The History

of the Church

Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2006

Introduction
The Church persecuted is the
Church pure, and the church
popular is the Church polluted-source unknown

A Brief Summary
I. New Testament Church: Plurality of Elders
in Each Independent Self-Governing Church
II. Subapostolic Church: Same as NT Church
III. Early Post-Apostolic Church: One Bishop
Over Elders in Each Church
IV. Pre-Medieval Church: Regional Bishops Over
Area Churches
V. Medieval Church: One Bishop of Rome Over
All Churches
VI. Modern Church: One Infallible Bishop of
Rome Over All Churches

The General Councils of the

Church
1. First Council of Nicea (325)

Condemned Arianism as heretical

Affirmed the Trinity and full Deity of Christ
Asserted that Bishops can only be appointed by Bishops
Excommunication can only be by a Bishop
Bishops have authority only over their own region

2. First Council of Constantinople (381)

Affirmed Nicean Creed

Proclaimed Deity of Holy Spirit
United with Eastern Church on the Nicean Creed
Emperor Theodosius founded a Christian State
Paganism was condemned by the State

Note: The Theodotian Code (438) was later modified by the

Justinian Code (539) that separated religious and civil matters
to State and Church respectively.

The General Councils of the

Church

3. Council of Ephesus (431)

Condemned Nestorianism (2 persons in Christ)

Called Mary the the God-bearer (the Mother of God)
or better, of Mother of Jesus, the God-Man

4. Council of Chalcenon (451)

Condemned Eutchianism (Monophysitism)

Affirmed the three previous Councils
Acknowledged an Archbishop over Bishops
Asserted its authority to excommunicate Bishops
Gave New Rome (Constantinople) the same privileges
as Old Rome, saying, Old Rome only had such privileges
because it was the royal city (Canon 28)

The General Councils of the

Church

5. Second Council of Constantinople (553)

Affirmed the perpetual virginity of Mary

Condemned Pope Virgilius as heretical
Condemned Arianism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism,
Monotholitism, and Adoptinism

6. Third Council of Constantinople (680)

Reaffirmed the five prior Councils
Condemned Pope Honorius for teaching heresy
Condemned Monothelitism (which affirmed Christ has only
one will)
Called Mary Our holy Lady, the holy, immaculate, ever-virgin
and glorious Mary, truly and properly the Mother of God
Claimed to be illuminated by the Holy Spirit and inspired
by the Holy spirit as well as clean from all error, certain,
and infallible

The General Councils of the Churc

7. Second Council of Nicea (787)

It ruled in favor of icons and venerating images

It pronounced anathama on all who did not venerate icons
It made a theoretical distinction between worship of God
and veneration of images (not followed in practice)
[An alternate (iconoclatic) Council condemned it as idolatry]
It forbid secular appointment of Bishops (thus solidifying the
authority of the Church over the State)
It affirmed the Primacy of Peter and apostolic succession
It proclaimed the holy Roman Church which has prior rank,
which is the head of all the Churches of God
[Note: This conflicts with the Council of Chalcenon (451)]
This is the last Council which the Eastern Church accepts

The General Councils of the Chur

8. Fourth Council of Constantinople (869)
Last of the Councils called by an Emperor
It affirmed the filiogue clause (that the Holy Spirit
Proceeded from the Son, as well as from the Father)
It condemned the schism of Photius, Patriarch of
Constantinople who challenged the filioque clause

9. First Lateran Council (1123)

First Council called by a Pope (Callistus)
It affirmed the Concordat of Worms (1122) which
granted the Pope, not the Emperor, the right to
invest a Bishop with ring and staff and to receive
homage

The General Councils of the

Church
10. Second Lateran Council (1139)
Convoked by Pope Innocent II to reform the Church
Condemned the schism of Arnold of Bresia who
spoke against confession to a priest rather than to
another lay person

11. Third Lateran Council (1179)

Convened by Pope Alexander III to counter antiPope Callistus III
It affirmed that the right to elect a Pope was
restricted to the college of Cardinals
The vote for Pope must be by 2/3 majority

The General Councils of the

Church
12. Fourth Lateran Council (1215)
Called by Pope Innocent III
Affirmed Transsubstantiation, primacy of Bishop of Rome, and
Seven Sacraments
Set up Office of the Inquisitors to investigate heresy and
turned them over to the State for punishment

13. First Council of Lyon (1245)

Convoked by Pope Innocent IV to heal five wounds of the
Church: 1) Moral decadence of clergy; 2) Danger of Saracens
(Muslims whom the Crusaders fought); 3) Schism with Eastern
Church; 4) Invasion of Hungary by Tartars; 5) The Rupture
between Church and emperor Frederick II
Only minor reforms were made
Frederick II was condemned for imprisoning Cardinals and
Bishops on their way to the Council

The General Councils of the

Church
14. Second Council of Lyon (1274)
14. Second Council of Lyon (1274)

Convened by Pope Gregory X to bring union with Eastern Church,

to liberate the Holy Land, and to reform morals in the Church
Defined the filioque clause and achieved short-live union with
Eastern Church (which ended in 1289)
Approved newly founded orders including Dominicans and
Franciscans (Albert the Gt. and Boniventure attended but Aquinas
died on the way to the Council
[Aquinas affirmed the authority of Pope to form a creed]

15. Council of Vienne (1311-1312)

Called by Pope Clement V to deal with Templars (a military order
of Church accused of heresy and immorality)
It announced reforms, suppressed Templars, gave aid to Holy
Land, encouraged missions, made decrees concerning Inquisition
(which Frederick II formed in 1232)

 16.

