Unit 5:Unit 5:How Persecutions Shaped How Persecutions Shaped

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

How Persecutions Shaped How Persecutions Shaped DiscipleshipDiscipleship

In the previous units, we looked at how discipleship developed in the New Testament– Acts– Communal life– Conversion– Support of God

We read numerous passages about what is required of discipleship and we revealed some fundamental elements of a disciple

How does Prayer fit in? = FIDELITY!

How Persecutions Shaped How Persecutions Shaped DiscipleshipDiscipleship

In this unit we are going to be examining the period of the Christian persecutions during the Roman Empire– They had echoing effects

through history and in the development of Christianity

Why would we be looking at this time period?

How Persecutions Shaped How Persecutions Shaped DiscipleshipDiscipleship

Why would we be looking at this time period?1. we will discover that

maintaining his relationship requires trust, loyalty and faith = think about the honesty and fidelity required when we PRAY…

2. Constantine’s policies had a lasting influence on Christianity and the Church

Context: Context: The Roman Empire, 100-313 ADThe Roman Empire, 100-313 ADGrowing pressure on the bordersGrowing pressure on the borders

Increasing tax burdenIncreasing tax burden

Pressure on the emperors to create a more Pressure on the emperors to create a more stable societystable society

Roman View of Religion

Primarily a social activity

Used to promote unity and loyalty to the state

Romans called it pietas (piety)

Cicero (106 – 43 BCE) said that if pietas were to disappear, so would the social order

Context: Christian ValuesContext: Christian Values

At the center: a relationship with Christ in communion At the center: a relationship with Christ in communion with the Churchwith the ChurchA life A life transformed by faithtransformed by faith ... Not a life transformed by ... Not a life transformed by obedience!obedience!... with the promise of ultimate transformation of ... with the promise of ultimate transformation of resurrection and eternal liferesurrection and eternal life

Where the Tensions Arise Where the Tensions Arise between Romans and Christians between Romans and Christians

Rome needs soldiersRome needs soldiers– Christians refuse to serve in the armyChristians refuse to serve in the army

Rome worships the gods of hearth and homeRome worships the gods of hearth and home– Christians refuse to worship their ancestral godsChristians refuse to worship their ancestral gods

As pacifists, Christians undermine the social As pacifists, Christians undermine the social orderorder– Their most sacred rites are not open to the public, Their most sacred rites are not open to the public,

making them an easy target for accusation and making them an easy target for accusation and ridicule.ridicule.

Christians:Christians:Enemies of the StateEnemies of the State

The law forbade anything like ChristianityThe law forbade anything like ChristianityPersecutions were local and sporadic at firstPersecutions were local and sporadic at firstFirst empire-wide persecution under Decius in 250First empire-wide persecution under Decius in 250Worst persecution: Worst persecution: Diocletian (303-311Diocletian (303-311))

Diocletian (303-311)

Complete conformity

Bring unity…really?

Ordered churches destroyed

Sacred books burned

Leaders executed

Bishop of Benevento in Campania, martyred under the persecution of Emperor

Diocletian.

Perseverance through suffering…why?

Light at the end…Light at the end…This is a “pearl of great price” which makes This is a “pearl of great price” which makes life before resurrection important, but not life before resurrection important, but not mostmost important important““In the world, but not of the world”In the world, but not of the world”

What does this mean?

HW: Due Next Class!

Answer these two questions:

1. “Why would someone be willing to die for something he/she believed in?”

2. “Could you see yourself choosing the life of a martyr? Explain.”

I page typed…proper format!

Results of the Persecutions…“Courage under Fire”

The sight and affect of the martyrs was supposed to weaken and decay Christianity and the Church…– However, it has an adverse

affect, it made Christianity stronger and more resilient!

– People were able to see examples of courage and “faith under fire!”

– SympathySympathy from common from common people for extreme brutalitypeople for extreme brutality

During the PersecutionsDuring the Persecutions

Christianity continued to Christianity continued to growgrow

““The blood of the martyrs is the The blood of the martyrs is the seedseed of of the Church” — Tertullianthe Church” — Tertullian

Christian writers offered a defense of Christian writers offered a defense of Christian practice… Christian practice…

ApologistsApologists: defenders of the faith: defenders of the faith

““apologiaapologia”: which means “to defend””: which means “to defend”

Choosing Life ... but which one?Choosing Life ... but which one?

Accepting Accepting BaptismBaptism is choosing to accept the new life is choosing to accept the new life of Christof Christ

““MartyrosMartyros”: Greek for “witness””: Greek for “witness”

What does this mean?What does this mean?

But the continued growth in that life is a series of But the continued growth in that life is a series of ongoing choices…ongoing choices…

Christians experienced the ongoing struggle to Christians experienced the ongoing struggle to choose Christchoose Christ as a contest with the forces of Satan as a contest with the forces of Satan (aka persecution!)(aka persecution!)

Choosing Life ... but which one?Choosing Life ... but which one?

Christians who were transformed gave Christians who were transformed gave witnesswitness to their relationship with Jesus and to their relationship with Jesus and the power of the Spirit.the power of the Spirit.

