Early Church History 101 - third century, canon of the new testament, RA Baker, Al Baker, Alan Baker

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CH101 - The Third Century

The Expansion of the Church, 202 - 303 A.D.

Outline	Key People	Key Documents
The Severan Persecution Clement of Alexandria Origen of Alexandria The Decian Persecution Cyprian, Bishops and Pope Coming soon... The New Testament Canon, Part 5 Paul of Samosata Third Century Heresies The Diocletian Persecution Summary and Applications	Clement of Alexandria Origen of Alexandria Cyprian of Carthage Paul of Samosata	Protrepticus-The Exhortation Paidagogus-The Tutor Stromateis-Miscellanies On First Principles Contra Celsum On the Lapsed On the Unity of the Church

Canon of the New Testament, Part 5
The most prolific third century writers are Tertullian (already mentioned), Hippolytus of Rome, Origen of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage. In the writings of these men, there is a noticeable increase in citations from the "inspired" writings that eventually become the New Testament, and far less citations from works that do not make it into the New Testament.

The influence of the Gnostic writings had lost their impact by the middle of the third century. By this time the struggle of the church was becoming more about theological issues regarding lapsed believers and how to maintain their numbers during Roman persecution.

top of page | go to page 6 - Paul of Samosata

top of page | go to page 5 - Cyprian of Carthage

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