Early Christianity, Paul’s Letters, and Gnostic Texts: Key Concepts and Historical Context

Why is the term 'conversion' historically inaccurate in relation to Paul's joining of the early Jesus movement?

-Paul believes that in order to prevent the end of the world from happening, he must "adopt" as many gentiles as possible into the family of Abraham (Judeans)

-Not a conversion- hinges on rhetoric of ethnicity and upon groups that already exist.

What is the difference between the 'pro-circumcision' gospel and the 'no circumcision' gospel?

The 'pro-circumcision' gospel requires Gentiles to convert to Judaism, while Paul argues that faith in Christ, not circumcision, is sufficient for inclusion.

How does Paul view circumcision in relation to faith?

Paul believes that circumcision perpetuates a material understanding of belonging, while giving one's spirit to God is what truly matters.

What does Paul mean by 'adoption' in his letters?

Adoption signifies bringing gentiles into the lineage of Abraham, emphasizing familial connection over mere religious change.

Competition in Paul's letters?

Pro vs. anti circumcision

What does 'ta ethne' refer to in Paul's letters?

It refers to the nations or gentiles, as mentioned in Romans.

What is eschatology in the context of Paul's teachings?

Eschatology involves theorizing about the end of time, marked by Jesus' return and the resurrection of the dead. It begins w/ ppl who died and then living will go up as well

What does Paul assert about humanity's relationship with God in Romans chapter 1?

-God made himself known, but humanity rejected God

-God "gave them over"/ abandons human beings - then society spiraled

-People who ignored God, no excuse, he has been here since beginning- turned to animal gods → Egyptians

-God punished them by filling minds with evil + having them perform debaseless acts

What evidence suggests that Paul did not author the Pastoral Epistles?

The discussion of women's roles in 1 and 2 Timothy indicates a perspective inconsistent with Paul's views.

What characterizes the Deutero-Pauline epistles?

They lack a focus on eschatology and present women as submissive, contrasting with Paul's more inclusive views.

What are household codes?

-In the deutero-Paul letters

-When ppl talk about "Christian family values" - they are usually referring to the content in the deutero-paul letters - not paul himself

What is Mark's view of Jesus as presented in his Gospel?

-Written around 70 CE

-Narrative - tells story of Jesus' life (EXCEPT BIRTH)

-Views him as a miracle worker, healer, teacher, messiah

-Resurrection is central to the Jesus story - he predicts his resurrection and death

-Early christians viewed Jesus was the adopted son of God - connects to lack of birth story

-Messianic secret - Jesus commands people to silence

What is pseudepigraphy?

It refers to religious texts falsely attributed to biblical figures, such as the Gospel of Thomas.

Gospel of Thomas

-Claims to be written by Jesus' twin brother

-No narrative

-No birth story

-No resurrection

- "Sayings gospel" - collection of 114 logia in no particular order

-Death and resurrection not a part of human salvation

-As early as 70CE or late as 150CE

-Gnostic text

-Found in Nag Hammadi library

What does 'docetic' mean?

-Jesus appeared to be a human being - comes down to earth to remind ppl of their divine being - gives secret mystical knowledge

- Jesus not NOT suffer on the cross

-Marcion had docetic views

-Resurrection doesn't exists

How do Gnostics view Jesus?

-Pleroma = fullness of perfection

Monad = "the one:"

-Jesus is an aeon

-Jesus comes down to earth to remind people on their divine origin - exclusionary ideas

What is the significance of the Nag Hammadi library?

-Contains over 50 books

-13 codices written in coptic

-Includes several gnostic texts

Dura Europos

-Location of the oldest identifiable Christian church (abandoned around 236)

-Church building was originally a house

-Fortified wall to protect it - we know its a church from decoration inside

What does the Didache tell us about early Christianity?

-Teaching of 12 apostles

-Late 1st or mid 2nd cent

-Likely authored in Syria

-Possibly a Judean explaining things to Gentiles - not related to Paul

-Non-canonical

-Teaching about ethics and how christians should behave

-Earliest data of Christian rituals and practices (ex. Teach the fear of God in youth, shall not commit murder, adultery, do not lie)

-First sense of organization/structure in the Church

-Warnings about false teachers - ends w/ eschatologic view- christians were still expecting the end

-Way of life and way of death

Pliny the Younger's correspondence with Trajan

-112 CE

-Pliny was unsure of what to do with the Christians that were turned into him

-Most Romans knew nothing about Christians

-Real Christians won't make these offerings to the Gods

-Would ask people if they were Christians three times

Trajan response:

-Individuals not to be hunted

What is the importance of Pliny the Younger's correspondence with Trajan?

