"But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you":1Thess:5:12
Over the years there have been, and are, many over the centuries who have served Jesus Christ faithfully even to the point of death , many of those have done so in anonymously, some of those faithful Christians we may never know this side of eternity, there are more than can be named in short treatment of the subject, but I would like to offer just a overview of a few who have shaped Christian thought , understanding and doctrine regardless as to where we may find ourselves in the greater body of the Church.
Some we have historical records of, those who came after the Apostles or and other Biblical personalities. It serves us to follow the admonition of Paul to be aware of the many who have proclaimed the Gospel about Jesus to the world around them and moved the Church forward in it's mission to tell the world around them about Jesus Christ.
These early Church leaders did not, and do not, belong to any one "ecclesiastical organization", but rather predate any such humanly devised denominational structure or form.They belong to all believers in all ages under whatever name believers are gathered.
Clement of Rome
The leaders of the Church at Rome it is believed that the Apostle Peter is to have ordained two Bishops, Linus and Cletus. But it has been the tradition that Peter ordained Clemente to lead the congergation.
There is very little information regarding Clement, other that he had a prominent role in the Church at Rome before being ordained to lead the congregation and that he wrote to varies church to address situations that had developed and needed his input.
Clement is thought to be the same Clement that is referred to in Paul's epistle to the Philippians:4:3 as" a fellow servant of Christ".
In some traditions it is believed that Clement was exiled out of Rome, under Emperor Trajan to Chersonesus which is in modern Crymiea. While there he preformed a miracle which led to the conversion of many pagans in the region.
For the ministry that Clement conducted converting many to believe in Jesus, Clement is thought to have been arrested and bounded to a ships anchor and dropped into the sea.
Irenaeus of Lyons
Irenaeus was born around 130 AD in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was taught by the Bishop Polycarp, the disciple of John the Apostle. At some point Irenaeus located to Lyons in south Gaul where he became and Elder of the Church.
At some point Irenaeus was dispatched to Rome with a communication for the Church leadership there.While in Rome persecution broke out in Lyons and Vienna against the Christians in those cities. Photinus Bishop of Lyons was killed leaving none to lead the remaining Christians.
When Irenaeus returned he was ordained to the office of Bishop Irenaeus ,however saw himself as a pastor and shepherd, to care for the flock of Christians seeing to their spiritual needs rather than engaging in theological thoughts.
His approach to ministry ,that of being a shepherd, also reveals how he related to Jesus Christ, seeing Jesus as the one true good shepherd. Irenaeus also wanted those under his care to understand that they were wanted and loved by God, as such he wanted his ministry to reflect that love.
Irenaus' writings reflect a hesitation to engage in speculative thinking, but rather to deal directly with heretical teaching and refute it to and establish orthodox Christin doctrine.
Irenasus believed that the free will that God had conferred upon humanity at creation gave humanity the capacity to choose to participate in becoming more like Jesus Christ. He stressed that Christians need to be taught by way of the Scripture and the ministry of the Holy Spirit and strengthen in the Christian life through worship with a focus on the sacrament of Communion.
He saw God working in human history and the lives of all that ultimately the will accomplished and God his kingdom established with a intense focus on the Incarnation of Jesus bringing God and humanity together.
Clement of Alexandria was born in the Greek city of Athens, his parents were pagans. Clement would have been exposed early in life to discussions of philosophy.
Tertullian was from Carthage in North Africa and lived most of his life there , but it was when he traveled to Rome that he became converted and believed in Jesus Christ.
Athanasius' birth an location are not recorded, but he arose out of the Coptic people of Egypt, most likely from a small and poor village somewhere along the Niel river. Due to his dark complexion and short stature he would become known as the "Black Dwarf" by some. He in his younger life became familiar with monks who lived in the desert who spent their time studying Scripture and in prayer. It is recorded in his own works that he knew and visited the monk Anthony , and a other records that he gave a cloak to Paul the Hermit.Athanasius' relationship with the Desert Monks would help shape his understanding, thought and theology which has impacted the Church throughout the centuries even to this present time. From the monks he would acquire his austerity that many found worthy of admiration. Athanasius' influence in the greater Church arose out of the humility and unpretentious genuine faith that he lived out each day and the bond that he had with the common people from which he came.
