The Beginnings of
the Christian Tradition
Jesus of
Christianity in the First Century
§ The Acts of the Apostles: Jews & Gentiles in the Christian Church
§ Paul: The Letters of Paul vs. the Paul of Acts
1. The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem (ca. 48)
2. Paul’s Observance of the Law
3. Paul’s Teaching on “Pagan” Religions
§ The Churches of the Pauline Mission: The Church at Corinth
Development of the Institutional Church
§ Leadership by Itinerant Prophets: Sayings, Paul (ca. 50-70)
§ The Changing Perspectives of the Settled Communities: The Synoptic Gospels (ca. 70-90)
§ Transfer from Itinerant to Local Leadership: 3 John & The Didache (ca. 90-100)
§ The Emergence of the Bishop: 1 Clement (95) & Ignatius of Antioch (98-117)
§ Apostolic Succession
§ Bishops, Presbyters (Elders), & Deacons
§ The Monarchical Episcopate
Heresy &
Orthodoxy: The Diversity of Early Christianity
The Gospel of Thomas
§ Nag Hammadi Library—copied ca. 350; discovered 1945
§ Thomas very early: Egyptian fragments from 200
§ Originated probably in Edessa: between 50-150, probably ca. 100
§ Judas Didymus Thomas
§ Synoptic Problem and “Q”
§ Canonical Sayings Trad—e.g.: 9,10, 20, 26, 31, 47, 63, 64, 65, 76, 89, 95, 96, 109—many considered more “authentic”
Marcion of Sinope (d. 160)
§ Ca. 135 moves to Rome: wrote The Contradictions
§ Two Gods: God of Hebrew Bible/Jews & God of Jesus/New Testament/Christians
§ Canon=only Luke/Acts & 10 Pauline letters
§ Asceticism, Docetism
Gnosticism (see handout)
· Two Primary Characteristics:
1. Salvation by Knowledge
2. Creation by a “second god”: the “Demiurge”; “Craftsman”
· Combination of Platonic and Judeo-Christian mythology
The NT Canon
§ Athanasius: 367
§ Ca 300:
|
Almost Everyone Agrees On: |
Most Agree On But Disputed: |
Most Disagree On: |
|
a. Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn, Acts b. Paul-except Pastorals c. 1 Jn |
a. 2 & 3 Jn b. Hebrews c. James & Jude d. Pastorals |
a. Revelation b. Didache c. 1 Clement |
§ Judaism and the Empire
§ Nero’s Persecution (64-68): Rome
§ The Roman Imperial Cult
§ Non-Confrontation: Correspondence of Pliny & Trajan (ca. 111); Minucius Fundanus & Hadrian (ca. 124)
§ The End of the “Pax Romana”: Sporadic, Local Persecutions (ca. 170-200)
The Christian Response: The Apologists
§ Defending Christianity against Criticism
§ Justin Martyr (100-165): 1st Apology (155); 2nd Apology (155-60)
§ Defense of Christianity: Christians=Good, Moral Citizens; Christianity=Ancient
§ Description of Worship
§ Theology of the Logos (“The Word”)
§
Docetism: no real body; opposed by Ignatius
§
The Logos: a second “god”; Justin Martyr
§ Adoptionism: Jesus an especially good human; God adopts him
§ Monarchianism/Modalism: Trinity=3 modes of the Father’s existence; Patripassionism
Montanism
§
Response to institutional
church, sought to restore: 1) charismatic leadership; 2)belief in Christ's immanent return (the “Parousia”)
§ Montanus: Bishop of Phyrgia (155-70); Maximilla & Prisca
§ Mostly rural, except
§
§ “I believe because it is absurd”
§ “What has
§ Became a Montanist, ca. 207
Early Proto-orthodox Theology
Irenaeus of
§ 177—bishop; Against Heresies
§ salvation history; “recapitulation of the human race”
§ “If the word is made a human being, it is that all human beings might become gods”; deification
Clement of
§
§ Exhortation to the Greeks; The Instructor (Paedagogus); The Miscellanies (The Stromateis)
(Novatians, Cyprian of
Origen of
Alexandria (185-253): Life and Thought
§ Eusebius: ca. 300 writes "biography" in his Church History
§ Catachetical school
§ Persecution of 202-father martyred; 203 becomes head of catachetical school
§ Conflict w/ Bishop Demetrius: exile to
§ Theology: 1) Cosmology; 2) Soteriology (Universalism)
§ Very influential, but condemned: 553
Origen and the Bible
§ Birth of Biblical Criticism: Hexapla; Letter to the Hebrews
§
Allegorical Interpretation:
Philo of
§
Paul uses allegory to read
Scripture-Gal. 4.24; “Spirit and the Letter” of the Law-2 Cor
3
§
Things in the story stand
for something else—a “hidden” story that is more important than the surface
meaning
§
Explains difficulties
between Hebrew Bible and NT
§
Finds meaning in mundane
passages: all passages purposfully inspired
§
Three levels of meaning: 1) Literal; 2) Moral; 3) Spiritual (last
2=allegorical)
§
Example: Song of Songs
Imperial Persecution and the Problem of the “Lapsed”
§ The Decian Persecution: Emperor Decius (249-51)—Required “libellus”: a certificate
§ The Problem of the Lapsed: separate churches in
§ Diocletian (284-305) divides empire: 2 Augusti, 2 Caesars
§ 295: Galerius (a Caesar) began persecuting Christians: issue=military service
§ 303: Galerius convinced Diocletian to issue edicts against Christians--begins last & greatest persecution
§ Donatists—311 – Caecilian; Donatus; “traditor/traditores”; 400-Augustine-baptism; till 700
Rise of
§ 305: Augusti step down; Caesars (Galerius & Constantine's father) take over as Augusti
§ 306:
§ Begins Civil War-next 18
§ 313: Edict of
§ 324:
§ 337: