Unit Exam III Study Guide

Periodization, always periodization….but now abbreviated

Know the dates and names of the following periods:

1000–586 BCE Iron Age II

539–332 BCE Persian Period

332–63 BCE Hellenistic Period

63 BCE–70 CE Early Roman (Herodian) Period

70–324 CE Late Roman Period

324–638 CE Byzantine Period

638–1099 CE Early Arab/Islamic Period

1099–1291 CE Crusader Period

PASSAGE IDENTIFICATION

​​https://quizlet.com/865893085/passage-identification-information-to-know-flash-cards/?i=4rzus6&x=1qqt

SECTION 1

First Century Traditions of the Birth of Jesus

1. How do the Gospels fit into early Christian history and the development of scripture?

Jesus died 30 CE, Early writings/oral tradition 50 Ce, and earliest surviving gospels were written 65-90 CE. THESE BOOKS WERE NOT STENOGRAPHIES. Most scholars think Mark happened first. They each paint their own portrait of Jesus’ life from their view.

The writing of the gospels represent the transition from oral traditions to written records.

1. Be able to distinguish between the birth narratives and themes of the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke-

   1. Matthew: wanted to convince the jews. fulfillment of prophecy, everyone a witness (Jew and Gentile), Jesus as rightful king of Jews

   2. Luke: used diptychs, turned the idea of what a kingdom was on its head - the lowest people got to see Christ.

2. Matthew

   1. Matthew 1:1–17: The Genealogy

      1. Wanted to trace back to David to advertise to Jews (14,14,14..)

      2. Chooses abraham as the beginning of the line-theological choice

   2. Matthew 1:18–25: The Birth of the Messiah

      1. Talks about Joseph and how he was a “just jew” to show that he followed Jewish law.

   3. Matthew 2:1–12: The Visit of the Magi

      1. Come from the east, astrologers

      2. Ask Herod where king of the Jews is (there were questions about Herod’s legitimacy as king of the Jews – was installed by Jewish senate)

      3. Joseph is 1st person to recognize Jesus (Jews) – Magi are 2nd people (gentiles)

   4. Matthew 2:13–23: Flight and Return from Egypt

      1. Jesus is seen as a “new Moses” because he was also threatened to be killed and went to Egypt because of it.

3. Luke THEMES: Adheres to the marginalized or lowest of the lows. (angels appear to Elizabeth, Mary, Shepherds)

   1. Luke 1:5–25: The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

   2. Luke 1:26–38: The Birth of Jesus Foretold

   3. Luke 1:39–56: Mary Visits Elizabeth and Sings a Song of Praise

   4. Luke 1:57–80: John the Baptist is Born and Zechariah Sings a Song of Praise

      1. He was celebrated by his friends and family

   5. Luke 2:1–7: Jesus is Born

      1. Jesus’s brith was celebrated by shepherds, etc. and not his family, unlike john; private vs public

   6. Luke 2:8–20: Angels Announce Jesus’ Birth to Shepherds

      1. Jesus was celebrated by the shepherds (lowest of the lows)

   7. Luke 2:21–38: Jesus is Named, Circumcised, Presented at Jerusalem Temple

   8. Luke 2:39–25: Jesus as adolescent in Jerusalem Temple

4. Vocabulary to be familiar with

   1. Diptych- two similar stories told next to each other (used a lot by Luke) *see picture. Purpose is to juxtapose (John the Baptist birth vs. Jesus’ Birth). They don’t necessarily need to be the same story, though.

      1. 

   2. Fulfillment Citations (Matthew) - the occurrence of certain events “verify” scriptural predictions or prophecies.

      1. Two types:

         1. Predictions of the future Messiah

         2. Events in the Hebrew bible that foreshadow Christ’s life

First Century Traditions of the Death of Jesus (Parts 1 and 2)

1. Vocabulary to be familiar with

   1. Synoptic Problem: Matthew, Mark, and Luke have the same (or very similar) stories, same order, and same words. The problem refers to scholars' attempts to explain the agreements and disagreements between these books because they're the same.

      1. Synoptic Gospels: MATT, MARK, LUKE they have so much shared material, they can be “seen” and “reviewed” side-by-side.

      2. Triple Tradition: Passages shared by Matt, Mark, and Luke that exhibit some degree of literary relationship. Could be verbatim passages.

         1. EX: Matt 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30 (story of the rich young ruler)

      3. Double Tradition: Passages shared by Matthew and Luke (NOT MARK). With a couple exceptions, these passages tend to be “sayings” or words of Jesus.

         1. EX: Luke 6:20-23, Matt 5:3,4,6,11-12 (the Beatitudes)

      4. Special M: Passages that were known or used only by Matthew.

         1. EX: Peter walking on water

      5. Special L: Passages only used or known by Luke

         1. EX: the Good Samaritan

      6. Markan Priority: Scholars agree that the gospel of Mark was written first.

         1. Reasons of why:

            1. Omission of congenial materials (happy stuff)/ (the gospel doesn't have stories that you would expect the gospel of Mark to include, like the sermon on the mount or the prodigal son. More likely that people added those stories later- Mark wasn’t deleting those things.)

            2. Additions of elements not congenial to the gospels of Matt and Luke (read things in Mark that’s a little different… interesting account of young man that runs away naked during the Gethsemane account)

            3. Mark as the “middle” term

            4. Harder readings (the most cut and dry)

      7. Four-Source Hypothesis: Hypothesis that the gospels of Matthew and Luke have received some information from an “Unknown Source Q,” along with the gospel of Mark. And that there were also sources that Matthew and Luke each individually pulled from.

   2. Socio-Historical Method: Assumes that the historical experiences of an individual or group will affect the way that they narrate and preserve their written traditions. Academic attempt to reconstruct an author’s social history based on clues found in the text (without the authors identifying who they are).

      1. Mark: (Mark 8:34-38) Theme of true discipleship equals faithfulness in the face of suffering. The author of Mark and its community must have been undergoing a time of serious suffering, and Mark gives an account of suffering to encourage his suffering community. OR another reason he wrote was because the community was being complacent and Mark writes this so that they know they need to suffer to be a true disciple.

   3. Redaction Criticism: requires that one text be a literary source of another. The “redactor” is the gospel Author.

      1. Matthew: (Matthew 9:19-22) Matthew’s account is shorter than the account of Mark. Matthew doesn’t include the woman spending all her money on physicians. The woman isn’t healed immediately. Jesus immediately knows who touched His cloak, and then PRONOUNCES her healed, then she is immediately healed. She doesn’t say anything to Christ. When christ is crucified and the centurion actually believes, you know it is matthew (In mark, the centurion is being sarcastic)

         1. Editorial Changes: Maybe Matthew didn’t like the idea of power just automatically flowing from Jesus’ cloak and healing the woman, instead he depicts a Jesus completely in control of His healing powers and pronounces her healed. OR maybe Matthew felt like it was too much detail. OR He didn’t like that Jesus was ignorant of who touched His clothes. Also depicts the apostles not in a confused way.

      2. Mark: (Mark 5:24-34) woman and the condition of blood. Gospel of Mark is a LITERARY SOURCE of the gospel of Matthew. The woman touches Christ’s cloak, and is immediately healed. Christ is also depicted as ignorant of who touched His cloak, and she was healed because of her faith.

      3. In conclusion, In Matthew, the author makes Christ seem much more in control, whereas in Mark, Jesus almost unknowingly heals the lady with the issue of blood. In Matthew, she isn’t immediately healed, Jesush has to declare it.

2. How do the accounts of Gethsemane, Calvary, and the resurrection reflect the concerns of each Gospel author? The following texts are your best examples of passages that reflect some of the thematic and narrative differences of the canonical Gospels.

Gethsemane

• Mark 14:51: Depicts a naked young man who runs away. (mark is very cut and dry)

  1. Gethsemane in general:

     1. Jesus is “deeply grieved” because of his disciples who can’t stay awake with Him.

     2. Disciples sleep 3x, they sleep because “their eyes were weary,” and his disciples desert him when the soldiers come.

  • Luke 22:50–51: smote the ear off of the high priest, Jesus heals it right away. (jesus doesn’t seem agitated; He is more concerned about the disciples than He is himself)

    1. Gethsemane in general:

       1. Diminishment of Christ’s suffering

       2. Disciples sleep 1x, and sleep “because of grief,” omit the disciples deserting Jesus

       3. Possible exception to “less suffering:” In Gethsemane here, it describes how Jesus sweated great drops of blood from every pore, and spoke with an angel who gave Him strength. However, Luke focuses more on what ACTUALLY happened in Gethsemane, and less on the disciples falling asleep and Christ’s disappointment in His friends.

  • John 18:1–8

1. Christ arrested by Judas. Reads their minds and knows he is to be arrested.

Trial/Crucifixion

• Luke 23:6–12: Depicts Jesus’ trial before Pilate, Jesus is silent at Herod’s questioning (Jesus is more composed/less agitated)

  1. Includes the strange detail of Herod and Pilate becoming friends at the end of the scene.

  • Luke 23:34–43: Depicts Jesus asking the Father to forgive the crucifiers; both the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers are shown to have mocked Jesus for being the Messiah, tempting Him to save Himself; “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

  • Mark 15:39 Centurion: “Truly this man was God’s Son” - very likely to be sarcasm from the centurion as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, themes of misunderstanding

  • Matt 27:50–54

    1. Earthquake!

    2. Others are resurrected at Jesus’s death

    3. Centurion: “truly this man was God’s Son”

  • Luke 23:47

    1. Centurion: “certainly this was a righteous man”

Resurrection

• Mark 16:1–8

1. After seeing the stone rolled away, the women ran away after the angel. They were “trembling and bewildered”

   1. Luke 24:36–35

2. Christ appears to the disciples. He expounds upon the scriptures. Christ also ascends.

   1. John 18:37–38

3. Pilate comments on Jesus being a “King”. “ In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.”

   1. John 20:1–10

4. Mary informs disciples of the empty tomb. Apostles check and see strips of cloth left behind. The unnamed beloved disciple in this story is the only person who believes at this point in the story, and believes because of the sight of the clothes in the tomb.

   1. John 20:11–18

5. Christ coming to Mary and she believed not because of sight, but hearing his voice

   1. John 20:24–29

6. Doubting Thomas: had to see in order to believe

7. Be generally familiar with the unique situation surrounding the endings of Mark’s Gospel (review slides)-

1. “Shortest” Ending: Mark 16:1–8

Mary M and Salome see a man in white who goes to tell them that Jesus was resurrected and that they should go tell other people, the women are too afraid, and don’t say anything.

2. “Short” Ending: Mark 16:1–8 +

“But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after these things Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.”

3. “Long” Ending: KJV Mark 16:1–20

Same 8 Verses, but then extra material where Jesus appears to Mary, she tells the disciples and they don’t believe her, he talks to them, tells them they're lame for not believing and then tells them to preach the gospel.

4. “Longest” Ending: KJV Mark 16:1–20 with an insertion between vs. 14–15

a. “And they excused themselves, saying, ‘This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things dominated by the spirits [or, does not allow the unclean things dominated by the spirits to grasp the truth and power of God]. Therefore reveal your righteousness now.’ They spoke to Christ. And Christ responded to them, ‘The limit of the years of Satan’s power is completed, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who sinned I was handed over to death, that they might return to the truth and no longer sin, in order that they might inherit the spiritual and incorruptible heavenly glory of righteousness.”

b. Codex Washingtonianus

ii. Possibilities for the Ending of the Gospel of Mark scholars think the shortest ending is how Mark actually ends. People think these are the potential reasons why:

1. Mutilated? (did someone cut it)

2. Unfinished?

3. Purposeful?

1. In what ways is the Gospel of John generally different from the Synoptic Gospels?

   1. Different themes, didn’t use the same original source

   2. Establishes Jesus’s identity: I AM

      1. Not about the kingdom, but about his identity

      2. Jesus is equated with the logos of God

   3. Jesus is = God

   4. Simple, symbolic language; light, life, love, truth, witness, know, world, believe. Has 0 uses of repentance, prayer, gospel, uses the word kingdom much less.

   5. Written to get people to believe in Christ

SECTION 2

Jewish Christianity and the Rise of the Episcopate

1. Jewish Christianity: be familiar with:

   1. Our class’s working definition of the term “Jewish Christianity.”

      1. Those who believe in Jesus and are committed to Jewish institutions, specifically the Torah and its commandments. This is a praxis based approach (which means a scholar has to decide at what point a group can be labeled as a jewish christian.)

   2. The figure of James in early Christian history and later Jewish Christian memory and tradition

      1. Brother of Jesus, first bishop of Jerusalem. Was known as “James the Just” because he adhered to Jewish law, but he also was christian - he had an experience with the resurrected Jesus where he really came to know him. Was ordered to be killed by the Saduccean High Priest.

   3. The figure of Paul in later Jewish Christian memory and tradition

• He was in opposition to super strict observance of Jewish Christianity (aka kind of an enemy to James), and said that Gentiles should not be required to live jewish law. Said that now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian (the law). In Iraeneus’ (Marcionite) Against Heresies, it is said that Paul alone knew the truth. Also known as Simon because he was consistently viewed as the source of various “heresies”. He says until Christ came, they were subject to the law and imprisoned by it. But Christ made them free.

  1. The texts in the New Testament that would have constituted early Jewish Christian scripture

     1. Gospel of Matthew*

     2. Epistle of James

     3. Revelation

1. Ignatius of Antioch

   1. Be familiar with most basic biographical details of Ignatius (don’t confuse him with Irenaeus of Lyons)

• Ignatius was an early christian martyr and bishop of Antioch.

• Ignatius lived during the first century AD, he was born around 35-40 AD.

• He’s believed to have been born in Syria, possibly in the city of Antioch.

• Ignatius served as bishop of Antioch.

• Ignatius is best known for his martyrdom. According to tradition, he was arrested by Roman authorities and sentenced to die in the arena in Rome. He was martyred around 107-108 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan.

• Ignatius wrote a series of 7 letters to various christian communities and individuals while on his way to Rome for his execution. These letters are known as the “Ignatian Epistles” and are important for understanding early Christian theology, ecclesiology, and the role of bishops in the church.

  • Ignatius’ letters emphasized the importance of unity in the Church, the authority of bishops, and the rejection of heretical beliefs.

• The traditional feast day of Ignatius of Antioch in the Western Christian calendar is celebrated on October 17.

• He writes against those whom we might call “Jewish Christians.”