His approach to ministry ,that of being a shepherd, also reveals how he related to Jesus Christ, seeing Jesus as the one true good shepherd. Irenaeus also wanted those under his care to understand that they were wanted and loved by God, as such he wanted his ministry to reflect that love.
Irenaus' writings reflect a hesitation to engage in speculative thinking, but rather to deal directly with heretical teaching and refute it to and establish orthodox Christin doctrine.
Irenasus believed that the free will that God had conferred upon humanity at creation gave humanity the capacity to choose to participate in becoming more like Jesus Christ. He stressed that Christians need to be taught by way of the Scripture and the ministry of the Holy Spirit and strengthen in the Christian life through worship with a focus on the sacrament of Communion.
He saw God working in human history and the lives of all that ultimately the will accomplished and God his kingdom established with a intense focus on the Incarnation of Jesus bringing God and humanity together.
Clement of Alexandria
Clement of Alexandria was born in the Greek city of Athens, his parents were pagans. Clement would have been exposed early in life to discussions of philosophy.
It is uncertain as to how and where Clement was exposed to the message about Jesus but he became a convert and sought out a pastor or Christian teacher that could answer the deep questions that he had.
His search for a teacher took him to Alexandria Egypt, the city noted for it's educational and philosophical centers of learning.
While in Alexandria Clement met Pantenus, of which there is little information.
Pantenus proved however, to be the teacher that Clement sought for. Clement stayed and learned from Pantenus in Alexandria until Pantenus died.
At Pantenus' death Clement amused his place as a teacher, rather than that of being a pastor, where he taught Christina thought. Alexandria was a city that attracted people from throughout the world with its universities and schools.
Also Alexandria was situated on important travel and trade routs bring many peoples and ideas into the city giving Clement a large and diverse audience to teach and expound Christian doctrine, thought and theology. It was is hope that through teaching and reason he could bring many pagans and non believers to the point that they would receive Jesus Christ, therefore Clement would allude to the Greek philosophers at times, such as Plato, to attempt creating a dialog with pagans steeped in Hellenized thought.
Clement would teach in Alexandria until the persecution under Emperor Septimius Severus broke out in 202 AD. This forced Clement to leave the city of Alexandria . Clement untimely traveled to Asia Minor and Syria and stayed there until his death in 215 AD.
Tertullian of Carthage
Tertullian was from Carthage in North Africa and lived most of his life there , but it was when he traveled to Rome that he became converted and believed in Jesus Christ.
Before Tertullians conversion it is possible that he was an attorney, he appears to have had the thought processes of a trained legal mind. It is also possible that he was schooled in oratory and rhetoric.
When he returned to the city of Carthage he engaged in writing a series of works to defend Christian belief from the attacks of pagans and heresies that had arisen against accepted Christina belief and understanding.
Tertullian presented arguments and reasons in defense of the doctrine of the Church against the challenges of unorthodox teachers explaining accepted Christian understanding and the Church's right to teach and defend that orthodox doctrine.
Tertullian showed how that the Church being the heirs of the work of God through Jesus had authority to interpret Scripture, and as it was the Apostles who wrote the Gospels and the Epistles conferred ownership of those writings to the Church orthodox and not to groups which emerged apart from the understood body that comprised the Church for two centuries.
All that Tertullian worked at to keep heresies out of the Church makes it hard to grasp why he would join himself with extra-orthodox group started by Montanus. It may have been the high moral standard that called out to him.
Even after Tertullian joined with Montaus, he still wrote to deal with heresies and wild speculation. Eventuality he would, after a time, find the rigors of the Montanus movement unrealistic and unworkable.
Tertullian would find himself in a disagreement with a Bishop whom he deferred to as "devil in Rome" .
