rome, jews, and christians
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Rome, Jews, and Christians. Presented by: Andrew Drenas, M.A. Rome, Jews, and Christians. Our Agenda. The Jews Their Historical Identity The First-Century Jews The Christians Jesus of Nazareth and the “Messianic Jewish” Community The Fury of Rome Dealing with the Jews - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Rome, Jews, and Rome, Jews, and ChristiansChristians
Presented by:Presented by:Andrew Drenas, M.A.Andrew Drenas, M.A.
Our AgendaOur Agenda
The JewsThe Jews Their Historical IdentityTheir Historical Identity The First-Century JewsThe First-Century Jews
The ChristiansThe Christians Jesus of Nazareth and the “Messianic Jewish” CommunityJesus of Nazareth and the “Messianic Jewish” Community
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome Dealing with the JewsDealing with the Jews The Persecutions of ChristiansThe Persecutions of Christians
The GnosticsThe Gnostics What did they believe, anyway?What did they believe, anyway? The “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” ResponseThe “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” Response In Recent ScholarshipIn Recent Scholarship
The Jews – Their Historical Identity Ancient Israel
13th or 12th Cent. BCE – 586 BCE
The Exodus from Egypt Moses YHWH and the Shema
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” (Deut. 6:4)
The “Golden Age” United kingdom under David
and Solomon; the First Temple “Not-so-Golden Age”
The Kingdom divided (Israel vs. Judah)
The Babylonian ExileMoses and the Ten Commandments
The Jews – Their Historical Identity
Second-Temple Judaism Return to the Promised
Land under the Persians (539 BCE)
The Ptolemies and Seleucids (323-167 BCE) Hellenization – importation of
Greek culture Antiochus IV Epiphanes and
the “abomination of desolation” The Maccabean Revolt (167
BCE) 1 and 2 Maccabees Judas Maccabeus and Family Hanukkah (164 BCE) Jewish Independence
Mattathias Slaying the Apostate
The Jews – Their Historical Identity Second-Temple
Judaism The Hasmoneans (167-
63 BCE) Family of priest-kings Dynasty ends in power
struggle; Rome asked to intervene
Enter the Romans Pompey the Great (63
BCE) Palestine now occupied
by Rome
The Jews under Roman Occupation The Jewish religion tolerated
Religio licita (legal religion - exemption from pagan sacrifices)
Antiquity appreciated…but… An “obstinate” and “rebellious” people
Rigidly monotheistic (recall the Shema!) Romans very tolerant; Jews = exceedingly intolerant –
only one God, all others are false Nationalistic, even racist at times…
Revolts crushed Client-kings installed
The Herods
The First-Century Jews “The Big Four”
The Pharisees Prominent laymen, focus on the
synagogue and practical application of Torah
Opposed to Roman presence, but taught obedience to God’s law would result in deliverance
The Saducees Aristocratic, high-priestly, focus on
the Temple Supported Roman status quo Seen as corrupt No resurrection of the dead or
angels The Essenes
Apocalyptic (the end is near!) Withdraw from corrupt society and
the corrupt Temple system Qumran
The Zealots Get Rome out by force!
The First-Century Jews
The Vast Majority of Jews (95%) Farmers, fishermen, merchants, tradesmen =
struggling to make ends meet Sought to obey major commandments of the
Torah and make the appropriate pilgrimages and sacrifices their faith required
Hebraic Jews vs. Hellenistic (Diaspora) Jews Major Jewish centers = Jerusalem (Hebraic) and
Alexandria (Hellenistic)
The First-Century Jews
“Messianic Expectation” One Messiah…or two…or
none? Messiah = “anointed one,” a
kingly title Jewish “renewal movements”
The Essenes John the Baptist
“Messiah figures” crushed by the Romans, per Flavius Josephus Jewish Antiquities and Jewish
War
John the Baptist(c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE)
Josephus(c. 37 CE – 100)
The ChristiansThe Christians
“And when the day of Pentecost had come…there came from heaven aa noise like a violent rushing wind…and there appeared to them tonguesof fire…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1-4)
The ChristiansThe Christians Yeshua (Jesus) dmen Yeshua (Jesus) dmen
Nazareth Nazareth (c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE) (c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE) – Itinerant preacher/healer/Itinerant preacher/healer/
prophet of the coming prophet of the coming “Kingdom of God”“Kingdom of God”
– Twelve apostles, other Twelve apostles, other disciples (Mary disciples (Mary Magdalene, et al.)Magdalene, et al.)
– Made messianic claims? Made messianic claims? (Palm Sunday, etc.)(Palm Sunday, etc.)