• First person to say the word “christianity”

  1. Why did we discuss Ignatius on the same day that we discussed Jewish Christianity?

• Ignatius is not understood by scholars to be a “Jewish Christian.” However, he seems to have been writing against those whom we might call “Jewish Christians.”

  1. What are the basic concerns of Ignatius’s Letter to the Magnesians?

• Ignatius’ main concern is unity within the christian community. (internal divisions)

• Ignatius discusses the roles of bishops, presbyters (elders), and deacons within the church. He underscores the need for respect and obedience to these leaders, highlighting the bishop as presiding in the place of God and presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles.

  • Unity of the church under its bishop

• Ignatius warns against false opinions, old fables, and the dangers of deviating from orthodox christian teachings.

• Ignatius urges the believers to live according to the principles of christianity.

• Ignatius speaks about enduring hardships and abusive treatment for the sake of Christ. He views martyrdom as a means of attaining to God and emphasizes the importance of enduring suffering in faith.

• Ignatius encourages the Magnesians to love one another in Jesus Christ at all times and to respect each other.

• Judaism described as old and rotten, christianity as new

  1. What solutions does he propose to address those basic concerns?

• The main thing Ignatius emphasizes is the Monarchical Episcopate: aka that Bishops are extremely important and need to be respected in order to be unified.

• Overall, Ignatius’s solutions revolve around promoting unity, respecting ecclesiastical authority, maintaining doctrinal purity, living out Christian principles, enduring hardships faithfully, and fostering a loving and respectful christian community.

Early Christological Debates: Marcion and Justin Martyr

1. Vocabulary/figures to know

   1. Heresies- choice. Other people’s wrong beliefs. : Real definition means choice -> eventually, it becomes “christianized” and is then considered to mean wrong beliefs or against christian beliefs.

   2. Heresiologist - ex. Irenaeus, heresy hunter

   3. Docetism: dokeo, “to seem”. People say that Jesus “seemed” to be human, but he was actually only just a God.

   4. Apostolikon: 10 letters of Paul (except 1 Timothy & Titus), inherited collection, revised to omit positive affirmations of Judaea God, law, Jewish scripture, etc.

   5. Evangelikon: Gospel of Luke (revised; omitted Luke 1-2, some of 3-4)

   6. Supersessionism: JUSTIN is earliest example; Christianity came about to supersede or replace Judaism

   7. Apologist: Someone who spends their life defending christianity. Greek: apologia, “defense”; ex. Justin martyr

   8. Irenaeus of Lyons: A christian, was a critic of Jewish Christianity/the ebionites. Didn’t like people who only used the gospel of Matthew and ignored Paul. Enemy of Marcion.

2. Marcion

   1. Know the most basic outlines of his biography

      1. Originally from Asia Minor (Sinope of Pontus)

      2. Wealthy ship-owner

      3. Moves to Rome around 139 CE

      4. Develops ideas, produces books

      5. Donates 200,000 sesterces to Christian assemblies in Rome (richh)

      6. Rejected by assemblies in Rome

      7. Travels to Asia Minor, establishing assemblies

   2. Why are heresiologists important for our understanding of Marcion and other early Christian groups? What are the limitations of heresiological writings?

• I think that marcion could be seen as a heresiologist, which is why Iraneus didn’t like him as a “heresy hunter”

• What we do know about marcion is just from the perspective of his enemies.. Who may have been “heresiologists”

• Important for understanding: Preservation of Information, Historical Context, Theological debates.

• Limitations: Bias and Polemics, Selective Preservation, Lack of Direct Sources.

  1. Be ready to answer questions about the basic theological worldview of Marcion of Sinope. For instance, what were his views on:

     1. God- He said there are two Gods: The God of Israel, and The Previously Unknown God/God of Jesus. Marcion held a ditheistic view, distinguishing between the God of the Old Testament (jewish scripture), who he considered a lower, inferior, and just creator God, and the God of the New Testament (revealed by Jesus Christ), who he saw as a higher, merciful, and loving God. Marcion says that the God of Jesus sent Jesus to redeem people from the Judean god and law.

     2. Christ- Marcion saw Jesus Christ as the emissary (guy sent on a mission) for the higher God. Said he was the Messiah for everyone, not just Jews, and that he came to teach us how to get home to God. Said Jesus didn’t have a real body, it just seemed like it, so Christ didn’t actually die when he was crucified. Marcion's Christology was docetic, denying the full humanity of Jesus, including his birth and death.

     3. Scripture- Marcion rejected the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament) as irrelevant to Christianity. He considered them the product of the lower creator God and incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. Marcion loved Paul's epistles, and the gospel of Luke. That's it. He edited them to align with his theological views, excluding references to the Old Testament.

     4. The world- Marcion viewed the material world as a creation of the inferior God and said it was a wicked place that people needed to escape. His theological perspective led to ascetic practices (sexual abstinence and prohibiting marriage, as believed procreation furthered the purpose of the creator God, and diet)

     5. Judaism- Marcion refused to accept Judaism and its scriptures.

     6. Christianity- Marcion considered Christianity to be a completely new and distinct revelation.

     7. The Jewish Law- Marcion rejected the Jewish Law as part of the revelation from the creator God. He argued that Christians should not follow the Law, emphasizing faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the means of salvation. Said it was a curse.

