INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS | MODULE 2

LESSON 2: CHRISTIANITY apostolic period, when the first apostles were alive
and organizing the Church, and the post- apostolic
Most Essential Learning Competencies: period, when an early episcopal structure developed,
Examine the brief history, core teachings, whereby bishoprics were governed by bishops
fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues (overseers) via apostolic succession
of Christianity.
Apostolic Church
Objectives: The Apostolic Church, or Primitive Church,
1. Discuss the brief history of Christianity. was the community led by Jesus' apostles and his
2. Explain the core teachings of Christianity. relatives. According to the Great Commission, the
3. Put into practice the teachings of Christianity resurrected Jesus commanded the apostles to
especially in the midst of pandemic. spread his teachings to all the world. The principal
source of information for this period is the Acts of
Recall: What is your favorite Christian teaching/s? the Apostles, which gives a history of the Church
from the Great Commission (Acts 1:3-11) and
Pentecost (Acts 2) and the establishment of the
Discussion:
Jerusalem Church to the spread of the religion
Christianity is the monotheistic religion which among the gentiles (Acts 10) and Paul's
considers itself based on the revelation of Jesus conversion (Acts 9) and eventual imprisonment
Christ. In many Christian denominations "The Church" (house arrest: Acts 28:30–31) in Rome in the mid-
is understood as the institution founded by Jesus for first century. However, the accuracy of Acts is also
the salvation of humankind. Christianity began in first disputed and may conflict with accounts in the
century C.E. Jerusalem as a Jewish sect, but quickly Epistles of Paul.
spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond to The first Christians were essentially all
countries such as Ethiopia, Armenia, Georgia, ethnically Jewish or Jewish Proselytes. Jesus
Assyria, Iran, India, and China. preached to the Jewish people and called from them
his first disciples, though the earliest documented
LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST "group" of appointed evangelizers, called the
Jesus was born ca. 4 B.C.E. and grew up in Seventy Disciples, was not specifically ethnically
Nazareth in Galilee; his ministry included recruiting Jewish. An early difficulty arose concerning Gentile
disciples, who regarded him as a miracle worker, (non-Jewish) converts. Some argued that they
exorcist, and healer; he was executed by crucifixion had to "become Jewish" (usually referring to
in Jerusalem ca. 33 C.E. on orders of the Roman circumcision and adherence to dietary law) before
Governor of Judaea Province, Pontius Pilate; and becoming Christian. The decision of Peter, as
after his crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb. evidenced by conversion of the Centurion Cornelius,
Some have argued for the historicity of the empty was that they did not. The matter was further
tomb story and Jesus' resurrection appearances. The addressed with the Council of Jerusalem.
resurrection of Jesus formed the basis of the Christian The doctrines of the apostles brought the
faith. It is claimed in the Bible that after Christ's Early Church into conflict with some Jewish religious
resurrection, he appeared to the disciples in Galilee authorities, and this eventually led to the martyrdom
and Jerusalem and was on the earth for 40 days of Stephen and James the Great and expulsion from
before his Ascension to heaven. The main sources of the synagogues. Thus, Christianity acquired an
information regarding Jesus' life and teachings are identity distinct from Rabbinic Judaism. The name
the four canonical Gospels and to a lesser extent the "Christian" was first applied to the disciples in
writings of Paul. Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26.
EARLY CHRISTIANITY WORSHIP OF JESUS
Early Christianity refers to the period when The sources for the beliefs of the apostolic
the religion spread in the Greco-Roman world and community include the Gospels and New Testament
beyond, from its beginnings as a first century Jewish Epistles. The very earliest accounts are contained in
sect, to the end of the imperial persecution of these texts, such as early Christian creeds and
Christians after the ascension of Constantine the hymns, as well as accounts of the Passion, the
Great in 313 C.E., to the First Council of Nicaea in empty tomb, and Resurrection appearances; often
325. It may be divided into two distinct phases: the

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these are dated to within a decade or so of the certain duties, such as tending to the poor and sick.
crucifixion of Jesus, originating within the Jerusalem Early heresies
Church. The earliest Christian creeds and hymns The New Testament itself speaks of the
express belief in the risen Jesus, e.g., that preserved importance of maintaining orthodox doctrine and
in 1Corinthians 15:3–4 quoted by Paul: "For what I refuting heresies, showing the antiquity of the
received I passed on to you as of first importance: that concern. Because of the biblical proscription against
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, false prophets (notably the Gospels of Matthew and
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day Mark) Christianity has always been preoccupied with
according to the Scriptures." The antiquity of the the "correct," or orthodox, interpretation of the faith.
