Blackboard OutlinePart One
En. Ag.Ag. shad. Comp. Paul. Diff. Ch. 125 A. D. "Sec. ra. m."I.Fa. Jer.1.) Reb. A. D. 68-70. 2.) Siege pred. Chr. with. Pel. 3.) Eff. div. Je. Chr.II.Jhn. Eph.Last. Ap. 100 A. D.III.Ris. Her.1. Gre. min. 2. Eb. Gnos. 3. Res. 1.) G. 2.) Ev.IV.Sec. Imp. Per.Dom. 95. Caus. 1. Heath. hosp. 2. Id. wor. int. li. 3. Jud. per. rel. Chr. unlic. 4. Wor. Emp.
En. Ag.Ag. shad. Comp. Paul. Diff. Ch. 125 A. D. "Sec. ra. m."I.Fa. Jer.1.) Reb. A. D. 68-70. 2.) Siege pred. Chr. with. Pel. 3.) Eff. div. Je. Chr.II.Jhn. Eph.Last. Ap. 100 A. D.III.Ris. Her.1. Gre. min. 2. Eb. Gnos. 3. Res. 1.) G. 2.) Ev.IV.Sec. Imp. Per.Dom. 95. Caus. 1. Heath. hosp. 2. Id. wor. int. li. 3. Jud. per. rel. Chr. unlic. 4. Wor. Emp.
Review Questions
What is said of the period after the death of St. Paul? Between what years is there very little history? What companions of St. Paul were living at the time of his death? What became of these men? Wherein was the church of a later period different from that of the earlier time? What reason is assigned for these changes? Name the four principal events in the period under consideration. When did the rebellion of the Jews against the Roman empire begin? What was the result of this rebellion? What became of the Christians in Jerusalem at the opening of the Jewish war? What was the after history of Jewish Christianity? What was the effect of the fall of Jerusalem on the relations between Christianity and Judaism? Who was the last of the twelve apostles on the earth? Where did he live? What was his character? What is said as to his death? What divisions in the church arose at this period? Of what were these divisions the result? What country was the home of the heresies? Who were the Ebionites? Who were the Gnostics? What good result came from these controversies? What evil result followed them? What persecution arose during this period? At what time? Under what emperor did the persecution begin? How did it compare with the earlier persecution under Nero? What general causes may be given for the series of imperial persecutions of the Christians? Wherein was heathenism hospitable, and Christianity exclusive? How was idolatry interwoven with the affairs of life? How was this fact adverse to the Christians? How did Christianity come tobe looked on with suspicion in the empire? How did the worship of the emperor affect the Christians? What is this worship called in the New Testament? Did these persecutions stop the progress of the church?
What is said of the period after the death of St. Paul? Between what years is there very little history? What companions of St. Paul were living at the time of his death? What became of these men? Wherein was the church of a later period different from that of the earlier time? What reason is assigned for these changes? Name the four principal events in the period under consideration. When did the rebellion of the Jews against the Roman empire begin? What was the result of this rebellion? What became of the Christians in Jerusalem at the opening of the Jewish war? What was the after history of Jewish Christianity? What was the effect of the fall of Jerusalem on the relations between Christianity and Judaism? Who was the last of the twelve apostles on the earth? Where did he live? What was his character? What is said as to his death? What divisions in the church arose at this period? Of what were these divisions the result? What country was the home of the heresies? Who were the Ebionites? Who were the Gnostics? What good result came from these controversies? What evil result followed them? What persecution arose during this period? At what time? Under what emperor did the persecution begin? How did it compare with the earlier persecution under Nero? What general causes may be given for the series of imperial persecutions of the Christians? Wherein was heathenism hospitable, and Christianity exclusive? How was idolatry interwoven with the affairs of life? How was this fact adverse to the Christians? How did Christianity come tobe looked on with suspicion in the empire? How did the worship of the emperor affect the Christians? What is this worship called in the New Testament? Did these persecutions stop the progress of the church?
Part Two
Let us consider thecondition of the churchat the end of the first century, seventy years after the Ascension of our Lord.
I.Its Numberscannot be definitely stated; but the church was very large, and growing with marvelous rapidity. Sources of information: 1.)The catacombs; cemeteries under and around Rome where Christians only were buried, and wherein they met in times of persecution; occupied between 100 and 400 A. D.; containing in three centuries two million graves of Christians. 2.) A letter of Pliny, Roman governor of Bithynia-Pontus in Asia Minor, 112 A. D., stating that "the temples were almost deserted," "an incredible number of professors." Evidences point to the church, A. D. 100, having already a large proportion of the population of the Roman empire.
II.Its Membership.1. Once the church had been entirely Jewish; then it became Jewish and Gentile; now it was almost everywhere a Gentile church, with a few Jewish members, most of whom had abandoned Jewish rites and rules and were regarded by the Jews as "apostates."
