An Aspiring Christianity and a Respiring Roman Empire

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An Aspiring Christianityand a Respiring Roman
Empire
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Christianity and the Roman Empire
How did Christianity become dominant A.
Conversions and Believers Martyrs, Message, and
Accomodating Philosophies B. Seeking Relief from
Invaders State of the Empire by the turn of the
5th Century Patronage of Emperors Constantin
e and Theodosius Orthodoxy and Heresy A. You
say begotten and I say created The Arianism
Controversy B. the sin that dwells in me
Revelations of Augustine C. Imitating Christ and
the ascetic life
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Spread of Christianity by 4th century
lt10,000 by A.D. 100 200,000 by A.D. 200 Still
only .3 of total pop in Roman Empire of 60
million
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How did Christianity become dominant in the Roman
Empire?

• Context of the Emperors and their Empire
• Christianitys appeal to Gentilescompassion,
  classlessness, appeal to women, and personal
  salvation
• There is no longer slave or free, there is no
  longer male and female for all of you are one in
  Christ Jesus (Galatians 328)
• Appeal to Women There is no longer slave or
  free, there is no longer male and female for all
  of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 328)

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Diocletians reform of the Empire
Diocletian (284-305) and the Tetrarchy
2 Augusti Diocletian Maximian 2
Caesars Constantius Galerius
Civil war reigns by 305
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Constantine triumphant in 312, his personal
conversion
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Ascendant Christianity
Constantine (303337) 313 Edict of
Milantoleration of Christianity (not made state
religion), return of church property 321 Sunday
as Lords Day Building of Churches (St. Peters,
first St. Sophia) Theodosius (379395) 391
Christianity becomes state religion, all others
forbidden 391 Pagan Worship Banned
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Basilica of Constantine ca. 307
Influence of Public baths
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Old St. Peters begun as early as 319
From a 1619 sketch copying earlier drawings
Built directly over grave of Peter
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Spread of Christianity
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Orthodoxy and Heresy A. You say begotten and
I say created The Arianism Controversy B.
the sin that dwells in me Revelations of
Augustine (354-430) C. Imitating Christ and
the Ascetic Route D. The validity of the
Sacraments Donatism and the Sacred Books
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The Problems of Organizing the Church Orthodoxy
and Heresy
What is the controversy?

• Arius, Libyan priest (250-336)
• There was a time when He was not
• the Son had a beginning, but God is without
  beginning
• For Arius, only God the Father was eternal

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Arian Beliefs

• There was a time when He was not
• The Son had a beginning, but God is without
  beginning
• For Arius, only God the Father was eternal
• Why is this a problem?
• Christological controversies
• Problem of Christs divinity and humanity
• Issue of polytheism

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What was Heard on the street
when you ask for your change from a shopkeeper,
he harangues you about the begotten and the
unbegotten. If you inquire how much bread costs,
the reply is that the Father is superior and the
Son inferior.
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What is the solution?
Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea in 325
Establishes role of the Church to decide
orthodoxy Supremacy of bishops (episcopacy)
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Creed of Nicaea (325)
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Establishing Orthodoxy

• Augustine (354-430)
• Church Fathers patristic writers
• After the sack of Rome
• City of God (413-426)
• Proper role of Secular Authority
• The first tell-all book
• AugustinesConfessions

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Augustines Confessions
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What are the solutions for Augustine?

• After the Vandals sack Rome in 410, he writes
  City of God
• Try to attain spiritual purity
• Secular law required because
• humans imperfect.
• Be obedient to authority
• Divine purpose only known to God

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Augustines Craftsman
To be truthful, I myself fail to understand why
God created mice and frogs, flies and worms.
Nevertheless I recognize that each of these
creatures is beautiful in its own way. For when
I contemplate the body and limbs of any living
creature, where do I not find proportion, number,
and order exhibiting the unity of concord? Where
one discovers proportion, number and order, one
should look for the craftsman.
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Ascetics and the Monastic Life

• Monk Greek for single, solitary
• Asceticism not new but Christians make it popular
• Life of denial imitating Christs sufferings
• Imitatio Christi
• A new martyrdom
• Develops into living communities
• Two types hermits and communal
• St. Antony as model for ascetics

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Life of St. Antony
Who is St. Antony? Biography written by
Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. One of the
first saints lives. Why does he become a
monk? What words inspire him to become a
monk? What does he then do?
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Life of St. Antony
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St. Antony-
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St. Antony
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The Reward
The sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory to come that
shall be revealed to us. (Rom 818)
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Spread of Christianity