creed has been located by many scholars to less than Indeed, one of the main roles of the bishops in the
a decade after Jesus' death, originating from the early Church was to determine the correct
Jerusalem apostolic community. interpretations and refute contrarian opinions
(referred to as heresy). As there were differing
POST-APOSTOLIC CHURCH opinions among the bishops, defining orthodoxy
The post-apostolic period encompasses the would consume the Church through the centuries
time roughly after the death of the apostles when (and still does, hence, "denominations").
bishops emerged as overseers of urban Christian In his book Orthodoxy, Christian Apologist
populations, and continues. From the beginning, and writer G. K. Chesterton asserts that there have
Christians were subject to various persecutions. This been substantial disagreements about faith from the
involved even death for Christians such as Stephen time of the New Testament and Jesus. He pointed
(Acts 7:59) and James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12:2). out that the Apostles all argued against changing the
Larger-scale persecutions followed at the hands of teachings of Christ as did the earliest church fathers
the authorities of the Roman Empire, beginning in the including Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr
year 64, when, as reported by the Roman historian and Polycarp (see false prophet, the antichrist, the
Tacitus, the Emperor Nero blamed Christians for that gnostic Nicolaitans from the Book of Revelations and
year's great Fire of Rome. Man of Sin). Jesus also refers to false prophets
According to Church tradition, it was under (Mark 13:21–23) and the "darnel" (Matthew 13:25–
Nero's persecution that Peter and Paul were each 30, Matthew 13:36–43) of the flock, warning that their
martyred in Rome. Similarly, several of the New distortion of the Christian faith should be rejected.
Testament writings mention persecutions and stress The earliest controversies were generally
the importance of endurance through them. For 250 Christological in nature; that is, they were related to
years Christians suffered from persecutions for their Jesus' (eternal) divinity or humanity. Docetism held
refusal to worship the Roman emperor, which Rome that Jesus' humanity was merely an illusion, thus
considered treasonous and punishable by execution. denying the incarnation. Arianism held that Jesus,
In spite of these periodic persecutions, the Christian while not merely mortal, was not eternally divine and
religion continued its spread throughout the was, therefore, separate from God, the Father.
Mediterranean Basin. Trinitarianism held that God the Father, Jesus the
Son, and the Holy Spirit were all strictly one being
Ecclesiastical structure with three aspects. Many groups held dualistic
By the late first and early second century, a beliefs, maintaining that reality was composed of two
hierarchical and episcopal structure became clearly radically opposing parts: matter, usually seen as evil,
visible; early bishops of importance were Clement of and spirit, seen as good. Others held that both the
Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, material and spiritual worlds were created by God
and Irenaeus of Lyons. This structure was based on and were therefore both good, and that this was
the doctrine of Apostolic Succession in which, by the represented in the unified divine and human natures
ritual of the laying on of hands, a bishop becomes the of Christ.
spiritual successor of the previous bishop in a line The Biblical canon is the set of books
tracing back to the apostles themselves. Each Christian’s regard as divinely inspired and thus
Christian community also had presbyters, as was the constituting the Christian Bible. Though the Early
case with Jewish communities, who were also Church used the Old Testament according to the
ordained and assisted the bishop; as Christianity canon of the Septuagint (LXX), the apostles did not
spread, especially in rural areas, the presbyters otherwise leave a defined set of new scriptures;
exercised more responsibilities and took distinctive instead the New Testament developed over time.
shape as priests. Lastly, deacons also performed

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this banner they were victorious. How much
The writings attributed to the apostles Christianity Constantine adopted at this point is
circulated among the earliest Christian difficult to discern; most influential people in the
communities. The Pauline epistles were circulating empire, especially high military officials, were still
in collected form by the end of the first century C.E. pagan, and Constantine's rule exhibited at least a
In the early second century, Justin Martyr mentions willingness to appease these factions. The Roman
the "memoirs of the apostles," which Christians coins minted up to eight years subsequent to the
called "gospels" and which were regarded as on par battle still bore the images of Roman gods.
with the Old Testament. A four-gospel canon (the Nonetheless, the accession of Constantine was a
Tetramorph) was in place by the time of Irenaeus, turning point for the Christian Church. After his
c. 160, who refers to it directly. By the early third victory, Constantine supported the Church
century, Origen may have been using the same 27 financially, built various basilicas, granted privileges
books as in the modern New Testament, though (for example, exemption from certain taxes) to clergy,
there were still disputes over the canonicity of promoted Christians to high ranking offices, and
Hebrews, James, II Peter, II and III John, and returned property confiscated during the Great
Revelation. Likewise by 200 C.E. the Muratorian Persecution of Diocletian. Between 324 and 330,
fragment shows that there existed a set of Christian Constantine built, virtually from scratch, a new
writings somewhat similar to what is now the New imperial capital at Byzantium on the Bosporus (it
Testament, which included the four gospels and came to be named for him: Constantinople); the city
argued against objections to them. Thus, while employed overtly Christian architecture, contained
there was a good measure of debate in the Early churches within the city walls (unlike "old" Rome),
Church over the New Testament canon, the major and had no pagan temples. In accordance with the
writings were accepted by almost all Christians by prevailing customs, Constantine was baptized on his
the middle of the second century. deathbed.