The ultimate “bad choice” was apostasy… The ultimate “bad choice” was apostasy…

Apostasy: “ giving up your faith”Apostasy: “ giving up your faith”

But what happened when the apostates want But what happened when the apostates want to be to be reunited reunited with the church community?with the church community?

Can Apostates Re-unite?Can Apostates Re-unite?

Apostasy was a challenge for the early Church Apostasy was a challenge for the early Church and raised the issue: and raised the issue: can the ultimate denial of can the ultimate denial of Christ be forgivenChrist be forgiven??Sacramental practice of Sacramental practice of penance/reconciliationpenance/reconciliation developeddevelopedAfter a long period of public penance, the penitent After a long period of public penance, the penitent would be formally re-admitted to communionwould be formally re-admitted to communionIt was a one time offer!It was a one time offer!

The End and the AftermathThe End and the Aftermath

Diocletian feels the pressure from all sides Diocletian feels the pressure from all sides and decides Rome is at risk of being and decides Rome is at risk of being abandoned by the godsabandoned by the gods303: Church leaders are required to surrender sacred 303: Church leaders are required to surrender sacred books; churches are locked up; Christians who refuse to books; churches are locked up; Christians who refuse to

apostatize are killedapostatize are killed

Constantine and the ChurchConstantine and the Church

Constantine:Constantine: attributes attributes his success in 312 to the his success in 312 to the Christian GodChristian GodWas a pagan (worshiped Was a pagan (worshiped the sun God)the sun God)Vision: victory through the Vision: victory through the sign of Christ = sign of Christ = XPXP (chi- (chi-rho) = these are the first rho) = these are the first two Greek letters of two Greek letters of Christ’s name…Christ’s name…

Result: “Edict of Milan”

Issued in 313

Granted freedom of worship to Christian in the Roman Empire

“Open” religious status!

New political role for Church leaders…

Tension between being “true to faith” or “loyal to the government”??

The Aftermath ContinuedThe Aftermath Continued……

325: 325: ConstantineConstantine directs the bishops to meet and directs the bishops to meet and settle questions about what Christians believe settle questions about what Christians believe (Nicene Creed results)(Nicene Creed results)– He saw himself as the ultimate authority in society, He saw himself as the ultimate authority in society,

and so involved himself in the running of the churchand so involved himself in the running of the church

The imperial The imperial rights for bishopsrights for bishops bring imperial bring imperial duties, mixing church leadership and concerns duties, mixing church leadership and concerns with political oneswith political onesA “state religion” and a history of state leaders A “state religion” and a history of state leaders treating the church as a tool for managing society treating the church as a tool for managing society

Reprise: Effects of the Reprise: Effects of the PersecutionsPersecutions

Development of the Sacrament of Development of the Sacrament of Penance…apostacy = Reconciliation!Penance…apostacy = Reconciliation!

The exemplary Christian: prepared to The exemplary Christian: prepared to undergo any test of pain or threat of death in undergo any test of pain or threat of death in order to give witness to the truth order to give witness to the truth

Ignatius of Antioch“Epistle to the Romans”

Why would someone be “ready to die” for their faith?Explain the concept of desire in each passage…what does God desire of us?Group 1: Chapter IVGroup 2: Chapter VII

Ignatius Letter Notes

Okay with death…self sacrifice…knows that there is a promise of transformation = resurrected with God = etrernal lifeTransformation= resurrection! Idea that he will have a new life (way of living will change)Purpose for dying…transformed“Spirit is forever” not the bodyNo worldly possessions“Freed through suffering”…God is present (blessing)…moving into fullness of life with Christ

“Letter of Ignatius” Notes…

Self sacrifice

Desire to enter KOG = trust/faith=fidelity!

“not to desire anything worldly” (ch.4)

“Freed-man through service and suffering…” = God is always present/ if we’re transformed (in the spirit)…then eternal life is achievable

“Free prisoner” = b/c prisoners are not free! But he’s freed from his desires!

Ignatius Continued…ch 7

World will try and corrupt him…take him away from God

Eager to die… “wants to”? Readiness to meet God…sacrifice…REBORN

Body not as important as Spirit

Bread of Life/Blood of Life…DESIRE is for God and not this world… suffering included

“Ignatius” Continued (ch 7)

If we have desires in the world, then we cannot have a desire to be with Jesus = in the spirit (ch 7)

“Do not speak of Jesus Christ, and yet set your desires on the world”

Don’t fear death if we are transformed…

“Bread/Blood of Life”…not attached to his physical form

Perpetua Notes

Christian = focus is always on the Resurrection (meeting God when we die…)!In prison…knows she will dieHelped by deacons in prisonVision = ladder of bronze/serpent…garden/paradiseThemes= eternal life/no fear of physical death. Also transformedSerpent = as a barrier into eternal life = STEPS ON ITS HEAD…Stepping on the serpents head symbolizes Perpetua overcoming death and suffering and evil…the serpent was a STEPPING STONE to meeting God!Accepting physical death

Perpetua Notes Continued…

“ In the net” = she doesn’t even realize that she’s with the beast (transformed in the spirit)Saturus = “second Baptism” (covered in blood) = renewed and cleansed and Baptized into eternal life Body not the end“Ring” = to inspire others/help them remember