Christian Expansion & the Roman Response (The Christian Movement in the 2 nd to 3 rd Century)

1. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century)

2. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement

3. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion

4. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire

7. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Chrisitian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles

8. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors

9. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors • Roman Responses to Christianity

10. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors • Roman Responses to Christianity • A. The Nature of Pagan Piety

11. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors • Roman Responses to Christianity • A. The Nature of Pagan Piety • B. Misconceptions

12. Anti-Christian Graffiti: “Alexamenos is worshipping his god”

13. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors • Roman Responses to Christianity • A. The Nature of Pagan Piety • B. Misconceptions • C. Persecution & Martyrdom

14. Early Christian Mosaic of St. Perpetua

15. Women as Heroines: Accounts of Women Martyrs The Virgin-Martyr Agnes, Gold-Glass from fourth-century Rome

16. Certificate of Having Sacrificed to the Gods (from persecution under Emperor Decius, c. 250 About 250 A.D., during the Emperor Decius’ short but furious persecution, persons suspected of Christianity were evidently obliged to clear themselves by sacrificing to the old gods, then taking out a certificate to protect themselves against further legal proceedings. This example comes from a papyrus found at Oxyrhyncus. To the Commissioners of Sacrifice of the Village of Alexander’s Island: From Aurelius Diogenes, the son of Satabus, of the Village of Alexander’s Island, aged 72 years: ---scar on his right eyebrow. I have always sacrificed regularly to the gods, and now, in your presence, in accordance with the edict, I have done sacrifice, and poured the drink offering, and tasted of the sacrifices, and I request you to certify the same. Farewell. -----Handed in by me, Aurelius Diogenes. -----I certify that I saw him sacrificing [signature obliterated]. Done in the first year of the Emperor, Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius Pius Felix Augustus, second of the month Epith. [June 26, 250 A.D.]

17. Damnatio ad bestias!

18. To the lion!

19. The Christian Martyr St. Sebastian (in Renaissance imagination)

20. Christian Expansion & the Roman Response • (The Christian Movement in the 2nd to 3rd Century) • The Spread of the Christian Movement • Geography of Early Christian Expansion • 1. Eastern Mediterranean • 2. Western Mediterranean • 3. Beyond the Roman Empire • B. Potential Obstacles • C. Reason for Expansion: External & Internal Factors • Roman Responses to Christianity • A. The Nature of Pagan Piety • B. Misconceptions • C. Persecution & Martyrdom