Early Christianity

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the factors that were responsible for the formation of Christianity, particularly in the context of Orthodoxy and Heresy. In other words, the paper discusses how Christianity became Christianity as seen through the lenses of Orthodoxy and Heresy. The research explores several defining moments in the history of Christianity including proto-orthodox and the boundary markers that enabled the proto-orthodox to prevail and become the dominant religion of the empire from the first through the fourth century.

Outline:
Introduction
Proto-Orthodox
Heretical Text and Heretical Doctrines
The Rule of Faith and Apostolic Succession
Gender
The Appeal to Jewish Antiquity
Future Research
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In addition to docetic theologies there were other theologies that emerged and were deemed to be heretical by the proto-orthodoxy. Among these was the adoptionists theology. This particular theology asserted that Jesus was a man but he was not divine. They also asserted that Jesus was adopted by God as his son (Grant). Those that held this view asserted that there were church traditions that solidified this view but just what these church traditions were differed greatly from that of proto-orthodox Christians (Grant). Adoptionists also claimed that all Christian held the aforementioned doctrine. However proto-orthodox Christians argued that the doctrine of the adoptionists was in opposition to scriptures (Grant). They also asserted that Christian apologists and anti-heretical authors had throughout history, declared that Jesus was God or that Jesus was both God and Man (Grant). In addition both hymns and psalms that were written from the beginning of time describe Christ as the Logos and describe him as God (Grant). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Angus, S. (1919). The Environment of Early Christianity. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
• Case, S. J. (1914). The Evolution of Early Christianity: A Genetic Study of First-Century Christianity in Relation to Its Religious Environment. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Cressey, M. (1998). Christian Confessions: A Historical Introduction. The Ecumenical Review, 50(4), 502. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001400070
• Doran, R. (1995). Birth of a Worldview: Early Christianity in Its Jewish and Pagan Context. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8982497
• Ehrman, B. D. (2003). Lost Christianities: The Battle for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108222375

More papers on Early Christianity:

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• Analytical Essay # 123302 : "Women in Early Christianity"

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