History Of Christianity 1 Part 1

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6 C’s of historical study

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Change

Context

Causality

Contingency

Complexity

Charity

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Hellenization

Back 2

Spreading Greek culture—language, philosophy, science, architecture, technology, etc.

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Third Punic War

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149–146 B.C.

between Rome and Carthage. Time defeats Carthage and established control over the whole Mediterranean basin. Rules as a republic initially

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Caesar Augustus

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From 27 B.C. rules as imperator (military), princeps civitatis ( legislative), and pontifex Maximus (religious) leader

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Advantageous factors for spread of Christianity

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1. Pax Romana (political)

2. Communication—Roman roads and dominance in the Mediterranean

3. Linguistic—Greek as lingua franca

4. Jewish Diaspora

5. Spiritual hunger?

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Celsus

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Wrote: the true word Carthage

A critic of Christianity who then documented some of its practice and spread among ordinary people (mostly lower class)

“Why on earth this preference for sinners?”

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Apostolic fathers

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First generation of Christian leaders many of whom had contact with the apostles. Also a lot of literature. C. A.D. 90–140

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Didache

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c. 110

Possibly n. Africa or Syria

Early Christian text. First half—way of life and death. Second half instructions on church life and practice (fasting, baptism, Eucharist, etc)

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Clement of Rome

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Bishop of Rome (c. 90–95)

May be mentioned in Phil. 4:9.

Wrote 1Clement to the church in Corinth. Possibly earliest extant Christian writing outside of NT.

Quotes OT and synoptic gospels, Acts, 1 Cor, and Hebrews.

Discussed apostolic succession (and respect for church leadership bishop =elders)

References doctrine of justification

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Ignatius of Antioch

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Syria, died 117 as a martyr. Writes seven letters (6 to churches, over to polycarp)

Mentions Onésimus

References star from Jesus birth

Calls Paul a martyr

Mentions Eucharist

Distinguishes Jewish sabbath and “Lord’s day”

Growing hostility toward Jews

Strong affirmation of the deity of Christ

Concepts: martyrdom, evangelism, Unity in the body (but rejection of heresy), authority in the local church

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Polycarp

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Of Smyrna. Dies either 155 or 165.

Born of Christian parents. Knew John personally.

Writes letter to Philip because of elder (Valens) embezzling money. Quotes all over NT, concerned about heresy and calling for moral uprightness.

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Early Christian Persecution

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1. By the Jews (within NT)

2. Localized: under Nero (A.D. 64) recorded by Tacitus. In Rome

3. Regional under Domitian (95), largely Rome and Asia Minor. Donation claims “dominos et deus”

4. Regional under Marcus Aurelius. 161–180. Largely Lions, France (Pothinus, church leader killed there along with 50 others). Also Asia Minor. Accusation: cannibalism and invest

5. Séptimas Severus. 193–211. Imperial Edict of 202 prohibits conversion to Christianity and Judaism. Wave of persecution across north bc Africa and later Judea and Rome.

Reasons: enemies of civic religion, state, and community. Become scapegoats for anything that goes wrong

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Trajan-Pliny Correspondence

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Pliny (Governor in bithynia) asks emperor Trajan what to do with Christian. A.D. 112

Does age, health, recanting, actual criminal activity, matter? Or just because they are called Christian’s?

Trajans response: don’t seek them out, give them an opportunity to recant, don’t admit anonymous pamphlets as evidence

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Gnosticism

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A mind body dualism that affirmed the inherent evil of the created material world (often ascribed to an evil Jewish God) affirming instead the value of the non-material mind or soul that could merge with God through a secret path of knowledge

1. Dualism

2. Material world created through evil entity

3. Spiritual hierarchy and humans with a spark of the divine

4. Need for a mediator with secret knowledge

5. Redemption comes through knowledge

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Marcion

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C. 85–160

Wrote: the antithesis

Was Christian, convinced by Cerdo of some Gnostic thought (evil creator or god distinct from NT father of Jesus)

Planted churches

Organized hierarchically

Water in Eucharist (docetists)

Baptized in name of Trinity

Renounced marriage and practice abstinence

Marcion’s canon

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Christian apologists

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Attempt to describe and defend Christianity (both to Jews and Gentiles). After apostolic fathers (missed the date, check reading)

Many times are trying to work out the relationship between Jews and gentiles and provide a reasoned faith for both

Key apologists: Justin martyr, irenaeus, etc

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Justin martyr

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c. 100–165 (died as martyr under Marcus Aurelius)

Looks into philosophy, converts to Christianity as truest philosophy. (Convo with old man by the sea and it prophets as more ancient than Plato)

Wrote: dialogue with Trypho (hypothetical Jewish convo partner) several “rules of faith” in this work regula fidei

