Church History in Ten Minutes

Summary

This engaging script traces the evolution of Christianity from Jesus Christ's teachings to the diverse global church today. It highlights the pivotal role of the apostles, early persecutions, the Roman Empire's influence, the Great Schism, the Reformation, and the emergence of Protestantism. It also touches on the spread of Christianity through empires and the Second Vatican Council's modernizing reforms, reflecting the rich tapestry of Christian denominations that exist today.

Takeaways

• 😇 Jesus Christ's teachings, parables, miracles, and resurrection led to a following of disciples, with 12 chosen apostles and Peter as their leader.
• 🔄 After Jesus' ascension, the apostles continued to spread his teachings despite opposition, including from the Romans and initially from Saul, who later became Paul after a vision.
• 📚 The first books about Jesus' life, including the Gospel of Mark, were written within the first 50 years of his death, followed by Matthew, Luke, and John.
• 🌐 The early Christian movement was nicknamed 'Christians' in Antioch, and figures like Paul and Peter wrote letters to various Christian communities, now part of the Bible.
• ⛪ Peter is believed to have become the first bishop of Rome, and the early church faced persecution, including from Emperor Nero, leading to many martyrdoms.
• 🏛 The Roman Empire's adoption of Christianity as the state religion under Emperor Theodosius and the influence of figures like Constantine helped unify the empire but also led to theological disputes.
• 📜 The Council of Nicaea and subsequent ecumenical councils aimed to resolve theological differences, culminating in the Nicene Creed, a statement of Christian beliefs.
• 🔄 The Great Schism led to the separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, influenced by language, cultural, and political differences.
• 🕊 The Protestant Reformation, initiated by figures like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.
• 🇬🇧 In England, King Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church to form the Church of England was partly political, leading to a period of religious upheaval and the Counter-Reformation.
• 🌟 The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) in 1962 brought significant changes to the Roman Catholic Church, including the use of vernacular languages in services and a focus on modernizing practices.

Q & A

Who were the 12 individuals specifically chosen by Jesus and what role did they play in the early Christian movement?

The 12 individuals chosen by Jesus were his disciples, and they played a crucial role in spreading Jesus' teachings after his ascension to heaven. They are also known as the apostles, which means messengers in Greek.

What significant event led to the conversion of Saul, who later became known as Paul?

Saul had a dramatic conversion experience when he encountered a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, asking him why he was persecuting the followers of Christ. This event led him to change his name to Paul and dedicate his life to spreading the Christian faith.

Why were the Romans and Jewish authorities initially opposed to the spread of Christianity?

The Romans and Jewish authorities were opposed to Christianity because it was seen as a threat to the established order. The Romans had already crucified Jesus and believed it should have ended there, while the Jewish authorities saw Christianity as a deviation from their traditional beliefs.

What was the significance of the term 'Christians' and how did it originate?

The term 'Christians' originated in Antioch and was a nickname for the followers of Christ. It signified that they were part of a new religious movement that centered around the teachings and person of Jesus Christ.

Who wrote the first book about Jesus' life and what is its significance?

The first book about Jesus' life was written by Mark, and it is significant as it is one of the earliest accounts of Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, which are foundational to Christian belief.

What was the role of the bishops in the early Christian church and how did they contribute to its growth?

Bishops in the early Christian church were responsible for overseeing the local congregations and ensuring the correct teachings were being followed. They played a key role in the organization and growth of the church, especially after the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero.

Why did Emperor Nero blame the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome and what were the consequences for the Christian community?

Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome as a way to divert blame from himself and to find a scapegoat. This led to widespread persecution, with many Christians being killed in various gruesome ways, including being used as human candles and thrown to the lions in the circus.

What was the significance of Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity and how did it impact the Roman Empire?

Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity was significant because it marked a turning point for the religion, as it became more accepted and less persecuted. His vision of the Chi-Rho symbol and the words 'by this sign conquer' led him to promote Christianity as a unifying force within the empire.

