Unit 1 Test

Andrew Walls Question

- What will the space alien conclude about Christianity?
- Are there any similarities between these various manifestations Christianity,
other than their shared name?
- Is there such a thing as a “historic Christian faith”?

When was Jesus born and when did he die

Born circa 4 BC and crucified 30 AD

Who were the first christians?

The first Christians were the disciples of Jesus

What does “Christ” mean in greek?

The term "Christ" comes from the Greek word "Christos," meaning "the anointed one" or "messiah."

Which other religion does Christianity have conflict with?

Christianity has historically had conflicts with Judaism

Who is the first Christian martyr

Stephen, one of the seven deacons, is recognized as the first Christian martyr.

What sect does Christianity initially fall under

Christianity emerged from Jewish traditions and beliefs.

Pharisees

A Jewish sect during the Second Temple period known for strict adherence to the written and oral laws, and expected the messiah to arrive soon and restore religious purity

Sadducees

A upper class Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that rejected oral traditions and emphasized role of priests, and often had a good relationship with Rome. Rejected messiah.

Essenes

A Jewish sect known for their monastic lifestyle, strict religious observance, and belief in the imminent arrival of the messiah who would establish a new kingdom. They are often associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Zealots

A political movement among Jews that sought to resist Roman rule (66AD) and believed in the use of force to achieve independence for Israel. Believed the messiah would arrive soon and help lead military uprising.

Paul of Tarus (Original name, sect, and importance)

Originally “Saul” of Tarus, who was a Pharisee, persecutor of christianity, and did many missionary journeys.

Pagans

People who practiced polytheism and worshipped multiple gods, often in contrast to the monotheistic beliefs of Judaism and Christianity.

Cult

The care for or tend to

Cultus deorum

care of the gods

Roman religion

Believed in many gods, and there was hierarchy.

How was the early persecution of Christians

Sporadic and local

Who started the persecutions of Christians in Rome?

Emperor Nero in 64-68 AD

How were Christians viewed in Rome?

Strange, seditious, elicit religious movement, who refused to worship the gods of Rome.

How did the final phase of persecuting play out?

Systematic, empire wide attempts to eradicate Christianity.

Who did the final phase of persecuting?

Decius (249-51)

Emperor Diocletian

Attempted to wipe out Christianity completely in late 200s.

Who continues Emperor Diocletians persecutions?

Galerius

Who relieved Christians from persecution?

Constantine

How did many new ideas come to Christianity?

Increased number of pagan converts

Orthodoxy

Ortho = right, true, straight. Doxy = thinking, praise

Hersey

Teaching that is contrary to established, orthodox belief

Docetism

Dokeo = to seem or to appear. Denies humanity of Christ

Gnosticism

Gnosis = knowledge. Premised on dualistic worldview, and thought there was a God of Darkness and a God of Light, and on disdain for physical world.

The Hymn of the Pearl

Stuck in a world we dont belong in

Gnosticism Christianity(Hint: matrix)

Syncretism of Gnostic worldview with Christian doctrine. Jesus becomes the messenger delivering “red pill” and emphasized the secret teaching passed down in gnostic gospels.

Marcion

Prosperous businessman in mid-100s AD and proposed Christian canon that excluded all Jewish works.

Canonical response to hersey

By the end of 2nd century: 4 gospels, Acts, and Letters of Paul. Final not established until mid 300s AD.

The Apostle’s Creed circa 150 AD

The “Symbol of the faith” which is the means by which you could tell a true believer from a heretic and does not reject the material world.

Apostolic succession

Importance of being able to trace one’s ministry all the way back to Jesus’ first followers.

What religion was Constantines mom

Christian

What side of the empire was he emperor of?

Co emperor of Western half along with Maxentius.

Battle of Milvian Bridge-312

Chi rho - with this sign you shall conquer

Changes after Constantine

New prestige for Christians, new buildings for worship, but a divided empire

What did the barbarians do to Rome? (Goths, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, etc.)

Plundered Rome, and sacked in 410, 455, 476

Pontifex Maximus

Supreme bridge builder

What did Leo the Great do

Dissuaded Atilla the Hun from attacking Rome

Christianizing the barbarians

“God ought to be pleased…a knowledge of truth” Orosius a priest in the Roman empire.

What hath Athens to do with Jerusalem?

Tertullian

Tertullians POV on the proper relationship between Christianity and Roman philosophy

None

Clement and Jerome POV on the proper relationship between Christianity and Roman philosophy

OK

The Vulgate by Jerome

Bible into Latin

What did Jerome study

Neoplatonism

Ambrose of Milan

Bishop of Milan and excommunicated emperor Theodosius in 390 AD. He also converted Augustine to Christianity.

Where and when was Augustine born

North Africa, Thagaste (modern-day Algeria) in 354

What books does Augustine write

The Confessions and The City of God

The Confessions

Mother Monica is a life long influence on Gus. Student of rhetoric, goes through a spiritual journey exploring Manichaeism which is a form of Gnosticism. Neoplatonism.