It is one of the earliest non-Christian accounts of early Christianity, highlighting the Roman perspective on Christians.

What does Suetonius and Tacitus' writings reveal about early Christians?

They provide insights into the Roman view of Christians and their practices during the early second century.

What was Marcion's contribution to early Christian texts?

-Gospel = one of the first examples of new testament esc documents

-Elimination of Jesus' jewish background included in aspects of the old testament

-Marcion sees the God of the old testament as cruel

Muratorian Fragment?

-discovered in 1740

-The earliest known copy of a "New Testament" canon (we do not have copies of Marcion's gospel, and Athanasius' list won't happen until 367 CE)

-Originally dated to 2nd through 4th century (historians disagree)

-Includes Apocalypse of Peter in addition to Apocalypse of John

-Accepts Epistle of Jude; does not mention 1 & 2 Peter or James

-Rejects Paul's letter to the Laodiceans(which Marcion accepted)

Didache?

-Dates either to the late 1st or mid-2nd century (scholars disagree)

-Originally part of a "canon" for many Christians

-no relation to Paul

-Possibly/likely authored in Syria

-Warned about false prophets who don't practice what they preach

Three major sections of the Didache?

Three major sections:

Two Ways: Way of Life vs. Way of Death (moral instructions).

Ritual instructions: Baptism ("in running water if possible"), fasting days, prayer (Lord's Prayer thrice daily).

Church order: Guidance on prophets, teachers, bishops, deacons.

Tatian—arguments in Oration to the Greeks

-Syriac speaking christian theologian

-Synthesizes 4 canonical gospels

-Thinks all forms of human sexuality are bad - every aspect of life is seen by deity - so actually worshipping Aphrodite

-Equates Greek Gods with being demonic

-Moses predates Homer

-Not atheist - worship one God

Justin Martyr and his arguments in the First Apology

Arguments against accusations of atheism → faithful to one true God

Not political rebels, they pray for the emperor just refuse to sacrifice to him

Thinks of the Roman Gods as demons

Most accurate religion because Moses comes first and the Roman philosophers got their ideas from Moses

Who were the 'parokoi' in early Christianity?

Parokoi means 'strangers,' referring to Christians who felt rejected by their neighbors and sought to build a new community.

Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicitas

Perpetua -

Rejection of traditional family values/gender roles - rejects her fathers wishes to denounce herself as a christian

-death as a rebirth - continues to go against

Inversion of death and birth - going to reconnect w Christ

Vision of Dinocrates (brother) - bc she is an intercessor she is able to intervene in the afterlife- he is then able to be restored with God bc of her intervention

Suffers

Restored w/ God

-She chooses to die in the end - example of agency and desire to return to God

Felicitas:

-Slave who was pregnant - didn't want to kill her so they prayed for her to die

Intercessor

-Has the ear God more readily than other Christians

-Could have impact on after life

-Ex. Perpetua's intervention

What does the term 'confessor' mean in early Christian context?

A confessor is a Christian who openly admits their faith and accepts the consequences, such as arrest or martyrdom.

What was the Edict of Decius in 250 CE?

It mandated that all citizens receive a certificate proving they had sacrificed to the Roman gods.

Crisis of the third century?

Various parts of the empire experience plagues

Between 200-250CE 18 emperors only 1 dies of natural causes

Pax deorum

-Relationship w/Gods in order for the Roman state to remain stable

Libelli

Name of the certificate you need to sign as listed in the Edict of Decius in 250 CE

Many christians wont sign the libellus - soon to be traders or part of org. that wants the overthrow the government

What does 'lapsi' refer to in early Christianity?

Christians who renounced their faith under persecution and later sought to return to the church.

Christians that ditched during the crisis of the third century

Needed to be added to a new church or given the boot

Novatian and Novatianists

Purist idea what do you do with the Christians that have lapsed

Novation churches do not differ in theology of "catholics" → churches wil exist until the 8th century

Who were the Katharoi?

Katharoi, or purists, were part of the Novatian church, advocating for strict adherence to Christian purity.