     8. Apostolic authority-He selectively accepted only certain Pauline Epistles and a version of the Gospel of Luke.

1. Justin Martyr

   1. Know the most basic outlines of his biography

      1. Born and raised in Samaria, in ancient Palestine

      2. Philosophically trained, converts to Christianity as an adult

      3. Moves to Rome, sets up a school of instruction

      4. Thriving in Rome by 150 CE

      5. An early Christian apologist (Greek: apologia, “defense”)

      6. Earliest example of a supersessionist: someone who says christianity replaces or supersedes Judaism.

      7. Killed for Christian beliefs (Justin “Martyr”)

   2. How does Justin make sense of the following theological ideas/practices?

      1. The relationship between God and Christ

         1. He wants monotheism but is willing to say there are two: God and Jesus.

         2. Jesus was begotten by an act of the Father’s will.

         3. “Either that God said to himself, Let us make…or that God said Let us make to the elements.” “Now, the words as one of Us clearly show that there were a number of persons together, numbering at least two”

         4. Says christ was fully human

      2. The Jewish Law

         1. Circumcision

            1. It’s a metaphor for life… your heart

            2. Said jews were circumcised because they needed a mark to be set apart because they murdered Christ.

            3. Females cannot be circumcised, given as a sign and not an act of justification for salvation.

            4. Said plenty of biblical figures who were not circumcised were still blessed.

            5. He gave Jews circumcision, gave Christians baptism.

         2. Sabbath

            1. Gave Jews (the weak) a sabbath so they would remember Him/not go crazy.

            2. God and the elements don’t observe sabbath… keep moving and working.

***believes in perpetual sabbath where we remember Jesus every day. Eucharist sacrament takes place of animal sacrifice.

• Food laws

  1. “You were likewise ordered to abstain from eating certain kinds of meat, so that while eating and drinking you would keep God before your eyes, for you have always been disposed to forget him.” (20:1)*

  1. Israel

     1. Says that Christians are the “true spiritual Israel” and descendants of Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. Jews are idolaters… why God gave them all those rules.

SECTION 3

Contains all questions and topics from this section: https://quizlet.com/865492431/drake-final-section-3-flash-cards/?i=4rzus6&x=1qqt

Roman Persecution of Early Christians

1. Vocabulary to know

   1. Imperial cult

• Divinization and worship of past (and eventually current) emperors

• Function: social order (loyalty)

• Jews informally exempted (they were worshiping god of israel so they didn’t have to)

  1. Mos maiorum

• “Custom of the ancestors

• Speaking of Roman Religion (Maintaining what their ancestors did and worshiped)

• One of the ways they were able to maintain the “Pax Romana” (Roman religious peace)

  1. lapsed/lapsi

• “The fallen ones” - a person who sinned or went along with Rome.

• The question is whether or not readmission into the fold should be allowed. I.e. Is repentance possible if a Christian gives in to Roman pressures?

  1. Confessors

• People who confessed faith in the Christian religion (despite persecution) and so they had to deal with persecution and imprisonment. They never “lapsed”

• Alternate way to think about it: People who wouldn’t sacrifice to pagan Gods so they were persecuted

• Jailed, beaten, tortured, but don’t die.

  1. Libellus

• Certificate of sacrifice (to the Gods to prove that they are not Christian). Emperor Decius was the person who put this into place. 45 of these survive.

  1. Great Persecution

• Initiated by Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305 CE)

• Church property registered and destroyed

• Christian books to be handed over

• Christian meetings banned

• Loss of legal privileges for ALL those who do not sacrifice

• Result: “traitors” vs “confessors”

  • Traitors: those who gave in to diocletian (lapsed)

  • Confessors: those who suffer for their faith

  1. Edict of Milan

• Signed by Constantine in 313 CE

• Tetrarchy crumbles, leaving constantine in the West and Licinius in the East

• Joint decree of toleration and religious freedom

1. Be familiar with the basic historical overview of Roman persecution of Christians

• Sporadic Local persecutions – in towns, etc

  • Nero In Rome blamed christians for church (?)

• Regional persecutions – like a governor

  • Perpetua

  • Pliny’s letter to trajan

• Widespread official persecutions

  • Persecutions under decius

  • The “Great Persecution” under Diocletian

  • “Palinode” (recantation) of Galerius – tolerance

  • Constantine and the edict of Milan

1. What were some of the stated reasons for why Romans persecuted foreign cults generally?

   1. Scandalous behavior

   2. Anti-social and politically subversive attitudes

   3. Secret practices incompatible with civic cult

2. What were some of the stated reasons for why Romans persecuted Christianity in particular?

• Because they rejected Imperial Cult, accused of Atheism (belief in only one God) and Immorality (incest, cannibalism).

