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Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity. CH 1000 – History of Christianity Dieter Mitternacht. The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE. Rome. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity. CH 1000 – History of Christianity Dieter Mitternacht. The Roman Empire - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Roman EmpireLargest extension, around 116 CE
Rome
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Rome
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
The Roman EmpireLargest extension, around 116 CE
1st century
2nd century
Boundary of Roman Empire 1st & 2nd CE.
Spread of Christianity, 1st and 2nd centuries
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Spread of Christianity, until 600 CE
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Nero54—68
Vespasian69—79
Titus79—81
Hadrian117—138
Constantine306—337
Important Roman emperors
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Arch of Constantine
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Arch of Titus
30s Ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesusc. 47-57 Missionary travels of Paul48 Council of Jerusalem62 James the Just, "the Lord's Brother," martyred64 Emperor Nero of Rome persecutes Christians as cause of the Great Firec. 60s Peter, Paul and many others martyred during Nero's reign
The Apostolic Period, some major dates
0 500 1000 1500 2000100
NT period Reformation
Fall of West Rome, 476
Fall of EastRome, 1453
Edict of Milan, 313
Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period
East – West Schism, 1054
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
James
Peter
Paul
From Apostolic to Sub-Apostolic Period, the 60s
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Rome on Fire, 64 CEArtistic reconstruction
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
Nero’s tourchesHenryk Siemiradzki (1843-1902)
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
To the ColloseumHenryk Siemiradzki (1843-1902)
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
70 Jewish revolt against Rome fails; Jerusalem sacked, Temple destroyed70 + Center of Christianity shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria, &
Rome81-96 Emperor Domitian styles himself as "Master and God" c. 96 First epistle of Clement of Rome, widely read and probably the oldest Christian
epistle in existence outside of the NT.98-117 Sporadic persecutions of Christians by Emperor Trajan, Martyrdom of Ignatius,
Bishop of Antioch, in Rome (c.110)
The Sub-Apostolic Period , some major dates
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
0 500 1000 1500 2000100
NT period Reformation
Fall of West Rome, 476
Fall of EastRome, 1453
Edict of Milan, 313
Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period
East – West Schism, 1054
c. 112 Pliny, the younger, to Emperor Trajan on how to deal with Christians, Early Christian Worship
135 Second Jewish revolt, destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Hadrian140s Marcion, Valentius and Justin Martyr, influential Christian leaders who oppose
each other in Rome, beginning or Proto-orthodoxyc. 156 Martydom of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna161-180 Widespread Persecutions of Christians, martyrdom of Justin Martyr in Rome
(168)177 Irenaeus becomes Bishop of Lyons, Massacre of Christians in Lyon
Post-Apostolic period
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity
0 500 1000 1500 2000100
Reformation
Fall of West Rome, 476
Fall of EastRome, 1453
Edict of Milan, 313
East – West Schism, 1054
NT periodEarly Christianity
193-211 Septimus Severus, emperor of Rome, persecution of Christians, martyrdom of Irenaeus of Lyons, Perpetua, Felicitas, and their companions
c. 215 Tertullian becomes a Montanist, Mani, founder of Manichaeism248 Origen writes “Against Celsus” in Palestine 249-251 Persecution under emperor Decius, Growing controversy between Carthage and
Rome about treatment of returning apostate Christians251 Council of Carthage with Cyprian in a leading role253-260 Emperors Valerian and Gallienus order everyone to sacrifice to Roman gods;
Origen dies in Tyre from wounds suffered from torture (254); Cyprian of Carthage martyred (258)
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity
Early Christianity
0 500 1000 1500 2000100
Reformation
Fall of West Rome, 476
Fall of EastRome, 1453
Edict of Milan, 313
East – West Schism, 1054
Post-Apostolic period
269 Gallenius is sole emperor, Paul of Samosata condemned at Antioch303-313 The Great Persecution under emperor Diocletian310 Armenia becomes the first Christian state312, Oct 28th Constantine wins the Battle at the Milvian Bridge against Maxentius 313 Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity, official religion of the Empire320s Eusebius writes History of the Church, Life of Constantine, The Martyrs of
Palestine330 Consecration of Constantinople as the new capital
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity
Early Christianity
0 500 1000 1500 2000100
Reformation
Fall of West Rome, 476
Fall of EastRome, 1453
Edict of Milan, 313
East – West Schism, 1054
Post-Apostolic period
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early ChristianityEusebius gives an account of Constantine’s vision that he had heard from the emperor himself: Constantine with his army was marching, when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "Εν Τούτῳ Νίκα“ (Latin "in hoc signo vinces," "In this sign,[you shall] conquer”). In the following night he had a dream in which Christ told him that he should use the sign against his enemies. Constantine then put the Chi-Rho sign on his standard.
