In this period the Church cast off the chiliasm which had lingered as a part of a primitive Jewish conception of Christianity (§ 47), and adapted itself to the actual condition of this present world.
The Chiliastic Controversy During the third century the belief in chiliasm as a part of the Church’s faith died out in nearly all parts of the Church.
Chiliasm is the rule, not the exception, with the Christian writers of the second century; and it appears combined with views the very opposite of Ebionite.
The most vigorous opposition is shown to Chiliasm by the Alogians, Praxeas the Patripassian and Caius of Rome, who were also the determined opponents of Montanism.
After the time of Papias Chiliasm became the favourite doctrine of the Christians who under the severe pressure of pagan persecution longed for the early return of the Lord.
Chiliasm and explained away the Scripture passages on which it was built by means of allegorical interpretation.
In their chiliasmand restitutionism they are thoroughly agreed.
After his marriage with Eleonore von Merlau, who had similar revelations, he proclaimed by word and writing a fantastic chiliasm and the restitution of all things.
It is distinguished by its missionary zeal for the conversion of the natives, pursues with special interest the study of the prophetic word, and makes chiliasm an open question which need not rend the church.
Thus chiliasm came to be a fundamental principle of Independency, and soon too prophecy made its appearance to interpret and prepare the way for that which was coming.
His opponents denounced this as chiliasmand fanaticism.
It was only in the course of the third century that chiliasm was almost completely ousted in the East.
There were even temporary disruptions in the Egyptian Church on account of Chiliasm (see Chap.
In this sense the extirpation or decay of chiliasm is perhaps the most momentous fact in the history of Christianity in the East.
It is very remarkable that Cyprian already set chiliasm aside; cf.
Chiliasm prevailed there in unimpaired strength as late as the 4th century.
Irenæus and Hippolytus as well as of the latter's chiliasm on which unfounded doubts have been cast.
In this Church the first literary opponent of chiliasm and of the Apocalypse appears to have been the Roman Presbyter Caius.
In the rural Churches of Egypt Chiliasm was still widely prevalent after the middle of the 3rd century; see the instructive 24th chapter of Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Book VII.
With chiliasm men also lost the living faith in the nearly impending return of Christ, and the consciousness that the prophetic spirit with its gifts is a real possession of Christendom.
Dionysius asserts that he convinced these Churches by his lectures; but chiliasm and material religious ideas were still long preserved in the deserts of Egypt.
Cultured theologians were able to achieve the union of chiliasm and religious philosophy; but the "simplices et idiotæ" could only understand the former.
Communism had no hold there at all and Chiliasm was never allowed to interfere with the practical workings of society.
In the West, indeed, Chiliasm was already dead before the Church had won any great headway among the agricultural population--which was not until the sixth and seventh centuries.
Considered from this point of view, the causes of the decline of Chiliasm possess a historical importance out of all proportion to the importance of Chiliasm itself.
Organized monachism furnished a more convenient outlet for the stronger masochistic impulses than Chiliasm and so superseded it.
That famous opponent of Chiliasm is equally well known as the justifier of an extreme individualism.
It is certain that Chiliasm became especially manifest in times of persecution but Chiliasm must have operated even in ordinary times to produce the phenomena which persecution brought into prominence.
If now, with even this meagre, historical, nationalistic background in view, we examine the expression of Chiliasm in Phrygia we see at once how it took the form and color of the national psychology.
Had further persecutions been possible Chiliasm would no doubt have been retained longer, but its usefulness was fatally impaired when the majority of people nominally embraced Christianity.
It is abundantly evident however, from the works of Augustine that Chiliasm was common during that period as well as in the time of Augustine.
It is interesting to compare Augustine's treatment of Chiliasm with Origen's.
More than any other religious movement of the time Chiliasm was free from the direct pressure of distinctly religious influences.
The chiliasm which had always been advocated by members of the General Synod, and which the General Council refused to reject, was of a kind with the one entertained by Dr.
According to the General Council, then, while the gross and carnal millennialism of the Jews must be rejected, there is a chiliasm which should be tolerated and continue to be the subject of further prayerful research.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "chiliasm" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
