Student Handout pp. 1-16 [PDF] - Grace Church of Mentor

a. Viewed negatively: thrust together because of persecution.
b. Viewed positively: joined together because of mutual love.
3. Purity of doctrine — theology — in opposition to heresy in the midst of persecution,
leading to further organization of polity and liturgy. Ignatius and Polycarp saw a firm
connection between orthodox Christian belief and orthodox Christian organization,
liturgy, and conduct. However, gradually ecclesiastical unity began to supersede purity
of doctrine, so that after the 4 th century, unity was actually considered a doctrine to be
observed at all costs. Often that cost was at the expense of biblical doctrine.
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