—-----------------------------------------------

• Religious,cultural, and political diversity

  • Roman empire divided into provinces

  • Political diversity

    • Provincial government (civil officials, military appointees)

    • Semi-autonomous cities ruling aristocracy (cf. Herod)

    • Local “police” force

  • Customs, beliefs, practices

1. Be familiar with the Pliny/Trajan correspondence

   1. Why is Pliny writing Trajan?

      1. He sees that there are Christians and he’s not really sure what to do about it, to see if his actions towards Christians were appropriate. Says that Christians are affecting the economy because people aren’t going to meat markets because there is no one buying animals to sacrifice. There is no official legislation (precedent) on what to do against Christians.

   2. What is his current posture toward Christians?

      1. Believes Christians are not good to have around - He puts any identified Christian on trial

      2. Three chances to deny they are Christians - or else chop their head off

      3. Bow to emperor and curse Christ if they renounce their faith

   3. What questions does he have for Trajan?

      1. Do we execute them? What do we do if they are women? Is what I am doing the right thing to do?

   4. What is Trajan’s response?

      1. Christians must not be hunted out

      2. Anyone who denies he is a christian, and makes it clear that he is not by offering prayers to our gods, he is to be pardoned

      3. Anonymous accusations don’t work, people need to own up to it if they’re going to snitch on Christians.

2. Be ready to address questions about the official, widespread persecutions of the third/fourth centuries under

   1. Decius (249–51) Note: I don’t expect you to memorize these dates.

      1. What did Decius demand of Roman citizens?

         1. In 249 AD emperor Trajan Decius required citizens of the Roman Empire to sacrifice to the gods, and eat sacrificial meat = first empire wide persecution of Christians (and all other foreign cults except Jews).

         2. ^^ He required the libellus: the certificate of sacrifice (jews were exempted)

      2. What questions emerged in Christian communities on account of this persecution?

         1. What constitutes “apostasy”, and “sacrifice”, and procuring a liblellus?

         2. If a christian lapses, can they be readmitted? And How? What about a lapsed Bishop?

         3. Is repentance possible? Who gets to say? Bishops or Confessor (Christians who had not lapsed)?

         4. Raised questions about the compatibility of their religious beliefs with the state-mandated practices. The decree prompted Christians to reflect on issues such as loyalty to the empire versus loyalty to their faith.

   2. Valerian (257–58) - just know 3rd century

      1. How was Valerian’s persecution different from Decius’s?

         1. Directed specifically at Christians

         2. Targets senior clergy for punishment/execution

         3. Seizes property

         4. Required Church leaders to participate in pagan rituals

         5. Prohibits Christian gatherings in cemeteries

      2. How did this persecution come to an end?

         1. Valerian was captured by Persians in 260 CE. His son rescinds persecution.

   3. Diocletian (303–311): What made this the “Great” persecution?

      1. It was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

      2. Church property destroyed

      3. Chistian books to be handed over

      4. Christian meetings banned

      5. Loss of legal privileges for ALL those who do not sacrifice

   4. What was the Edict of Milan? (slides)

      1. Decree that permanently legalized Christianity within the Roman Empire

      2. “Proactive statement” - Dr. Drake

3. Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas

   1. Know the basic plotline of this text

      1. Perpetua and Felicitas were Christian women who refused to give up their faith. They were eventually thrown to wild animals in an arena to die. They are considered Christian heroes because of their courage and faith.

      2. Perpetua was separated from her baby son and they were both thrown in prison.

   2. How does this text engage with themes of:

      1. Church hierarchy?

         1. Saturus has a vision. Bishops and presbyters are still outside the gates - while martyrs are inside. This suggests the idea that maybe the most holy among us aren’t those running the show (bishops), but martyrs instead.

         2. Female martyr has authority over male bishops.

I had this in my notes (Olivia) I’m not 100% sure about it tho :

1. Unity : during the martyr time the christian community gathered for prayer, mutual support, and worship

2. Guidance : we can see that Perpetua received guidance from a leader, showing maybe hierarchy

3. Perpetua (martyr) has more power than bishop because she prays for her brother who has cancer in his face and he is healed

   1. Martyrs > bishops

      1. Gender

In the ancient world in Rome, men were in control, while feminine side of things was seen as not in control of their emotions, etc. in this text, the father is desperate and weak. He's throwing temper tantrums, etc. In contrast, Perpetua is strong, a female, and a martyr.

• Masculinity → can control their emotions and what they do

  • Feminine → not in control of their emotions, so they shouldn’t be in public

  1. Olivia - i think it shows role reversal in the text though because her father is crying for her and she bravely gets killed

  2. ^^ yeah everything is inverted in this text. The woman is in control, while her father is weak.

