Rome, Jews, and Christians

Rome, Jews, and Rome, Jews, and ChristiansChristians

Presented by:Presented by:Andrew Drenas, M.A.Andrew Drenas, M.A.

Rome, Jews, and Rome, Jews, and ChristiansChristians

Our AgendaOur Agenda

The JewsThe Jews Their Historical IdentityTheir Historical Identity The First-Century JewsThe First-Century Jews

The ChristiansThe Christians Jesus of Nazareth and the “Messianic Jewish” CommunityJesus of Nazareth and the “Messianic Jewish” Community

The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome Dealing with the JewsDealing with the Jews The Persecutions of ChristiansThe Persecutions of Christians

The GnosticsThe Gnostics What did they believe, anyway?What did they believe, anyway? The “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” ResponseThe “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” Response In Recent ScholarshipIn Recent Scholarship

The Roman World

The Jews – Their Historical Identity Ancient Israel

13th or 12th Cent. BCE – 586 BCE

The Exodus from Egypt Moses YHWH and the Shema

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” (Deut. 6:4)

The “Golden Age” United kingdom under David

and Solomon; the First Temple “Not-so-Golden Age”

The Kingdom divided (Israel vs. Judah)

The Babylonian ExileMoses and the Ten Commandments

The Jews – Their Historical Identity

Second-Temple Judaism Return to the Promised

Land under the Persians (539 BCE)

The Ptolemies and Seleucids (323-167 BCE) Hellenization – importation of

Greek culture Antiochus IV Epiphanes and

the “abomination of desolation” The Maccabean Revolt (167

BCE) 1 and 2 Maccabees Judas Maccabeus and Family Hanukkah (164 BCE) Jewish Independence

Mattathias Slaying the Apostate

The Jews – Their Historical Identity Second-Temple

Judaism The Hasmoneans (167-

63 BCE) Family of priest-kings Dynasty ends in power

struggle; Rome asked to intervene

Enter the Romans Pompey the Great (63

BCE) Palestine now occupied

by Rome

The Jews under Roman Occupation The Jewish religion tolerated

Religio licita (legal religion - exemption from pagan sacrifices)

Antiquity appreciated…but… An “obstinate” and “rebellious” people

Rigidly monotheistic (recall the Shema!) Romans very tolerant; Jews = exceedingly intolerant –

only one God, all others are false Nationalistic, even racist at times…

Revolts crushed Client-kings installed

The Herods

Broadly speaking, who were the Jews of the first century?

The First-Century Jews “The Big Four”

The Pharisees Prominent laymen, focus on the

synagogue and practical application of Torah

Opposed to Roman presence, but taught obedience to God’s law would result in deliverance

The Saducees Aristocratic, high-priestly, focus on

the Temple Supported Roman status quo Seen as corrupt No resurrection of the dead or

angels The Essenes

Apocalyptic (the end is near!) Withdraw from corrupt society and

the corrupt Temple system Qumran

The Zealots Get Rome out by force!

The First-Century Jews

The Second Temple


The Vast Majority of Jews (95%) Farmers, fishermen, merchants, tradesmen =

struggling to make ends meet Sought to obey major commandments of the

Torah and make the appropriate pilgrimages and sacrifices their faith required

Hebraic Jews vs. Hellenistic (Diaspora) Jews Major Jewish centers = Jerusalem (Hebraic) and

Alexandria (Hellenistic)


“Messianic Expectation” One Messiah…or two…or

none? Messiah = “anointed one,” a

kingly title Jewish “renewal movements”

The Essenes John the Baptist

“Messiah figures” crushed by the Romans, per Flavius Josephus Jewish Antiquities and Jewish

War

John the Baptist(c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE)

Josephus(c. 37 CE – 100)

The ChristiansThe Christians

“And when the day of Pentecost had come…there came from heaven aa noise like a violent rushing wind…and there appeared to them tonguesof fire…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1-4)

The ChristiansThe Christians Yeshua (Jesus) dmen Yeshua (Jesus) dmen

Nazareth Nazareth (c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE) (c. 6 BCE – c. 30 CE) – Itinerant preacher/healer/Itinerant preacher/healer/

prophet of the coming prophet of the coming “Kingdom of God”“Kingdom of God”

– Twelve apostles, other Twelve apostles, other disciples (Mary disciples (Mary Magdalene, et al.)Magdalene, et al.)

– Made messianic claims? Made messianic claims? (Palm Sunday, etc.)(Palm Sunday, etc.)