Constantine also played an active role in the
Christianity legalized leadership of the Church. In 313, he issued the Edict
Galerius issued an edict permitting the of Milan, legalizing Christian worship. In 316, he
practice of the Christian religion under his rule in acted as a judge in a North African dispute
April of 311. In 313 Constantine I and Licinius concerning the Donatist controversy. More
announced toleration of Christianity in the Edict of significantly, in 325 he summoned the Council of
Milan. Constantine would become the first Christian Nicaea, effectively the first Ecumenical Council
emperor. By 391, under the reign of Theodosius I, (unless the Council of Jerusalem is so classified), to
Christianity had become the state religion. deal with the Arian controversy. The Council would
Constantine I, the first emperor to embrace become more famous for their issue of the Nicene
Christianity, was also the first emperor to openly Creed, which, among other things, professed a belief
promote the newly legalized religion. in One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, the start of
Christendom. The reign of Constantine established a
CONSTANTINE THE GREAT precedent for the position of the Christian Emperor in
The emperor Constantine I was exposed to the Church. Emperors considered themselves
Christianity by his mother, Helena. There is scholarly responsible to God for the spiritual health of their
controversy, however, as to whether Constantine subjects, and thus they had a duty to maintain
adopted his mother's humble Christianity in his orthodoxy. The emperor did not decide doctrine—
youth, or whether he adopted it gradually over the that was the responsibility of the bishops—rather his
course of his life. role was to enforce doctrine, root out heresy, and
Christian sources record that Constantine uphold ecclesiastical unity. The emperor ensured that
experienced a dramatic event in 312 at the Battle of God was properly worshiped in his empire; the exact
Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine would claim nature of proper worship was left for the Church to
the emperorship in the West. According to these determine. This precedent would continue until
sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the certain emperors of the fifth and six centuries sought
battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the to alter doctrine by imperial edict without recourse to
Greek words "Εν Τουτω Νικα" ("by this, conquer!," councils, though Constantine's precedent generally
often rendered in the Latin "in hoc signo vinces"; remained the norm.
Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their The reign of Constantine did not represent a
shields with a Christian symbol (the Chi-Ro). Under

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complete acceptance for Christianity in the empire, Rome" where Constantine had moved his capital.
nor an end of persecution. His successor in the East, PAPACY AND PRIMACY
Constantius II, kept Arian bishops at his court and The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the
installed them in various sees, expelling the orthodox office is the "papacy." As a bishopric, its origin is
bishops. Constantius's successor, Julian, known in consistent with the development of an episcopal
the Christian world as Julian the Apostate, was a structure in the first century. The papacy, however,
philosopher who upon becoming emperor renounced also carries the notion of primacy: that the See of
Christianity and embraced a Neo- platonic and Rome is preeminent amongst all other sees. The
mystical form of paganism, shocking the Christian origins of this concept are historically obscure;
establishment. Intent on re-establishing the prestige theologically, it is based on three ancient Christian
of the old pagan beliefs, he modified them to traditions: (1) that the apostle Peter was preeminent
resemble Christian traditions such as the episcopal among the apostles, see Primacy of Simon Peter, (2)
structure and public charity (hitherto unknown in that Peter ordained his successors for the Roman
Roman paganism). Julian eliminated most of the See, and (3) that the bishops are the successors of
privileges and prestige previously afforded to the the apostles (Apostolic Succession). As long as the
Christian Church as the official state religion. His Papal See also happened to be the capital of the
reforms attempted to create a form of religious Western Empire, the prestige of the Bishop of Rome
heterogeneity by, among other things, reopening could be taken for granted without the need of
pagan temples, accepting Christian bishops sophisticated theological argumentation beyond
previously exiled as heretics, promoting Judaism, these points; after its shift to Milan and then Ravenna,
and returning Church lands to their original owners. however, more detailed arguments were developed
However, Julian's short reign ended when he died based on Matthew 16:18–19 etc. Nonetheless, in
while campaigning in the East. antiquity the Petrine and Apostolic quality, as well as
Christianity came to dominance during the a "primacy of respect," concerning the Roman See
reign of Julian's successors, Jovian, Valentinian I, went unchallenged by emperors, eastern patriarchs,
and Valens. On Feb. 27, 380, Theodosius I issued and the Eastern Church alike. The Ecumenical
the edict De Fide Catolica establishing "Catholic Council of Constantinople in 381 affirmed the
Christianity" as the exclusive official state religion, primacy of Rome. Though the appellate jurisdiction of
outlawed other faiths, and closed pagan temples. the Pope, and the position of Constantinople, would
Additional prohibitions were passed by Theodosius I require further doctrinal clarification, by the close of
in 391 further proscribing remaining pagan practices. Antiquity the primacy of Rome and the sophisticated
theological arguments supporting it were fully
Diocesan structure developed. Just what exactly was entailed in this
After legalization, the Church adopted the primacy, and its being exercised, would become a
same organizational boundaries as the Empire: matter of controversy at certain later times.
