“Christendom”: Medieval Christianity (c. 400-1500)

Introduction
- a. Prayer of Thomas Aquinas Before Study
- b. Christendom: dark age or age of piety? Answer: Neither
Roman Empire
- a. Conversion of Rome
  - i. End of martyrdom → Rise of celibacy → Rise of the virgin Mary
  - ii. Influx of money & power → Mixing of church and state (and corruption of the church) → Monastic response
  - iii. Donation of Constantine
- Disintegration of Rome
  - i. Division of West and East Roman Empire → West and East Church Division
  - ii. Fall of Western Rome → Rise of Church as new stabilizing force
Augustine of Hippo
- a. Arian & Manichean Controversy → solidification of Nicene Trinitarianism
  - i. Scholasticism
- b. Donatist Controversy → expansion of institutional church power
  - i. Rise of the papacy
  - ii. Church as mediator
- c. Pelagian Controversy → doctrine of grace, but gradually eroded
  - i. Baptismal regeneration
  - ii. Gospel remnants
Conclusion
- a. A period worth studying and learning from
- b. A church in need of reformation

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October 26, 2025