Term
| Why were Christians persecuted up until the conversion of Constantine (312 CE)? |
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Definition
- Separation from Judaism (a respected religion)
- Threat to empire (upsetting Roman Gods through refusal to worship)
- Misunderstanding (insular, judgmental, self-superior - Minucius Felix)
- Scapegoats - blamed for wrongs/fire of Rome under Nero (Tertullian)
- Personal hostility |
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Term
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Definition
Informal - no official Roman law about Christianity
- Accusator/Delator would profit if charge was successful
- Calumnia - malicious persecutor, could be punished by law
- No specific charges, mainly not sacrificing
- Acted upon by Governor
- Roman Citizens sent to Rome for trial, executed
- Burnt alive if not Roman Citizen
- Made to sacrifice to Roman Gods if claimed not to be Xtian |
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Term
| Evidence/sources for trials |
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Definition
- Pliny's correspondence with Trajan
- Rescript of Hadrian (ANE, 125 AD)
- Acts of the Scillitan Matyrs, ANE
- Church Calendar |
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Term
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Definition
Detailing Christian Persecution under Nero after the Fire of Rome:
- convicted of "hatred of the human race"
- Crucifixion, covered with animal skins and torn apart by animals, set alight. Displayed in Nero's gardens in a circus
- Nero rode among them in a chariot/dressed like a charioteer. Pity arose in spectators
- Written 50 yrs after the fire |
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Term
| Pliny's correspondence with Trajan |
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Definition
Trajan, provincial governor
- 112 CE
- Couldn't find anything specifically wrong with being Christian
- Executed them for obstinacy if they refuse to repent
- Made them worship statues and curse Christ to prove they weren't Christians. Let them go.
- "A perverse and extravagant superstition", but nothing more
- Hadrian: this is the correct procedure, but they are not to be actively sought out. |
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Term
| Rescript of Hadrian to Caius Minucius Fundanus, Proconsul of Asia. |
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Definition
c.125 CE
- Christians are to be punished if found guilty of actual crimes. Also happy to let people punish Christians if that is the will of the general populace.
- People bringing false accusations (Calumnia) are to be punished - clearly non-Christians are being accused |
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Term
| Acts of the Scillitan Matyrs |
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Definition
180 CE
- Group of Christians given three chances to repent of Christianity. Continue to affirm christ
- executed for obstinacy
- rejoice at becoming "matyrs"
- Christian source |
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Term
| Interpretation of Asceticism in Christianity |
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Definition
- "marturio" = "to witness"
- a sign of the end - sacrifice - baptism - Eucharist (Christ's death)
- Modelling lives on Christ (Eusebius) - Asceticism/athletes
- in this world but not of it "resident aliens"
- Pilgrims travelling through the world |
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Term
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Definition
| - People compared them to Christ |
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Term
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Definition
- acme of Christian life
- heroes of faith
- imitators of Christ
- holy, venerated (bridging gap between heaven and earth
- Problem of voluntary Matyrdom
- continued in asceticism when persecution ended
- unwilling matyrs? |
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Term
| Philosophical schools around at the time |
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Definition
- Platonists/Neoplatonists - v. close to Christianity
- Aristotelianism
- Stoicism
- Epicureanism
- Scepticism |
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Term
| Christianity and Philosophy |
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Definition
- Initially presented as Philosophy to the Hellenic world
- Ambrose: Quoted plotinus in sermons
- only a fraction of the population would have been educated in philosophy
- Some christians wanted to be totally seperate from Hellenic philosophy, but others encouraged engagement
- Philosophical schools as having glimpses of Christian truth |
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Term
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Definition
- Roman Authorities
- Jews
- Other Christian groups |
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Term
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Definition
- Justin Matyr
- Aristides
- Theophilus
- Athenagoras
- Tatian |
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Term
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Definition
- Born in Sumeria
- Converted in Ephesus
- Taught Christian Philosophy in Rome
- Martyred c.162-168
- dialogue with Trypho the Jew
- 3 Xtian claims to Truth |
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Term
| Justin Matyr's Dialogue with Trypho the Jew |
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Definition
- Recounts conversation through philosophical schools: Stoics, Peripatetics, Pythagoreans, Platonists
Culminates in OT prophecies and Jesus' fulfillment of them |
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Term
| Justin Matyr's 3 Christian Claims to truth |
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Definition
- Logos Theory
- Loan Theory
- Demon Theory |
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Term
| Justin Matyr's Logos Theory |
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Definition
- Logos = word/reason
- Power within God without separate existence to Him
- pre-existent plan of creation
- divine reason
- Forms/ideas (Plato)
- Divine Word