geographical provinces, called dioceses,
corresponding to imperial governmental territorial Ecumenical Councils
division. The bishops, who were located in major During this era, several Ecumenical
urban centers as per the pre- legalization tradition, Councils were convened. These were mostly
oversaw each diocese. The bishop's location was concerned with Christological disputes. The two
his "seat," or "see"; among the sees, five held Councils of Nicaea (325, 382) condemned Arian
special eminence: Rome, Constantinople, teachings as heresy and produced a creed (see
Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria. The prestige of Nicene Creed). The Council of Ephesus condemned
these sees depended in part on their apostolic Nestorianism and affirmed the Blessed Virgin Mary
founders, from whom the bishops were thus to be Theotokos ("God-bearer" or "Mother of God").
considered spiritual successors, e.g., St. Mark as Perhaps the most significant council was the Council
founder of the See of Alexandria, St. Peter of the of Chalcedon that affirmed that Christ had two
See of Rome, etc. There were other significant natures, fully God and fully man, distinct yet always
reasons for their priority. Jerusalem was the in perfect union. This was based largely on Pope Leo
location of Christ's death and resurrection and the the Great's Tome. Thus, it condemned
site of a first century council, among other things. Monophysitism and would be influential in refuting
Antioch was where Jesus' followers were first called Monothelitism. However, not all denominations
Christians. Rome was where Saints Peter and Paul accepted all the councils, for example Nestorianism
were martyred. Constantinople was the "New and the Assyrian Church of the East split over the

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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS | MODULE 2
Council of Ephesus of 431, Oriental Orthodoxy split Empire.
over the Council of Chalcedon of 451, Pope Sergius A. Constantius II C. Julian
I rejected the Quinisext Council of 692, and the Fourth B. Theodosius I D. Constantine I
Council of Constantinople of 869-870 and 879-880 is ___5. A Christian celebration that
disputed by Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. commemorates the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus after
The Pentarchy his death.
By the fifth century, the ecclesiastical had A. Easter C. Lent
evolved a hierarchical "pentarchy" or system of five B. Pentecost D. Christmas
sees (patriarchates), with a settled order of ___6. This book from the New Testament
precedence, had been established. Rome, as the describes the development of Christianity
ancient center and largest city of the empire, was from the resurrection of Jesus to the
understandably given the presidency or primacy of imprisonment of apostle Paul.
honor within the pentarchy into which Christendom A. Gospels C. Revelation
was now divided; though it was and still held that the B. Acts D. Epistles
patriarch of Rome was the first among equals. ___7. The earliest organization of Christian
The list below is the five Pentarchy of the churches especially in rural areas were
original Roman Empire. governed by _____.
• Rome (Sts. Peter and Paul), i.e., the A. bishops C. presbyters
Pope, the only Pentarch in the Western B. pope D. archbishop
Roman Empire. ___8. It is distorted Christian idea which held
that Jesus' humanity was merely an
• Alexandria (St. Mark), currently in Egypt illusion.
• Antioch (St. Peter), currently in Turkey A. Arianism C. Formalism
• Jerusalem (St. James), currently in B. Docetism D. Legalism
Israel/Palestine ___9. Which of the following is TRUE about the
• Constantinople (St. Andrew), currently in convening of Ecumenical Councils?
Turkey A. It aimed to create dioceses.
B. It organized the small churches
Activity: archdioceses.
C. It gave sole and authoritative
What are the similarities and differences between interpretation of the Bible.
Judaism and Christianity? D. It condemned Christian teachings that
caused confusion among the people.
Posttest: ___10. Which among the following is the correct
Write the letter of correct answer in each item. chronological arrangement about the
development of Christianity?
___1. It is a Christian celebration that I. Christianity was legalized.
commemorates the resurrection of II. The Apostles of Christ preached and
Jesus. spread the teachings in many places.
A. Christmas C. All Soul’s Day III. The contrary teachings of Christianity
B. Easter D. Lent were refuted.
___2. It is the total number of books in the IV. Organizational boundaries were
Bible? created and controlled by the
A. 62 C. 66 bishops.
B. 64 D. 68
___3. He published the 95 Theses that A. I, II, III, and IV C. II, III, I, and IV
criticized some acts of the Pope and B. III, IV, I, and II D. II, I, IV and III
some practices of the Roman Catholic
Church.
A. John Calvin C. Henry VIII Reference:
B. John Wesley D. Martin Luther [Link]
___4. He declared Catholic Christianity as the
exclusive state religion in the Roman