Stoicism

2. Stoicism • Influential philosophy in Greece and Rome • Dominant among intellectuals in Rome • Borrowed from Greeks • Appealed to Roman sense of law, order, and virtue • Honored natural law • Controlled passions as pathway to true freedom • Pain, grief, and joy not permitted to affect outward or inward state • Balanced and guided by reason alone

3. Slavery • Like many societies, slavery was vital to economic structure in Roman Republic and Empire • Slaves served as farm hands, manual laborers, domestic servants, teachers, tutors • Backbone of workforce • Prisoners of war were largest source • 2 million people enslaved at close of Republic • ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE • Number grew during empire

4. Slavery • Slaves were ‘chattel’ • Property • Master held power over life and death • Christianity didn’t affect institution of slavery initially • Many Roman slaves converted • Why did Christianity appeal to slaves • Several early Christian leaders were former slaves, including Popes

5. Foreign Cults • Brought primarily by soldiers • Differed from Roman cults, because it invited personal religious belief • Mithras: fraternal organization • Cultivated virtues important to soldiers • Some rituals similar to Christianity • Communal meal—shared flesh symbolizing their god • Believed in personal salvation • Archeological evidence, but little surviving beliefs

6. Jews • Monotheistic • Special role in God’s plan—chosen people • History of suffering and oppression • Shunned religions/immoral ways of oppressor • Jewish world at Jesus’ time was crossroads • Latin • Hellenist • Jewish

7. Jewish History • Covenant God/Abraham • Enslaved in Egypt; led out of exile by Moses • United through gift of God’s law (Moses) • Return to Palestine under Joshua • Height of kingdom under David & Solomon • Temple—place for tablets given to Moses • Ornate, architectural feat • After Solomon, kingdom divided • Israel/Judah • Both defeated and exiled by Babylonians • Returned in 458 BC; rebuilt temple • Destroyed again in 70 AD, under Roman rule

8. Sadducees • Wealthy elite & politically/religiously conservative • Not large in number, but had considerable influence • Dominated Sanhedrin • Hellenized to greater extent, better relationship with Romans • Affected credibility w/in Jewish community • Pentateuch was legitimate authority, viewed scripture along literal lines • Rejected idea of afterlife & individual judgement

9. Pharisees • Progressive reforming group • Name comes from perishaya= separated ones • Lay scholars, not priests • Interpreted law and applied to daily life • Portrayed as Jesus’ chief opponents, but had many similarities • Resurrection of the body, divine punishment/reward in afterlife, human freedom, and angels • Sadducees disappeared after destruction of Temple (70 AD), Pharisees emerged as training group for Rabbis

10. King Herod • King of Judea • Learned of Messiah & planned to kill him • Slaughter of the Innocents

11. Holy Family • Joseph’s dream • Egypt • Second Dream • Nazareth vs. Galilee • Passover in Jerusalem—Jesus in temple

12. Deposit of Faith • Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition • Handed down by the Church from the time of Apostles • Contains all Christ taught, did and wanted to reveal • Entrusted to Apostles and handed down through successors-bishops

13. Jesus • Son of God • New Covenant-perfected Old Law through New Law of love and grace • Death on cross

14. Four Gospels • Evangelists • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John • Synoptic • Symbols • Matthew: Man-Christ’s humanity • Mark: Lion • Luke: Bull-priestly duties and temple sacrifices • John: Eagle-lofty language • Canonical-382 in Rome • Apocryphal

15. Pentecost • Jewish feast 50 days after Christ’s Resurrection • Father and Son sent third person of Trinity—Holy Spirit • Fears lifted and began to preach • Gift of tongues • Many converts • Annual feast • Birth moment of Church

16. The Church • Body of Christ and Temple of the Holy Spirit • Greek: thing belonging to the Lord • Ecclesia (Latin): assembly or congregation • Catechism: Church is both means and goal of God’s plan • Visible/Spirtual • Made up of God’s people

17. Church is • One • Holy • Catholic • Apostolic

18. Apostles • Apostalosfr.Apostellein (Greek): to send away • One who is sent • 12: pillars of Church & preachers • Matthias • Sts Paul and Barnabas • Variety of men: tax collector, friends, fishermen • Apostle vs. apostle