What were the key outcomes of the Ecumenical Councils and how did they shape the Christian doctrine?

The Ecumenical Councils were important gatherings where bishops discussed and decided on the core beliefs of Christianity. They established the Nicene Creed, which is a statement of faith still used today, and clarified the nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human.

What factors led to the Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?

The Great Schism was the result of a culmination of factors, including linguistic and cultural differences, disputes over the role and authority of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), and theological disagreements, such as the nature of Jesus Christ and the addition of the Filioque clause to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church.

How did the Protestant Reformation challenge the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church?

The Protestant Reformation, initiated by figures like Martin Luther, challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church by advocating for a return to the original teachings of the Bible. It criticized practices such as the sale of indulgences and the exclusive use of Latin in church services, leading to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Early Christian Expansion and Persecution

This paragraph outlines the early growth of Christianity from Jesus' teachings and the role of his 12 disciples, particularly Peter and Paul, who became the apostles. It discusses the challenges faced by early Christians, including Roman and Jewish opposition, leading to persecution and martyrdom. The paragraph also covers the development of the first Christian writings, the formation of the Nicene Creed, and the eventual recognition of Christianity as the Roman Empire's official religion.

05:01

🏰 The Great Schism and the Reformation

This section delves into the historical events that led to the Great Schism, splitting the Christian Church into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. It describes the rise of Islam's impact on the Eastern Church and the Western Church's increasing power under figures like Charlemagne. The paragraph also covers the Crusades, the corruption within the Church that led to the Reformation, and key figures like Martin Luther who challenged the Church's authority. It touches on the English Reformation under King Henry VIII and the Counter-Reformation efforts by the Catholic Church.

10:03

🌏 The Evolution of Christianity to Modern Times

The final paragraph summarizes the ongoing evolution of Christianity, from the various denominations that emerged post-Reformation to the missionary work that spread the faith globally. It highlights the Second Vatican Council's reforms, including the translation of services into local languages, and reflects on the diversity of Christian practices today. The paragraph ends with a contemplative note on how Jesus might view the current state of Christianity.

Keywords

💡Disciples

Disciples refer to the followers of Jesus Christ who were chosen by him to spread his teachings. In the context of the video, the 12 disciples, with Peter as their leader, played a pivotal role in the early Christian movement after Jesus' ascension to heaven. The script mentions that these disciples continued to spread Jesus' teachings, forming the foundation of the Christian religion.

💡Apostles

Apostles, derived from the Greek word for 'messengers,' are the individuals who were part of Jesus' inner circle and were tasked with spreading the teachings of Christianity after Jesus' death. The video script explains that Paul, originally known as Saul, became an apostle after his conversion and, along with Peter and the other disciples, is known as one of the apostles who helped to establish early Christian communities.

💡Christians

Christians are followers of Christ, and the term originated from the nickname given to the followers of Jesus in Antioch, as mentioned in the script. They are characterized by their belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Messiah. The video highlights the growth of Christianity and the persecution faced by early Christians, illustrating the development of the Christian faith despite challenges.

💡Persecution

Persecution in the script refers to the systematic mistreatment and killing of Christians by the Roman Empire and others who opposed the new faith. The video describes how Christians were falsely accused of various crimes, leading to widespread persecution, including the use of Christians as human candles and their deaths in the circuses, which highlights the intense opposition faced by early Christians.

💡Bishops

Bishops are high-ranking officials in the Christian church who oversee the governance of a diocese or region. The script explains that the early Christian church was run by bishops, who were among the first Christian thinkers known as the Church Fathers. They played a crucial role in the organization and doctrinal development of the Christian faith.

💡Nicaea

Nicaea refers to the first ecumenical council held in 325 AD, where bishops gathered to establish a unified Christian doctrine. The script mentions the Nicene Creed, which was formulated during this council, as a statement of beliefs that churches still use today. This council was significant in shaping the theological understanding of the Christian faith.