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity
Centers founded by Paul
Spread of Christianity, 300 to 800 CE
The Agreement at Chalcedon (451) on the
Rule of the Church
Rome New Rome(Constantinople)
Jerusalem
AntiochAlexandriaRome and Constantinople governed east and west.
Rome was granted priority, but regarded in the East as the first among equals.
Following those two in prestige and influence were Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.
Constantinople330 CE
Damascus
Jerusalem
AntiochEphesus
Alexandria
Carthage
Rome
Corinth
Thessalonica
Cyprus
Jerusalem
AntiochEphesus
Rome
Alexandria
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity
I. Diverse Beginnings1. A variety of texts and contexts
• not a book but a collection of writings• more than 10 different authors from different places and with a wide
range of situational objectives• a common experience with different interpretations in different
contexts• new expressions in new ethnic, ideological and political conditions• different types of literature
2. A variety of groupings and factions• “Jewish” Jesus-followers• Pauline Christians• Johannine Christians• Gnosticizing types of Christianity• a host of other groups that we know too little about to label them
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
I. Diverse Beginnings3. A variety of traditions and ideas
Imaginary meeting in Jerusalem in the year 100a Jewish teacher from Alexandria, a freed slave from Rome, a philosopher from Athens, a craftsman from Ephesus, a farmer from Edessa, a merchant from Cyprus and a scribe from Nazareth• source texts• religious heritage• views of Jesus• ethical obligation
4. Comparison with the beginnings of IslamOrganization – Mohammed YES Jesus NO
Writings by the founder – Mohammed YES Jesus NO Affirmation of religious heritage – Mohammed NO Jesus YES
Access to a finalized body of writings – Muslims YES Christians NOConsequence: Diverse expression among Christian groupsInteraction with different religious and cultural traditionsResult: potential for conflict and disagreementpotential for openness and adaptability
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
II. Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization1. Emergence of a majority movement
Within a short period of time, an interconnected movement with• a widely accepted “Christian” tradition • a common body of scripture• a similar liturgy and community life• a fairly unified interpretation of Christian faith • a cohesive organizational structure
2. An anachronistic misconception
3. Ecclesial power structures are secondaryThe office of the pope of Rome: result not precondition of unity
• before Constantine – no centralized ecclesiastical power structure • “after” Constantine – demands for unity from political and imperial quarters • the Caesars summoned the Councils, not the bishops
4. Church leaders and bishops support diversityThe agenda of church leaders and bishops was quite contrary to that. They wanted
• to defend their own particular and local distinctiveness• to preserve their different theological tradition• to guard their independence
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity
II. Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization1. Emergence of a majority movement2. An anachronistic misconception 3. Ecclesial power structures are secondary4. Church leaders and bishops support diversity
5. The Emperor recognizes the potential of an Empire religion
6. Conclusion:The emerging organized and hierarchical uniformity of Christianity
• was not due to some intrigues in the dark corridors of the Roman Church • was due to the political (imperial) demand for unity, and the legal ratification of
the office of bishop
It was the emperor of the Roman Empire who initiated and enforced an increasingly unified organization and regulation of church hierarchy.
CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht
Early Christianity – Diversity and UnityIII. Ecclesial networking and commonality
The bishops that came to Nicaea • read same texts, tell same stories• demand confession in a triune God from those who were to be baptized• similar views on church leadership, similar barriers towards Gentiles• similar rules for live, similar sanctions against those who brake the rules
1. Traveling ministries and letter writingPaul, Irenaeus, Origen, Clement of A., Cyprianus, Ignatius, Didache
2. Mutual consultation3. Conflict management4. Universal recognition5. Small numbers, but…
• Roman Empire = 40 to 60 milion people around the year 300 CE• Christians = 8 to 10% of the population, i.e. approx. 4 to 5 million• dispersed over the whole Empire, in independent local communities
6. ConclusionPolitical power was negligible, yet the Christians attracted the emperor’s attention through their ability be united in diversity