Church History II Survey– Session 10
© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
The Roman Catholic
View of Salvation
The Church in the Middle Ages
Seven Sacraments
Altarpiece. Baptism,
Confirmation, and
Penance. Rogier van der
Weyden.
Detail of the left wing.
c.1445-1450. Oil on
panel. Koninklijk
Museum voor Schone
Kunsten, Antwerp,
Belgium
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Session 10 –The Roman
Catholic View of Salvation
Overview of Session
 Thomas Aquinas and
Roman Catholic Tradition
 Summa Theologica
• Truth
• Error
 Medieval Church View on
Sin and Grace
 Aquinas vs. Reformers
 Sacraments
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we
are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Opening Prayer - Anonymous 11th Century Prayer
“Save me, Lord, king of eternal glory,
you who have power to save us all.
Grant that I may long for, do
and perfect those things which are
pleasing to you and profitable for
me. Lord, give me counsel in my
anxiety, help in time of trial, solace
when persecuted, and strength
against every temptation. Grant me
pardon, Lord, for my past
wrongdoing and afflictions,
correction of my present ones, and
deign also to protect me against
those in the future. Amen.”
From an 11th century prayer
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Middle Ages Timeline
East-West Schism 1054
The Great Plague 1347-1450
Conflict between Henry IV and Pope
Great Schism 1378-1417
Gregory VII 1176-1184
Unam Sanctum 1302
Lombard
1095-1160
To Be Completed
The 100 Years War
1337-1475
Albert the Great
1193-1280
Anselm
1033-1109
Pope Boniface VIII
1294-1303
Abelard
1079-1142
Pope Clement V
1305-1314
Bernard
1090-1153
Thomas Aquinas
1225-1274
PoliticoEconomic
System
Roman
Catholic
Church
Early Middle Ages
500 AD
625 AD
High Middle Ages
750 AD
875 AD
1000 AD
Marseille Conquered
Spain Falls,
Damascus and
Foothold in Italy 838
Jerusalem Falls Foothold in France
Attack on Rome
711-720 Defeat at Tours
635-637
846
Islamic
732
1125 AD
Late Middle Ages
1250 AD
1375 AD
1500 AD
The Crusades
1095-1272
Conquests
Muhammad
610-632
Destruction of North Crete, Sicily,
African Christendom
Sardinia
Complete 700 conquered 827
Monte Cassino
Destroyed 994
Extension and
Consolidation of
Islamic territories
Constantinople
Falls 1453
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas and Roman Catholic Tradition
“… at the Council of Trent
(1545-1563), when during
its sessions, together with
the Bible the formal decrees
of the Sovereign Pontiffs,
the Fathers of the Council,
had the open Summa
placed on the altar so that
thence they might draw
councils arguments, and
oracles. This was a singular
honor and praise … not
given to any of the Fathers
or other Doctors of the
Church.” Pope Leo XIII, 1879
1471 AD copy of a page from
The Summa Theologica
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas and Roman Catholic Tradition
The Council of Trent, delayed and
interrupted several times because of
political or religious disagreements,
was a major reform council and the
most impressive embodiment of the
ideals of the Counter-Reformation. It
would be over 300 years until the
next ecumenical council (First Vatican
Council, 1868). When announcing
Vatican II, 1962-1965, Pope John XXIII
stated that the precepts of the
Council of Trent continue to the
modern day, a position that was
reaffirmed by Pope Paul VI (19631978).
Papal Court Artist Painting made During
the Council of Trent Now Hanging in the
Santa Maria in Trastevere (District of
Rome)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
The Summa Theologica Summarized
 The Summa Theologica summarizes the purposes of God and the
very meaning of man’s life. It was intended as a means to instruct new
believers and compile main theological teachings. Three parts:
 Part 1 – God and the Creation. God’s existence; His creation
including angels and the nature of Man, the zenith of His creation.