Role(s) of Women in the Early Christian Church

1. What were some of the basic gender stereotypes of the Roman world?

• Male: Public, politics, self-control, outdoor, right, mobile, culture

• Female: Private, seclusion, chastity, indoor, left, stationary, nature

1. In what ways did Paul’s communities resist these stereotypes? In what ways did they embody them?

   1. Resist:

      1. Galatians 3:27-28 “no longer male and female” Paul is likely quoting a different text here, a baptismal formula

      2. Philippians 4:2-3, Paul describes women along with men as co-workers (all by name) who have struggled alongside him in the work of the gospel

      3. Romans 16:

         1. First recorded deacon is a woman

         2. Junia- female name, prominent among the apostles

   2. Embody:

      1. 1 Corinthians 11 Women should wear headcoverings as a symbol of subservience to husbands

      2. 1 Corinthians 14 Women should be silent in church.

2. Be able to identify key similarities and differences between the worldviews of 1 Timothy and the Acts of Thecla.

   1. 1 Timothy- against the participation of women in the church. Women are subservient

      1. Endorses child bearing and marriage

   2. Thecla- reverses gender roles, against traditional Roman view at the time.

      1. Makes women the focus and encourages their participation in missionary efforts

      2. Chastity through virginity

      3. Theoclecia, however, fits the mold of someone in 1 Timothy a bit more.

3. How do the following characters in the Acts of Thecla reflect the variety of roles that women might have played in the early Church?

   1. Theocleia: Married, mother, traditional household, private space, obedience (fits the Roman stereotypes/1 timothy worldview). Thecla’s mom. Tries to get her to marry her fiance.

   2. Thecla: Woman virgin, teacher, itinerant lifestyle, public space, transgression (fits the ascetic movement/wants to be in public). Wants to leave and follow Paul. She does that and leaves her fiance, goes to preach to the people.

   3. Tryphaena: Queen, widow, patron, alternative household, both private and public space, leadership. This is the lady that took Thecla in, and asks her to give a prayer for her daughter. Comes to the aid of Thecla as her patron.

SECTION 4

Origin of Alexandria

1. Terms to know

   1. Modalists/Modalism

• The terms “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit” are descriptive of the different roles that God plays in human salvation, but do not correspond to the ultimate nature of the Godhead.

• Father, Son, Holy Spirit = different modes of the same being (hence, “Modalism”)

• Example: Dr. Drake is a teacher, a father, and a son, all at once

• Tertullian HATES modalism

  1. Trinity

• Jesus, The Father, and The Holy spirit being one being

• Think “neapolitan ice cream”

1. Know Origen’s basic biography

• He became a Christian teacher and writer, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the Christian community. Origen's works include biblical commentaries, theological treatises, and writings on Christian doctrine. He was known for his intellectual rigor and philosophical approach to theology.

• Father martyred, wealthy woman becomes his patron, becomes a grammatikos (teacher of Greek literature), then an intellectual superstar (declared a heretic much later).

1. What is Origen’s “Psychodrama” as laid out in Peri Archon?

   1. What is the state of God?

• God is “one” and has always existed. Unbegotten and never “made”. Always has been.

  1. What is the relationship of humanity to God? Of angels? Demons?

• Before this life, beings (humans, angels, devils etc.) existed as “minds,” dedicated to contemplating the divine realm and worshiping God (these pre-existent minds were created)

• Pre-existent minds diverted attention away from God and “fell away” at varying degrees according to their devotion to God.

  • Angels → fell only a short distance. Humans → more significant fall than the angels. Devils → fell more than anyone else.

  1. How is Christ similar to humanity? Different?

• Christ was also a pre-existent mind like us, but he never “fell” or looked away from God. He became unified with God by means of choice. Out of pure love, he descended down to turn us back to God.

• Humanity is divided into the soul, body and mind. Soul and body exist to serve the mind and help contemplate God.

• Each individual receives a unique soul and body to teach them the necessary things to return them to God.

Pedagogy: God wants to teach us about our divine origin in order to get home.

• We existed as “minds” like Christ, however, He never “fell” or looked away from God. We differ from Christ in our WILL. We chose to fall, Christ never did.

• Christ freely chose to descend to earth and show the other “minds” the correct way back to God.

  1. Is Jesus equal with God? If so, how so? If not, why not?

• Christ existed as a mind like us, but is unified with God through love and constant exercise of free will

  • Iron in the fire analogy → Iron essentially becomes indistinguishable from the fire as it heats up. Christ’s will and characteristics are consumed in God’s and the two become “one” in purpose.

• Through free will and devotion to God, Christ’s nature (which was once similar to our’s) was changed to match that of God’s

  1. How does Origen imagine the end of all things?

• God is the perfect teacher, He will continue to teach us forever until we CHOOSE to follow Him

  • Through God’s love and patience, ALL will eventually be saved (universalism)

• Believes in a cosmic “restoration” meaning that everything will return to where it once was before the fall

  • Requirements: 1.) Free will. 2.) Time (in eons of time, all can be saved (this is what gets him in trouble)). 3.) Multiple creations (open to the idea of multiple lives to continue the teaching process).

• “Destruction of the last enemy” - when the last ounce of disobedience in all of the original minds is gone.

