Christianity
Conditions at beginning of Christian era.--Religious systems, Jewish, Pagan, and Samaritan.--Jewish sects and parties.--Law of Moses fulfilled and superseded.--Apostles chosen and ordained.-- Apostolic administration.--The Church established on the western hemisphere.--The "me...
1. In proceeding with our present inquiry we accept as demonstrated facts the establishment of the Church of Christ under the Savior's personal administration and the rapid grow...
26. CHAPTER X.1. The thoroughly apostate and utterly corrupt condition of the Church of Rome as proclaimed by its history down to the end of the fifteenth century,--(See Note 1, end of chapte...
22. CHAPTER VIII.1. As one of the effective causes leading to the apostasy of the Primitive Church we have specified: _Unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the Church, and the introductio...
11. CHAPTER I.1. A belief common to all sects and churches professing Christianity is that Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, established His Church upon the earth by pe...
25. Part I, ch. 1:25. The italics are introduced by the present writer.)22. Is it possible that a church teaching such heresies can be the Church established by Jesus Christ? The Lord Jesus commanded all: "_Search the scriptures_; for in them ye thi...
17. Book 15, ch. 44.)10. There is some disagreement among historians as to whether the Neronian persecution is to be regarded as a local infliction, practically confined to the city of Rome, or as g...
20. CHAPTER VII.1. First among the specific causes of disturbance operating within the Church, and contributing to its apostasy, we have named: "_The corrupting of the simple principles of the...
15. CHAPTER IV.1. We are now to consider some of the principal causes contributing to apostasy from the Primitive Church and leading later to the apostasy of the Church as an earthly instituti...
14. Book III, chapter 32.)18. There can be little doubt that the false teachers referred to in the testimony last cited, were professed adherents of the Church, and not outside opponents, inasmuch as the...
24. Part II, ch. 2:3, and compare Cent. I, Part II, ch. 2:14.) and assumed6. The second century was marked by the custom of holding synods or church councils; the practice originated among the churches in Greece, and thence became general. These counc...
19. Book VIII, ch. 1. See note 4, end of chapter.)12. As further illustrative of the decline of the Christian spirit toward the end of the third century, Milner quotes the following observation of Eusebius, an eye-witness of th...
13. CHAPTER III.1. As shown in the preceding chapter a general apostasy from the Primitive Church was both foreseen and foretold. Prophets who lived centuries before the time of Christ predicte...
21. Part II, ch. 3:12, 13.)25. The fruit of this ill-sowing was the growth of numerous orders of monks, and the maintenance of monasteries. Celibacy was taught as a virtue, and came to be made a requireme...
18. CHAPTER VI.1. The cruel persecution to which the adherents of Christianity and the Church as an organized body were subjected during the first three centuries of our era have been treated...
16. CHAPTER V.1. As already pointed out, it is convenient to study the causes leading to the great apostasy as belonging to two classes, external and internal, or (1) causes due to conditions...
23. CHAPTER IX.2. A comparison between the plan of organization on which the Primitive Church was founded and the ecclesiastical system which took its place will afford valuable evidence as to...
10. CHAPTER X.Revolts against the Church of Rome.--John Wickliffe in England.-- John Huss and Jerome of Prague.--The Reformation inaugurated.-- Martin Luther, his revolt; his excommunication;...
8. CHAPTER VIII.Second specific cause: "Unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the Church, and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances."--Simplicity of early form of wors...
9. CHAPTER IX.Third specific cause: "Unauthorized changes in church organization and government."--Early form of church government.--Equality of the bishops.--Origin of synods or church counc...
3. CHAPTER III.The apostasy recognized in apostolic age.--Testimony of Paul.--"Mystery of iniquity."--Summary of Paul's utterances concerning early apostasy.--Testimony of Jude.--Of John the R...
7. CHAPTER VII.First specific cause: "The corrupting of the simple principles of the gospel by the admixture of the so-called philosophic systems of the times."--Judaistic perversions.--Admixt...
2. CHAPTER II.The Church has not continued in unbroken succession.--Divine fore-knowledge.--The divine purposes not thwarted.--Apostasy from the Church compared with the apostasy of the Churc...
6. CHAPTER VI.Diverse effect of persecution.--Imprudent zeal of some.--Return to idolatry by others.--"Libels" attesting individual apostasy.--Sad condition of the Church in third century.--T...
5. CHAPTER V.Pagan persecution.--Roman opposition to Christianity, explanation of.--Number of persecutions by the Romans.--Persecution under Nero.--Under Domitian.--Under Trajan.--Under Marc...
1. CHAPTER I.Conditions at beginning of Christian era.--Religious systems, Jewish, Pagan, and Samaritan.--Jewish sects and parties.--Law of Moses fulfilled and superseded.--Apostles chosen a...
4. CHAPTER IV.Causes of the apostasy, external and internal.--Persecution as an external cause.--Judaism and Paganism arrayed against the Church.--Judaistic persecution.--Predictions of Judai...