The Church in the Early Christian Centuries (pp. 8-66)

SECTION 1

Growth and Persecution in Apostolic Times (pp. 35-50)

SECTION 1, PART 3

Introduction (p. 35)• Christian versus Roman view point on worship• Tension between the two viewpoints led to persecution and even martyrdom• The Church not only survived this threat but thrived• “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity” – Tertullian• Seed of Christianity was planted and spread during Apostolic Times

• Four Articles• (A. 7) Persecution and Progress• (A. 8) Early Christian Worship• (A. 9) The Early Apologists• (A. 10) Authority in the Church

Article 7: Persecution and Progress (pp. 36-39)• Paul and Apostles spread Christianity throughout the known

world• Quick growth due to hard work and guidance of the Holy

Spirit• Christian message threatened two established

religious/political orders of the time• Roman—unity through worship of Emperor and many gods• Jewish—unity through the Law and worship of Yahweh;

survival through appeasing the Romans• Jews under Roman occupation had received an exemption• Christianity had not as it emerged as a distinct religion from

Judaism• Problem was exacerbated by the declining state of the

Roman Empire• Result was waves of persecution and even martyrdom• Define martyrdom and apostacy

• Martyrologies might seem like legends but also attested to by the Jewish historian Josephus and Roman authors such as Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny

Article 7: Persecution and Progress cont. (pp. 36-39)

• Christians were accused of being atheistic, subversive, cannibalistic• Christians were also blamed for the decline of the Roman empire and natural disasters • Extent of persecution depended on the Emperor• Nero—fire of 64 a.d. in Rome; Sts. Peter and Paul and others

scapegoats• Domitian (81-96) and Trajan (98-117)—punish by death but

not seek out• Hadrian (117-138)—respite in between waves until Marcus

Aurelius (161-180) began again• Septimus Severus (193-211)—especially brutal for Jews and

Christians to establish a single religion; Sts. Perpetua, Felicity, and Ireneaus• Decius (249-251)—required written certificate of sacrifice• Diocletian (284-305)—last and worst; active persecution;

confiscate property, hard labor and death

Article 7: Persecution and Progress cont. (pp. 36-39)

• Tertullian—”The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity”• The courage and conviction or Christians, especially martyrs, won hearts• A faith worth dying for must be true• Christian love for the marginalized stood in stark contrast to

Roman cruelty• The basic goodness of Christian morality appealed to intellectuals

who sought philosophical value

• Practical aides to the spreading of Christianity• Jewish synagogues and the Gentile audiences that surrounded them• Common language(s) and culture• Safe and efficient travel by road and sea• Pax Romana from 0-200 a.d.

Homework•HW 1.3; p. 50, 1-2

•Read pp. 39-46 (AA. 8-9)

Article 8: Early Christian Worship (pp. 39-42)• When and where did first century Christians worship; why• How did this differ from Jewish worship of the time• What is the heart of Christian worship from the very beginning• What is the etymology of the English word Church• What does this reveal about its deepest and secondary meanings

• What two part structure has the liturgy always been divided into• What makes up the liturgy of the word• I thought the NT did not exist yet

• What does St. Justin Martyr have to say about the Liturgy of the Word

• What comprises the liturgy of the Eucharist• What is the etymology of the word Eucharist

• Who was considered part of the early Church community

• Has the collection in between the two liturgies of the mass been added in modern times; why or why not• What is the Didache; what does it teach about the Eucharist• In conclusion, how does modern Christian worship compare to

ancient

Article 9: The Early Apologists (pp. 43-46)

•What is an apologist; the etymology of apology•What two audiences did the early Christian apologists have•What two purposes did they have•Who were the most famous early Christian apologists•When did the apologists live and work

• St. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 a.d.)• Second bishop of Antioch after Peter• Arrested and taken to Rome and fed to lions•Wrote seven letters along the way• Remain faithful to bishop and apostolic teaching•Martyrdom is a Eucharistic connection to Jesus

Article 9: The Early Apologists cont. (pp. 43-46)• Saint Justin Martyr (100-165 a.d.)• Samarian gentile convert at the age of 30 to Christianity

• Why do we know so much about him

• What are his famous works

• What did he convert from

• For what two reasons did he convert

• How did his life end

• St. Irenaeus (130-200 a.d.)• Born in Smyrna, Asia Minor and studied for the priesthood in Rome

• Served in Lyons, Gaul before becoming its 2nd bishop as Pothinus was martyred

• Wrote Against Heresies to combat Gnosticism• What is gnosticism and what was his method in combating it

• What other problem of the time did he help settle; how

• Where can his tomb be found

• What do we know about Tertullian (160-220 a.d.)• Why is he not considered a saint or apologist or father of the

Church in the West

Homework•HW 1.3; p. 50, 3-5

•Read pp. 46-50 (A. 10)

Article 10: Authority in the Church (pp. 46-50)• The Church is a community of faith, hope, and charity that exists

in the world as a visible organization

• Every visible organization needs a leadership structure

• The Church accomplishes its mission depending on how well its leaders listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit

• Most of us have a negative notion of authority--environment

• Try to mold that by looking at early Church leadership

• St. Peter—the first Pope (etymology)

• Early Christians knew from personal experience and oral tradition of Peter’s authority among the Apostles given to him by Jesus

• Later this tradition was written down in Mt. 16 and supported by many stories in the Gospels and Acts of The Apostles

• Universal source of church unity and authority through the apostles/bishops

• Power associated Rome because of city’s importance—seat (sedes) of Peter

• Survived Constantine but one exception

• Head of the college of bishops, Vicar of Christ, and supreme pastor

Article 10: Authority in the Church cont. (pp. 46-50)

• Timothy—an early Church bishop• Learn much about Timothy from Paul’s first and second letter to

him

• Written about 100 a.d.? to instruct members of Church leadership?• No seminaries—learned from family and from apostles

• Ordained by St. Paul through laying on of hands (Holy Orders)

• Organizational structure formed in early 2nd century as Church grew• Episkopos—bishops who pastored through overseeing; present in the 1st

century

• Presbyters—priests who were elders in the community and assisted the bishops

• Diakonia—deacons who assisted the bishops with corporal; present in the 1st century

• Stephen and 6 others (Acts 6)

• Assumed into presbyterate as it grew until Vatican II

• The roles of bishops (episkopos) and priests (presbyters--elders)• Share in the mission of Christ—sanctify, teach, pastor

• Act “in persona Christie”—with the power of Christ

• Bishop has full share as successor to apostles; priest only share; deacon only assists the Body of Christ, no power of headship

• Bishop must be in communion with pope to share power

Homework•HW 1.3; p. 50, 6-7

•Study for the 1.3 Quiz tomorrow (pp. 35-50 ; AA. 7-10)

•Make sure the 1.3 HW is ready to turn in tomorrow (p. 50; 1-7)