Church History (Vol.1-3). J. H. Kurtz
between Catholics and Protestants.” 2 vols., Lond., 1843.
9 Patrology and History of Theolog. Literature.—Dupin, “New History of Ecclesiastical Writers.” Lond., 1696.Cave, “Script. Eccl. Hist. Lit.” 2 vols., Lond., 1668.Fabricii, “Biblioth. Græca.” 14 vols., Hamb., 1705; “Biblioth. Mediæ et infinæ Latin.” 6 vols., Hamb., 1734.Teuffel, “Hist. of Rom. Lit.” 2 vols., Lond., 1873.
10 History of the Theological Sciences.—Buddæus, “Isagoge Hist. Theol. ad Theol. Univ.” Lps., 1727.Räbiger, “Encyclopædia of Theology.” 2 vols., Edin., 1884.Dorner, “Hist. of Prot. Theol.” 2 vols., Edin., 1871.History of Exegesis.—Davidson, “Sacred Hermeneutics; including Hist. of Biblical Interpretation from earliest Fathers to Reformation.” Edin., 1843.Farrar, “Hist. of Interpretation.” Lond., 1886.History of Morals.—Wuttke’s “Christian Ethics.” Vol. I., “Hist. of Ethics.” Edin., 1873.
11 Biographies.—“Acta Sanctorum.” 63 vols. fol., Ant., 1643 ff.Mabillon, “Acta Ss. ord. S. Bened.” 9 vols. fol., Par., 1666 ff.Flaccius [Flacius], “Catalog. Testium Veritatis.” 1555.Piper, “Lives of Leaders of Church Universal.” 2 vols., Edin.Smith and Wace, “Dict. of Chr. Biog.” etc., 4 vols., Lond., 1877 ff.
§ 3. Distribution of Church History according to Periods.
In the history of the world’s culture three historical stages of universal development succeed each other: the Oriental, the Franco-German, and the Teutono-Romanic. The kingdom of God had to enter each of these and have in each a distinctive character, so that as comprehensive a development as possible might be secured. The history of the preparation for Christianity in the history of the Israelitish theocracy moves along the lines of Oriental culture. The history of the beginnings of Christianity embraces the history of the founding of the church by Christ and His Apostles. These two together constitute Biblical history, which, as an independent branch of study receiving separate treatment, need be here treated merely in a brief, introductory manner. This holds true also of the history of pagan culture alongside of and subsequent to the founding of the church. Church history, strictly so-called, the development of the already founded church, begins therefore, according to our conception, with the Post-Apostolic Age, and from that point pursues its course in three principal divisions. The ancient church completes its task by thoroughly assimilating the elements contributed by the Græco-Roman forms of civilization. In the Teutono-Romanic Church of the middle ages the appropriation and amalgamation of ancient classical modes of thought with modern tendencies awakened by its immediate surroundings were carried out and completed. On the other hand, the development of church history since the Reformation has its impulse given it by that Teutono-Christian culture which had maturity and an independent form secured to it by the Reformation. This distribution in accordance with the various forms of civilization seems to us so essential, that we propose to borrow from it our principle for the arrangement of our church history.
The chronological distribution of the material may be represented in the following outline:
1 History of the Preparation for Christianity: Preparation for Redemption during the Hebraic-Oriental stage of civilization, and the construction alongside of it in the universalism of classical culture of forms that prepared the way for the coming salvation.
2 History of the Beginnings of Christianity: a sketch of the redemption by Christ and the founding of the Church through the preaching of it by the Apostles.
