Heresies and Division in the Early Church

2002-09-21

This was the internal threat, and more dangerous. People tended to bring former religions into the church. Started schisms in the church

I. Legalistic Heresy—Ebionsm

Ebionites believed that Law of Moses was the highest expression of God’s will. Binding on everybody, including Gentiles. Jesus was not God, but became Messiah by fulfilling the Law. These peoples did not like writings of Paul. Working their way into God’s favor. Legalism often a problem in the church. Biggest problem in church throughout the years. Losing the essence of the Gospel.

II. Philosophical Heresies

Gnosticism: Came about because of the fusion of religions in the ancient world. Appealed to people because it had an explanation of evil in the world. Also to keep mystical ceremonies in the church. Changed nature of the Christian faith. It is based on an idea called dualism. This implies 2 forces fighting each other in the universe. Spirit is good and matter is evil. The true God is a being of true Spirit. Aeons, or emanations from God, the farther they got from God, they became contaminated. One of these, demiurge, created the world. Yahweh of OT was not true God, but the demiurge that created the world. Bits of spirit still exist in human bodies are imprisoned, and need to be set free. Explanations of Christ: Christ was a spiritual messenger to bring people a superior knowledge. Lit. gnosis. Two explanations of incarnation. Docetism (to seem): He seemed to have had a human body. But you could not have touched him. Also Cerinthianism, named for an individual, Christ’s spirit came upon a man Jesus at His baptism, and left Him at His death. A mere man just died on the cross. Crucifixion means nothing, and resurrection would be a misnomer. The body is evil anyway. Doctrine of salvation: not salvation from sinful deeds, but from matter. This superior knowledge was the cause of salvation. Mankind in 3 divisions. True Gnostics were Pneumatics. Psychics were on another level, Christians and Jews that have some knowledge, and good works. Hylics were the rest (people of the world). These people are hopeless, and are unenlightened. Future things: no resurrection, no final judgment, saved will go to kingdom of light, the lost will be put back into bodies or annihilated. Morality: 2 extremes: 1) asceticism. Deny self, probably separate from the rest of society. The body is evil, therefore, keep them under control. 2) license. Doing as one pleases. Spirit is good and cannot be destroyed. Whatever the body does, does not affect the spirit. Effects of Gnosticism were obviously bad. They rejected the blood atonement and resurrection. Puffed up with spiritual pride. Some effects good: forced church to examine their writings. Gnostics had their own books, like Gospel of Thomas. Which books were true Scripture? Led church to draw up creeds.

Manicheanism: named for founder Mani or Manicheus. 3rd century AD. From Mesopotamia. Wove together ideas from Zoroastrianism and various ideas that was similar to gnosticism. It was dualistic. Kingdoms of light and darkness, spirit and matter respectively. We were tricked from the king of darkness, contaminated. Freeing light from the soul, by exposing one’s self to Christ. Gave themselves over to asceticism. Avoided marriage and sex, so they died out. Appeal to many minds in the church. Augustine was one for 12 years.

Neoplatonism: Mystical philosophy came from Alexandria, Egypt. Monistic, not dualistic. One being source of everything that exists. Believed that everything came from an overflowing from the divine. The farther away you get from the source the more evil it was. The goal of the universe is to be reabsorbed into the divine essence, to become one with God. Study, discipline, mystical contemplation led to this. A form of pantheism. It appeals to the philosophically minded.

III. Theological Errors

People were tried to avoid other errors, and then they go too far.

Montanism: Named for a man, Montanus. Concerned about the formalism in the church. Too much emphasis on human leadership. Not allowing Holy Spirit to work. To counteract this, he stressed 2 doctrines: 1) Holy Spirit 2) second coming of Christ. Montanus was one to whom the Holy Spirit spoke. Called himself the Paraclete. He was the spokesperson for the Holy Spirit. He had continuous inspiration. Went back to where he started: he was a human in leadership. The second coming centered where he was, in Phrygia. Strict asceticism was practiced to prepare for Christ’s kingdom. One of the church fathers joined this for awhile: Tertullian. Council condemned this in 381. We learn lessons from movements such as this. Charismatic movement? Is there a flaw in the church that starts such movements? Easy to condemn these things, but is there something we can correct?

Monarchianism: Defense of the monarchy of God. Defense of His unity. Did an injustice to doctrine of the Trinity and Deity of Christ. 2 types:

Dynamistic (Adoptionism): Paul of Samosata, Jesus was a good man who achieved divinity through His good life and being penetrated by the divine Logos. Meant divine element infused Him, in this case of the term Logos. Robbed church of divine savior. God adopted this man Jesus and penetrated Him with His own presence.

Modalistic (Sabellianism): Named for Sabellius. He taught the Godhead consisted of 3 consecutive modes of existence, 3 manifestations. OT, God manifested as father, Jesus life, manifested Himself as Son, after death, Now became the Holy Spirit. God was never one mode at one time. Fear of polytheism.

The church had to deal with these issues.

IV. Ecclesiastical Schisms

Easter controversy: 2nd century, when should we celebrate Easter? What proper date? This had pagan elements in it. Eastern branch of church: Jewish Passover day. 14th day of Nisan. Western thought it should be celebrated on the Sunday following this day. Adopted western view at council of Nicea.

Donatism: named for a man Donatus. 4th century after last of persecution. North Africa near Carthage. Traditores’ status was the issue. Being a traditore invalidated the bishop’s power to ordain someone. If he was a traditore, he could not ordain someone. Bishop of Carthage was ordained by a traditore, and therefore was invalid. Example: going to church, baptized by a pastor, and it was found that the pastor was cheating with his wife at the time. Does this invalidate his baptism? Conclusion: Validity of a sacrament is not affected by administrator.

Erroneous views forced church to think through its doctrine and canon and Scripture. In combating these errors, the church exalted bishops against heresy, because they were viewed as protectors.