Beliefs Within the later Roman Empire

• Isis

• Mithraism

• Judaism and the Diaspora

• Christianity (I will give you these notes)

from Echoes p. 208 & 212 - take own notes

Rise of Christianity • Occurred within the Roman Empire (0 CE - forward)

• It’s founder Jesus - born in Bethlehem during a census ordered by Caesar Augustus -

• killed on orders by a Roman leader, Pontius Pilot (as encouraged by Jewish leaders)

• Based on the teachings of its founder Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ (the anointed, the Messiah)

• a Jewish carpenter

• An Itinerant preacher by 30 years of age

• Travelled by foot, teaching throughout Galilee and Judah (modern day Israel)

• 12 disciples followed him - a diverse group but mostly poor folk - all were eventually executed

Jesus’ Identity• His claims about himself:

• A good shepherd - who takes care of his sheep (his followers who were initially Jewish people)

• “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, place my yoke on you, for my load is light.”

• “I am the bread of life - you will never hunger or thirst again”

• He spoke to a woman at a well in Samaria - forgave her sins

• Woman caught in adultery - he forgave her and said sin no more

• So he was forgiving sin but not condoning it

• He claimed not to be abolishing the Jewish religious laws but getting to the spirit of the law - taking it further - getting to the point of it.

The woman caught in adultery - by Lorenzo Lotto

The teachings of Jesus• You have heard that it was said…(Jewish laws)

thou shalt not murder - but I tell you - he who is angry with his brother or sister… is subject to judgement…

• You have heard … do not commit adultery, but I say…he who lusts after a woman has committed adultery…:

• You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’, But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

• “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

• Much of what we know of his teaching is summarized in a famous sermon Jesus gave entitled “The Sermon on the Mount”

• The essence of Jesus teachings can be largely summarized by what has since been dubbed the golden rule…

• Do unto others…

• Also found in this famous sermon

• The beatitudes

• The Lord’s prayer

Jesus’ friends & followers

• Low class commoners - fisherman

• Society’s outcasts

• tax collectors and sinners, ex-prostitutes

• eg - Mary Magdalene

Jesus’ Enemies

• The religious right - Pharisees and Sadducees

Jesus’ Controversial Claims• The Gospel of John records his deity claims

• The Son of God & God

• Before Abraham was, I AM”

• this was blasphemy according to Jewish laws

• worthy of execution

• only Romans had authority to execute

Jesus Crucifixion

The Resurrection Claim• His disciples claimed Jesus reappeared 3 days after his

death,

• this return to life is referred to as the resurrection

• they said they received teaching to spread the gospel, or “good news” of his teaching

• forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who believe

• they claimed Jesus was the long promised Messiah - his death was pre planned by God to pay a final atonement for the sins of humankind.

Christianity Spreads to non Jews

• Saul of Tarsus - a Pharisee who was persecuting Jews suddenly converted to Christianity

• Became a prolific Christian teacher and missionary and writer (the New Testament epistles)

• He and & others began spreading Christianity to the Gentiles

• Apostle Paul and most other early disciples were executed

Christianity Spread• …throughout the Roman empire

• due to Roman roads, ideas could spread more easily.

The Persecution• Emperors Nero and Diocletian greatly

persecuted Christians

• Diocletian outlawed Christianity in 284 CE

• He dismantled churches and burned Christian scriptures

• Ordered that Christians had to make sacrifices to himself or be executed

• 1000’s chose martyrdom -

More about Diocletian • 293 CE - Diocletian divided the Roman Empire

into East and West halves

• the west half eventually lost its Roman flavour.

• the east half became the Byzantine Empire

Constantine replaced Diocletian - ruled from 306 - 337

Defeated his rival Maxentius

in the Battle of Milvian Bridge

near Rome

Constantine• Constantine converted to Christianity

• passed the Edict of Milan, reversing Diocletian’s law against Christians

• Christianity was legal again

Church of Holy Wisdom (Santa Sophia) in Constantinople

360 CE

New Capital• 359 CE - Constantine authorized a

twin capital city, New Rome or Constantinople (now Istanbul)

Christianity is Strengthened Under Constantine & his successor Theodosius

• 325 CE - Nicene Creed written by bishops in Nicaea (Turkey)

• This creed was an attempt to unify Christian belief and combat gnosticism - seen as a dangerous heresy

• The creed re-asserts that Jesus divinity.

The Decline of the Roman Empire

Pax Romana• From 100 - 250 the Roman Empire continued to

thrive under Augustus’s successors like Hadrian.

• The Roman roads allowed for good mobility of ideas, troops and resources.

• There was peace throughout the empire

The Decline• Under Diocletian, the Roman empire began a slow erosion

• He could not combat inflation

• The western half lost its Roman character

• Barbarian people groups such as the Huns, Visigoths, Alans, Saxons, Franks, Alammani and Burgundians fought for supremacy - the Romans couldn’t hang on.

• 476 CE - the war General Odoacer defeated the last Roman emperor. After 500 years, the Roman Empire was finally at an end.

• This last phase of the Western Roman Empire corresponded to the transition into the Medieval era.

Assignments• Discussion - Lord’s Prayer & Beatitudes.

• Study these primary sources of Christian belief.

• How would they have been perceived / received within the 1st century Roman Empire?

• How would Jewish people receive these teachings? Patricians? Plebeians? Slaves? …

• Nicene Creed - Copy & paste the Nicene Creed onto a page. Under it, summarize the circumstances surrounding its creation. When, where, why and what did does it claim about the identity of the Christ.

• Irenaeus - Write a one page description of Irenaeus (who he was and when he lived etc…), as well as a summary of his claims about Jesus’ divinity.

• Research Tacitus & Josephus - particularly their reference to Jesus and early Christians. Briefly summarize what these men record about early Christianity and the reliability of this as corroborating evidence for the biblical records.

Religious belief assignment Due May 5th

• Interview a Christian clergy (Lutheran, Anglican, RC, Baptist, Mennonite, Presbyterian, etc…) or someone from the Sikh temple or a Muslim or an orthodox Jew.

• Summarize (2-3 typed pages) the essence of the specific faith beliefs of your chosen Christian denomination or other religion, based upon the findings of your interview. You may want to record the interview - ask first.