Early Christianity

1. Early Christianity

2. Why the Appeal of Christianity? • Little spiritual aspect to Roman state religion: cult of the Emperor • Resemblance to existing mystery religions: dying and reborn or resurrected god • Cult of Isis • Mysteries of Dionysus/Bacchus • Mithraism

3. Cult of Isis • Egyptian origin • Promise of immortality • Strong ethical code • Celebrated by Apuleius in The Golden Ass, 2nd c. ce

4. Mysteries of Dionysus/Bacchus • Promise of immortality -- as the grapevine regenerates each year, so will the soul • Bacchanalia, secret rites of initiation into the mysteries, sometimes degenerated into drunken orgies

5. Mithraism: Similarities to Christianity • Mithras referred to as “the Light of the World;” Sol invictus by Romans • Mediator between Heaven and Earth • Born of a human virgin; birth celebrated on December 25; born in a cave, visited by wisemen • Celibate god who valued self-control, renunciation and ascetism in followers • Belief in heaven, hell and day of judgement • Ritualistic baptism (in blood) as purification • Strong ethical code Persian origin

6. Mithraism: Differences with Christianity • Worship limited to men,initiated into mysteries (women worshipped his mother, Anahita, in separate mysteries) • Mithraism became a military religion in Rome: emphasized victory, strength, security in next world, and absolute loyalty to authority and fellow soldiers • Promotion through ranks of ritual initiations corresponded to heavenly journey of soul • Strong astrological influences • Animal sacrifice: bulls and birds

7. Jews in the Roman World Judah Maccabee • After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce, Palestine was part of the Hellenized Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms • The Maccabean Revolt in 167 bce led to Jewish independence and the reign of the Hasmonean monarchs and High Priests • In 67 bce, a dispute arose about the succession of the kingship. Each side courted Roman support. • Pompey marched in and conquered Jerusalem in 63 bce, marking the end of an independent Jewish state. Brief Historical Background to the New Testament

8. Jews in the Roman World • Under Julius Caesar, Antipater, an Idumean, ruled in Jerusalem until his murder in 40 bce • His son, Herod, fled to Rome, and the Senate named him King of the Jews • In 37 bce he captured Jerusalem with Roman help and ruled until his death in 4 bce. After his death his kingdom was divided.

9. Jews in the Roman World • Herod Antipas was appointed tetrarch of Palestine and Peraea in 4 bc. Ruled until 37ce • Herod Agrippa, ruled Palestine from 37- 44 ce. • Roman procurators: 44-50 ce • Herod Agrippa II: 50-92 ce • 66 ce: Jewish Zealot riot and rebellion • 70 ce: Roman destruction of the Temple and sacking of Jerusalem

10. Christianity’s Appeal • Promise of eternal life • Strong ethical code • Message of Peace • Offered salvation to all believers -- gave hope to slaves and women • Martyrdom of early Christians • Evangelicalism

11. Evangelicalism “...and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Jesus, Acts 1:8 Three major early Christian movements: • Nazorene • Pauline • Gnostic

12. Nazorene • Jewish Christians: first followers in Jerusalem, led by James and Peter • Advocated preservation of Jewish rituals • Peter founded church in Rome

13. Pauline • Saul’s conversion  Paul • Greek Jew • Roman citizen • Classically educated • Establishment of Churches throughout the Mediterranean world: Epistles • Corinth • Ephesus • Galatia • Phillipi • Thessalonica

14. Gnostic • The image of God as a diad or duality. While affirming the ultimate unity and integrity of the Divine, Gnosticism noted in its experiential encounter with the numinous, dualistic, contrasting manifestations and qualities. • Sexually egalitarian • Many Gnostic texts written by women • Importance of Mary Magdalene – second only to Jesus • Male and female images used to represent Supreme God • Redemption achieved through gnosis: knowledge. One attains salvation by learning secret knowledge of one’s spiritual essence: the creative experience of revelation, a rushing progression of understanding, and not a static creed Carlo Dolci, Magdalene

15. Nag Hammadi texts with Gnostic Gospels discovered in 1945"In the name of the Father unknown to all, in the Truth, Mother of All, in the One who came down upon Jesus, in the union, redemption and communion of powers." • 4th c. papyrus manuscripts discovered in Egypt – written in Coptic – the language of the Egyptian Christian Church • 45 titles including the Gnostic Gospels and writings attributed to Jesus’s followers including: • The Gospel of Thomas • The Gospel of Phillip • The Gospel of Mary • The Gospel of Truth • The Gospel of the Egyptians • The Apocalypses of Paul, James, and Peter The Nag Hammadi Library

