Age of the Christian Age of the Christian Roman Empire IIIRoman Empire III

Age of the Christian Age of the Christian Roman Empire IIIRoman Empire III

Augustine, East V. West, and the Augustine, East V. West, and the war of Theological Supremacywar of Theological Supremacy

Eusebius of CEusebius of Cæsarea c. 260-340æsarea c. 260-340

• The Father of Church HistoryThe Father of Church History

• Extreme ModerateExtreme Moderate

• A Historian but not a theologianA Historian but not a theologian

• Proposed compromise in Council of NicProposed compromise in Council of Nicæaæa

• Friend of ConstantineFriend of Constantine

• Bishop of CBishop of Cæsareaæsarea

Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus

St. Jerome 340-420St. Jerome 340-420• Scholar, Monk and TheologianScholar, Monk and Theologian• An ascetic who punished himself with An ascetic who punished himself with

grammargrammar• Promoted/Inspired Scholastic MonasticismPromoted/Inspired Scholastic Monasticism• Had a vision declaring him a Ciceronian, Had a vision declaring him a Ciceronian,

resulting in his giving up of the Classicsresulting in his giving up of the Classics• Passionate even to an overzealous degreePassionate even to an overzealous degree• Led a Monastery in Bethlehem where he Led a Monastery in Bethlehem where he

translated the Latin Vulgate Bibletranslated the Latin Vulgate Bible

Ambrose 340-397Ambrose 340-397• Through a miracle became bishop of MilanThrough a miracle became bishop of Milan• Sold his riches and gave to the poorSold his riches and gave to the poor• Emphasized that the Emperor is in the church Emphasized that the Emperor is in the church

not over it. not over it. • Denied Theodosius communion until he repented Denied Theodosius communion until he repented

for the massacre in Thessalonica for the massacre in Thessalonica • Played a large part in the conversion of Played a large part in the conversion of

AugustineAugustine• Died praying, with accompanied signs and Died praying, with accompanied signs and

miraclesmiracles

Aurelius AugustinusAurelius Augustinus

St. Augustine 354-430St. Augustine 354-430

• Born to a Pagan father and a Christian Born to a Pagan father and a Christian MotherMother

• Became a Manichee for ~10 yearsBecame a Manichee for ~10 years• Saved Later in lifeSaved Later in life• Preeminent Scholar and TheologianPreeminent Scholar and Theologian• Post conversion gave up career as Post conversion gave up career as

Rhetorician/government officialRhetorician/government official

St. Augustine 354-430St. Augustine 354-430

• An Active ApologistAn Active Apologist

• Lived simply with monastic tendenciesLived simply with monastic tendencies

• Appointed as Bishop of HippoAppointed as Bishop of Hippo

• Wrote many worksWrote many works

– Confessions, City of God, Retractions, The Confessions, City of God, Retractions, The Letters, Questions and Responses, Many Letters, Questions and Responses, Many various Religious-Apologetic-Polemic worksvarious Religious-Apologetic-Polemic works

• Died 430 AD during the Vandal Siege of HippoDied 430 AD during the Vandal Siege of Hippo

East v. WestEast v. West

The rise of the PapacyThe rise of the Papacy

Papacy in the EastPapacy in the East

• OligarchicOligarchic

• 5 co-equal bishops5 co-equal bishops

– RomeRome

– ConstantinopleConstantinople

– JerusalemJerusalem

– AntiochAntioch

– AlexandriaAlexandria

Papacy in the EastPapacy in the East

• Greek mindset in theology, open to the Greek mindset in theology, open to the newnew

• Constant shifts in TheologyConstant shifts in Theology

• Prone to HeresyProne to Heresy

• Post 622 disrupted by Mohammedean Post 622 disrupted by Mohammedean ConquestsConquests

• Greek mindset in theology, open to the Greek mindset in theology, open to the newnew

• Constant shifts in TheologyConstant shifts in Theology

• Prone to HeresyProne to Heresy

• Post 622 disrupted by Mohammedean Post 622 disrupted by Mohammedean ConquestsConquests

Papacy in the WestPapacy in the West• AutocraticAutocratic• Authoritarian and very very Roman Authoritarian and very very Roman • One Bishop over all, THE Pope, just as One Bishop over all, THE Pope, just as

one Emperor over all the peopleone Emperor over all the people• Primacy of Rome as descendant from Primacy of Rome as descendant from

PeterPeter– (though descent from Peter and equality (though descent from Peter and equality

with Paul are all debated issues)with Paul are all debated issues)

Papacy in the WestPapacy in the West

• Imperialistic TheologyImperialistic Theology

• Absolute Monarchy desiredAbsolute Monarchy desired

• Little to no shifts in TheologyLittle to no shifts in Theology

• Rigid OrthodoxyRigid Orthodoxy

• Post barbarian conversion was relatively Post barbarian conversion was relatively free from political strifefree from political strife

Rise of the PapacyRise of the Papacy

• Rome was always honoredRome was always honored

• Rome kept interferingRome kept interfering

• ‘‘Cause they said soCause they said so

• Gained political influence over the Gained political influence over the Emperor -> greater influence over the Emperor -> greater influence over the peoplepeople

• ‘‘Cause they said soCause they said so

Pope Leo I 440-461Pope Leo I 440-461• Leo The GreatLeo The Great• Powerful TheologianPowerful Theologian• Firmly believed he was the successor of Firmly believed he was the successor of

Peter, and Peter was the ruler of the Peter, and Peter was the ruler of the ChurchChurch

• Peter died in Rome therefore his spiritual Peter died in Rome therefore his spiritual power remained with Romepower remained with Rome

• Emphatically spoke of his authorityEmphatically spoke of his authority

Pope Leo I 440-461Pope Leo I 440-461• Not with the Pope = not part of the church = Not with the Pope = not part of the church =

not part of Christianity = not savednot part of Christianity = not saved• All powerful Pope was not immediately or All powerful Pope was not immediately or

universally accepteduniversally accepted• Obtained an edict from Western emperor Obtained an edict from Western emperor

Valentinian III, saying papal decrees have Valentinian III, saying papal decrees have the force of Law, and all bishops should the force of Law, and all bishops should obey themobey them

• Left 96 Sermons and 173 Epistles, the first Left 96 Sermons and 173 Epistles, the first works left to us by a Roman Bishopworks left to us by a Roman Bishop

Pope Leo I 440-461Pope Leo I 440-461• Saved Rome from being destroyed twiceSaved Rome from being destroyed twice

• 452 AD from Attila the Hun452 AD from Attila the Hun

• 455 AD Vandal King Genseric pillaged 455 AD Vandal King Genseric pillaged for 14 daysfor 14 days