Church history should be studied in two ways, what the New Testament has to say on the subject and what history has recorded. To cover this 2000 years old event adequately I divided the subject into nine parts. The reason for the nine parts is so a viewer doesn’t get lost over 650 lines of text, since the subject to adequately cover needs to be explained sufficiently.
As the subject evolves in history each time period needs an explanation, related periods have name changes and can have a part number. I want to make it conveniently for the viewer, as in these busy times an article of choice can be read and the viewer can return at another time to choose a different one.
Church history must start out with the early church, how it developed, grew and spread, then the falling away and what it evolved into up to the sixteenth century.
The middle Ages for the church was a dominant one, basically controlled by the Roman Catholic Church from say, the forth or fifth century up to the sixteenth century when the Reformation Movement started, credited by being started by Martin Luther in October 31, 1517, when he nailed to the door of All-Saints church in Wittenberg his famous ninety-five page thesis.
But ahead a century or so before the Reformation movement started there were some men who started this opposition to the Roman Church. John Wickliff, (1328 to 1384), John Hus, (1373 to 1415), and Jerome Savonarola, (1452 to 1498), were courageous men of the time opposing dominate Papacy rule. John Wickliffafter his death his remains were exhumed, and tried, sentenced to burn at the stake, then burned, ashes were thrown into the River Swift. John Hus was burned at the stake. Jerome Savonarola was hanged and his body burned and the ashes were thrown into the Arno River.
Atrocious crimes like burning at the stake aren’t a work of the church. The works of the church are reviewed in an article under the category, Church of Christ Doctrine, Work Of The Church.
As history has revealed the Early New Testament church evolved into the apostatized Roman Catholic church. The Restoration Movement resulted in only a reform with only more unscriptural churches being started and didn’t bring the church back to its New Testament teachings.
The Reformation in its three Parts goes into detail and discusses the events of this time period in church history.
The Restoration has been divided into four Parts as there’s so much to discuss, The Restoration is a valuable time in history as capable men sought to teach only what is taught in the New Testament, bringing the true New Testament church back into reality.
The Restoration Movement grew and spread rapidly and now here in the US. local churches of the New Testament are all over the country. certain foreign nations are represented with its presence.
It’s recommended to read Parts one first as they go into details of that time in history.
Visit the articles, links to them are listed next for your convenience:
- Part 1: Church history, Up to the Reformation
This part reviews the start of the New Testament Church as it grew and spread. it reads up to the start of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Part 2: Church history, Up to the Reformation
The Roman Catholic Church as it progressed and grew is discussed here.
- Part 1: The Reformation
Church history builds up to this time period and discusses three men known as reformers a century or so just before the actual start of the Reformation. John Wickliff, (1328 to 1384), John Hus, (1373 to 1415) and Jerome Savonarola, (1452 to 1498), their part in history plays an important roll in exposing the start against the strangle hold the Roman Catholic Church held on Europe.
- Part 2: The Reformation
About two men and there part in the Reformation Movement, Martin Luther, (1483 to 1546), Philip Melanchthon, (1479 to 1560).
- Part 3: The Reformation
Three more men of the Reformation Movement, John Calvin, (1509 to 1564), Henry VIII, (1491 to 1544), John Knox, (1505 to 1572).
- Part 1: The Restoration
In the late 1700s, 1794 to 1798 an intense interest in getting back to New Testament teaching only arose, making this a significant time in history. Part 1 starts out with two men who had their part in the Restoration Movement, James O’Kelly (1757 to 1826), and Elias Smith and Abner Jones.
- Part 2: The Restoration
A man whose contribution to the Restoration was admirable, Barton Warren Stone (1772 to 1844)
- Part 3: The Restoration
Thomas Campbell (1763 to 1854). The father of Alexander Campbell (1788 to 1866) was a big part of this movement.
- Part 4: The Restoration
Alexander Campbell (1788 to 1866), His contribution which can’t be matched, probably achieved the most influence in bringing back a return to the scriptures.