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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page research paper that offers a brief introduction to the early years of the Christian faith. The writer discusses the contributions of Augustine, Tertullian and others, as well as early controversies. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khearch.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
perspectives and tenets of modern faith evolved. Furthermore, an examination of early church history shows that the path of the early church was not straight. There were numerous divergent
estuaries to the mainstream that sprang up from the diverse cultural influences that Christianity encountered as it spread across Europe. By examining this history, the modern Christian can better comprehend
why certain liturgical features of Christianity are worded in a certain manner, as well as gain insight into the basic beliefs of their faith. In the early days of
the church, there were three basic interpretations of Christianity. The most "dangerous" of these was "gnosticism" (Gonsalez 58). Unlike the early church, gnosticism was not a well-defined organization, but rather
it was a vast and "amorphous movement" that incorporated the name of Jesus Christ, but in such a way that Jews and Christians alike felt that essential elements of their
faith were denied within this system of belief (58). Gnostics believed that they possessed a "special, mystical knowledge" reserved only for those with true understanding (59). The Gnostics saw all
matter as evil, including the body. Gonsalez then goes on to explain the Gnostic elaborate system of belief and how it ran antithetical to mainstream Christianity because Gnostics denied such
crucial doctrines as creation, incarnation and resurrection (61). Born around 130 A.D., Irenaeus of Lyons was primarily a pastor, who was not particularly interested in philosophical speculation (68). However,
one of his works is a direct refutation of gnosticism. His goal in writing was to transmit the faith as he was taught it, simply and without speculation. Therefore,
his writing is an excellent example of Christian faith as it existed toward the end of the second century (68). Irenaeus felt that humanity was to be instructed by angels,
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