3 History of the Development of Christianity, on the basis of the sketch of the redemption given in the history of the Beginnings:In the Græco-Roman and Græco-Byzantine Period, under Ancient Classical Forms of Civilization.First Section, A.D. 70 to A.D. 323—down to the final victory of Christianity over the Græco-Roman paganism; the Post-Apostolic and Old Catholic Ages.Second Section, from A.D. 323 to A.D. 692—down to the final close of œcumenical development of doctrine in A.D. 680, and the appearance of what proved a lasting estrangement between the Eastern and the Western Churches in A.D. 692, which was soon followed by the alliance of the Papacy with the Frankish instead of the Byzantine empire; the Œcumenico-Catholic Church, or the Church of the Roman-Byzantine Empire.Third Section, from A.D. 692 to A.D. 1453—down to the overthrow of Constantinople. Languishing and decay of the old church life in the Byzantine Empire; complete breach and futile attempts at union between East and West. The Church of the Byzantine Empire.In the Mediæval Period, under Teutono-Romanic Forms of Civilization.First Section, 4–9th cent.—from the first beginnings of Teutonic church life down to the end of the Carlovingian Age, A.D. 911. The Teutonic Age.Second Section, 10–13th cent.—down to Boniface VIII., A.D. 1294; rise of mediæval institutions—the Papacy, Monasticism, Scholasticism; Germany in the foreground of the ecclesiastico-political movement.Third Section, the 14–15th cent.—down to the Reformation in A.D. 1517; deterioration and collapse of mediæval institutions; France in the foreground of the ecclesiastico-political movement.In the Modern Period, under the European Forms of Civilization.First Section, the 16th cent. Age of Evangelical-Protestant Reformation and Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation.Second Section, the 17th cent. Age of Orthodoxy on the Protestant side and continued endeavours after restoration on the side of Catholicism.Third Section, the 18th cent. Age of advancing Illuminism in both churches—Deism, Naturalism, Rationalism.Fourth Section, the 19th cent. Age of re-awakened Christian and Ecclesiastical life. Unionism, Confessionalism, and Liberalism in conflict with one another on the Protestant side; the revival of Ultramontanism in conflict with the civil power on the Catholic side. In opposition to both churches, widespread pantheistic, materialistic, and communistic tendencies.
§ 4. Sources and Auxiliaries of Church History.1
The sources of Church history are partly original, in the shape of inscriptions and early documents; partly derivative, in the shape of traditions and researches in regard to primitive documents that have meanwhile been lost. Of greater importance to church history than the so-called dumb sources, e.g. church buildings, furniture, pictures, are the inscriptions coming down from the earliest times; but of the very highest importance are the extant official documents, e.g. acts and decisions of Church Councils, decrees and edicts of the Popes—decretals, bulls, briefs—the pastoral letters of bishops, civil enactments and decrees regarding ecclesiastical matters, the rules of Spiritual Orders, monastic rules, liturgies, confessional writings, the epistles of influential ecclesiastical and civil officers, reports by eye witnesses, sermons and doctrinal treatises by Church teachers, etc. In regard to matters not determined by any extant original documents, earlier or later fixed traditions and historical researches must take the place of those lost documents.—Sciences Auxiliary to Church History are such as are indispensable for the critical estimating and sifting, as well as for the comprehensive understanding of the sources of church history. To this class the following branches belong: Diplomatics, which teaches how to estimate the genuineness, completeness, and credibility of the documents in question; Philology, which enables us to understand the languages of the sources; Geography and Chronology, which make us acquainted with the scenes and periods where and when the incidents related in the original documents were enacted. Among auxiliary sciences in the wider sense, the history of the State, of Law, of Culture, of Literature, of Philosophy, and of Universal Religion, may also be included as indispensable owing to their intimate connection with ecclesiastical development.
§ 4.1. Literature of the Sources.—
1 Inscriptions:de Rossi, “Inscriptt. chr. urbis Rom.” Vols. I. II., Rome, 1857.
2 Collections of Councils:Harduin [Hardouin], “Conc. coll.” (to A.D. 1715), 12 vols., Par., 1715.Mansi, “Conc. nova et ampl. coll.” 31 vols., Flor., 1759.
3 Papal Acts:Jaffe, “Regesta pont. Rom.” (to A.D. 1198), 2 ed., Brl., 1881.Potthast, “Regesta pont. Rom.” (A.D. 1198–1304), 2 Vols., Brl., 1873.The Papal Decretals in “Corp. jur. Canonici.” ed., Friedberg, Lips., 1879.“Bullarum, diplom. et privil. SS. rom. pont.” Taurenensis editio, 24 vols., 1857 ff.Nussi, “Conventiones de reb. eccl. inter s. sedem et civ. pot. initæ.” Mogunt., 1870.
4 Monastic Rules:Holstenii, “Cod.