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Lesson Three. Missions in the latter yars of the Roman Empire

History of Missions lesson on mission work during the later years of the Western Roman Empire.

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Lesson Three. Missions in the latter yars of the Roman Empire

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  1. Missions of the Late Roman Era Lecture by Robert Munson. www.munsonmissions.org

  2. Christianity was a religion without social or political power for the first three centuries.However, things changed, especially politically, starting in the 4th century.

  3. ---301AD. Christianity became the state religion of Armenia. ---311AD. Emperor Constantine gave full religious freedom to Christianity, and unofficial favored status. ---325AD. the Council of Nicea, Bishops from all over the Empire joined, with Emperor Constantine joining as (self-described) “Bishop to Bishops”) ---380AD. Nicene Christianity becomes the state religion of the Roman Empire

  4. Two Developments Start Around This This Time Affecting Missions #1. Monastic Movement. Many became disappointed by the loss of holiness in the church as Christianity became socially popular to join due to its favored status in the Emperor. Initially this involved separation from the church and the world in general. Over time, many later began to reenter society to revitalize the church and to serve as missionaries.

  5. Two Developments Start Around This This Time Affecting Missions #2. Missionary Bishops. Bishops in the latter Roman Empire often had considerable power and financial resources. Some would assign other bishops to minister in areas where there were no Christians. As such, they’re job was to act as an evangelizer, church planter, and (eventually) bishop overseeing churches in a newly reached region.

  6. The Hostile State (Roman Empire) helped create a Sacrificial and Holy Church. The Conflict of the two created an Imperial and Superficial Church. This Church helped create a Reactionary Monastic Movement. The Movement helped create a Monastic (and more Missional) Church.

  7. Notable: Ulfilas Ulfilas: (311AD-381AD) -Sent out as a Missionary Bishop to the Goths. -Translated most of the Bible into the Goth language. (Perhaps first translation of the Bible done primarily for the purpose of spreading the faith.) -Was Arian in doctrine (or at least a mild form of Arianism). Can we learn from people with different beliefs? -”Apostle to the Goths”

  8. Notable: Frumentius and Aedeius Frumentius (died 380AD) was a Phoenician who was captured (around 340AD) by the Ethiopians along with Aedeius. Shared the Christian faith with leaders and people. Encouraged the Coptic Church to send missionaries around 347AD. Frumentius became a bishop to Ethiopia, and both he and Aedeius were later canonized. Ethiopia (Abyssinia) has been a stronghold of the Christian faith ever since.

  9. Notable: Missionaries to the British Isles Ninian, Brigid, and Patrick are Christians who were from British Isles and reached out to their own people or of another group is the region. Augustine (not Augustine of Hippo) was sent by Rome to England

  10. Notables: Pope Gregory There was little missional work in the 5th and 6th centuries (400s and 500s). Things began to improve into the 7th century (600s) Gregory was born around 540AD. In his 30s he renounced the world and became a monk. In 590AD he was elected as Pope of the Roman Church. He served until 604AD.

  11. Pope Gregory (the Great) -- Wrote book on Pastoral Care that has been influential for centuries. -- Supported sending a monk (Augustine) to Great Britain to convert the pagans. --Established the model for “Accommodation”-- adapting the Christian faith to pagan work. --The British Mission Project (around 600AD) was the first major mission work of the Roman Catholic Church.

  12. Letter from Pope Gregory to Milletus (601AD) “The heathen temples of these people need not be destroyed, only the idols which are to be found in them… If the temples are well built, it s a good idea to detach them from the service of the devil, and to adapt them for the worship of the true God… And since the people are accustomed, when they assemble for sacrifice, to kill many oxen in sacrifice to the devils, it seems reasonable to appoint a festival for the people by way of exchange. The people must learn to slay their cattle not in honour of the devil, but in honour of God and for their own food; when they have eaten and are full, then they must render thanks to the giver of all good things. If we allow them these outward joys, they are more likely to find their way to the true inner joy… It is doubtless impossible to cut off all abuses at once from rough hearts, just as the man who sets out to climb a high mountain does not advance by leaps and bounds, but goes upward step by step and pace by pace.” (A History of Christian Missions by Stephen Neill, London: Penguin Books, 1990), pg 58

  13. Moving Forward into the 7th Century and Beyond After the lull in missions during the 5th and 6th centuries, missions in the latter part of the first millennium began to expand with major missions movements: ---Nestorian Missions (Asia) ---Slavic Missions (Central Europe) ---Celtic Missions

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