💡Great Schism

The Great Schism refers to the split within Christianity that divided the church into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The video script discusses this event as a pivotal moment in church history, marking a clear separation between the two major branches of Christianity due to differences in language, culture, and authority.

💡Crusades

Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim rule. The script describes the Pope's call for soldiers to claim Jerusalem for Christianity, which led to widespread destruction and conflict, illustrating the lengths to which the Church would go to assert its influence.

💡Reformation

The Reformation was a major movement within Christianity in the 16th century that led to the creation of Protestant churches. The script mentions Martin Luther's 95 Theses and the subsequent break from the Roman Catholic Church by various groups, leading to a diversification of Christian beliefs and practices.

💡Counter-Reformation

Counter-Reformation refers to the period of Catholic resurgence in response to the Protestant Reformation. The script describes the Council of Trent, where Catholic bishops decided to maintain their traditions while implementing reforms to prevent abuses of power and to clarify doctrines, aiming to strengthen the Catholic Church against the tide of Protestantism.

💡Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church held between 1962 and 1965. The script highlights this council as a significant event that introduced major changes, such as the decision to celebrate church services in the vernacular language of the people, making the liturgy more accessible and reflecting a modern approach to the practice of the faith.

Highlights

Jesus Christ's parables, miracles, and teachings attracted many followers, leading to the foundation of the Christian faith.

The 12 apostles, with Peter as their leader, continued to spread Jesus' teachings after his ascension to heaven.

Saul, later known as Paul, initially opposed Christianity but became a key apostle after a transformative vision.

Christians were nicknamed in Antioch, signifying their adherence to the teachings of Christ.

Paul, Peter, and others wrote letters to early Christian communities, which are now part of the New Testament.

The first biography of Jesus, the Gospel of Mark, was written within the first 50 years of Christianity.

Christians faced severe persecution under Emperor Nero, who blamed them for the Great Fire of Rome.

Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, leading to further divisions within the faith.

The Great Schism resulted in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church splitting apart.

The Crusades were initiated by the Pope to reclaim Jerusalem for Christianity, leaving a path of destruction.

The Protestant Reformation began with Martin Luther's 95 Theses, challenging the Catholic Church's practices.

King Henry VIII's dispute with the Pope led to the creation of the Church of England, separate from Roman Catholicism.

The Counter-Reformation was the Catholic Church's response to the rise of Protestantism, aiming to reform and clarify doctrines.

The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) in 1962 introduced significant changes, including the use of vernacular languages in church services.

Christianity's spread across the world through missionaries and empire expansion led to diverse denominations and practices.

The emergence of distinct Christian groups like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses showcases the ongoing diversification of beliefs.

The narrative ponders what Jesus might think about the current state of Christianity, with its many branches and practices.

Transcripts

[Music]