- Word/Reason of God brought forth and exteriorised in creation/human reason/Christ incarnate
- Stoic: logos endiathetos (inner word)
logos prophorikos (word brought forth)
Philosophical insights are fragments of the truth; Christ as logos incarnate
Just a claim: didn't convince many philosophers |
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Term
| Justin Matyr's Loan Theory |
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Definition
- Christianity predates all philosophical schools
- Philosophical truths stolen from Christianity (Plato meets Jeremiah in desert etc) |
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Term
| Justin Matyr's Demon Theory |
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Definition
| - Demons stole teachings of the prophets, distorted their meanings and tried to lead people away from the truth (creating Philosophy) |
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Term
| Theology of the Apologists |
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Definition
- Neoplatonism vs. polytheism
- Platonism/Pythagoreanism vs. Gnostic determinism (Maniche materialism) and Stoic fatalism
- Athenagoras for bodily resurrection (why would God resurrect the body if weak?) |
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Term
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Definition
Written and sent to Emperor for dissemination:
- Christians loyal to Empire/Emperor
- Seek a kingdom that is not of this world
- the name Christian is not a crime - should neither be rewarded nor punished
- Christians are like Socrates- worshiping the 'one god'
- pagans are guilty of the crimes Christians are charged with (orgies/cannibalism etc)
- Christians are only 'atheists' in relation to Pagan gods. |
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Term
| Edicts against Christianity |
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Definition
- Emperor decius, 250 CE - unwillingness to sacrifice to Idols on part of Roman Citizens now carries punishment of death. Need to attain a certificate (Libellus) to prove it.
- Valerius (257-8 CE) and Diocletian (303-4 CE - the Great Persecution) - targeting clergy/Christian citizens/high ranking church members
- attempt to unite empire? christians were disruptive to Status Quo |
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Term
| Christian response to edicts |
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Definition
- Libellatici - had fake certificates
- Sacraficati - sacrificed to idols. Worst sin.
- Stantes - those who stood firm
- Confessors - imprisoned Stantes - figureheads, forgave sins (gave certifaction) |
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Term
| Questions of how were the 'lapsed' to be dealt with? |
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Definition
- who had authority to forgive sacraficati? Confessors, bishops? Division between churches
- did returning sacraficati/schismatics need to be rebaptised? |
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Term
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Definition
The split over the lapsed under the edicts
- Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage goes into hiding to keep leading the church through writing. His leadership is weakened and the church splinters
- The Lax
- the Rigorists
- the Moderates
- Council of Carthage begins resolution |
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Term
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Definition
- Novatus and Felicissimus
- The lapsed should be readmitted without restriction
- prolonged penance would harm unity
- Felicissimus excommunicated by Cyprian. Founds his own church. Cyprian backtracks and starts to capitulate |
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Term
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Definition
- Novatian - trying to become bishop of Rome
- The lapsed could not be forgiven or readmitted
- Split and formed separate church in N. Africa (Donatists) |
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Term
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Definition
- Cyprian
- Sacrificati readmitted on death beds
- Libellatici readmitted after penance
- Cyprian: compares event to a fatal wound that cannot be covered up, but must be treated by means of a painful surgery |
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Term
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Definition
- Called by Cyprian
- Reconciliation to all with varying degrees of penance
- 3 churches present: Novatus and Felicissimus, Cyprian, Novation
- Issues continue to affect church for many years. |
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Term
| Who has the authority to forgive the lapsed? (Donatist controversy) |
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Definition
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Term
| Authority of Bishops to forgive sins |
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Definition
- Christ's promise to Peter (Matt 16; John 2)
- Apostolic succession
- Delegates of Christ
- Unified in Holy Spirit
- pure and Holy
"The Bishop is in the Church, and the Church is in the Bishop, and anyone not with the Bishop is not in the church." - Cyprian
-Unity in holy spirit gives authority to perform sacraments |
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Term
| Use of imagery to describe authority of Bishops (unity) |
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Definition
- trinitarian
- Church as Mother
- Church as bride of Christ
- Christ's seamless robe
- Grains of wheat in bread |
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Term
| Re-baptism of schismatics |
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Definition
- Novationists break with unity- no apostolic succession, no holy spirit - cannot baptise
- Cyprian insisted that they must be re-baptised
- Steven, Bishop of Rome - all that is necessary is the laying on of hands (part of penance ritual) |
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Term
| Roman primacy in the early church |
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Definition
Roman See traditionally regarded as pre-eminent in West. Was this always the case?
