Final answer:
By the fourth century, Christianity had established the Church as the central path to salvation, focusing on the role of the clergy and sacraments. Theological discussions were more centered on the concept of the Trinity and the nature of Christ than on promoting the pursuit of the Holy Spirit's gifts among the lay populace.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the developments that took place by the fourth century concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit within Christianity. During this period, Christianity had evolved into an institutionalized religion, with the Church largely acting as the path to salvation. Discussions and controversies did arise around the nature of the Trinity and the nature of Christ, but pursuit of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by the general populace was not highly advocated by the Church. Instead, the focus shifted towards the role of the clergy and the administration of the sacraments as the primary means to spiritual salvation.
Teaching on the Holy Spirit had not ceased, but its understanding and access became more exclusive, with Church authorities gravitating towards discussions on orthodoxy and the nature of Christ and the Trinity rather than promoting the seeking of spiritual gifts by laypeople.