CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX.

Our Saviour born four years before the vulgar era, and in the year 4709 of the
Julian Period-Crucified A. D. 34.

150

160

Justin Martyr, d. 165.

The Gnostics Marcion and Basilides.
Cornelius, bishop of Antioch.

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, d. 167.

Montanus-The Montanists.

Anicet, bishop of Rome.

Hegesippus, ecclesiastical historian.

Celsus, against the Christian religion.
Soter, bishop of Rome.

Marcus Aurelius, philosopher, d. Claudius Apollinarius, bp. of Hierapolis.
180.

Melito, bishop of Sardis.

Bardesanes, the Gnostic.

170

180 Commodus, d. 192.

Eleutherus, Roman bishop.
Dionysius, bishop of Corinth.

Theophilus, bishop of Antioch.

177. Irenæus, bishop of Lyons, d. 203.
Pantænus, catechist in Alexandria.
Tertullian at Carthage.

Historical Events.

50. Presbyters, (яpeoßuτepor=exояоi,) an order for the management of church
affairs.-Baptism by immersion.-Confession of belief made at baptism.
60. Deacons.-Deaconesses.-Meetings of Christians in private houses.-Daily
meetings for divine service.-Daily instruction by prayer, singing, and
reading of the Old Testament.-Exclusion of unworthy members from the
church.-Love-feast connected with the communion.

70. Common care for the poor.-Contributions to other churches.-Church of-
ficers carry on their former occupations.-The Ebionites use unleavened
bread in the supper.-Choice to church offices usually by church officers and
the churches.
80. Particular days selected for the worship of God.-The keeping of Sunday.-.
Consecration to church offices by the laying on of hands.-The celebration
of the Jewish sabbath by the Jewish Christians continued. The yearly
feasts of the Jews (passover and pentecost) continue among the Jewish
Christians. One of the presbyters presides in the college of presbyters.

90. Country churches with their own officers.

100. Reading of the New Testament Scriptures in the churches.

110. The communion connected with the meetings for divine service, particularly
with those on Sunday. Catechumens.-Preparation for baptism by fasting
and prayer.-Growing importance of the president in the college of pres-
byters.
120. The celebration of marriages brought into connection with the church.-
Heathen Christians begin to celebrate the yearly feasts, but with altered
views.-Voluntary offerings (poopopai) at the celebration of the commu-
nion. Traces of a separation of divine service into two parts.

130. In divine service the Scriptures are explained and applied by the minister.-
Then follows a simple celebration of the supper. The deacons carry the
elements to the absent members.

140. The Scriptures and church fathers are read in divine service.-Epistolary
correspondence between churches (formata).-Formula of baptism as
generally prevalent mentioned in Justin Martyr.

150. During the persecutions the Christians hold their meetings in retired places.
-Laying on of hands in baptism.-Difference about the celebration of the
passover between the oriental and occidental churches.-Infant baptism.-
Those that have been regenerated are incorporated into the body of the
church by baptism.

160. First appearance of buildings appropriated to public worship.-Polycarp has
a conference with Anicetus on the disagreement respecting the passover.
-Images and pictures in the houses of Christians.-Weekly or monthly
collections in the meetings for public worship, for the poor and the sick.-
Special fasts for the benefit of those in distress.-The use of the sign of
the cross in all the actions and events of life.-Transfer of the ordinances.
of the Jewish Sabbath to Sunday.

170. Catechists.-Contest about the passover in Asia Minor.-Deaconesses, who
are widows above sixty years old, receive the usual ordination.-In the
Lord's supper, the common bread, and wine mingled with water, were used.
-Images of Christ among the heretics.-The deaconesses are consulted in
the celebration of marriage. The bride and bridegroom partake of the
Lord's supper with each other.-Abrenuntiatio at baptism and trine im-
mersion. More definite form given to the confessions made at baptism.-
Easter-eve and Whitsuntide favourite times for administering baptism in
the whole church.-Celebration of Easter-night by vigils.-Festival of
fifteen days from Easter to Whitsuntide.-Catholic epistle of Dionysius of
Corinth.