Cyprian's 'On the Unity of the Catholic Church':
- The Primacy Text: Argues for Roman primacy (traditionally regarded as earliest text, pro Cornelius against Novation)
- The Received Text: Bishop of Rome is among equals (may have been added later to undermine Stephen)
Both are part of a power struggle and not necessarily indicative of Papal superemacy |
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Term
| Constantine's rise to power |
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Definition
- 293 CE Emperor Diocletian splits Empire in four parts, each ruled by a Tetrach
- 306 CE Constantius (father) dies in York. Constantine succeeds him
- 324 CE defeats final Tetrach (Licinius, ruler of the East) as becomes sole Emperor. |
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Term
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Definition
- evidence: Eusebius of Caesarea, Lactantius (tutors to Constantine's son)
- Father prayed to one surpreme God, died a natural death
- Constantine prayed to the same God before battle of Milvian Bridge (312 CE)
- Saw vision of Christ in dream before battle, told to carry cross into battle
- Saw cross in sky, inscribed with "by this, conquer" - Created Labarum symbol (first two Greek letters in Christ X P) |
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Term
| Constantine's pro-Christian rule |
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Definition
- edict of tolleration
- Laws reflected Christian principles
- Bishops given powers of jurisdiction
- enormous statue of Constantine holding a cross
- New Christian capital - Cosntantinople - with church (Basillica)
- Holy Land pilgrimage by mother (relic hunting)
- "Letter to the Churches of the Lord", "Letter to the Heathens" |
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Term
| How did Constantine avoid alienating the Pagan citizens? |
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Definition
- Still took part in Pagan rituals
- First coins still featured pagan symbols. |
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Term
| Christian reaction to Constantinian rule |
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Definition
- Celebrated (Eusebius writes 'Tricennial Oration' to celebrate 30 years of virtually uncontested rule.)
- theology of the emperor
- Period called 'christian times' |
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Term
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Definition
- Sent by God
- not divine, but holy
- everything but part of the godhead |
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Term
| The Emperor and the church |
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Definition
- bishops given powers of jurisdiction
- emperor as ultimate authority in church
- heard appeals (Donatists)
- Called councils (e.g. Nicaea)
- Church and empire now interdependent
- Emperor's aim was unity in both church and empire
- interests of church and empire sometimes divergent |
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Term
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Definition
- 325 CE
- resolving Aryan heresy
- Christ as homoousios with God, begotten, not created
- formulation of formal church structure/policy
- Nicene creed |
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Term
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Definition
- How can you maintain divine unity whilst retaining the separateness of Christ?
- Arius: Son as first among creatures, created not begotten
- Nicaea 325 CE to resolve
- Christ as homoousios (one of substance with god, begotten, not created |
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Term
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Definition
- Constantine's son
- Took over the East after Constantine's death (337 CE)
- Influenced by Arians
- Appointed Arian bishops
- Condemned Athanasius
- Exiled supporters of Athanasius (council of Arles, 353 CE, Milan 355 CE)
- Council of Rimini (359 CE) homoiousios (Son of different substance to Father) becomes doctrine |
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Term
| Opposition to Constantius |
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Definition
- Athanasius
- Pope Liberius
- Hosius of Carbora
- Ambrose |
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Term
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Definition
- 'defence of Constantius' - originally defended the Emperor, believing him to be deceived by subordinates
- 'History of the Arians' - Condemning Constantius, questioning the Emperor's authority to establish doctrine |
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Term
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Definition
- Bishop of Rome
- Wouldn't sign petition condemning Athanasius. Exiled |
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Term
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Definition
- 90 yrs old, highly venerated
- the Emperor is responsible for the empire, the Bishops for the church. Separation of church and state. |
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Term
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Definition
- Bishop of Milan
- Court was in Milan: Emperor's Bishop
- career characterised by conflicts with emperor
- conflict with Justine, Emperor Valentinian II's mother, wanted church buildings for pagan worship.
