Church History – The Continual Restoration of the Fullness of Christ

5 – Dates in Church History

380 Emperor Theodosius I issues the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring Nicene Christianity as the state church of the Roman Empire

382 The New Testament is finally assembled as we know it today.

Argh – state enforced religion… great that the Bible is assembled – but from here it really went severely down hill.

1000 Years of Almost Complete Terrible Darkness (380/382 to 1380/1382)

Many small revivals were killed and many atrocities were done “in the name of God, Jesus, church, the Bible, Christianity” – but they do not represent the Bible, or Jesus of the Bible, or how His followers behaved in the Bible.

14th & 15th Century

1380–1382 Wycliffe’s Bible, by John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English to make the Scriptures accessible to ordinary people who did not understand Latin, the language of the Church and scholarly works at the time. He believed that everyone should have direct access to the Word of God, without relying on clergy to interpret it for them.

Wycliffe’s translation was also motivated by his theological concerns, particularly his opposition to certain Church doctrines and practices that he felt lacked biblical support. His work laid the foundation for future English translations and significantly influenced the Reformation.

• Indulgences: Wycliffe opposed the selling of indulgences, which were believed to reduce punishment for sins. He argued that this practice had no basis in Scripture and exploited the faithful.
• Papal Authority: He questioned the absolute authority of the Pope, asserting that Christ alone is the head of the Church. Wycliffe believed that the Pope’s teachings should not supersede the Bible.
• Transubstantiation: Wycliffe rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation, which holds that the bread and wine in the Eucharist become the actual body and blood of Christ. He argued that this belief was not supported by Scripture.
• Clerical Wealth: He criticized the accumulation of wealth and temporal power by the clergy, advocating for a return to the apostolic poverty exemplified by Christ and his disciples.
• Rituals and Sacraments: Wycliffe believed that many church rituals and sacraments were not biblically mandated and had become empty formalities that distracted from true faith and piety.
• 1455 Gutenberg Bible, first printed Bible, by Johann Gutenberg
• 1483 Martin Luther born in Eisleben

16th Century

• 1517 Ninety-five Theses of Martin Luther begins the Reformation and Lutheranism
• 1519 Huldrych Zwingli begins the Reformed tradition, sparking the Reformation in Switzerland. He also translated the Bible into modern local language.
• 1521 Luther refuses to recant his works at the Diet of Worms: “Here I stand and can do no other.”

Luther coined the 5 “solas” (Latin for “only”):

• Only Scripture
• Only by grace (not by giving or other self-effort)
• Only Christ (on the cross and by the blood)
• Only by faith (not by works)
• Only to God be the glory (not to demons)

Was Luther perfect? No, not at all (like none of us are – only Jesus is perfect): Luther also had severe depression toward the end of his life and wrote terrible pamphlets arguing for the persecution of the Jews. And he argued to persecute those who believed in being baptized as a self aware conscious believer. He also subjected the church to government and democracy – not first to Holy Spirit led selection to deep heart servant-leadership. Does that nullify everything? No – be smarter than that in your judgment.

• 1521 Roman Catholic Pope’s decree excommunicates Luther
• 1522 Luther Bible, German NT translation
• 1525 Anabaptist Movement. Conrad Grebel. Believer’s baptism, separation of church and state, simplicity. Many leaders were killed by both Catholics and Protestants for being baptized “again”.

1572 John Knox founds Scottish Presbyterian Church, due to disagreement with Lutherans over sacraments and church government

• Papal Authority: While Luther also rejected papal authority, Knox went further in his denunciation, arguing that any form of hierarchical church structure that placed human authority above Scripture was unbiblical.
• Mass: Knox criticized the Lutheran retention of certain elements of the Catholic Mass, particularly the idea of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He argued that this belief was not supported by Scripture and that the Lord’s Supper should be a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice.
• Clerical Vestments: Knox opposed the use of elaborate clerical vestments, which he saw as remnants of Catholic ritualism. He believed that such practices were not mandated by Scripture and detracted from the simplicity of true Christian worship.
• Church Tradition: Knox emphasized the supremacy of Scripture over church traditions and councils. He argued that many Lutheran practices were based on human traditions rather than the Word of God, leading to corruption and error within the Church.