– Executed by Pontius Pilate Executed by Pontius Pilate by crucifixion (“This is the by crucifixion (“This is the King of the Jews…”)King of the Jews…”)

– Rose from the dead?Rose from the dead?– Earliest sources = Mark, Earliest sources = Mark,

Matthew, Luke, and John Matthew, Luke, and John (c. 70-90 CE)(c. 70-90 CE)

The ChristiansThe Christians The “Messianic Jewish” The “Messianic Jewish”

Community/ChristiansCommunity/Christians– Source = Acts of the Source = Acts of the

Apostles (c. 70-90 CE)Apostles (c. 70-90 CE)– Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)– Preaches “Gospel”Preaches “Gospel”– Paul of Tarsus and the Paul of Tarsus and the

“Gentile Mission”“Gentile Mission”– Christians at odds with Christians at odds with

“the Jews”“the Jews” Stoning of Stephen Stoning of Stephen

(Acts 7)(Acts 7) Disturbance in Rome Disturbance in Rome

(Suetonius, (Suetonius, ClaudiusClaudius 25.4)25.4)

Paul of Tarsus preaching at the Areopagus, Mars Hill, Athens (Acts 17:16-34)

The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome The JewsThe Jews

– Jewish War (66-70 CE)Jewish War (66-70 CE) Revocation of Jewish Revocation of Jewish

rights by Nero and raiding rights by Nero and raiding of Temple treasury = war!of Temple treasury = war!

Christians refused to be Christians refused to be involvedinvolved

Destruction of Jerusalem Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Titus in and the Temple by Titus in 70 CE70 CE

– Bar Kochba Revolt (132-35 Bar Kochba Revolt (132-35 CE) = Jewish last stand, a CE) = Jewish last stand, a failure…failure…

– Banned from Jerusalem = Banned from Jerusalem = Aeolia CapitolinaAeolia Capitolina

– Formation of Rabbinic Formation of Rabbinic JudaismJudaism

– Disappearance of Jewish Disappearance of Jewish Christianity Christianity

Titus (39-81 CE)

The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome

A testimony to the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple may still be found in Rome, in the Forum


Arch of Titus,c. 81 CE,Forum Romanum


The Spoils of Jerusalem, Arch of Titus, c. 81 CE


Triumph of Titus, Arch of Titus, c. 81 CE

The Fury of Rome The Fury of Rome

The Western Wall,“Wailing Wall,”Jerusalem

The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome The ChristiansThe Christians

– Not initially persecuted, but…Not initially persecuted, but…– Became more and more distinct from JudaismBecame more and more distinct from Judaism

Why persecute Why persecute themthem??– Seen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were Seen as a “novelty,” to which Romans were

opposedopposed– Christians met “secretly”Christians met “secretly”– Christians cannibals and incestuous?Christians cannibals and incestuous?– They obstinately refused to worship the emperorThey obstinately refused to worship the emperor– Persecuted intermittently from the reign of Nero Persecuted intermittently from the reign of Nero

(r. 54-68 CE) until Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE); (r. 54-68 CE) until Diocletian (r. 284-305 CE); thereafter granted toleration by Constantine the thereafter granted toleration by Constantine the Great (r. 306-37)Great (r. 306-37)

The Fury of RomeThe Fury of Rome MartyrdomMartyrdom

– Martyr = witnessMartyr = witness The Martyrdom of Blandina (d. The Martyrdom of Blandina (d.

177 CE)177 CE)– Ecclesiastical History Ecclesiastical History of of

Eusebius of Caesarea, V, Eusebius of Caesarea, V, chapter 1chapter 1

Suspended on a stake as if on Suspended on a stake as if on a cross – left to be eaten by a cross – left to be eaten by wild beastswild beasts

ImprisonedImprisoned Forced to watch her Christian Forced to watch her Christian

companions be martyredcompanions be martyred Attempted to make her swear Attempted to make her swear

to idolsto idols ScourgedScourged Sent to the roasting seatSent to the roasting seat Enmeshed in a net and gored Enmeshed in a net and gored

to death by a bullto death by a bull Remains burned; ashes tossed Remains burned; ashes tossed

into the Rhoneinto the Rhone

Blandina


Any questions, comments, or Any questions, comments, or concerns so far?concerns so far?

Changing gears…Changing gears…

The GnosticsThe Gnostics

““Gnosticism,” an alternative form of Christianity, Gnosticism,” an alternative form of Christianity, was in full force within the Roman Empire in the was in full force within the Roman Empire in the second century…second century…

Broadly speaking, who were the Gnostics, who Broadly speaking, who were the Gnostics, who have captured our imagination as a culture?have captured our imagination as a culture?

Why did “orthodox” Christians respond to Why did “orthodox” Christians respond to hostilely to them?hostilely to them?

What are the current interpretations of What are the current interpretations of Gnosticism out there in academia?Gnosticism out there in academia?


Major sources for Major sources for Gnosticism:Gnosticism: Nag Hammadi Nag Hammadi

scriptures, discovered scriptures, discovered in Egypt in 1945in Egypt in 1945 Gospels of Thomas, Gospels of Thomas,

Mary, the Egyptians, Mary, the Egyptians, etc.etc.

