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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 582. How did the first Christian congregations come into being?
- 583. How did the gospel come to the Gentiles?
- 584. Which Apostle primarily proclaimed the gospel to the Gentiles?
- 585. Where did the designation “Christian” come into being?
- 586. How long were the Apostles active?
- 587. How did the activity of the Holy Spirit reveal itself after the death of the early Apostles?
- 588. How was salvation imparted throughout this period?
- 589. How did Christendom develop after the second century AD?
- 590. Who handed the teachings of the early Apostles down to posterity?
- 591. Who were the “Church Fathers”?
- 592. When did Christianity become the state religion in the Roman Empire?
- 593. How did Christianity develop in the time before the Middle Ages?
- 594. What else did the Christians have to contend with starting in the seventh century?
- 595. What developments led to the efforts to reform the church?
- 596. What is the Reformation?
- 597. Who are the most significant of the Reformers?
- 598. How did the Roman Catholic Church react to the Reformation?
- 599. What were the consequences of the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism?
- 600. What was the condition of Christendom in the Europe of the eighteenth century?
- 601. What was the condition of Christendom in the nineteenth century?
- 602. What important developments occurred in the Christendom of the nineteenth century?
- 603. How did the renewed occupation of the Apostle ministry in the nineteenth century come about?
- 604. How did the Catholic Apostolic Church come into being?
- 605. When did the first sealings take place?
- 606. What happened when some of the Apostles died?
- 607. How did the New Apostolic Church come into being?
- 608. What happened in the time following?
- 609. How did the name “New Apostolic Church” come into being?
- 610. How long was the prophet ministry active?
- 611. Who was the first Chief Apostle?
- 612. What other individuals have occupied the Chief Apostle ministry?
593. How did Christianity develop in the time before the Middle Ages?
During the great Migration Period (in the fourth and fifth centuries) Christianity gained in strength in both Europe and Asia.
Monasticism, which first came into being in Egypt in the third century, played a special role in the spread of Christianity. One of the principle duties of the monks was to live a life of poverty in accordance with the example of Christ, and to spread the Christian faith. In the Middle Ages, monks and nuns accomplished outstanding achievements in science, and were also involved in agriculture and social issues. Increasingly, Christianity came to define the lives of the people, as well as the culture, politics, and society of Europe.
In the year 1054, tensions led to a split between the Western Church (Roman Catholic) and the Eastern Church (Orthodox).
Monasticism is a lifestyle in which people endeavour to dedicate their entire lives to their religion in isolation from all things secular. Both men and women (nuns) engaged in this “monastic” lifestyle.