Church History Part Three

Survey of Church History
Part 3: Development of the Papacy and Roman Catholicism
The Fullness of Time
The Church Promised
Matthew 16:15-19
– 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
– 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Organization of Church in New Testament
Roman Emperors
Persecution
Ten Persecutions
1. Nero (Roman emperor AD 54-68)
2. Domitian (Roman emperor AD 81-96)
3. Trajan (Roman emperor AD 98-117)
4. Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor AD 161-180)
5. Septimius Severus (Roman emperor AD 193-211).
6. Maximinus, Gaius Julius Verus (Roman emperor AD 235-238).
7. Decius (Roman emperor AD 249-251).
8. Valerian (Roman emperor AD 253-260).
9. Aurelian (Roman emperor AD 270-275).
10. Diocletian ( reigned AD 284-305) and Maximian (reigned AD 285-305)
Constantine’s Victory
Edict of Toleration 313
Christianity State Religion 323
Council of Nicea 325
Relocate Capitol to Constantinople 330
Advantages for Christians
Persecutions ceased
Church buildings rebuilt
Paganism discouraged

Improvements in Roman State
Crucifixion abolished
Slavery given certain rights
Gladiatorial contests repressed
Organization of Church in New Testament
Corruption of Elders
Corruption of Elders
Corruption of Elders
Corruption of Elders
Corruption of Elders
Church Buildings
Roman basilica
Ecumenical Church Councils (Synods)
Council of Nicea – 325 A.D. – 318 bishops – Nature and deity of Christ
First Council of Constantinople – 381 A.D. – 150 bishops – Incarnation of Jesus
Council at Ephesus – 431 A.D. – 158 bishops – Mary as God-bearer
Council at Chalcedon – 451 A.D. – 520 bishops – Jesus both man and God
Second Council of Constantinople – 553 A.D. – 150 bishops – Nature of Christ
Third Council of Constantinople – 680 A.D. – 289 bishops – Nature of Christ
Second Council at Nicea – 787 A.D. – 350 bishops – Condemnation of Images
Ecumenical Church Councils (Synods)
Laws enacted by Councils became Canon law binding equal with Scripture

Corruption of Priesthood
New Testament priesthood different from O.T.
– Matthew 23:8-10 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for one is your Father, He who is in heaven.10 And do not be called teachers; for one is your Teacher, the Christ.
Corruption of Priesthood
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Use of Images
Exodus 20:1-5 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image -- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Use of Images
Exodus 20:1-5 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image -- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Worship of Images
Catholic Church approves of and promotes the worship of images of Mary, saints, and angels
Altering the Scriptures
The Catholic Bible:
1. You shall not have any other gods beside me.
2. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
4. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him.
(Exodus 20:4-17, The New American Bible)
The Catholic Catechism:
1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
(The Teaching Of Christ, A Catholic Catechism For Adults, p.

Doctrinal Changes and Errors
Holy Water – 120 A.D.
Penance – 157 A.D.
Infant baptism – 175 A.D.
Latin mass – 394 A.D.
Extreme unction – 588 A.D.
Purgatory – 593 A.D.
Kissing the Pope’s toe – 709 A.D.
Transubstantiation – 1000 A.D.
Celibacy - 1015 A.D.
Auricular confession – 1215 A.D.

Survey of Church History
Part 3: Development of the Papacy and Roman Catholicism
Survey of Church History
Part One: Establishment and Spread of the Church in the First Century
Survey of Church History
Part Two: The Beginning of Apostasy