Early Christianity Diversity and Unity

Transcription

1 The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE

2 The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE

3 Early Christianity Diversity and Unity Spread of Christianity, 1st and 2nd centuries 1st century 2nd century Boundary of Roman Empire 1st & 2nd CE.

4 Spread of Christianity, until 600 CE

5 Important Roman emperors Hadrian Vespasian Constantine Nero Titus 79 81

6 Arch of Constantine Arch of Titus

7 Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East West Schism, 1054 Fall of East Rome, NT period Reformation Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period The Apostolic Period, some major dates 30s Ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus c Missionary travels of Paul 48 Council of Jerusalem 62 James the Just, "the Lord's Brother," martyred 64 Emperor Nero of Rome persecutes Christians as cause of the Great Fire c. 60s Peter, Paul and many others martyred during Nero's reign

8 From Apostolic to Sub-Apostolic Period, the 60s Paul Peter James

9 Rome on Fire, 64 CE Artistic reconstruction

10 Nero s tourches Henryk Siemiradzki ( )

11 To the Colloseum Henryk Siemiradzki ( )

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13 Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East West Schism, 1054 Fall of East Rome, NT period Reformation Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period The Sub-Apostolic Period, some major dates 70 Jewish revolt against Rome fails; Jerusalem sacked, Temple destroyed 70 + Center of Christianity shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria, & Rome Emperor Domitian styles himself as "Master and God" c. 96 First epistle of Clement of Rome, widely read and probably the oldest Christian epistle in existence outside of the NT Sporadic persecutions of Christians by Emperor Trajan, Martyrdom of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, in Rome (c.110)

14 Early Christianity Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East West Schism, 1054 Fall of East Rome, NT period Early Christianity Reformation Post-Apostolic period c. 112 Pliny, the younger, to Emperor Trajan on how to deal with Christians, Early Christian Worship 135 Second Jewish revolt, destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Hadrian 140s Marcion, Valentius and Justin Martyr, influential Christian leaders who oppose each other in Rome, beginning or Proto-orthodoxy c. 156 Martydom of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna Widespread Persecutions of Christians, martyrdom of Justin Martyr in Rome (168) 177 Irenaeus becomes Bishop of Lyons, Massacre of Christians in Lyon

15 Early Christianity Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East West Schism, 1054 Fall of East Rome, Early Christianity Reformation Post-Apostolic period Septimus Severus, emperor of Rome, persecution of Christians, martyrdom of Irenaeus of Lyons, Perpetua, Felicitas, and their companions c. 215 Tertullian becomes a Montanist, Mani, founder of Manichaeism 248 Origen writes Against Celsus in Palestine Persecution under emperor Decius, Growing controversy between Carthage and Rome about treatment of returning apostate Christians 251 Council of Carthage with Cyprian in a leading role Emperors Valerian and Gallienus order everyone to sacrifice to Roman gods; Origen dies in Tyre from wounds suffered from torture (254); Cyprian of Carthage martyred (258)

16 Early Christianity Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East West Schism, 1054 Fall of East Rome, Early Christianity Reformation Post-Apostolic period 269 Gallenius is sole emperor, Paul of Samosata condemned at Antioch The Great Persecution under emperor Diocletian 310 Armenia becomes the first Christian state 312, Oct 28 th Constantine wins the Battle at the Milvian Bridge against Maxentius 313 Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity, official religion of the Empire 320s Eusebius writes History of the Church, Life of Constantine, The Martyrs of Palestine 330 Consecration of Constantinople as the new capital

17 Early Christianity Eusebius gives an account of Constantine s vision that he had heard from the emperor himself: Constantine with his army was marching, when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "Εν Τούτῳ Νίκα (Latin "in hoc signo vinces," "In this sign,[you shall] conquer ). In the following night he had a dream in which Christ told him that he should use the sign against his enemies. Constantine then put the Chi- Rho sign on his standard.

18 Early Christianity

19 Early Christianity Spread of Christianity, 300 to 800 CE The Agreement at Chalcedon (451) on the Rule of the Church Rome and Constantinople governed east and west. Rome Alexandria New Rome (Constantinople) Jerusalem Antioch Rome was granted priority, but regarded in the East as the first among equals. Following those two in prestige and influence were Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. 330 CE Rome Corinth Carthage Thessalonica Constantinople Ephesus Ephesus Antioch Alexandria Alexandria Cyprus Damascus Jerusalem Centers founded by Paul

20 I. Diverse Beginnings 1. A variety of texts and contexts not a book but a collection of writings more than 10 different authors from different places and with a wide range of situational objectives a common experience with different interpretations in different contexts new expressions in new ethnic, ideological and political conditions different types of literature 2. A variety of groupings and factions Jewish Jesus-followers Pauline Christians Johannine Christians Gnosticizing types of Christianity a host of other groups that we know too little about to label them

21 I. Diverse Beginnings 3. A variety of traditions and ideas Imaginary meeting in Jerusalem in the year 100 a Jewish teacher from Alexandria, a freed slave from Rome, a philosopher from Athens, a craftsman from Ephesus, a farmer from Edessa, a merchant from Cyprus and a scribe from Nazareth source texts religious heritage views of Jesus ethical obligation 4. Comparison with the beginnings of Islam Organization Mohammed YES Jesus NO Writings by the founder Mohammed YES Jesus NO Affirmation of religious heritage Mohammed NO Jesus YES Access to a finalized body of writings Muslims YES Christians NO Consequence: Diverse expression among Christian groups Interaction with different religious and cultural traditions Result: potential for conflict and disagreement potential for openness and adaptability

22 II. Early Christianity Diversity and Unity Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization 1. Emergence of a majority movement Within a short period of time, an interconnected movement with a widely accepted Christian tradition a common body of scripture a similar liturgy and community life a fairly unified interpretation of Christian faith a cohesive organizational structure 2. An anachronistic misconception 3. Ecclesial power structures are secondary The office of the pope of Rome: result not precondition of unity before Constantine no centralized ecclesiastical power structure after Constantine demands for unity from political and imperial quarters the Caesars summoned the Councils, not the bishops 4. Church leaders and bishops support diversity The agenda of church leaders and bishops was quite contrary to that. They wanted to defend their own particular and local distinctiveness to preserve their different theological tradition to guard their independence

23 II. Early Christianity Diversity and Unity Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization 1. Emergence of a majority movement 2. An anachronistic misconception 3. Ecclesial power structures are secondary 4. Church leaders and bishops support diversity 5. The Emperor recognizes the potential of an Empire religion 6. Conclusion: The emerging organized and hierarchical uniformity of Christianity was not due to some intrigues in the dark corridors of the Roman Church was due to the political (imperial) demand for unity, and the legal ratification of the office of bishop It was the emperor of the Roman Empire who initiated and enforced an increasingly unified organization and regulation of church hierarchy.

24 III. Ecclesial networking and commonality The bishops that came to Nicaea read same texts, tell same stories demand confession in a triune God from those who were to be baptized similar views on church leadership, similar barriers towards Gentiles similar rules for live, similar sanctions against those who brake the rules 1. Traveling ministries and letter writing Paul, Irenaeus, Origen, Clement of A., Cyprianus, Ignatius, Didache 2. Mutual consultation 3. Conflict management 4. Universal recognition 5. Small numbers, but Roman Empire = 40 to 60 milion people around the year 300 CE Christians = 8 to 10% of the population, i.e. approx. 4 to 5 million dispersed over the whole Empire, in independent local communities 6. Conclusion Political power was negligible, yet the Christians attracted the emperor s attention through their ability be united in diversity