Tertullian would leave the Montanus group and and continue his cause for sound doctrine among Christians, he wrote regarding the nature of Jesus who being both divine and human and led to help define the Church's understanding of the Trinity and founding sound Christian orthodox understanding of each.
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius' birth an location are not recorded, but he arose out of the Coptic people of Egypt, most likely from a small and poor village somewhere along the Niel river. Due to his dark complexion and short stature he would become known as the "Black Dwarf" by some. He in his younger life became familiar with monks who lived in the desert who spent their time studying Scripture and in prayer. It is recorded in his own works that he knew and visited the monk Anthony , and a other records that he gave a cloak to Paul the Hermit.Athanasius' relationship with the Desert Monks would help shape his understanding, thought and theology which has impacted the Church throughout the centuries even to this present time. From the monks he would acquire his austerity that many found worthy of admiration. Athanasius' influence in the greater Church arose out of the humility and unpretentious genuine faith that he lived out each day and the bond that he had with the common people from which he came.
Athanasius had a zeal for Jesus and deep rooted convictions which focused his mind upon Jesus Christ as the very eternal Son of God come in the flesh. He saw all history as the working of God revolving around the person of Jesus.
Athanasius was among those who withstood the teachings of the Arians, which disputed the orthodox view of the person of Jesus and the nature of God which had come down through the years. This controversy which arose and was led by Dr. Arias.
The clash in theological thought began in Alexandria Egypt when Bishop Alexander argued with a popular Bishop named Dr. Arius. Arius maintained that in eternity before the creation of the world God created "the Word" who became Jesus in the Incarnation, this meant that Jesus was not "God" eternally as the Church and Scripture presented him to be was "God" but not "God" as the Father was "God", that Jesus was some how less "God" than the Father.
This controversy began to not only effect the Church, but the general public as well so great was then debate , arguments would flared up in the streets and market place especially after Dr. Arius was removed from being a Bishop.
Even the Emperor Constantine was drawn into the discussion. The Emperor seeing that the divide threaten public tranquility and the integrity and unity of the Empire in the east he asked the Church leadership to meet and resolve the issue among themselves.
All of this as well led to the Council of Nicea in Asia Minor in the Spring of 325 AD. This gatherings of Bishops developed the Nicean Creed which reaffirmed the historic teaching of the Church; that Jesus is, and has always, been and will be eternally fully God and in the incarnation assumed humanity.
Athanasius was serving as a Deacon at the council had a central role in defining not only the nature of Jesus, but the Trinity as well.
At the death of Bishop Alexander it was assumed that Athanasius would take his place. But Athanasius instead fled into the desert to avoid being ordained to that office. After much resistance to being placed in Alexanders office Athanasius finally conceded and accept the ordination.
As the politics both within the Church and Empire vacillated and views shifted over the years Athanasius would find the orthodox and historic understanding would be challenged thrusting him contentiously him into the debate regarding the nature of Jesus and the Trinity. He would be plotted against during his life and ministry and face exile from Alexandria and face arrest and assailed by his opponents.
Athanasius gave the Church at large a deeper more vibrant understanding of the God and Savior who speaks out of the Holy Bible and came to humanity in the person of Jesus.
Athanasius died in Alexandria Egypt in 373 AD .
At the death of Bishop Alexander it was assumed that Athanasius would take his place. But Athanasius instead fled into the desert to avoid being ordained to that office. After much resistance to being placed in Alexanders office Athanasius finally conceded and accept the ordination.
As the politics both within the Church and Empire vacillated and views shifted over the years Athanasius would find the orthodox and historic understanding would be challenged thrusting him contentiously him into the debate regarding the nature of Jesus and the Trinity. He would be plotted against during his life and ministry and face exile from Alexandria and face arrest and assailed by his opponents.
Athanasius gave the Church at large a deeper more vibrant understanding of the God and Savior who speaks out of the Holy Bible and came to humanity in the person of Jesus.
Athanasius died in Alexandria Egypt in 373 AD .
To Be Continued....
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania.
www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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