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- Who was Dionysius and where did he serve? Describe his importance to the early church.
- What controversy erupted over rebaptizing lapsed Christians? How did Dionysius contribute to resolving that crisis? What do we learn about the early church given this was a crucial issue?
- What is Sabellianism? Why would this heresy threaten mainstream belief in the trinity? Despite the footnote on p. 220, how can we distinguish amongst the Sabellians, the Monarchians, and the Patripassians? (Be patient: your Heresy chart will come soon.)
- Although Novatus was a learned and ambitious clergyman, he ran afoul of the hierarchy. Why? Why did the church excommunicate him?
- Who was Macrian, and how did he influence Emperor Valerian’s persecutions?
- List three or four euphemisms used typically by Eusebius or Dionysius to describe a death, particularly a martyr’s death.
- The editor comments on the statue of Jesus at Caesarea Maritima and the throne of James at Jerusalem. Why does he attribute both to Gentiles?
- Bishop Dionysius concludes that the Book of Revelation was written by some person living in Asia Minor and not by the same person who wrote the gospel and letters attributed to John. What evidence does he offer to support that conclusion? What is the importance of Dionysius’s judgment here?
- During this period troubles continue in Alexandria. What kinds of troubles?
- What was the heresy of Nepos? And the church fathers’ response to it?
- The teachings and practices of Paul of Samosata occasioned more than one synod in Antioch. Why? With what results?
- Near the end of this chapter, we finally hear of Mani and Manicheeism, which will become a greater threat later. Describe the basics of this heresy of the Manicheans.
- By the end of chapter 7, Eusebius says, he has covered how many years of church history?