Early Church History 25

Saint Cyprian and the Church of the Sixth Generation

Decian Persecution

Bishops of Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem (Carthage, Alexandria)

Gallus, Lucius, Valerianus the Censor, his son Gallienus

Pope Cornelius 251

Theologian Novatian and the cathari

Priest Novatus against Cyprian

fabius of Antioch, Dionysius of Alexandria, Cyprian of Carthage

Pope Stephen I

Questions: Can the Church forgive grave sins, even apostasy? And can schismatics confect valid sacraments?

Caecilius Cyprianus converted by priest Caecilius

De lapsis  and De ecclesiae unitate

"He cannot have God for his father, who has not the Church for his mother."

"Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but primacy was given to Peter, whereby it was made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord.   If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he deserts the chair of Peter upon whom the Church is built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?" (Jurgens I, p. 220)

Dom Chapman

Version One: infallibility of the Church rests in episcopate in union with Rome.

Version Two: infallibility of the Church rests in the episcopate in union with each other, Thus, the Bishop of Rome is a bishop of a singular honor of First Among Equals.

Rebaptism? "For how can he who lacks the Spirit confer the Spirit's gifts?"

The Donatists

Divine Wrath: Goths in Macedonia and Illyricum; Sythians into Asia Minor; Alemanni across the Alps into Italy; Shapur of Persia takes Armenia and besieges Antioch.

Xystus II martyred.

King of Palmyra saves the day.

Latinius Postumus "Emperor of Gaul"

Claudius II "Gothicus"

Odenatus, King of Palmyra.  Widow Zenobia and Longinus, disciple of Platonist Ammonius Saccas, and Paul of Samosata

"homooousios" Modalism

Aurelianus

Bishop Domnus ... Aurelian: the matter should be decided by the Bishop of Rome

Pamphilus and Eusebius