““Orthodox Orthodox heresiologists”heresiologists”

Gospel of JudasGospel of Judas

The Nag Hammadi Codices


Broadly, what did Gnostics Broadly, what did Gnostics ((gnosis gnosis = knowledge) = knowledge) believe?believe? CreationCreation

Result of a defect, an Result of a defect, an accidentaccident

Matter and physicality are Matter and physicality are inherently corrupt and evilinherently corrupt and evil

GodGod Creator god or Creator god or DemiurgeDemiurge

of the Hebrew Scriptures = of the Hebrew Scriptures = a rebel, fool, arrogant, a rebel, fool, arrogant, ignorant – a lesser godignorant – a lesser god

The FatherThe Father is un- is un-knowable, ineffable, but knowable, ineffable, but good; not the creatorgood; not the creator


ChristChrist Divine being, brings Divine being, brings

revelation of the revelation of the Father and salvationFather and salvation

May be distinct from May be distinct from historical Jesus historical Jesus (Docetism)(Docetism)

Granted secret Granted secret knowledge to special, knowledge to special, chosen discipleschosen disciples


SalvationSalvation Gnosis – Gnosis – mystical mystical

illumination of the illumination of the divine spark within the divine spark within the self; self-knowledgeself; self-knowledge

Salvation of the soul Salvation of the soul only, to return to the only, to return to the PleromaPleroma

Salvation from the Salvation from the body, the “prison,” and body, the “prison,” and mattermatter


Did you notice any of these themes in the Did you notice any of these themes in the reading for today?reading for today?

The GnosticsThe Gnostics Their “Orthodox” OpponentsTheir “Orthodox” Opponents

Ignatius, Justin, Ignatius, Justin, IrenaeusIrenaeus, , Tertullian, EpiphaniusTertullian, Epiphanius

Responses:Responses: Creation is inherently goodCreation is inherently good One God = the Father, creator One God = the Father, creator

of all thingsof all things One Lord, Jesus Christ, who One Lord, Jesus Christ, who

was incarnate and crucified was incarnate and crucified under Pontius Pilate to save under Pontius Pilate to save humanity from its sinshumanity from its sins

Salvation of the Salvation of the body/resurrection of the deadbody/resurrection of the dead

Gnostic “heresy” is to be Gnostic “heresy” is to be fervently rejected and refutedfervently rejected and refuted

Irenaeus’s Irenaeus’s Against HeresiesAgainst Heresies

Irenaeus of Lyons, c. 120/40 – 200-03 CE


So what about in academia?So what about in academia? Spectrum of interpretations…Spectrum of interpretations… Simplistic = “New School” and “Conservatives”Simplistic = “New School” and “Conservatives”

The GnosticsThe Gnostics The “New School”The “New School”

Proponents:Proponents: Elaine Pagels (Princeton), Elaine Pagels (Princeton),

Karen King (Harvard), Bart Karen King (Harvard), Bart Ehrman (North Carolina – Ehrman (North Carolina – Chapel Hill), et al.Chapel Hill), et al.

Claims:Claims: Gnostic Christianity and Gnostic Christianity and

“Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” “Orthodox/Proto-Orthodox” Christianity two equally valid, Christianity two equally valid, alternative claims to authorityalternative claims to authority

Diversity!Diversity! Anti-hierarchical Gnosticism Anti-hierarchical Gnosticism

suppressed by intolerant suppressed by intolerant orthodox bishops for political orthodox bishops for political and gender-related reasons, and gender-related reasons, besides theologicalbesides theological

ThomasThomas = early = early

The GnosticsThe Gnostics The “Conservatives”The “Conservatives”

Proponents:Proponents: N.T. Wright (Cambridge/Oxford, N.T. Wright (Cambridge/Oxford,

Bishop of Durham), Darrell L. Bishop of Durham), Darrell L. Bock (Dallas Theological Bock (Dallas Theological Seminary), et al.Seminary), et al.

Claims:Claims: 4 “Orthodox” Gospels = first and 4 “Orthodox” Gospels = first and

more historically accuratemore historically accurate Gnostic Gospels = later, not Gnostic Gospels = later, not

connected to “authentic” Jesus connected to “authentic” Jesus traditiontradition

““Orthodox” leaders not craving Orthodox” leaders not craving power and control, but seeking to power and control, but seeking to hold their communities together in hold their communities together in the face of intense persecutionthe face of intense persecution

ThomasThomas = later = later Quest for “historical Jesus” has Quest for “historical Jesus” has

become quest for an “become quest for an “alternativealternative Jesus,” one more fitting to our Jesus,” one more fitting to our postmodern postmodern zeitgeistzeitgeist

Any questions, thoughts, comments, Any questions, thoughts, comments, or observations?or observations?

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Rome, Jews, and Christians