Patristic Period – Early Christianity Essay Example

Currently, believers in Jesus Christ are turning to become puritans. They are walking in the old path of the Lord's word. As a result, they preach the old truth and exalts the Savior. In this regard, there is no new theology. We are in the digital era where there has been the establishment of PDF formats, Mobi, and ePubs in the library to ensure that the scriptures can be easily accessed. There are articles from Puritans and reformers. This has, in turn, enabled them to become digital puritans. However, modern Christians draw critical lessons from the Patristic period. In this regard, this paper will examine the Patristic period, which is a vital Christian period.

Description of the Period

Patristic is a word that has been derived from the word pattress, which is a Latin word meaning fathers. The word is used to describe the historical period for Christians and the time/writing of the Church Fathers. Church fathers are those individuals who fought against rivalries and misunderstandings. They were also engaged in writing sermons and conducted extensive commentaries on the biblical teachings. Besides, they recorded critical events in the church's history and ensured that they built the faith of Jesus' believers (Introduction to historical theology – The patristic period (C. 100-450), n.d.). The era started at the end of the first century. This is a period when the New Testament was completed. The period ended towards the end of the eighth century. The patristic period is considered a significant moment in the life of Christians. In this regard, Christianity originated in Palestine (Wiley-Blackwell, n.d.). The Judea region, especially Jerusalem city, is where it started. The religion is deemed as the extension and development of Judaism. The religion flourished in areas where Judaism was practiced, especially in Palestine. It rapidly spread to the other neighboring regions. This is attributed to the efforts of Paul of Tarsus. When the first century ended, Christianity had dominated the East and the Mediterranean region (Wiley-Blackwell, n.d.). It had also spread to Rome. As it became powerful, there were tensions between the Christian leadership in Rome and Constantinople. This foreshadowed the later schism between the eastern and western churches (Hill, 2016).

During these conflicts and the rapid expansion of Christianity, various centers became recognized as the centers of theological debate. Three regions may be mentioned for their significance (Latin-speaking and Greek-speaking centers). Alexandria city, located in Egypt, was one of the main centers that emerged, and people held theological debates. A unique theological style developed as a result of the debates. It reflected the long-standing association with the Platonic tradition. Students from the center became known as Alexandrian. They engaged in Christology and helped in interpreting the bible. They reflected on the importance and the uniqueness of the religion in Alexandria (Wiley-Blackwell, n.d.).

The second city was Antioch in Cappadocia. It is currently located in Turkey. It was in the upper region of the eastern Mediterranean. Paul visited the region to fulfil his mission. Antioch has been reported in various scriptures like the Acts of Apostles. It was a leading debate center for Christians. It was also associated with similar approaches to Christology and biblical interpretation as Alexandria. Antiochene is a term used to describe a distinct theological style. The last region was West North Africa. The modern area of Algeria became known as a debate center. For instance, Carthage was a popular site and political site for Romans. It was a colony of Rome. Various writers like Augustine of Hippo, Cyprian of Carthage, and Tertullian. The other cities worth mentioning because they were centers include Jerusalem, Milan, Constantinople, and Rome (Wiley-Blackwell, n.d.).

Reflection

Significance of Learning Christianity

I believe that everything that has happened to me in life is because of a reason. As a result, I have always questioned bad things that have affected my life. However, I have never doubted my Christian beliefs, as it is one of the best things ever happened to me. Learning Christianity has been critical for me in improving my faith to ensure that I can deal with the life situations that I may consider senile. I have also learned how Christianity has impacted lives across the globe. As a result, learning about Christianity has critically impacted my life. In this regard, religion is intertwined with the history and formation of Western civilization. This is why Christian believers have played a critical role in opening schools and medical centers throughout history. Christianity has also inspired art, philosophy, and culture. It has also influenced religion and politics.

Also, learning more about Christianity has drawn me closer to God and Jesus Christ. I have been able to hear God's voice. I believe that blood of Jesus guides my path to ensure that I gain more wisdom and trust Him more. Only learning more about Christianity has enabled me to get God's grace and truth. I have insights into how the bible transform lives and change from a sinner to a righteous path.

Dogma a Religious Teaching Based on Divine Revelation

I have learned that Dogma is divine revelation and authoritative teaching of Catholicism. As a result, it is the acceptable version of religious teaching. The institutions, practices, and traditions have been determined by the development of dogmas and doctrine.

John's Gospel

The primary message in the Gospel of John is that divine Logos. John states that there was the word in the beginning, and the word was God, and the word was with God. The logos transformed into men and became the flesh where it is now Jesus' dwelling place. John does not reveal information about supernatural birth. John provides a narrative recounting life and how Jesus died. John provides a different illustration of how Jesus died on the cross.

References

Hill, C. E. (2016). 'The Truth Above All Demonstration': Scripture in the Patristic Period to Augustine. The Enduring Authority of the Christian Scriptures, 43-88.

Introduction to historical theology – The patristic period (C. 100-450). (n.d.). Reformed Theology at A Puritan's Mind | Search the Scriptures... (John 5:39). https://www.apuritansmind.com/historical-theology/introduction-to-historical-theology-the-patristic-period-c-100-450/

Wiley-Blackwell. (n.d.) The Patristic Period, c. 100–451.

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