The Development of a Centralized Church
The Development of a Centralized Church
Why it was necessary:
- Immense variety of movements ("heresies") claiming to represent "true"
Christianity.
Examples:
- Christianity had to be defended against competing movements
(Apologetics).
- Policies had to be determined about:
- The canon (authoritative collection of scriptures).
- The status of the Old Testament (the Law was no longer valid, but it contained
prophecies about Jesus).
- Basic rituals and sacraments, calendar, etc.
- The imminence of Jesus' "Second Coming" (Parousia).
As a result, the Church developed a centralized hierarchy.
Click here to return to the Christianity Notes Index