– Executed by Pontius Pilate Executed by Pontius Pilate by crucifixion (“This is the by crucifixion (“This is the King of the Jews…”)King of the Jews…”)
– Rose from the dead?Rose from the dead?– Earliest sources = Mark, Earliest sources = Mark,
Matthew, Luke, and John Matthew, Luke, and John (c. 70-90 CE)(c. 70-90 CE)
The ChristiansThe Christians The “Messianic Jewish” The “Messianic Jewish”
Community/ChristiansCommunity/Christians– Source = Acts of the Source = Acts of the
Apostles (c. 70-90 CE)Apostles (c. 70-90 CE)– Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)– Preaches “Gospel”Preaches “Gospel”– Paul of Tarsus and the Paul of Tarsus and the
“Gentile Mission”“Gentile Mission”– Christians at odds with Christians at odds with
“the Jews”“the Jews” Stoning of Stephen Stoning of Stephen
(Acts 7)(Acts 7) Disturbance in Rome Disturbance in Rome
(Suetonius, (Suetonius, ClaudiusClaudius 25.4)25.4)
Paul of Tarsus preaching at the Areopagus, Mars Hill, Athens (Acts 17:16-34)
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome The JewsThe Jews
– Jewish War (66-70 CE)Jewish War (66-70 CE) Revocation of Jewish Revocation of Jewish
rights by Nero and raiding rights by Nero and raiding of Temple treasury = war!of Temple treasury = war!
Christians refused to be Christians refused to be involvedinvolved
Destruction of Jerusalem Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Titus in and the Temple by Titus in 70 CE70 CE
– Bar Kochba Revolt (132-35 Bar Kochba Revolt (132-35 CE) = Jewish last stand, a CE) = Jewish last stand, a failure…failure…
– Banned from Jerusalem = Banned from Jerusalem = Aeolia CapitolinaAeolia Capitolina
– Formation of Rabbinic Formation of Rabbinic JudaismJudaism
– Disappearance of Jewish Disappearance of Jewish Christianity Christianity
Titus (39-81 CE)
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome
A testimony to the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple may still be found in Rome, in the Forum
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome The ChristiansThe Christians
– Not initially persecuted, but…Not initially persecuted, but…– Became more and more distinct from JudaismBecame more and more distinct from Judaism
Why persecute Why persecute themthem??– Seen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were Seen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were
opposedopposed– Christians met “secretly”Christians met “secretly”– Christians cannibals and incestuous?Christians cannibals and incestuous?– They obstinately refused to worship the emperorThey obstinately refused to worship the emperor– Persecuted intermittently from the reign of Nero Persecuted intermittently from the reign of Nero
(r. 54-68 CE) until Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE); (r. 54-68 CE) until Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE); thereafter granted toleration by Constantine the thereafter granted toleration by Constantine the Great (r. 306-37)Great (r. 306-37)
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome MartyrdomMartyrdom
– Martyr = witnessMartyr = witness The Martyrdom of Blandina (d. The Martyrdom of Blandina (d.
177 CE)177 CE)– Ecclesiastical History Ecclesiastical History of of
Eusebius of Caesarea, V, Eusebius of Caesarea, V, chapter 1chapter 1
Suspended on a stake as if on Suspended on a stake as if on a cross – left to be eaten by a cross – left to be eaten by wild beastswild beasts
ImprisonedImprisoned Forced to watch her Christian Forced to watch her Christian
companions be martyredcompanions be martyred Attempted to make her swear Attempted to make her swear
to idolsto idols ScourgedScourged Sent to the roasting seatSent to the roasting seat Enmeshed in a net and gored Enmeshed in a net and gored
to death by a bullto death by a bull Remains burned; ashes tossed Remains burned; ashes tossed
into the Rhoneinto the Rhone
Blandina
The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome
Any questions, comments, or Any questions, comments, or concerns so far?concerns so far?
Changing gears…Changing gears…
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
““Gnosticism,” an alternative form of Christianity, Gnosticism,” an alternative form of Christianity, was in full force within the Roman Empire in the was in full force within the Roman Empire in the second century…second century…
Broadly speaking, who were the Gnostics, who Broadly speaking, who were the Gnostics, who have captured our imagination as a culture?have captured our imagination as a culture?
Why did “orthodox” Christians respond to Why did “orthodox” Christians respond to hostilely to them?hostilely to them?
What are the current interpretations of What are the current interpretations of Gnosticism out there in academia?Gnosticism out there in academia?
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
Major sources for Major sources for Gnosticism:Gnosticism: Nag Hammadi Nag Hammadi
scriptures, discovered scriptures, discovered in Egypt in 1945in Egypt in 1945 Gospels of Thomas, Gospels of Thomas,
Mary, the Egyptians, Mary, the Egyptians, etc.etc.