19. Apostolic Tradition • Preeminent: St. Peter & received teaching/instructions direct from Christ • Continued Jesus ministry of healing, preaching, and exorcising demons • Bishop is successor of Apostles who has received Christ's fullness • Apostolic Tradition through line of bishops until Christ returns • Martyrs: St. Stephen

20. St. Paul • Roman Jew; educated in Law; persecutor of the Way • Converts on road to Damascus • Great evangelizer: 13/27 NT epistles • Preaching to Gentiles • Christianity considered part of Jewish tradition • Acts of the Apostles • Cornelius: vision opening Church to Gentiles

21. St. Paul/Gentiles • Profound writer and theologian • Doctrine still holds true today • First written and developed theology • Gentiles: non Jews • Expanded church greatly

22. Council of Jerusalem • 49/50 • Questions related to ministry to Gentiles • Specifically following Mosaic Law • Peter/James (Jerusalem) • Avoid eating meat/blood of animals sacrificed to idols or had been strangled • Observe marriage laws • Dietary, circumcision, other aspects not imposed on Gentiles

23. Chapter 2

24. Baptism • Jesus/John the Baptist: repentance • Jesus: Baptism of Holy Spirit • Sacrament: forgives original & personal sin • Catechumens: the instructed • 2-3 years of instruction • Develop strong foundation • Baptized on Easter Vigil or Pentecost • 1965 Vatican II reinstituted the catechumenate

25. Baptism of Infants • Common by third century • Universal by Medieval period • Some opposition: Tertullian • Origen encouraged it to free Original sin • St. Augustine supported in similar fashion • In dire need, anyone can administer baptism • Martyrdom: Baptism of Blood • Waiting until death bed

26. Agape • “Love” in Greek • Early Christian meal related to Eucharist • Often preceded Eucharist • Let to Eucharist abuses • Agape moved to evenings

27. Eucharist • Ritual of Mass developed over time • Canon did not exist until 4th century • Hymns, psalms, readings, collection for poor • Prayers and consecration—50s • “Thanksgiving” • Christ is present in Eucharist

28. Ichthys • Fish • Acrostic for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” • More widespread than cross

29. Other Early Christian Symbols • Anchor • Safety and hope • Often paired with ship—does not drift • Like a cross, but hidden • Sign of the Cross • Emerges in 3rd century • Tertullian: “Devotees of the Cross” • Various forms: forehead, hear, and mouth

30. Holy Days • Wednesdays & Fridays • Fasting & Penance • Day Christ suffered • Wednesday less clear, perhaps Judas • Jewish Sabbath: sundown Fri-sundown Sat • Sundays replaced Saturday for Christians • Jesus’ resurrection & Pentecost • Cover during persecutions—pagan worship day • Feast days emerged through the years

31. Papacy • Christ named Peter Head of the Church • Vicar of Christ • Bishop of Rome • Supreme authority very early • Epistle of Clement (Pope St. Clement 88-97) • St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, • Affirms obedience to authority of Bishop of Rome

32. Influential Early Popes • Pope St. Leo (d 461) • Centralized Church governance in Rome • Pope St. Gelasius (d. 496) • Asserted primacy of Roman pontiff • First to use title “Vicar of Christ” • Earlier Popes used “Vicar of St. Peter”

33. Episcopacy • Bishops are successors of Apostles • Shepherded & guided flock (Church) • Baptized • Offered Mass • Celebrated Weddings • Ordained priests • Did all the sacramental work of the Church

34. Priesthood • Priest: contraction of Gk. presbyteros= presbyter • Church elders in early Church • Role of priests developed over centuries • Minister of Divine worship • Eucharist • Subordinate to Bishop—sworn canonical allegiance • Evidence of offering Mass in 2nd century • Hippolytus (170-236) • Apostolic Tradition--Evidence of ordination rites

35. Monotheism • Belief in one God • Jews • Christians • Muslims • Surrounded by polytheistic pagans • Many Christians killed b/c refused to worship emperors

36. Scriptures • Much of O.T. comes from Jewish canon • Pentateuch • Some of N.T. universally held • Matthew’s Gospel, Paul’s epistles • Revelations • 3rd Century canon included: • Gospels • 13 Paul’s letters • Acts • Revelation • 1 &2 Peter • 1,2,3 John

