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Church Government - Coggle Diagram
Church Government
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Church Councils & Heresy
as church grew geographically & numerically threatened by: Persection,
Schism,
Heresy
4 different strategies to combat: Bishops, Canon, Councils & Creeds
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Canon of Scripture
Canon= books of New Testament,
origins meant measuring rod/ standard/ list,
came to mean authoritative standard
CR Gregory- "many christians.... think that in the first half of the second century in some mysterious way the Spirit of God collected the whole of the New Testament in a single book.... The facts are very different"
two main stages:
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further 200 years when bounds of NT fixed with general agreement at Council of Carthage in AD 397
Council of Carthage end of 4th century general agreement of what in canon
Cyprian (mid 3rd century) NT compromised of- 4 gospels, Acts, Paul's letters to 7 churches, Timothy & Titus, 1 Peter, 2 John & Apocalypse
didn't mention some different books- like other western chhurches probable knew it but didn't rate it as scripture (FF Bruce)
Origen didn't leave distinct NT list comparable to OT list, however Eusebius built up picture of what Origen thought as canonical from writings
Origen distinguished certain books from doubtful books- accepted:
4 gospels
Paul's epistles
Acts
1 Peter
1 John
Revelation
James and Jude= Accepted
2 & 3 John, Hebrews = disputed by some
2 Peter= doubtful
21 books= genuine, 2= accepted, 3= disputed by some and 1= doubtful
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AD 397- Council of Carthage, general agreement of canon of NT
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Creeds
believed that the root of all creeds lies in the rite of baptism (initially where they all come from)
Lietzmann said-".... that the root of all creeds is the formula of belief pronounced by the baptised, or pronounced in his hearing and assented to by him, before his baptisms"
Kelly agrees saying- "... it was precisely for a formal affirmation of belief to be rehearsed by the catechumen at baptism which instigated the church to invent creeds in the first place"
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contained a: Single Clause- 'I believed', Binitarian- belief in Jesus & God and Trinitarian creeds- Father, Son and Holy Spirit
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often answer to problems church was facing e.g. Creed of Nicea came from Council of Nicea in response to threat of Gnosticism
Creeds in Apostolic Fathers: Didache, 1 Clement, Hermas, Ignatius, Polycarp
Creeds in Apologists: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian
Conciliar Creeds: Creed of Nicaea- came from council of Nicaea in AD325
Apostles' Creed
Old Roman Creed
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New Testament
Jesus
In NT Jesus appointed disciples- taught them, explained truth to them, led by example, rebuked & encouraged them
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After Jesus died disciples became 'Apostles' meaning 'the sent ones' since had been commissioned to "go and make disciples of all nations"
The Great Commission- Matthew 28
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Paul
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Seven offices were: Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracle Workers, Healers, Helpers, Administrators
Apostles, Prophets and Teachers became Bishops, Elders and Deacons
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Ignatius
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went from apostles, prophets and teachers to bishops, presbyters & deacons