- Ambrose was an influential bishop of Milan who stood up to emperors to assert the independence of the Church. Augustine was a theologian who wrote Confessions and City of God and helped develop the theology of grace and original sin. Leo the Great helped increase the influence of the papacy, establishing the Bishop of Rome as the preeminent bishop and defining the Pope's role as the "Supreme Pontiff".

1. Heresy
A belief contrary to some essential belief of the
faith.
Counters MAJOR issues (not just opinions like the
color of the building or stuff like that); sincere
convictions and attempts to understand faith;
oftentimes, it’s a partial truth.

2. Gnostics
All matter is evil  human body is evil  Jesus
CANNOT be human … because how can Jesus/God
be evil?
THEREFORE … Jesus only appeared to be
human.
Also, only they had the “secret knowledge”
(secret gnosis) about salvation … basically, they
knew which doormat had the key to heaven
hidden under it, and no one else knew the
secret password.

3. ANTI-Gnostics
Irenaeus ~ bishop of Lyons … we need to be on
the same page about this “Jesus” in whom we
believe (from Council of Jerusalem); there are
some basic beliefs that need to be agreed upon.
By 200, Apostles Creed (formulated statement
of faith)
Gnostics, for the most part, end here.

4. Arians
Priest Arius thinks “unknowable unreachable
unchangable God could never take the form of a
human being” … because, well, then the unchangable
would have changed.
God made Jesus  Jesus must be less than God
(because you can’t create something greater than yourself)
& there had to be a time when God existed without
Jesus (before Jesus was created).
Jesus is neither human nor divine … just
somewhere in between.

5. Council of Nicea
Convened by Constantine (emperor?!?) in 325
1st ecumenical (worldwide) council; 300+ come
“Arius is a heretic!!!”
Nicene Creed … Jesus is not “made by” but
“one with” God  BOTH human AND divine (as
opposed to Arianist “neither human nor divine”); FULLY
human and FULLY God
Defining moment … creed is still used today.

6. Arianism Continues On
Very popular heresy, especially in the East
Bishop of Constantinople was Arian
Some emperors are Arian, others are orthodox
Each emperor pulls opposing bishops, and puts
in their own  Arian emperor, Arian bishops;
orthodox emperor, orthodox bishops
So really, no one knows quite WHAT to believe
… because it keeps changing!

7. Athanasius vs. the Arians
Bishop Athanasius ~ made in the image of God
“The Word of God became man so that you
might learn from a man how a man may become
God” … Jesus is a model we can understand; he
speaks our language; we can identify with him.
Jesus:God::brightness:light  inseparable;
“Jesus is the brilliant reflection of God”
Removed from Bishopship five times by four
emperors; exiled for 17 years.

8. Theodosius Ends Arianism … sort of
380 … outlaws paganism and makes
Christianity the official/required religion
392 … outlaws Arianism (after all, Arianism is a
Christian heresy, which is different from paganism and
was therefore legal)
395 … Christianity (as practiced/taught by the
anti-Arian church) becomes the ONLY religion
allowed in the Roman Empire.
HOWEVER … Arianism lingers on, especially in
the East; becomes issue in the Great E/W Schism

9. Donatists
Priest Donatus
Apostasy is unforgivable  apostate bishops
are unforgivable … and therefore are unable to
perform sacraments “correctly”
In other words, the validity of the sacrament
depends on the worthiness of the minister.
SO … if your priest has sinned, then that’s not
really the Body & Blood of Jesus that you’re
receiving.

10. Augustine vs. the Donatists
We’re all faulty flawed human beings … no one
is “worthy” or “holy” enough
The minister doesn’t “do” the sacrament …
rather, God performs it, THROUGH weak humans
Donatists don’t allow for God’s power & grace
In the process … Augustine really clarified the
Church’s understanding/theology of sacraments

11. Pelagians
Monk Pelagius was fed up with the moral laxity
of the day – people need to be held responsible
for their actions! But, it goes a bit too far …
You can get to heaven without grace (that
special inner help from God)  salvation comes
from working hard.
So … who needs God to get to heaven? Just do
enough good stuff & you’ll be set.

