HANDOUT FOR SEPT. 13: CHURCH AND STATE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY
Emperors:
Constantine 306-337
Constantius II (337-361), supports "Arian" Christianity.
Julian "the Apostate" 361-363. Last pagan emperor.
Valentinian (364-375) and Valens (364-378)
Theodosius I (379-395), supports Nicene "Orthodox" Christianity.
Ecumenical Church Councils:
Nicaea 325. Declares that Christ is "consubstantial" (homo-ousios) with God the Father.
Constantinople 381: Confirms Nicene Creed as official orthodoxy.
Labels:
Orthodoxy: from orthos-dokein, "correct teaching."
Heresy: from hairesis, "school of thought" or "personal opinion."
Catholic: from katholikos, "universal." In this period, "Catholic" and "Orthodox" used interchangeably to describe the dominant and state-supported church.
Nicene: refers to adherents of the version of Christianity adopted at Nicaea, teaching that the Son is equally God and equal to the Father. This viewpoint eventually won out and is accepted by nearly all Christian denominations today.
Arian: after the Egyptian priest Arius (d.336), the viewpoint that the Son is inferior to the Father and was created by him. Arians gradually disappeared from the Roman church by c.400, but this was the version of Christianity adopted by Germanic tribes such as Goths and Vandals.
Religious leaders:
Ambrose, bishop of Milan (374-397). Confronts emperors and wins.
Augustine, 354-429. Bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Wrote Confessions, On Christian Doctrine, City of God and much, much more. First to articulate doctrine of Original Sin.
Jerome, scholar and ascetic (347-420). Among many other accomplishments, produced the "Vulgate" or Latin translation of Scripture used by the Catholic church.