Roman Religion and Christianity

Roman Religion and Christianity

Overview of Christianity Mini-Unit

• Context for Christianity: Paganism and Judaism• Life of Jesus• Paul of Tarsus• Spread of Christianity• Persecution• Constantine

Common Traits of Mediterranean Religion

• Polytheistic• Focused on the Present• Observance: Prayer/Sacrifice• Tolerant

Judaism

• Similarities to Paganism• Differences from Paganism

– Monotheism– Jewish Law

• Variation

Life of Jesus: Historical Challenges

• Inaccessibility of ancient people• Early Pagan Sources


• Inaccessibility of ancient people• Early Pagan Sources• Early Jewish Sources

– Josephus “… brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others”


• Inaccessibility of ancient people• Early Pagan Sources• Early Jewish Sources• Christian Sources and their Challenges


• Inaccessibility of ancient people• Early Pagan Sources• Early Jewish Sources• Christian Sources• Biblical Scholars look for…

Life of Jesus

• Who was he?

Life of Jesus

• Who was he?• Jesus’ Teachings

– Salvation and Forgiveness

Life of Jesus


– Salvation/Forgiveness– Apocalypticism– Political?– Rooted in Judaism

Life of Jesus


– Salvation/Forgiveness– Apocalypticism– Political?– Rooted in Judaism

• Jesus’ Death and Crucifixion

Life of Jesus


– Stories– Apocalypticism– Political?– Rooted in Judaism

• Jesus’ Death and Crucifixion• Resurrection

Paul of Tarsus

• Influence• Background: From Persecutor to Apostle

Caravaggio (1573-1610), The Conversion of St. Paul on the way to Damascus.

Paul of Tarsus

• Influence• Background: From Persecutor to Apostle• Ideas of Paul

– The Messiah– Jewish Law– Spreading to Gentiles

Paul, Romans 2:25-29

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Paul of Tarsus



Paul of Tarsus


– The Messiah– Jewish Law– Gentiles

• Spreading Faith– Message to Pagans– Paul’s Strategy

Paul of Tarsus



• Spreading Faith– Message to Pagans– Paul’s Strategy

• Results

Spread of Christianity• How did Jesus’ band of lower-class Jewish followers manage

to create a world religion that commanded respect of highest Roman officials in just 300 years?

• Grassroots Growth– Grows roughly 40% every decade– 5% of Empire by Constantine

Spread of Christianity

• Grassroots Growth• But Why?

– Speaking to Pagans• Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise?• In Pagan Terms• Exclusivity




– Roman Context




– Roman Context• Polit/Econ Context




– Roman Context• Polit/Econ Context• Infrastructure




– Roman Context• Polit/Econ Context• Infrastructure • Persecution and Tolerance




– Roman Context• Polit/Econ Context• Infrastructure • Persecution and Tolerance• Constantine



– Speaking to Pagans– Roman Context

• Other Themes– Sense of Community– Redemption and Salvation– Role of Women– Diversity and Orthodoxy

Persecution

• Why Were Christians Persecuted?

Persecution

• Why Were Christians Persecuted?– Refusal to Worship

“They think the Christians the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its water over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightway the cry is ‘Away with the Christians to the Lion.’” Tertullian, Christian apologist

Persecution

• Why Were Christians Persecuted?– Refusal to Worship– Suspicious Behavior

Persecution


• Extent of Persecution– Local, Sporadic, Limited– Mostly Grassroots

THE EMPEROR TRAJAN'S INSTRUCTIONS TO PLINY THE YOUNGER CONCERNING TREATMENT OF THE CHRISTIANS

Around 100 CE the emperor Trajan received a letter from Pliny the Younger, his governor in Asia Minor, describing his treatment of the growing sect of Christians. After describing how he only executed them after giving them numerous chances to renounce their faith and worship the emperor, he asks Trajan for further instructions on how he should deal with this problem. “The method you have pursued my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is eminently proper...No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced & found guilty they must be punished; but where the accused party denies that he is a Christian, & gives proof...by adoring our gods, he shall be pardoned...Information without the accusers name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone."

Persecution


• Extent of Persecution– Local, Sporadic, Limited– Mostly Grassroots

• Effects of Persecution– “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God

which is God’s.”– Helps spread?

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine• Conversion of Constantine (Milvian Bridge, 312)

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine• Conversion of Constantine (Milvian Bridge, 312)• Why?

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine• Conversion of Constantine• Increasing Support of Christianity

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine• Conversion of Constantine• Increasing Support of Christianity• Effects

– Growth ofChristianity– Political Impact

Constantine

• Christianity on Eve of Constantine• Conversion of Constantine• Increasing Support of Christianity• Effects

– Growth of Christianity– Political Impact

• Long-Term– Christianity in Europe– Constantinople

Relation to Jewish Texts

• Shedding Jewish Ideas• Keeping Old Testament• Conflict

Documents

Roman Religion and Christianity