Church History

C h u r c h H i s t o r y I

By

Mr. Kennedy K. Kirui

I. Benefits to be gained from the study of Church History

A. A perspective informed by a sense of continuity

1. The whole family in heaven and earth (Eph.3:14)

2. Connecting the canonical history with our own time (Acts 28ff)

3. Escape from the theological and ecclesiastical provincialism (1 Cor.14:36).

B. The encouragement of a Godly Heritage

1. The great cloud of witnesses (Heb.11; 12:1)

2. Perspective on persecution (James 5:10-11)

C. Learning from the mistakes of others (1 Cor.10:6-10)

1. A wise man learns from others’ mistakes, a fool must make his own.

2. Those who will not study history are doomed to repeat it.

II. Broad Outline of the History Since Christ

A. Ancient Period (approx. 30 to 600 AD)

1. The Infant Church Era (30-325)

a. Pentecost (30)

b. Constantine (325)

2. The Adolescent Church Era (325-600)

a. Constantine (325)

b. Gregory the Great (600)

B. Medieval Period (approx. 600 to 1550)

1. The Roman Church Era (600-1300)

a. Gregory the Great (600)

b. Renaissance (1300)

The Very Beginning

A. The remnant of Israel

The Old Testament Church (Acts 7:38/Mal.3:16-17)

The remnant comes to Christ (Isa.10:21-22/Mal.4:2/John 17:6)

B. Christ and the synagogue

Origins of the synagogue (Neh.8:4/Acts 15:21)

Legitimacy of the synagogue (Matt.23:2-3)

Synagogue as mission (Luke 4:16/John 18:20/Acts 18:4)

Christian synagogues (Jas.2:2/Heb.13:7, 17)

C. Lordship/discipleship

Inclusion in the movement (John 8:31/Luke 6:46)

Joining the movement (Matt.16:24/Acts 2:38)

Believers and “followers” (Mark 5:18-19/Luke 9:49-50)

D. Apostolic Authority (John 13:20)

Credentials (Mark 3:14-15)

Experience (Acts 1:21-22)

Commissioning (John 20:21)

Signs(2 Cor.12:12)

Testimony (Acts 1:22/4:33)

Teaching (Acts 2:42/Jude 17-18)

Establishment of theological norms (Acts 15)

E. The Holy Spirit

The