CLAS / HIST 4091 / 5091. The Roman Empire

Lecture 20. The Rise of Christianity

I. The Life of Christ

-c.4 BC to c. AD 33 (Matthew 2:1)

-Begins ministry when 30 yrs old

-Radical Judaism; the “New Covenant”; “King of the Jews”

-Nicene Creed

II. A Jewish Sect

-Judaizers vs. Hellenists

James the brother of Jesus; Judaizers v. Hellenists; Destruction of Jerusalem AD 70 and 135 (the “Diaspora”)

III. Mission to the Gentiles

A. Saul of Tarsus = St. Paul: persecutes Christians; conversion

-Mission to Syria, Asia, Greece (45-65) (Jews and Gentiles)

-Message = Salvation through faith and divine grace, not ritual

B. Execution (AD 65 = Neronian Persecution)

C. Break with Judaism after AD 70: Gospel of Mark; Marcionites

IV. Internal Conflict

A. Variety of Christianities: variety of communities; no central leader; originally no “Canon” of the bible (until 170 AD)

Still some coherence: simple message; communication; leading churches (Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Rome)

B. Schism: (“tear” = willful separation); e.g. Donatist Church in N Africa (c. 303-411)

C. Heresy (“choice” = separation based on doctrine)

-Eschatology (predictions as to how the world will

end); Montanists in Phrygia from c. 170

-Christology (debates as to the nature of Christ);

Arianism

V. Reactions in the Empire

A. Openness: Eusebius – History of the Church 2.2

B. Apology

A. Apologia (explanation / defense): charges of incest, promiscuity, orgies, cannibalism

C. Defenders of the faith:

-Justin Apologies: attacks traditional paganism / pagan philosophy

-Eusebius Chronicle: Christianity is the oldest, truest religion

-Orosius: Refutation of Pagans after sack of Rome

(410); Christ was born into an empire of peace

D. Persecution

-Popular Persecution: common in first two centuries;

e.g. Lyon

-Imperial Persecution: Decius (249-51); Valerian

(257); Diocletian et al. (301-311)

VII. Conversion

A. Imperial shift: Constantine (311 Edict of Milan)

B. Popular Shift: Firmicus Maternus Mathesis Astrology) and On the Error of Profane Religions

C. Power and Authority: Ambrose and Theodosius in 391