• With respect to free will, God will not stop until all minds are turned back to him.

• Important quotes:

  • “Mind when it fell was made soul, and soul in its turn when furnished with virtues will become mind”

  • “The end is always like the beginning”

Byzantine Period: Constantine and the Christological Controversies

1. Excerpts from “The Byzantine Period” in BRH (scanned on Learning Suite)

   1. Where does the word “Byzantine” come from?

      1. Byzantion- the Greek colony on the Bosphorus that was selected by the Roman emperor Constantine in 324 as the site for his new capital.

   2. What three features compose Byzantine culture?

      1. Greek speaking christian Romans (Dr. Huntsman will come knocking on your door if you get this one wrong)

         1. In terms of legal tradition and political identity, it was Roman (descended from Eastern Roman Empire)

         2. In terms of language and culture, it was Greek

         3. It was Christian, adhering to formalized “orthodox” doctrine from ecumenical councils

   3. Who was Constantine?

      1. Started as one of four emperors and eventually gained control of the entire empire. He made christianity fully legal in the Roman empire (inspired by a vision of a christian cross) even though he was never baptized (until his deathbed). He reunified the empire. Viewed as equal to the apostles.

      2. Reunited the empire in 324, chose Byzantium as the new capital.

   4. Who was Theodosius I (see “Important Emperors and Events”)

      1. Built massive triple walls of Constantinople. The Eastern empire survived repeated invasions during his reign.

      2. Made Christianity the official religion; the empire divided at his death.

   5. What were ecumenical councils? How many were held in antiquity?

      1. Decision-making meetings held by the leaders of the Christian church during the Byzantine period. Called to define church procedures and settle important doctrinal issues that divided early Christians.

      2. Intended to establish unity of belief in the church and define what was orthodox doctrine for Christians; produced doctrinal statements called “creeds.”

      3. 7.

2. Be familiar with Constantine’s rise to power

   1. (272 AD) He ascended to power through a series of military victories. After his father's death, he became a prominent general in the Roman army and won the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Established the city of Constantinople in 330 AD, solidifying his position as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

      1. Textbook version: Political uncertainty in 3rd century -> stability re-established during reign of Diocletian who undertook many reforms, one of which was the creation of a system with 4 emperors -> eventually the four contended with each other until Constantine won

3. According to Henry Chadwick, why might Constantine have:

   1. Been attracted to Christianity generally? (double check / add stuff)

      1. It was very similar to/compatible with his beliefs in the sun-god (monotheism).

      2. Vision of the Chi-Rho symbol before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD

      3. Political move

         1. Chi-Rho: “labarum” (double-axe, symbol of Zeus?) (coin slide) -> shows that he is politically very savvy (95% of his empire is pagan – he is creating coins that can speak to everyone)

            1. 

   2. Been attracted to the particular variety of Christianity that he aligned himself with?

      1. Bishops were like God. Because of this, if Constantine could unify the bishops and have them implement what he wanted, he would have a unified empire. It was a political move.

         1. “It was the variety that had a sophisticated infrastructure – where bishops run the show (Ignatius’ model – listen to bishops like you would God) – monarchical episcopate – ability to marshal lots of resources” - Dr. Drake

4. In what ways did Constantine patronize Christianity after becoming emperor? At what point does Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire? (said it will be on test)

   1. Bans on public sacrifice, don't work on sunday; no one compelled to become Christian

   2. Official religion of Empire under Emperor Theodosius (379–95 CE)

5. Christological Controversies

   1. Who was Arius of Alexandria? What was his conception of God and Jesus Christ?

      1. Arius was a priest in Alexandria.

      2. “Alone without beginning, judge of all, unchangeable, just”

God has existed forever, but nothing else has. Christ is also divine but God is alone

a. Father

Alone ungenerate/unbegotten

Alone Unalterable/unchangeable

Alone without beginning - everything else has a beginning

Always God, became a father when he begat the SON outside of time

b. Son

Begotten apart from time

The Son did not always exist

Son comes to being by God's will, in God's image

A unique creature a different sort of aloneness

Maker of Ages

Maker of universe

A HIGH Christology—an exalted view of Jesus

Logos on a different level from God

Subordinate to the Father

• Who was Alexander of Alexandria? How did his articulation of God and Jesus Christ compare with Arius’s view?

  1. Alexander was the bishop of the city

  2. Christ did not come from nothing.

  3. God is unbegotten but Jesus is begotten and everything else is created or made (this is different from arius because arius uses the words created and begotten in the same way)

  • What was at stake for both of these figures?

    1. Monotheism and the status of Christ in relation to God (remember, Alexander thinks Arius subordinates Christ)

1. What happened at the Council of Nicaea?

   1. The Creed

      1. Near unanimous agreement

      2. All but three bishops (Arius and two Libyan bishops) sign the creed: exiled

      3. A few others refuse to sign off on anathemas: exiled

      4. The continuing appeal of Arianism

      5. Further Christological Controversies