Why was The City of God written?

Written in aftermath of fall of Rome, and defends Christianity against critics. Describes for Christians how to navigate their Christian obligations and their civic obligations.

Does the City of God support the use of violence

Yes, it is OK for the state to use force on behalf of Christianity

Augustine and fighting

In defense of oneself, it is wrong. In defense of another, it’s ok.

Partake in war?

1) When you’re defending state against external attack

2) Helping recapture what has been taken

3) When you are punishing those who have done wrong

DId all Christians get along after Constantine?

No, there was the Trinitarian and Christiogical controversy

Where was Arius from and when was he alive

Alexandria, Egypt from 250-336

What did Arius believe in

There was when the son was not. Father and son were homoiousios, or of SIMILAR substance.

Where was Athanasious from and when was he alive

Bishop of Alexandria and 296-373

What did Athanasius believe in

Defended the doctrine of the trinity and that the father and son were homoousios or of SAME substance

Where was Arianism the strongest

the East

What was the Council of Nicea, 325

Council that codemns Ariusm and wrote the Creed of Nicea

Who called the Council of Constantinople in 381

Emperor Theodosius

What did the Council of Constantinople do

Reaffirmed the Creed of Nicea, added a statment about the holy spirit, which is the Nicene Creed.

Theotokos

Bearer of god

What two places had different opinions on Mary

Alexandria and Antioch

What did Alexandria think of Mary

The human nature of Christ is NOT distinct from his divine nature. Concerned that Christ’s divinity and humanity would be divided or separated. Thus, Mary was bearer of God, theotokos

What did Antioch think of Mary

There are two distinct natures in Christ, the divine and the human. Two natures in one prosopon (face to the world). Concerned that Jesus’ divinity and humanity would become mixed or confused. Thus, Mary was not the bearer of God

Who does Ephesus in 341 side with (Alexandra or Antioch)

Alexandria

Who does Chalcedon side with in 451

Reaches a compromise, saying TWO NATURES in ONE PERSON.

What happens after Chalcedon

The “Chalcedonian Defintion of the Faith” becomes standard orthodox doctrine.

Who rejects the Chalcedonian Definition of the Faith

Coptic, Syrian, and Armenian Churches

What was the big question after the age of martyrs?

How does one suffer for Christ when martyrdom dies?

What were the two styles of monasticism?

Hermit(eremitic) and Communal(cenobitic)

Who was Antony

First hermit monk, and Athanasius wrote his biography.

How was the Hermit lifestyle

Denied any comforts and played a role of holy men and women in society. Often using stylites.

Who was Pachomius

Father of first communal monasticism in the EAST. Started first monastery around 320 AD. Established himself as Abba, which abbot a

Who was St Benedict (480-550)

Father of communal monasticism in the WEST. Wrote “The Rule” as a guide for communal living. Ora et labora = pray and work.

Who was Saint Syncletica

Born to wealth, committed herself to God, gave all wealth away, and died around 350 AD.

Who was Hilda of Whitby

Founded female monastery in 7th century England. Abbess were in charge, and these became centers for learning.

Where did Christianity first spread too after existence in Jerusalem

Syrian cities of Damascus and Antioch, in which Edessa becomes the center

What is Syriac

dialect of Aramaic

What is the importance of Syriac

Becomes language of Asian christianity, birthplace of Didache, flourished in the 200s (briefly liked by the King) and lots of gnostic Christianity present in Syria and Persia.

When Christianity gets embraced by Constantine what happens to other places?

It begins to be persecuted by Zoroastrian rulers of Persia, then toleration resumes after 409 AD. Syriac Christians were not involved in the Christological disputes

What was disciple Thomas' significance to India

Was sent by Jesus to spread the gospel

Who referenced themselves as St Thomas Christians and why

Orthodox Christians of India, because the were decedents from a church founded by Thomas of Cana

When did Roman Catholic come to India

1500s

What were the struggles or two sides of Christianity in India

The rigid caste system.

Francis Xavier

Focus on lower caste

Robert de Nobili

Focus on higher caste

Who and when did persian Christianity spread to

Spread to China around 635 by Persian Bishop named Alopen.

Bishop Alopen

Translated The Sutra of Jesus the Messiah

Emperor Taizong

Christianity spread in China until 649, where his son was less hospitable

Where was the stronghold of Christianity

North Africa

Christianity in Sudan and Ethiopia

Non Chalcedonian, linked to coptic church. Withstood muslim invasions in 600s.

What was the start and end of Baghdad Christianity

800s Nubian king George I spread it, then it disappeared in 14th c.

Who overtakes Italy and embraces Arian Christianity

Ostrogoths

Which barbarians are Arians

Ostrogoths, Visigoths (Spain)

Clovis

Who was the king of the franks?