The Decline Of The Church:
Part 5
The 1st and 2nd century church.
By the 3rd century, a large body of Christians dissented from the main Church. Under Novatian, a priest of Rome, who was a brilliant man of great moral character, maintained that the church needed to be built on Christ, to be pure, and maintained that a member, who had fallen into any offence, should never be re-admitted to communion. They compelled those that returned to be baptized again. They were called Novatians and appeared to have walked with God.
Also, in the 3rd century, a number of new sects, the Sabellians, Noetians and others arose. All denied the doctrine of the Trinity, and each had some peculiarity relating to the character of Christ.
A most hateful and violent sect was that of the Manicheans, a group that should not be called Christian. It was mostly mixture of Christianity with the old philosophy or doctrines of the Magi’s of Persia. Its founder, Manes, pretended that he was the Paraclete or comforter who came to perfect the Gospel.
His fundamental principle was; that there were two original independent principles, one immaterial and the supremely good; the other material and the source of all evil, but put into action by some intelligence. He rejected, as false, the Old Testament and most of the New; and imposed great severities upon his followers. The Manicheans were headed by a President who represented Jesus Christ. They were a monstrous sect, and showed to what excesses the religious world was beginning to fall.
The heathen philosophers relaxed in none of their former zeal against Christianity, and remained bitter. They were headed by one Porphyre, a Syrian who studied under Origen and Longinus and was a writer of genius and cunning; he, more virulent than formidable having captious reasoning against the book of Daniel.
These philosophers worked a great deal of mischief by drawing comparisons between Christ and the sages of antiquity. In this, they persuaded many that there was no essential difference between philosophy, and Christianity, and that Jesus was only one of the same order with Socrates and Plato. They brought them to feel that they could esteem both, and that it was not inconsistent with Christianity to remain in the religion of their ancestors. But while they and their cause have passed away, and the Lord had had them in derision, their attacks furnish strong evidence of the virtues and graces of the Christians.
The Church of Christ sustained its high and holy character but for a short period after the age of the Apostles. It however remained very reputable, until after the middle of the third century. From that period it was not the spiritual edifice it had been.
Cyprian says, that even before the Decian persecution,
“Long peace had corrupted the discipline. Each had been bent on improving his patrimony and had forgotten what believers had done under the Apostles, and what they ought always to do. They were brooding over the arts of amassing wealth. The pastors and deacons each forgot their duty. Works of mercy were neglected, and discipline was at its lowest ebb. Luxury and effeminacy prevailed. Meretricious arts in dress were cultivated. Fraud and deceit were practiced among the brethren.
Christians could unite themselves in matrimony with unbelievers; could swear not only without reverence, but without veracity. Even bishops deserted their places of residence and their flocks. They travelled through distant provinces in quest of pleasure and gain; gave not assistance to the needy brethren at home, but were insatiable in their thirst for money. They possessed estates by fraud and multiplied usury. What have we not deserved to suffer for such conduct?”
One cause of the early decline of knowledge and piety in the Church was because of the neglect of education for the ministry. Theological seminaries were unknown, and what knowledge candidates for the pastoral office gained, was acquired from intercourse with bishops and pastors of learning. At Alexandria was a famous school under Pantaenus, Origen, and Cyril where Theology to some extent, but of a very imperfect character was taught; also the records of the first eight centuries are scarce concerning these Theological seminaries.
In the latter part of the 3rd century, the Church had a long period of rest, and then indeed a great and general decline took place in doctrine and practice; and is difficult to find for the next few centuries any of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The church had become embodied, and from many causes operating powerfully on the hopes and fears, the lusts and passions of men, she became a gigantic power in the earth. But forsaking God, she was given once more to the spoiler.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com