12. Augustine vs. the Pelagians
You can’t negate God’s grace!
Humans have this innate tendency towards sin
(original sin) … without God’s grace, we are
powerless to overcome this tendency.
Therefore, we NEED God’s grace to keep us on
track.
Think 12-Step Programs … admitting we are
powerless & need a Higher Power.
Becomes issue especially during Reformation –
salvation by faith or salvation by works.

13. Arianism Still a Problem
Still an issue, especially in the East and among
barbarian tribes
New twist … the divine part of Jesus gradually
“absorbed” the human part of Jesus  Jesus
had divine nature but not a human nature
LOTS of fights; Patriarch of Constantinople
(bishop of C’nople) killed in riots  Council
Syria & Ethiopia hold to this approach; split off
into the Jacobite church and Coptic church

14. Council of Chacedon
Pope Leo the Great (Leo I) in 451
Reasserted that Jesus had two natures – REAL
human and REAL Son of God
Reinforces teaching of Incarnation, that Jesus
is both God and man
Council, however, sets the stage for trouble
between the Eastern & Western churches

15. Patriarch of Constantinople
Council also decided that Bishop of Rome was
pre-eminent (most important) among all bishops
Patriarch of C’nople was second-in-command
Antioch & Alexandria mad, because they had been
second, been around 300 years longer, etc.
Leo unhappy, too, saw it as political – emperor
(living in C’nople) could mess with the church
Leads to 500+ years of tensions between Eastern
Church (led by patriarch) & Western (bish of Rome)

16. Ambrose, Augustine, Leo
Donatists, Pelagians, Confessions, City of God
Supreme Pontiff, Theodosius, Reluctant Folk
Council of Chalcedon
East & West Issues

17. Comic strip
Somehow, list of key names, events, etc.
Study/Review
Pages 73-81; 89-101
Quiz &

18. – Ambrose: The Reluctant Leader
• The People’s Choice ~ unbaptized Milan governor calmed mob disputing Arian bishop, “Amb for
bish”
• Administrator, Student, Teacher, and Pastor~ learn on feet; wrote LOTS of theology; scholar, pastor
• Courage in the Face of Imperial Power ~ stood up various emperors Chh force to be reckoned with
– Augustine: Longing for “the City of God” ~ Roman Africa; pagan father, Xian mother
• In Search of Meaning ~ smart carouser; Manichaean (one god creates good, one god creates bad 
no one responsible for own sins); Monica prays much for him; in Rome, found Plato, learned
single God & spiritual side of humans, met Ambrose; Ambrose message & Monica’s love won
out  reform
• From Convert to Bishop ~ The Confessions (bio); restless heart used to love God & serve; 33yo
baptized; started monastery in NAfr; priest, stayed single; elected bishop of Hippo by
congregation
• An Answer of Life’s Longing ~ weaksensitive; failneed for God; “hearts restless till rest in you”
• The City of God” ~ 410 Goths took Rome; RomEmp=selfish city of Man; Xty builds city
of God in chaos
• The Rising Influence of the Papacy ~ Chh fills vacuum of power with pope, bishop of
Rome
– Leo the Great: Redefining the Pope’s Role ~ 440; bishRome statesman, spir leader, admin,
scholar, saint
• The “Supreme Pontiff” ~Pontifex Maximus “highest bridgemaker”, previously used by emperors,
now Leo to show greatness of power; “Supreme Pontiff”; pappas Gk respectful affectionate
“father” when small Rome community had friendly leader; title shift office shift to powerful
state official
• The Pope as Peacemaker ~ Attila the Hun retreat by talk with pope at Emp request, Vandals not kill
– Leo and Church Controversies ~ lead in secular affairs; theological differences; Arianism in
East