Wrote: Apology (153), for the emperor Antonina pius (and to convince pagans). Defense of Christians:

1. Don’t persevere it’s without knowing what we believe

2. Days bc we’re not bc atheists were just doing bc follow Roman gods

3. Christ as the best of Greek thought (pursuing logos as inadvertently pursuing Christ and Christ as the logical end of that pursuit) or as more ancient than philosophers. Logos-word-reason as common ground

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Irenaeus of Lyons

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c. 150–200

Born in Asia Minor(under polycarp in Smyrna) but moved to lyons

Wrote: demonstration of the apostolic preaching (early 90s), tried to demonstrate the unity of it OT and NT (OT fulfilled in NT)

wrote: against all heresies (against different permutations of Gnosticism, this is where we have recorded some of their arguments)

1. Defense of Christian scripture—ot as valid, fulfilled in NT, no secret knowledge

2. Defense of Christian tradition—this is how we interpret scripture (no secret knowledge)

3. Rule of faith—several found here, emerging sense of orthodoxy

4. Doctrine of Christ—the mediator who is also god-man and second Adam

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Clement of Alexandria

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155–220

Heavily influenced by Greek philosophy. Philosophy as a “hand maiden “ to Christianity

Wrote: Stromateis (miscellanies) 200, philosophy was given to the Greeks as a way of coming to know chorus , suggests play and others had read OT

wrote: paedegogos (tutor)

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Origin

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Student of Clement of A. Strong ascetic streak. Lived in Alexandria, moved to Caesarea where he is imprisoned, beaten, and later died of his injuries (253).

Biblical studies: hexapla (to show LXX as superior even to masoretic text)

Commentaries: Genesis, exodus, John

Hermeneutics: literal, moral, spiritual sense (threefold method)

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Fourfold meaning of scripture

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Associated with John Cassian

1. Literal: what it says

2. Allegorical: points us toward Christian faith—what must I believe? (Faith)

3. Moral/tropological: how to act how to love (love)

4. Anagogical: points to future, what I hope for (hope)

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Tertullian

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160–225–first Latin father, montanist

Anti Clement and origins views of philosophy as handmaiden. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?”

Christian asceticism and canonical penance (thinks it’s too lax)

Wrote: de baptismo (c. 200) rejecting infant baptism

Wrote: against Praxeas (213), concerning christology, emphasized both oneness and three-ness and uses key terminology (persons, Trinity); overemphasizes the-ness and ends up with subordination (rays from the sun)

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Canonical penance

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Concerned with purity of the church (no sin/sinners)

For bautizo believers (repentant)

Public confession, 5-7 years penance (separate part of church, don’t partake in Eucharist), re-admitted when confession shown genuine by purity of life

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Montanus and Montanism

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Convert from pagan cult. Claims to speak for the Holy Spirit. Died 179

Montanism continues to grow—prophets and prophetesses, asceticism, prophetic witness for “regular” people not just church leaders or in texts, rural, charismatic gifts?

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Canon of the NT

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“New Testament” vibe by Tertullian c. 200

Early attestation:

1. Scripture (2 Peter)

2. Apostolic fathers writing (ex. Polycarp)

3. Apologists writing authoritatively—irenaeus and Justin martyr, but focused on what DOESN’T belong moreso

Moratoria canon (c. 200)

Athanasius Easter letter (367)

Synods of hippo (393) and Carthage (397)

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Eusebius of Caesarea

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First “bona fide” Christian historian. 4th century during Constantine.

Wrote: ecclesiastical history

Categorized books as universally acknowledged, debated, spurious, or heretical

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Athanasius Easter letter

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367–know this date

Definitive list. Recognizing NT canon as we have it

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Emperor Decius

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Can’t ignore the growth of Christianity. Blames failing Roman Empire on departure from Roman gods

Edict of 250–first empire wide persecution

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Emperor Decius

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Can’t ignore the growth of Christianity. Blames failing Roman Empire on departure from Roman gods

Edict of 250–first empire wide persecution

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Emperor Diocletian

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Established tetrarchy because of the difficulty in ruling a sprawling empire (particularly runaway inflation and Barbadian immigration and multiculturalism).

Starts to move capital from Time to the East

303– renewed persecution of the church:

1. Churches destroyed

2. Books burned

3. Clergy tortured

4. Christian’s removed from public office

5. Christians who refuse to worship Roman deities burned

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Emperor Decius

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Can’t ignore the growth of Christianity. Blames failing Roman Empire on departure from Roman gods

Edict of 250–first empire wide persecution

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Emperor Diocletian

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Established tetrarchy because of the difficulty in ruling a sprawling empire (particularly runaway inflation and Barbadian immigration and multiculturalism).

