Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2Ti 2:15). Church History is a fascinating subject to study.
To understand the church one needs to understand its roots--Judaism; the church springs out of Judaism--often referred to as Judeo-Christianity. Jesus was a Jew--Messiah--who died for the Jew and Gentile. The apostle Paul was a Jew writing from a "Jewish" perspective. Therefore to categorically dismiss the Old Testament, Torah, Law, and so forth as meaningless to the Christian faith is to jettison the foundation of Christianity; Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Galatians 3:13).
The first time the church is mention specifically in the scriptures is in Matthew 16:18; And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Notice Jesus said it was "his" church--i.e. his possession. Paul amplifies Christ's ownership claim in Acts 20:28; Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
As you study church history keep the words of Jude in mind: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not (Jude vs 3-5).
Moses exhorted the Hebrews to believe and observe the commandments of God and warned them of the dangers of heresy and the consequences of unbelief and disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). Likewise Jesus, Paul, Peter, Jude, James and John exhort Christians (believers) to believe and observe the commandments of God and also warned them of the dangers of heresy and the consequences of unbelief and disobedience. Historically the Jews in the Old Testament struggled in their observance of the Law. Likewise the Church of the New Testament has had similar struggles. The church has had its share of growing pains, false prophets, heretics, schisms, isms, usurpers and so forth. Ancient history records the struggle of the Jewish believer against the forces of darkness; recent history records the struggle of the believer in Jesus Christ against the same forces.
As the church grew in numbers and scope it began to express itself in creeds, statements of faith and so forth. These were often a result of the church's answer to heretical teachings and beliefs. Many were statements of faith declaring the Christian faith, beliefs, calling, purpose, and mission in light of the scriptures and the commandment to, "Go forth into all the world" (Mat. 28;19). From the apostolic age to the present time the believer has been under attack from the forces of darkness (Eph. 6;12). The purpose of these pages is not to condemn any particular group, denomination, and such as false, heretical, and so forth. Any church, denomination, sect, and so forth claiming to be Christian or the “only” true church, must be examined in the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (2Cor. 4:4, 1Tim. 1:11). The scriptures and the Spirit will reveal truth from error and we will walk in truth and the light of Christ (1John 1:7, Eph 5:8, John 8:12, John 16:13, 1John 4:6). Happy Studying.
What Is A Creed
Theological Terms
Bull of Pope Leo X Condemning Errors of Luther 1520
The 95 Theses by Dr. Martin Luther 1517
Great Schism 1378
Great Schism of 1054
Council of Constance 1414-18
The Trial and Martyrdom of Jan Huss
The Babylonian Captivity of the Church
The Apostles Creed Versus Gnosticism
Nicene Creed
The Council of Chalcedon
The Creed of the Trinity The Creed of St. Patrick
Athanasian Creed
The Canons of the Council of Orange
The Apostles Creed
The Anathemas of the Second Council of Constantinople
Third Council of Constantinople
The Synod of Constantinople
Council of Nicaea 7th Ecumenical
Waldenses Confession
Diet of Augsburg 1555
Second Helvetic Confession
Edict of Fontainebleau 1685
The Puritans 1563
Society of Friends 1647
The Council of Trent 1545
John Wycliff 1376
The Inquisition
The Magna Carta
The Theological Declaration of Barmen
