1	A Glimpse of Church History A theological seminar presented on behalf of the Training and Recording Committee of Wilmington Yearly Meeting By David Goff April 17, 2004
2	Part Four: Splits, Schisms, Heresies and Cults or A History of the Denominations
3	Schisms, Heresies and Cults Some Major Heresies of the Early Church: Judaisers Nicolaitians Ebionites Docetism Gnostics Arians Montanists Manichaeans Pelagians
4	Judaisers Jewish Believers came to Antioch and insisted that the new Gentile believers must be converted to Judaism and follow the Jewish law. Acts 15; Galatians 2 & 3. This was resolved by a conference in Jerusalem which freed the church from the requirements of Judaism.
5	Nicolaitians Beliefs not described in Scripture, but practices condemned. Rev. 2:6, 15. Apparently believed in liberty to the extent that they slipped into immorality. Sometimes associated with libertines castigated by Paul and Jude.
6	Ebionites Rejected divinity of Christ Recognized Jesus a a great teacher or prophet and as the Messiah Rejected all worldly wealth
7	Docetism Believed Jesus was truly God Rejected humanity of Jesus ; believed he was a phantasmal projection from God John’s emphasis on flesh and blood reality of Jesus believed to be in reaction to their teachings.
8	Gnostics Mystics: seekers of hidden knowledge. Claimed to blend science with faith Highly rationalistic Docetic view of Christ (noncorporeal phantasm) Included a dualistic neoplatonism: spirit good, matter evil Salvation for the spiritually enlightened
9	Arians Major issue: Nature of the Trinity Taught that Christ is a lesser god Christ was created by God and not, Arius believed, homoousios “of the same substance” Christ not eternal, but had a beginning Council of Nicaea called by Constantine to address issue. Arius lost.
10	Montanists Followers of Montanus, a convertes pagan priest Emphasized ecstatic gifts of tongues and prophecy Declared “Age of the Paraclete” Identified himself as embodiiment of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) as Jesus was of the Logos (Word) Never driven out but sank into obscurity Provided motivation for declaring canon closed
11	Manichaeans Followers of Persian Manes Combined old Babylonian religion, Neoplatonism, Zoroastrianism, and heretical Christianity Dualistic, “light against darkness” Prophetic succession: Adam, Noah, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, and the Paraclete Rigidly ascetic; could not own property or marry Augustine was a follower for 9 years before becoming a Christian
12	Pelagians Pelagius a British monk, originally a lawyer, probably of Irish origins While in Rome studying law appalled by immoral behavior of supposed Christians Emphasized free will and personal responsibility Denied original sin and need for infant baptism Opposed by Augustine (and lost!) Followers took position much farther than he did
13	Neoplatonism Revival by Plotinus of philosophy of Plato Strongly dualistic (matter evil/spirit good) Hierarchical view of created world: led to medieval concept of The Great Chain of Being Brought into church doctrine by Augustine Ideas still prevalent in some circles today
14	Neoplatonism
15	History of the Denominations