Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture

1. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture

2. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture

3. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian

4. “What then has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What does the academy to do with the church? What have heretics to do with Christians? ...Away with those who produce a Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic Christianity. We have no need of speculation after [we have] Jesus Christ, nor of inquisitiveness after [we have] the gospel!” - Tertullian

5. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria

6. “For not only for the Hebrews and those subject to the law...is it right to become a Jew, but also a Greek for the Greeks, that we may gain all [cf. 1 Cor. 9:20-21]... (He continues:) All of us who use our eyes consider what encounters them. But some look for one reason, others for another. For example, the cook and the shepherd do not consider the sheep alike. For the former scrutinizes whether it is fat; the latter looks into the quality of its breeding. If someone needs food, let him milk the sheep. Let him shear the wool if he needs clothing. In this way, let me benefit from the fruit of Greek erudition.” - Clement of Alexandria

7. “What then has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What does the academy to do with the church? What have heretics to do with Christians? ...Away with those who produce a Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic Christianity. We have no need of speculation after [we have] Jesus Christ, nor of inquisitiveness after [we have] the gospel!” - Tertullian “For not only for the Hebrews and those subject to the law...is it right to become a Jew, but also a Greek for the Greeks, that we may gain all [cf. 1 Cor. 9:20-21]... (He continues:) All of us who use our eyes consider what encounters them. But some look for one reason, others for another. For example, the cook and the shepherd do not consider the sheep alike. For the former scrutinizes whether it is fat; the latter looks into the quality of its breeding. If someone needs food, let him milk the sheep. Let him shear the wool if he needs clothing. In this way, let me benefit from the fruit of Greek erudition.” - Clement of Alexandria

8. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences

9. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine

10. Bust of Emperor Diocletian (284-305)

11. Diocletian’s Palace in Split (modern-day Croatia)

12. A New Era: Emperor Constantine

13. The Milvian Bridge, Rome

14. What did he see?

15. Constantine’s Vision in Later Imagination

16. The Arch of Constantine

17. Coin of Constantine with dedication to "The Unconquerable Sun" on reverse

18. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity

19. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome”

22. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine

23. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine A. Mutual Influences

24. Basilicas:  A New use for an old form Outline of Old St. Peter's

25. Outline of Basilica in Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity

26. Interior of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

27. Images of the "Good Shepherd" Fresco in the catacomb of Marcellinus (left); Peter, an ivory figure (right)

28. Christ as the Good Shepherd (Rome, Catacomb of San Callisto, crypt of Lucina)

29. From Beardless Shepherd to Majestic Ruler Bust of Christ (Rome, Catacomb of Comodilla)

30. Constantine, Christianity, & Greco-Roman Culture I. Before Constantine: Divergent Responses to Philosophy & Culture A. Tertullian B. Clement of Alexandria II. Constantine's "Conversion" & Its Consequences A. From Diocletian to Constantine B. The Legalization of Christianity C. The Creation of Constantinople: “New Rome” III. Christianity and Culture After Constantine A. Mutual Influences B. The Importance of Neo-platonic Philosophy