Bale, Colin

2Co 5:11-15, C 227.306 BAL

Bale speaks on the first 500 years of church history. He looks at the ability of believers to look back throughout history to explore how people have been shaped by the gospel. Bale explores the context of the Roman Empire and the pluralism permitted. He looks at the roles and rules of Roman Emperors and English rulers, how and why they treated believers over time. Bale explores the effect of martyrdom in the spread of the gospel, and the rise of apologists - those who showed that they were both Christians and loyal subjects of Rome. Bale explores why and how Rome persecuted believers in the 3rd century, both localised and state-wide. He looks at the response of believers, including praying for and with Romans. Talk is followd by questions., Cassette label reads : "St Thomas' Anglican church Spring School 2001 You're history 1. How the early church suffered"

Bale speaks on 2 Peter 1. He answers questions that have been raised from the previous week. He looks at Christian life in the 1st and 2nd century. Bale explores the relationship between Jews and Christians in this time. Bale explains the importance of understanding history, as this shows that the gospel hasn't changed. He looks at the circulation of the New Testament, and the development of the canon of scripture. Bale looks at the factors that led to the construction of the development, including the increasing numbers of Gentile believers, the rise of Gnosticism, and of Marcionism. He explains the role and importance of creeds. Bale explains Ignatius of Antoch's and Marcellinust creeds. He looks at different arrangements of the canon over history. Bale shows the reason of the canon as 'fountains of salvation', to show that the church is reponding to the canon, rather than creating it., Cassette label reads : "St Thomas' Anglican church Spring School 2001 You're history 2. What the early church believed"

Bale explains the theology of the cross. He defines some of the early heresies. Bale explains how Constantine comes to Christ, and the spread of the gospel in the west. He details the dispute against Arianism, the Council of Nicaea, the Nicaean Creed and the politics around it. Bale introduces the term homousios, that the Father and the Son as of the same substance, and the reversal of the church to the understanding that the Father and the Son are of the same substance. He explains why this is significant for us today in our understanding of God in contrast to others. Talk is followed by questions., Cassette label reads : "St Thomas' Anglican Church Spring School 2001 You're History 3. Who the early church fought 31.10.01 Colin Bale", Spring School 2001 You're History