- "Palaces belong to the Emperor, churches to the Bishops"
- Altar of Victory
- Synagogue at Callincium
- Massacre at Thessalonica |
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Term
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Definition
- 382 CE
- Emperor Gratian
- Pagan altar outside Senate house- traditional to sacrifice before senate meetings
- removed by previous Xtian emperor
- Senator Symmachus: Many roads to God - convinced everyone but Ambrose
- Ambrose convinced the Emperor not to reinstate it |
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Term
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Definition
- Christians exhorted to burn it down
- Emperor wants to rebuild it
- Ambrose publicly (in a sermon) says no money should go towards non christian worship
- not rebuilt |
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Term
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Definition
- barbarian soldiers killed
- Commander invites general public to games
- Soldiers kill over 8000 members of the public at the games
- The Emperor does nothing about it
- Ambrose excommunicates the emperor |
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Term
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Definition
- West: Conflict between emperor and church
- East: Emperor remains head of the church
THIS DISTINCTION AFFECTS US TODAY |
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Term
| What was Asceticism to the early church? |
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Definition
- an ideal of early christian life
- a single minded focus on God
- an exercise in prayer |
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Term
| Where were the first monasteries founded? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
- lives
- rules
- sayings (spiritual council - 'the sayings of the desert fathers')
- Cassian: 'institutes' and 'Conferences' - records of conversations with ascetics
- Histories - towns taken over by ascetics - the desert became a city |
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Term
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Definition
| - Established a Monastery |
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Term
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Definition
- Pagan philosophy - asceticism for wisdom, Pythagorean ascetic communities
- Jewish ascetic communities - Essenes (Dead Sea Scrolls) and Therepeutai
- Christian Scripture
- Heterodox Christian groups - Manichees, Gnostics, Encratites, Montanists |
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Term
| Why was Asceticism so popular? |
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Definition
- Loss of Matyr identity after conversion of Constantine. Asceticism retains this (suffering for faith, battle against evil, mimicking Christ, at odds with world)
- retains distinctiveness of christianity
- Elitist - excludes nominal Christians ("Sunday Christians" - Kierkegaard)
- Continuity with the past - acts 4:32- primitive Christian community living a common life "one heart, one mind towards God"
- Provided new heroes of the faith
- Moral seperation - distinction from pagans, stressing Christian teachings (celibacy adopted by clergy etc.)
- Public affirmation of identity
- Liberating for women |
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Term
| in what ways was asceticism liberating for women? |
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Definition
- alternative to marriage/motherhood
- liberated them from male 'potestas'
- Allowed them to travel/study
- Offered a life in community with other women (in fact, more female than male communities: founded by upper class women)
- Could hold official positions (deaconess)
- Became known as 'men of God' - a compliment. Stop being tempting to men |
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Term
| Role of Noble women in founding ascetic communities |
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Definition
- had resources
- could gain immense influence (Melania the Elder, supported by Jerome and Rufinus) |
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Term
| response to female asceticism |
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Definition
| - attempts to re-domesticate them ("brides of Christ", "Mother", "Sister") |
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Term
| Asceticism and the return to paradise |
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Definition
- Like human existence before the fall
- sexless/asexual (sex=result of fall, disobedience of body)
- Single minded devotion to God
- Subjugation of women to men = result of fall
- Will becomes uncontrolled by reason = fall. Re-establishes reason's hold on will. |
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Term
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Definition
- Extreme forms bordering on heterodoxy
- denigration of body in marriage not always accepted
- Tendency to elitism - Jovinian: all those who are baptised are equal
- Augustine/Ambrosiaster |
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Term
| Augustine/Ambrosiaster vs. Asceticism |
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Definition
- the good of marriage/presence of sex in paradise
- Asceticism is subject to pride
- Virginity is a matter of the mind/heart, not just the body
- Virginity = grace/gift - not something you can work for/take pride in. All people are subject to original sin
- Marriage = virtuous - humility, obedience, love |
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