2.Its social conditionwas varied. It is a mistake to suppose that at any time the early church was composed mainly of slaves and the poorest classes. Such there were; but there were also men of wealth, of high rank, and of great influence. There is reason to believe that some relatives of the emperor, previous to 100 A. D. were banished on account of their Christian profession. The gospel had by this time permeated all classes.
III.Its Organization.We observe in this respect a remarkable change since the period of St. Paul's ministry. Everywhere the church was hardening into anecclesiastical system ruled by bishops. Bishops are first mentioned late in St. Paul's ministry (Acts 20. 28; Rev. Ver. Phil. 1. 1; 1 Tim. 3. 1-7); but it is evident that the word at that time meant no more than "elder;" otherwise the elders of Ephesus would not have been called "bishops" in Acts 20.28. But in an autocratic state the church would naturally become autocratic in its arrangement, ruled from above rather than from below. By 125 A. D. bishops were in control everywhere.
IV.Its Institutions.Two of these require notice. 1.The Lord's Supper.We have seen how this began as a service in the home, like the Jewish Passover, out of which it grew (Acts 2. 46). But among Gentile churches the custom arose of celebrating it at a public meeting, as a supper to which each member brought some share of provision. See 1 Cor. 11. 20-30, an account of abuses that had arisen. By the end of the first century the supper had become a service held at the meeting place of the Christians, but not in public. All except members of the church were excluded from this service, which was held as a "mystery."
2.The Lord's Day.The observance of the first day of the week grew gradually, and with its growth the recognition of the Jewish sabbath declined. Note the development indicated in 1 Cor. 16. 2; Acts 20. 7; Rev. 1. 10. As the church became entirely a Gentile institution "the Lord's day" took the place of the Jewish sabbath.
V.Its Doctrinal System.Thetheology of St. Paul, as set forth in Romans and Ephesians, was now accepted as the doctrine of the church. Notice that St. Peter (1 Pet. 1. 18-21) states the great Pauline principle of justification by faith through the blood of Christ.
VI.Its Literature.By 100 A. D. all the books of the New Testament were written, though not all of them were everywhere accepted as authoritative. In some places there were questions about Hebrews, 2 Peter and Revelation; the latter because local in its address, and so recent in origin as not to be known everywhere. But the gospels (except John, which was about 95 A. D. in its date), the Acts and nearly all the epistles were read in all the churches as possessing an inspired authority. Note that, in 2 Peter, Paul's writings are placed on a par with "the other Scriptures," which must refer to the Old Testament.
VII.Its Spiritual Life.It must be admitted that there had been a decline in the fervency of the Christian life in the church. Its moral standards were still high; but spiritual gifts had become less noticeable; the rule of bishops and councils and the controversies over doctrines were weakening the fervor of spirituality. Note the difference in spirit and tone between the writings of the New Testament and those of the early church-fathers in the second century.
Blackboard OutlinePart Two
Cond. of Ch.100A. D.I.Num.1.) Cat. 2.) Let. Plin.II.Mem.1.) Gen. few Je. 2.) Soc. cond. all class.III.Org.Ecc. Sys. ru. b. Bish.IV.Inst.Lor. Sup. Lor. D.V.Doc. Sys.Theo. Pau.VI.Lit.N. T.VII.Spir. Lif.Dec.
Cond. of Ch.100A. D.I.Num.1.) Cat. 2.) Let. Plin.II.Mem.1.) Gen. few Je. 2.) Soc. cond. all class.III.Org.Ecc. Sys. ru. b. Bish.IV.Inst.Lor. Sup. Lor. D.V.Doc. Sys.Theo. Pau.VI.Lit.N. T.VII.Spir. Lif.Dec.
Review Questions. Part Two
What is the estimate of the number of members in the church at the end of the first century? What evidence of this is found in the Catacombs of Rome? What evidence is given by a letter? Who wrote this letter, and when was it written? Was the church at this time Jewish or Gentile? What was the relation of Jewish believers to the church? Of what social elements was the church composed? How was the church organized at this time? What references to "bishops" are found in the New Testament, and what do they indicate? How did the bishops grow to be rulers in the church? What two institutions of the church are referred to? How was the Lord's Supper observed in the earliest church? What changes arose in the method of administration? How did the first day of the week come to be recognized in the church? What was the doctrinal system of this time? What was the literature of the church? What books were at first questioned? What was the spiritual condition of the church as compared with earlier periods? What may have caused the decline in spiritual fervor?