16. Gnostic • Highly dualistic: good vs. evil • Good: spiritual and divine • Evil: material • Did not believe in Incarnation of Savior • Sexually egalitarian • Belief in reincarnation • Redemption achieved through gnosis: secret knowledge reserved to those who pursued ascetism, followed strict dietary rules, and removed themselves from temptation • Nag Hammadi texts with Gnostic Gospels discovered in 1945

17. Christian Texts • Adoption of Jewish Bible as Old Testament • Many early Gospels • 367: Canonization of New Testament: • Gospels, 70-100 ad: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John • Acts of the Apostles • 21 Epistles: 14 ascribed to Paul: Incarnation and Atonement • Revelation, c. 75-95 ad • Patristic Writings: early Church fathers • 393-405: Vulgate Bible Latin Translation by St. Jerome

18. Establishment of Christian Church

19. In Hoc Signo Vinces Constantineca. 280-337 • First Christian Roman Emperor • 313: Constantine issued Edict of Milan: toleration • 325: Convened Council of Nicaea: Nicene Creed • Christianity incorporated pre-existing pagan customs and motifs • 330: capital of Empire moved to Constantinople

20. Holy Roman Empire • 361-363: Emperor Julian the Apostate tries to reinstate paganism, but mostly allows religious liberty to the Christians • 375-383: Emperor Gratian confiscates temples, abolishes privileges for heathen priests, etc. • 379-395: Emperor Theodosius I prohibits heathen religious observances • 402: Emperor Honorius moved capital of Western Empire to Ravenna • 410: Rome sacked by Visigoths • 455: Rome sacked by Vandals

21. Christian Iconography Chi RhoChristogram Ihs :abbreviated name of Jesus in greek (Iasous) Alpha and Omega Icthys: Fish Acrostic for Jesus Christ Son of God Saviour Anchor/CrossHebrews 6:19, ‘Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.’ Dovethe soul that reached divine peace

22. TheGoodShepherdand Agnus Dei(lamb of God) A marble statue of the Good Shepherdfound in al-Mina - Gaza Catacomb Fresco

23. Catacombs • Ancient underground cemeteries, used by the Christian and the Jewish communities, at Rome. • The Christian catacombs, which are the most numerous, began in the second century and the excavating continued until the first half of the fifth. • Christians gathered to celebrate their funeral rites, the anniversaries of the martyrs and of the dead. • After the persecutions, especially in the time of pope Saint Damasus (366 - 384) they became real shrines of the martyrs, centres of devotion and of pilgrimage for Christians from every part of the empire. The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

24. Roman Catholic Church • Incorporation of Roman Law and Hierarchy • Pope • Cardinals • Bishops • Priests • Latin as the language of the Church • Pope Leo 440-461

25. Christian Crosses Tau Cross Greek Cross Latin Cross Celtic Cross Russian Orthodox Papal Cross Crucifix Baptismal Cross

26. Early Christian Architecture • Earliest churches built under the direction of Constantine were based on the Roman basilica • Roman basilicas served as places for public gatherings: law courts, financial centers, army drill halls, a center of public power. • The basilica contained an apse, a semi-circular projection usually off the short wall of the rectangular building. 5th c Roman basilica of Sta. Sabina Early Christian Basilicas

27. St. Augustine354-430 • Countered Pelagian and Donatist heresies • Author of Confessions and City of God (response to fall of Rome) • Synthesized Christian doctrine with classical philosophy • Neo-Platonism • Aristotle’s Unmoved Mover

28. Pope Gregory the Great540-604 • Born to an aristocratic Roman family, he abandoned politics to become a monk • Became Pope in 590 against his will • Reformed ecclesiastical discipline and the Liturgy • Sent Augustine of Canterbury to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons • Instituted the Schola Cantorum in Rome: Gregorian Chant

29. Gregorian Chant • Chants – plainsong, plainchant – sung during the Mass • Kyrie eleison • Gloria • Credo • Sanctus and Benedictus • Agnus Dei • Monophonic: a single line of melody • Sung a capella -- without accompaniment – by the clergy and/or choirs of monks • Free rhythms that create hypnotic effects http://www.christdesert.org/noframes/chant/chant.html

30. Byzantine Empire • 435: Theodosius II commands that pagan temples be destroyed or turned into churches • 527-567: Emperor Justinian prohibits heathenism upon pain of death. • 529: Justinian abolishes the 900 year-old School at Athens • 532: Justinian and Theodora save Constantinople and order the construction of the Hagia Sophia

31. Christ enthroned between angels and Saints, apse mosaic, San Vitale

32. Latin as Church Language Church governed by local bishops headed by elected Pope Mandatory celibacy for priests Reverence for sacred images and relics Greek as Church Language Church governed by Patriarch appointed by Emperor Clergy allowed to marry Iconoclastic controversy Schism:Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox