. When outside persecution ceased, a far worse persecution was already growing from within the confines of the church. As the church grew, heresy and false teachings threatened the church internally. These differences often caused division and abuse of power. Retaliation often came from both sides of the issues. This spirit would continue to grow until centuries later the practices of the Inquisition used torture and death in the name of Christ. The Inquisition existed well into the 19th century.

The Reformation did not remove this evil. Michael Servetus was burned at the stake for his views on the trinity, baptism, and soul-death. Some of the church consistories became milder reflections of the Inquisition. This persecution was the antithesis of Jesus’ new commandment to love one another. It violated his message to pray for our enemies and to leave vengeance to God. Such was never perpetrated or condoned by true believers. How did such a corrupt force enter the church?

 

APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY CHALLENGED

Doctrinal differences in the early centuries were often labeled heresy (belief against established doctrine). These issues presented significant challenges to the church. As these issues were debated, it’s obvious that the victors were often the most powerful rather than the most correct. One of the greatest battles of the early church was against false teachers, for even the Apostles’ authority was challenged in their day. (Acts 20:26-31, 2 Cor. 11:12-15, 2 Tim. 4:14-16, 3 John 9-10, Jude 3-4, 2 Peter 2:1-3)

If the Apostles were challenged, can we imagine the challenge that came upon that 2nd century church after the Apostles’ direct influence was gone?(Matt. 13:25)

The Apostle’s exhortations had been to defend the faith and to keep the message that they had delivered. Defense was to be done within the spirit and framework of God’s will. The church proceeds in the power of God. Its weapons are never carnal but spiritual. Yet the adversary used every conceivable weapon to destroy the church. As a result many well-meaning individuals retaliated with carnal weapons rather than the spiritual powers of love, prayer, and submission to the will of God. The roots of power and control began to grow. The great apostasy was in progress. (2 Thess. 2:7; 1 John 4:3)

Problems came upon the church in many variations. The Corinthian church was a prime example of problems: divisions, immorality, misuse of gifts, the Lord’s supper misapplied, and law suits among the brethren. The early church also contended against Jewish and Greek influences, pagan rituals and Rome’s dominance. Heresy presented another danger from the earliest days. In Paul’s day, some taught that the resurrection was past and upset the faith of some.

After the Apostles died, the oversight of the church was transferred to others, or perhaps was assumed by others. During the 2nd century divergent teachings abounded. Gnosticism and Montanism became serious threats. These and other lines of thought generated much debate which developed threads of dogma from which creeds were later woven. Salvation was evolving beyond a faith commitment in Christ to something that hinged upon a belief structure founded in dogma and reliance in an authoritarian hierarchy.

A major controversy centered around the person of Christ and his relationship to the Father. Though they viewed Christ as Savior, it is evident that these debaters had lost sight of that foundation truth expressed by Peter. Many attempted to define Christ within the confines of Greek philosophy rather than Jewish heritage. This was the basis of the incarnate logos reasoning.

Another reasoning (Sabellius 215) taught that God manifests himself in various personalities. God the Father came to earth as God the Son. At Pentecost, he came as God the Holy Spirit. This is called modalism or oneness as God manifests himself in many modes – one mode at a time. God is not limited to a trinity, but God is able to extend himself as he continues to manifest himself differently as one God. Servetus and Swedenborg held similar views. This teaching is called Oneness by some modern-day Pentecostal groups.

Arius presented another common view at Nicaea. Among his teachings are: 1) God alone is unbegotten and eternal; 2) God created an independent being, a son; 3) this son resolved to do good and eventually acquired divine qualities; 4) through this son all other creation was made; 5) below the son is the holy spirit – a being created by the son.

Some viewed these teachings as fundamental doctrines upon which salvation was based. Yet one wonders, if such were so essential for salvation, why did not God explain this clearly from the beginning through his Son and the Apostles?

CREEDS

Constantine was instrumental in changing the course of the church. Beyond making Christianity an acceptable religion, he did much to enhance its position and reputation through gifts, money and buildings. He saw himself as a chosen servant of the “highest divinity.” Some suspect that he used Christianity for political purposes. It is known that he delayed baptism until his death to guarantee salvation.

Constantine convened and presided over the Council of Nicaea in 325. Of 1800 bishops, only 318 were present to decide the issues. The major issue of this council was the person of Christ.

Though the bishops debated the issue, it was Constantine who decided the matter. Directed by a Spanish bishop, he formally worded the crucial formula expressing the relationship of Christ to God. Christ is “true God from true God.” Awed by the emperor, many bishops signed the creed against their inclinations. The teachings of Arius were denounced. It is ironic that Constantine would later be baptized at death by Eusebius, an Arian.

In the years following, debate would continue to define the person of the Holy Spirit. Finally, at the Council of Constantinople (381), the Holy Spirit was declared to be God and the trinity became doctrine. Further refinement of the trinity continues to this day. This type of reasoning also raised Mary to a point of reverence as Mother of God, and she was declared such during the Council of Ephesus (431). At the Council of Chalcedon (451), Jesus was declared to be eternally human as well as divine. The creed was modified to reflect this.

The best known creed is the ‘Apostles’ Creed. It is claimed to be the oldest creed, but little evidence exists that it predates the 8th century. It is strictly a western creed and not recognized by the Orthodox church. Some consider it to be an evolution from baptismal statements after the manner of Mt 28:19. Yet this same scripture is widely recognized to be in question. The oldest known baptismal creed is that of Marcellus (340). All scholars agree that the Apostles did not compose this creed.

Beside the creeds, which are precise statements of faith, other doctrines were being formulated and practiced. By the end of the fifth century, the following were well entrenched in the church: exorcism, prayers for the dead, eternal torture, belief in purgatory, infant and deathbed baptism, penances, the Lord’s Supper as a new sacrifice, veneration of martyrs, adoration of Mary, a ritualistic and ceremonial priesthood, and a positioned papal system. The creeds and false doctrines were Satan’s attempt to confuse the truth and to destroy Christianity.  For example, the new views of baptism hid the purpose of the call of God and the meaning of baptism into Christ’s death.

EPISCOPATE DEVELOPS

After the Apostles died, another problem arose regarding authority in the church. At first, the church officers were the elders and deacons. All elders were of the same rank. Then this organization began to change. Stronger or more resourceful elders became known as bishops (episcopos), and the elders and deacons became subordinate to a bishop. These bishops were called monarchical as they had all authority for a specific church. Ignatius, a bishop, wrote “Do ye all follow your bishop as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Do nothing without the bishop“ Later bishops were of other levels such as diocesan, metropolitan, patriarchal and eventually papal. The episcopate system developed rapidly in the 2nd century.

The episcopate structure continues today in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist, and Orthodox Churches. A derivative of the episcopate was the development of a clergy that made a sharp division among members of the church. The clergy became permanent officers ordained by the laying on of hands (Holy Orders), while the laity were ordinary members.  This type of structure tends to make one a ruler rather than a servant of the flock.

WORLDLINESS

Another danger which threatened the church from the earliest days was worldliness. Christians witnessed and shared their faith, and the new converts exhibited various levels of commitment. Some became Christians for selfish reasons. (Acts 5:1-11, 8:18-24) The Apostles recognized this spirit readily and addressed it with authority.

As the church grew, Satan saw another opportunity to attack the church from within by weakening it with the principles and cares of the world. Often converts did not completely divest themselves of their pagan customs and moralities. This was manageable when Christianity was persecuted and converts were few. Then in 313, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which made Christianity an acceptable religion, and the heathen world began to flood into the church. The small church was overwhelmed by a worldly influence.

During the first three centuries the church was extended in peaceful ways. Now it began to extend itself through numbers and force rather than truth and love. Quantity rather than quality prevailed. Many rejected this new spirit, and the existing monastic groups may have benefited. Yet the quiet monastic life is the other extreme. Though monks did many good works, this lifestyle did not guarantee Christlikeness. Some orders, such as the Dominicans, became intimately involved with the Inquisition.

CANON DEVELOPED

As the church spread through the Roman Empire, Paul revisited the churches. However, travel was long and difficult, and it was not always feasible to address church problems in a personal manner. Thus the Apostles wrote letters of encouragement and direction to stand firm in the original teachings. These letters were often shared among the churches. In turn other brethren began to write letters. Clement addressed the church at Corinth. Paul mentions Clement in Philippians 4:3. Polycarp, a disciple of John, Ignatius, Justin and others wrote many letters and essays relative to their faith. These writings accumulated and later became references for those who considered the various doctrinal issues.

One of the most prolific Christian writers was Origen. His influence was eastern and much of his thought spiritualized doctrines such as the second coming, the millennium and the kingdom. The many authors and writings often caused more confusion than clarification upon subjects. They were often referenced posthumously to prove points never intended by the author. Writings of Tertullian and Origen were later used to support the trinity and an incarnate logos concept. Yet both viewed Christ as subordinate to the Father. Tertullian became a strong Montanist which was heretical. Today, churchianity would reject much of their other thinking.

Attempts were made to establish a canon (standard) from the early writings. Perhaps the first great attempt was done by Marcion, who was also considered a heretic. Irenaeus, who quoted often from the Apostles’ writings, was the first to state that there were only four valid gospel accounts from the many used in his day. New Testament canon was finalized through the efforts of many, particularly Athanasius around 367. The accepted Jewish writings (Greek Septuagint) were included as the Old Testament.

Though compiled, it was not available to anyone except the scholars or the high ranking clergy. It was in Greek, and then partially translated into other languages such as Coptic, Gothic, and several Latin versions, until Jerome made a standard Latin version called the Vulgate. It would be centuries before the complete Bible would be written in the vernacular and made accessible to the people.

Today’s Bibles are translations from manuscripts and fragments dated not earlier than the 2nd century, or revisions of the King James. No original writings are known to exist.

SUMMARY

The invisible church has suffered the attacks of Satan, but Jesus’ words ring true that the “gates of hades will not prevail against it.” The church is Christ’s body, and it shares in his experiences while being transformed into his image. He will continue to nourish his body.

The visible church system that bears the name of Christ has had a very sad history. Many evils have been said and done in the name of Christ. Jesus said it would be so. (Mt. 7:15-23; 2 Tim. 2:14-19) We desire to be called Christians. We should claim the name of Christ with boldness, while appreciating the unique privilege and the responsibility that comes with it. John 4:24

– Ken Osterman

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