THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO THE SEPARATION OF EAST AND WEST BY THE REV. A. R. WHITHAM, M.A. PRINCIPAL OF CULHAM COLLEGE, HON. CANON OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, AND EXAMINING CHAPLAIN TO THE PRIMUS OF SCOTLAND THIRD EDITION Antiquam exquirite Matrem RIVINGTONS 34 KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN LONDON 1927 M. PREFACE THIS book is an attempt to provide in a popular and readable form a history of the Christian Church from the Apostolic age to the separation of East and West. It is based upon a course of lectures formerly delivered at Cuddesdon, which some of the hearers were good enough to desire to have in a more complete and permanent form. The author has always felt that Church History has suffered from the tendency to divide it into periods, either for examination purposes, or through ecclesiastical prejudice. Before detailed study is attempted, it is surely better to gain a connected view, if only in outline, of a long stretch of history; the whole if possible, but at least as far as the point where modern conditions begin. The encouragements and warnings of Church History were perhaps never more needed than at the present time, when doctrinal restatement and ecclesiastical reconstruction are so much in the thoughts of Christians. The questions appended to each chapter will serve in any case for drawing attention to the main points of interest. If the book is used for class purposes, they may be used for essay subjects or for written answers. The books suggested under the 'subjects for further study' are not in any sense intended as a bibliography, for which larger works like Schaff's History of the Church or Smith and Wace's Dictionary of Christian Biography may be consulted. They are merely 689151 mentioned as helps to the student, in most cases easy of access. The author's grateful thanks are due to Professor C. H. Turner of Magdalen College, and to Dr. B. J. Kidd, Warden of Keble, for their kindness in reading the proofs and making many valuable criticisms and suggestions. * CONTENTS The preparation of Israel-The theology of Israel-The idea of an ecclesia-The wider influence of Judaism-The Hellenists -The preparation of Greece-The Greek mysteries-Greek The Acts-Eusebius-The Church in the Acts-Catholic and Jewish Christianity-Traditions of S. Paul-S. Peter-S. John Perils of the Church Safeguards The Gospels The I S. Clement-2 S. Clement-The Shepherd of Hermas- - - Golden age of the Empire-Trajan-Pliny's letter-Trajan's reply S. Ignatius - His letters — Teaching — Unity — The ministry-The Eucharist-His theology-Knowledge of Scrip- tures-Hadrian-Letter to Fundanus-Legal position of the Church---The last Jewish rebellion-The Apologists-Quadratus -Aristides - Epistle to Diognetus — Antoninus - S. Justin I-12 13-31 32-53 54-63 64-84 |