Starts to move capital from Time to the East

303– renewed persecution of the church:

1. Churches destroyed

2. Books burned

3. Clergy tortured

4. Christian’s removed from public office

5. Christians who refuse to worship Roman deities burned

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Tetrarchy

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Established 293. Plan by Diocletian to restructure government, a Caesar and Augustus for both East and West

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Emperor Constantine

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Battle of Milvian Bridge (312–know this) vision to conquer in the cross and Chi-rho, gains control of western empire

Later take over east

312– edict of Milan—legalizes Christianity in the empire

Builds churches, returns property, financial gift to clergy, Sunday holiday, outlaws crucifixión, calls and presides over Nicaea

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Battle of milvian bridge

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312– see Constantine

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Edict of Milan

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313, legalized Christianity (and all religion) said to return property

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Constantine’s legacy

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Personal faith: complex, hedging bets? Grew over his lifetime? (Baptized later)

State power for Christians

Less pressure (space to think through other doctrines)

Persecution over

Church as influence for good in society

Starting of Christendom

Cult of saints grows

No more martyrs (so monks/asceticism)

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Hippolytus’ apostolic tradition

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Describes baptism and catechesis

Do you believe in: God, Jesus, Holy Sprit, church etc.

Roman creed that is foundation for later apostles creed

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Trinitarian terminology

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Homoousios—same substance

Homoiousios—like/similar substance

Homoeans—want to avoid “substance” language but emphasize likeness

Anomeans—don’t like substance language, emphasize difference —they are unlike, radicalized Arianism

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Logos theories

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Of incarnation. By irenaeus. Meeting biblical language and Greek philosophy (wasnt irenaeus the one who hated Greek philosophy?)

John 1, Prov. 22. Doesn’t try to explain how soon is distinct, but that he is.

1. Logos comes from God (like)

2. Was never created (eternal)

3. Is distinct from the father

But subordinates son and spirit (two hands off the father)

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Monarchianism

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Umbrella term for collapsing father and son into one (father is the son)

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Adoptionism

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Espoused by: Paul of Samosata and Theodore’s of Byzantium

Jesus a human being possessed by divine spirit at baptism

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Sabellianism/modalism

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One God taking different modes/roles.

Espoused by Sabellius of Rome. “Just as there are diversity of gifts…father expands into…”

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Sabellianism/modalism

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One God taking different modes/roles.

Espoused by Sabellius of Rome. “Just as there are diversity of gifts…father expands into…”

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Arius

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Pastor in Northern Africa under bishop of Alexandria (Alexander) with whom he has conflict.

Pulls from proverbs 8:22, wisdom created, and so says “there was a time when the logos was not”

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Arian controversy

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Arian position:

1. Son created before time

2. Son not coeternal with the father

3. Son of like nature, but didn’t have same intrinsic qualities as the father

Constantine calls council of Nicaea (325)

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Council of Nicaea

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325

Called by Constantine

First ecumenical council

Alexandrians (homoousios)

Semi-Arians (homoean)—Eusebius

Arians—homoiousios

More extreme—heteroousios (different), anomoios (unlike)

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Council of Nicaea

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325

Called by Constantine

First ecumenical council

Alexandrians (homoousios)

Semi-Arians (homoean)—Eusebius

Arians—homoiousios

More extreme—heteroousios (different), anomoios (unlike)

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Alexander of Alexandria

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Arius’ bishop, holds homoousian position that wind the day at Nicaea

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Athanasius

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Follows Alexander as bishop of Alexandria. Emperor changes opinion, Arianism rampant. Athanasius fights for Nicaea and is banished 5 times.

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Athanasius

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Follows Alexander as bishop of Alexandria. Emperor changes opinion, Arianism rampant. Athanasius fights for Nicaea and is banished 5 times.

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Council of Constantinople

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381

4 factors:

1. Radicalizing of Arianism

2. Athanasius succeeds in convincing them that anything less than full deity undermines salvation

3. Cappadocian fathers, champion orthodoxy and explain that ousias is compatible with distinct persons—Basil, Gregory, Gregory

4. Orthodox emperor—Theodosius I

Calls council, affirms homoousias, rejects Arianism but takes sharp edge of anathemas

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Council of Ephesus

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431

Nestorius condemned

Ordered adherence to Nicaea

Two natures in Union

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Council of Chalcedon

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451

Discussion of “how” Jesus had human and divine natures

Addressed miss-steps: apollinarianism, nestorius, eutychianism

Hypostatic Union

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Theodosius I

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After rise of Arianism, Orthodox emperor again

Calls council of Constantinople (381)

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Apollinarianism

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Affirms homoousios

But believes Jesus is a human receptacle animated by a divine spirit

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Nestorianism

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Emphasized two natures to the point of being two persons

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Nestorian stele

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Record Nestorian Christianity coming all the way to China by 635 A.D. through the missionary Alopen