 Part II - Man. Man’s purpose, the meaning of life, which is
happiness (joy); ethics required of man to reach His intended destiny to
be with God.
 Man’s Inability. No one can live the perfect ethical (sinless) life
 God’s Initiative. God bridges the gap between Himself and man
 Christ’s Incarnation. God in Christ becomes the Perfect Man.
 Part III – Christ. Christ restores creation, provides for restoration of
man by substitutionary death on the Cross, example for man to follow
 The Sacraments. Infuses justifying grace to man, enables man to
live life prescribed by Christ, achieve salvation provided by Christ’s
death.
 Eschatology. A new heaven and new earth will be created.
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
The Summa’s Cyclical Nature
The restoration of God’s creation and the accomplishment of His
purposes for Man is the major theme of The Summa Theologica.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Theologica#The_Sacraments
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Theological Truths in The Summa Theologica
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God as Trinity and Creator
Man as zenith of creation
Eternal, fullness of joy and life in Christ
Christ’s incarnation – fully God, fully Man
Sinless perfection of Christ
Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross
Satisfaction of God’s wrath/penalty for sin
Though Jews delivered Christ to die, Gentiles killed Him
Bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ
Man’s inability to save himself
The Scriptures as the infallible Word of God
A new heaven and earth will be established
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Theological Errors in The Summa Theologica
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Three authorities (God’s Word, Magisterium, Tradition)
Infant Baptism removes original sin
Confirmation required to enter Church
The Roman Catholic Church is the authentic “true church”
Salvation not possible apart from “true church”
Seven sacraments are instruments of grace
Priests only administer sacraments (except infant baptism)
Transubstantiation – bread and wine as actual body of Christ
Man must “do the best he can” with grace given (william of Ockam )
Man’s will not fully fallen – Semi-Pelagian view (free to choose)
Man cooperates in earning salvation through works
Penance needed for restitution and restoration
Mary is co-mediator of salvation and worthy of veneration
May lose salvation through mortal sins
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Early Church Views on Sin and Grace
Semi-Augustnianism
continued to be affirmed
throughout the early
medieval church. But
through the teaching of
Peter Lombard, the
medieval doctrine of
salvation began to turn
back toward semiPelagianism.
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas vs. The Reformers
Aquinas’ view of justification was depended on the grace administered through
the sacraments. The reformers viewed the grace of salvation as separate from
the sacraments. This was a return to the view of Augustine of Hippo.
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
The Death of Christ – A Treasury of Merit
Late Medieval view of
Christ’s death was
substitutionary, but with a
twist. Christ died for the
sins of the world, but the
grace was not given to any
person directly. It was given
to the Roman Catholic
Church and the Roman
Church dispensed grace
through the sacraments.
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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Thomas Aquinas – The Steps to Salvation
In Aquinas’ view. salvation begins with infusion of grace by God, which results in
ability to cooperate with God. As we do the best we can with the aid of grace
through the sacraments we then earn or merit the reward of eternal life. The
Reformers would re-instate the view that God’s justification and forgiveness of sin
resulting in eternal lfie is immediate .
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas: Divine Redemption and Merit
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
The Seven Sacraments
 The Three Sacraments of Initiation
 Baptism
 Eucharist
 Confirmation
 The Two Sacraments of Healing
 Penance
Scene of Baptism from a Seven
 Healing of the Sick (Last Rites) Sacraments window painted by Richard
Twygge and Thomas Wodshawe in
 The Two Sacraments of Service
1482. Coming down to the font from
the top right is the stream of Christ's
 Orders
blood, flowing originally from a central
figure of Christ himself - symbolizing
 Holy Matrimony
that all the sacraments derive their
virtue from the sacrifice of Christ on the
cross
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas – The Role of Baptism
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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© 2010, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
Thomas Aquinas and Transubstantiation
Charts of Ancient and Medieval Church History, John D. Hannah, Zondervan, 2001
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