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