The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE

1. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE Rome

2. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht The Roman Empire Largest extension, around 116 CE Rome

3. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Spread of Christianity, 1st and 2nd centuries 1st century 2nd century Boundary of Roman Empire 1st & 2nd CE.

4. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Spread of Christianity, until 600 CE

5. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Important Roman emperors Hadrian 117—138 Constantine 306—337 Vespasian 69—79 Titus 79—81 Nero 54—68

6. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Arch of Constantine Arch of Titus

7. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East – West Schism, 1054 Fall of EastRome, 1453 2000 0 500 1000 1500 100 NT period Reformation Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period The Apostolic Period, some major dates

8. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht From Apostolic to Sub-Apostolic Period, the 60s Paul Peter James

9. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Rome on Fire, 64 CE Artistic reconstruction

10. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Nero’s tourches HenrykSiemiradzki (1843-1902)

11. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht To the Colloseum HenrykSiemiradzki (1843-1902)

12. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht

13. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East – West Schism, 1054 Fall of EastRome, 1453 2000 0 500 1000 1500 100 NT period Reformation The Sub-Apostolic Period , some major dates Apostolic Period & Sub-apostolic Period

14. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East – West Schism, 1054 Fall of EastRome, 1453 2000 0 500 1000 1500 100 Early Christianity NT period Reformation Post-Apostolic period

15. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East – West Schism, 1054 Fall of EastRome, 1453 2000 0 500 1000 1500 100 Early Christianity Reformation Post-Apostolic period

16. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Edict of Milan, 313 Fall of West Rome, 476 East – West Schism, 1054 Fall of EastRome, 1453 2000 0 500 1000 1500 100 Early Christianity Reformation Post-Apostolic period

17. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Eusebius gives an account of Constantine’s vision that he had heard from the emperor himself: Constantine with his army was marching, when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "ΕνΤούτῳΝίκα“ (Latin "in hoc signovinces," "In this sign,[you shall] conquer”). In the following night he had a dream in which Christ told him that he should use the sign against his enemies. Constantine then put the Chi-Rho sign on his standard.

18. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht

19. Early Christianity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht Spread of Christianity, 300 to 800 CE The Agreement at Chalcedon (451) on the Rule of the Church Rome New Rome(Constantinople) Alexandria Antioch RomeandConstantinople governed east and west. Rome was granted priority, but regarded in the East as the first among equals. Following those two in prestige and influence were Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. Jerusalem 330 CE Constantinople Rome Rome Thessalonica Ephesus Ephesus Antioch Corinth Antioch Carthage Cyprus Damascus Jerusalem Alexandria Jerusalem Alexandria Centers founded by Paul

20. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht • I. Diverse Beginnings • A variety of texts and contexts • not a book but a collection of writings • more than 10 different authors from different places and with a wide range of situational objectives • a common experience with different interpretations in different contexts • new expressions in new ethnic, ideological and political conditions • different types of literature • A variety of groupings and factions • “Jewish” Jesus-followers • Pauline Christians • Johannine Christians • Gnosticizing types of Christianity • a host of other groups that we know too little about to label them

21. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht • I. Diverse Beginnings • A variety of traditions and ideas Imaginary meeting in Jerusalem in the year 100 • a Jewish teacher from Alexandria, a freed slave from Rome, a philosopher from Athens, a craftsman from Ephesus, a farmer from Edessa, a merchant from Cyprus and a scribe from Nazareth • source texts • religious heritage • views of Jesus • ethical obligation • Comparison with the beginnings of Islam • Organization – Mohammed YES Jesus NO • Writings by the founder – Mohammed YES Jesus NO • Affirmation of religious heritage – Mohammed NO Jesus YES • Access to a finalized body of writings – Muslims YES Christians NO • Consequence: • Diverse expression among Christian groups • Interaction with different religious and cultural traditions • Result: • potential for conflict and disagreement • potential for openness and adaptability

22. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht • II. Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization • 1. Emergence of a majority movement • Within a short period of time, an interconnected movement with • a widely accepted “Christian” tradition • a common body of scripture • a similar liturgy and community life • a fairly unified interpretation of Christian faith • a cohesive organizational structure • 2. An anachronistic misconception • 3. Ecclesial power structures are secondary The office of the pope of Rome: result not precondition of unity • before Constantine – no centralized ecclesiastical power structure • “after” Constantine – demands for unity from political and imperial quarters • the Caesars summoned the Councils, not the bishops 4. Church leaders and bishops support diversity The agenda of church leaders and bishops was quite contrary to that. They wanted • to defend their own particular and local distinctiveness • to preserve their different theological tradition • to guard their independence

23. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht • II. Imperial recognition and demand of a unified organization • Emergence of a majority movement • 2. An anachronistic misconception • Ecclesial power structures are secondary • Church leaders and bishops support diversity • 5. The Emperor recognizes the potential of an Empire religion 6. Conclusion: The emerging organized and hierarchical uniformity of Christianity • was not due to some intrigues in the dark corridors of the Roman Church • was due to the political (imperial) demand for unity, and the legal ratification of the office of bishop It was the emperor of the Roman Empire who initiated and enforced an increasingly unified organization and regulation of church hierarchy.

24. Early Christianity – Diversity and Unity • CH 1000 – History of Christianity • Dieter Mitternacht III. Ecclesial networking and commonality The bishops that came to Nicaea • read same texts, tell same stories • demand confession in a triune God from those who were to be baptized • similar views on church leadership, similar barriers towards Gentiles • similar rules for live, similar sanctions against those who brake the rules • Traveling ministries and letter writing Paul, Irenaeus, Origen, Clement of A., Cyprianus, Ignatius, Didache 2. Mutual consultation 3. Conflict management 4. Universal recognition 5. Small numbers, but… • Roman Empire = 40 to 60 milion people around the year 300 CE • Christians = 8 to10% of the population, i.e. approx. 4 to 5 million • dispersed over the whole Empire, in independent local communities • Conclusion Political power was negligible, yet the Christians attracted the emperor’s attention through their ability be united in diversity