CHAPTER ONE: THE INCARNATION AND THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH: 4 B.C. – A.D. 98

4 B.C. ~ Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem.

A.D. 27-30 ~ Christ's ministry. Jesus travels throughout the

Holy Land, teaching and doing good in fulfillment of prophecy.

A.D. 30 ~ Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Day of Pentecost: the Christian Church, as a Spirit-filled body,

is founded. 3,000 people repent (turn from sin, and commit

themselves to God) and are baptized.

c. 45 ~ First Church Council at Jerusalem (presided by James,

brother of Jesus) approves of accepting Gentiles into fellowship.

70 ~ Destruction of Jerusalem. Roman armies capture the city

and burn the Temple.

48-96 ~ The books of the New Testament are written by the apostles and their

associates, defining and explaining Christian doctrine, history, ministry, and prophecy.

Paul travels widely in the Roman Empire, spreading the gospel and establishing

churches with elders and deacons. According to tradition, Thomas travels east as far

as India. Other disciples also evangelize in the Roman Empire.

65-67 ~ Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

98 ~ John, the last of the apostles, dies peacefully in Ephesus.

CHAPTER TWO:

FROM THE SUB-APOSTOLIC ERA TO THE COUNCIL OF NICEA: A.D. 98-325

c. 107 ~ Ignatius, a Christian leader, as he is led to Rome to be

martyred, writes to various congregations, encouraging them to

become "Monarchical Episcopates," that is, to be led by only one

bishop per congregation.

c. 115 ~ The first church teaching-manual, the Didache, is written,

describing Christian ethics and worship. It allows baptism to be

performed by pouring water over a person three times in cases in

which immersion is not possible.

c. 140 ~ The book The Shepherd of Hermas is written, describing

(among other things) immersion as the point of conversion. Some

early Christians regard the book as authoritative.

c. 170-220 ~ Christian leaders Irenaeus and Tertullian defend the faith

against false teachers such as Marcion, developing Christian theology

in the process. Clement of Alexandria also writes.

c. 200's ~ In the cities of Alexandria and Caesarea, Origen writes many

books, often interpreting the Bible allegorically. He is later condemned

as a false teacher but his influence remains strong for some time.

250 ~ Persecution of Christians by Emperor Decius. Around the same

time, church leader Cyprian approves of infant baptism/sprinkling to

cleanse infants of inherited sinfulness.

Late 200's ~ Anthony adopts a monastic lifestyle (he becomes a monk),

encouraging celibacy and asceticism.

303 ~ Persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian.

312 ~ Battle at Milvian Bridge. Before the battle, future Roman

Emperor Constantine has a dream (so it is recorded) in which he was

promised victory if he ordered his men to bear symbols of Christianity

into battle (which he did, and they won).

313 ~ Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity. He

uses Christianity as a means of consolidating political power while still

honoring Roman deities.

324 ~ Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, writes Ecclesiastical History.

325 ~ Council of Nicea. Constantine summons Christian clergymen

from throughout the Roman Empire to discuss the nature of Christ.

They affirm that Christ is truly Divine and truly human. Egyptian leader

Arius, who taught that Christ was a created being, is condemned.

The "Apostles' Creed," a summary of Christian beliefs dating from

the 100's, is reformulated as the Nicene Creed.

SELECTIONS FROM

"THE DIDACHE"

There are two ways: the way of life
and the way of death.

This is the way of life: Love God,
who made you, and love your
neighbor as yourself. Do to no one
what you would not want done to
you. Do not commit murder, do not
steal, do not commit adultery, do not
lie, do not engage in sorcery, do not
abort a child or commit infanticide,
do not speak evil words, do not be
lustful, do not hold grudges, do not
be greedy, do not be idolatrous,

do not exalt yourself.

Be humble, give to those in need,
seek daily fellowship with the
believers, teach your children to
revere God, and pray pure prayers.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our
Lord; who was conceived of the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried; He
descended into hell [or, Hades]; the
third day He arose from the dead; He
ascended into heaven, and sits at the
right hand of God, the Father
Almighty; from thence He shall come
to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy
catholic [that is, universal] church,
the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the dead, and the
life everlasting. Amen.