right so what you need to know is how we

get from jesus here to the great big

church all the great big churches we

have today no problem

so jesus christ parables miracles love

your enemies death and resurrection

amazing he had lots of followers or

disciples but these 12 guys were

specially chosen by jesus and he made

peter their leader

when jesus went up to heaven this lot

well one was replaced and another story

this lot continued to spread jesus

teaching but not everyone was happy

about it the romans were a star who'd

already crucified jesus and felt that

should have been an end to it

and the jewish authorities employed

people like saul here to stamp out the

new religion but then saul had a vision

and heard jesus why are you giving me a

hard time what's your problem so saul

changed his name to paul and spent the

rest of his life spreading the new

religion instead paul and peter and the

rest of the 12 are known as the apostles

which is greek for messengers

the people who believed the apostles

message began to meet together and

someone in antioch came up with a

nickname for them christians because

they followed christ

paul and peter and a few others wrote

letters to these groups of christians

called churches and you can read some of

them in the bible

around about now the first book about

jesus life was written it's called mark

and you can read that in the bible too

in the following 50 years or so the

books of matthew luke and john appeared

all with a slightly different take on

jesus life

most christians believe that peter

became the very first bishop of rome a

dangerous place to be

fire destroyed most of the city and

rumors spread that the emperor nero had

started it to clear the land for a

massive palace he needed someone else to

blame so he picked on the christians no

one like christians everyone thought

they were superstitious because they

didn't follow the roman religion or even

the jewish one they were probably

criminals because their leader jesus had

been executed and they were cannibals

because they ate bodies and drank blood

they didn't it was the bread and wine of

the lord's supper of course

all are misunderstanding but the upshot

was that thousands of christians were

persecuted and killed nero used them as

human candles and many more met gory

deaths in the circus

not that kind of circus that kind of

circus

peter and paul were probably executed

around now the story goes that peter was

crucified upside down and paul was

beheaded the other apostles were all

killed too apart from jon who was the

only one to die of old age

but christianity continued to grow the

churches were run by bishops and the

first ones along with other christian

thinkers of the time are known as the

church fathers

most of them were killed as well right

from the start christians argued about

what to believe and how to behave one of

the church fathers a man called oregon

even castrated himself because he wanted

to live a pure life

but it didn't catch on in britain

christianity probably arrived with roman

combats trying to escape the persecution

some hope one of the first british

christians we know about a man called

alban was beheaded for being a christian

then a general in the roman army called

constantine became emperor and he'd

recently converted christianity

or so he said his story was that he'd

had a vision of a christian symbol

called the cairo the first two letters

of christ in greek he heard the words by

this sign conquer so he got his soldiers

to paint it on their shields beat anyone

who fancy to fight and became emperor

but his conversion might have been a

crafty political move constantine wanted

everyone to work together but the roman

religion got in the way because

different people worship different gods

he saw christianity a religion in which

everyone worshiped the same god as a

good way to unite the empire little did

he know how things would turn out

constantine passed a law that allowed

christians freedom to worship without

persecution this meant that the bishops

could get together to decide exactly

what they all believed they drew up the

first draft of the nicene creed a

statement of their beliefs that churches

still use today this big he get together

was called an ecumenical council and

there were seven in all because the

arguments went on and on mainly about

jesus some people believed he was just a

man some people believed he was god and

had disguised himself as a man some

people believed he was two beings god

and man in one body

the councils eventually decided that

jesus was totally god and totally man at

the same time

christianity was made the roman empire's

official religion by the emperor

theodosius who also split the empire in

two

and despite the bishop's efforts to keep

everyone together the church was

beginning to split up as well the

nestorians left at the council of

ephesus because they believed that jesus

was just a man and god's spirit had come

to live inside him more people known

today as the oriental orthodox churches

left at the council of chalcedon they

didn't like the council's description of

jesus of one substance with the father

and at the same time of one substance

with man because they thought it sounded

too much like what the historians had

said they also didn't like how powerful

the bishop of rome was becoming

for a long time now the bishop of rome

also called the pope had been gaining

power partly because he'd inherited the

authority of the apostle peter but

mainly because those guys in rome were

really good at organizing everyone the

western church in the eastern church

were slowly drifting apart they just

didn't talk anymore most people in the

west about latin and most people in

esport greek and the east didn't like

having to do what the pope said all the

time and then the west added some words

to the nice and creed without asking the

east

they were living separate lives for a

while the eastern church was more

powerful than the west which had to cope

