Early church

EARLY CHURCH33 A.D. – 313 A.D.

Rapid Growth1. Christianity spreads throughout the

Roman Empire EXTREMELY FAST!• Divine Assistance – help from J.C. and H.S.• Zeal of evangelists and converts • “Catholic” or universal – this religion is for all• Sense of unity

This quick expansion of the new religion causes Roman and Jewish authority’s fear and suspicion.

Beliefs and Practices Baptism Sunday as the Sabbath Mass/Holy Eucharist (Body, Blood, Soul,

and Divinity) Sacred Scripture used, not official Bible

until 4th c. Non-violent Against abortion and contraception Taught love and equality

House Liturgies Eucharist is at the heart of Christian

worship. Mass celebrations occurred within private

homes or in catacombs. Had to be secret due to persecutions. Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist

Some churches were built when tolerant Emperors ruled, often destroyed under future persecutions though.

Hierarchy Different people have different roles within

the Church which determine their level of leadership and responsibility

Based on Paul’s teaching that the different members of the Body of Christ have different functions

From the early Church the roles and responsibilities of bishops, priests, deacons and laypeople were standard

The formalities of the different roles developed with time as need arose

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Early Church Hierarchy Bishops – name comes from Greek word for

supervisor, regional leaders under the authority of the pope (the Bishop of Rome, called the 1st among equals)

Deacon/Deaconess – supported the ministry of the Bishop especially related to taking care of people with special needs

Presbyters – name comes from the word for elder; exclusive representatives of the bishop as Christian communities grew (equivalent of modern day priests)

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Persecution and Martyrdom

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Martyrdom Martyr – Greek for “witness” First known Christian martyr: St. Stephen

Feast day: December 26th – immediately after Christmas - a way of making us aware of the early Church

Early Christians expected to die for Christ. Their love and zeal for Jesus and each other is HUGE.

Immense suffering was endured in the name of Christ.

Persecutions a program or campaign to exterminate,

drive away, or subjugate a people because of their religion, race or beliefs. Remember the “Protomartyr” Stephen. Stoned

to death outside of Jerusalem. • Christians are persecuted all over including Syria,

Greece, Asia Minor, and Europe (France and Spain).

The Roman persecution is perhaps the most infamous.

Romans tolerated Christianity (because of their tolerance of Judaism) until it came into direct conflict with the desires of the emperorEx: Emperor worship

History of Roman Persecutions

64: Nero (scapegoat for his fire)- “Christiani non Sint”

81: Domitian (1st “worldwide”) 98: Trajan (do not seek Christians –

but punish if reported and convicted)

138: Antonius Pius 161: Marcus Aurelius 193: Septimus Severus

211: First Era of Peace11

250: Decius (Required public worship of Roman gods) – Disappointing amount of apostates.

257: Valerian

260: Second Era of Peace

303: Dioceltian’s Great Persecution – very effective ruler who divided the empire into sections called dioceses as a way of controlling the empire’s growing problems

313: Edict of Milan ends major Roman Persecutions (next Chapter)

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Why is this happening? Christians were not pagan Christians believed in equality

Romans feared slave rebellion Emperors were not worshipped or seen as

divine. • Rumors and fallacies about Christianity

also sparked persecutions.• Eucharist thought to be cannibalism• Idea of “brothers/sisters” of Christ

thought to bring about incest.

Effects of Persecution Created a profound unity among the

Christians and led to a more organized structure

Increased the number of convertsPeople thought that there must be something to the faith if these people were willing to die for it.

Frustration grew among the oppressors and set off more persecution

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Primary SourceThe following account was written by the Roman historian Tacitus in his book Annals published a few years after the event. Tacitus was a young boy living in Rome during the time of the persecutions.

"Therefore, to stop the rumor [that he had set Rome on fire], he [Emperor Nero] falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most fearful tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were [generally] hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius, but the pernicious superstition - repressed for a time, broke out yet again, not only through Judea, - where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow from all quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. Accordingly first those were arrested who confessed they were Christians; next on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city, as of "hating the human race."

Martyrs of the Church “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of

the Church” – Tertullian. St. Ignatius (50-107 A.D.) – First to use

“Catholic Church” – eaten by lions St. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.)- Great

apologist of the faith- scourged and beheaded.

St. Irenaeus (130-202 A.D.)- Orthodox defender of the Faith

Catacombs An underground series of tunnels,

chambers and tombs dug by Christians to serve as burial places, shrines, and places of worship.

Many martyrs and Christians were buried within these underground cemeteries.

Heresy in the Early Church Gnosticism Marcionism (144-400’s) Manichaeism (250’s – 1000’s) Montanism (156-200’s) Docetism (30’s -100)

Apologists-They’re not sorry

Apologetics- The defense of the Faith. Coming from the Greek word apologia meaning “defense.”• St. Aristides• St. Justin

Martyr• Tatian• Athenagoras• St. Thepophilus• Minucius Felix• Tertullian

Gnosticism Gnosticism – thought to predate

Christianity but borrows and copies many rites and figures. Believe that the Spirit is good and matter is

bad- “dualism.” Comes from Greek word gnosis meaning

knowledge Denied the Incarnation (God Who is good

could not have taken on a body which is evil. Proved this with “secret knowledge”

Gnosticism Continued(114) Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven." – Gospel of Thomas (Gnostic literature).