17th Century

• 1611 King James Version (Authorised Version) is published, based primarily on Tyndale’s work and Bishop’s Bible of 1572, first printings included separate Apocrypha between the testaments.
• 1648 George Fox founds the Quaker movement

Early Quakers, including George Fox, often experienced intense physical and spiritual phenomena during worship and moments of divine encounter. These experiences included quaking, trembling, and other involuntary physical reactions, which were seen as signs of being moved by the Holy Spirit. Such manifestations were common during the early days of the movement and were considered evidence of God’s powerful presence. This quaking phenomenon even contributed to the name “Quakers”.

• 1678 John Bunyan publishes Pilgrim’s Progress
• 1683 Roger Williams, advocate of Separation of church and state, founder of Providence, Rhode Island

18th Century

1730–1749 First Great Awakening in U.S.

The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals in the American colonies. Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were key figures. The movement emphasized personal conversion and emotional preaching. It led to the growth of evangelical denominations and increased religious fervor. The Great Awakening had a lasting impact on American religious and social life.

1738 Methodist Movement, led by John Wesley and his hymn-writing brother Charles, begins.

Methodism began as a revival movement within the Church of England, led by John Wesley. It emphasized personal holiness, social justice, and evangelism. Methodists organized into societies and classes for mutual support and accountability. The movement spread rapidly, particularly in the United States. Methodism’s focus on practical Christianity and outreach had a lasting impact on Protestantism.

• 1779 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: “Jesus never coerced anyone to follow him, and the imposition of a religion by government officials is impious.”
• 1791 First Amendment to the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

19th Century

1830 Charles Finney’s revivals lead to the Second Great Awakening in America

The Second Great Awakening (early 19th century) was a widespread religious revival in the United States that emphasized personal salvation and social reform. It led to the growth of evangelical denominations and inspired movements for abolition, temperance, and women’s rights. Key figures like Charles Finney and camp meetings played a significant role in spreading revivalist fervor across the nation.

1865 Methodist preacher William Booth founds the Salvation Army, vowing to bring the good message of the love of God for ALL proven by the cross into the streets to the most desperate and needy.

20th Century

1904 Welsh Revival

The Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was a significant Christian revival that swept through Wales, leading to the conversion of approximately 100,000 people within a year. It was characterized by fervent prayer, passionate singing, and spontaneous worship, often lasting for hours. The revival had a profound social impact, reducing crime rates and transforming communities as people turned to faith. Key figures like Evan Roberts played a crucial role in spreading the revival’s influence. The movement also sparked similar revivals in other countries, leaving a lasting legacy on global Christianity.

1906–1909 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher begins the modern Pentecostal Movement. Topics of restoration: Baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, signs, miracles, wonders, power, healing, gifts of the Spirit.

1947 Oral Roberts founds the Evangelistic Association

The Voice of Healing Movement (1947-1958) was a period of intense healing evangelism in the United States, led by prominent figures like William Branham and Oral Roberts. It emphasized miraculous healings and spiritual gifts, significantly shaping Pentecostalism and the broader Christian landscape. The movement’s impact was widely documented in Gordon Lindsay’s “Voice of Healing” magazine, which chronicled the extraordinary healings and conversions of the time. I, Peter Skov, went to CFNI – Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, in 1996 – CFNI was founded by Gordon Lindsay.

• 1949 Evangelist Billy Graham preaches his first Los Angeles meeting series

1970s The Jesus Movement begins in the U.S.

The Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s was a Christian revival that emerged among countercultural youth in the United States, aka the hippies. It emphasized a personal relationship with Jesus, communal living, and a return to the simplicity of early Christianity. The movement significantly influenced contemporary Christian music and led to the formation of numerous evangelical ministries and churches and bands. Keith Green became a Christian back then.

1973 New International Version (NIV) of the Bible is first published (revised in 1978, 1984), using a variety of Greek texts, Masoretic Hebrew texts, and current English style