Untitled Flashcard Set

Johannine Community

A distinct early Christian group associated with the Gospel of John, characterized by high Christology and strong dualism.

Logos

The Divine Word; reason and ordering principle in both Greek philosophy and Jewish wisdom.

Apostolic Succession

The process by which authority is passed down from Jesus to the apostles to the bishops, ensuring continuity of teaching.

Monarchical Bishop

A single bishop with supreme authority in a city, ensuring unity and discipline in the church.

Primacy of Rome

The special honor given to Rome because it is where Peter and Paul were martyred.

Martyrdom

The act of dying for one's faith, considered the highest form of discipleship in early Christianity.

Red martyrdom

Martyrdom characterized by death by execution.

White martyrdom

Martyrdom characterized by ascetic withdrawal or the renunciation of worldly pleasures.

Apostles’ Creed

A statement of Christian faith used as a baptismal confession.

Gnosticism

A religious movement emphasizing salvation through secret knowledge and radical dualism.

Demiurge

A creator deity in Gnostic belief, responsible for the material world, often seen as flawed.

Valentinus

A Gnostic teacher known for his teachings on the different types of humans: hylic, psychic, and pneumatic.

Marcion

A heretic who rejected the Old Testament God and created his own canon of scripture.

Antony of Egypt

Regarded as the Father of monasticism, he lived a life of hermit asceticism.

Montanus

A figure who claimed to bring new prophecies and emphasized strict moral codes, later rejected by church leaders.

Rodney Stark's Analysis

A sociological perspective stating that Christianity grew due to strong social networks, care during plagues, and martyrdom.