The Medieval Millennium: The Church Under Rome's Rule (500–1500 AD)
A Thousand Years of Papal Power, Spiritual Decline, and the Remnant Witness
A searching examination of the thousand-year period when the church was dominated by the Roman papacy and institutional hierarchy. This course traces the rise of the papal system, the merging of church and state under Constantine and his successors, the development of sacramental theology, the Crusades, the rise of monasticism and scholasticism, and the progressive departure from apostolic simplicity. Students will also study the faithful remnant groups — the Waldensians, the Albigensians, the Lollards, and others — who preserved the truth of Scripture amid widespread spiritual darkness. This course draws critical lessons about the dangers of institutional religion, the corruption of power, and the enduring faithfulness of God to preserve a witness in every age.
What You'll Learn
Course Introduction
Welcome to this journey through the 'Middle Ages,' a period often mislabeled as a time of silence. As we explore this millennium, we will see that while the institution drifted from the pattern of the Upper Room, the Spirit of God never ceased to work. We are here to uncover the lessons of the remnant and to warn the modern church against the seduction of worldly power.
Curriculum
9 lessons
Course Details
Materials: History of the Christian Church, Vol. IV: Mediaeval Christianity by Philip Schaff (https://www.ccel.org/ccel/s/schaff/hcc4/cache/hcc4.pdf); History of the Christian Church, Vol. V: The Middle Ages by Philip Schaff (https://www.ccel.org/ccel/s/schaff/hcc5/cache/hcc5.pdf); History of the Christian Church, Vol. VI: The Middle Ages by Philip Schaff (https://www.ccel.org/ccel/s/schaff/hcc6/cache/hcc6.pdf); Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe (https://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe1pdf.pdf); The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent (https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks10/1000351h.html)
Translation: NKJV
Level: Intermediate
Passing Score: 70%