Timeline of the Splits in Christianity

 

c. 0-30 Jesus lives. Dies by crucifixion

The first followers of Jesus, not yet called Christians, regard themselves as a Jewish movement centred on Jesus as Messiah – God’s anointed one. “Christ” is the Greek translation of “Messiah” Jesus the man becomes Jesus the Christ

c. 30–50s — Jerusalem and the Gentile question

The earliest major dispute concerns whether Gentile converts must follow Jewish law. The Council of Jerusalem (c. 49) decides that Gentile Christians do not need to become Jews.

c. 30–100 — The first Church founded by the Apostles - chiefly Peter and Paul.

Christian churches, develop throughout the Roman Empire and beyond it.

1. THE FIRST GREAT DIVISIONS

c. 100–300 — Many competing Christian movements
There are disputes over:
·        the nature of Jesus
·        the Trinity – relationship between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
·        which writings belong in the New Testament
·        the authority of leaders (bishops)
·        Many different movements and interpretations of this new religion.
 
Most of these movements eventually disappear or become marginal.
 
313 — Roman Emperor Constantine legalises Christianity
The Emperor Constantine ends the major Roman persecution of Christianity.
325 — Council of Nicaea - first major council of existing churches.
The Nicene Creed becomes the foundation of orthodox Trinitarian Christianity.
381 — Council of Constantinople
The Nicene position is reaffirmed and developed, particularly concerning the Holy Spirit. At this point, despite enormous theological disputes, there is still one broad imperial Christian Church.

2. THE CHURCH OF THE EAST BREAKS AWAY

431 — Council of Ephesus
A dispute develops around the nature of Mary the mother of Jesus. Churches in the Persian Empire become increasingly separated from the churches of the Roman Empire.
c. 424–431 onward — Church of the East
The Church of the East develops independently in Persia and subsequently expands enormously into Mesopotamia, Persia, Central Asia, India and China.

3. ORIENTAL ORTHODOXY BREAKS AWAY

451 — Council of Chalcedon - speaks of Christ existing "in two natures", divine and human.
Churches in Egypt, Syria, Armenia and elsewhere reject the Chalcedon formula and eventually become the:
Oriental Orthodox Churches
·       Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syrian churches
These churches remain separate from both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

4. THE ONE IMPERIAL CHURCH GRADUALLY BECOMES EAST AND WEST

500–800
The remaining Chalcedonian Church increasingly develops along two cultural lines:
Latin West – Rome, Latin language, Western Europe, increasing papal authority
Greek East – Constantinople, Greek language, Byzantine Empire, authority shared among patriarchates
There are differences over, authority, the Nicene Creed, liturgy, clerical marriage, fasting, political authority, language and culture
800 — Charlemagne crowned emperor
The coronation of Charlemagne by the Pope symbolises the increasingly separate political development of Western Christianity.
867 — Photian controversy - confrontation between Rome and Constantinople over theology and jurisdiction. (Photius was the patriarch of Constantinople)

1054 — The Great Schism

Rome and Constantinople formally excommunicate each other and the two branches become:
Western Christianity - Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Christianity - Eastern Orthodox Church

5. MEDIEVAL WESTERN CHRISTIANITY

1054–1500
Western Europe is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, but there are numerous dissenting movements.
Among them: Waldensians, Lollards, Hussites & Cathars

6. THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

This is the division that transforms Western Christianity. Leads to the bible being translated into the languages of the people.
1517 — Martin Luther – major theological challenge
The key issues include: authority of Scripture, how people are saved, authority of the Pope, sacraments, priesthood, church government
1520s — Lutheranism - Lutheran churches emerge, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia.
1520s–30s — Anabaptists - The Radical Reformation produces groups that reject infant baptism and emphasise believers' baptism.
1530s — Reformed Christianity - associated particularly with Zwingli and Calvin
This develops into: Reformed churches, Calvinism, Presbyterianism
1534 — Church of England - Henry VIII breaks with papal authority.
Anglicanism treads the line between Catholicism and Lutheranism and develops its own distinctive tradition.

7. CATHOLIC COUNTER-REFORMATION

1545–1563 — Council of Trent  responds to Protestantism
The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is formed and becomes a major force in Catholic renewal and missionary activity.

8. PROTESTANTISM MULTIPLIES

1600s The Protestant world fragments further.
Major developments include: Baptists, Congregationalists, Quakers, Pietism

9. METHODISM AND THE EVANGELICAL REVIVAL

1700s The Evangelical Revival produces enormous changes.
Important figures include: John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards (USA) and others
1784 — Methodism separates institutionally from the Anglican Church
Wesley's movement eventually develops into independent Methodist churches, especially in North America and Britain. But also begins to split into separate branches

10. 1800s — ANOTHER EXPLOSION OF CHRISTIAN GROUPS

The nineteenth century produces an extraordinary number of new movements.
1800s — Restorationist movements
Groups seek to restore what they regard as New Testament Christianity - Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ
1820s–30s — Plymouth Brethren - movement emphasising simple New Testament church organisation.
1830s–40s — Seventh-day Adventists
1840s onward — Holiness movement
1860s–1900s — Salvation Army - William and Catherine Booth establish a highly evangelistic movement.
1900s — African Independent Churches
Large numbers of independent African Christian churches develop, often combining Christian theology with distinctive African cultural and spiritual traditions.

11. PENTECOSTALISM

1901–1906 emphasises: baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy, direct experience of the Holy Spirit
It eventually produces enormous denominations such as the Assemblies of God, Church and thousands of independent Pentecostal churches.

12. EVANGELICALISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM – a reaction to Darwinism and liberal theology

Late 1800s–1900s – emphasis on the "fundamentals" of Christianity.
c. 1910–1915 — emphasis on the bible as the “Word of God” and emphasis on preaching and evangelism

13. CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY – Pentecostal practices move into main denominations

1960s onward
It reaches: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian
AND results in many breakaway movements and new groupings of independent churches

14. ROMAN CATHOLICISM CHANGES

1962–1965 — Second Vatican Council
Vatican II produces major changes within Catholicism, including: vernacular languages in worship, increased lay participation, dialogue and cooperation with other churches and religions, a different relationship with the modern world.
But there is substantial disagreements between traditionalist and progressive Catholics.

15. EASTERN ORTHODOXY IN THE MODERN WORLD

Eastern Orthodoxy remains a family of self-governing churches including -  Greek, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Antiochian, Ukrainian
There have also been modern schisms and disputes, particularly surrounding church authority and national identity.

16. CHRISTIANITY TODAY

By the 21st century, Christianity has become an enormous network of traditions rather than three or four simple denominations.
The major Christian families today
1. Roman Catholic — ~1.4 billion
There are numerous Eastern Catholic Churches which retain Eastern liturgies and traditions while being in communion with Rome.
2. Eastern Orthodox — ~220–300 million
3. Oriental Orthodox — ~60–90 million
4. Church of the East traditions — relatively small
5. Protestant Christianity — roughly 800 million–1 billion
This is where the number of denominations explodes. Major Protestant traditions include:
Lutheran, Reformed / Calvinist, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Anabaptist, Adventist, Pentecostal
Independent / non-denominational
This is now an enormous category, particularly in Africa, Latin America and parts