37. Canon • Definitive canon declared in 382 • Africa/Gaul a few years later • 5th century Church united on N.T. • O.T. came later • Council of Trent (1546) • Apocryphal work • Literature w/scriptural pretentions, but is not divinely inspired • Leadership judges inspiration w/guidance from Holy Spirit over centuries • Infancy Gospel of Thomas

38. Slavery • Widespread at Christ’s birth • 2 million of 7.5 million in Italy were slaves • Jesus never spoke directly on slavery • Mosaic law demanded merciful relationship between slave & master • Slaves often gained freedom • Treated with dignity • As Christianity spread, slowly undermined institution of slavery • Slaves accepted as equals in Church • Former slaves Sts. Linus & Anacletus become Pope

39. Just War Theory • Nonviolence comes naturally from Christ • St. Augustine first writes about Just War • Permits war in self defense • St. Thomas Aquinas refines Just War theory • War must be initiated on authority of sovereign (auctoritasprincipis) • Cause must be just (justacausa) • Those waging war must have good and right intentions (recta intentio) • Francisco de Vitoria adds war must be waged by proper means (debitomodo) • Important in contemporary context

40. Just War: Jus Ad Bellum • The current Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 2309) defines the four conditions for determining the justice of a war as: • the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; • all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; • there must be serious prospects of success; • the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.

41. Apostolic Fathers • Name given to earliest Christian writers • Immediately after Apostles • Direct link to Apostles or communities • Wrote on religious and moral themes • Usually addressed to communities rather than the Church • Incredible witnesses to Faith • Include among others • St. Clement of Rome • St. Ignatius of Antioch • St. Polycarp of Smyrna • St. Papias

42. Apologists • Apologetics: Gk: Apologia=defense • Branch of theology to defend and explain Church • Field has four distinct periods • First: dawn of Christianity-collapse of Roman Empire (476) • Great opponents: Judaism, Gnostic heresies, pagan religions of Roman Empire

43. Apologists • Apologist refers to any writer of apologetic work • Group of Church Fathers known as Apologists • 2nd and 3rdceturies • Included: • St. Aristides • St. Justin Matyr • Tatian • Athenagoras • St. Theophilius • Minucius Felix • Tertullian • Most were not theologians • Apologetic writings to the Jews focused on following Mosaic law • Often included Christ as fulfillment of Jewish Law • Important apologetic work addressed Roman culture

44. Didache • Greek= teaching • The Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles • The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations • Composed in first century • Christian morals, doctrine, and customs • Baptism, fasting, prayer, Eucharist, Church hierarchy • Author, exact date, location unknown • Many early Church Fathers used text • Lost for centuries, rediscovered in 1873

45. Tertullian (160-225) • Son of Roman centurion • Educated in Roman law • Paganism to Christianity, middle life • Apologist • Father of Latin Theology • Joined Montanist sect, wrote against certain doctrines, but never full Montanist • Opposed forgiveness for certain sins, especially those of sexual naure

46. Hippolytus (170-236) • Father of the Church and writer • Perhaps most important theologian in 2nd & 3rd century but forgotten largely because he wrote in Greek • Writings became extreme, especially concerning relationship b/w Father and Son • Followers elected him Antipope • Imprisoned under Maximus’ persecutions where he reconciles with Pope St. Pontian and the Church

47. Hippolytus and Apostolic Tradition • Much of his work is lost • Two most important survived in part • The Refutation of all Heresies • The Apostolic Tradition • Describes passing down of Faith of the Apostles • Insight into Baptism, Eucharist, ordination in 3rd cent • Becomes basis for 2nd Eucharistic Prayer (1970 Roman Missal)

48. Martyr • Those who died for Faith became most venerated saints • Most martyrs were everyday people who often found solidarity with other Christian martyrs • Martyros(Greek)=witness • Bears witness to Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life • Martyrdom understood as honor & priviledge • Martyrdom was not to be sought despite being grace and a gift

49. Chapter 3

50. The Way • Christians referred to Faith as ‘the Way’ • Required life of integrity according to commandments and Gospels • Difficult and required sacrifice • Suffering was major component of early Christianity