The General Councils of the

Church
Council of Constance (1413-1418)

Convoked by Pope John XXII to end the great schism of three Popes at once,
to reform the Church, and to combat heresy
It condemned John Wycliffe (in 1415) after his death (in 1384) (His follower
John Huss was burned at the stake)
Claimed that an Ecumenical Council has authority over the Pope
This Council holds its power direct from Christ; everyone, no matter his rank
of office, even if it is papal, is bound to obey it in whatever pertains to faith

17. Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence (1431-1437)

Convened by Pope Martin V for union with the Eastern Church
It focused on Procession of Holy Spirit, Purgatory, and Primacy of the Pope on
which the Eastern Church temporarily agreed
After Constantinople was taken by Turks (1453) many Eastern Bishops
recanted and pronounced the Council of Basel heretical.
Immaculate Conception of Mary declared biblical and Catholic
[Later declared dogma by Pope Pius IX, 1854]

The General Councils of the

Church

18. Fifth Lateran Council (1512-1517)

Called by Pope Julius II to invalidate anti-papal Council of Pisa convened

by Louis XII of France
A Few minor reforms were instituted.
The main issues were not treated by the Council.
[An Augustinian Monk named Luther did treat them in His 95 Thesis
posted October 31, 1517]

19. Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Convoked by Pope Paul III to counter the Reformation
It infallibly pronounced Purgatory, indulgences, veneration of saints and
images, prayers for the dead, the canonicity of the Apocrypha, the
necessity of good works for salvation, seven sacraments,
transubstantiation, and tradition as a second source of revelation.
[1854--Immaculate Conception declared dogma by Pope Pius IX]

Note: Many Protestants believe Rome apostatized here

The General Councils of the

20. First Vatican CouncilChurch
(1869-1870)

Convened by Pope Pius IX to denounce pantheism, materialism, and atheism

It ruled that the Pope is infallible on faith and practice
The Popes definitions are irreformable of themselves, and not from the
consent of the Church
Note: this contradicts Council of Constance (1413-1418)
[1950-- Pope Pius XII proclaimed The Bodily Assumption of Mary a dogma]

21. Second Vatican Council (1962-1963)

Called by Pope John XXIII based on inspiration from God

Failed in attempt at union with Eastern Church
Called Protestants separated brethren
Instituted minor changes in ritual (e.g., language of Mass)
Claimed sincere non-Christians can be saved (Inclusivism)
Note: This conflicts with earlier teaching of Rome that
there is no salvation outside the Church

A Brief Summary
I. New Testament Church: Plurality of Elders
in
Each Independent Self-Governing Church
II. Subapostolic Church: Same as NT Church
III. Early Post-Apostolic Church: One Bishop
Over Elders in Each Church
IV. Pre-Medieval Church: Regional Bishops Over
Area Churches
V. Medieval Church: One Bishop of Rome
Over All
Churches
VI. Modern Roman Church: One Infallible Bishop of
Rome Over All Churches [Eastern Orthodox,
Anglicans, and Protestants disagree]

Universal
Invisible
Church

Local Church

Visible
One Church
Many Churches
An Organism
An Organization
Only Saved Members
Saved and Lost
Members
Dead and Living
Members
Only Living Members
Whole Body of Christ
Only Part of Body of
Christ
Christ is the Invisible
Head
Christ is the Invisible
Head
No Elders or Deacons
Elders and Deacons
No Ordinances
Two Ordinances
No Denominations
Many Denominations
Note: All true believers belong
to the same univer
Indestructible
(Catholic) invisible church.
Differences are in the
Destructible
visible church.

The Church: Unity or

Uniformity

Unanimity means absolute concord of opinion within a given group of people.

Uniformity is complete similarity of organization or of ritual.
Union implies political affiliation without necessarily including individual
agreement.
Unity requires oneness of inner heart and essential purpose, through the
possession of a common interest or a common life. (M. Tenney, Gospel of John,
John,
248)

Note: Jesus prayed for unity (Jn. 17:11), not for uniformity (unanimity or union).

