The History of the Church

Jewish Influences

PeriodInfluencersInfluence
Before the MessiahJewish EraRemoval of God's name
At the MessiahJesusThe fulfilment of the messianic prophecies, teachings, and the crucifixion
After the MessiahMessianic EraPersecution and spreading of the Gospel

Christian Influences

PeriodInfluencersInfluence
1st centuryFirst ChristiansThe adoption of the name "Christian"
1st centuryRoman Imperial CultMore intense persecution, changing calendar to honour Greek and Roman gods
1st centuryGnosisVarious Gnostic "wisdom" that influenced Christianity
156 ADMontanismEncouraged authoritative church roles and the canonisation of the bible
206 ADTertullianThe invention of the Trinity theology, apostolic succession and Eucharist
235 ADThe Crisis of the Third CenturyThe fall of "divine" emperors
312 ADEmperor ConstantineThe Roman Catholic Church was institutionalised
The sun god, Sol Invictus, was considered "Jesus Christ"
325 ADThe first Nicaea CreedChurch authority was supported by the government
Christians were obliged to confess Jesus' divinity
Jewish feasts was replaced with "Christian" feasts
Christianity became mixed with paganism
337 ADConstantius II and Bishop UlfilasConstantius II relaxed the church's creeds which allowed Bishop Ulfilas to spread Arianism in the Gothic regions
363 ADThe Council of LaodiceaSunday Rest was instituted and those who rest on a Sabbath were prosecuted
379 ADTheodosius I and the Niceno-Constantinopolitan CreedNicene Christianity became a state religion and other "heresies" like Arianism was criminalised
382 ADSt. JeromeThe first Latin Christian bible, namely the Vulgate Bible, was biased towards the Nicene orthodoxy
395 ADThe Dark AgesAll Arian nations fall in various wars, but Nicene Christianity survives
494 ADPope GelasiusInstituted Valentine's Day
731 ADPope Gregory IIIInstituted All Saint's Day which evolved later into Halloween
800 ADHoly Roman EmpirePope Stephen II formed alliances which strengthen the papal involvement in politics
Papal influence spread across Europe
Suppress any religious practises against the Roman Catholic Church
1074 ADPope Gregory VIIProhibition of clerical marriages
1095 ADThe CrusadesVarious Christian crusades were attempted by the Byzantine Empire to regain territory occupied by Muslims
Soldiers believed that salvation could be secured by participation in these wars
1215 ADPope Innocent IIIDecree 7 sacraments necessary for salvation
Declared that nobody can be saved outside the church
1229 ADCouncil of ToulouseProhibition of Bible ownership
1302 ADPope Boniface VIIIDeclared submission under the authority of the Pope is necessary for salvation