““Orthodox Orthodox heresiologists”heresiologists”
Gospel of JudasGospel of Judas
The Nag Hammadi Codices
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
Broadly, what did Gnostics Broadly, what did Gnostics ((gnosis gnosis = knowledge) = knowledge) believe?believe? CreationCreation
Result of a defect, an Result of a defect, an accidentaccident
Matter and physicality are Matter and physicality are inherently corrupt and evilinherently corrupt and evil
GodGod Creator god or Creator god or DemiurgeDemiurge
of the Hebrew Scriptures = of the Hebrew Scriptures = a rebel, fool, arrogant, a rebel, fool, arrogant, ignorant – a lesser godignorant – a lesser god
The FatherThe Father is un- is un-knowable, ineffable, but knowable, ineffable, but good; not the creatorgood; not the creator
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
ChristChrist Divine being, brings Divine being, brings
revelation of the revelation of the Father and salvationFather and salvation
May be distinct from May be distinct from historical Jesus historical Jesus (Docetism)(Docetism)
Granted secret Granted secret knowledge to special, knowledge to special, chosen discipleschosen disciples
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
SalvationSalvation Gnosis – Gnosis – mystical mystical
illumination of the illumination of the divine spark within the divine spark within the self; self-knowledgeself; self-knowledge
Salvation of the soul Salvation of the soul only, to return to the only, to return to the PleromaPleroma
Salvation from the Salvation from the body, the “prison,” and body, the “prison,” and mattermatter
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
Did you notice any of these themes in the Did you notice any of these themes in the reading for today?reading for today?
The GnosticsThe Gnostics Their “Orthodox” OpponentsTheir “Orthodox” Opponents
Ignatius, Justin, Ignatius, Justin, IrenaeusIrenaeus, , Tertullian, EpiphaniusTertullian, Epiphanius
Responses:Responses: Creation is inherently goodCreation is inherently good One God = the Father, creator One God = the Father, creator
of all thingsof all things One Lord, Jesus Christ, who One Lord, Jesus Christ, who
was incarnate and crucified was incarnate and crucified under Pontius Pilate to save under Pontius Pilate to save humanity from its sinshumanity from its sins
Salvation of the Salvation of the body/resurrection of the deadbody/resurrection of the dead
Gnostic “heresy” is to be Gnostic “heresy” is to be fervently rejected and refutedfervently rejected and refuted
Irenaeus’s Irenaeus’s Against HeresiesAgainst Heresies
Irenaeus of Lyons, c. 120/40 – 200-03 CE
The GnosticsThe Gnostics
So what about in academia?So what about in academia? Spectrum of interpretations…Spectrum of interpretations… Simplistic = “New School” and “Conservatives”Simplistic = “New School” and “Conservatives”
The GnosticsThe Gnostics The “New School”The “New School”
Proponents:Proponents: Elaine Pagels (Princeton), Elaine Pagels (Princeton),
Karen King (Harvard), Bart Karen King (Harvard), Bart Ehrman (North Carolina – Ehrman (North Carolina – Chapel Hill), et al.Chapel Hill), et al.
Claims:Claims: Gnostic Christianity and Gnostic Christianity and
“Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” Christianity two equally valid, Christianity two equally valid, alternative claims to authorityalternative claims to authority
Diversity!Diversity! Anti-hierarchical Gnosticism Anti-hierarchical Gnosticism
suppressed by intolerant suppressed by intolerant orthodox bishops for political orthodox bishops for political and gender-related reasons, and gender-related reasons, besides theologicalbesides theological
ThomasThomas = early = early
The GnosticsThe Gnostics The “Conservatives”The “Conservatives”
Proponents:Proponents: N.T. Wright (Cambridge/Oxford, N.T. Wright (Cambridge/Oxford,
Bishop of Durham), Darrell L. Bishop of Durham), Darrell L. Bock (Dallas Theological Bock (Dallas Theological Seminary), et al.Seminary), et al.
Claims:Claims: 4 “Orthodox” Gospels = first and 4 “Orthodox” Gospels = first and
more historically accuratemore historically accurate Gnostic Gospels = later, not Gnostic Gospels = later, not
connected to “authentic” Jesus connected to “authentic” Jesus traditiontradition
““Orthodox” leaders not craving Orthodox” leaders not craving power and control, but seeking to power and control, but seeking to hold their communities together in hold their communities together in the face of intense persecutionthe face of intense persecution
ThomasThomas = later = later Quest for “historical Jesus” has Quest for “historical Jesus” has
become quest for an “become quest for an “alternativealternative Jesus,” one more fitting to our Jesus,” one more fitting to our postmodern postmodern zeitgeistzeitgeist