The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE Rome CH 1000 – History of Christianity Dieter Mitternacht Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity

The Roman EmpireLargest extension, around 116 CE

Rome

CH 1000 – History of ChristianityDieter Mitternacht

Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity

Rome



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



Spread of Christianity, until 600 CE



Nero54—68

Vespasian69—79

Titus79—81

Hadrian117—138

Constantine306—337

Important Roman emperors



Arch of Constantine



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



James

Peter

Paul

From Apostolic to Sub-Apostolic Period, the 60s



Rome on Fire, 64 CEArtistic reconstruction



Nero’s tourchesHenryk Siemiradzki (1843-1902)



To the ColloseumHenryk Siemiradzki (1843-1902)





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



0 500 1000 1500 2000100

NT period Reformation



Edict of Milan, 313

Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period


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


Early Christianity

0 500 1000 1500 2000100

Reformation



Edict of Milan, 313


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)


Early Christianity

Early Christianity

0 500 1000 1500 2000100

Reformation



Edict of Milan, 313



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


Early Christianity

Early Christianity

0 500 1000 1500 2000100

Reformation



Edict of Milan, 313




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.


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


Early Christianity

I. Diverse Beginnings

1. 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



I. Diverse Beginnings

3. A variety of traditions and ideasImaginary 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





II. Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization

1. Emergence of a majority movementWithin 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



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.



III. Ecclesial networking and commonalityThe 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

Documents

The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE Rome CH 1000 – History of Christianity Dieter Mitternacht Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity