Ekklesia | Ridgefield, WA | Sep 23rd, 2017

Philip Stallings

What does the Greek word “Ekklesia” mean?

The original Greek word for church is "ekklesia." "Ekklesia" is the Greek word "kaleo" (to call), with the prefix "ek" (out), therefore meaning "the called out ones" — those called out to meet together or assemble together.

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Where did the earliest Christian congregations meet?

Catacombs Cathedrals

Mosques Houses

The New Testament speaks of a large church in Jerusalem meeting together in a public space and in smaller groups in houses. This practice must have been carried on in many cities of the Roman empire. For the most part, the church was dependent on members or supporters who owned larger houses, providing a place for meeting.

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Why was Christianity considered a “threat” to the Roman rulers?

Jesus preached against obeying Roman rulers Christians tried to overthrow Nero

Christians refused to worship the Roman gods Romans were considered pagans

The Romans were a religious people, but many saw Christianity as a threat to their religious system. Unlike members of other new religions, Christians refused to sacrifice to the gods, proclaiming instead that there was only one God. Pagan Romans were not only offended by this, but also felt it threatened their society.

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Which Roman emperor is known as one of the first to fervently persecute and torture Christians?

Nero Valerian

Trajan Diocletian

The first documented case of imperially supervised persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire begins with Nero. In 64 AD, a great fire broke out in Rome, destroying portions of the city and economically devastating the Roman population. According to Tacitus and later Christians, Nero blamed the devastation on the Christian community in the city, initiating the empire's first persecution against the Christians.

kentb Wikimedia Commons

Which Roman emperor is credited with ending the persecution of Christians?

Nero Leo II

Theodosius Constantine

The Emperor Constantine is often credited with converting the Roman Empire to Christianity. But though he ended the persecution of Christians and eventually converted, some historians debate the true nature of his faith.

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What was the practice of paying the Catholic church to gain forgiveness called?

Righteous compensation Paying indulgences

Holy gratuity Incentive

In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, an indulgence was "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins". It was thought to reduce the temporal punishment after death, in the state or process of purification called Purgatory.

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What was the first council of the Christian church, called by Constantine I, known as?

Council of Nicea Council of Rome

Council of Tacir Council of Ankara

The Council of Nicaea, the first council of the Christian church, met in ancient Nicaea, which is now Iznik, Turkey. It was called by the emperor Constantine I who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions.

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What year was the Edict of Thessalonica, in which Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empire’s sole authorized religion?

450 AD 380 AD

520 AD 300 AD

Ruling from 379 to 395, Emperor Theodosis I was the first emperor to decree that all citizens should be Christian. Theodosis allowed most pagans to worship in peace. But he forcibly removed "heretic" Arian or Gnostic bishops from Christian churches throughout the eastern empire. These officials were replaced with "catholic" Christians, as defined by the circa-325 Council of Nicea.

dpa / pen kno

Which of the following does NOT accurately describe Martin Luther?

He was a monk and professor of theology in Wittenberg, Germany His body was later exhumed and burned for heresy

He authored the 95 Theses which expressed grave concerns about the sale of indulgences He was excommunicated from the Catholic church by Pope Leo X

Martin Luther was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk and a driving force behind the Protestant Reformation. Luther came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly on indulgences—that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. Luther proposed an academic discussion of the practice and efficacy of indulgences in his 95 Theses of 1517. His refusal to renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V resulted in his excommunication by the Pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Emperor.

Wikimedia- Ferdinand Pauwels

What year did Martin Luther post his 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Castle church doors?

1419 1612

1517 1327

Committed to the idea that salvation could be reached through faith and by divine grace only, Luther vigorously objected to the corrupt practice of selling indulgences. Acting on this belief, he wrote the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” also known as “The 95 Theses,” a list of questions and propositions for debate. Popular legend has it that on October 31, 1517 Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church.

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What year was Martin Luther excommunicated?

1507 1514

1521 1528

On June 15, 1520, the Pope warned Luther with the papal bull Exsurge Domine that he risked excommunication unless he recanted 41 sentences drawn from his writings, including the Ninety-five Theses, within 60 days. But Luther, who had sent the Pope a copy of On the Freedom of a Christian in October, publicly set fire to the bull at Wittenberg on December 10, 1520. He defended this act in Why the Pope and his Recent Book are Burned and Assertions Concerning All Articles. As a consequence, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521.

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Which church in Revelation was told, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days…”?

Ephesus Thyatira

Pergamum Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-10: “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

Do you have faith in your Christian history knowledge?