What is the estimate of the number of members in the church at the end of the first century? What evidence of this is found in the Catacombs of Rome? What evidence is given by a letter? Who wrote this letter, and when was it written? Was the church at this time Jewish or Gentile? What was the relation of Jewish believers to the church? Of what social elements was the church composed? How was the church organized at this time? What references to "bishops" are found in the New Testament, and what do they indicate? How did the bishops grow to be rulers in the church? What two institutions of the church are referred to? How was the Lord's Supper observed in the earliest church? What changes arose in the method of administration? How did the first day of the week come to be recognized in the church? What was the doctrinal system of this time? What was the literature of the church? What books were at first questioned? What was the spiritual condition of the church as compared with earlier periods? What may have caused the decline in spiritual fervor?
The End
Title: The Ten Minute Series of Supplemental Lessons
——FOR——The Sunday School,——BY——LORANUS E. HITCHCOCK.——————
THE necessity of some instruction in the Bible in order to supply the deficiencies which are unavoidable to any system of uniform lessons, is realized in every Sunday school. The International Lessons can only give detached portions of Scripture, and a supplemental lesson must be added to impart a general knowledge of the book as a whole.
The full course of study includes five series of lessons, adapted to be used in any denomination.
Decorative sunburstI.The Life of Jesus.II.Studies about the Bible.III.Bible Geography.IV.Bible History.V.History of the Christian Church.
Two additional series of special interest to the Methodist Episcopal Church have been prepared, namely:
VI.History of the Methodist Episcopal Church.VII.Government of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
These lessons are arranged for use as graded studies for scholars ten years of age and upward.
Each series contains thirty-six lessons, which can easily be learned in the course of a year, even if the study be suspended during the summer months.
Sample Set, 7 numbers, 35 cents.Price of each, per dozen, 50 cents; by mail, 59 cents.——————New York: EATON & MAINS. Cincinnati: JENNINGS & GRAHAM.
Transcriber's Notes:Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text uses both Maccabean and Maccabæan once.The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.Page 7, "17" changed to "19" (Study, page 19)Page 9, "9, 10" changed to "11, 12" (given on pages 11, 12)Page 17, "he" changed to "the" (the legate)Page 18, "Perea" changed to "Peræa" (place in Peræa and three)Page 25, "thrty-five" changed to "thirty-five" (less than thirty-five years)Page 30, "1.)" added to text. (this period. 1.) In his infancy)Page 36, comma changed to hyphen. Original read: (Nicodemus (John 3. 1, 21))Page 41, number "1.)" was used for the first two items under heading III. The items were renumbered consecutively.Page 46, "Gaililee" changed to "Galilee" (southwest of the Sea of Galilee)Page 48, "refences" changed to "references" (of the following references)Page 49, "provincess" changed to "provinces" (Beside the five provinces)Page 51, "occured" changed to "occurred" (this journey occurred four)Page 51, "visit" changed to "Visit" (A Visit to Bethany)Page 52, "Question" changed to "Questions" (Review Questions)Page 72, "Aegan" changed to "Ægean" (the Ægean Sea. Name the)Page 75, "sugested" changed to "suggested" (and doubtless suggested by)Page 75, "synagoguge" changed to "synagogue" (synagogue service? To what)Page 77, "Jersualem" changed to "Jerusalem" (in Jerusalem with Peter)Page 97, "13. 5, 4. changed to "13. 4, 5." (13. 4, 5. Acts)
Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text uses both Maccabean and Maccabæan once.
The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
Page 7, "17" changed to "19" (Study, page 19)
Page 9, "9, 10" changed to "11, 12" (given on pages 11, 12)
Page 17, "he" changed to "the" (the legate)
Page 18, "Perea" changed to "Peræa" (place in Peræa and three)
Page 25, "thrty-five" changed to "thirty-five" (less than thirty-five years)
Page 30, "1.)" added to text. (this period. 1.) In his infancy)
Page 36, comma changed to hyphen. Original read: (Nicodemus (John 3. 1, 21))
Page 41, number "1.)" was used for the first two items under heading III. The items were renumbered consecutively.
Page 46, "Gaililee" changed to "Galilee" (southwest of the Sea of Galilee)
Page 48, "refences" changed to "references" (of the following references)
Page 49, "provincess" changed to "provinces" (Beside the five provinces)
Page 51, "occured" changed to "occurred" (this journey occurred four)
Page 51, "visit" changed to "Visit" (A Visit to Bethany)
Page 52, "Question" changed to "Questions" (Review Questions)
Page 72, "Aegan" changed to "Ægean" (the Ægean Sea. Name the)
Page 75, "sugested" changed to "suggested" (and doubtless suggested by)
Page 75, "synagoguge" changed to "synagogue" (synagogue service? To what)
Page 77, "Jersualem" changed to "Jerusalem" (in Jerusalem with Peter)
Page 97, "13. 5, 4. changed to "13. 4, 5." (13. 4, 5. Acts)