Austin Bible Church
Schools of thought affecting the Fathers, whether Eastern or Western: Alexandrian school: allegorical in interpretation. Antiochian school: historic-grammatical interpretation.
Men of the East:
Chrysostom: Orator and great pulpiteer: Was a lawyer and a monk. Was Patriarch of Constantinople, parallel to the Pope in Rome. Was of the Antiochian school. Kept importance of the context of Scripture in mind to discover literal meaning of the writer and make practical application. The cross and ethics go hand in hand. Was banished in 404 AD by Emperor Eudoxice for denouncing her extravagant dress. He died in exile.
Theodore: The Exegete, Prince of the Ancient Exegetes. Became a theologian. Embraced the historical and grammatical interpretation of Scripture.
Eusebius: A church historian, Father of Church History: Was great studier and researcher. Wrote Ecclesiastical history, the survey of the church, from apostolic times to 324 AD. Wrote the Chronicle, a universal history from time of Abraham until 323 AD
Men of the West:
Jerome: Bishop of Rome, 382 AD Wrote Latin Vulgate, Latin translation of the Bible, includes Apocryphia. Championed the monastic life cause with his writings. Used Hebrew.
Ambrose: Was an administrator of affairs of the church.Was a preacher. His father was an official of Rome. Ambrose was Governor of Milan. Ambrose became the bishop of Milan. He introduced hymn singing and antiphonal psalmody into the church.
Augustine: Wrote a history of the world in “City of God.” Was a polemicist. Was a preacher. Was a creator of Christian philosophy of history still held today.
His works are: Autobiographical, Theological, Apologetical: “City of God.” Philosophical and polemical and emphasized that certainty comes through revelation in the Bible.
His errors: Left the Jews out of history. Equated the present age with the millennium.
His teaching: Irresistible grace: No one subjected to the efficacious grace of God can effectively resist it. Election. Found no place for the human will. Church: visible institution, gave rise to emphasis on Catholic Church as the universal church. Developed the doctrine of purgatory. Emphasized the value of two sacraments, baptism and sacrificial grace. Emphasized the Roman Catholic Church as the universal church destined to bring all within the fold, coerce, conquer, and baptize. He was militant.