with marauding vandals the fall of the

roman empire and the dark ages by the

time the west had sorted itself out the

east had challenges of its own as a new

religion called islam spread out from

arabia in the west charlemagne was now

ruling well most of it he gave himself

the title holy roman emperor and got the

pope to crown him this gave the pope

even more power because from now on you

can be emperor unless the pope said so

finally it happened the great schism the

church split in two the eastern orthodox

church in the east obviously and the

roman catholic church in the west the

roman catholic church became more and

more powerful while the eastern orthodox

church began to feel more and more

squeezed out by the rise of islam this

is where the crusades come in the pope

sent thousands of soldiers to the east

to claim jerusalem for christianity but

the so-called crusaders left a trail of

destruction across europe before they

got anywhere near a battlefield

the muslim leaders fought back and over

the next 150 years there were six more

big crusades while the two sides

struggled for control of the holy land

eventually the crusaders gave up and

went home but the fact that the pope now

had the power to send soldiers to war

shows that something somewhere had gone

very wrong

even your local priests were getting too

big for their boots church services were

in latin and the bible had been

translated into latin but by now only

educated people like priests could

understand latin so everyone else had to

trust that what they said the bible said

was what the bible really said some

priests have seen an opportunity here

and had started to charge people to

forgive their sins placing themselves

firmly between god and everyone else

like holy bouncers

a professor at oxford university called

john wickliffe argued that it was time

for the church to clean up his act to be

reformed he translated the bible into

english so that everyone could read it

for themselves and make up their own

minds it didn't go down well with those

in charge and his bibles were burned

it took a long time for an actual

reformation to kick off but eventually a

german preschool martin luther wrote a

list of 95 theses things he thought were

wrong with the church and nailed them to

the door of an actual church in

wittenberg

the pope sacked him which luther didn't

mind because priests couldn't get

married and if he wasn't a priest

anymore

a group of nuns had written him some fan

mail so he smuggled them out of their

convent in herring barrels and married

one of them after she'd had a long bar

the people who protested against the

church and his teachings became known as

protestants other big names included

john calvin in france and ulrich wrigley

in switzerland

but they argued forever about what to

believe instead so very soon there were

different groups of protestants

protesting

england remained officially roman

catholic and it was dangerous to be

anything else william tyndale made

himself so unpopular with his protestant

ideas that he had to leave the country

he translated the new testament into

english and copies were smuggled back

home to help protestant feelings grow

then king henry viii decided to marry

anne berlin but he was already married

to catherine of aragon divorce was out

of the question back then so henry asked

the pope to annul his marriage instead

which would mean that the marriage had

never been a real marriage in the first

place the pope said no but henry had met

a friendly english priest called thomas

cranmer and made him archbishop of

canterbury so thomas was more than happy

to annul henry's marriage to catherine

and marry him off to anne the pope was

very cross so henry left the roman

catholic church and made himself head of

a new church of england

the roman catholics realized they had to

do something before everyone became a

protestant and so the

counter-reformation began catholic

bishops got together for the council of

trent where they decided to keep their

traditions but made rules to stop

priests conning people out of their

hard-earned cash

the church of england was still very

like the roman catholic church just

without the pope but when henry died his

nine-year-old son became king edward vi

and he allowed thomas crummer to make

the church of england more protestant

crownmen wrote a list of 39 articles

which spelt out what the church stood

for and stands for today and wrote the

book of common prayer which some

churches still use

but the fiercely roman catholic queen

mary the first reunited england with the

pope and had lots of protestants burnt

at the stake including our friend thomas

cranmer earning herself the nickname

bloody mary then mary died elizabeth the

first became queen and she made england

protestant again next came james the

first who was the first monarch of

england wales ireland and scotland he

was a big fan of protestantism and even

published his own translation of the

bible as european empires spread

throughout the world so did christianity

and churches sent out missionaries to

convert people in those hard-to-reach

places the protestants continue to

protest and there have been various

offshoots over the years from churches

like the quakers and methodists who have

fairly mainstream beliefs to groups like

the latter day saints of jesus christ

known as mormons and the jehovah's

witnesses who have more distinct beliefs

of their own in 1962 the roman catholic

church held a council known as the

second vatican council or vatican ii

which brought in some big changes church

services which had always been in latin

were now to be in the language of the

people

and so we continue to the present day

with churches of all different kinds all

over the place the eastern orthodox

church the oriental orthodox church the

roman catholic church and ever

increasing numbers of protestant

churches lutherans calvinist the church

of england

quakers

[Music]

you have to wonder what jesus would say

about it all