an aspiring christianity and a respiring roman empire
TRANSCRIPT
An Aspiring ChristianityAn Aspiring Christianityand a Respiring Roman and a Respiring Roman
EmpireEmpire
Christianity and the Roman EmpireChristianity and the Roman Empire
How did Christianity become dominantA. Conversions and Believers
Martyrs, Message, and Accomodating PhilosophiesB. Seeking Relief from Invaders
State of the Empire by the turn of the 5th Century
Patronage of Emperors—Constantine and Theodosius
Orthodoxy and HeresyA. “You say begotten … and I say created”
The Arianism ControversyB. “the sin that dwells in me”: Revelations of AugustineC. Imitating Christ and the ascetic life
Spread of Christianity by 4th Spread of Christianity by 4th centurycentury
<10,000 by A.D. 100
200,000 by A.D. 200
Still only.3% of total popin Roman Empireof 60 million
How did Christianity become How did Christianity become dominant in the Roman Empire?dominant in the Roman Empire?
•Context of the Emperors and their Empire
•Christianity’s appeal to Gentiles—compassion, classlessness, appeal to women, and personal salvation
“There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)
•Appeal to Women: “There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)
Diocletian’s reform of the EmpireDiocletian’s reform of the Empire
Diocletian (284-305) and the Tetrarchy
2 AugustiDiocletianMaximian
2 CaesarsConstantiusGalerius
Civil war reigns by 305
Constantine triumphant in Constantine triumphant in 312, his personal conversion312, his personal conversion
Ascendant Christianity
Constantine (303–337)
313: Edict of Milan—toleration of Christianity (not made state religion), return of church property
321: Sunday as Lord’s Day
Building of Churches (St. Peters’, first St. Sophia)
Theodosius (379–395)
391 Christianity becomes state religion, all others forbidden
391 Pagan Worship Banned
Old St. Peters’ begun as early as 319
From a 1619 sketch copying earlier drawings
Built directly over grave of Peter
Orthodoxy and Heresy
A. “You say begotten … and I say created”
The Arianism Controversy
B. “the sin that dwells in me”: Revelations of Augustine (354-430)
C. Imitating Christ and the Ascetic Route
D. The validity of the Sacraments
Donatism and the Sacred Books
The Problems of Organizing the ChurchOrthodoxy and Heresy
What is the controversy?
•Arius, Libyan priest (250-336)
•“There was a time when He was not”
•“the Son had a beginning, but God is without beginning”
•For Arius, only God the Father was eternal
Arian BeliefsArian Beliefs•“There was a time when He was not”
•“The Son had a beginning, but God is without beginning”
•For Arius, only God the Father was eternal
•Why is this a problem?Christological controversiesProblem of Christ’s divinity and humanityIssue of polytheism
What was Heard on the street:What was Heard on the street:
“…when you ask for your change from a shopkeeper, he harangues you about the begotten and the unbegotten. If you inquire how much bread costs, the reply is that ‘the Father is superior and the Son inferior.”
Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea in 325
Establishes role of the Church to decide orthodoxy
Supremacy of bishops (episcopacy)
What is the solution?What is the solution?
Establishing OrthodoxyEstablishing Orthodoxy
Augustine (354-430)
•Church Fathers: patristic writers•After the sack of Rome
City of God (413-426)Proper role of Secular Authority
•The first tell-all book: Augustine’sConfessions
What are the solutions for What are the solutions for Augustine?Augustine?
After the Vandals sack Rome in
410, he writes City of God
•Try to attain spiritual purity
•Secular law required because
humans imperfect.
•Be obedient to authority
•Divine purpose only known to
God
Augustine’s CraftsmanAugustine’s Craftsman“To be truthful, I myself fail to understand why God created mice and frogs, flies and worms. Nevertheless I recognize that each of these creatures is beautiful in its own way. For when I contemplate the body and limbs of any living creature, where do I not find proportion, number, and order exhibiting the unity of concord? Where one discovers proportion, number and order, one should look for the craftsman.”
Ascetics and the Monastic Ascetics and the Monastic LifeLife
•Monk: Greek for “single, solitary”•Asceticism not new but Christians make it popular•Life of denial imitating Christ’s sufferings
•Imitatio Christi•A new ‘martyrdom’•Develops into living communities
•Two types: hermits and communal
St. Antony as model for ascetics
Life of St. Antony
Who is St. Antony?Biography written by Athanasius, bishop
of Alexandria. One of the first saint’s lives.Why does he become a monk?
What words inspire him to become a monk?
What does he then do?
“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed to us.” (Rom 8:18)
The RewardThe Reward