The Essentials of the

Faith

Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2006

Doctrinal Essentials of the Christian Faith

1. Human depravity
2. Marys virginity
3. Christs purity
4. Christs deity
5. Christs humanity
6. Gods unity
7. Gods tri-unity
8. The necessity of Gods grace
9. The necessity of our Faith
10. Christs atoning death
11. Christs bodily resurrection
12. Christs bodily ascension
13. Christ priestly intercession
14. Christs bodily return

All Major Sections of Christendom Affirm These

(Disagreements are about Govt and Practice)

The Apostles Creed

I believe [9] in God [6], the Father Almighty, the Creator

of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son,
our Lord [4]: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit [7],
born of the Virgin Mary [2, 3], suffered [10] under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died [5], and was buried.
(He descended into hell.) The third day He arose again
from the dead [11].
He ascended into heaven [12] and sits at the right hand
of God the Father [13] Almighty, whence He shall come
to judge the living and the dead [14] . I believe in the
Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [universal] church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness [8] of sins [1], the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting [14]. Amen.

Note: All 14 salvation doctrines are in this Creed .

Conclusions
1. The true church is not an organization (like
Roman Catholicism) but an organism (the
spiritual body of Christ).
2. Essential doctrinal unity exists among all
the major branches of Christianity.
3. The differences are primarily in church
government and practices.
4. The Reformation was needed because of
doctrinal and practical abuses).
5. Modern Restorationalist had the right
goal-to restore NT Christianity.
6. Todays Independent and Baptistic type
churches come closer to the NT model.

The Gradual Development of the

Roman Catholic Church

325--Bishops have authority over a whole region

381-- Emperor Theodosius founded a Christian State
451--Archbishop established over other Bishops
553--Perpetual virginity of Mary pronounced
680--Council claimed to be illuminated by the Holy Spirit and
clean from all error, certain, and infallible

Mary called Our holy Lady, the holy, immaculate, ever-virgin

and glorious Mary, truly and properly the Mother of God
787--It ruled in favor of icons and venerating images
It pronounced anathama on all who do not venerated icons
It forbid secular appointment of Bishops (thus solidifying the
authority of Religion over the State).
It affirmed the Primacy of Peter and apostolic succession
It claimed the holy Roman Church which has prior rank,
which is the head of all the Churches of God

The Gradual Development of

the Roman Catholic Church
869--It condemned the schism of Photius, Patriarch of
Constantinople who challenged the filioque clause.
1123--First Council called by a Pope (Callistus).
It affirmed the Concordat of Worms (1122) that the Pope, not
the Emperor, the right to invest a Bishop with ring and staff and
and receive homage
1139--Established right of priest, rather than God, to receive
confession of sins by condemning those who opposed it
1179--Convened by Pope Alexander III to counter anti-Pope
Callistus III

It affirmed that the right to elect a Pope was restricted to

the
college of Cardinals by 2/3 majority
1215--Affirmed Transsubstantiation, primacy of Bishop of
Rome,
and Seven Sacraments
Set up Office of the Inquisitors to investigate heresy and
turned them over to the State for punishment

The Gradual Development of

the Roman Catholic Church
1245--Frederick II was condemned for imprisoning Cardinals
and Bishop on their way to the Council.
1274--Aquinas affirmed authority of Pope to form a creed
1312--Affirmed decrees concerning Inquisition (which
Frederick
II made in 1232)
1415--It condemned John Wycliffe after his death (in 1384)
(His follower John Huss was burned at the stake)
Claimed Ecumenical Council has authority over the Pope
This Council holds its power direct from Christ; everyone,
no matter his rank of office, even if it is papal, is bound to
obey it in whatever pertains to faith
1431-1437--Affirmed Purgatory, and Primacy of the Pope
Immaculate Conception of Mary declared biblical and
Catholic [Later declared dogma by Pope Pius IX, 1854]

The Gradual Development of

the Roman Catholic Church
1512-1517--Pope Julius II invalidated anti-papal Council of
Pisa
convened by Louis XII of France
A Few minor reforms were instituted
The main issues of reform were not treated by the Council.
[Luther treated the issues in his Reformation by posting his
95 Thesis posted October 31, 1517]
1545-1563--Convoked to counter the Reformation
It infallibly pronounced Purgatory, indulgences, veneration of
saints and images, prayers for the dead, the canonicity of the
Apocrypha, the necessity of good works for salvation, seven
sacraments, transsubstantiation, and tradition as a second
source of revelation
1869-1870--It pronounced the Pope is infallible on faith
and
practice: The Popes definitions are irreformable of
themselves, and not from the consent of the Church

The Gradual Development of

the Roman Catholic Church
1950--The Bodily Assumption of Mary proclaimed dogma
by Pope Pius XII
1962-1963--Failed in attempt at union with Eastern
Church
Called Protestants separated brethren
Instituted minor changes in ritual (e.g., Mass in local
languages)
Claimed sincere non-Christians can be saved
[This conflicts with earlier teaching of Rome that
there is
no salvation outside the Church]

Note: No real change of objectionable

doctrines was made!