180. The Christian custom of burying the dead. Church festival in commemora-
tion of the dead immediately after death and on its anniversaries.-Among
the Catholics the division of the form of worship into two parts is the
universal custom.-Tertullian opposed to infant baptism.-The heretics on
their entrance into the Catholic church are, in Asia Minor and North
Africa, again baptized; in Rome, they are treated as penitents.-In the
oriental church divine service on the sabbath, and no fasts.

Historical Events.

180. In the Romish church and other places of the West, fasts on the Sabbath.
Attempts to determine the day of Christ's birth. Perhaps a celebration
of it in Egypt (?)-In the churches an altar and pulpit (pulpitum, sug-
gestus.) The office of readers. The performance of particular penances
by the penitents.

190. Images of Christ among the heathen.-Symbolical rites in baptism.-Anoint-
ing after baptism.-Use of milk and honey.-Kiss of peace.-The laying
on of hands as a concluding act, regarded as particularly important.-
Contest between the Christians of Asia Minor and of Rome respecting the
celebration of the passover.-197. Victor of Rome withdraws from the
fellowship of the Christians of Asia Minor.-The college of the presbyters
still exists in subordinate connection with the bishop.

200. Public discussions upon the baptism of heretics in North Africa.-Communion
in private houses in North Africa.-The birthday of the martyrs celebrated.
-A house of public worship in Edessa.

210. Introduction of Old Testament ideas of a particular priesthood into the
Christian church.-The clergy, as a body, called xanpos, xanpixo, ordo, in
distinction from the λaos, plebs. laici.-The catechumens divided into classes
by Origen.
220. Choice of bishop by the provincial bishops in connection with the adjacent
churches.-The symbol of baptism, the rite of baptism, the Lord's prayer,
and some church-songs kept concealed from the catechumens.

230. Origen gave theological instruction in Cæsarea in Palestine.-Hippolytus
writes upon the disagreement of the East and West in respect to sabbatical
fasts, and the contest about the passover.-Composed a canon paschalis.-
Opposers of infant baptism in Egypt.-Candidates for baptism exorcised.
Consecration of the water.-Houses of public worship become more fre-
quent. The clergy are not permitted to become guardians, or to engage in
any worldly business.-The churches provide for the support of their clergy.
Comparison of the Christian clergy with the Jewish priests. Episcopus=
Summus sacerdos, Presbyteri=Sacerdotes, Diaconi or Clerici (generally)
Levitæ.

240. Infant communion in Africa, afterward also in the East.-Clinic baptism.
-The laying of hands on the newly baptized begins to be regarded as the
appropriate act of none but the bishop.-The communion is extended to
the sick and dying.-Frequent and large church edifices.-Provincial synods
common in Africa and proconsular Asia. The whole body of the clergy
and the people participate in them.-Contests of the bishops and presbyters
in Rome and Africa.-Subdeacons. Acolyths. Exorcists. Ostiarii.-
Doctores audentium in Africa.-Cyprian consults with the presbyters upon
the affairs of the church. Sometimes the advice of the whole church is
asked.

250. Easter-sabbath a common fast-day in the church.-Libelli pacis numerously
distributed by the confessors.-The people take part in the elections to the
church offices, particularly in the election of bishops and presbyters.-The
bishop nominates the lower clergy.-Pope, title of illustrious bishops.-
Synods in respect to penitents in Asia Minor.-Triumph of the Episcopal
over the Presbyterial system.-Gregory Thaumaturgus permits banquets
to be introduced into the festivals in honour of the martyrs.-252. Infant
baptism at the Council of Carthage declared to be necessary. Anointing
at baptism required by Cyprian.-253. Stephen of Rome withdraws fellow-
ship from the Christians of Asia Minor on account of the baptism of here-
tics. Two councils in North Africa confirm the old African principles upon
the subject of the baptism of heretics; on this account Stephen excommu-
nicates the North Africans.-The African synod, in the autumn of 256,
declare in favour of the customs of the African church.

260. The practice of cheering the preacher during the delivery of his sermon.-
The Lord's supper has become more complicated and splendid.

270. Fixed formularies for the administration of this rite are formed. -Cata-
logues of the members of the church and of Christians that have died are
kept.

Constantine sole emperor, d. 337. Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia.